Would, or could, the nations of the world join forces and punish the US economically?

Could they? Yes, of course. They could decide to boycott or sanction the US in the same way that the US is trying to punish Venezuela and Iran.

Would it work? Doubtful. There are simply too many products and services that are US-based and it would be enormously difficult to do without everything and anything made in the US. And if a group of countries tried to do so, there would be an effect on the standard of living in those other countries.

Not to say they wouldn’t try. Russia and China are working on this.

Where is the motivation to do so

@ARE_you_kidding_me I guess to stop us disrupting people’s lives? I don’t know much, but aren’t the China things diminishing the life-quality of over a billion people? Or if nothing else, couldn’t the US at some point become so erratic a trade partner that the other governments just band together and import/export among themselves, and trade with the US only with stuff they can’t get anywhere else?

Why bother? Under the jackass, it is difficult to envision the country doing a better job of punishing itself.

I don’t think they can afford to ‘punish’ us. We are the third largest exporter, behind the EU and China. We import more than we export, which is why the trade deficit is in the billions.

So they can sell to another buyer if they choose, we have food, feed and beverages, so if ya’ll can do without some imported cars, cell phones and tv’s, we’ll be fine.

“Food exports are falling since many countries don’t like U.S. food processing standards. That was a major block to the Obama administration’s negotiation of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership.”
https://www.thebalance.com/u-s-imports-and-exports-components-and-statistics-3306270

Could? Yes.
Should? Hell, yes.
Would? Very unlikely.

What the fool has achieved is the certain demonstration that the world MUST divorce itself from the policies and goals of the United States. That is the single takeaway these days in dealing with the fool, and don’t think the rest of the world hasn’t noticed. The idiot’s slapshot policy of promulgating asshole politics does away with any nation looking our way for leadership. And this has dire implications for us and our overdrawn credit card. The Chinese, Russians, Iranians etc. are hell bent on reducing the dollar’s supremacy as the reference currency for the world. We have the temporary
good fortune in that this goal cannot be achieved overnight without the subsequent destruction of all involved. BUT even partial realization of this goal will demonstrate emphatically and rather abruptly our bankrupt reality as our living standards plunge beyond great depression memories.

I went to a lecture on trade, and it seemed to me the US has a tremendous amount of negotiating power. Countries join together when negotiating with us, because they perceive us as having a big advantage. I think yes, of course countries could get together and boycott us, but I think it’s very doubtful it would happen considering the power we still have regarding trade. You never know though. Certainly, some countries could do it without much problem, and I think it would mean something significant to stop trade with America. It might be the beginning of a bigger movement, and could get bigger than I would expect. I don’t think countries are inclined to punish themselves and America because of one 4 year president though. This is a moment in time.

The problem is that the fool is forcing the world’s nations to seek a workaround from the United States. Whatever they come up with, the odds are that improvements they discover will not disappear along with the fool. It’s true that it’s difficult to maintain a viable economy while enduring the enmity of the United States. Iran illustrates this point in spades. However, Iran now finds itself allied with others in the necessity to escape the American yoke, and there will never be a greater incentive to seek America free solutions than Donald J Trump. We don’t need the nations of the world seeking to dump us.

The world doesn’t want to lose doing business with the US…

They should have sanctioned us, when we started the second Iraq War, without the UN’s approval. But they didn’t… If they didn’t do it then, why now?.....

@JLeslie ‘moment in time’ GA!!!

The Second World War was a “moment in time” as was the great depression. The world doesn’t want to lose doing business with the U. S? True. But business with the fool is quite another matter. Any consensus to wait out the remaining year and a half is counter balanced by the disruptive and volatile head up his ass personality which threatens eruption without discernible warning or reason. The fool has given the world the “opportunity” to discover just how indispensable America might be to its well being and its the sort of test we can ill afford. When the world finds a way out, you can bet your ass that this place will suffer for it.

@stanley Will your head explode if he wins a second term?

He is on track to do just that unless the left comes out in record numbers to vote or fields a center leaning candidate.

@KNOWITALL My head will be just fine. I have the good luck
to be in the bunch that does well regardless of who is in power, you know, the crowd I’m constantly warning you against. MY passport’s in order, and I’m well vested elsewhere. I would advise you to see to your own contingencies.

