Well here we go again.  The farmers are again being paid to dump the food, wasting millions of tonnes of Soybeans.  Trump is paying 12 billion dollars of state money to large farmers, for food that will be destroyed.

The  justification for this is that China only bought 2.7 million tonnes of soybeans this year, after promising 12 million, in a large purchase planned by Biden and his government.  Trump has alienated China so badly, with 45% tariffs the current number, they didn’t buy the beans this year.

The last time Trump was president the farmers regularly received tens of billions of dollars, and the dumping of soybeans was also practiced in the pandemic.

It is a prime example of overproduction; the soybeans are useful, they are good quality.  But due to social conditions, they cannot be sold, rather, the bourgeoisie is sort of paying for them to be dumped.  Apparently flooding the market with cheap soybeans is also not possible.

They have about 2 weeks to purchase the beans, before they get dumped.  It seems physically impossible to move the about 10 million metric tonnes to China they were expected to purchase.  In an event of overproduction, inability to plan ahead for this calamity, the direct cause Trump’s tariffs, food otherwise consumable is all a loss.

We still to this day have famine, often in war torn countries.  Gaza is hungry, but the beans are unsaleable.  Clearly overproduction is a social problem, not a physical one.  It is occurring due to the style of government; the capitalist one.  

At this point it looks like the bourgeois will not even be buying the beans, rather just issuing checks to big farmers.  Checks were issued last time based on acreage, the more acres, the more welfare.  

“The highest per-acre payments will be paid to rice farmers, who could receive $132.89 an acre; cotton farmers, at $117.35 an acre; and oat farmers, at $81.75 an acre. Meanwhile, farmers are eligible for a payment of $44.36 per corn acre, $30.88 per soybean acre and $39.35 per wheat acre. The payments are calculated using 2025 planted acres, cost-of-production data, and market conditions, USDA said.”

Reuters 12 31 2025

This has yet to change.  Small farmers will be selling their farms, when their crop is unsaleable due to overproduction.  This will concentrate ownership of land further in the hands of the large landowners, who are all Republican bourgeoisie.

The 12 billion dollars comes from part of the surplus value sectioned off for taxes.  It is created in the labour process; wage labor is what is paying for this 12 billion dollars.  But to the capitalist this money is his property,as it was a deduction from his surplus value, gained through his control of the means of production, in this case the land. 

It is a crisis of overproduction, due to a glutted market for soybeans.  The only thing different this time is Trump is the cause of the crisis, as he had to tariff China massively, mostly to protect non metric industries like automobile production,  which would have a tough time competing against Chinese EV’s. They cost half as much as a Detroit car, or a Muskmobile Tesla.  They are not selling them to workers, they are luxury cars.  Honda is selling a Chinese EV this year, the Prologue.  I was at the Honda dealer recently and asked about Honda EV’s. I was told about the Prologue. I asked if it was Chinese produced.  The answer from the dealer was yes.  

The bourgeoisie should have remembered the last time, in Trump‘s first term, when tariffs started with solar panels (30%) and washing machines (20%), then expanded under Section 301 to hit steel, aluminum, and eventually a broad range of Chinese products with 25% tariffs.  That time they bought the soybeans elsewhere too.  The beans were probably dumped the first time Trump pulled a stunt like tariffing China.  The farm subsidies of tens of billions also got flowing under Trump in his first term.

It should be obvious there is no gain for the worker here.  It is not like Trump is even paying for land, as in a purchase, nationalization of land with a price tag.  Instead the 12 billion dollars will go to mostly large landowners, who will use it to pay wages, cementing their control over the labor process on land itself.  He just doles it out, and it is the large landowners who pull Trump’s puppet strings.  

Not even a year into Trump’s presidency there is already an economic crisis, this time a glutted market for soybeans resulting in millions of tonnes of food being destroyed.  Overproduction occurred, and now big pockets are required to keep the landowners happy.  They all know Trump represents the gravy train, and regardless of how bad decisions regarding economics go, they are insured through him if their crops fail.  They even went along with the tariffs, at least until Chinese tariffs in line with Trump’s made American soybeans unsaleable.  Will they keep supporting him if it means economic failure for their crop?

How many more failed years of crops will there be until there is nationalized land?  Clearly the USDA planning is not working.  It failed in Trump’s first term, when he pulled the same thing, big tariffs on China, resulting in counter tariffs, and overproduction. A more rational planning process, especially regarding the effects of large tariffs on markets, was required.  Instead we have failure, another lost year, with Trump to blame for the fiasco.  

