USA TODAY US Edition

Trump’s deal sets a bad precedent for the nation

- FACEBOOK FACEBOOK.COM/ USATODAYOP­INION

President-elect Donald Trump tweeted Sunday that he’ll impose a 35% tax on U.S. companies that move jobs or operations to other countries — after announcing a deal with Carrier to keep 1,000 manufactur­ing jobs in the United States.

Trump promised to punish companies that move factories overseas with taxes on their imported products.

Great example of Trump’s rhetoric being much different than his actions. Instead of actually fighting for the workers, he found a way to give away millions in Indiana taxpayer dollars and announced to every manufactur­ing company in the U.S.: Get in line for Trump-brand corporate welfare. Raffi Roupen

That fact is that tax breaks were offered to keep some of the Carrier jobs in the U.S. while others will still be shifted south of the border. It also raises the problem that other companies will use this example as leverage in the future — ransom if you will — when they threaten to leave the country unless some break is given to them.

The deal given to Carrier could have been done months ago when it announced its plans to leave Indiana. Vice Presidente­lect Mike Pence had the power then as he does now as governor. The people of Indiana will be paying for this for years to come.

Sorry folks, but you’re being fed grape juice and being told to believe it’s wine.

I don’t like the fact that Trump will be our president (I think it will be disastrous), but I’m willing to give him a shot. He needs to stop trying to deceive the American people, though. Andrew Kleinwaks

Tariffs on imports to outsourcer­s would make such moves unprofitab­le.

That seems like an obvious solution to me. The reduction in tax revenue from Carrier will have to be recouped somewhere. I think it is a slippery slope. John Imhof

Granted, it upsets me when companies lay off thousands of Americans to move jobs overseas to cut costs, but we can’t bully them to stay here. A better solution is needed.

Also, if companies stay, is he going to offer them “incentives” as well like he did for Carrier? Nikita Scott

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States