“or fields a center leaning candidate.”
They tried that with Hillary. Did not work out so well.
And they will likely try again with Biden. It will be the same outcome.

@stanleybmanly Absolutely true that WWII was a moment, and the Great Depression, and if things were that bad I’m right with you. We need to be vigilant as we watch what is happening. Right now I don’t see us at the point of WWII or the Great Depression, but I do feel we skirt around the edge of a huge hole that we could fall into where many could get hurt and it would be very difficult for the country to get out. But, I don’t think other countries are at the point of castigating us, it’s more our own internal battle in my mind at this point.

I’d take Biden over Trump.

It is the same thing with the SPD in Germany. The “S” stands for “social democratic”, but in the past decades, they more and more became nothing but CDU light, by shifting more and more to the right. So of course they are tanking in elections and polls, but they just do not get it.
As a party, you must ask yourself, “What do we stand for?”

@stanleybmanly Ohhhhhh, I’ve heard a lot about people leaving the country but they never actually do. Good luck on your travels…lol

I’m not gone yet. And the fool has yet to win that second term. And if I should leave—it won’t be ME who will need the luck!

@stanleybmanly I wouldn’t think you’d let someone like Trump run you out of your own country.
I’ve always thought people who said that were odd. No one should have that much power over you or your emotions, not even Trump.

Some years ago, a lot of people regretted not getting out of Germany while they were able to.

This country used to have great potential. It still does.

If the right keeps trying to make the country into something that most don’t want, they will eventually face revolution. Either in elections, or the streets. Whichever…

I have no intention of leaving. I’d rather stay, and ensure everything the right stole, will burn…

Their time is almost up anyways. Most of the right-wingers, are older white men. They will die out. Religion, is dying too (thank God.)
The right’s entire way of life will be overrun by the winds of change. The only thing they will accomplish, by their war on non-white/non-Christians, is making a lot of people suffer along the way… In many cases, they are hastening their own demise.

@KNOWITALL You miss the point. It won’t be Trump. It was NEVER Trump. Trump is merely the notice that this may no longer be MY country. Confirmation that this is a nation of idiots is of little solace when you are numbered amongst them. It reminds me of the opposition from the naysayers as I fled Nebraska. Do you know the difference between an emigrant and a refugee? The basic answer is that the refugee waits too long.

@stanleybmanly All I know is that according to your posts, you don’t believe anything close to what I do, and I can’t stand all this liberal nonsense lately. So you can bet that even people who didn’t vote Trump last time, will be voting for him this time.

You’ve done it to yourselves and many of us have openly told you guys this for the last few years of constant bullying tactics, witchhunts, demands for taxes he has no desire to give you, Kavanaugh, abortion-pretty much anything you could have done to piss of a conservative, you have done-times three. So I don’t feel sorry for you one tiny bit. Bye Felicia.

Prior to my departure, you should know that I am considerably relieved that you don’t feel sorry for me. The fact that The 2 of us disagree I shall attribute to bad luck on the part of one of us. Meanwhile, I would suggest that instead of relying on the fool for your entertainment, you look into what Marx had to say about end stage capitalism. See if it rings any bells.

K I will.

People are funny.

And pathetic

@stanleybmanly where do you think you’ll go?

I’ve always heard that New Zealand, is a great place for American, or English speaking people. And it’s gorgeous there.

They have pretty tough immigration laws.

@ARE you kidding me. I have devoted considerable thought to that question, and settled on 2 probable destinations. More important than where is the question of shielding my net worth from whatever exigencies hasten my departure, but I’m once again thinking out loud here. Do the rest of you consider such matters?

Of course, it’s a good idea to think of such contongencies. New Zealand topped my list for the reasons mentioned above but it’s hard to immigrate there. I looked at south of the border where there are some sparse oasis with low cost of living. All in all the US is a good place still. I’m a little more sympathetic to viewing Trump as sort of a canary in a coal mine. 2020 will be interesting. He is a baffoon yes, but he is mostly a counter reaction to the direction the left is taking.

