Hillbilly wisdom: the money ultimately will not be returned to those who paid the money. Scenario one: prices increased the day tariffs were first introduced. Long before the products ever reached the shores of America. Scenario two: prices increased on oil the day the United States invaded Iran even though our oil doesn’t come from there. There is a war against the consumer and it is driven by greed at the top and lack of representation for those at the lower end of the food chain.

Revolutions have been fought over exploitation of the poor by the wealthy. The French used a tool called the guillotine. Its use ended around 1977 but it is a simple effective machine which could be reintroduced. The arch proposed by President Trump if equipped with a blade is large enough for mass executions. We could make America great again. The pain induced by an introduction of the robber barons with the arch would be short but the effect would last a long time.

We of the lower group are told that the pain from tariffs will be short term. In the long term everything will be better. Tariffs are the master plan. Tariffs will bring manufacturing back to the United States. What I see is a 166 billion later the tariffs were declared illegal and the companies who paid them can apply for returns. This means large businesses will get paid for the increases in price that were largely passed down to the consumer. In all probably the consumer will not see the prices return to the original level if they even come down at all. And the profits obtained will naturally be retained by those inconvenienced by the paper work. This is a very profitable for the top group.

Oil prices increases are similar. Day one they went up but it was going to be short term inconveniences and would benefit the United States in the long run. Forty plus days later and counting, we are being told that even if the WAR ends yesterday, the price to the American consumer will stay in the neighborhood of a dollar a gallon higher for the year. Heaven forbid, the war should drag on.

Trump has announced another extension of the cease fire. Cease fires, blockade included, are cheaper than bombing at least until we get more ammo. A defense spending increase (1.5 trillion) should keep us safe but it might come with a small increase at the pump. We are being asked to believe that something is going to change? A cease fire (that includes ongoing military actions against the Iranians) will soften their Iran’s stance and Iran will change their bargaining positions (they hold no cards)? In the mean time, the world has to pay for the war that only a few want. Americans’ position in the world becomes more isolated, more militaristic, and less secure.

I went shopping and, surprise, the prices are still high. Someone forgot to pass the money down. The large organizations are getting paid for the price increases that the shopper paid. The twenty in the gas tank did not move the gauge very far. The gas gauge is probably stuck!