Alleged audio of Epstein on Trump, that was apparently recorded about 8 years ago but only released about 8 months ago.

Is this AI-generated or real?

Says that Trump is a "charming salesman with the ability to sell and convince people", but that he then uses that trust to take advantage of people.

Make of this what you will.

Cthepack said:

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Civilized said:

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Cthepack said:

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hokiewolf said:

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Cthepack said:

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hokiewolf said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

Cthepack said:

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hokiewolf said:

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caryking said:

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hokiewolf said:

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El Lobo Loco said:

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hokiewolf said:

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Sweet, beautiful tariffs, helping Johnny Paycheck, and NASCAR!

"In the latest blow, the 100-year-old clock manufacturer that produced the iconic NASCAR Martinsville grandfather clock announced that it'd be shutting down - in part due to Trump's tariffs. "A convergence of market influences beyond our control brought us to this point," President and CEO Howard J. Miller said in an official statement.

Since 1964, Martinsville Speedway - one of the oldest tracks still featured on the NASCAR schedule - has gifted the Cup Series race winner a grandfather clock shortly after they coasted down victory lane. Fred Lorenzen first received the unique accolade that year, during which he led a whopping 980 out of 1,000 total laps over the two races held at the 'paperclip.'"

We are protecting American jobs with protectionist tariffs!

Long-standing NASCAR tradition in danger due to Donald Trump's tariffs

---

Nobody needs clocks anymore. All that is on your phone.

---

They need jobs though

---

Ok, I had to come out of retirement for this one…

Hokie, you've never shown one bit of concern for the American worker. That comment (in bold) is extremely shallow and purely opportunistic. You can do better! I'm out again…

---

no, I don't think the cure for the American worker is $15/hr factory jobs.

---

Average manufacturings job is significantly higher than $15/hr. But you know this, you use to say $18/hr. I have tried to educate you on this but you continue to be obtuse.

We are in the 3rd quarter is inflation hitting now?

---

sure, let's do $18/hr. You can make $30/hr with benefits at Costco. You can make $25/hr easy in construction with overtime.

There are thousands of unfilled service jobs that pay more and provide better opportunity, I've also tried to educate you folks on that too, and tariffs hurt those better paying jobs to a higher degree than they provide jobs in manufacturing.

Construction projects have increased costs of 4-6% in the 3rd quarter so yes, it's happening now.

Demand does dictate pricing, except when you manipulate the market to artificially increase pricing. Tariffs do that plus drive down demand. Pretty neat trick.

---

The average service job in the USA is between $14 and $22 per hour. Average manufacturing job in the USA is $28 per hour.

Where did you get the inflation cost for construction. Significantly higher than the average US cost increase

---

because I work in the industry

---

Well July is at 1.1% for USA construction . Not 4 to 6%.

---

Ok man. 25 years in the Construction industry, I get tariff related price increases weekly, I know w t f I'm talking about.

---

It was a simple search. I am sure you have never made up any numbers on the interwebs, so I believe you are seeing a higher increase.

If I am a supplier of yours, I am asking you for a price increase. You are very clear that the tariffs will go directly to the consumer.

---

yeah, I'm not going to absorb it and neither is anyone else. Every single commodity based and electronics based product that goes into a construction project continues to increase costs monthly at a higher rate than inflation

---

What do you mean "not absorb it"? You have been very consistent that prices will go up due to the tariffs. Does this mean in real life you are not accepting the price increases?

---

So what exactly are you saying?

That magically Trump tariffs have not and will not increase prices, despite having many decades of tariff examples domestically and internationally the illustrate clearly that tariffs do exactly that?

---

It is simple. What I am saying is that price is not driven by cost. The market drives price. Tariffs increase cost.

Lazy companies will pass on cost, great companies understand the market, protect their customers, and reduce cost. In order to keep their margins.

---

Says who? You? LOL

Where is the evidence to support this novel theory of yours?

You act like Trump discovered tariffs and the world hasn't ever seen them before and we all just need to sit around guessing what's going to happen.

There are many decades of empirical evidence that tariffs increase prices.

Go find some good examples of countries levying significant tariffs and prices NOT increasing. Let's start there.

#Sieve wants to continue to be fleeced by the globalists. TDS in both cases, tariffs and Trump. #Sieve, keep watching Trump save America, it's happening right in front of your eyes ;-)

Civilized said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

They are being passed down at every stage to the ultimate customer.

---

Yep.

Copper is up almost 50% since April and even if you normalize for the volatility, it's up 25% year over year.

Our electrician was getting ready to mobilize to one of our sites to rough in and called, hat in hand, to say that he couldn't honor his bid price from 60 days ago. Said he had just gotten hit with a tariff price increase on copper wire and had to pass it through or else he'd be working for free. Hit us with a 15% job cost increase.

---

Interesting, I'm a pm for a custom builder and I haven't seen this yet. Not saying it's not true by any means. I have a job that my electrician quoted in early May and they just started their rough on Thursday and he said the quote was still good. He's been with us 21 years so that may play a part.

Cthepack said:

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Civilized said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

Civilized said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

caryking said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

El Lobo Loco said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

Sweet, beautiful tariffs, helping Johnny Paycheck, and NASCAR!

"In the latest blow, the 100-year-old clock manufacturer that produced the iconic NASCAR Martinsville grandfather clock announced that it'd be shutting down - in part due to Trump's tariffs. "A convergence of market influences beyond our control brought us to this point," President and CEO Howard J. Miller said in an official statement.

Since 1964, Martinsville Speedway - one of the oldest tracks still featured on the NASCAR schedule - has gifted the Cup Series race winner a grandfather clock shortly after they coasted down victory lane. Fred Lorenzen first received the unique accolade that year, during which he led a whopping 980 out of 1,000 total laps over the two races held at the 'paperclip.'"

We are protecting American jobs with protectionist tariffs!

Long-standing NASCAR tradition in danger due to Donald Trump's tariffs

---

Nobody needs clocks anymore. All that is on your phone.

---

They need jobs though

---

Ok, I had to come out of retirement for this one…

Hokie, you've never shown one bit of concern for the American worker. That comment (in bold) is extremely shallow and purely opportunistic. You can do better! I'm out again…

---

no, I don't think the cure for the American worker is $15/hr factory jobs.

---

Average manufacturings job is significantly higher than $15/hr. But you know this, you use to say $18/hr. I have tried to educate you on this but you continue to be obtuse.

We are in the 3rd quarter is inflation hitting now?

---

sure, let's do $18/hr. You can make $30/hr with benefits at Costco. You can make $25/hr easy in construction with overtime.

There are thousands of unfilled service jobs that pay more and provide better opportunity, I've also tried to educate you folks on that too, and tariffs hurt those better paying jobs to a higher degree than they provide jobs in manufacturing.

Construction projects have increased costs of 4-6% in the 3rd quarter so yes, it's happening now.

Demand does dictate pricing, except when you manipulate the market to artificially increase pricing. Tariffs do that plus drive down demand. Pretty neat trick.

---

The average service job in the USA is between $14 and $22 per hour. Average manufacturing job in the USA is $28 per hour.

Where did you get the inflation cost for construction. Significantly higher than the average US cost increase

---

because I work in the industry

---

Well July is at 1.1% for USA construction . Not 4 to 6%.

---

Ok man. 25 years in the Construction industry, I get tariff related price increases weekly, I know w t f I'm talking about.

---

It was a simple search. I am sure you have never made up any numbers on the interwebs, so I believe you are seeing a higher increase.

If I am a supplier of yours, I am asking you for a price increase. You are very clear that the tariffs will go directly to the consumer.

---

yeah, I'm not going to absorb it and neither is anyone else. Every single commodity based and electronics based product that goes into a construction project continues to increase costs monthly at a higher rate than inflation

---

What do you mean "not absorb it"? You have been very consistent that prices will go up due to the tariffs. Does this mean in real life you are not accepting the price increases?

---

So what exactly are you saying?

That magically Trump tariffs have not and will not increase prices, despite having many decades of tariff examples domestically and internationally the illustrate clearly that tariffs do exactly that?

---

It is simple. What I am saying is that price is not driven by cost. The market drives price. Tariffs increase cost.

Lazy companies will pass on cost, great companies understand the market, protect their customers, and reduce cost. In order to keep their margins.

