While I don't think that subsidies and trade wars are good things. The tariffs collected a lot more than was spent on those agriculture subsidies.

You are aware that the money collected by the tariffs was extracted from American pockets, right, not Chinese? So you are describing a tax and transfer program: Americans who buy Chinese goods are taxed to compensate Americans who are losing income due to the trade war with China.

In the case when prices are increased to cover the tariffs, yes. However, right now the Chinese manufacturers are eating the costs.

> He seems plenty happy spending away

I have more faith in modern politics that one man can veto an entire cabinet of elected officials on what to spend. Whether or not one man can influence them or ask them to keep spending, I have no doubts. But... how many elected lifetime professional politicians sign off on budgets + spending? I am going to guess it is more than "one man".

I'm all for scrutinizing everybody who sits in that chair, but forget the candidates? If you're concerned about the state of our financial situation, I don't see how you can't be scared of these people. It makes me hope they really are just making promises they can't begin to keep.