To the editor:
Not taxing imports is like giving a tax break to foreign manufacturers so they can compete with our manufacturers. Not only does it give them an unfair advantage, but we also lose the revenue the tax creates, and we lose jobs as well.
Regarding tariffs in general, I think Trump is doing the right thing the wrong way. It took a long time for our manufacturing base to be decimated, and it can’t be fixed overnight.
Tariffs are necessary. But they have to be imposed intelligently and with caution. We have to proceed slowly so all parties affected by them will have time to adjust.
Countries around the world use tariffs to protect their economies. I find it hard to believe there are so many people in America who think we should be different.
As I have said before, as far as the economy is concerned, we have a choice: we can be part of the problem or part of the solution. If we would just support our own economy, there would be no reason to impose tariffs. So let’s not blame Trump for something we should be blaming ourselves for. He’s just trying to fix a problem we complain about but few of us do anything to try and solve.
The comments above were taken from letters I sent to the St. John Valley Times in March and August 2018. Since 2018 we have done nothing to solve the problems of our economy ourselves. We just keep waiting for someone else to solve the problem for us.
To do the things necessary to restore America as a leading manufacturing giant again would require sacrifice, and I don’t see that happening because we are turning into a nation of spoiled, self-indulgent, selfish dependents. Those of you who don’t fall into that category will not be offended by my saying it. My message to the rest of you is, wake up.
Walter Crean
Madawaska
