Harley Davidson took its tax cut, closed a factory, and rewarded shareholders

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Hayabusa Rider

Admin Emeritus & Elite Member
Jan 26, 2000
50,879
4,266
126
I wonder if it is wise for US businesses affected by Trump's tradewar to sort of shutter up or ramp down production, temporarily, to save lost money until the Clown is out of office and the adults return and get back to work fixing this disaster?

A company like AB managed to survive the decade + of Prohibition, which wrecked nearly 95%+(?) of the alcohol industry in the US, but that's because they were able to use their refrigerated rail car technology to transport other goods (like meats and produce) for clients.

The Trump administration is very much the same sort of crisis for US business and agriculture that prohibition was for brewers and distillers--so it might be wise to start pulling back as best as possible until the Trump crisis is over.

Alcohol is a matter of fermentation. Making motorcycles and other investment heavy industries cannot survive. They will go belly up in a week.
 

Zorba

Lifer
Oct 22, 1999
15,244
10,818
136
I can at least understand why you might want to tarrif China and other emerging markets, since they already get a pretty large advantage in ignoring the environment, workplace safety and workers rights. But I have no idea how you can justify tarriffing the EU, Canada or Japan. At least as anything more than dick waving.
 
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Feb 4, 2009
35,248
16,716
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I can at least understand why you might want to tarrif China and other emerging markets, since they already get a pretty large advantage in ignoring the environment, workplace safety and workers rights. But I have no idea how you can justify tarriffing the EU, Canada or Japan. At least as anything more than dick waving.

or making Puti happy
 

dank69

Lifer
Oct 6, 2009
36,129
30,523
136
I can at least understand why you might want to tarrif China and other emerging markets, since they already get a pretty large advantage in ignoring the environment, workplace safety and workers rights. But I have no idea how you can justify tarriffing the EU, Canada or Japan. At least as anything more than dick waving.
Well I'm not sure about the EU or Japan, but Canada is a threat to national security. The others probably are too. Remember when the EU bombed Pearl Harbor and Japan did WTC?
 
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Genx87

Lifer
Apr 8, 2002
41,091
513
126
I can at least understand why you might want to tarrif China and other emerging markets, since they already get a pretty large advantage in ignoring the environment, workplace safety and workers rights. But I have no idea how you can justify tarriffing the EU, Canada or Japan. At least as anything more than dick waving.

There is no justification to any of the tariffs imo. If there is a dumping situation, then bring it before the WTO.
 
Jan 25, 2011
16,699
8,909
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Well I'm not sure about the EU or Japan, but Canada is a threat to national security. The others probably are too. Remember when the EU bombed Pearl Harbor and Japan did WTC?
Hey during 9/11 we forced all your planes to land at our airports and entire communities rallied around to hold your citizens hostage in their homes for days until we got our demands met to be able to fly into the US again.
 
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hal2kilo

Lifer
Feb 24, 2009
24,225
10,878
136
How many more baby boomers are going to buy this latest fad anyway. I'm waiting for it to die, so I can pick one up for a song.
 

shortylickens

No Lifer
Jul 15, 2003
80,287
17,079
136
The worst part is that the chances of the Faithful buying into it are also about 100%. Because Freedom.

It looks like this-

Wealth_line-chart.svg


Based on that it seems like Carter and Reagan were actually pretty good for the average American but somehow George Senior and Clinton and George Junior were awful and Obama didnt help much either.

OR, the President actually has very little influence on the wealth of our nation as a whole.

No wait, that cant be right. Who would we blame?
 

umbrella39

Lifer
Jun 11, 2004
13,816
1,126
126
I feel sorry for the innocents and the children of these workers. For the worker who voted for their own demise (who probably blames Obama for this) not so much...
 

shortylickens

No Lifer
Jul 15, 2003
80,287
17,079
136
Wait a second, didnt Harley Davidson beg congress for a short ban on motorcycle imports so they could get competitive again?
 

kage69

Lifer
Jul 17, 2003
28,746
40,188
136
Imagine how pissed trump voters who worked at that plant are right now. Waaaaaa waaaaaaaa...

Guys, his message to you isn't "help me make America great again," it's closer to "relax your throat, make eye contact."

And you were warned.
 
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Jhhnn

IN MEMORIAM
Nov 11, 1999
62,365
14,681
136
Based on that it seems like Carter and Reagan were actually pretty good for the average American but somehow George Senior and Clinton and George Junior were awful and Obama didnt help much either.

OR, the President actually has very little influence on the wealth of our nation as a whole.

No wait, that cant be right. Who would we blame?

Please. The changes made to tax & regulatory policy during the Reagan years were exactly wrong & have never been fully rectified. The GWB admin rolled them back as well. The GOP tax plan just slides it in a little deeper. The unintended consequences of Trump's trade war won't help, either.

Having a broad & prosperous middle class demands more socialism, not less. It's a function of automation & offshoring as well. More efficiency means fewer jobs for the same amount of whatever.
 
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K1052

Elite Member
Aug 21, 2003
48,094
37,301
136
I believe the President has now directly threatened to destroy HD for moving production.
 
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