New Mars Forums

Official discussion forum of The Mars Society and MarsNews.com

You are not logged in.

Announcement

Announcement: This forum is accepting new registrations by emailing newmarsmember * gmail.com become a registered member. Read the Recruiting expertise for NewMars Forum topic in Meta New Mars for other information for this process.

#1251 2018-06-18 19:24:04

Void
Member
Registered: 2011-12-29
Posts: 7,834

Re: Politics

Geopolitics:

I am putting this here for you specially SpaceNut.  I don't want you to have so much angst about what is going on.  It helps to know what may be driving things instead of thinking that a Bogy Man in the white house is inventing this on his own.
http://zeihan.com/
In particular I recommend the newsletter.

Do I think he will turn out to be specifically correct about everything?  No.  But he has interesting insight.

One thing he says that may relieve your mind is that Hillary would have done the same thing, she would just have taken more time.

In other words, the ruling powers decided on this some time ago, and well, we are now allowed to know about it from a particular point of view.

A disrupted world is in the cards it would seem.

Done.

Last edited by Void (2018-06-18 19:25:15)


End smile

Offline

#1252 2018-06-22 19:25:05

SpaceNut
Administrator
From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
Posts: 29,433

Re: Politics

Well going solar will not be happening for some after the tarrifs have started to hit Tesla to close a dozen solar facilities in 9 states An internal company email named 14 facilities slated for closure, but the other list included only 13 of those locations. The installation offices that the internal email said were targeted for closure were located in California, Maryland, New Jersey, Texas, New York, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Arizona and Delaware.

How are those jobs doing now....

Offline

#1253 2018-06-23 12:16:14

Void
Member
Registered: 2011-12-29
Posts: 7,834

Re: Politics

Quote:

Well going solar will not be happening for some after the tarrifs have started to hit Tesla to close a dozen solar facilities in 9 states An internal company email named 14 facilities slated for closure, but the other list included only 13 of those locations. The installation offices that the internal email said were targeted for closure were located in California, Maryland, New Jersey, Texas, New York, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Arizona and Delaware.
How are those jobs doing now....

Your apparent issues are Jobs, and Solar power, and tariffs.

Your materials also connect to Elon Musk and some of the companies he is connected with Tesla(Solar City), and SpaceX, and of course our president.

I will add Unions, Short Sellers, Immediate gratification adult-children, Mercantilism, Globalism, Peter Zeihan, and some other things.

And a changing reality.

The cuts in Jobs are related to a diminishing market for the products offered by the solar portion of Tesla.  Per the article you attached, using Home Depot to market these products, adds $3000.00 to an installation.  The market for the solar products of Tesla(Solar City) appears to be suffering.  I don't really think the timing of the tariffs could be applied to that loss of market.

When SpaceX launched Falcon Heavy, suddenly some very things began to happen.  A campaign against Elon Musk.  They used all the familiar cards.  The woman card, the race card, and quite a few others.  Recently they seem to be trying to imply that Elon Musk is crazy.

These are quite similar to those which previously were used against the president, so I suspect that it is a very similar crowd that is doing this.

Other tricks have been "Elon Musk" and "Jeff Bezos" should work on fixing the Earth before going into space.  This is typical material from the Immediate gratification adult-children.  What they really indicate is that they want to seize the assets they see and consume them right now.  Even though by our rules their is not a direct way they can do it.  If it was Nasa, then indeed they could cut the space effort and try to divert the money to something that would benefit them.  But it is harder now.

This is similar to the difference between a primitive society and a more advanced society.  In this case "A more advanced society would be one where agriculture is practiced.  If it is seasonal, then we expect that "Seeds" need to be stored for the next planting.  The stored seeds then are a stage of stored, government, or private property.  However, Immediate gratification adult-children, would possibly see no reason why they should not immediately eat the seeds.  So, then this is an example of why responsible people need to be put in charge of the seeds of the future, and why Immediate gratification adult-children have to be put into containment of some kind, if only being not allowed to satiate their desire to consume without needed limits.

