Paul Krugman had some interesting things to say about Trump’s illegal tariffs in his newsletter yesterday. They were held illegal twice now so Trump is still trying to find more illegal ways to keep them going. Meanwhile, however, some of the original tariffs are being refunded. So, harm undone, right? Not right. As PK points out, the tariff is imposed on a corporation that, in turn, passes it on to the consumer, i.e., you and me. The refund is paid to the corporation, but, of course, that is not passed on to the consumer. So the consumer is screwed and the corp comes out ahead. And, of course, all of the promised benefits of the tariffs have failed to materialize.
Here’s Krug:
“So we have created a machine which rips off consumers when the tariffs are imposed, then hands a bunch of money to corporations when they are ruled illegal. And it’s pretty big. The tariffs have been something like 1% of GDP. That’s hundreds of billions of dollars that were taken for no good reason.
“It almost seems beside the point to point out that the tariffs have also failed. All of the things that they were supposed to do — rebuild manufacturing — manufacturing employment is down — reduce the trade deficit — the trade deficit isn’t down — haven’t happened. So this was all a really large burden on the US public completely without any payoff.”
Of course, this pales in importance next to the piles upon piles of dead children discussed in our last post, and the damage done by Trump’s idiotic war.
This poem by Jo McDougall is called “Mothers and Daughters” and was in yesterday’s Writer’s Almanac.
When I was a child
my mother and I traveled the long miles
to see her mother, once a year.
That hillside farm was mostly gravel,
the kitchen smelled like a churn,
guineas and chickens strutted the porch.
When we left,
my grandmother would stand
in her garden and wave.
I’d watch her a long time,
leaning out the window of the car.
My mother would say little on the way home,
her eyes now and then filling with tears.
Perhaps she was thinking of that garden,
the one she tried to replicate year after year,
every last pole bean and zinnia,
the one she left to me.
Irving Berlin was born on May 11 (yesterday) in Russia in 1888. In 1925, he fell in love with a debutante, Ellin Mackay. Her wealthy father disapproved and took her away to Europe. But Berlin reached her through his songs on the radio. He wrote romantic ballads like “Always” and dedicated them to her. They were married when she returned to New York, and remained married for 62 years, until her death in 1988, the year he turned 100. He’s still alive, at age 138. (No he’s not.)
Here is the wordplay I came up with yesterday and today off the NYTXW. (The word in caps was the word in the grid.)
What to take for a headache from worrying about artifical intelligence: AIMED
Opposite of “Shut the hell up!” GABON
What Jenner is now: ASHE
Trump, to Putin: ASAP
How to save time ordering a bacon lettuce tomato and goat sandwich: LGBT on toast.
Dye job: Blue PLAIT Special
Neptune: EAU God
When you strain your ABDUCTORS, wrap them in ABDUCTAPE.
On FIFI: I filled this in backwards at first, but it seemed a little iffy so I fixed it.
What’s connected to the TROMBONE?
If Laura played the trumpet, she’d be DERN tootin’
Someone who still worships the woman who divorced him is an EXIST.
Owl Chatter, led by Phil and our Dirty Old Man Dept., has come out strongly in favor of the recent practice of beautiful women dressing in lingerie for a night out. A drool-engulfed report by AOL states that Taylor “mastered lingerie dressing” for a recent night out in London with Trav.
A little velvet top with lace detailing at the neckline was paired with a solk midi skirt also featuring romantic floral lace. The skirt hails from lingerie label Fleur du Mal, and is also offered in a soft lavender.
Phil dug it up in lavender for my former tax student Monique to model for us. Thanks, Babe! Gotta go with the black, though, amirite?
The article noted Dakota Johnson has also integrated lingerie dressing into her “street style.” Loved you with Sean Penn in Daddio, DJ!
OK. Deep breaths. Need to calm down. George!! Put up up some decaf!!
Bobby Cox died at age 84 in Marietta GA on Saturday, where Linda’s sister Kathy lives. He played a bit for the Yankees but made his mark and then some as a manager for the Braves. He’s in the Hall of Fame for it and is the fourth winningest skipper of all time, behind Connie Mack, John McGraw, and Tony LaRussa. His Atlanta teams won division championships 14 consecutive times, from 1991 to 2005. Yow! And the Braves won the World Series for him in ’95. He also set the record for most games ejected: 162 — an entire season’s worth exactly.
Most of the time, Cox was protecting his players from ejections by shouldering their anger, and there were evidently no hard feelings on the part of the umps. “The umpires have the utmost respect for Bobby Cox,” ump Richie Garcia said. “What happens one night isn’t carried over to the next.” As ump Bob Davidson put it, “If I was a ballplayer, I’d want to play for Bobby Cox.”
Cox had eight children from two wives. They’ll be bringing the lineup card out for him today.
Rest in peace, Bobby.
We’re going to steal this “musical coda” from Krugman today. Heading up to Montclair for a movie. Report to follow.
See you tomorrow!
The Wellington Files 