Nicholas Jay Boyes

Milwaukee Wisconsin

American Democratic Republic

12 9 2025

edit 1 9 2025

Donald Trump has raised tariffs on Canada again, a whole 10%.  He also suspended communication with Mark Carney, deciding to skip a meeting planned with him.   This was due to Doug Ford, Ontario premier, who ran this advertisement  during the ballgame:

It is rather humorous, a full throated rejection of the very thing Trump has made himself famous the world over for, taxes on imports, tariffs.  In Reagan’s own words we see a leader who was a free trader, who predicted a crisis would occur if tariffs were used in dealing with a close trading partner, in this case, Japan.

It is unknown if he went ahead with tariffs.  But given his feelings about it, it looks unlikely.  As Reagan noted in the speech, tariffs take center stage. (see above),  

“ What eventually occurs, first, homegrown industries start relying on government protection in the form of high tariffs,  they stop competing, and stop making the innovative management and technological changes they need to succeed in world markets.  And then, while all of this is going on, something worse occurs.  High tariffs inevitably lead to retaliation by foreign countries and the triggering of fierce trade wars.  The result is more and more tariffs, higher and higher trade barriers, and less and less competition. So soon, because of the prices made artificially high by tariffs, and subsidised inefficiency and poor management, people stop buying. Then the worst happens, markets shrink and collapse, business and industries shut down,  and millions of people lose their jobs. The memories of this occurring back  in the 30’s made me determined when I came to Washington to spare the American people the protectionist legislation that destroys prosperity.”

Ronald Reagan, ex president, at camp davis april 25, 1987 (see above)

A recording of what Reuters has called pieces of this thread was played in a 30 second advertisement during the ballgame in Canada, resulting in a 10 percent additional tariff on Canadian goods.  Some Canadian commodities will be spared if they are in a free trade agreement.  

Canada already got it by 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum, this brings the tax to 60%. 

People in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. 

““The advertisement aired Friday during the broadcast for Game 1 of Major League Baseball’s World Series, in which the Toronto Blue Jays are facing off against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

“Their Advertisement was to be taken down, IMMEDIATELY, but they let it run last night during the World Series, knowing that it was a FRAUD,” Trump posted.

“Because of their serious misrepresentation of the facts, and hostile act, I am increasing the Tariff on Canada by 10% over and above what they are paying now,” he wrote.”

Reuters 10 25 2025 

Trump’s neighbors all love him.  Cuba, back under embargo Trump restored in his first presidency, are no doubt Trump supporters. America’s nearest neighbor in the north, Canada, was also propositioned by Trump to be a “51st  state”; they now face Trump’s ire as they are sovereign.  Mexico now is expected to call the gulf there the “Gulf of America”, instead of the Gulf of Mexico.  Most of the west was once called Mexico, until 1846 when it was occupied by the American army.  Is it a land claim?

His own party is divided; but there are still free traders in the bourgeoisie, although they seem to be remaining quiet.  This advert risks awakening them, resulting in Trump’s latest taxes on imports.

Trump is also placing large tariffs on Russian oil, in an attempt to fight the war there against Ukraine.  He is supplying satellite communication with Starlink to Zelinsky’s army there; they use it to target Russian oil production with American guided missiles.

About 4 million people nationwide came together to denounce Trump on the 18th of October, 2025. It was the second “No Kings” demonstration;  it took place in many cities, as well as New York, Chicago and LA.  There was no violence, they shut down downtown for hours. 

It is this type of activity and the response to it that could determine  what Trump is thought of.  Canada has yet to retaliate, but when it comes Carney will be tested.  Retaliatory tariffs seem to be all that Trump understands. 

But if enough people would show up for the demonstrations, Trump could be brought under control.  Right now the bourgeoisie  won their first elections for president after 20 years, they also took Congress.  As usual, they are having a revolution. 

But 4 million showed how many really feel about the protectionist bourgeois, who know non metric industry only sells in America.  Huge tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles is keeping  GM, Ford and Stellantis alive. The tariffs allow for American exports to be priced higher than they would be sold without tariffs. Detroit has yet to go metric, Trump has gone as far as suggesting gasoline should not be abandoned as climate change is a farce.  

An isolationist America, with protectionist economic structures to prop up non metric industries, which have yet to even publicly announce an attempt to go metric, in Detroit and DC.. An electric vehicle is out of reach for most, yet in China EV’s cost about $20,.000 US.  Thank you Donald for placing fetters on the means of production, keeping America non metric for another 4 years.

The solar panels for the roof fall the same way, it is too expensive due to tariffs to invest in them, as they are also made in China. 