Not so long ago, Peter Zeihan expressed the opinion that Tesla may go down, and that SpaceX might get pulled down with it.

As I have said this entire campaign seems to have appeared just after Falcon Heavy flew, and is ongoing with new tricks.  So, you might just guess who else may be involved in this in the background.

And then we have the shorts against Tesla, which Elon is in a war against.  So far he is winning.

In the business community we have those who build things, and those who loot.  An example of looting would be where somehow you manipulate reality so that a company fails so that you can perhaps strip the copper from a building and sell it for pennies on the dollar.

Things like that have actually happened in this country.

......

Now their is the curious thing where Unions seem to possibly be interested in the Mercantilism that our president seems to be moving us towards, and which Peter Zeihan predicted.  (He also said that Hillary would have done  the same thing, only at a slower pace).

One behavior of colonial systems it to seize the things they need.  A resource for instance, or A MARKET.

If you dig, you may see that since the USA is one of the few places that has a Millennial generation.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennials

So, the USA has a future market that will last for some time.  Europe and China do not.

If you favor colonialism, then you will favor globalization.  That way the USA can be a colony of China and Europe and others.

But as it happens as Peter Zeihan has said (Some of these items), the USA has 10 super carriers, and Nukes, splendidly situated geographically, with fabulous agriculture, and very defensible character.  We also have recently become energy independent, if you choose to consider Canada a reliable energy seller (Which it is).

So, some food for thought.  Do you really want to be for colonialism, and against Unions, but somehow attached to a left that wants to get wealth by looting?

Do you want to help them loot Tesla/Solar City, SpaceX, maybe Blue Origins?  The seeds of a future which would be worth living?


I'm getting tired of this or I would go on.

Done.

Last edited by Void (2018-06-23 13:16:02)


End smile

Offline

#1254 2018-06-23 15:30:46

SpaceNut
Administrator
From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
Posts: 29,433

Re: Politics

Tesla’s Solar Plans Aren’t Working

e151e5.gif


Feb. 1, 2018 Tesla solar kiosks coming to Home Depot

Tesla currently offers its $6,000 Powerwall and showcases its solar panels through its 110 U.S. stores. Increasing that reach to 800 locations could prove a make-or-break moment for its solar-powered mission. Trump Administration ruling that imposes a 30% year-one tax on all imported solar cells and modules.

State and federal money to subsidize the solar purchase also dropped at the same time which cause another inflation to purchase of the solar cell panels that we would all like to be cost freindly.

What Happens When the ITC Expires? The investment tax credit steps down to 10 percent in 2017. GTM Research looks at the impact on distributed generation in the U.S.

Danger of Government-Created Solar Bubble Bursting When Subsidies Expire in 2016

The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, signed in February 2018, reinstated the tax credit for fuel cells, small wind, and geothermal heat pumps. Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit

http://www.thesolarguide.com/solar-ener … tives.aspx
https://www.wholesalesolar.com/solar-in … incentives

I find the graph interesting in that 2 out of 3 are on the slide downward....

Offline

#1255 2018-06-23 16:42:57

Void
Member
Registered: 2011-12-29
Posts: 7,834

Re: Politics

Not even sure if you want me to respond to your last post.
I actually regret that the encouragements for solar power are reduced.

However not surprising.  The USA has more Natural Gas than it can figure out what to do with.  You can be sure that the people who own the hydrocarbons in this country will do what they can to keep their products from being stranded in the ground for as long as they can.  No surprise there.

One up side of "Trump Administration ruling that imposes a 30% year-one tax on all imported solar cells and modules." is that the manufacturing skills will be promoted internally for what solar is produced.

As far as solar and wind research, I think we can count on various foreign entities to do that, and we will get that from them.  Cold blooded?  Yes.  But real.

Done.

Last edited by Void (2018-06-23 16:47:31)


End smile

Offline

#1256 2018-06-23 19:33:30

SpaceNut
Administrator
From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
Posts: 29,433

Re: Politics

https://www.eia.gov/naturalgas/weekly/

Propane is simular to Natural gas and back a decade when I did have a 100 gal tank it was so out of control for cost that it was $5 a gallon so discontinued it back then and have not gone back.