---

Says who? You? LOL

Where is the evidence to support this novel theory of yours?

You act like Trump discovered tariffs and the world hasn't ever seen them before and we all just need to sit around guessing what's going to happen.

There are many decades of empirical evidence that tariffs increase prices.

Go find some good examples of countries levying significant tariffs and prices NOT increasing. Let's start there.

---

Let me start with the last couple of months for me.

This week I was at a client outside Chicago that had me in to reduce the cost on hydraulic equipment so they do not have to raise prices. Lots of this equipment is used in construction.

The week before, I was in Italy working for a client, reducing their costs so they can keep their margins without increasing prices.

The week before in Sweden doing the same thing for a similar company.

Since May I have worked with two clients in Canada doing the same thing.

I consider these good companies as they are keeping their prices the same.

Not sure it will click with you, but 90% of all CEOs believe they are in the top 10% of all CEOs. Lots of lazy companies.

---

All anecdotal, tiny sample size stuff.

No offense man but I'm not building sound US economic policy around your personal experience and observations running a small business.

It's a great big world out there, with a ton of examples of tariff policies and results over the last 80-100 years, domestically and abroad.

There is a mountain of empirical evidence that tariffs increase prices.

Show us the empirical evidence of significant tariffs NOT consequentially impacting consumer prices.

jkpackfan said:

---

Civilized said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

They are being passed down at every stage to the ultimate customer.

---

Yep.

Copper is up almost 50% since April and even if you normalize for the volatility, it's up 25% year over year.

Our electrician was getting ready to mobilize to one of our sites to rough in and called, hat in hand, to say that he couldn't honor his bid price from 60 days ago. Said he had just gotten hit with a tariff price increase on copper wire and had to pass it through or else he'd be working for free. Hit us with a 15% job cost increase.

---

Interesting, I'm a pm for a custom builder and I haven't seen this yet. Not saying it's not true by any means. I have a job that my electrician quoted in early May and they just started their rough on Thursday and he said the quote was still good. He's been with us 21 years so that may play a part.

---

Suppliers are still burning through inventory they bought pre-tariff volatility, but if Trump doesn't TACO on the copper tariffs, the price increases will roll on over the next few months as the increased-price raw material percolates out into the market.

This electrician was the second supplier to hit us with what they described explicitly as tariff increases, the other was our supplier for aluminum deck rail.

Civilized said:

---

jkpackfan said:

---

Civilized said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

They are being passed down at every stage to the ultimate customer.

---

Yep.

Copper is up almost 50% since April and even if you normalize for the volatility, it's up 25% year over year.

Our electrician was getting ready to mobilize to one of our sites to rough in and called, hat in hand, to say that he couldn't honor his bid price from 60 days ago. Said he had just gotten hit with a tariff price increase on copper wire and had to pass it through or else he'd be working for free. Hit us with a 15% job cost increase.

---

Interesting, I'm a pm for a custom builder and I haven't seen this yet. Not saying it's not true by any means. I have a job that my electrician quoted in early May and they just started their rough on Thursday and he said the quote was still good. He's been with us 21 years so that may play a part.

---

Suppliers are still burning through inventory they bought pre-tariff volatility, but if Trump doesn't TACO on the copper tariffs, the price increases will roll on over the next few months as the increased-price raw material percolates out into the market.

This electrician was the second supplier to hit us with what they described explicitly as tariff increases, the other was our supplier for aluminum deck rail.

---

It's definitely possible, I'm gonna call him on Monday and ask.

#Sieve and #Gobbler always have their panties in a wad when it comes to Trump. Certainly, tariffs should cause some inflation and particularly if not crafted in favorable ways. The intent of Trump's tariffs isn't intended to prevent some level of inflation; they are to retain America's wealth by creating jobs in America. Trump's adoption of tariffs will also protect our supply chain vulnerabilities trading with our enemies.

I think #Sieve and #Gobbler will be running victory laps if inflation does tick up to 2-3% annually. They'll blame tariffs of course......when in fact the revving of America's economic engine will be the real cause.

Sieve, Nappy and 44?'s side continues to dig itself deeper into the grave. A viable Democrat Party - as is - will not exist in 2026 and 2028 elections.

Trump just posted this !!!

“AUTHORIZATION IMMEDIATELY GRANTED FOR ARREST AND INCARCERATION.”

👀 pic.twitter.com/OjytYMct9U

— TONY™ (@TONYxTWO) July 11, 2025

Lol I make 2.75% - 3.5% on fee, it would be irresponsible for me to eat costs.

Stormie, didn't you and i have the same bet? ;-)
https://rumble.com/v6w2hg4-candace-owens-wins-100k-bet-w-piers-morgan-over-french-first-ladys-gender.html?e9s=src_v1_ucp_a

Josh Phillip is all over the CCP threat!

The American dream is under attack. And as we're more polarized than ever, the CCP's threat looms on the horizon.

The Epoch Times boldly calls out the CCP's atrocities through traditional journalism and truthful reporting. Stand with us.

Join us now: https://t.co/UEJyNcNa7N pic.twitter.com/3yLajwXQm6

— NTD+ (@NTDPlus_) May 2, 2023

Cthepack said:

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Civilized said:

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Cthepack said:

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Civilized said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

Civilized said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

caryking said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

El Lobo Loco said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

Sweet, beautiful tariffs, helping Johnny Paycheck, and NASCAR!

"In the latest blow, the 100-year-old clock manufacturer that produced the iconic NASCAR Martinsville grandfather clock announced that it'd be shutting down - in part due to Trump's tariffs. "A convergence of market influences beyond our control brought us to this point," President and CEO Howard J. Miller said in an official statement.

Since 1964, Martinsville Speedway - one of the oldest tracks still featured on the NASCAR schedule - has gifted the Cup Series race winner a grandfather clock shortly after they coasted down victory lane. Fred Lorenzen first received the unique accolade that year, during which he led a whopping 980 out of 1,000 total laps over the two races held at the 'paperclip.'"

We are protecting American jobs with protectionist tariffs!

Long-standing NASCAR tradition in danger due to Donald Trump's tariffs

---

Nobody needs clocks anymore. All that is on your phone.

---

They need jobs though

---

Ok, I had to come out of retirement for this one…

Hokie, you've never shown one bit of concern for the American worker. That comment (in bold) is extremely shallow and purely opportunistic. You can do better! I'm out again…

---

no, I don't think the cure for the American worker is $15/hr factory jobs.

---

Average manufacturings job is significantly higher than $15/hr. But you know this, you use to say $18/hr. I have tried to educate you on this but you continue to be obtuse.

We are in the 3rd quarter is inflation hitting now?

---

sure, let's do $18/hr. You can make $30/hr with benefits at Costco. You can make $25/hr easy in construction with overtime.

There are thousands of unfilled service jobs that pay more and provide better opportunity, I've also tried to educate you folks on that too, and tariffs hurt those better paying jobs to a higher degree than they provide jobs in manufacturing.

Construction projects have increased costs of 4-6% in the 3rd quarter so yes, it's happening now.

Demand does dictate pricing, except when you manipulate the market to artificially increase pricing. Tariffs do that plus drive down demand. Pretty neat trick.

---

The average service job in the USA is between $14 and $22 per hour. Average manufacturing job in the USA is $28 per hour.

Where did you get the inflation cost for construction. Significantly higher than the average US cost increase

---

because I work in the industry

---

Well July is at 1.1% for USA construction . Not 4 to 6%.

---

Ok man. 25 years in the Construction industry, I get tariff related price increases weekly, I know w t f I'm talking about.

---

It was a simple search. I am sure you have never made up any numbers on the interwebs, so I believe you are seeing a higher increase.

If I am a supplier of yours, I am asking you for a price increase. You are very clear that the tariffs will go directly to the consumer.

---

yeah, I'm not going to absorb it and neither is anyone else. Every single commodity based and electronics based product that goes into a construction project continues to increase costs monthly at a higher rate than inflation

---

What do you mean "not absorb it"? You have been very consistent that prices will go up due to the tariffs. Does this mean in real life you are not accepting the price increases?

---

So what exactly are you saying?

That magically Trump tariffs have not and will not increase prices, despite having many decades of tariff examples domestically and internationally the illustrate clearly that tariffs do exactly that?

---

It is simple. What I am saying is that price is not driven by cost. The market drives price. Tariffs increase cost.