It makes you wonder if someday Trumpers will build a wall at the Northern border.  Like the Mexico one, only also to keep American workers from defecting.  Detroit is basically there already.  Will Don “Build That Wall”? 

Nicholas Jay Boyes

Milwaukee Wisconsin

American Democratic Republic

10 25 2025 

edit 1 6 2026

Taxes on Imports.  Attempts to Limit China’s Exports by Raising Taxes here on Commodities.  11 29 2024

The cockeyed idea that you can control production from another country of commodities in demand worldwide by raising taxes on the import of these commodities is running into difficulties.  The idea that the American market can pressure China to produce less Electric Vehicles (EV’s)  and Solar Panels, by taxing imports; tariffs, seems to be an argument that without Americans to consume China’s production, they will be unable to sell their EV’s and solar panels. What this view lacks is the recognition that the production of high quality finished goods, which will easily find a market elsewhere, are making the taxes only bite the consumers, primarily American workers, who consume cheap Chinese products at Dollar Stores, WalMart, etc.   

The latest complaint is capitalist production cannot compete with China’s socialist system.

“China is too large to export its way to rapid growth and would benefit by reducing excess industrial capacity which is pressuring other economies, Yellen said in remarks to an audience of about 40 representatives of the American Chamber of Commerce in Guangzhou.”

“”Overcapacity isn’t a new problem, but it has intensified, and we’re seeing emerging risks in new sectors,” Yellen said in China’s southern export hub of Guangzhou, where she met with Vice Premier He Lifeng and Guangdong Province Governor Wang Weizhong.”

“Yellen and other Biden administration officials are growing increasingly concerned about China’s overproduction of electric vehicles, solar panels, semiconductors and other goods that are flooding into global markets in the face of a demand slump in China’s domestic market.”

Reuters 4 5 2024

“Chinese state media have pushed back against Yellen’s excess capacity message, saying it was an example of a double standard.”

“”While it is just basic economics that surplus products naturally seek out markets elsewhere once domestic demand is met, and Western nations have been doing that for centuries, when it comes to China, it becomes an ‘overcapacity problem’ threatening the world,” the China Daily said.” 

Ibid. Reuters

They really look silly telling China to produce less because the market in America cannot compete, and they are starting to refuse to buy the commodities to hurt China.  It’s like cutting off your nose to spite your face.   They are going to deliberately cause inflation with taxes on imports, taxes that will be paid by the consumer, often of products like solar panels for rooftops that have been acknowledged by them as effective to stop climate change.

What logic is it to not buy a cheap solar panel, just because the seller has decided to sell it below its value, the amount of labour time required to produce it?  Why should the buyer care? 

Creating a surplus is the basic rule of all capitalist production.  Suggesting China should not export so many products is a ridiculous request, given this is the overriding goal of capitalist production, to create surplus value.  Do as I say, not as I do.   

“Nov 29 (Reuters) – U.S. trade officials announced on Friday a new round of tariffs on solar panel imports from four Southeast Asian nations after American manufacturers complained that companies there are flooding the market with unfairly cheap goods.”

Article continues…

“According to a preliminary decision posted on the U.S. Commerce Department’s website on Friday, the agency calculated dumping duties of between 21.31% and 271.2%, depending on the company, on solar cells from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.”

“Most solar panels installed in the United States are made overseas, and some 80% of imports come from the four nations targeted in the Commerce Department probe.”

“President-elect Donald Trump has called the Inflation Reduction Act too expensive, but also has said he plans to slap hefty tariffs on a range of sectors to protect American workers.”

Reuters 11 29 2024

Trump said his favorite word was “tariffs”, and now he is becoming president again.  What he really means is his favorite word is actually “taxes”, because that’s what tariffs are, a tax on imports.  He already is trying to figure out what to do with the money from the taxes on imports, with lofty goals of being able to use it for his state.

Apparently there  is some contention about if the consumer will be paying these taxes.  They will, unless they purchase American made products, the old non metric, fossil fuel dependent production.   

Solar panels are becoming more out of reach to the worker daily.  China produces 80% of the panels, it is unlikely they will take a loss to sell their panels for less to compensate for the tariffs.  You will see inflation on panels, due to taxes levied by the bourgeoisie, who are not really committed to stopping climate change. 

It would be nice if solar panels were produced here, but instead the focus seems to still be on pumping as much fossil fuels as possible out of the ground, in the least amount of time. China seems to be rapidly becoming superior to American production of a key component of any renewable energy plans, the solar panel.   

China is already talking about putting their own tariffs on large gasoline powered engines, for cars and trucks.  This could get interesting.  How about a tax on non metric products? Imagine if they had to go metric to access foreign markets.

