Plain & Unmasked: Decoding Tariffs and Immigration

In the long run, who do you think benefits when a company closes? The business or its’ employees? A few weeks ago, I attended a virtual town hall hosted by Debbie Dingell with over 10,000 of my fellow community members. While the host and her team were most gracious presenters, I left the meeting feeling a bit disappointed, particularly regarding her stance and lack of explanation on tariffs.

At the time of the meeting, no one knew if or what these impending tariffs would be, yet Dingell seemed to ride the fence when asked directly about the issue. She alluded to automotive workers being for it because it would lead to job creation here in the United States. She recently reiterated her position this week on CNN.

Tariffs

What Dingell has failed to mention during her interviews and during that conference call is, how tariffs ultimately benefit the rich and hurt everyday people. Tariffs are a TAX on goods. Period. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand that if a company or developer has to pay more, then they will charge more. The likelihood of them charging customers exactly what they pay is absurd. Business in its simplest terms is about generating a profit. So, this tariff concept SHOULD BE simple for most of us to grasp.

In addition, the reason why we have INCOME TAX today is because this grand idea was tried before, and it didn’t work. This led to the creation of the income tax; a tax based off of EARNINGS. It doesn’t take a mathematician to understand that based on this concept, people who MAKE (earn more) more would pay more income tax. Furthermore, this directly impacts not only tariffs but also immigration as it provides context as to why certain people are for or against it. Like tariffs, immigration is another assault on the working class because the employer class aka those who earn a lot, are the ones who ultimately benefits.

Culture Wars

Everyday people actually believe that immigrants are taking their jobs. This is disingenuous at best and misleading at its worst. They never mention that most of these jobs are often low paying opportunities that employees really don’t want OR jobs they really cannot do. This history of immigration in this country proves this fact. Every century has been led by a small group of heavy earners who became profitable off of current market and growth trends. Not only do they earn profits, but these heavy earners also dictate our culture-based value system. It keeps the uninformed at battle with each other rather than focusing on the larger issue.

During the 1800's, agriculture was the leading economic source for America. This enabled the likes of Rockerfeller, Carnegie and Vanderbilt, who were the richest earners during this century, CONTROLLED the economic sector. During the 1900's it was the manufacturing industry that was the leading economic source for America, and today our economy is driven by the innovation age and leading innovators. Land has also always been a profitable commodity in American. All of these factors directly impact immigration and our economy. They also should give you a clue as to who controls and benefits from the world economic system.

Even in earlier times, immigration was about the battle of profits and jobs! Keep in mind that immigrants' options and resources are LIMITED. Whatever jobs they have both past and present are either low paying jobs that most of us would rather NOT work or jobs we cannot do. Tariffs further complicate this issue because if you factor in trade, you will see how this will have a trickle-down effect on services. For whom you might ask? All of us! A lot of immigrants work in the hospitality, manufacturing, food and agriculture industries which by the way, is why these companies employ them at lower earnings. The powers that be are fully aware of this and recognize that lay folk usually gloss over these details when discussing immigration. That is the goal - DIVIDE and CONQUER. My guess is most of the eliminated jobs will not be immediately replaced, thus leading to a smaller workforce and eventually more profits for the EMPLOYER class.

So, in the end Rep. Dingell is perhaps correct in saying tariffs will create the possibility of more jobs because both Immigration crisis and tariffs will lead to a void that will need to be filled. But at what cost?

• Higher Unemployment

• Reduced Wages and Economic Opportunities

• Lower Corporate Investment & Consumer Spending

  
  

  In the long run who do you think benefits, the working class or the heavy earners?

  
  

  History has given us clues that we should consider!

Read Write Inspire

RDW