If the natural gas cost is $15.00 per 1,000 cubic feet, the same $15.00 will purchase around one million BTUs, this is the equivalent of slightly over 11.20 gallons of propane. If propane costs $2.50 per gallon, in this example, natural gas is the cheaper alternative.

All energy types currently are out of control to a degree with some being more so than others.

Offline

#1257 2018-06-23 20:00:33

RobertDyck
Moderator
From: Winnipeg, Canada
Registered: 2002-08-20
Posts: 7,936
Website

Re: Politics

Void wrote:

If you dig, you may see that since the USA is one of the few places that has a Millennial generation.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennials

After years of scientists telling us we're going to run out of room, we need to halt population growth, all other industrialized countries reduced family size, reduced population growth. But not the US. The US now has as many millennials as baby-boomers. So you're set, contrary to some politicians, you have a sustainable pension system. Canada increased pension premiums to keep it sustainable. But healthcare is going to be an issue. The only reason Canada has kept up with US population growth is increased immigration, proportionately. But that isn't all millennials, and means we have a lot of new-comers to absorb. mad

Void wrote:

But as it happens as Peter Zeihan has said...

You really like this guy.

Void wrote:

We also have recently become energy independent, if you choose to consider Canada a reliable energy seller (Which it is).

Thank you.

Void wrote:

One behavior of colonial systems it to seize the things they need.  A resource for instance, or A MARKET.

Donald Trump (the Trumpster?) complained that many countries treat the US as a piggy-bank. But the US treats Canada that way. Large American countries have tried to loot Canada for raw resources, ensure any value-added processing is done in the US. Canada has fought hard for decades against this. For example, we won't let American companies harvest trees from Canadian forests; Canadian companies can do that. And we won't export raw logs to a sawmill, just to re-import finished lumber. Or even to be sold to American markets. American construction firms can purchased Canadian finished lumber. That means Canadian sawmills do the work. We'll sell all the finished lumber you want, and affordable prices, and higher quality lumber because Canada has so many trees that we can select only the best ones. But let American companies harvest Canadian trees? No. And American sawmills complain that stumpage fees to harvest trees from government land are higher in the US than Canada. That's just supply and demand, Canada has lots of trees while the US doesn't have enough trees to supply the US market. This dispute over American logging companies and sawmills wanting access to Canadian forests is the source of the lumber dispute that has dragged on multiple decades.

Could someone please tell the Trumpster to stop treating Canada as a piggy-bank? His term. Please?

Last edited by RobertDyck (2018-06-24 09:51:27)

Offline

#1258 2018-06-23 20:36:04

SpaceNut
Administrator
From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
Posts: 29,433

Re: Politics

I do know of this from growing up in an area that was getting logs way back when and that was one of the reason the lumber mills changed.

It appears that there is blacklash for being a Trumpster as the people are now being yelled at and told to leave...

Sanders is far from the only Trump official who has been called out in public for administration policies but she has made the list.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders says she was told to leave Virginia restaurant; She said she was asked to leave because she works for President Trump, adding that the action said far more about the owner than it did about her.

Several restaurant employees are gay and knew Sanders had defended Trump's desire to bar transgender people from the military.
This place is run by management who stuck up for their beliefs and who are true Americans. That her establishment has “certain standards that I feel it has to uphold, such as honesty, and compassion and cooperation.”

The separation of families trying to enter the U.S. at the southern border has intensified political differences and passions that were already at elevated levels during the Trump presidency.

Earlier in the week, Trump's homeland security secretary, Kirstjen Nielsen, cut short a working dinner at a Mexican restaurant in Washington after protesters shouted, "Shame!" until she left.

It is not the first time politics has played a role in Trump aides' dinner plans. Tension has been building surrounding President Trump's "zero-tolerance" policy that caused migrant children to be separated from their parents.

The restaurant owner objected to her work defending President Donald Trump, who has been under fire for an immigration policy widely decried as unnecessarily cruel.

