5mo ago

Trump set to whack US working class with historic $3,000 tax hike

www.commondreams.org

Trump Set to Whack US Working Class With Historic $3,000 Tax Hike | Common Dreams

Summary

Donald Trump is poised to impose massive import tariffs on goods from Canada, Mexico, and China, effectively raising taxes on U.S. households by an estimated $3,000 annually.

Unlike past tax increases that targeted the wealthy, these tariffs disproportionately impact low- and middle-income workers.

While Trump claims the measures address immigration and fentanyl concerns, experts argue they serve as a revenue source to offset tax cuts for the rich.

Critics contend that Trump's tariffs lack a clear industrial strategy and primarily burden American consumers.

politics @lemmy.world

Jolly Platypus @lemm.ee

5mo ago

Trump Set to Whack US Working Class With Historic $3,000 Tax Hike | Common Dreams

www.commondreams.org /opinion/trump-tariffs-tax-hike-working-class

91 comments

If only this could have been seen coming ... there were really just no warning signs ... I'm tired.
- Exactly, I wasn't so much shocked as I was surprised Harris lost. I mean how can so many people be that dense as to vote for Trump?
  
  What gets me is that there were millions who couldn't be bothered to vote against Trump.
  imho Biden/Harris shouldn't have had to do anything whatever. People should have just shown up and said 'no' to anotehr Trump term.
  
  "People keep acting like a trump win will be the end of democracy, but thats just hyperbole. He wont end democracy."
  -bad faith trolls
- Why did biden do this
  
  Thanks, Obam-na
  
  Where is Kamala now? Why doesn't she do something against this?
- Hey that's my line. Up vote.
- No they said they were going to. It was very clear that your countrymen decided exactly this.
- Unpopular opinion but I'm not seeing many people put any blame on Biden for dropping out after the very first debate. The whole "too old" argument was extremely weak and, unfortunately, a large chunk of men in the United States will never vote for a woman. No matter how strong her stance is, what qualifications, or anything, they are staunchly against a woman in power.
  It's unfortunate but dropping out and nominating the VP that nobody really knew for doing anything during the 4 years of Biden wasn't the best option, especially because people felt like they didn't vote for her, and the aforementioned sexism that still exists. If they put Walz up, or even Beto, they would have been better options IMO.
  Edit: Not seeing much discussion, just downvotes. If Lemmy is to be better than Reddit I recommend not downvoting only because you disagree.
  
  Yeah, Biden could have done differently.
  You know what would be better? If ~23% of the populous weren't hateful ignorant cultists intent on installing christofascism to their own obvious detriment. To hell with bitching about what democrats do wrong (most things if we're being honest). The blame lies with every republican that voted for mango Mussolini and we shouldn't let them forget it.
- To be fair, COVID-19 was also a factor in 2020
  
  Though the orange goon's abysmal handling of the situation didn't help.
- he has such a wierd stance. he such severe lordosis from the lifts and girdle.
  
  I think the off-center weight in his diaper fucks with his center of gravity.
Remember, if you see someone stealing food, no you didn't.
I thought DOGE saved taxpayer money. Since the cost of government spending is lower, taxes should be lowered. This Trump and Elon are scammers if taxes are not lowered.
- Only if you make over 360k a year and above.
- It saves it for distribution to billionaires.
- The doge website is filled with shit like "We saved a million dollars by cutting a program that feeds starving babies" and I just have to laugh. One million isn't even enough for the average person to retire on, the government is operating at a $1.7 TRILLION deficit PER YEAR.
- Wait you mean this guys don’t actually create value?! OMG this whole time!
When did sabotaging your own economy become a hallmark of leadership? Asking for 300 million friends.
🐱🐱🐱🐱
- He works for Putin. He’s been very successful at following his orders.
I kept saying this, and I'm glad others are realizing it.
He steamrolled tariffs because it's a tax on the working class. He will never raise taxes for the ruling class.
- At this point I think it's just market manipulation. They are already going back on some of the tariffs.
  
  Which ones?
- Is taxing his own corporation to generate revenue also a tax on his citizens?
  Edit) What I mean is, are domestic taxes less harmful than tariffs, should domestic corporate taxes also be as low as possible?
  
  I think you're confusing Trump's ill-informed theory with actually theory and practice.
  If foreign goods are taxed, those companies will not simply absorb the hit to their profits. They will instead increase their prices, which hurts the consumer.
  You may be thinking, "then won't consumers buy other products?" If so, you need to think a step further. Are there other products that are just as cheap? Will other companies simply raise their prices to match and take advantage of the extra profit? Are there even locally made alternatives to the product, and, if so, are they cheaper than even the tariff price?
  In practice, tariffs are only effective if there are local competitors within the same price bracket, and your populace can absorb the difference in price without much pain.
  https://www.usimportdata.com/blogs/top-10-us-Imports-data-by-country-product-hs-code-database Electronics, vehicles, fuels, medicines, and plastics are among our top imports. Home built vehicles are usually expensive. For example, when you think cheap, you think of a Toyota Corolla or a Honda Civic something. We know fuel is important. Medicines are not an optional cost. Plastics are part of everything. Our economy relies a lot on imports. The US shifted away from manufacturing and towards a service economy a long time ago. We don't have a many home-built goods as we used to.
  Tariffs will hurt the average citizen by corporations increasing their prices to absorb the profit losses imposed by the tariffs. There are often no comparable local alternatives, and many of these goods are not optional. Americans will pay this price. In effect, this makes it a tax on normal citizens
  Personally, I like the idea of restoring local manufacturing, and I think tariffs can play a role in this... but to do so without harming citizens requires subsidizing local industry to provide cheaper homemade alternatives along with a more gradual adjustment. We would also need to reduce the cost of living in order to make lower wages livable such that the labor cost of local manufacturing is lower. But we all know that's not happening - we desperately need wages to go up right now to make the cost of living bearable. Slapping double-digit tariffs on goods suddenly is a great way to destabilize an economy. So uh... fuck Trump.
  
