If Obama is willing to easily sacrifice the best interests of the American taxpayer at the will of unions, what else can we expect in the future? Now its tires, but as more spending is proposed and healthcare debates heat up, Obama is making it clear where his loyalities are.
>> EYD Wednesday, September 16, 2009 12:46 PM Report Comment

I'm confused as to what this tariff is supposed to help. Are we really wasting time on protecting the tire manufacturing business? HOw much money are we going to waste on this tiny industry segment. I cannot believe that the Obama Administration is putting the interests of the United Steel Workers, who include rubber workers, ahead of the American taxpayer. Actually, yes I can.
>> Winthrop Friday, September 18, 2009 9:24 AM Report Comment

Would it not benefit us to buy American goods vs imported materials? This tax is on Imported tires from China no? Not all tires. BUY American made goods and stop buying European and Asian goods. When exports > Imports, we win!
>> Melon Wednesday, September 30, 2009 1:11 PM Report Comment

Despite what Lou Dobbs, et al. might say, "Buy American" campaigns are a complete waste of money, and do not help anyone's economy. By choosing to buy more expensive goods, even if they are domestically produced, you are diverting capital away from more productive sectors of the economy. Protectionism is purely a populist ploy that appeals to unions and inefficient manufacturers. David Ricardo actually figured all this out back in the early 1800s...
>> Chad Wednesday, September 30, 2009 1:39 PM Report Comment

So you're saying that by buying American goods over Chinese goods, we are doing nothing to better our own economy?
>> Melon Thursday, October 1, 2009 9:02 AM Report Comment

yes. If I buy Chinese tires for thirty dollars cheaper than I could get American tires, then I have thirty extra dollars to spend on other things. That means I get more utility out of my paycheck. If you spend more money for the same product, you aren't making the most efficient use of your resources. If everyone did the same thing, everyone is spending inefficiently. Don't take my word for it though--if you take ANY economics course, they will tell you the same thing.
>> Chad Thursday, October 1, 2009 3:56 PM Report Comment

Melon, While buying American goods seems like the saving grace of the American economy and worker it in fact undermines our entire political thought. We strive to be a capitalist society by spreading prosperity through economist wellbeing and freedom. This ideal was what brought about the fall of the Soviet Union and the oppressive Mao Ze Dong regime. Through, and because of, all that, the United States became the world power. Had we imposed restrictions on goods from Europe, Africa or Asia our goods and services would have never reached across the globe. The United States would be isolated and destitute.
>> x~X*FoReVeR21*X~x Thursday, October 1, 2009 10:33 PM Report Comment

I just don't see it. While you may be saving 30 dollars on a Chinese tire, that you can now spend on Japanese technology, you have now taken that money out of the hands of the American business owner, which happens to be the backbone of the US. How does that benefit the United States, not benefit just you? Why are the Chinese flourishing? Because they can produce a product at a low cost and export it across the globe, right? Their exports outweigh their imports. When our business owners costs rise and we buy foreign products, all we are doing is boosting their economy. How is that any different for us?
>> Melon Friday, October 2, 2009 9:22 AM Report Comment

Manufacturing is the backbone of the U.S. economy? Are you serious? Manufacturing represents about 30% of the workforce. The service sector is the backbone of our economy, and actually creates wealth. Have you ever heard of comparative advantage? Look at North Carolina for example, I'm sure they were happy making money when textiles were profitable, but how much MORE money are they now making from bio-tech and finance? Isn't it better for their economy to buy their t-shirts from honduras and spend their time making billions in more lucrative industries?
>> Horace Friday, October 2, 2009 10:41 AM Report Comment

I don't believe I said "Manufacturing" was. I said American business owners. Which encompasses a larger range then just manufacturing, including your service sector. This isn't about American owned companies deciding what to manufacture/sell. It's about American products and foreign products. I will also correct a previous post of my own. China was flourishing. They are having the same problems we were in the 20s-30s. Too many exports! They need to consume more of their own products. As do we.
>> Melon Friday, October 2, 2009 10:51 AM Report Comment

http://www.econlib.org/library/Enc/Protectionism.html Read. Learn. Be merry.
>> Winthrop Friday, October 2, 2009 6:07 PM Report Comment

Do you honestly think that when a dollar is spent on a Japanese good that it goes directly to Japan? No. That money is spent further reinforcing their American based market share. Toyota and Honda both have factories in the United States while Ford and GM are cutting costs and shipping their production to Mexico. American businesses benefit tremendously by allowing China to produce their goods. I met a furniture producer in Mass. Who engineers his products in Uruguay, gets wood from Vietnam and then China manufactures them. His costs are reduced, while his prices stay the same, meaning…wait for it….he is spending less and making more. Take a look at the tags on your cloths. You want to buy American? Throw away your wardrobe.
>> x~X*FoReVeR21*X~x Friday, October 2, 2009 6:13 PM Report Comment

Have you guys thought about the farmers when it comes to this tax? Farmers will have to pay thousands of dollors a year because the tires for their equipment is so much. New tires for the back of a tractor can run any wear from 700 to 800 dollors per tires. Id like to see you pay the tax on that then when you need to replace the front tires its about 65 to 130 dollors. So next time you are complaning about this dumb tax think of the farmers that are feeding you and how much they are having to pay for tires to keep their equipment running. If Obama wants to be able to have food grown in America. He better think twice about all the new taxed that he says are goin to better us.
>> LeAnne Sunday, October 4, 2009 9:49 AM Report Comment

Great article Winthrop. That's exactly what I'm trying to get out of this. I don't pretend to be a political guru nor a grand economist, I do however love to learn and am striving to do so. Based on what I have heard and seen thus far, I can only base my thoughts and opinions on media, which everyone knows is fallacy, I hope. What I still don't understand is how does the Obama administration believe this will benefit us?
>> Melon Monday, October 5, 2009 11:13 AM Report Comment

This sure was a wakeup call when I went to purchase tires for my 16 year old son's vehicle - while the tires were well within my budget - I had no idea about this tax - Belle Tire really worked with me, but I have to say, that these past few months, my confidence in our president has weakened more and more everytime I have to purchase something - what is next? Tax me for each time I flush teh toilet???
>> Susie Monday, October 26, 2009 4:05 PM Report Comment

Taxing toilet flushing is a good idea. However, scofflaws could begin peeing outside and building outhouses. Since we exhale carbon dioxide, I believe taxing each breath we take (carbon offsets, not a real tax!) would produce more income. Of course, those who work hard breath faster than couch potatoes, so we would be taxing the productive worker more than the parasites. That's OK, however, since hard workers generally have more income than "stay on the couch" welfare collectors. Renting movies would be a tax credit, obviously most will not be on an excersise maching when watching.
>> stargazer Thursday, November 26, 2009 5:14 PM Report Comment

Buy American, Save money and a job PS. For all you republican- Barack Obama haters way don't you move to china. That's where you send all the jobs to.
>> Don Sunday, December 20, 2009 3:17 PM Report Comment