Favorite word: tariff

Donald Trump is a felon. A fraud. An abusive pervert. So say the juries and judges. Trump may be mad, or at least senile — did you see him ambling around to the Ave Maria on stage in Pennsylvania, or the debate against Kamala Harris where Trump looked feebler than Joe Biden? Those are reasons enough not to vote for him. If that is not persuasive enough, listen to the National Corn Growers and the American Soybean Association, whose economists issued a joint report that echoed findings of the University of Illinois:

If Trump reimposes tariffs on China as he promises, the economic impact of lost soy and corn exports would be $7.9 billion per year. Much of that impact will fall on the rural Midwest, and Iowa in particular.

“A trade war would not only reduce the value of production for U.S. farmers but also have a ripple effect throughout the U.S. economy. Meanwhile, farmers in Argentina and Brazil would see higher soybean and corn prices and be poised to more rapidly expand their production areas,” the corn and soy folks said in their report. That is, the Chinese would pay Brazil to rip up more rainforest and displace more indigenous people for the sake of cheap soy.

The immediate effect here would be to shave at least 13¢ off a bushel of corn and a buck off beans. That does not consider the impact on pork exports. We know that the trade war during the Trump administration cost the US food and agriculture sector at least $100 billion. This time could be worse if Trump has his way.

Iowa aggies should have their heads examined if they intend to vote for Trump. It is against our national security interests. That vote would directly undermine the Iowa economy. It would have shocking effects in Northwest Iowa in the absence of another huge government bailout program like the Trump Bump checks sent out during the trade war. Trump raided the Commodity Credit Corp. to pay for it. Those were the days. We remember. Why would any Iowan choose to return to that sort of economic chaos? Not to mention that he is a felon, a fraud, and not a very good boogy boy to the “YMCA” on loudspeaker. Bizarre. Tariff is his favorite word in the dictionary, Trump said this week. Remember that when you vote. And that he will deport the people working at Tyson and the dairy barns. It would be a disaster. He’s a creep and a criminal, and he will blow out ag export markets. Shouldn’t that be enough?