Why is Trump threatening to shut down our government?

Much of that money is used to buy goods and services of American companies. It all averages out.

 

No, they haven't. I've already shown that more wealth than ever is being sent to Mexico, we are paying more than ever for the illegal immigrants that are here, and their contributions to our economy are not positive ones.

Put simply, they use more resources than they contribute.

Border crossings are down THIS year, thanks to a POTUS who actually observes immigration laws.

 

And when they raise their prices, goods in our country become a viable option, creating more jobs in the US, and more wealth for US citizens.

We can grow plenty of food.

If you're going to start arguing "but muh lettuce is 5 cents cheaper", I will point out that that argument is basically an argument for slavery/indentured servitude.

 

How has american quality of life and the middle class fared under "free trade"?

 

Border crossing have been down EVERY year. Why not look up the facts instead of spewing nonsense.

If we can grow "plenty" of food why do we have a 63 billion trade deficit with mexico?

 

Access to cheaper goods benefits everyone working in our largely service based economy.

 

Most countries need us more than we need them. Why alienate a country on our border? Trump has alienated every country he has come into contact with. Usually, this kind of behavior comes back to haunt when you least expect it.

 

What country is more self-sufficient?

 

Sure, we can grow it. Getting it to market is a different story. We have crops rotting in the fields today, because we do not have the labor to pick it.

The point is, when you come up with a solution to something like taxing remittances, there are going to be unexpected consequences that come with it… and that's going to be more than just 5¢ cheaper lettuce.

 

No, they don't.

What benefits our economy are people having jobs.

When our citizens buy products from other countries in a trade imbalance, we lose job creation, when we lose job creation, we lose wealth and become more dependent on foreign goods.

That is the primary reason for the disappearing middle class in our country.

 

That's not an argument FOR illegal immigration either.

There's no reason we can't issue temporary visas or other LEGAL means to fill those requirements.

Taxing remittances has no downside, since we're losing that money anyway.

 

Most of those jobs are in the service sector, not manufacturing.

 

Yes.

Because of "free trade".

 

You actually think we can tax remittances and Mexico will do nothing in return?

 

Why would securing our borders, which Mexico has already done with their walls on their southern border, and taking care of our citizens and enforcing our laws alienate Mexico?

 

I think Mexico has little leverage, and anything they do will hurt them a lot more than it does us.

 

The transition to a service based economy began long before free trade. And as automation technology improves and cheapens, it's only going to shrink further.

 

It still is money going over the border which is the crux of your post "If it leaves our borders, tax the **** out of it." How will you tell the difference or are you favouring even bigger government?

 

That someone is actually generating more income for the country than is sent out of the country unless the employer is losing money.

 

I presume you are against the principle of supply and demand? How are the people going to afford to buy the more expensive goods made in the US? Higher wages leading to even higher prices?

 

By having jobs that pay enough for them to afford those things.

Again, explain why you think the disparity in wealth is destroying the middle class, turning our country into the "have plenty"/"have nothing"?

 

Did the countries south of Mexico pay for the wall on Mexico's southern border??

 

Yeah. And leaving nothing for the middle class.

You guys spend all this time railing against the 1%, and don't take the time to realize that globalist policies of the people you support are creating the problem.

 

So you are in favour of raising the minimum wage?

 

Mexico has tons of leverage- way more than you want to admit. We operate at a trade deficit with them, and do so with goods that are required for our own manufacturing. If we do something to hurt trade with Mexico, they can hurt us in return. That's why we developed trade agreements in the first place. We want win/win situations, not lose/lose situations.

Our economy doesn't need to get hurt, especially not self-inflicted.