I have a question about the Con's comments on Germany's trade to the US

[malaise]

Forget quality of goods and everything else for now. Just answer this: why would a country with a population of about 82 million people import more than a country with over 300 million?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Because Trump doesn't know anything about international trade.

He also apparently doesn't know that a lot of German cars are made or assembled in the US.

[malaise]

2. He's a first rate idiot

It's embarrassing.

[liberal N proud]

3. It was another clueless remark made by Butternut in an attempt to show power over others

It is his bullying tactic, tell someone, I can take something from you.

[malaise]

4. You know what's frightening

He doesn't even realize that he's clueless - damn!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. A hallmark of a narcissist. He can't possibly be wrong or not know something.

[liberal N proud]

13. Scarier still; he doesn't care!

[Demsrule86]

5. During GWBII 's time...Germany was required by trade agreement to take so many of the cars my hubs

built...they took less than half and then refused to take more...the cars had to be scrapped as they were build for the German market and could not be sold here. Nothing was done about this flagrant violation. This is the case with other car companies also...Japan who sellls cars cheap here and makes up the difference in their closed to us home market, Korea who takes no American built cars, China own half of all companies that manufacture there and take no cars made in the US...it goes on and on...trade agreement are unfair in many instances there is no question...and jobs have been lost both actual and potential jobs. However, Trump will do nothing to repair this situation which is very complicated and will take much work. He uses the issue to entice supporters...but he will do nothing about it.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

7. But one of the things Dolt 45 doesn't understand

is that trade deals are not made with individual countries but with the EU, which he has apparently managed to piss off along with Germany. If the US has unfavorable deals with the EU or with any other countries, Trump won't be able to improve them at the rate he's going. He's supposed to be the guy who knows how to make the best deals, but you can't make good deals with people you've pissed off.

[malaise]

9. I think he's better at shake downs than

deals

[Demsrule86]

12. The German car thing I referenced was before EU...just before.

I have seen no improvement in trade issues though since it came about...and the problem is you can't make such deals with really poor countries with low wages. It had caused a rush to the bottom in this country...and it will happen for white collar workers as well in the end. The other issue is enforcement...while we respect trade agreements...many countries flagrantly violate them, and nothing is done. Did you know that Japan has all sorts of ways to keep American cars out of their market and charges higher prices in the home market to make up for the low pricing in the US market? It is a mess. Now there is no trade agreement to govern this market, but we could have stopped it years ago and didn't. I believe we are headed the same direction as the UK which gave away its manufacturing to the greedy few profiteers in their country and destroyed their empire.

[malaise]

8. You can't make people buy what they don't want

I understand the need for fair trade but if it's free trade then the consumers will make the final decision. Given the quality of German cars, why would a German want to buy an American car?

That said there's an argument against China in terms of population size and balance of trade, but where does population size rank in this debate.

[Demsrule86]

10. The German government refused to take the cars and sell them in Germany.

The ones already there sold well. You have to see both sides of this...trade agreement are generally unfair to the US and not enforced for the Benefit of workers in the US...here in Ohio the Cruze hatchback is being made in Mexico...at the same time the third shift was laid off in Lordstown....and there is talk of slowing line speed also which will lead to more job losses. This is thhe reality that caused Ohio and other rust belt states to vote for liar Trump...he won't help at all but the fact he said he would was enough for them to give him a chance...my neighbor said 'what do we have to lose?". My reply was ...you have no idea what we might lose.

[malaise]

11. Well now they know what they have to lose

everything that matters

[Demsrule86]

14. We do have huge losses ahead as a result of this election.

We need to take the house...and talking about Trump's failure to keep his promise on trade should help in some areas. I hope that the next Democratic president takes a serious look at Hillary's plans to create job growth with 21st century manufacturing. It is a good one.