mencken
Sr. Member
Posts: 2,222
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« on: January 26, 2017, 04:46:47 PM » |
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Stupid policy is stupid. Mexico exports more goods to third-party country, U.S. imports more of same good from third- or fourth-party country. No net effect on international trade, nobody ends up paying the tariff.
Thought experiment: A large number of illegal aliens are making money in the United States in order to send it back to Mexico for their families. Target whatever means of sending money back would enable Trump to claim that "Mexico is paying for the wall" and encourage domestic consumption.
Another thought experiment (partly inspired by my Trump timeline): Never back your opponent into a corner. It might be a good idea to impose a grace period for the first 3 months/6 months/1 year/whatever of his administration for those who voluntarily turn themselves in to ICE, allowing them to perform contract labor constructing the wall in exchange for deferred deportation and consideration of permanent residency (behind everyone legally in the queue of course) pending good behavior and payment of back taxes and heavy fines. Those caught subsequently on the other hand would be subject to expedited deportation to deep southern Mexico.
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