April 12, 2025
Dear Senators Grassley and Ernst and Representative Feenstra,
Subject: Trump tariffs
I’m in utter shock. Disbelief. Mad as hell. Never, ever, have I seen such asinine, stupid,
misguided, nonfactual, and anti-free trade policy compared to these Trump tariffs.
As you may remember, I’ve previously sent each of you letters and met with your state
directors concerning my social security retirement being threatened by the idiotic, lack of
oversight, and void-of-facts DOGE debacle. As you know, DOGE is an elective Trump
policy; it didn’t have to happen. Now…this dum-dum Trump tariff tantrum is threatening my
other source of retirement; my stock-bond portfolio.
Why am I being attacked by Trump and MAGA supporters? What did I do to receive such
harsh treatment? I’ve worked for 47 continuous years. Paid all my taxes. Didn’t commit
crimes. Started companies. Volunteer and donate to charities. I’m still a registered
Republican. And now I’m getting hammered by Trump, MAGA, and your support of them.
Please, just apply some high school common sense to the Trump tariff policy. Please note Ihave dozens of links to support each of the following points, but your message format won’t allow links. So please do what I do: take 8 minutes and use this really cool tool called “Google” (are you familiar with it?) and do some basic research. It’s a great tool for people who lack common sense and/or have weak and lazy minds:
1) Trump’s 2018-20 tariffs on China failed. They raised prices on steel and aluminum
that actually decreased the # of mfg. jobs. Just Google the Federal Reserve study.
2) The 2018-20 China tariffs were terrible for US ag. Iowa soybean farmers lost Chinese markets to Brazil and Trump and USDA spent $28 billion to subsidize all farmers for the lost income. Just Google it.
3) Use 2020 Brexit as a benchmark for what happened to “Britain First” as it
removed itself from standard trade rules of the European Union. It’s been five
years, and Britian’s GDP is anemic, prices are high, investment is weak, and
productivity is quite low. Google it.
4) The Smoot-Hawley tariffs enacted unilaterally in 1930 were at 20%, which is
actually below Trump’s combined base and reciprocal rates. The 1930 tariffs led
to global trade declining by 50% within three years. It transformed the global
“Depression” into the “Great Depression”. Google it.
Now let’s turn our attention to the current “Trump tariff tantrum”; noting the tariffs
seem to flip flop and change daily, depending upon how Trump feels:
a. What is the “economic emergency” that allows him to dictate global tariffs? If
you look at the data, the U.S. economy was in fine shape on 1/1/25. Thank you,
Senator Grassley, for at least making the effort to reclaim Congressional power.
b. How can this erratic, incoherent, unanalytical policy be considered serious?
You do know that the centerpiece formula is not only debunked but also not
relevant since it’s mostly based upon trade deficits. It’s completely nonsensical,
e.g., 45% tariff on Viet Nam.
c. Whatever happened to the concept of free markets? Capitalism? Didn’t the
Republican party use to champion these ideas? Trump’s one-man govt
intervention is the exact opposite, the antithesis to free markets. Where’s the
outrage?
d. What the heck is the objective? 10,000 mfg. jobs making sneakers? Or vague
announcements by companies promising to create 1,000’s of jobs within the
next 10 years at locations, TBD. You must know how easy it is for Trump to get
duped by these announcements, e.g., the Foxconn-WI plant in 2018, China’s
plan to buy soybeans in 2018-20, Putin 2025 plans for the Ukrainian ceasefire.
e. Targeting strategic industries is an OK policy. Look at the CHIPS act. That
advanced mfg. approach could have been applied to steel, autos, pharma, etc.
f. Iowa farmers are gonna get hammered as China stops buying beans, corn, pork,
poultry, and beef. This means the entire state economy is going down. The irony:
Deere and other manufacturers are going to eliminate jobs.
g. Given how this Trump tariff tantrum has alienated our best trading partners (CA,
MX, JP, SK, EU) what country will ever trust the USA sticking to negotiated trade
deals again? And you do know that China is now promoting itself as a more
stable trading partner.
h. It didn’t have to be this way. Trump could have used the existing USMCA, EU
agreements, and agreements in place with Japan, South Korea, and India to
negotiate better terms, and then…go after China. This is so obvious to me. Why
wasn’t this obvious to Trump?
i. Most every economist not employed by Trump or Fox News, is predicting the 10%
base and reciprocal tariffs are a HUGE tax on the US; and will lead to inflation/
recession during next 12 months. Even worse, there’s more and more data
showing investors moving away from T Bonds and US dollars. If this continues,
the US risks its global position as the strongest economy in the world.
As I watch my investment portfolio decline, my overall retirement is now in jeopardy. My
quality of life is in decline. All of this personal, national, and global pain is due to one
man. Do you dare express an opinion about this topic and face the MAGA wrath? Are
you posturing like the sycophants that attend Trump’s Cabinet meetings, hoping to get
on TV?
Most sincerely,
A Constituent