You are making the same mistake as the Trumpers and liberals themselves in confusing liberals with “the left”. What passes as liberals are certainly to the left of what TODAY passes for conservatives, but they are not leftists. They are moderates, and barely that. They are actually to the right of people like Nixon. @KNOWITALL has a legitimate point in that liberals have failed left behind America. The mistake in the analysis is with such objections as “constant bullying tactics, witchhunts, demands for taxes..,” These sorts of ideas leave suckers allied precisely with those who are robbing them blind. Now liberals are aware of this, but liberals in the main are the educated class in this country, and prosper from educations tailoring them to service the corporate machinery. Just have a look at that taxes accusation, and consider this: for better than 40 years, the Republican party has been preaching that it will cut everyone’s taxes. In that 40 years, conservatives have consistently and WITHOUT FAIL cut taxes for the rich and corporations, and given the suckers less than crumbs. And yet, none of the suckers seem to notice. I am a liberal, because I have benefitted from every one of those tax cuts. I am a hypocrite and admit it openly. I preach here telling these people they’re being robbed, but poor KNOWITALL , is telling me “you did it to yourselves” as Trump’s tax cut enables me to escape the hell hole left as those tax cuts strangle ever more of the institutions and services which render this place habitable. But never mind. Who needs public schools or public parks? Just go on listening to “government is the problem” never asking “problem for whom?” The guy who wants a public library, or the guy who wants to dump sludge in the stream behind your house? But this is pointless. Gotta start packing.

@stanleybmanly This ‘poor sucker’ would never abandon her country, no matter which fool is in office.

If we ever start doing what China does to political dissent I’m gone. We are nowhere near it though.

It will happen as it becomes necessary. The machinery is in place, and all of the “homeland security” protocols enacted to dodge the constitution. And @KNOWITALL, your take on my “cowardice under fire” is admirable. It must seem shameful that I appear ready to abandon my country. In truth I probably won’t go anywhere, just as you predict. But it is more than the near certainty of the upcoming disruptions in a society with violent tendencies and its citizens armed to the teeth. What I find hopeless is those like yourself, good basic people who fail to recognize that it is their country that has been engineered to abandon THEM. People who refuse to catch on that there might be some disconnect in the fact that the more ravaged and destitute the landscape, the greater the certainty of entrenched conservative politics. People prepared to believe their plight due to folks more desperate than themselves, Mexicans or folks on welfare. People who battle to resist abortion instead of wondering why there isn’t enough money to pay their kid’s teacher or pave the road in front of their house.

@stanleybmanly lol, you are funny, but I feel like you are being serious, so I’ll treat it as such.

Do you think we in the flyover country trust the govt? Any of it? Please don’t fool yourself. The whole reason Trump got elected is because he was not groomed to be President, said he’d piss a lot of people off, etc…and many still believe that he is doing that and that’s why the Dems come after him constantly.

Why do you think we are armed and defend that 2nd Amend right? It’s not to shoot liberals, I promise…lol It’s our right, and yes, we know there’s tanks and all kinds of things that would blow our little guns out of here if it came down to that, but there’s also something to be said for a large part of the country being armed. Not everyone just throws down the bump stocks and AK’s because the govt wants them to….lol I think you’d be surprised tbh.

I already knew the chances of you leaving were slim to none, but I understand disillusionment and frustration with the current system and political parties. In some aspects perhaps we even believe some of the same things.

As far as Mexicans and welfare, I think you left out the “illegal” and “misuse/ fraud”, which many of us here see daily. Maybe you don’t, but it’s true.

With the exception of homeless shelters, and ERs, most aid (financial or otherwise) requires a social security number. They (illegals) don’t even use our tax provided police, for fear of deportation…

Many people in “flyover country,” have made themselves plenty of money paying for illegal immigrants to work their farms, or construction sites, at discount prices. If anything, most Trumpers have likely benefited, from illegal immigrants…

The issue with illegal immigration is that it’s Illegal and people are perfectly ok with our laws being ignored. Immigation just needs proper reform and enforement. The USA needs to do what it can to help improve the living conditions in central and south america because that’s the real issue. Also, a good number of the people working those farms are here legally on work visas too. It hard as an outsider to tell.

@KNOWITALL Since you and I agree that the government does NOT serve the people, the question arises: then who DOES it serve? illegal immigrants and folks on welfare? Are they the reason the middle class is gutted and weeds grow in the main streets of flyover America? If you’re down and out, who but the government should you expect to consider YOUR welfare? Wall Street? Citibank? Donald Trump? The Better Business Bureau?