Offline

#1259 2018-06-23 20:57:19

SpaceNut
Administrator
From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
Posts: 29,433

Re: Politics

Former and current employees at a federal prison in California that began receiving a group of 1,000 Detainees Just Got Sent To A Prison That Staffers Consider Unsafe on

June 8 are warning that poor medical conditions in the prison in the Mojave Desert complex will endanger detainees, as well as the inmates and staff who are already at risk.
They say so far this has resulted in an outbreak of scabies and a case of chicken pox among the detainees, as well as the potential for more widespread infectious disease.

Medical staffers are also worried about a lack of clarity over whether detainees can be sent out for medical care, according to interviews with current employees and medical records. One patient, a detainee with severe abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea, was denied access to emergency medical care at a hospital. While he has recovered, staffers were worried his condition could have been fatal.
For its 4,500 current inmates and detainees, there are two physicians ― one of whom is the clinical director ― half of the four required. While there should be 13 physician assistants or nurse practitioners on staff to cover 4,500 people, there are six.

There were 1,200 kids -- with boys outnumbering girls at a ratio of two to one. Homestead, Florida, detention center

Program director Leslie Wood said 792 males and 387 females aged 13 to 17, were being held there, with more expected in coming days.


Trump administration calls for expanded use of immigrant family detention

9,000 immigrants traveling in family groups have been caught on the border in each of the last three months.

Immigrant advocates contend detention is no place for children and insist there are other alternatives to ensure they and their parents attend immigration court hearings, such as ankle bracelets or community-based programs.

This sounds more like what should be done in that

In Dilley, Texas, a facility was built on a remote site that was once an oil workers' encampment. It includes collections of cottages built around playgrounds. The other Texas center, in Karnes City, is ringed by 15-foot fences and has security cameras monitoring movements. It also offers bilingual children's books in the library, classes, TVs and an artificial turf soccer field.

Inside the Karnes City center, there are five or six beds to a room typically shared by a couple of families. Cinderblock walls are painted pastel colors, said Govindaiah, who added that the facilities are run by private prison operators, not humanitarian organizations, as is the case with shelters for unaccompanied immigrant children.

Currently, most families spend up to a few weeks in the facilities and are released once they pass an initial asylum screening. They are then given a date to appear before an immigration judge in the cities where they are headed to see if they qualify to stay in the country legally or will face deportation.

Offline

#1260 2018-06-24 21:03:08

Void
Member
Registered: 2011-12-29
Posts: 7,834

Re: Politics

RobertDyck said:

Void wrote:
But as it happens as Peter Zeihan has said...

You really like this guy.


I like to entertain myself by following the theories of persons or entities such as Peter Zeihan.

I also look into "The Fourth Turning" which I was surprised was in some ways similar to my own research, lesser in some ways, greater in many more.

In the case of Peter Zeihan, his logic seems very good.  I however do not really feel comfortable with the analysis of Russia.  My feeling is that the Eurasian populations are alien to the typical peoples he bases his thinking on.  For instance I was told that in WWII Stalin had a whole army that the west knew nothing about.  True or not, recently it has been revealed that "Europeans" are a blend of a Brown Eyed Light Skinned People from the Middle East, Blue Eyed Dark Skinned Hunter Gatherers, and now discovered a Eurasian Influx.  So, if you base you thinking on a population you are familiar with it might be just a bit off if you try to apply it to a different population.  I don't believe in the "Blank Slate", which is what most Socialists want to believe.

I believe that humans are obviously programable, but although created equally under God, not the same for produced talents.  So for me Russia and it's relationship to Europe/Northern Europe are a big question mark.  My own studies indicate a reversal of what we know as a pattern.  A mirror image of a time frame of the past.  We shall see if we are here to witness what happens.


But back to shale oil:  (Peter Zeihan predicted $25.00 shale oil is coming)
https://www.ft.com/content/b259313e-738 … da4279a601

The article above mentions a $25.00 or lower price coming, and the USA exporting about 4m barrels a day by 2023.

