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Comment by lordleft | Hacker News Reader

I feel like an under-discussed consequence of the current administration is how deeply these choices will harm tourism. Travel is a big part of our economy. A 250 dollar fee is yet another reason to choose Europe or Asia or your own country over the US.

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My read - this administration seems to be betting that behaviors will change slowly enough and America has enough of a draw still that they can extract more concessions, both in the market (with tariffs), and with measures like this in the near term, without a collapse in tourism or middle class consumerism.

They must believe that the long term effects will change slowly enough, or the effects will be concentrated on the poorest, and so they can just ignored as they won't be electorally punished for them.

I disagree with the policies personally but politically I don't know if their calculation is wrong.

> I disagree with the policies personally but politically I don't know if their calculation is wrong.

The current administration is really deluded about the prominence and draw it thinks America still has. They had the misconception, for example, that China was much more dependent on trade with the USA rather than the 2% impact that the numbers actually suggested. They are simply making all of their calculations with factually incorrect premises along with bad math.

Their purpose is to destroy the US. This helps that goal. You must look at every action this admin takes… its the only thing that consistently makes any sense at all.

Why would they make this their purpose?

To break it apart, buy it up cheap, and rebuild it in their image.

Use your imagination? Perhaps include the widely publicized idea that Trump is in fact a Russian asset? Does that shed any light on this for you?

“Use your imagination”?

Have facts become that irrelevant for you? Ironically, you are mimicking the one you despise, in that regard.

Honestly if, at this point you can’t see it, you’re willfully ignoring it.

We have nearly a decade of public pronouncements, hateful rhetoric, and investigations into behavior that neatly skirts legal definitions of treason.

So yes, if you can’t see it? Use your fucking imagination. Either that or open your eyes.

what you are describing is a conspiracy theory. No facts, just interpretations and assumptions.

Ah, and confusing being loud and being right.

I despise Trump, but I think him too dumb to be incapable of such a thing actually. Until I see some serious proof, this is just a conspiracy theory.

Russian assets?

it's almost like they don't want tourists.

Or they want to have one more chip to play with when negotiating trade deals.

Like a child banging their head on the wall because you won't let them use their iPad. At some point people start calling your bluffs.

T A C O

It is for visa, which can't be waived. ESTA is a visa waiver, therefor would not apply.

Then why host the World Cup?

And the Olympics in 2028

FIFA is looking at moving our matches to Canada. I don't think this administration was that interested in hosting a global event.

Agreed under a previous administration. Besides, oligarchs like football, that's why it was hosted in Qatar previously.

... from "certain" countries.

Many "desirable" countries have visa-waiver programs where I would assume they would be unaffected.

Not just from certain countries but they only want certain people from certain countries.

I thought the position of HN was that tourism is bad.

They probably think that if $250 is a showstopper to your travel budget you’re undesirable anyway. They want those $5 million gold card type people. You know the ones who will “create jobs” and “invest” in things that will help the country. (Eye roll)

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