By Bear Howard
Republicans have long championed low taxes, small government, a strong military, and free trade. Remember Ronald Reagan? Well, Donald Trump is delivering exactly what they asked for—but not in the way they imagined.
It seems someone handed our former president a history book from the 1800s, back when America was largely agricultural and didn’t require a large standing army. But that world is long gone. Our entry into World War I on the side of the British reshaped the 20th century, eventually setting the stage for World War II through the punitive terms of the Treaty of Versailles.
Fast forward to today: the idea that tariffs alone can fund the U.S. government is a relic of the past. America is now a consumer-driven economy, and major retailers like Walmart, Target, and Amazon thrive by providing low-cost, disposable goods—most of which are manufactured overseas. If you recall, Walmart began in the 1970s as a “Made in America” brand. But over time, as the company embraced China’s rise as a global manufacturing powerhouse, it effectively became “Walmart China.”
When it comes to trade imbalances, let’s be honest: the problem isn’t China—it’s us. American consumers demanded cheap goods, and countries like China, Taiwan, and Vietnam delivered. In return, those countries used the dollars they earned to buy U.S. Treasury bonds—helping finance Trump’s tax cuts for the wealthy. As of 2025, China holds over $760 billion in U.S. Treasury securities.
And what about agriculture? While Republicans talk a big game about free markets, U.S. agriculture relies heavily on government subsidies and international trade deals to survive. Each year, the federal government funnels over $30 billion in subsidies to farm businesses, including payments for crop insurance, disaster relief, and commodity programs—especially for large agribusinesses. These subsidies allow U.S. farmers to dump cheap corn, soybeans, and wheat into foreign markets, undercutting local farmers in developing nations and distorting global prices. It’s hardly a “free market” when your competition is backed by billions in government support.
Now Trump wants to double down: more tax cuts for the wealthy, paired with tariffs on the very imports that working-class Americans depend on. Ironically, it’s his own base—many of whom live in rural, agricultural communities that rely on export markets and affordable goods from places like Walmart—who will suffer most.
Even Congress is beginning to acknowledge what many already suspect: Trump is a lame duck. Not even Elon Musk’s billions can guarantee reelection for anyone.
The tariff war launched by Trump and Elon Musk has exposed just how vulnerable America is when the rest of the world decides to retaliate with tariffs of their own—or simply turn to other markets. Yes, the U.S. remains the world’s largest single-country economy, with a GDP of over $29 trillion, accounting for about 26% of global output. But we’re only 4% of the world’s population. The other 94% could choose to trade among themselves, sidestepping American tariffs and economic policies.
That’s not just theoretical. Around the globe, regional trade agreements and alliances are already being formed with the goal of minimizing reliance on the United States. Many countries now view America as an unreliable and unpredictable partner.
So, to the party of small government and free markets: be careful what you ask for. You just might get it—and then some.
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6 Comments
Bear
the entity currently holding the government hostage is not the GOP! The GOP died with the Tea Party concept of insurrection against laws and norms. What we have currently running the country is a criminal fascist gang of incompetence called MAGA!
MAGA does not believe in anything other than repression and oppression of others while lining their GREEDY gilded pockets with ill gotten GRIFTED wealth!
Racist Republicans used to be Dixiecrats, then they scuttled over to the GOP. Now they have scuttled away from the GOP and will forever be known as the fascist CRIMINAL party of MAGA just as Nazi’s will forever be associated with Hitler and Mussolini!
Of course they have always been too damned cowardly to admit what they are, what they want and why and that is because HATE, RACISM, GREED and IGNORANCE are the worse traits of mankind and though they are proud to do evil hateful things to others they do so with anonymity or in groups so individuals cannot easily be found out for exactly what they are- Fascist Scumbags!
Links to claims in my previous post-
The Secret Service spent nearly $2 million at Trump properties
https://www.citizensforethics.org/reports-investigations/crew-investigations/the-secret-service-spent-nearly-2-million-at-trump-properties/
Trump overcharged Secret Service by 300% for accommodations at his hotels
This article is more than 5 months old
House oversight committee’s report further called the ex-president’s term ‘world’s greatest get-rich-quick scheme’
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/oct/18/trump-overcharge-secret-service-hotel
Trump hotels charged his Secret Service protectors ‘exorbitant’ rates
https://www.npr.org/2022/10/17/1129491352/trump-hotels-overcharged-secret-service-agents
Well look what Drill Baby Drill results in! It is estimated that 3,500 barrels of oil were released and said the spill was confined to an agricultural field in a rural area. The protesters who protested the pipeline the building of this unnecessary out dated source of energy predicted would happen. Did DOGE compensate the owner of the “Agricultural field”? Of course not.