  Oh wow. One might just think you're a taint-licking moron, and they'd be right.
  
  Is this supposed to make sense? Moron.
  
  Corporate welfare must end. Welfare for billionaires must also end. That's your tax dollars at work.
  Here's an article showing that individuals, not just corporations, get abundant welfare in the hundreds of millions.
  Reason.com
😂😂😂 Oh boy those MAGA idiots that were complaining about inflation and thought voting for Trump would help them. 🤣🤣🤣
How's that going for you? 🤡🤡🤡
- They'd cut off their nose to spite their face. As long as people they don't like are hurting, they'll suffer as well. They'll probably just find a way to blame Biden or Obama again.
  
  They won’t actually find a way. They’ll just make up shit that Trump was actually responsible for.
Finally someone says what it is.
TARRIFFS ARE A SALES TAX.
TARRIFFS ARE A SALES TAX.
TARRIFFS ARE A SALES TAX.
And every consumer hates a sales tax.
If I (someone who makes around $30,000 a year) owes anything CLOSE to 2 grand in federal taxes theyre gonna have to send the IRS after me to collect. 🤷 Sorry dumpy donnie.
- You won't see $2k more in Federal Income Tax, you'll pay higher prices on store shelves (because of the tariffs the Federal government collected from the importer of the goods, which ultimately get passed on to you the consumer)
  
  I call it “trickle down getting-fucked”
  
  And pay $1,540 extr in actual income tax
- The burden is coming in the price of goods you purchase not in a tax that is due.
- Don't worry he's getting rid of half of the irs so there won't be anyone to enforce tax laws.
- the irs has been gutted, tehy wont be coming after you anyways.
  
  When the IRS is under-funded, they're less able to go after the wealthy and are left the poor who won't be able to fight it.
I wouldn't be surprised if these tax hikes are imposed, then Musk/Trump issue checks with their faces that give 'free money' to everyone in an attempt to curry favor.
If that happens, I will turn that crap into Euros.
- Yes you are, lol.
- You won’t be paying more taxes, directly. Things will just cost a lot more and you’ll blame foreign companies instead of senseless import taxes that you’re paying. It’s a hidden tax
Congrats, USA!
I don't want to give up too many secrets, but....
...the ultimate way to own Libs is to destroy the economy and raise taxes on everyone that voted for you. Ssshhhhhhh....don't tell anyone, them Libs'll be so pissed. ;)
This went into effect today.
I still can't believe Bidenflation is still happening.
Well jokes on you, Republicans will have their tariffs paid for by China, Mexico, and Canada and even better they're going to be getting a stimulus check for 8K thanks to DOGE.
That's what Tik Toc tells them and what they know to be true.
"Whack"? Seriously? Jfc.
Trump Set to Whack US Working Class With Historic $2,000 Tax Hike
They updated the article FYI.
The associated pic shows Trump's mad halotosis.
critics are right
They aren't ours, so give to a good cause. I know many will say that we should use for our own citizens, but this is effectively free aid to Ukraine and underpins a block to Russia's strategic expansion.
Calling it a "tax increase" when it's not is kind of infuriating because it just muddies the conversation. Comparing it to a tax increase is fine but saying it's "effectively" one is worse than useless - it either confuses people, gives them the wrong idea, or gives them an easy out to say it's bullshit.
I hate when my side does stuff like this.
- You’re saying a tariff doesn’t count as a tax because it gets hidden in the final price of goods?
  Maybe corporate America will tack on a “tariff fee” like those bs restaurant service fees to tell consumers it’s not their fault.
  
  I'm saying people are going to look for this tax increase they heard about and not find it on their paycheck.
  Feel free to tell me the downside of being accurate here.
- A tariff is a sales tax, pure and simple. Sales taxes hit lower income people harder than the rich because they have to put a higher percentage of their income into it.
  
  No average person says "my taxes went up $3000 this year!" referring to anything other than their income tax.
  This is the exact water muddying I mentioned. Call things what they are and explain what they mean.
  There is zero downside to explaining it correctly:
  "Trump's newest round of tariffs are projected to cost the average citizen $3000 per year"
  Same power without the bullshitting. And you don't have someone looking at their paycheck wondering if it's taken effect yet.
  
  I agree, but framing it like this just gives the other side an opportunity to call bullshit.
  Why give them the ammo?
- Tarrifs are a tax, they are going up, and it's a sales tax which are commonly regressive (hit lower income families more).
I recently updated my W4 to have a stupidly high deduction so I pay almost no federal taxes.
I fully realize I'll owe this (and maybe penalties) later, but that's a future me problem and, frankly, I plan to delay, deny, and dispose (of the IRS letters) as long as I can without something like jail time.

91 comments