In all this taxing of imports it is the consumer who is going to pay.  This form of taxation will also bite the bourgeoisie, as Sam Walton owns WalMart, for instance, and will have to raise prices on Chinese products popular there due to tariffs.  And if those non metric gasoline large motor powered cars and trucks get tariffed, it could cause an economic crisis.

Most large scale production uses Chinese produced raw materials, for welding, for instance.  This is s tax on their own production; without the cheap welding supplies the commodities rise in value.  Will the bourgeois willingly make less profit to offset the taxes?   

Nicholas Jay B\oyes

Milwaukee Wisconsin 

American Democratic Republic

Technological Advancement and Material  Conditions  

So what we seem to be seeing is what the new government is going to  be doing is to keep the old decaying industry functioning, regardless of its ecological impact.  The appointments Donald Trump has made are all involved with petroleum and fossil fuel production. Either that or they are inexperienced, and will take orders well.

What we can expect is, for instance, Milwaukee’s electrical generation will be remaining coal fired turbines, until Trump leaves office.  For a number of years Wisconsin Electric, the monopoly that sells natural gas and electricity to Southeastern WIsconsin, has talked about switching the Oak Creek power plant to gas. 

This now looks unlikely, regardless of the ecological effects of massive coal storage and burning.  Simply put, the Republican bourgeoisie will not have deep enough pockets to change the turbines to gas.

It also looks like gasoline powered large engines for autos, boats, etc. will be here to stay.  Trump has said he will tariff, or tax, Chinese electric vehicles (EV”S). The current government has already increased for this year 100% tariffs on electric vehicles, a 25% tariff on lithium-ion EV batteries and a 50% tariff on photovoltaic solar cells produced in China.

And this is not enough for Trump, he wants to increase taxes on imports, tariffs, even higher.

China has shown it can produce cheap quality EV’s that are competitive in the world market. They pollute the ecology far less than Detroit’s SUV and pickup trucks that use large gasoline powered engines.  The tax on imports of Chinese EV’s are designed to make Detroit’s products more competitive in the domestic market. 

Who wouldn’t want a cheap quality EV?  Why would a machine that can reduce the ecological impact of climate change not be welcomed?

China now produces 80% of the photovoltaic cells for solar energy.  At some point China decided to move forward industrially, went metric, and shifted to developing the latest technology.  All our bourgeoisie can do is tax imports from China to keep Americans buying Detroit’s gasoline powered large engine vehicles, and consuming fossil fuels for power generation. 

We expect it from Trump, but here is Biden doing it too.  These forms of protectionism are only going to get worse, and you can really see how non metric industry is simply not competitive.  China is still considered a third world country by the United Nations, and American can’t compete.  The statements to expect are something to the effect of “China, India and Russia are polluting the ecology, why should we be held to a different standard?”

Which reduces us to the standards of a declining capitalist model, like Russia, without recycling; or India and China, that are in the developing world. 

How far we have come.  The days of glory are coming to an end; technological progress is changing society, and Detroit is still not metric.  The speed limit signs, the gas pumps, the size of containers at the store, are all not yet metric. 

And do you really expect Trump to do a metric conversion?  He doesn’t even believe climate change is real.  “Make America Great Again” includes inches, gallons, and feet.

Another 4 years without a metric conversion.  And this is supposed to be someone who understands basic economics.  

What this is going to do is fetter the productive forces even worse than they are currently. It will further isolate the workers and industry from the rest of the world.  Who is going to buy a large non metric gasoline powered motor pickup truck outside the domestic market?

Then there is the social conditions; Elon Musk, who invested more than 250 million dollars into getting Trump elected, is now coming to power.  His industry he owns is called Tesla, and produces luxury automobiles.  It is not part of regular commodity production, it is what the surplus value is spent on.  It does not produce a profit, rather it consumes profit.  A worker cannot afford Musk’s cars, they are for the bourgeoisie.  It is what the bourgeois spend their profits on, rather than an affordable car a  worker would consume. 

This and government contracts are how Musk has gained his wealth. Trump will steer more government contracts for space,. to Musk’s monopoly, complete with the knowledge of engineers who created the industry for NASA previously..

These are all part of what to expect around here for the next 4 years.  Buying a Detroit gasoline powered truck, not being able to afford a solar panel for the house, using gas and electricity instead of renewable energy….  The speed limit staying 70 miles per hour on the highway; purchasing gallons of gasoline for the car, etc.  Prepare yourself for it, it is coming.

Nicholas Jay Boyes

Milwaukee Wisconsin

American Democratic Republic