Lazy companies will pass on cost, great companies understand the market, protect their customers, and reduce cost. In order to keep their margins.

---

Says who? You? LOL

Where is the evidence to support this novel theory of yours?

You act like Trump discovered tariffs and the world hasn't ever seen them before and we all just need to sit around guessing what's going to happen.

There are many decades of empirical evidence that tariffs increase prices.

Go find some good examples of countries levying significant tariffs and prices NOT increasing. Let's start there.

---

Let me start with the last couple of months for me.

This week I was at a client outside Chicago that had me in to reduce the cost on hydraulic equipment so they do not have to raise prices. Lots of this equipment is used in construction.

The week before, I was in Italy working for a client, reducing their costs so they can keep their margins without increasing prices.

The week before in Sweden doing the same thing for a similar company.

Since May I have worked with two clients in Canada doing the same thing.

I consider these good companies as they are keeping their prices the same.

Not sure it will click with you, but 90% of all CEOs believe they are in the top 10% of all CEOs. Lots of lazy companies.

---

All anecdotal, tiny sample size stuff.

No offense man but I'm not building sound US economic policy around your personal experience and observations running a small business.

It's a great big world out there, with a ton of examples of tariff policies and results over the last 80-100 years, domestically and abroad.

There is a mountain of empirical evidence that tariffs increase prices.

Show us the empirical evidence of significant tariffs NOT consequentially impacting consumer prices.

---

As expected. You ask for evidence to support my, what did you call it, "novel theory", and I do but of course that is not enough.

I have not once said prices will not rise, I said good companies are working to reduce costs so they do not have to raise prices. Lazy companies just want to pass on costs.

---

What evidence did you provide, exactly? You talked about your personal experience. That's not evidence, that's anecdote.

I'm talking about "yeah back in '84 we hit China with 40% tariffs on steel but US steel prices didn't budge. Something similar happened to Canadian lumber in '88". Or talk about Smoot-Hawley or 1800's protectionism or anything that's macro and researched. Not some hyper-micro example from your small business.

[color=#000000][font=TwitterChirp, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]

MASSIVE NEWS: Stop what you are doing and take 5 minutes to watch this clip. This is huge!

John Solomon says he has confirmed that the DOJ & the FBI has been secretly building a massive conspiracy case against the deep state! 💥

“MAGA base, Americans, will be happy when they… pic.twitter.com/nDU84ytV7e

— TheStormHasArrived (@TheStormRedux) July 12, 2025

[/font][/color]

[color=#000000][font=TwitterChirp, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]

Oh my God… 💔

The Biden admin released Children to Rapist’s who raped them Multiple times while keeping them under Video Surveillance

Stephen Miller says when the Trump admin went looking for these 500,000 Missing Children, The Addresses the US Government provided under the… https://t.co/cx89h9oSWt pic.twitter.com/HPdaYv37dq

— MJTruthUltra (@MJTruthUltra) July 11, 2025

[/font][/color]

#daSpecial for #daSIeve. ;-)
[color=#000000][font=TwitterChirp, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]

Worst punishment ever. pic.twitter.com/VjqSzFZOuf

— Planet Of Memes (@PlanetOfMemes) July 12, 2025

[/font][/color]

Civilized said:

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Cthepack said:

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Civilized said:

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Cthepack said:

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Civilized said:

---

Cthepack said:

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Civilized said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

caryking said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

El Lobo Loco said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

Sweet, beautiful tariffs, helping Johnny Paycheck, and NASCAR!

"In the latest blow, the 100-year-old clock manufacturer that produced the iconic NASCAR Martinsville grandfather clock announced that it'd be shutting down - in part due to Trump's tariffs. "A convergence of market influences beyond our control brought us to this point," President and CEO Howard J. Miller said in an official statement.

Since 1964, Martinsville Speedway - one of the oldest tracks still featured on the NASCAR schedule - has gifted the Cup Series race winner a grandfather clock shortly after they coasted down victory lane. Fred Lorenzen first received the unique accolade that year, during which he led a whopping 980 out of 1,000 total laps over the two races held at the 'paperclip.'"

We are protecting American jobs with protectionist tariffs!

Long-standing NASCAR tradition in danger due to Donald Trump's tariffs

---

Nobody needs clocks anymore. All that is on your phone.

---

They need jobs though

---

Ok, I had to come out of retirement for this one…

Hokie, you've never shown one bit of concern for the American worker. That comment (in bold) is extremely shallow and purely opportunistic. You can do better! I'm out again…

---

no, I don't think the cure for the American worker is $15/hr factory jobs.

---

Average manufacturings job is significantly higher than $15/hr. But you know this, you use to say $18/hr. I have tried to educate you on this but you continue to be obtuse.

We are in the 3rd quarter is inflation hitting now?

---

sure, let's do $18/hr. You can make $30/hr with benefits at Costco. You can make $25/hr easy in construction with overtime.

There are thousands of unfilled service jobs that pay more and provide better opportunity, I've also tried to educate you folks on that too, and tariffs hurt those better paying jobs to a higher degree than they provide jobs in manufacturing.

Construction projects have increased costs of 4-6% in the 3rd quarter so yes, it's happening now.

Demand does dictate pricing, except when you manipulate the market to artificially increase pricing. Tariffs do that plus drive down demand. Pretty neat trick.

---

The average service job in the USA is between $14 and $22 per hour. Average manufacturing job in the USA is $28 per hour.

Where did you get the inflation cost for construction. Significantly higher than the average US cost increase

---

because I work in the industry

---

Well July is at 1.1% for USA construction . Not 4 to 6%.

---

Ok man. 25 years in the Construction industry, I get tariff related price increases weekly, I know w t f I'm talking about.

---

It was a simple search. I am sure you have never made up any numbers on the interwebs, so I believe you are seeing a higher increase.

If I am a supplier of yours, I am asking you for a price increase. You are very clear that the tariffs will go directly to the consumer.

---

yeah, I'm not going to absorb it and neither is anyone else. Every single commodity based and electronics based product that goes into a construction project continues to increase costs monthly at a higher rate than inflation

---

What do you mean "not absorb it"? You have been very consistent that prices will go up due to the tariffs. Does this mean in real life you are not accepting the price increases?

---

So what exactly are you saying?

That magically Trump tariffs have not and will not increase prices, despite having many decades of tariff examples domestically and internationally the illustrate clearly that tariffs do exactly that?

---

It is simple. What I am saying is that price is not driven by cost. The market drives price. Tariffs increase cost.

Lazy companies will pass on cost, great companies understand the market, protect their customers, and reduce cost. In order to keep their margins.

---

Says who? You? LOL

Where is the evidence to support this novel theory of yours?

You act like Trump discovered tariffs and the world hasn't ever seen them before and we all just need to sit around guessing what's going to happen.

There are many decades of empirical evidence that tariffs increase prices.

Go find some good examples of countries levying significant tariffs and prices NOT increasing. Let's start there.

---

Let me start with the last couple of months for me.

This week I was at a client outside Chicago that had me in to reduce the cost on hydraulic equipment so they do not have to raise prices. Lots of this equipment is used in construction.

The week before, I was in Italy working for a client, reducing their costs so they can keep their margins without increasing prices.

The week before in Sweden doing the same thing for a similar company.

Since May I have worked with two clients in Canada doing the same thing.

I consider these good companies as they are keeping their prices the same.

Not sure it will click with you, but 90% of all CEOs believe they are in the top 10% of all CEOs. Lots of lazy companies.

---

All anecdotal, tiny sample size stuff.

No offense man but I'm not building sound US economic policy around your personal experience and observations running a small business.

It's a great big world out there, with a ton of examples of tariff policies and results over the last 80-100 years, domestically and abroad.

There is a mountain of empirical evidence that tariffs increase prices.

Show us the empirical evidence of significant tariffs NOT consequentially impacting consumer prices.

---

As expected. You ask for evidence to support my, what did you call it, "novel theory", and I do but of course that is not enough.

I have not once said prices will not rise, I said good companies are working to reduce costs so they do not have to raise prices. Lazy companies just want to pass on costs.

---

What evidence did you provide, exactly? You talked about your personal experience. That's not evidence, that's anecdote.

