Do you remember when Communism fell in the USSR? If you’re a millennial or younger, probably not. It was momentous. In June of 1987
President Ronald Reagan stood in front of Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate and told Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev to “tear down this wall.”
He
did tear down the Berlin Wall and Communism collapsed upon itself. Freedom! No more Commies!
No more jobs! Nothing for decades. We won (?) The Cold War!
What happened to the citizens of the former USSR was pathetic at first. People who were accustomed to the government providing jobs, goods, housing, food and the essentials of life were left wondering how to get along. They had nothing until a new system could be established.
What does that have to do with the title of this blog?
“Trump’s Trade War” could, if he succeeds in his plan to diminish America’s might worldwide, very well leave US wondering how to get along.
With Pork and soybeans costing our international customers much much more, how will America’s farmers, for instance, make a living? North Dakota exports 75% of our soybeans to China. With prices soaring because of Putin and Xi’s retaliatory tariffs (taxes,) who’ll buy it?
Other countries grow soybeans too. And, they don’t have to deal with tariffs. Cheap beans for sale to a huuuuuge consumer, China! What’ll we do with those beans? Eat ’em?
Back to the end of Communism. Citizens of Russia by the thousands were forced to sell their household goods, family heirlooms, and homemade food to earn a living.
Old men and women were seen sitting on streets selling their blankets, toys, eating utensils and family treasures. It was like a nationwide garage sale. Except, it wasn’t cash earned to have a little extra spending money. They sold their heirlooms to earn a little money to EAT!
Will that happen to Americans because our president is making our goods and services too expensive for even our best customers?
What would you sell on the street to feed your children? Your Xbox? Grandma’s quilts, the recliner, those Bose speakers? Imagine your grandparents selling off everything in their living room just to get enough groceries for a meal.
That
may seem far-fetched. But, the Ruskies couldn’t imagine themselves out of work, school and home. But, with their already flawed Communist Socialism system out…they had no choice but to sell their medals, their toys and throw rugs.
Nowadays things have changed in Russia. They have videogames, food, fancy clothes and computers. But, it was a long time coming. The “fall” began in 1987 and things are a bit better over there now. Except that Trump’s buddy Vlad Putin has stolen the money and made himself the richest man in the world. Upheaval is coming to Russia sometime soon I’m sure. The people will rise and run him out.
In the meantime, you might start deciding what you’ll sell on the street to buy a few packs of Ramen for dinner.
(Jack Sunday is a radio veteran with nearly 50-years “behind the mike.” He hosts “The Drive,” 4-7pm, weekdays on KFGO. He likes to say he’s not old…just aging.)
