Topic 1-Will tariffs be the sole contributor to inflation? Are tariffs simply another factor contributing to a recession? Are we looking at a looming deflationary recession?
Will larger corporations, promising to onshore production, going to use tariffs as an excuse to pull back on obligations or request government assistance (infusion of tax dollars)? If no assistance is provided, will those corporations then cut back on employees in an effort to maintain stock valuations? Considering that in the U.S., 10% of the population owns 90% of the stock market, will the "average" American benefit from attempts to maintain the artificially high valuations of recent years? Topic 2-Company made product. Company sold product. Company made profits, used that to improve products and make more sales. Sales went up and stock prices for that company went up as well. fast forward and corporations have figured out that asking Governments for bailouts is more profitable. Yes, products are produced, but when a corporation (or bank) receives a bail out or hand out, isn't the Government simply transferring tax dollars from the taxed to the avoiders? Are ballooning valuations a sign that corporations have leaned too heavily on assistance, in many forms, instead of concentrating on producing better products? Competition breeds improved products, but should producers incapable of keeping up be supported by tax dollars? Consider the tiny percentage of the population controls the majority of stock values, that the debt is too large to deal with, that increasing numbers of hard-working people are finding it difficult to deal with debt, prices, inflation, is the stock market system being used to transfer equity from the masses to the few? If things get worse (and considering the impending rise in fuel costs due to geopolitical issues), where will Governments find the money to prop up pensions and social commitments? The next phase seems to be one where your assets are revalued and reassessed at a higher rate. Any unused "potential assets", such as unused rooms in your home, can have a value appraised for them and that value can be taxed as an unrealized gain.