I'm talking about "yeah back in '84 we hit China with 40% tariffs on steel but US steel prices didn't budge. Something similar happened to Canadian lumber in '88". Or talk about Smoot-Hawley or 1800's protectionism or anything that's macro and researched. Not some hyper-micro example from your small business.

---

He lives in Private Equity Fantasy World where you can cut costs forever and it definitely won't eventually implode your business.

And of course it's MAGA scripture that a President insisting that companies eat the cost increases "or else" is a totally normal way to run a first world country.

Cthepack said:

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SmaptyWolf said:

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Civilized said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

Civilized said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

Civilized said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

Civilized said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

caryking said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

El Lobo Loco said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

Sweet, beautiful tariffs, helping Johnny Paycheck, and NASCAR!

"In the latest blow, the 100-year-old clock manufacturer that produced the iconic NASCAR Martinsville grandfather clock announced that it'd be shutting down - in part due to Trump's tariffs. "A convergence of market influences beyond our control brought us to this point," President and CEO Howard J. Miller said in an official statement.

Since 1964, Martinsville Speedway - one of the oldest tracks still featured on the NASCAR schedule - has gifted the Cup Series race winner a grandfather clock shortly after they coasted down victory lane. Fred Lorenzen first received the unique accolade that year, during which he led a whopping 980 out of 1,000 total laps over the two races held at the 'paperclip.'"

We are protecting American jobs with protectionist tariffs!

Long-standing NASCAR tradition in danger due to Donald Trump's tariffs

---

Nobody needs clocks anymore. All that is on your phone.

---

They need jobs though

---

Ok, I had to come out of retirement for this one…

Hokie, you've never shown one bit of concern for the American worker. That comment (in bold) is extremely shallow and purely opportunistic. You can do better! I'm out again…

---

no, I don't think the cure for the American worker is $15/hr factory jobs.

---

Average manufacturings job is significantly higher than $15/hr. But you know this, you use to say $18/hr. I have tried to educate you on this but you continue to be obtuse.

We are in the 3rd quarter is inflation hitting now?

---

sure, let's do $18/hr. You can make $30/hr with benefits at Costco. You can make $25/hr easy in construction with overtime.

There are thousands of unfilled service jobs that pay more and provide better opportunity, I've also tried to educate you folks on that too, and tariffs hurt those better paying jobs to a higher degree than they provide jobs in manufacturing.

Construction projects have increased costs of 4-6% in the 3rd quarter so yes, it's happening now.

Demand does dictate pricing, except when you manipulate the market to artificially increase pricing. Tariffs do that plus drive down demand. Pretty neat trick.

---

The average service job in the USA is between $14 and $22 per hour. Average manufacturing job in the USA is $28 per hour.

Where did you get the inflation cost for construction. Significantly higher than the average US cost increase

---

because I work in the industry

---

Well July is at 1.1% for USA construction . Not 4 to 6%.

---

Ok man. 25 years in the Construction industry, I get tariff related price increases weekly, I know w t f I'm talking about.

---

It was a simple search. I am sure you have never made up any numbers on the interwebs, so I believe you are seeing a higher increase.

If I am a supplier of yours, I am asking you for a price increase. You are very clear that the tariffs will go directly to the consumer.

---

yeah, I'm not going to absorb it and neither is anyone else. Every single commodity based and electronics based product that goes into a construction project continues to increase costs monthly at a higher rate than inflation

---

What do you mean "not absorb it"? You have been very consistent that prices will go up due to the tariffs. Does this mean in real life you are not accepting the price increases?

---

So what exactly are you saying?

That magically Trump tariffs have not and will not increase prices, despite having many decades of tariff examples domestically and internationally the illustrate clearly that tariffs do exactly that?

---

It is simple. What I am saying is that price is not driven by cost. The market drives price. Tariffs increase cost.

Lazy companies will pass on cost, great companies understand the market, protect their customers, and reduce cost. In order to keep their margins.

---

Says who? You? LOL

Where is the evidence to support this novel theory of yours?

You act like Trump discovered tariffs and the world hasn't ever seen them before and we all just need to sit around guessing what's going to happen.

There are many decades of empirical evidence that tariffs increase prices.

Go find some good examples of countries levying significant tariffs and prices NOT increasing. Let's start there.

---

Let me start with the last couple of months for me.

This week I was at a client outside Chicago that had me in to reduce the cost on hydraulic equipment so they do not have to raise prices. Lots of this equipment is used in construction.

The week before, I was in Italy working for a client, reducing their costs so they can keep their margins without increasing prices.

The week before in Sweden doing the same thing for a similar company.

Since May I have worked with two clients in Canada doing the same thing.

I consider these good companies as they are keeping their prices the same.

Not sure it will click with you, but 90% of all CEOs believe they are in the top 10% of all CEOs. Lots of lazy companies.

---

All anecdotal, tiny sample size stuff.

No offense man but I'm not building sound US economic policy around your personal experience and observations running a small business.

It's a great big world out there, with a ton of examples of tariff policies and results over the last 80-100 years, domestically and abroad.

There is a mountain of empirical evidence that tariffs increase prices.

Show us the empirical evidence of significant tariffs NOT consequentially impacting consumer prices.

---

As expected. You ask for evidence to support my, what did you call it, "novel theory", and I do but of course that is not enough.

I have not once said prices will not rise, I said good companies are working to reduce costs so they do not have to raise prices. Lazy companies just want to pass on costs.

---

What evidence did you provide, exactly? You talked about your personal experience. That's not evidence, that's anecdote.

I'm talking about "yeah back in '84 we hit China with 40% tariffs on steel but US steel prices didn't budge. Something similar happened to Canadian lumber in '88". Or talk about Smoot-Hawley or 1800's protectionism or anything that's macro and researched. Not some hyper-micro example from your small business.

---

He lives in Private Equity Fantasy World where you can cut costs forever and it definitely won't eventually implode your business.

And of course it's MAGA scripture that a President insisting that companies eat the cost increases "or else" is a totally normal way to run a first world country.

---

Three of the companies are publicly traded. One is a single person owner and yes one is a PE. You continue to embarrass yourself and my university. If you are an NC State graduate.

---

I wasn't referring to the companies you're consulting for. I was referring to your cartoonish PE mentality that "good" companies can always just keep cutting costs somehow, and would never have to pass tariff cost increases on to their customers.

Anyhoo, I'd say the same about your nonsense, but it's clearly not possible for PE vultures *or* MAGA clowns to be embarrassed.

And feel free to donate to 1Pack anytime.

SmaptyWolf said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

SmaptyWolf said:

---

Civilized said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

Civilized said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

Civilized said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

Civilized said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

caryking said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

El Lobo Loco said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

Sweet, beautiful tariffs, helping Johnny Paycheck, and NASCAR!

"In the latest blow, the 100-year-old clock manufacturer that produced the iconic NASCAR Martinsville grandfather clock announced that it'd be shutting down - in part due to Trump's tariffs. "A convergence of market influences beyond our control brought us to this point," President and CEO Howard J. Miller said in an official statement.

Since 1964, Martinsville Speedway - one of the oldest tracks still featured on the NASCAR schedule - has gifted the Cup Series race winner a grandfather clock shortly after they coasted down victory lane. Fred Lorenzen first received the unique accolade that year, during which he led a whopping 980 out of 1,000 total laps over the two races held at the 'paperclip.'"

We are protecting American jobs with protectionist tariffs!

Long-standing NASCAR tradition in danger due to Donald Trump's tariffs

---

Nobody needs clocks anymore. All that is on your phone.

---

They need jobs though

---

Ok, I had to come out of retirement for this one…

Hokie, you've never shown one bit of concern for the American worker. That comment (in bold) is extremely shallow and purely opportunistic. You can do better! I'm out again…

---

no, I don't think the cure for the American worker is $15/hr factory jobs.

---

Average manufacturings job is significantly higher than $15/hr. But you know this, you use to say $18/hr. I have tried to educate you on this but you continue to be obtuse.

We are in the 3rd quarter is inflation hitting now?

---

sure, let's do $18/hr. You can make $30/hr with benefits at Costco. You can make $25/hr easy in construction with overtime.

There are thousands of unfilled service jobs that pay more and provide better opportunity, I've also tried to educate you folks on that too, and tariffs hurt those better paying jobs to a higher degree than they provide jobs in manufacturing.

Construction projects have increased costs of 4-6% in the 3rd quarter so yes, it's happening now.

