Duh
(by R.P.Edwards)
Common sense
In short supply
Depend on THEM
And then you die
They'll hold the keys
To wealth and bread
And at THEIR whim
WE'LL end up DEAD
But go ahead
And whine and bray
Perhaps your tears
Will win the day
And the future's coming
Of the NEED
Will only make
YOUR children bleed
I suppose I should weigh in on the whole "Steel and Aluminum tariff" thing. Especially since I'm a steelworker (soon to be retired) and the MILL I sweat at has been in the news (yeah, that place the President mentioned, as in "500" more).
Anyway, I suppose I get the "fear" angle; where prices might go up a bit because steel might be a little more costly. BUT, national security really is an issue. I mean, c'mon! Do you (the collective "you") honestly think the arsenal of democracy can be reliably rolled off a freighter when fleets are sunk and all hell breaks loose everywhere else! It's nuts! And, since I have a bit of familiarity with the process, may I gently remind that this kind of production can't be turned on overnight. It takes planning and purpose and knowledgeable personnel.
AND, it's not like steel manufacturers have been greedy Gus's and they willingly priced themselves out of business. No, it's as simple and tragic as this: foreign entities produced and subsidized the product so that it could be DUMPED on our shores for less than the cost of manufacture. How can you compete with that? You can't. Sooo, we're simply asking for a level playing field. Whether it be through tariffs or some other rational and fair remedy.
BUT, if the naysayers prevail (and they very well might,) let's see, when it comes time to make needful stuff out of a nonexistent supply; let's see if plump portfolios can be a suitable substitute.
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