Tariffs On Solar Panel Imports Announced

timmac wrote:

BFL13 wrote:

timmac wrote:

ppine wrote:
This is an example of the worst kind of government intervention. Making desirable products that produce clean energy more expensive. Beyond stupid.

No the whole idea is to make it in America and keep it American made..

:B

AFAIK, it is about "Congress Critters" getting money from American factory owners. Congress then passes laws that let those factory owners charge crazy high prices to American consumers.

For instance, a few years back, a Canadian company broke into the American peanut butter market and was making money at it. Suddenly, the US government stepped in and shut that down with big tariffs.

Turned out that American peanut butter makers are required by American law to use American peanuts, which were going for $10/unit.

The Canadian company was buying Argentine peanuts at the "world price" of $4/unit, so it easily was able to charge less in the American grocery stores for their peanut butter.

Result was that Americans, thanks to their Congress Critters, had to keep paying $10 instead of $4 (relatively). Of course Congress didn't care what Joe Voter had to pay at the store. They wanted that money from that American peanut farmer's organization.

Then the Congress Critters whip up Americans to be patriotic and "Buy American". So they go out and fork over $10 for a $4 item, and think they are being good citizens, when actually they are being ripped off. (by other Americans) :(

Well your price there is way off the chart and besides I would pay more for it to be AMERICAN made anyways like it should be...

Yep, they have your number. That big M painted on your forehead they see when you walk in the store (for "Mark") is a giveaway. :)

The trouble is, everybody is doing that. "Buy Local" is the mantra. You are supposed to pay extra for some carrots at the local market instead of buying carrots at WalMart. This is because some hippy decided to take up growing carrots in his back yard, and sell them in the market.

Sorry, I am not working for some hippy who can't grow carrots at the "global price" for carrots, and make money. He can go find something else to do that does make money.