Demand does dictate pricing, except when you manipulate the market to artificially increase pricing. Tariffs do that plus drive down demand. Pretty neat trick.

---

The average service job in the USA is between $14 and $22 per hour. Average manufacturing job in the USA is $28 per hour.

Where did you get the inflation cost for construction. Significantly higher than the average US cost increase

---

because I work in the industry

---

Well July is at 1.1% for USA construction . Not 4 to 6%.

---

Ok man. 25 years in the Construction industry, I get tariff related price increases weekly, I know w t f I'm talking about.

---

It was a simple search. I am sure you have never made up any numbers on the interwebs, so I believe you are seeing a higher increase.

If I am a supplier of yours, I am asking you for a price increase. You are very clear that the tariffs will go directly to the consumer.

---

yeah, I'm not going to absorb it and neither is anyone else. Every single commodity based and electronics based product that goes into a construction project continues to increase costs monthly at a higher rate than inflation

---

What do you mean "not absorb it"? You have been very consistent that prices will go up due to the tariffs. Does this mean in real life you are not accepting the price increases?

---

So what exactly are you saying?

That magically Trump tariffs have not and will not increase prices, despite having many decades of tariff examples domestically and internationally the illustrate clearly that tariffs do exactly that?

---

It is simple. What I am saying is that price is not driven by cost. The market drives price. Tariffs increase cost.

Lazy companies will pass on cost, great companies understand the market, protect their customers, and reduce cost. In order to keep their margins.

---

Says who? You? LOL

Where is the evidence to support this novel theory of yours?

You act like Trump discovered tariffs and the world hasn't ever seen them before and we all just need to sit around guessing what's going to happen.

There are many decades of empirical evidence that tariffs increase prices.

Go find some good examples of countries levying significant tariffs and prices NOT increasing. Let's start there.

---

Let me start with the last couple of months for me.

This week I was at a client outside Chicago that had me in to reduce the cost on hydraulic equipment so they do not have to raise prices. Lots of this equipment is used in construction.

The week before, I was in Italy working for a client, reducing their costs so they can keep their margins without increasing prices.

The week before in Sweden doing the same thing for a similar company.

Since May I have worked with two clients in Canada doing the same thing.

I consider these good companies as they are keeping their prices the same.

Not sure it will click with you, but 90% of all CEOs believe they are in the top 10% of all CEOs. Lots of lazy companies.

---

All anecdotal, tiny sample size stuff.

No offense man but I'm not building sound US economic policy around your personal experience and observations running a small business.

It's a great big world out there, with a ton of examples of tariff policies and results over the last 80-100 years, domestically and abroad.

There is a mountain of empirical evidence that tariffs increase prices.

Show us the empirical evidence of significant tariffs NOT consequentially impacting consumer prices.

---

As expected. You ask for evidence to support my, what did you call it, "novel theory", and I do but of course that is not enough.

I have not once said prices will not rise, I said good companies are working to reduce costs so they do not have to raise prices. Lazy companies just want to pass on costs.

---

What evidence did you provide, exactly? You talked about your personal experience. That's not evidence, that's anecdote.

I'm talking about "yeah back in '84 we hit China with 40% tariffs on steel but US steel prices didn't budge. Something similar happened to Canadian lumber in '88". Or talk about Smoot-Hawley or 1800's protectionism or anything that's macro and researched. Not some hyper-micro example from your small business.

---

He lives in Private Equity Fantasy World where you can cut costs forever and it definitely won't eventually implode your business.

And of course it's MAGA scripture that a President insisting that companies eat the cost increases "or else" is a totally normal way to run a first world country.

---

Three of the companies are publicly traded. One is a single person owner and yes one is a PE. You continue to embarrass yourself and my university. If you are an NC State graduate.

---

I wasn't referring to the companies you're consulting for. I was referring to your cartoonish PE mentality that "good" companies can always just keep cutting costs somehow, and would never have to pass tariff cost increases on to their customers.

Anyhoo, I'd say the same about your nonsense, but it's clearly not possible for PE vultures *or* MAGA clowns to be embarrassed.

And feel free to donate to 1Pack anytime.

---

Right. If that was true, tariffs wouldn't have driven costs up and/or bludgeoned the broader economy due to their cooling effect on international trade basically every time we and other countries have implemented them in the last 150 years.

Yes, companies can try to cut costs in response to maintain their margins. But broadly, in 150 years of practice, companies that are able to do this sufficiently to not impact consumer prices AND aren't cutting costs in ways that harm the economy via job cuts are corner cases.

Again, tariffs aren't new. We have 150 years of good empirical evidence of their effect on the economy.

Civilized said:

---

SmaptyWolf said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

SmaptyWolf said:

---

Civilized said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

Civilized said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

Civilized said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

Civilized said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

caryking said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

El Lobo Loco said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

Sweet, beautiful tariffs, helping Johnny Paycheck, and NASCAR!

"In the latest blow, the 100-year-old clock manufacturer that produced the iconic NASCAR Martinsville grandfather clock announced that it'd be shutting down - in part due to Trump's tariffs. "A convergence of market influences beyond our control brought us to this point," President and CEO Howard J. Miller said in an official statement.

Since 1964, Martinsville Speedway - one of the oldest tracks still featured on the NASCAR schedule - has gifted the Cup Series race winner a grandfather clock shortly after they coasted down victory lane. Fred Lorenzen first received the unique accolade that year, during which he led a whopping 980 out of 1,000 total laps over the two races held at the 'paperclip.'"

We are protecting American jobs with protectionist tariffs!

Long-standing NASCAR tradition in danger due to Donald Trump's tariffs

---

Nobody needs clocks anymore. All that is on your phone.

---

They need jobs though

---

Ok, I had to come out of retirement for this one…

Hokie, you've never shown one bit of concern for the American worker. That comment (in bold) is extremely shallow and purely opportunistic. You can do better! I'm out again…

---

no, I don't think the cure for the American worker is $15/hr factory jobs.

---

Average manufacturings job is significantly higher than $15/hr. But you know this, you use to say $18/hr. I have tried to educate you on this but you continue to be obtuse.

We are in the 3rd quarter is inflation hitting now?

---

sure, let's do $18/hr. You can make $30/hr with benefits at Costco. You can make $25/hr easy in construction with overtime.

There are thousands of unfilled service jobs that pay more and provide better opportunity, I've also tried to educate you folks on that too, and tariffs hurt those better paying jobs to a higher degree than they provide jobs in manufacturing.

Construction projects have increased costs of 4-6% in the 3rd quarter so yes, it's happening now.

Demand does dictate pricing, except when you manipulate the market to artificially increase pricing. Tariffs do that plus drive down demand. Pretty neat trick.

---

The average service job in the USA is between $14 and $22 per hour. Average manufacturing job in the USA is $28 per hour.

Where did you get the inflation cost for construction. Significantly higher than the average US cost increase

---

because I work in the industry

---

Well July is at 1.1% for USA construction . Not 4 to 6%.

---

Ok man. 25 years in the Construction industry, I get tariff related price increases weekly, I know w t f I'm talking about.

---

It was a simple search. I am sure you have never made up any numbers on the interwebs, so I believe you are seeing a higher increase.

If I am a supplier of yours, I am asking you for a price increase. You are very clear that the tariffs will go directly to the consumer.

---

yeah, I'm not going to absorb it and neither is anyone else. Every single commodity based and electronics based product that goes into a construction project continues to increase costs monthly at a higher rate than inflation

---

What do you mean "not absorb it"? You have been very consistent that prices will go up due to the tariffs. Does this mean in real life you are not accepting the price increases?

---

So what exactly are you saying?

That magically Trump tariffs have not and will not increase prices, despite having many decades of tariff examples domestically and internationally the illustrate clearly that tariffs do exactly that?

---

It is simple. What I am saying is that price is not driven by cost. The market drives price. Tariffs increase cost.

Lazy companies will pass on cost, great companies understand the market, protect their customers, and reduce cost. In order to keep their margins.

---

Says who? You? LOL

Where is the evidence to support this novel theory of yours?

You act like Trump discovered tariffs and the world hasn't ever seen them before and we all just need to sit around guessing what's going to happen.

There are many decades of empirical evidence that tariffs increase prices.

Go find some good examples of countries levying significant tariffs and prices NOT increasing. Let's start there.

