25°f/-4°C, clear after a very chilly day yesterday. Possibility of snow in the eastern WV mountains tonight. Winter is still dragging her white skirts around. Our fruit trees may be damaged, along with other tender plants, if the temperature doesn't rise before the sun reaches them. In past years we would be out with hoses, wetting everything down to prevent damage. Too old for that now.
Today the tariffs take effect. And there goes the economy, our world reputation and respect.
How will this absurd act affect you? What little retirement I have left I moved out of the stock market some time ago, so perhaps it is safe. We will be paying more, along with everyone else, for quite a bit of what we buy new. For us, I think the main impact will be food and gas, since we buy almost everything else used. However, if these tariffs stay in place, even used goods will increase in price as demand increases.
Other impacts: one of the places I have a booth sells mostly new decor, with one area for us vintage and antiques sellers. Donna sent this message yesterday:
So, she plans to keep prices as they are, for now. But when she has to buy new stock, what then? As people's discretionary income shrinks, they will shy away from soft goods like decor, antiques, etc. So our side income will even more affected than it already has, as people have been nervous about spending in the last month or two. We are still selling, but bigger ticket items are moving very slowly.
Outside of tariffs, effects of Trump's policies are being felt in arts and education. West Virginia Humanities Council is impacted, halting all grant funding because of the loss of federal funds. That means many historic preservation projects will be halted, and arts funding, crucial to many festivals and artists in our state, will struggle to continue, if they even can.
Then there is the Smithsonian, that national treasure, now a target in Trump's sights. Have you ever visited this astounding museum, or read their high quality magazine? I could go on and on, because there are so many institutions we hold dear and value being hurt. Like our parks. And scientific research. Well, you all know these things.
I am dismayed by the whitewashing of our history as the process of removing all references to anyone of color is removed from so many museums and websites. And bringing back those Confederate monuments? What country allows such tributes displayed to honor those who were defeated, who went to war against their own country? This is just one part of the damage being inflicted daily on our country by a maniac and his crazed supporters. While the tariffs will hit us all in our wallets, these many changes affect the very fabric of our country.
The end result of the economic mess will probably affect all of us. I am so sorry it’s happening.!
ReplyDeleteYes, I was lucky enough to be able to spend half a day in that wonderful museum. It is heartrending to think of it being starved of funds or, worse, being pushed to amend its reporting of events. In Canada, our main concern at present is how to deal with your president's insane, and I use this strong word on purpose, dealings with us both in tariffs and in disrespect. I can only hope his supporters can rein him in, those of them that have even a pinch of common sense.
ReplyDeleteI just hope it all turns out better than we fear.
ReplyDeleteWe were in the mid 20s this morning. I haven’t checked yet to see if anything was damaged. More of the same for tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteYou said it very well, Susanna! We will all suffer from that man's idiocy, ego and mental illness.
ReplyDeleteI don't even want to comment on tariffs...just hope someone comes to sense and stop all this craziness.
ReplyDeleteI see they’ve mostly been deferred, but reputation and respect have not returned.
ReplyDeleteSadly we will watch our country go down the rabbit hole, along with many of his supporters and our congressmen. Batsy in Idaho
ReplyDelete...we are in the Trump Slump!
ReplyDeleteI feel like he is just getting started making a mess out of our country, sadly.
ReplyDeleteIt's 80 degrees as I am writing this and I am loving it. As for the tariffs, Trump caved (today) and the stock market loved it. But we shall see. He says he's still leaving in place the ridiculously high tariffs on China and since most of the goods in our stores come from there . . . well? I just finished a Smithsonian magazine last night and have another waiting while I'm reading Harper's. I think neither are fans of the *********** currently in the White House. (fill in the asterisks with whatever you like).
ReplyDeleteAnyone who has had experience running a business knows that sooner or later increased costs have to be passed on.
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