Was this the start of a US Presidential campaign

[Balance]

Worth a read.

The unbreachable gap between Democrats and Republicans :

https://www.news.com.au/world/north-...4f9eb1b278f9d0

This gap is fascinating :

“The criminal justice system is generally not tough enough on criminals.”

Harris voters: 39 per cent

Trump voters: 83 per cent

All voters: 61 per cent

You won’t find a democracy on Earth in which criminal justice is not a frequent election issue. That’s because people, as a general rule, are anti-criminal. Go figure! At the risk of sounding somewhat cynical, it’s an easy subject with which to pander.

Two things to consider here.

One: the impression among most Democrats that the American justice system is harsher on minorities than on white people, as we saw expressed in the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020, in the wake of George Floyd’s murder.

Two: the Republicans who overwhelmingly support Mr Trump are quite comfortable with his status as a convicted criminal. Clearly they believe the various cases against him have been motivated by politics, rather than a thirst to uphold the law.

[moka]

Many in US happy to pay higher taxes via tariffs.
Donald Trump has been vocal about his plans to raise tariffs on China if he is elected president again in 2024. Trump has suggested implementing a two-step plan to sharply increase duties on Chinese goods.

He is considering tariffs of more than 60% targeting China. Beyond China-specific tariffs, Trump has also floated the idea of a 10% surcharge on exports from other nations worldwide and a universal tariff on all imports.

Economic analyses suggest that Trump's proposed tariffs could have significant consequences:
The Tax Policy Center estimates that a 10% worldwide tariff and 60% tariff on Chinese goods would lower average after-tax incomes of US households by about $1,800 (1.8%) in 2025, and reduce imports into the US by approximately $5.5 trillion (15%) from 2025-2034.

The Peterson Institute for International Economics projects that these policies could:
Cost consumers at least $500 billion annually or 1.8% of GDP
Potentially cause twice as much damage when accounting for foreign retaliation, slower economic growth, and lost competitiveness.

Despite potential economic drawbacks, tariffs, especially those aimed at China, enjoy broad bipartisan support. Trump attributes various issues in the American economy to the international trading system and argues that tariffs are the solution.

It's worth noting that while Trump's previous tariffs failed to produce more jobs and in some cases had a negative effect on employment, they were successful in boosting support for Trump and the Republican Party in certain regions.

The Trump administration imposed nearly $80 billion worth of new taxes on Americans by levying tariffs on thousands of products valued at approximately $380 billion in 2018 and 2019, amounting to one of the largest tax increases in decades.

Many Americans believe tariffs protect U.S. jobs from overseas manufacturers. Tariffs are seen as a way to counter China's emphasis on producing inexpensive exports

[moka]

.......
https://www.news.com.au/world/north-...4f9eb1b278f9d0

This gap is fascinating :

“The criminal justice system is generally not tough enough on criminals.”

Harris voters: 39 per cent

Trump voters: 83 per cent

All voters: 61 per cent

............
Two: the Republicans who overwhelmingly support Mr Trump are quite comfortable with his status as a convicted criminal. Clearly they believe the various cases against him have been motivated by politics, rather than a thirst to uphold the law.

The U.S. already has the highest incarceration rate globally, with nearly 2 million people incarcerated, which translates to about 531 per 100,000 of the national population.
The US spend about $182 billion every year — not to mention the significant social cost — to lock up nearly 1% of their adult population.
The War on Drugs has been a significant factor in the high incarceration rates, particularly affecting Black and Latino communities.
The U.S. prison population has grown dramatically from approximately 500,000 in 1980 to nearly 2 million today, reflecting a 500% increase over the last four decades.
https://www.prisonpolicy.org/profiles/US.html

[moka]

Worth a read.

The unbreachable gap between Democrats and Republicans :

https://www.news.com.au/world/north-...4f9eb1b278f9d0

...................................

Worth highlighting the stark differences in views:

“Gun ownership does more to increase safety by allowing law-abiding citizens to protect themselves.”
Harris supporters: 18 per cent
Trump supporters: 89 per cent
All voters: 54 per cent
“The legacy of slavery affects the position of black people in American society today a great deal or a fair amount.”
Harris voters: 80 per cent
Trump voters: 24 per cent
All voters: 53 per cent
America’s openness to people from all over the world is essential to who we are as a nation.”
Harris voters: 88 per cent
Trump voters: 34 per cent
All voters: 61 per cent
“Someone can be a man or a woman even if that is different from the sex they were assigned at birth.”
Harris voters: 60 per cent
Trump voters: 7 per cent
All voters: 34 per cent
The criminal justice system is generally not tough enough on criminals.”
Harris voters: 39 per cent
Trump voters: 83 per cent
All voters: 61 per cent
“Society is better off if people make marriage, and having children, a priority.”
Harris voters: 17 per cent
Trump voters: 60 per cent
All voters: 39 per cent
“Religion should be kept separate from government policies.”
Harris voters: 87 per cent
Trump voters: 55 per cent
All voters: 71 per cent
The gains women have made in society have come at the expense of men.”
Harris voters: 11 per cent
Trump voters: 27 per cent
All voters: 17 per cent