---

Let me start with the last couple of months for me.

This week I was at a client outside Chicago that had me in to reduce the cost on hydraulic equipment so they do not have to raise prices. Lots of this equipment is used in construction.

The week before, I was in Italy working for a client, reducing their costs so they can keep their margins without increasing prices.

The week before in Sweden doing the same thing for a similar company.

Since May I have worked with two clients in Canada doing the same thing.

I consider these good companies as they are keeping their prices the same.

Not sure it will click with you, but 90% of all CEOs believe they are in the top 10% of all CEOs. Lots of lazy companies.

---

All anecdotal, tiny sample size stuff.

No offense man but I'm not building sound US economic policy around your personal experience and observations running a small business.

It's a great big world out there, with a ton of examples of tariff policies and results over the last 80-100 years, domestically and abroad.

There is a mountain of empirical evidence that tariffs increase prices.

Show us the empirical evidence of significant tariffs NOT consequentially impacting consumer prices.

---

As expected. You ask for evidence to support my, what did you call it, "novel theory", and I do but of course that is not enough.

I have not once said prices will not rise, I said good companies are working to reduce costs so they do not have to raise prices. Lazy companies just want to pass on costs.

---

What evidence did you provide, exactly? You talked about your personal experience. That's not evidence, that's anecdote.

I'm talking about "yeah back in '84 we hit China with 40% tariffs on steel but US steel prices didn't budge. Something similar happened to Canadian lumber in '88". Or talk about Smoot-Hawley or 1800's protectionism or anything that's macro and researched. Not some hyper-micro example from your small business.

---

He lives in Private Equity Fantasy World where you can cut costs forever and it definitely won't eventually implode your business.

And of course it's MAGA scripture that a President insisting that companies eat the cost increases "or else" is a totally normal way to run a first world country.

---

Three of the companies are publicly traded. One is a single person owner and yes one is a PE. You continue to embarrass yourself and my university. If you are an NC State graduate.

---

I wasn't referring to the companies you're consulting for. I was referring to your cartoonish PE mentality that "good" companies can always just keep cutting costs somehow, and would never have to pass tariff cost increases on to their customers.

Anyhoo, I'd say the same about your nonsense, but it's clearly not possible for PE vultures *or* MAGA clowns to be embarrassed.

And feel free to donate to 1Pack anytime.

---

Right. If that was true, tariffs wouldn't have driven costs up and/or bludgeoned the broader economy due to their cooling effect on international trade basically every time we and other countries have implemented them in the last 150 years.

Yes, companies can try to cut costs in response to maintain their margins. But broadly, in 150 years of practice, companies that are able to do this sufficiently to not impact consumer prices AND aren't cutting costs in ways that harm the economy via job cuts are corner cases.

Again, tariffs aren't new. We have 150 years of good empirical evidence of their effect on the economy.

---

Starting to see parts of this Novel Theory, even confirming it has happened for over 100 years. It is what good companies do. Protect their customers as much as they can.

A couple things, can you share where you got the company cost cutting data to support your comment of only a few corner cases in the past?

Also, I know tariffs are not new, but comparing today to what happened 80 to 100 years ago is a stretch. End result may be the same but there is infinitely more information available to companies and consumers. Information moves so much more quickly. Also most companies today have va/ve programs, ci programs. Etc. so not new to reduce cost as compared to 80 years ago.

Ya, Cthepack, I don't accept vanity badges, either. This is IPS, it's important that IPS continue to grow, and creating castes within a caste (Premium, as opposed to Varsity and whatever other category exists), is bound to put a drag on that, undoubtedly why Hendu rarely if ever, endorses that.

Too funny watching our resident Democrats melt down about Trump's already successful tariffs. If Trump was driving a delivery truck of essential supplies to America these Democrats would be throwing rocks and standing in the roadway to impede Trump's progress.

Oh yeah, slipped my mind, they're already doing that with ICE deportations......

AOC crossed a legally actionable line….only question is, did she write a check she can't cover?

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/aoc-mocks-maga-world-over-epstein-files-infighting-who-would-have-thought-that-electing-a-ra-ist-would-have-complicated-the-release/ar-AA1IrbV5?ocid=BingNewsVerp

SmaptyWolf said:

---

Civilized said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

Civilized said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

Civilized said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

Civilized said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

caryking said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

El Lobo Loco said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

Sweet, beautiful tariffs, helping Johnny Paycheck, and NASCAR!

"In the latest blow, the 100-year-old clock manufacturer that produced the iconic NASCAR Martinsville grandfather clock announced that it'd be shutting down - in part due to Trump's tariffs. "A convergence of market influences beyond our control brought us to this point," President and CEO Howard J. Miller said in an official statement.

Since 1964, Martinsville Speedway - one of the oldest tracks still featured on the NASCAR schedule - has gifted the Cup Series race winner a grandfather clock shortly after they coasted down victory lane. Fred Lorenzen first received the unique accolade that year, during which he led a whopping 980 out of 1,000 total laps over the two races held at the 'paperclip.'"

We are protecting American jobs with protectionist tariffs!

Long-standing NASCAR tradition in danger due to Donald Trump's tariffs

---

Nobody needs clocks anymore. All that is on your phone.

---

They need jobs though

---

Ok, I had to come out of retirement for this one…

Hokie, you've never shown one bit of concern for the American worker. That comment (in bold) is extremely shallow and purely opportunistic. You can do better! I'm out again…

---

no, I don't think the cure for the American worker is $15/hr factory jobs.

---

Average manufacturings job is significantly higher than $15/hr. But you know this, you use to say $18/hr. I have tried to educate you on this but you continue to be obtuse.

We are in the 3rd quarter is inflation hitting now?

---

sure, let's do $18/hr. You can make $30/hr with benefits at Costco. You can make $25/hr easy in construction with overtime.

There are thousands of unfilled service jobs that pay more and provide better opportunity, I've also tried to educate you folks on that too, and tariffs hurt those better paying jobs to a higher degree than they provide jobs in manufacturing.

Construction projects have increased costs of 4-6% in the 3rd quarter so yes, it's happening now.

Demand does dictate pricing, except when you manipulate the market to artificially increase pricing. Tariffs do that plus drive down demand. Pretty neat trick.

---

The average service job in the USA is between $14 and $22 per hour. Average manufacturing job in the USA is $28 per hour.

Where did you get the inflation cost for construction. Significantly higher than the average US cost increase

---

because I work in the industry

---

Well July is at 1.1% for USA construction . Not 4 to 6%.

---

Ok man. 25 years in the Construction industry, I get tariff related price increases weekly, I know w t f I'm talking about.

---

It was a simple search. I am sure you have never made up any numbers on the interwebs, so I believe you are seeing a higher increase.

If I am a supplier of yours, I am asking you for a price increase. You are very clear that the tariffs will go directly to the consumer.

---

yeah, I'm not going to absorb it and neither is anyone else. Every single commodity based and electronics based product that goes into a construction project continues to increase costs monthly at a higher rate than inflation

---

What do you mean "not absorb it"? You have been very consistent that prices will go up due to the tariffs. Does this mean in real life you are not accepting the price increases?

---

So what exactly are you saying?

That magically Trump tariffs have not and will not increase prices, despite having many decades of tariff examples domestically and internationally the illustrate clearly that tariffs do exactly that?

---

It is simple. What I am saying is that price is not driven by cost. The market drives price. Tariffs increase cost.

Lazy companies will pass on cost, great companies understand the market, protect their customers, and reduce cost. In order to keep their margins.

---

Says who? You? LOL

Where is the evidence to support this novel theory of yours?

You act like Trump discovered tariffs and the world hasn't ever seen them before and we all just need to sit around guessing what's going to happen.

There are many decades of empirical evidence that tariffs increase prices.

Go find some good examples of countries levying significant tariffs and prices NOT increasing. Let's start there.

---

Let me start with the last couple of months for me.

This week I was at a client outside Chicago that had me in to reduce the cost on hydraulic equipment so they do not have to raise prices. Lots of this equipment is used in construction.

The week before, I was in Italy working for a client, reducing their costs so they can keep their margins without increasing prices.

The week before in Sweden doing the same thing for a similar company.

Since May I have worked with two clients in Canada doing the same thing.

I consider these good companies as they are keeping their prices the same.

