General Articles

Stupidocrisy: The Fear-Mongering About Tariffs :: By Bill Wilson

Published on: by RR10

In 1985, I was invited to speak at an international trade conference at Georgetown University with then US Special Trade Representative Clayton Yeutter. At the time, the United States was experiencing trade deficits, and President Reagan was working to level the playing field. An example was how American farmers were being squeezed by Japan’s unfair trade practices.

Japan expected the US to import their cheaper automobiles at will, but they placed extreme duties (tariffs) on American agricultural products. This way, they could manipulate the trade balance through their mega trading companies. China does much the same, only they have taken it to a new level by manipulating currency value at America’s expense.

Everything was going smoothly, with speakers talking about the importance of free trade—how it ensures peace and provides jobs. Then it was my turn. I said free trade was fine, but fair trade is what we should be talking about. I suggested a very novel, at the time, schedule of tariffs for countries that place tariffs on US products. There was a collective gasp and much angry talk, especially from the Japanese delegation sitting right in front of me.

I used almost the exact language Trump did in his recent address to Congress. He said, “Whatever they tariff us, other countries, we will tariff them. That’s reciprocal back and forth. Whatever they tax us, we will tax them.”

The response to Trump from those countries, the Marxist media, and the Democratic left was also a collective alarmist gasp, claiming tariffs will increase inflation, cost jobs etc., etc.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis reported in February that the US trade deficit was $98.4 billion in December, totaling $1.2 trillion in 2024. That is not fair trade. The biggest deficits are with China and Mexico.

While Democrats and the Marxist media are screaming the sky is falling on Trump’s tariffs, a comprehensive tariff study by the Atlanta Federal Reserve concludes otherwise. The Atlanta Fed study found that while tariffs may not spur long-lasting inflation, they may trigger a one-time increase in consumer prices of less than 1% on specific goods. The study suggests that the increase in costs may be so slight that companies may not pass them through to consumers in order to remain competitive.

Apart from the study, the effects of tariffs may be a short-term bump in prices, but over the long term, there is less dependence on imports, domestic job creation, and price stability. That’s what Trump means when he says farmers, for instance, need to bear with him for a while.

Other countries’ tariffs are taking advantage of America to the tune of a trillion dollars a year. Allowing this to continue for fear of trade wars or inflation is unfair to America and American workers. Stopping it with tariffs also stops the gravy train certain people receive from the excess in funds from tariff-rendering countries.

Deuteronomy 25:13 says, “You shall not have two differing weights in your bag, one heavy and one light.”

Tariffs even out the weights of trade. They are good for accountability. Fearmongering on tariffs is, say it with me… Stupidocrisy.

Sources:

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/read-the-full-text-of-trumps-speech-to-a-joint-session-of-congress

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kenroberts/2025/02/07/us-had-biggest-trade-deficits-with-these-10-nations-in-2024/

https://www.atlantafed.org/-/media/documents/research/publications/policy-hub/2025/02/28/01–tariffs-and-consumer-prices.pdf

https://www.breitbart.com/economy/2025/03/03/new-fed-research-shows-modest-consumer-price-impact-from-proposed-tariffs/

Posted in The Daily Jot

 

Not Promised Tomorrow :: By Holly Spate

Published on: by RR10

Dear Friend,

No one is promised tomorrow… no one.

Each day we wake, having breath in our lungs is a blessing.

And, each breath we have left to take in this life, breath given by the Creator, is a mystery to us but is only known by Him.

Ultimately, He knows the beginning from the ending and when we each will take our final breath this side of eternity.

Luke 12:7 states His caring nature and great attention to detail regarding His creation. It conveys: “But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.”

Psalm 139:16 goes on to say, “Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.”

It’s amazing that the Creator of the universe cares so much. It’s remarkable that the One who formed the world, set the stars in the sky, and created all mankind wants to always be actively involved in our lives and desires a close relationship with us.

Friend, if you have given your life to the Lord, fall on your knees in thankfulness and praise Him today (and every day) for the greatest gift you could have ever received.

Thank Him for stirring your heart and guiding you toward truth.

Thank Him for pursuing you, for sending others to sow seeds along the way, and for opening your eyes and heart to His truth.

Thank Him for paying it all… for paying a debt you could never repay.