So, I do find that this P.Z. hits the mark apparently.  Maybe he does have Russia right.  I hope not.  I don't want that kind of trouble for Russia or the World.


……


PZ does not mention Oil Shale, which I believe is emerging in a small way, sort of a pilot program in Utah, or Oil Sands (In the USA).

The Oil Sands are supposed to come in at a low price as well.

He does mention Canadian Oil.   Personally I would like us to facilitate the transfer of Canada oil to our ports.  Spills are not as big a problem for soil as might be thought, as the process for doing Oil Sands in the USA is very similar to whatever oil remediation might be needed for such a spill.  Of course I do think that special protections, secondary protections are needed in proximity to a major river.

I did read that other stuff you posted.

My answer is that to the question, "Where does a 800 pound Guerilla sleep"?  I think you know the answer.  If I were a 1000 pound Guerilla, I would consider doing what you asked.  But I do have a brain, and inside of it a mind, and know how to hold my thought behind my teeth when it seem appropriate.  Sorry.


Buck...Buck....Buck!

Done

Last edited by Void (2018-06-24 21:27:03)


End smile

Offline

#1261 2018-06-25 20:50:58

SpaceNut
Administrator
From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
Posts: 29,433

Re: Politics

The buck stops when tariffs on materials become to great for the company to remain doing business when profits mean a greater increase to be able to make the American product. So what happens is Harley-Davidson, Blaming E.U. Tariffs, Will Move Some Production Out of U.S.

AAz8fsm.img?h=533&w=799&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f&x=876&y=176


The Wisconsin company said on Monday it would shift some production of its bikes overseas to avoid stiff retaliatory tariffs imposed by the European Union in response to Mr. Trump’s trade measures. The company said the move “is not the company’s preference, but represents the only sustainable option to make its motorcycles accessible to customers in the E.U. and maintain a viable business in Europe.”

Mr. Trump’s trade war is beginning to ripple through the United States economy as companies struggle with a cascade of tariffs here and abroad. While Mr. Trump says his trade policy is aimed at reviving domestic manufacturing, Harley-Davidson’s move shows how the White House approach could backfire as American companies increasingly rely on overseas markets for materials, production and sales.

Could say I told you so....Earlier this year the company said it would close a factory in Kansas City and consolidate production at plants in Milwaukee and York, Pa. The first layoffs at the Kansas City plant are scheduled for August.

Mid Continent Nail Corporation, a Missouri-based manufacturer of nails, said last week that it had laid off 60 of its 500 employees and might be forced to close as it struggles to absorb the higher cost of the steel it imports from Mexico to produce its nails.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trump_tariffs

Of course there are some that understand that Americans are not creating the tariffs so there is possibly trouble underfoot from America's closest allies are furious about Trump's tariffs, and now an unorthodox idea to go after him is gaining steam

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emoluments_Clause

Offline

#1262 2018-06-26 06:14:43

Terraformer
Member
From: The Fortunate Isles
Registered: 2007-08-27
Posts: 3,907
Website

Re: Politics

What's that? Tariffs actually do work to discourage overseas production? Am I hearing that Harley-Davidson is moving production to the EU in order to avoid EU tariffs?

Does that mean that other companies could move to the US in order to avoid US tariffs? tongue


Use what is abundant and build to last

Offline

#1263 2018-06-26 13:15:30

Void
Member
Registered: 2011-12-29
Posts: 7,834

Re: Politics

You may consider this article, and to study the map in it.

http://zeihan.com/here-we-go/

First of all I will start with the statement that from what I have read, the USA attained economic power by Mercantilism initially.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercantilism

Putting that aside (If you wish, I am not an expert), there is the questions raised by the map in the zeihan article.  It appears the Mexico has the largest young labor pool it will have for some time now.  So, there is some cold economic reasons to hope to benefit from that if you are not Mexican (In Mexico).

The USA apparently has it's Millennial labor pool now which will mature by 2030?  I think.

So the logic of Bretton Woods was to counter the Soviet Union, and later on to provide low cost goods from places like China.

