Brainlessly stirring the Chaos Pot, the US forces car price boosts — without planning how to offset the economic hardship that will result

27 March 2025

Institutionalized stupidity describes the United States

President Trump, who apparently prides himself on creating chaos whatever he does, has struck again with his imported car and truck tariffs.

[S]tarting April 2, the new 25% tariffs will apply to all imported passenger vehicles and light trucks, as well as key parts like engines, transmissions.

As the fallout from Trump’s tariff plans comes into relief, a harsh truth is emerging for the automotive industry: there are lots of losers and not many winners. But foreign automakers, those without US facilities, will be hit especially hard.

As Bloomberg notes, from South Korea’s Hyundai to Germany’s Volkswagen, and to a lesser extent America’s own General Motors, many of the world’s most prominent carmakers will soon face higher costs from Trump’s new levies on auto imports and key components. That's because about 46% of all new cars sold in the US are imported.

“There are very few winners,” Sam Fiorani, vice president of global vehicle forecasting for AutoForecast Solutions, said in a phone interview.

“Consumers will be losers because they will have reduced choice and higher prices.”

Japan’s government has expressed serious concern over the potential fallout from newly announced US tariffs, warning of risks to both bilateral economic ties and global trade stability.

Defecating on allies . . .

. . . so as to make American oligarchs mightier?

The obvious problem with that Trumpian plan is that the presidential administration has crafted no companion effort to guide US industry into coming up with affordable substitutes for the previously imported products.

Unlike China, which integrates small and mega-business capitalism with centralized national planning — airheaded American leaders assume that, in the absence of any planning and incentivized direction at all — globally based corporations are going to place We the People's wellbeing ahead of American and world oligarchs.

A better example of ideologically optimistic airheadedness would be hard to find.

In short

The American Way is always to introduce chaos. And then, wait to see how much richer our Flock of Fascist Fat Cats can get at everyone else's expense.

Institutionally speaking

Congress, in addition to having fully abandoned its Constitution-based roll in initiating (or negating) wars — has also aborted its Constitution-assigned roll in proposing, approving and/or denying tax increases and cuts — of which tariffs are certainly examples.

The moral? — Our perennially grifting and lazy Congress . . .

. . . has made the US president a king.

The entirety of that useless legislative body should be (metaphorically or not) imprisoned for its unalloyed treason against American liberty, Constitution, and We the People's well-being.

Meanwhile, the US Supreme Court continues its long and cowardly sleep.

We are a nation of failed institutions and the worst people in charge.

PeteFree.com

Brainlessly stirring the Chaos Pot, the US forces car price boosts — without planning how to offset the economic hardship that will result