It's one thing to say that the U.S. government should push to have other countries open their markets more to U.S. products. But focusing on trade deficits as such either misunderstands or misrepresents the economic nature of trade to say nothing of its moral significance, as per the great Rand quote in my piece.

You can say what you want about Trump, but he isn't a fool. A very large part of his technique for winning is the same as all politicians, which is to tell voters and potential voters what they want to here. What makes Trump different besides the bombast, is that he has tapped into a very large segment of the population that Republicans have foolishly let themselves be eluded by. He could easily rename his campaign the Frustration Party. Like all politicians, what he says he will do and what he actually will do are not necessarily the same.

Interesting take. The Joe Lunchbuckets of America will always think they are entitled to "a job", I suppose. That's who Trump is courting here. And, it's working.

I don't want the job. I just want the paycheck...(more Friday sarcasm)

"Trump no doubt runs a huge trade deficit with his grocery store."
I wonder if he says the grocery store is winning that deal because they get his money and all he gets is food.

I wonder if he believes the things he says or if he's just appealing to people with a simplistic view that there's only so much to go around and every bit that someone else gets is something taken away from another.

We can always hope that Trump will do so until he starves. If he starts now maybe he will simplify the election process.

I couldn't have said it better myself!

Excellent points.

"Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain."

Dr. Hudgins have you any personal experience in the business environment dealing directly in importing and/or exporting goods?

Trump would have more money if he took his inheritance and invested it in an S&P 500 fund. Does this mean he is basically a poorer businessman than the average on Wall Street?

Everyone loves to hate Trump. Trump has so many defects it would fill volumes. BUT compared to all the others, he is the best. Once in office, I bet he would “make deals” and with luck, he may learn what he needs to learn about trade deficits, and all the rest. We need somebody to clean house.

As Martin Armstrong wrote today:

Why Trump Haters Really Hate Trump

It’s not the hair.

Or the bad manners.

Or the “beautiful” wall he says he’ll build.

There’s a different, more subtle reason why the Republican establishment, donor class, political operatives, and the news media in general hate Donald Trump.

The reason can be found in a New York Times best selling business book, Stacking The Deck, by Wharton professor David Pottruck.

Pottruck, the Charles Schwab CEO who took the genial brokerage house online and into the big time, says that organizations hate change.
Hate it with a PASSION!

That’s because when there’s a new way of doing things, a new way of solving problems, a new way of relating to everything, they feel threatened as a deep personal-loss.