Staff Reports
In a recent discussion, Treasury Secretary Scott Besson passionately advocated for ending illegal immigration as central to boosting American wages. He claims that redirecting the $249 billion reportedly paid to undocumented workers could result in a significant pay raise for American citizens and those here legally. Besson paints a vivid picture of parallel prosperity where both Wall Street and Main Street could thrive, although one can’t help but chuckle at the convenient oversight of potential cost increases for consumers lurking around the corner.
Naturally, there’s skepticism about whether American workers are interested in filling these roles. Undoubtedly, America’s job market isn’t exactly teeming with eager job seekers. But Besson insists that with better wages and healthier working conditions—thank you, President Trump’s economic strategy—those eagerly awaited American workers will show up. One has to wonder, though, about the optimistic image of young men in their 20s and 30s, previously disenfranchised, suddenly lining up for jobs they once despised.
The dialogue veers towards tariffs, a controversial subject creating as much buzz as a freshman prom. As important deadlines loom, Besson suggests the U.S. has its trading partners teetering over the edge. Despite some experts claiming otherwise, Besson brushes them off, suggesting that worries about detrimental impacts on the U.S. economy are merely exaggerated fears labeled as “tariff derangement syndrome.” It’s almost as if Besson borrowed a line from a Hollywood blockbuster, constantly reiterating that America holds the best cards.
Discussing ministerial tête-à-têtes with trading giants like the EU and Japan, one can’t miss the rather cavalier attitude from Secretary Besson. Sure, levying threats of staggering tariffs has EU leaders scrambling, but one can’t help but feel this negotiation style is akin to tightrope walking without a safety net. Japan, described as another great ally, needs to muddle through its political landscape before making any trade deals, somewhat reminiscent of waiting for paint to dry.
All this shadowboxing around tariffs, immigration, and trade deals inevitably brings the Federal Reserve and its chair, Jerome Powell, into the spotlight. Much like a contentious Broadway drama, President Trump seems to revel in playing the player’s coach, working the ref to glean results. Of course, Besson compares Trump’s approach to Bobby Knight’s brash strategy, suggesting it might just be a winning formula. While one might raise an eyebrow at the notion of a little chair-throwing here and there, it seems to work in the high-stakes world of global economics.