Not sure it will click with you, but 90% of all CEOs believe they are in the top 10% of all CEOs. Lots of lazy companies.

---

All anecdotal, tiny sample size stuff.

No offense man but I'm not building sound US economic policy around your personal experience and observations running a small business.

It's a great big world out there, with a ton of examples of tariff policies and results over the last 80-100 years, domestically and abroad.

There is a mountain of empirical evidence that tariffs increase prices.

Show us the empirical evidence of significant tariffs NOT consequentially impacting consumer prices.

---

As expected. You ask for evidence to support my, what did you call it, "novel theory", and I do but of course that is not enough.

I have not once said prices will not rise, I said good companies are working to reduce costs so they do not have to raise prices. Lazy companies just want to pass on costs.

---

What evidence did you provide, exactly? You talked about your personal experience. That's not evidence, that's anecdote.

I'm talking about "yeah back in '84 we hit China with 40% tariffs on steel but US steel prices didn't budge. Something similar happened to Canadian lumber in '88". Or talk about Smoot-Hawley or 1800's protectionism or anything that's macro and researched. Not some hyper-micro example from your small business.

---

He lives in Private Equity Fantasy World where you can cut costs forever and it definitely won't eventually implode your business.

And of course it's MAGA scripture that a President insisting that companies eat the cost increases "or else" is a totally normal way to run a first world country.

---

Now you like capitalism after you hated capitalism?

Cthepack said:

---

SmaptyWolf said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

SmaptyWolf said:

---

Civilized said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

Civilized said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

Civilized said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

Civilized said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

Cthepack said:

---

hokiewolf said:

---

Cthepack said:

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hokiewolf said:

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Cthepack said:

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hokiewolf said:

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caryking said:

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hokiewolf said:

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El Lobo Loco said:

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hokiewolf said:

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Sweet, beautiful tariffs, helping Johnny Paycheck, and NASCAR!

"In the latest blow, the 100-year-old clock manufacturer that produced the iconic NASCAR Martinsville grandfather clock announced that it'd be shutting down - in part due to Trump's tariffs. "A convergence of market influences beyond our control brought us to this point," President and CEO Howard J. Miller said in an official statement.

Since 1964, Martinsville Speedway - one of the oldest tracks still featured on the NASCAR schedule - has gifted the Cup Series race winner a grandfather clock shortly after they coasted down victory lane. Fred Lorenzen first received the unique accolade that year, during which he led a whopping 980 out of 1,000 total laps over the two races held at the 'paperclip.'"

We are protecting American jobs with protectionist tariffs!

Long-standing NASCAR tradition in danger due to Donald Trump's tariffs

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Nobody needs clocks anymore. All that is on your phone.

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They need jobs though

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Ok, I had to come out of retirement for this one…

Hokie, you've never shown one bit of concern for the American worker. That comment (in bold) is extremely shallow and purely opportunistic. You can do better! I'm out again…

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no, I don't think the cure for the American worker is $15/hr factory jobs.

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Average manufacturings job is significantly higher than $15/hr. But you know this, you use to say $18/hr. I have tried to educate you on this but you continue to be obtuse.

We are in the 3rd quarter is inflation hitting now?

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sure, let's do $18/hr. You can make $30/hr with benefits at Costco. You can make $25/hr easy in construction with overtime.

There are thousands of unfilled service jobs that pay more and provide better opportunity, I've also tried to educate you folks on that too, and tariffs hurt those better paying jobs to a higher degree than they provide jobs in manufacturing.

Construction projects have increased costs of 4-6% in the 3rd quarter so yes, it's happening now.

Demand does dictate pricing, except when you manipulate the market to artificially increase pricing. Tariffs do that plus drive down demand. Pretty neat trick.

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The average service job in the USA is between $14 and $22 per hour. Average manufacturing job in the USA is $28 per hour.

Where did you get the inflation cost for construction. Significantly higher than the average US cost increase

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because I work in the industry

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Well July is at 1.1% for USA construction . Not 4 to 6%.

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Ok man. 25 years in the Construction industry, I get tariff related price increases weekly, I know w t f I'm talking about.

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It was a simple search. I am sure you have never made up any numbers on the interwebs, so I believe you are seeing a higher increase.

If I am a supplier of yours, I am asking you for a price increase. You are very clear that the tariffs will go directly to the consumer.

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yeah, I'm not going to absorb it and neither is anyone else. Every single commodity based and electronics based product that goes into a construction project continues to increase costs monthly at a higher rate than inflation

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What do you mean "not absorb it"? You have been very consistent that prices will go up due to the tariffs. Does this mean in real life you are not accepting the price increases?

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So what exactly are you saying?

That magically Trump tariffs have not and will not increase prices, despite having many decades of tariff examples domestically and internationally the illustrate clearly that tariffs do exactly that?

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It is simple. What I am saying is that price is not driven by cost. The market drives price. Tariffs increase cost.

Lazy companies will pass on cost, great companies understand the market, protect their customers, and reduce cost. In order to keep their margins.

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Says who? You? LOL

Where is the evidence to support this novel theory of yours?

You act like Trump discovered tariffs and the world hasn't ever seen them before and we all just need to sit around guessing what's going to happen.

There are many decades of empirical evidence that tariffs increase prices.

Go find some good examples of countries levying significant tariffs and prices NOT increasing. Let's start there.

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Let me start with the last couple of months for me.

This week I was at a client outside Chicago that had me in to reduce the cost on hydraulic equipment so they do not have to raise prices. Lots of this equipment is used in construction.

The week before, I was in Italy working for a client, reducing their costs so they can keep their margins without increasing prices.

The week before in Sweden doing the same thing for a similar company.

Since May I have worked with two clients in Canada doing the same thing.

I consider these good companies as they are keeping their prices the same.

Not sure it will click with you, but 90% of all CEOs believe they are in the top 10% of all CEOs. Lots of lazy companies.

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All anecdotal, tiny sample size stuff.

No offense man but I'm not building sound US economic policy around your personal experience and observations running a small business.

It's a great big world out there, with a ton of examples of tariff policies and results over the last 80-100 years, domestically and abroad.

There is a mountain of empirical evidence that tariffs increase prices.

Show us the empirical evidence of significant tariffs NOT consequentially impacting consumer prices.

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As expected. You ask for evidence to support my, what did you call it, "novel theory", and I do but of course that is not enough.

I have not once said prices will not rise, I said good companies are working to reduce costs so they do not have to raise prices. Lazy companies just want to pass on costs.

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What evidence did you provide, exactly? You talked about your personal experience. That's not evidence, that's anecdote.

I'm talking about "yeah back in '84 we hit China with 40% tariffs on steel but US steel prices didn't budge. Something similar happened to Canadian lumber in '88". Or talk about Smoot-Hawley or 1800's protectionism or anything that's macro and researched. Not some hyper-micro example from your small business.

---

He lives in Private Equity Fantasy World where you can cut costs forever and it definitely won't eventually implode your business.

And of course it's MAGA scripture that a President insisting that companies eat the cost increases "or else" is a totally normal way to run a first world country.

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Three of the companies are publicly traded. One is a single person owner and yes one is a PE. You continue to embarrass yourself and my university. If you are an NC State graduate.

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I wasn't referring to the companies you're consulting for. I was referring to your cartoonish PE mentality that "good" companies can always just keep cutting costs somehow, and would never have to pass tariff cost increases on to their customers.

Anyhoo, I'd say the same about your nonsense, but it's clearly not possible for PE vultures *or* MAGA clowns to be embarrassed.

And feel free to donate to 1Pack anytime.

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I do contribute.

Not once did I say any company can cut costs non stop. Comments like that are why I am saying you are embarrassing yourself.

Did you graduate from NC State? Or even attend NC State?

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Suuuure you contribute. You just don't want to show off your 1P badge that might convince other people to contribute.

You said "Lazy companies will pass on cost, great companies understand the market, protect their customers, and reduce cost. In order to keep their margins." So you're saying that even "great" companies will eventually become "lazy" if tariffs get high enough or go on long enough? This is brilliant analysis.

Yeah, I graduated State with a bachelor's in Computer Science. Lived in Becton early on, was one of the last classes that camped for basketball tickets outside Reynolds. Lol, "my university". Given that you ended up being one of the hyenas of the business world I'll assume you actually graduated from Wake Tech.