Does Trumpet care about the contamination this spill will cause to water, agriculture, livestock, wildlife and humans! Of course not! Is the EPA going to contain and then decontaminate all that has been contaminated? What EPA? And again- Of course not!
Can’t wait until MAGA ignorance does the same and worse to our Federal Lands, National Parks and our primary source of water The Colorado River.
As Trump repeatedly states, “We” (as in he and his sycophants) are going to be absolutely rich”. What he doesn’t say is who exactly will be rich, but as already stated that is pretty obvious isn’t it? You also hear nada about safety, oversight or environmental protections. That’s because none of those things exists anymore! Why because “We” need to get rich! And absolutely nothing else with the exception of ridding the country of brown and black people will get in his way.
I’m guessing he plans on retiring his ill gotten crown one day and will move to Russia with fellow Democracy haters Putin, Snowden and Segal. Peas in a pod that’s for certain, except Segal and Putin can actually fight for themselves.
Keystone oil pipeline shutdown could quickly lead to higher gasoline prices https://www.azfamily.com/2025/04/08/keystone-oil-pipeline-shut-down-after-rupture-spill-north-dakota/
Oil price futures today are where they were January 2020 before Biden’s handlers went on an anti energy rampage. Gas prices have been falling for over a month.
Out federal lands belong to the people, and the vast federal lands out west should NOT belong to the Federal Government. Those lands were to be turned over to the states when the territories agreed to become a state, like what happened to all the states EAST of the Rockies, primarily where the “western States” used to be. IL, MO, AR,and even FL. They all had to sue the federal government to get the land they were entitled to.
A little history, and that fight is still ongoing.
yes – there is going to be oil spills and other issues, the risk that you incur when you develop natural resources. If Human Flourishing is not your baseline then some re-evaluation needs to be examined. You learn form mistakes and fix them.
“Out federal lands belong to the people, and the vast federal lands out west should NOT belong to the Federal Government. Those lands were to be turned over to the states when the territories agreed to become a state, like what happened to all the states EAST of the Rockies, primarily where the “western States” used to be. IL, MO, AR,and even FL. They all had to sue the federal government to get the land they were entitled to.“
Hmmm seems to me Teddy Rough Rider Roosevelt designated those lands as Federal Reserves/National Parks long long after the “territories” became the states they are today and were under Uncle Teddy.
Theodore Roosevelt and Conservation
“We have fallen heirs to the most glorious heritage a people ever received, and each one must do his part if we wish to show that the nation is worthy of its good fortune.” – Theodore Roosevelt
(Note: no drill baby drill on these lands)
https://www.nps.gov/thro/learn/historyculture/theodore-roosevelt-and-conservation.htm#:~:text=After%20becoming%20president%20in%201901,by%20enabling%20the%201906%20American
List of U.S. states by date of admission to the Union
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_by_date_of_admission_to_the_Union
A little bit of REAL FACTUAL non MAGA Alternative History! And that’s why the Department of Education was founded, so people could learn and understand FACTS! Not Dumpy excuses for crimes committed or to be committed!
Sorry JB whoever you are. That dog don’t hunt.
https://www.americanlandscouncil.org/
When the federal government wanted a territory to join the union as a state, the deal was that the state retained the rights to its land, NOT the feds. Arizona is 47% federal property, not including the reservations. We get a PILT payment (Payment in lieu of taxes) which averages $.62 (yes, cents) per acre. Private property and state lands generate and average $50 an acre. Most of which goes to education.
A little history on the expansion of the United States. The eastern states, which used to be the western states had to sue the government to get their land. Now only about 6% of the eastern states are federal. As it should be, and the eastern states do a heck of a good job managing their parks, open lands and resources, much better than out in the western states. Especially the resources.
Drill baby drill – real funny, except the eastern states did the same thing and they are still pumping. Sorry to pop your bubble whoever you are.