In Iowas GOP agriculture epicenter, tariffs spark Trump skepticism

[UpInArms]

Source: Associated Press via PBS

HOSPERS, Iowa — In Sioux County, where swine barns interrupt the vast landscape of corn-stubbled fields, exports of meat, grain and machinery fuel the local economy. And there’s a palpable sense of unease that new Chinese tariffs pushed by President Donald Trump — who received more than 80 percent of the vote here in 2016 — could threaten residents’ livelihood.

The grumbling hardly signals a looming leftward lurch in this dominantly Republican region in northwest Iowa. But after standing with Trump through the many trials of his first year, some Sioux County Trump voters say they would be willing to walk away from the president if the fallout from the tariffs causes a lasting downturn in the farm economy.

...snip...

That sent a chill through places like Sioux County, which ranks first among Iowa’s 99 counties in agricultural exports. In 2016, the county sold $350 million in meat, grain, machinery and chemicals overseas. Far closer to the sparsely populated crossroads of South Dakota and Minnesota than Iowa’s bustling Des Moines metro area, Sioux County is home to just 34,000 people, but more than 1 million hogs, 6 million chickens and nearly as impressive numbers of cattle and sheep.

Brad Te Grootenhuis sells about 25,000 hogs a year and could lose hundreds of thousands of dollars if the tariffs spark a backlash from China. He said it’s possible he would abandon Trump if pork’s price decline continues and lasts.

“Any time you’re losing money, nobody’s happy,” the 42-year-old farmer said. “I’ve got payments to make, plain and simple.”

...more...

Read more: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/economy/in-iowas-gop-agriculture-epicenter-tariffs-spark-trump-skepticism

[hatrack]

1. Paying attention now?

Good! Glad you could pay a visit to reality.

[olegramps]

14. Any farmer should know that you reap what you sow. I have no sympathy for them.

The vast majority of these sod busters are white supremacists at heart. Drive the country roads and all you can tune into is the rightwing dispensers of hate, corn futures and evangelical pro-Trump bible beaters who condemn every Liberal to hell. Yet they are full of compassionate understanding for their dear brother Trump who was led astray by liberal loving immoral whores. They never fail to throw in a couple of dog whistle damnation of those Cadillac driving welfare queens brother Saint Ronnie warned us about. "You' all don't forget to mark down Tuesday evnin for a important address at our meetin with Rep. Jeb Hogblower (R) on the warning of the liberals agenda to indoctrinate our kids with the evil acceptance of homosexuality and make Muslim Sharia the law or the land.

[Trust Buster]

2. I dont feel sorry for them at all. I feel sorry for those that tried to warn them and now must pay

The price for THEIR foolish decision along with them.

[UpInArms]

4. I live where the vote was 80% trump

These people were hit with a stupid stick as they fell from the dumb tree

Truth and logic escape through every hole in their heads

[Achilleaze]

3. Main reason Midwest farmers voted for a casino-hustling, draft-dodging, money-grubbing republican

is because...


I hope they learn from their mistake -- allowing themselves to be suckered by a casino sharpie with a track record of screwing over everyone he comes into contact with.

[pangaia]

11. They are not learning anything worthwhile.

Just that THEY, individually, may lose something.

A very narrow slit in their perception of reality. All the rest, the rest of their lives, the lives of other human beings, pandas, redwood trees, squid, ice, oxygen, the planet, are still a total mystery to them, and will forever remain so.

[Puppyjive]

5. Out West

So I live in Eastern Oregon where most of the votes went for Trump. I noticed our Congressman Greg Walden (R) was trying to save face with all of the farmers around here who are going to be affected by Trump's tariffs. You can still drive out in the valley and see their Trump signs. Consequences. These are the consequences of not being informed about the person you are voting for. These are the people who were targeted by the Russians. They are not 'deep thinkers' and they cannot decipher the difference between truth and propaganda. Maybe these tariffs will open their eyes and show them that being informed is not a bad thing and the only fake news out there is probably coming from FOX news. Keeping them dumbed down is keeping them under control.

[pangaia]

12. "They are not 'deep thinkers'....."

Boy, even THAT is giving them more credit than they deserve. I would propose they do not 'think' at all. Thinking requires intention action.
They have no 'intention.' They are a collection of emotions inside a physical body. Any threat to the body and the emotions react. THAT IS IT.

[JI7]

20. Deep thinking is not required. The bigotry appealed to them

That's all it was.

He was going to take stuff away from the undeserving coloreds, not real Americans like them.

[Itchinjim]

6. Even as an Iowan and the grandson of farmers I have zero sympathy for them.

They got what they voted for. Stupid bastards.

[Downtown Hound]

7. Once again Republicans show they don't care about anybody but themselves. n/t

[dalton99a]

8. Fuck them

[greymattermom]

9. Sewage from a million hogs?

Maybe it's not such a great thing for Iowa in the long run after all.

[JDC]

10. Isn't Iowa the place that now legally "Stinks"

[pangaia]

13. What a bunch of stupid, ignorant fucks....

Just try to imagine what kind of breeding, genes and mouth breathing sexual activity produces organisms like this....?

A collection of out of control emotions trapped in an animal body, without a functioning brain to guide and direct...

[SharonClark]

18. Wow! Talk about 'out of control emotions'

[pangaia]

19. Lololol

Its just fingers on a keyboard.

🤣

[Maxheader]

15. Its been going on for some time now..

People asking why do we keep electing these thieves and morally
corrupt induhviduals? They give tax breaks to the 1% ers and
feed the rest of us a little cake before the 2018 tax laws bite
us in the ass.

[vkkv]

16. No pity what-so-ever.. Hog farming is horrible for the environment. They should have gone out of

biz decades ago. The corn hogs eat could go to people.

Then again, ham & pineapple or sausage & mushroom pizza is pretty darn good! Uh-hyuck !

[paleotn]

17. As we all know....

for many, it's always about the money. No empathy whatsoever. Unless it kicks them in their own ass, they don't care.

[Pepsidog]

21. Screw them. Next I hope they lose their healthcare. Dimwits.

[DeminPennswoods]

22. News Flash: Elections have consequences

nt

[cntrfthrs]

23. boo effin' hoo hoo...

take your medicine trumpanzees.......