For decades, globalization has allowed us to live like emperors, but the era of endless bargains was built on hidden costs. Now tariffs are breaking the illusion of cheapness.
Globalization (technology) lowered the prices of many goods by lowering the cost of labor. Yet somehow Technology increased the costs of insurance and tuition
Powerful stuff and there is a lot we the consumers can do , but the tariffs are a tactic of distraction. I listened to a talk about how Musk and many others get round the tariffs , including the setting up of “free trade zones “. It is all part of the con.
“It would be good for us to appreciate more of what the actual cost of cheap actually is..
If you can picture a world where some things are scarce, others are seasonal, and very little is disposable, you’re already closer to resilience than your neighbor who freaks out when the bread aisle goes empty.”
Hidden costs are widespread I'd say and not just monetary costs. There are environmental and health costs. If a company can pollute or degrade something and by doing so make a profit what would stop them? We see it everywhere but it's brushed off or ignored because money talks if you know what I mean. Profit based systems have momentum and it's backed and fortified by our whole society. But look where it's headed now in our crazy world. For too long we've allowed profit to overrule responsibility and accountability, in agriculture, healthcare, energy, and the whole economy. The Earth is being ruined because we haven't come to terms with this yet.
For decades, our foreign relations has been conducted by clandestine payments to dictators, covert intelligence operations, weapons sales, and explosives delivered by bombers and drones.
We have been paying unofficial tariffs in the form of money laundered through NGOs, "Charitable Foundations", and payoffs to politicians with things like their family members being "On the board" of these companies owned by oligarchs.
These countries have levied tariffs on goods from the US for decades. International companies have made their own deals through buying politicians from both countries.
This isn't about "Trump's Tariffs." Any President elected by any party is the person designated by the Constitution to conduct foreign affairs. Not company executives. Not NGOs. Not charitable foundations. Not politicians running for office selling their votes for contributions. Not people organizing protests. Not unelected bureaucrats. Not people meeting in Davos.
Globalization (technology) lowered the prices of many goods by lowering the cost of labor. Yet somehow Technology increased the costs of insurance and tuition
Powerful stuff and there is a lot we the consumers can do , but the tariffs are a tactic of distraction. I listened to a talk about how Musk and many others get round the tariffs , including the setting up of “free trade zones “. It is all part of the con.
“It would be good for us to appreciate more of what the actual cost of cheap actually is..
If you can picture a world where some things are scarce, others are seasonal, and very little is disposable, you’re already closer to resilience than your neighbor who freaks out when the bread aisle goes empty.”
Hidden costs are widespread I'd say and not just monetary costs. There are environmental and health costs. If a company can pollute or degrade something and by doing so make a profit what would stop them? We see it everywhere but it's brushed off or ignored because money talks if you know what I mean. Profit based systems have momentum and it's backed and fortified by our whole society. But look where it's headed now in our crazy world. For too long we've allowed profit to overrule responsibility and accountability, in agriculture, healthcare, energy, and the whole economy. The Earth is being ruined because we haven't come to terms with this yet.
I actually approve of the current tariff efforts.
For decades, our foreign relations has been conducted by clandestine payments to dictators, covert intelligence operations, weapons sales, and explosives delivered by bombers and drones.
We have been paying unofficial tariffs in the form of money laundered through NGOs, "Charitable Foundations", and payoffs to politicians with things like their family members being "On the board" of these companies owned by oligarchs.
These countries have levied tariffs on goods from the US for decades. International companies have made their own deals through buying politicians from both countries.
This isn't about "Trump's Tariffs." Any President elected by any party is the person designated by the Constitution to conduct foreign affairs. Not company executives. Not NGOs. Not charitable foundations. Not politicians running for office selling their votes for contributions. Not people organizing protests. Not unelected bureaucrats. Not people meeting in Davos.