There’s the old saying that “politics is war by other means”. It holds not just for the politicking we’re all used to, that’s deployed to capture control of the state, but also the politics between nations in the international state system. And since POLITICS has its own logic – because ultimately it has to do with POWER – it shouldn’t surprise anyone that many of the strategies, dynamics and tactics are similar at both levels; and that politicians will almost always bring the style they have in domestic politics into the international arena. And did you notice the use of the word “arena” – a place for battle??
So, after all of that foreplay, we arrive at what’s being dubbed a “Tariff War”, which was launched by US Pres Trump against the rest of the world, but is mostly focused against China!! Your Eyewitness has already analyzed the word “tariff” – basically just a tax on goods from another country at the point of entry. It’s mostly passed on to the buyers down the line, and therefore makes it more expensive to buy goodies than it otherwise would’ve been. As with most things, it’s the common man – and woman – who’ll feel the impact of the tariff in the end, literally and figuratively!!
Trump launched the war cause, he pointed out, most countries had placed tariffs on US goods entering their countries – thus not giving American companies a fair deal, since their goods are made more expensive!! With China shipping in almost FOUR TIMES more goods into the US – almost US$444 BILLION worth annually than it imports (US$140 billion) – that alone might explain why Trump slapped the highest tariff (104%) on their goods. And when China retaliated by raising its own tariffs against American goods (now 84%), we can see why the actions are dubbed a tariff WAR!!
Of course, there’s also the wider picture, in which China’s riding the wave of its economic might to challenge the US in other areas, militarily and even ideologically, to be #1!! It insists that the “Chinese Way” is superior to the American Way – and the rest of the world should hop aboard the Chinese Express Train!! In fact, the Chinese have explicitly dubbed their trade linkages to countries across the globe as the “Belt and Road Initiative” (B&RI), that literally ties them together!!
Now, the effects of the US-Chinese tariff war would inevitably spill over into the rest of the world – even if Trump hadn’t slapped tariffs on other countries, including little ole us!! Just think about what would happen, for instance, when China’s tariff on US soyabean – it’s actually 94% – hits?? Will the US – one of the largest exporters of soyabean – dump its excess into the rest of the world, including us, who’re just trying to get into that business??
…against police?
In the riots that just erupted in Linden, the police have been fingered as the main cause. Now, the police have been the recurring decimal in every riot around for years; but this shouldn’t be surprising. They were launched – armed to the teeth – right after the abolition of slavery, to deal with the newly-freed Africans, who were assumed to be savages who’d attack the Whites. When the Africans didn’t, the police were deployed against the Indian “Coolies” with their cutlasses in hand!!
Now, you’d think that after we got independence, the Government would’ve altered the nature of the Police FORCE (see the use of THAT word!!??) But no…Burnham increased their numbers and intensified their suppressive role over the people!! But he’s been gone some FORTY YEARS now…why haven’t the succeeding Governments – PPP and PNC – changed them from a FORCE into a SERVICE? With all that that implies!!
Wouldn’t that demand all the changes we’re hearing about – how they respond to the people; their use of force; etc??
…against tax runnings
The AG’s agreed that the accusations of $900 million in taxes owed for vehicles already cleared by the GRA five years ago – and now being demanded – must be investigated.
So, “tax runnings” will finally be ended?!!