There are so many balls to be shot and only one can go through the hoop at one time. There is a reason Trump wants to hold this card. Juan says we have something that DOJ doesn't have that's 10 times greater than all the scandals we're presently aware of. This is way bigger than any of us can fathom.
[color=#000000][font=TwitterChirp, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]

Translation:

“Everyone shut the fuck up and let me and my team do the job you hired us to do.

There is more going on that you don’t understand, and I am going to deliver.

I didn’t get shot in the face to have a bunch of whiny armchair QBs tell me how to do my job.”

-POTUS pic.twitter.com/vIYWEbpWfD

— Clandestine (@WarClandestine) July 12, 2025

[/font][/color]

SmaptyWolf said:

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Cthepack said:

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SmaptyWolf said:

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Cthepack said:

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SmaptyWolf said:

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Civilized said:

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Cthepack said:

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Civilized said:

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Cthepack said:

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Civilized said:

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Cthepack said:

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Civilized said:

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Cthepack said:

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hokiewolf said:

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Cthepack said:

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hokiewolf said:

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Cthepack said:

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hokiewolf said:

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Cthepack said:

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hokiewolf said:

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Cthepack said:

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hokiewolf said:

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caryking said:

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hokiewolf said:

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El Lobo Loco said:

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hokiewolf said:

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Sweet, beautiful tariffs, helping Johnny Paycheck, and NASCAR!

"In the latest blow, the 100-year-old clock manufacturer that produced the iconic NASCAR Martinsville grandfather clock announced that it'd be shutting down - in part due to Trump's tariffs. "A convergence of market influences beyond our control brought us to this point," President and CEO Howard J. Miller said in an official statement.

Since 1964, Martinsville Speedway - one of the oldest tracks still featured on the NASCAR schedule - has gifted the Cup Series race winner a grandfather clock shortly after they coasted down victory lane. Fred Lorenzen first received the unique accolade that year, during which he led a whopping 980 out of 1,000 total laps over the two races held at the 'paperclip.'"

We are protecting American jobs with protectionist tariffs!

Long-standing NASCAR tradition in danger due to Donald Trump's tariffs

---

Nobody needs clocks anymore. All that is on your phone.

---

They need jobs though

---

Ok, I had to come out of retirement for this one…

Hokie, you've never shown one bit of concern for the American worker. That comment (in bold) is extremely shallow and purely opportunistic. You can do better! I'm out again…

---

no, I don't think the cure for the American worker is $15/hr factory jobs.

---

Average manufacturings job is significantly higher than $15/hr. But you know this, you use to say $18/hr. I have tried to educate you on this but you continue to be obtuse.

We are in the 3rd quarter is inflation hitting now?

---

sure, let's do $18/hr. You can make $30/hr with benefits at Costco. You can make $25/hr easy in construction with overtime.

There are thousands of unfilled service jobs that pay more and provide better opportunity, I've also tried to educate you folks on that too, and tariffs hurt those better paying jobs to a higher degree than they provide jobs in manufacturing.

Construction projects have increased costs of 4-6% in the 3rd quarter so yes, it's happening now.

Demand does dictate pricing, except when you manipulate the market to artificially increase pricing. Tariffs do that plus drive down demand. Pretty neat trick.

---

The average service job in the USA is between $14 and $22 per hour. Average manufacturing job in the USA is $28 per hour.

Where did you get the inflation cost for construction. Significantly higher than the average US cost increase

---

because I work in the industry

---

Well July is at 1.1% for USA construction . Not 4 to 6%.

---

Ok man. 25 years in the Construction industry, I get tariff related price increases weekly, I know w t f I'm talking about.

---

It was a simple search. I am sure you have never made up any numbers on the interwebs, so I believe you are seeing a higher increase.

If I am a supplier of yours, I am asking you for a price increase. You are very clear that the tariffs will go directly to the consumer.

---

yeah, I'm not going to absorb it and neither is anyone else. Every single commodity based and electronics based product that goes into a construction project continues to increase costs monthly at a higher rate than inflation

---

What do you mean "not absorb it"? You have been very consistent that prices will go up due to the tariffs. Does this mean in real life you are not accepting the price increases?

---

So what exactly are you saying?

That magically Trump tariffs have not and will not increase prices, despite having many decades of tariff examples domestically and internationally the illustrate clearly that tariffs do exactly that?

---

It is simple. What I am saying is that price is not driven by cost. The market drives price. Tariffs increase cost.

Lazy companies will pass on cost, great companies understand the market, protect their customers, and reduce cost. In order to keep their margins.

---

Says who? You? LOL

Where is the evidence to support this novel theory of yours?

You act like Trump discovered tariffs and the world hasn't ever seen them before and we all just need to sit around guessing what's going to happen.

There are many decades of empirical evidence that tariffs increase prices.

Go find some good examples of countries levying significant tariffs and prices NOT increasing. Let's start there.

---

Let me start with the last couple of months for me.

This week I was at a client outside Chicago that had me in to reduce the cost on hydraulic equipment so they do not have to raise prices. Lots of this equipment is used in construction.

The week before, I was in Italy working for a client, reducing their costs so they can keep their margins without increasing prices.

The week before in Sweden doing the same thing for a similar company.

Since May I have worked with two clients in Canada doing the same thing.

I consider these good companies as they are keeping their prices the same.

Not sure it will click with you, but 90% of all CEOs believe they are in the top 10% of all CEOs. Lots of lazy companies.

---

All anecdotal, tiny sample size stuff.

No offense man but I'm not building sound US economic policy around your personal experience and observations running a small business.

It's a great big world out there, with a ton of examples of tariff policies and results over the last 80-100 years, domestically and abroad.

There is a mountain of empirical evidence that tariffs increase prices.

Show us the empirical evidence of significant tariffs NOT consequentially impacting consumer prices.

---

As expected. You ask for evidence to support my, what did you call it, "novel theory", and I do but of course that is not enough.

I have not once said prices will not rise, I said good companies are working to reduce costs so they do not have to raise prices. Lazy companies just want to pass on costs.

---

What evidence did you provide, exactly? You talked about your personal experience. That's not evidence, that's anecdote.

I'm talking about "yeah back in '84 we hit China with 40% tariffs on steel but US steel prices didn't budge. Something similar happened to Canadian lumber in '88". Or talk about Smoot-Hawley or 1800's protectionism or anything that's macro and researched. Not some hyper-micro example from your small business.

---

He lives in Private Equity Fantasy World where you can cut costs forever and it definitely won't eventually implode your business.

And of course it's MAGA scripture that a President insisting that companies eat the cost increases "or else" is a totally normal way to run a first world country.

---

Three of the companies are publicly traded. One is a single person owner and yes one is a PE. You continue to embarrass yourself and my university. If you are an NC State graduate.

---

I wasn't referring to the companies you're consulting for. I was referring to your cartoonish PE mentality that "good" companies can always just keep cutting costs somehow, and would never have to pass tariff cost increases on to their customers.

Anyhoo, I'd say the same about your nonsense, but it's clearly not possible for PE vultures *or* MAGA clowns to be embarrassed.

And feel free to donate to 1Pack anytime.

---

I do contribute.

Not once did I say any company can cut costs non stop. Comments like that are why I am saying you are embarrassing yourself.

Did you graduate from NC State? Or even attend NC State?

---

Suuuure you contribute. You just don't want to show off your 1P badge that might convince other people to contribute.

You said "Lazy companies will pass on cost, great companies understand the market, protect their customers, and reduce cost. In order to keep their margins." So you're saying that even "great" companies will eventually become "lazy" if tariffs get high enough or go on long enough? This is brilliant analysis.

Yeah, I graduated State with a bachelor's in Computer Science. Lived in Becton early on, was one of the last classes that camped for basketball tickets outside Reynolds. Lol, "my university". Given that you ended up being one of the hyenas of the business world I'll assume you actually graduated from Wake Tech.

---

I have my undergraduate and graduate both in engineering from State. I have two sons that attend NC State I pay for them to go to NIL events. Feel I get to do something for them and for NC State. More than happy to send you a copy of the receipt where they went to the event at Tabacco Road if you like. Just provide contact and I will send it to you.

I said good companies do what they can to protect their customers. Extrapolate what ever you want from that.

And read up on PEs you are living in a 20 plus year old paradigm.