@stanleybmanly They serve themselves, it’s a little elite club, making the rules and nothing more imo. How many pics of Trump with Hillary need to be shown before people get the picture. How many flip flops in political stance by how many politicians? It’s a game and we are the pawns, and they are the only ones who benefit. Their kids are making bank as lobbyists, not your kids.

There aren’t weeds on my main street, I’m not gutted, I’m happy, I have savings, I’m doing all right.

I don’t expect you or anyone else to take care of me…haha, certainly NOT the govt, that’s why I have an IRA and 401k and almost zero bills.

Franky, to some degree, I do think they are serving illegal immigrants and folks on welfare far more than they are serving the middle class. Do you think your sanctuary cities accept white folks who are down and out? I have no idea, may be interesting to know.

I’m actually not afraid of gov’t, I’m afraid of the people who would let it burn to the ground just to serve their own agenda. Gov’t is not out to get us they largely do what we want them to. That’s a tad scary to me because I can see Idiocracy unfolding before my very eyes.

And here is our ultimate disagreement. The inability to see past the consequences of voting for Trump “because we’re pissed.” And when those consequences stare you dead in the face. “Well at least he angers the Democrats.” And you’re dead wrong about that slim to none assessment. When the time comes for the armed defense against the government issuing your Social Security check I will watch your bumpstock regulars from abroad. Even by then you won’t understand that it is not the liberals, welfare cheats or illegal aliens behind the forces arrayed against you. As I said previously, Trump will see to it is that I get mine and YOU will pay me. It’s sort of an ironic twist on his promise of the wall and Mexico.

@JLeslie I’ve never looked at it from that angle. It seems to me that the world isn’t nearly as concerned with President Trump as they are with the fact that We The People have become so dysfunctional as to allow him to happen. I’ll have to try on your optimism and see whether it fits. Especially about saying goodbye to President Trump in 2020. I gave up most of my hope in 2016, and the last shreds of it in 2018. Peace

@stanleybmanly When illegals and people on welfare have more food, better housing and nicer phones and clothes than you, you get pissed. Especially when you bust your butt working multiple jobs so you make ‘too much’ to get a dollar of food stamps, but you are paying a mortgage, a car payment or hospital bills.

I admit, I was pissed. I’ll also admit, I still am. Pissed enough to vote Trump in 2020, we’ll see.

And I honestly don’t see any benefit to the Dem platforms for my family either.

I don’t really buy into paranoia, but I guess we’ll see.

Oh come on, the left is going straight down the authoritarian path just like the conservatives are. You can’t so much a tweet something that may be taken out of context or may offend some minority without people coming out of the woodwork to destroy you. It’s not even gov’t doing that. It’s the torch of social justice and their newspeak dictionary. Fuck free speech when someone gets offended. Anything that goes against that train is labeled racist or hate speech regardless if it is or not. Hell with that. Aside from the political divide, white/ black attitude people have that’s more scary than Trump to me. Throwing that grenade in the oval office did not get it to stop either, it made it all worse. If it was not for the volume on the identity politics, and SJW crap you would not have this situation at all. Hell, there would probably be a Democrat in office. Identity politics matter but they don’t get the first check on the problems list,bthey’re way down there but the relentless push to put that first is the Achilles heel of the left. It’s unrecoverable and there will be a republican in office until they are more reasonable about it and don’t use it as a political weapon.

Hi @KNOWITALL, I’m really sorry to hear what you’re going through; that stinks. I’m curious, are you saying you feel confident that President Trump’s efforts will solve that problem in your life? I’ll assume “yes” for the moment—correct me. Do you think blocking refugees will be enough, or will there have to be other measures, like deportations or the like? I don’t know what the president has in mind concerning welfare. My guess would be that he intends to cut it sharply, to make it harder for people to get it, something like that?

I guess, just in general, what steps do you think he will take, or what kind of road map has he laid out, that relates to improving your situation? Sorry if I misunderstood you, or guessed wrong at your answer. Very interested to know your thoughts. I hope it gets better for you.

