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How Trump’s Tariffs Are Squeezing Everyday Americans — And Why His “Snake Oil” Politics Won’t Fix It.
I have to accept that the nightmare is back! The Snake Oil Salesman Returns.
Donald Trump, our scandalous President, a “New York conman” as described by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on a John Stewart podcast, has revived his playbook of economic promises that sound ludicrous and inflict pain. The term “snake oil salesman” refers to 19th-century swindlers who peddled fake cures. American culture is riddled with them, and maybe you have been caught up in one of their Ponzi or pyramid schemes. Trump’s latest tariffs — taxes on imports — are just modern snake oil: marketed as a fix for “unfair trade” but guaranteed to leave a venomous bite in our wallets and devastate the livelihood of working-class Americans.
Some Quick Lessons First
Tariffs 101: Why Your Groceries, Gas, Side-Woman, and Cars Are About to Cost More.
Trump’s new tariffs target imports from Canada (25%), Mexico (25%), and China (10%), with energy resources like Canadian oil facing a lower 10% tax. Here’s how this hits you:
- Gas prices: Canada and Mexico supply 70% of U.S. crude oil imports. A 25% tariff could spike Midwest gas prices by 50 cents…
