Maggie's Farm

If China were to lower some tariffs, it would help with the trade imbalance, but probably not to the extent of $200 billion per year. Meanwhile, American consumers will continue to consume inexpensive Chinese manufactured goods. They'll stop buying from China when Vietnam and Indonesia catch up. That's how markets work. By then, China will have moved to the next level, and will be exporting electric cars.

As for "halting all Chinese government support for advanced technologies", that's just silly. The U.S. government invests heavily in science and technology, and there's no reason for the Chinese not to do the same. It seems the U.S. is worried that they won't be able to compete as China emerges as a world economic power.

Jim: Both China and Russia have tried to take advantage of our country's decline as much as they can.

China is an emerging power. Nothing will change that, and it's only reasonable that they have a place at the table. Russia is a weak country, but they have found a way to reverse engineer democracy, leaving Western nations vulnerable.

The U.S. has long exerted global influence because it has articulated a vision of international alliances. Other nations have allied themselves with the Americans because of mutual interest and based on long-standing relationships founded in trust. The current administration's "America First" has repudiated the previous conception of "First among Equals", and left the U.S. much weaker than before.

Jim: China has already surpassed the United States economically and technologically, we just won't recognize it.

Wouldn't go that far. U.S. GDP is still nearly twice China's, and U.S. GDP per capita is many times that of China. And China's true economic production may not be as high as the official numbers. Technologically, China is still undergoing industrialization, while the U.S. is a fully post-industrial, service and information-based economy.

China has a number of challenges just to maintain the gains they have made thus far, including rampant corruption, extensive pollution of air and water, as well as the social stresses inherent to industrialization. They are straining under their very success.

The U.S. has huge advantages, including a highly educated and motivated workforce, a culture of entrepreneurship, vast resources, and an established infrastructure. On the other hand, the U.S. continues to run excessive and unnecessary fiscal deficits, having just cut taxes again. The current administration has threatened a trade war, and alienated its own natural allies. However, most of these problems can be resolved with a few good decisions. However, at this point, it seems unlikely, as reaching a consensus appears intractable.

B48: Because the ugly ... a hideous Gorgon, utterly repellent
Case in point.

OldFert: I think PDJT should have his lawyer send Mueller a letter with the President's answers.

There's nothing stopping the President from doing just that. Just make sure the answers are attested. Of course, like any citizen, the President may still be subject to subpoena to appear.

GoneWithTheWind: Other presidents have defied a subpoena.

Do you have an example in mind? The courts ruled that a civil case could move forward against a sitting president. Also, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously to uphold the subpoena of White House tape recordings.

GoneWithTheWind: The Mueller investigation is a left wing political witch hunt intended to bring down a president.

Looks like Trump's personal lawyer took a substantial sum of money from a Russian oligarch with close ties to the Kremlin. As we know the Russians were attempting to interfere in the U.S. election, this is something that certainly deserves scrutiny.