Step One: Enact Tariffs—A Tax on American Consumers
First, slap tariffs of 10-25% on the majority of products people buy at Walmart, Target, Amazon, etc. No matter how you phrase it, tariffs don’t magically disappear once they’re enacted — they get passed down to consumers as higher prices. Even better, Trump places these tariffs on longtime allies like Europe and Canada for reasons that, especially in Europe’s case, haven’t been clearly explained.
Meanwhile, he bends over backward to restore ties with Russia — a country that produces almost nothing the U.S. imports, unless you count the assassins Putin sends after Russian dissidents who dare to speak against him. But seriously, name one thing that Russia produces that is exported besides oil and natural gas, which we have plenty of. Does making all our allies mad and supporting Russia make economic sense?
Step Two: Cut Taxes—But Who Really Benefits?
Now, tax cuts. Let’s say there’s a 3% across-the-board tax cut. Yes, I know different income brackets get different cuts, but for argument’s sake, let’s keep it simple. A middle-class American making $40,000 a year gets about a $1,200 tax cut (and often less) at 3%. A high earner making $500,000 gets a $15,000 tax cut — more than 12 times that amount at 3%.
Here’s where it gets fun: thanks to tariffs, costs of goods rise gradually. That $1,200 tax cut for 90% of Americans? It gets eaten up by higher prices on everyday essentials over time. But for the top 10%, their $15,000-$20,000 tax break still leaves them with plenty of extra cash.
So, where do 90% of Americans’ tax cuts go? Right back into paying for the increased cost of living that tariffs provide. And for the top 10%? They take their larger tax breaks and keep moving. That is quite a business move by a supposed businessman.
Maybe we are starting to see why Trump declared bankruptcy six times. He even declared bankruptcy on a casino. How does that happen when the house always wins statistically when you gamble?
Step Three: Slash Social Programs—Because the Wealthy Don’t Need Them
Tax cuts mean less government revenue. And guess what gets cut when that happens? Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and education. Oh, but don’t worry; I’m sure there’s absolutely no fraud or waste in military contracts, so the Pentagon budget will stay just fine.
But why cut these social programs? Well, if you make $500,000+ a year, you probably:
Send your kids to private school. Pay for private health insurance. Fund your own retirement without relying on Social Security.
So, for high earners, cutting these programs doesn’t affect them. But for the 90% of Americans who rely on them? Tough luck.
If I were in the top 10%, maybe I wouldn’t like paying taxes for public schools, Social Security, or healthcare either. But a strong social safety net keeps most Americans from working until they die and prevents a society where only the richest and strongest survive.
So, I don’t know, call me crazy, call me a commie — but “Make America Great Again” is starting to look a whole lot more like The Great Trumpian Bamboozle. And don’t forget many of our elected representatives in Western North Carolina in the House and Senate are tried and true Trumpians. The economic logic just doesn’t seem to add up in this financial plan when you take the cult of Trump out of the picture.
Tim Holloran, Cullowhee