Peace and luck

@KNOWITALL This is what I mean. You are telling me that you believe illegal immigrants and welfare cheats are actually doing better than yourself. I suppose their savings and 401ks exceed your own as well. No grass in their streets either. Do you actually believe that it is government tolerance and largesse on behalf of these people that is responsible for the decline of the middle class?

@SaganRitual No, you misunderstood, I didn’t mean me, I meant other people in my area. I’m fine…lol I have worked multiple jobs many times in my life and still do, so I don’t have to stress.

I want people who work and run into a bad circumstance, to be able to get help.

Honestly, I don’t care about Dreamers staying, but I think they should get legal. And be pardoned from any deportation if they have started the process with the govt.

Trump is giving the people in the Midwest hope. Kind of like Obama did with Dems. There are many steps he could and will take if he wins again, I hope, probably too many to discuss on this Q.

@stanleybmanly Oh Stan, I guess you don’t see what the rest of us see. What state are you in?

A state of disbelief.

@stanleybmanly I’m starting to like you Stan. That was clever. :)

@KNOWITALL Sadly, it seems that what President Trump is doing differs rather sharply from what former President Obama was doing. President Obama was proposing hope for everyone. Some who opposed him probably felt that he was somehow excluding them, but that was, at worst, a problem with President Obama’s politics, not his attitude toward people. He intended all Americans when he offered hope.

On the other hand, President Trump is focusing on a single group, vilifying everyone outside the group. I hope you don’t feel upset for me to say so. It seems a neutral statement of fact, but I welcome your perspective if you differ. I’m glad to hear that the Obama presidency was not harmful to you and yours. Peace

@KNOWITALL But this is what I’m saying. The people that actually DO have all of those things that ordinary working people find increasingly unaffordable aren’t even considered in your view of the world. When I tell you that Trump has seen to it that struggling people here finance my escape from the upcoming debacle, you don’t give it a second thought. I am in California. And I feel that the rest of you DON’T see what’s right in front of you.

And please, please, please, if there is nothing else I hope you understand, it is this: whatever problems beset this country and its struggling middle class, POOR PEOPLE ARE NOT THE PROBLEM. It is absolutely essential that you understand this. Immigrants and welfare recipients are but a convenient distraction from what REALLY ails us. And the problem isn’t Democrats and Republicans either. They amount to a choice between Billy the kid and Jessie James.
Both parties serve the same masters, and as you’ve surmised, it isn’t you or those like you. So what are you going to do about it? If your answer is Donald Trump, you must understand that this choice is beyond abandoning your country.

@KNOWITALL . To say that the Dems won’t benefit your family, is incorrect. I assume that your family would like clean drinking water, an environment that won’t lead to cataclysmic problems down the road, and affordable health care. The environment, corporate waste responsibilities, and health care, are their core concerns.
If you would like to say that the Dems are divided, or even unsure of how to tackle these issues, you will get no argument from me. The democratic party seems to be keeping hope alive in the “but we aren’t Trump” strategy. Which is, a big deal. But isn’t (I don’t think) providing much otherwise, as far as realistic ideas being touted.

As far as welfare/aid recipients having nicer phones, clothes etc. That’s an extreme anomaly, where I live. But… I did have to spend some weeks in the unemployment, and welfare office, when I was recovering from my ACL surgery. One day, at the welfare office, I was sitting next to a lady who had big gold earings, several gold necklaces, gold bracelets, and gold rings. She had, what I can only guess was a nice dress, and probably a $300 haircut. I can’t attest, as to why she was there, but I thought it was in very poor taste. I had already pawned almost everything I had, before I saught aid… So… I can see why some examples of aid recipients , would piss you off… But, as I said, she is an anomaly.

I know a lady, who works at a Pizza Hut downtown. She works full time there, but lives in the homeless shelter a few blocks away. The struggle is real, for many…

Should there be changes made, in the “system?” Undoubtedly…
However, IMO, if the US can give aid to other countries, they can/should give it to their own citizens.

My stance on illegals (ones already here, is that yes, they should work towards becoming legal. But many are positive parts of our communities. So, I don’t want them deported, or starving (not that you said that you want that, but many Trumpers do.)

I agree with Stanley. Voting for Trump, is only hurting the country. I personally see you as a better person, than voting for reasons of spite. But it’s your right… Just like it’s my right, not to vote…