Okay, this is a rant. If that offends you, delete this email or skip this blog article. It is unfortunately, election season and I have some tags left. <<< === Good Hunting!

Duties on American Imports Caused the American Revolution

New flash, for those of you who did not pay attention to history class, the American Revolution was started by unfair DUTIES and TRADE RESTRICTIONS of the same sort proposed by Donald Trump.  It’s an old populist ploy to raise taxes on consumers by levying the tax against foreign producers.  Of course, these producers are under profitability pressures just like everyone else, so the cost get passed on to the end consumer who has no one left in the supply chain to pass those costs off to.  Often duties are targeted on luxury goods.  When duties are placed on things everyone does not need for daily life, they are referred to as “sin taxes” because they just make these extravagances more expensive and restrict consumption.  When they are placed on everyday necessities, however, the end consumers are just taxed more.  Don’t kid yourself.  Mexico did not pay for Trump’s failed wall and China will not pay for the duties we place on their exports.  Americans will!

In 1767, the British Parliament passed a series of taxes and duties collectively known as The Townshend Acts.  Like the Trump Duties, these were excises levied against (taxed) goods imported to the American colonies. Parliament did this because they thought the colonists should help pay the cost of their protection. The problem wasn’t the taxes (these were small taxes) or, honestly, that they were enacted without the consent of the American people (Who WANTS to pay taxes? We are all taxed without our consent.)   The real problem with these taxes is they placed the burden of paying for global war Britian fought with France one everyday items so that these cost were unfairly borne by those who could least afford them and for purposes that they had no say in or benefit from.  For example, the Stamp Act of 1765 taxed colonists for every piece of paper they used.  Since this tax only applied to Americans and not all Britons and since all commerce ultimately requires a document, there were widespread protests in America.  These acts were seen as an abuse of power.

Think Trump’s tax on Chinese imports is different.  Do something Trump is not smart enough to try, … follow the money.  Where do the goods imported from China end up?  Amazon, Walmart, embedded in many “made in America” products, unless you are a committed minimalist who makes everything you own from homespun, YOU are the person who will be paying Trump’s duties on products imported from China, not some Chinese industrialist.  The taxes will simply be added onto the price paid; and since we live in a global economy where almost everything we buy as components made all over the world, you will be paying those additional taxes on literally everything you buy.  Problem is that if we all throw our iPhones into the Boston Harbor, China won’t care, they will just make more and charge you for the cost of the clean-up.

The American Revolution was started because a foolish King enacted foolish economic policies.  If we elect Trump as president, he as already clearly stated he plans to rule as a king without the restrictions other presidents have been governed by.  King George destroyed his empire in America.  Do we really want to allow Trump to destroy our empire in America (the Homeland of that empire)? 

Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.  Trump, the world’s biggest loser, FAILED history.  How many times will he be allowed to repeat before we expel him.

---

Remember, Elections only come periodically. We will get past this one and EVENTUALLY, back to normal. In the meantime, relax, have a beer, and remember that true patriots VOTE their conscience not what they are told to vote!

---

Want to have the
Regimental Brewmeister
at your site or event?

You can hire me.

https://colonialbrewer.com/yes-you-can-hire-me-for-your-event-or-site/