[Hoot Gibson]

^^ As an employer, if I want to discipline an employee who has sloppy work habits, comes in late all the time and generally takes advantage of the situation, I call him in over these infractions and let him see that I have started a file. I have him sign at the bottom of the various pages in which I have documented his bad behavior.

In taking these actions I saw on many occasions, the habits of the employee in question take a notable turn for the better. And their habits stayed that way. Same thing with these tariffs. Countries used to playing in the margins of already bad trade agreements have been summarily called to the office. In short and as we speak, President Trump has the attention of the entire world. He has prefaced his intent to renegotiate our trade situation with warnings for the past year. And now he is ready to drop the hammer on those persisting to demand the unreasonable continuation of detrimental trade agreements. Or, they can snap out of it and do the right thing for us as well as themselves. Pretty straightforward approach if you ask me.

Globalists don't care who makes steel, they will make their money no matter who does it. So, they're going to lurch violently when the status quo is altered. But as for those guys who used to make steel in the US? While their kids play in the shadows of now defunct mills and plants, they're still sitting at the house worrying how in the world those kids will ever make a living. And they're worrying how they will feed and clothe and provide the necessary medical care for them. Not to mention how long it might be before they are kicked to the curb by the financial institution holding their faltering mortgage. All Trump is saying is let's let our own people make the money for making the steel. And I agree with him and frankly, that is the element to all of this which is missing from your argument. This is another example of a fulfilled campaign promise by DJT.

As to Trump's tweet? Anybody can make a typo. Heck, you've even done it.

Tariffs have their place, TRT. China uses slave labor, systematically steals our intellectual property, and costs American companies billions by ignoring patents and counterfeiting popular name brand products. Why do you think that Trump did not choose to target China with steep tariffs, as he promised to do on the campaign trail? If any country in the world deserves American retaliatory actions over unfair trade practices, it is China.

I think that Trump understands that if he starts a trade war with China, it will cost him any chance and a second term and will cost Republicans control of Congress. Americans are addicted to cheap cell phones and shelves loaded with cheap Chinese goods. Nearly all Americans will claim to be appalled at China's use of child and slave labor, but relatively few would be happy to pay much higher prices for consumer products to punish China for its labor and trade practices.

Compared to the silky smooth roll out of Trump's tax reforms, the announcement of the tariffs has been handled very poorly, IMO. Decisions about which countries would be targeted and which would be exempted should have been made before the announcement, not as an afterthought.