cross-posted from: https://beehaw.org/post/17300245

Archived version

Donald Trump’s angry threat to impose 25 percent tariffs on all U.S. imports from Mexico—delivered Monday via the cautious diplomatic language of a Truth Social rant—is widely being depicted as a bluff. Trump declared that once in the White House, he will impose the tariffs unless Mexico stops migrants and fentanyl from “pouring” into the United States. Seen as a feint, the tactic could theoretically get Mexico to halt the migrant flow, allowing Trump to pull back on tariffs later while boasting that on the border, he has already bent Mexico to his will.

But amid all this parsing of Trump’s intentions, a crucial fact about his new move is getting lost: At the center of it is a lie. This lie is hiding in plain sight: It’s the underlying suggestion that Mexico is not doing anything to stop migrants from coming and that Trump’s threat of tariffs is needed to change that. Here we’re getting an early glimpse of how he will deceive voters about some of his most potentially destructive designs, on tariffs and immigration alike.

All this is laid bare by the sharp response to Trump’s threat that new Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum issued Tuesday. Her statement is getting attention for its barbed claim that American guns trafficked to Mexico are fueling crime and violence there among gangs supplying U.S. markets with drugs. “Tragically, it is in our country that lives are lost to the violence resulting from meeting the drug demand in yours,” Sheinbaum noted acidly, suggesting that the two countries’ interrelated national challenges underscore the need for cross-border cooperation rather than Trumpian confrontation.

That’s a harsh indictment of Trump’s whole worldview.

  • buddascrayon@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    The majority are instead going to be the ones that don’t have the time to research, don’t have the education to critically evaluate situations, and the ones that take the various media propaganda and sane-washing of candidates as fact because it’s coming from a “news” outlet.

    Yeah, these are exactly the people I have a problem with. They are all trash and I hope they feel absolutely fucked with voter’s remorse in the next few years as Trump takes away all the systems and governmental services they take for granted.

    The majority of those people are a lot more nuanced than you are willing to admit, because that’s harder to deal with instead of your simple explanation.

    They really aren’t. They are just lazy and very very stupid.

    So yeah it is all one giant excuse. You’re trying to excuse their stupidity and lack of engagement by giving them some kind of noble self-involvement which is just fucking stupid in and of itself. So please, step off your bloody soap box and ditch the rose colored glasses and have a look at the real world where the majority of the electorate is completely devoid of intelligence at all and should probably be barred from voting because they are incapable of critical thought and the ability to understand the basics of how government works.

    • halcyoncmdr@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      I see. You’re just a spiteful person and still unwilling to consider a different perspective than your own. Exactly like the die hard Trump supporters. The ones that actively picked Trump because of his policies hurting people. You should reflect on that fact you’ve made so plain in these comments.

      • buddascrayon@lemmy.world
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        2 days ago

        Oh no! You said the magic thing. I’m just like the racist homophobic selfish assholes who actively campaigned for a narcissistic megalomaniac who will do or say anything to gain power. I feel so regretful for passing judgment on the millions of morons who were duped into believing his lies because they are too stupid to spend half a nanosecond to read and comprehend how full of shit he is. It turns out I’m the bad guy. “sadface emoji”