Thank Him for His unconditional love… a love that chose to save you, even in your most wretched, worst state.

Thank Him for a blessed and amazing future… an eternal destination of complete perfection… a place He is lovingly preparing for all His children, breathtakingly beautiful and bright.

1 Corinthians 2:9 gives a glimpse into what gloriously awaits every believer, “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”

Friend, by accepting His gift of salvation, you have been promised so much in the here and now and beyond the here and now.

Because of His precious gift, you are FREE!

Because of His merciful love, you are FORGIVEN!

Because of His majestic power, you are RESCUED!

Because of His great sacrifice, you are HEAVEN BOUND!

Jesus’ death on the cross and shedding of His innocent blood for all of your sins (past, present, and future) leaves you clean in the sight of God. Because Jesus paid it all, you reap the reward. Because Jesus paid it all, you have the guarantee of a relationship with Him and a beautiful future existence… a place of peace and perfection… a place beyond your final earthly breath.

Give Him PRAISE for all He’s done for you!

Never forget what lengths He had to go through to redeem and rescue you.

Never forget the pain He endured… His sacrifice… His death, burial, and resurrection. It was His great compassion and love that compelled Him forward, and it was God’s amazing and remarkable nature that allowed Him to offer His one and only Son.

John 3:16 reminds us of God’s incredible love for each of us. It states, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

The Father gave His only Son so His creation could have a bridge back to Himself. The Father gave his only Son so His creation would not be lost for all eternity and be separated in darkness. The Father’s love and Jesus’ obedience are beyond what any of us deserve. But, thankfully, we serve a God who is merciful and loving and who wishes no one to be separated from Him.

2 Peter 3:9 makes God’s intentions clear, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

HALLELUJAH!

If you have made the decision to accept His gift of salvation and have given your heart and life to Jesus… putting your trust in Him…REJOICE today. Thank Him for all He’s done for you, and keep sharing His story… keep spreading the truth and proclaiming the hope everyone so desperately needs.

And, friend, if you are reading this and still undecided, please know that time is running out.

We will all take our final breath one day. And, when we do, there are no do-overs.

Jesus made it crystal clear in John 14:6 when He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me.”

Those who choose to accept His gift and choose to follow and accept Christ as Savior and Lord will be rescued and saved.

There is no greater decision.

There is no greater reward.

There is no greater outcome.

There is no greater eternity.

There is no greater gift.

And…

There is no greater time than now.

Jesus is all in all… everything. He’s the only reason for breathing, and He’s the only One who gives breath and life.

He is the only way, the only truth, and the only life.

Have you accepted Him today?

Your fate, for all eternity, is at stake.

Remember, friend… no one is promised tomorrow. As a matter of fact, no one is promised the next hour. If you have a personal relationship with Jesus, you are sealed and prepared to exit this earth and enter heaven’s eternity when the time comes. However, if you don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus, please ask Him into your heart today. It is the BEST decision you will ever make, both in this life and in the eternal life to come.

Would you like to ask Jesus into your heart today?

First, ADMIT YOU ARE A SINNER and ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU’VE SINNED.

Romans 3:23 says the following: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”

Second, BELIEVE THAT JESUS DIED FOR YOUR SINS, HIS PERFECT BLOOD CLEANSES YOU, HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD, AND PUT YOUR TRUST IN HIM ALONE FOR YOUR SALVATION.

Romans 10:9 says the following: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

Acts 16:31 states, “And they said, Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”

Third, CONFESS YOUR SINS

1 John 1:9 says the following: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Psalm 103:12 goes on to say, “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”

And know, without a doubt, that when you confess your sins and ask for forgiveness, He will forgive you, no matter what sins you have committed.

Friend, if you’ve asked Jesus into your heart, find a good church, get a Bible, and begin to live for Him and follow Him with your whole heart.

Titus 2:11-14 states, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

If you are still on the fence, remember… once your last breath is taken on earth, your eternal fate will be sealed— forever. You will never have an opportunity after that to accept His gift… a gift offered freely to you today. A gift offered because of His immense love for you.

He is right there, arms wide open, to offer you Himself… to offer you His everything.

He loves you so much and wants to have a relationship with YOU.

The time is now to say YES to Jesus!

Please, don’t delay…

You’re Not Promised Tomorrow.

spate.holly@gmail.com