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American democracy is at stake. So is the planet’s climate
(www.latimes.com)
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this post was submitted on 05 Nov 2024
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There isn't really such thing as "free trade", at least not how it's described in most definitions. While it is a reference to knocking down regulations and trade barriers (which does include tariffs), it is only really used in a way that serves imperialist interests. It is normally used to prevent countries from using protectionism to ensure their own industries can be built up, particularly to drive food sovereignty, to make them instead develop economies that suit imperialist exploitation (and generate food dependency).
So I'm not in favor of free trade.
But we can recognize that putting big ol' tariffs on Chinese solar panels has mostly just amounted to shortages and delays for installing solar globally, and the only purpose of those tariffs is to begin building up a new cold war, not anything that is actually beneficial regarding the climate.
Fair enough. Thank you for the clarification.
Of course! Thank you for your question and your position as well
Well, my position is not exactly in agreement. While I was curious, I think there are far more reasons to apply tariffs to certain products than simply wanting another cold war.
Well the US has no stimulate-able domestic industry so isolating China is the only realistic option. And this has been clear for at least a decade. There is no domestic industry making these things at any usable scale.
Medium-scale solar panel installations are backed up over a year btw.
US manufacturing currently sat at 26 GW annually, with a 71% increase in the first quarter of the year. Demand being high is also unsurprising.
Over a year delay is clearly demonstrable undercapacity
Yes, most certainly. Spikes in demand can do that. If 71% growth remains consistent, it'll be resolved in short order. Though it'll probably dip as the overall manufacturing capacity increases, since its just a percentage of the total.
It's been years.
Makes sense, Biden's big investment was just a few years ago. A single year out for medium-sized facilities is very manageable though. Hopefully demand continues to increase alongside production, and it remains a years wait for several years. That would be a sign that demand is continuing to increase.
Biden's "big investment" went to finance and high tech wages, not production capacity.
And no it's not particularly manageable the industry will need a bailout or fail shortly. They were already bailed out once w/ Silicon Valley Bank, if you recall. They were all rolled up in that. It is needed again because they are not doing well.
No, actually it went heavily to infrastructure to facilitate future technology, things like electric vehicle charging stations and energy grid, along with more mundane stuff like bridge maintenance and replacement. This stimulates demand, which supply naturally follows in the quest for profits-above-all-else.
Not sure how an industry seeing such demand is projected to fail shortly.
SVB wasn't bailed out, it was actually seized. It failed after a bank run following a lot of risky investments into new tech startups, which is a naturally high risk market. It was not due to some sort of failure in the broader solar industry.
No it went to stock buybacks and capitalization for startups.
You want to provide any evidence for that assertion?
My knowledge is insider, but you can go look into it yourself if you'd like.
Very convenient. You duck requests for evidence very fluidly, like a true propagandist. I imagine your parents must be very proud of your abilities at manipulation.
You are free to look into solar companies' finances and talk to those in the industry. Go ahead and do so and come back to tell me what you've learned.
Or, y'know, you could just support your claims instead of tossing out a right wing nutjob-style "do your own research". Fortunately I've been around enough conspiracy theories in my life that they've become pretty easy to see through.
Why would familiarizing yourself with the finances of solar companies be a conspiracy theory, exactly?
The signs of conspiracy theory are "trust me bro, totally got insider knowledge here" and "go do your own research".
These are both convenient evasions performed when someone is lying.
"trust me bro"
No it is, "go look into a specific thing". No need to trust me. Just take hold of your own agency and stop depending on others to spoon feed you.
Tell me how solar installations are doing. What has happened to the backlog re: panels and connection capacity?
Hey, you said you had insider knowledge you are seemingly reluctant to share. That's a "trust me bro" when only a fool would trust an anonymous person on the internet.
Yes, "go look into specific thing" is a re-wording of "go do your own research". The goal is "find and believe the same bullshit that manipulates me".
Like I said, demand has increased. Supply is following it. This is the intended function of capitalism, for better or for worse. Supply follows demand, because, sadly, personal profit is a powerful psychological motivator.
Yeah I'm not going to share any further info that is even remotely self-identifying. Apparently you think that is suspicious.
It's a "I know things I can't share". You are free to distrust. You can do the other thing I suggested, which is to look at the finances of solar companies.
Right you still expect others to fetch things for you and can't handle it not happening. It seems you aren't learning this lesson. I am being consistent, you see.
This will be my last reply until you show evidence of trying to learn anything about this.
You could easily direct towards this evidence of specific solar companies, that would not be personally identifying in the slightest. You cannot because you are fabricating.
Failing to support your arguments is a fundamental failing of intellectual honesty, which is fully in-line with the goals of a propagandist. You are ceasing the conversation because I easily backed you into a corner you cannot escape from. Buh-bye.