America’s Man-Made Crisis:

itllbefunretiremen
Apr 29
5 min read

Updated: Apr 30

How Tariff Wars Are Threatening Your Future —

and What You Can Do About It

At the 100-day mark of President Trump’s administration, 55% of Americans disapproved of his performance. Now, just a few months into his term, the consequences of political choices are already hitting hard. America is deep in a tariff war — and the ripple effects are beginning to touch every part of our economy.

Unlike crises like COVID or 9/11, which blindsided the nation and demanded unity, this crisis is man-made. It was not caused by an invisible enemy or an outside attack. It's caused by policy decisions made at home in the USA — and it can be stopped at any time if leadership choses to act. But they haven't. And ordinary Americans are starting to pay the price. America's new crisis.

The Real Cost of Tariffs

Tariffs are often framed as a patriotic tool to protect American jobs. But in reality, tariffs are taxes — taxes that American companies and importers must pay when bringing in goods from abroad. When a retailer like Walmart, a tech giant like Apple, or a manufacturer like Briggs & Stratton orders goods from overseas, they pay the factory and take ownership when it goes to port, they pay shipper to ship, and then they pay the U.S. government a tariff at the port of arrival in the USA to release their own products into the market.

That cost doesn’t fall on China, Vietnam, India or whatever country the product came from. It falls on the American businesses (importer of record) — and ultimately on the American consumer. Companies can either absorb the hit to their profits, or more likely, pass those higher costs onto you.

The results are already visible. Prices are rising. Goods are disappearing from shelves. Families are feeling the squeeze. Back to School is going to be colorful this year.

I bought goods my entire professional life. They don't just poof and arrive on store shelves, it takes months and months of planning. Imagine you're a senior buyer, tasked with stocking back-to-school supplies months in advance. You would need to ship your goods from China in early April to stock stores by July. But with tariffs fluctuating wildly — spiking by as much as 145% — many companies are simply canceling shipments. (I would have.) Empty shelves aren’t just a possibility: they’re coming to a store near you.

Tariffs Don’t Just Raise Prices — They Threaten the Entire Economy

When costs rise and uncertainty grows, the consequences ripple across the economy:

Inflation eats away at consumer spending power.
Companies cut back on hiring, slow down production, and slash investment.
Stock markets become volatile, making retirement savings more vulnerable.
Bond markets weaken as foreign investors shy away from U.S. debt.

It’s not just about paying a little more at the checkout line. It's about a slow, grinding erosion of the financial foundations millions of Americans rely on for security — especially retirees.

If you’ve spent decades saving for retirement, these rising costs and shrinking investment returns directly threaten your quality of life. Your nest egg simply won’t stretch as far when everything from groceries to healthcare becomes more expensive.

The Myth of "Bringing Manufacturing Back"

Some claim that tariffs will bring factories back to the United States. And it will. But the reality is far more complicated.

First, rebuilding American manufacturing infrastructure isn’t fast. Constructing factories takes years. Setting up supply chains, training workers, and scaling production cannot happen overnight.

Second, there aren't enough workers. Unemployment is low — around 4% — and most Americans aren't interested in low-wage factory jobs. Filling those jobs would require massive immigration reform, a politically divisive and slow-moving process. Hey, if we just let AI take all the high-pay jobs, Americans will work in the factories, right?

Third, even if factories return, they won’t look like the ones from America’s post-World War II heyday. Modern manufacturing is automated. Companies like Tesla have proven that factories today rely on robots more than human hands. Future factories would create some high-paying, high-skilled jobs, but far fewer jobs overall than most Americans expect.

And finally, America’s real strength is not in producing cheap goods. It's in leading the world in high-end manufacturing: aerospace, defense systems, cutting-edge medical devices, and innovation. That’s where America dominates — and that’s where our focus must remain.

We’ve Seen This Movie Before

History gives us clear warnings. During the Great Depression, the U.S. passed the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, raising tariffs across thousands of imports. The result? Retaliation from other countries, a collapse in world trade, and a much deeper, longer depression.

The parallels are troubling. Today’s tariffs could trigger similar retaliations and slowdowns if leaders don’t act wisely.

Global Trade Is More Important Than You Think

Trade does more than just supply us with cheaper goods. It also keeps our financial system stable.

When other countries sell products to the U.S., they earn U.S. dollars. Many then reinvest those dollars into U.S. Treasury bonds — helping fund the government and keep interest rates low.

If trade slows, fewer dollars flow back into America. Demand for U.S. debt falls. Interest rates rise. Borrowing becomes more expensive — not just for Washington, but for businesses, homebuyers, and anyone with a loan.

In short: tariffs don’t just hurt the companies at the port. They can shake the entire foundation of the American economy — including your retirement savings, your home value, and your financial future.

So What Can You Do?

You can hope politicians fix this. That the Trump Plan comes together.

You can also act now to protect yourself.

One increasingly smart option? Moving abroad.

Today, over nine million Americans live outside the United States. Many enjoy better lifestyles, lower living costs, affordable healthcare, and safer communities — all while keeping their U.S. citizenship and maintaining strong ties to family and friends back home.

In countries like Portugal, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Colombia, it’s possible to cut your living costs by 30% to 50%. Your retirement dollars stretch farther. Your healthcare bills shrink. Your quality of life improves.

If you’re feeling that deep, unsettled sense that the American Dream is slipping away — you are not alone. But you do have options. You can build a life that’s better, freer, and more secure.

Alan and Wolf It'll Be Fun Team — We Should Have Done This sooner

We Can Help You Get There

We’ve built a complete platform designed to help Americans like you make the leap smartly and safely.

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