Tariffs 

Here's the thing that finally pushed me over the edge and made me run for Congress: Tariffs are taxes. To be clear: The Republicans and the Administration are lying to the people. Consumers and businesses pay the price of tariffs on imported goods - not the countries who are sending the goods to us.

 

This means that everything -- from cars, to homes, to the fertilizers that grow our crops, to groceries and the sneakers we put on our kids' feet, and lots more -- is costing more for regular consumers.​ And it is really bad for the businesses that are the backbone of our economy. 

 

The existing trade agreements with our closest neighbors - Canada and Mexico - have been destroyed and called "unfair" by the President and punitive tariffs unilaterally imposed. He made those deals himself during his first term. Given this, why would any country wish to make an agreement with the USA when it is apparent that we can no longer be trusted? A mafia-style shakedown doesn't really work well in international affairs. The world is moving on and leaving the USA behind. 

 

The big donors don't care. They can afford it. We can't. The instability, uncertainty and loss of confidence it causes here and abroad will outlast any individual "deals", imaginary or not, that the President may eventually make. As long as the paymasters get their breaks, they don't care what else is broken.     

 

They actually know better. They know that it is the job of Congress to regulate foreign trade and treaties. ​

 

But they continue to allow a rogue administration to destroy our economy, our alliances and our trading partnerships. The hypocrisy is jaw-dropping. Why? They don't have the courage to stand up and be counted. We need to ask: who are they representing? Not the voters of America!