If we were vulnerable to colonial empires, very likely one would have taken us as a colony, if one strong enough to do so existed at the present, but that is not the situation.

So the Millennials are ours if we choose it, and apparently we do.  So at this time they have "Service/Servant" jobs.  Rather low paying.
The Mexicans will want to do business with us in free trade or without free trade.  So, with cold blooded thinking we have that figured out either way.

It is not impossible that the USA will actually pick and choose who it will trade with and under what terms, for what benefit.

I suppose it is possible to argue that it was worth a try to keep Breton woods going after the Soviet Union fell, as it appeared that some localities would adopt "Representative Government" (Democracy is a B.S. word).

But what that appears to have gotten us instead is some sort of ganging up against us, where these various globalized entities are spending quite a lot of time wishing to pull us down.  Why should we favor that if we don't have to?


There is been quite a lot of prancing about with the notion that China would overtake us.  And we need to ask, "For what purpose"?  "And then what"?

As it happens it appears that they are returning to a Mao type governance because as I expected they would they took the "Capitalist" route (In captivity of the communist party) on a big "Ponzi" run, and next they will crash the deal, and then say to their people "Look what that got you"!

It will work just fine for their purposes.  We will not have all that much need for their games though.  We can move on and do just fine I think.

They really could have entered our world as partners, but they never really looked at it as anything other then a clever deception.  Problem is that they deceived themselves the most.

Done.

Last edited by Void (2018-06-26 13:41:04)


End smile

Offline

#1264 2018-06-26 17:14:33

SpaceNut
Administrator
From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
Posts: 29,433

Re: Politics

Terraformer is as deifned by Trump a tariff war going on that he say he will win; But as you can see he is not and this will not help American jobs by creating even higher or greater quantities of Tariffs. The World does not work as I said before as the books say that it should anymore.

Any business can go over seas for any number of reasons and a Tariff is only one of them.

Offline

#1265 2018-06-26 20:05:25

Void
Member
Registered: 2011-12-29
Posts: 7,834

Re: Politics

According to what I have seen for materials, (I will admit Peter Zeihan), the USA has vast powers in the situation.  However, it may be that we don't have a good card player in charge.  We will find out.

By the way, I am neutral as for free trade, or Mercantilism.

It does seem that we should expect some things from our trade partners, such as not being a threat.

Mutual benefit would be nice as well.

Last edited by Void (2018-06-26 20:05:59)


End smile

Offline

#1266 2018-06-28 19:23:32

SpaceNut
Administrator
From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
Posts: 29,433

Re: Politics

US judge orders immediate release of detained 9-year-old Brazilian boy who was separated from his mother at the U.S.-Mexico border, saying their continued separation "irreparably harms them both."

The decision came two days after a different judge ordered the government to reunite more than 2,000 immigrant children with their families within 30 days, or 14 days for those younger than 5.

Souza's son has spent four weeks at a government-contracted shelter in Chicago, much of it alone in a room, quarantined with chickenpox. He spent his ninth birthday on Monday without his mom.

volume of paperwork, filings and forms normally required before the government can release a child in its custody are intended to ensure the child's well-being.

At least 19 Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigators as the Agents Seek to Dissolve I.C.E. in Immigration Policy Backlash

The investigators said local law enforcement officials have questioned the independence of their agency, given the Trump administration’s aggressive policies against illegal immigration — including arresting undocumented workers for minor offenses, such as driving without a license. Instead of the transnational criminal organizations that facilitate cross border crimes impacting our communities and national security.

Offline

#1267 2018-06-28 20:07:56

SpaceNut
Administrator
From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
Posts: 29,433

Re: Politics

CBS News interview with ICE whistleblower interrupted by surprise visit from government agents

In his first television interview, former Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) spokesperson James Schwab has opened up about why he abruptly resigned in March. He felt compelled to resign after the current administration told him to lie about an incident that pitted the government against Oakland's mayor.  "I could not fathom staying at an organization that was OK with lying to the American public. I hate that. In 17 years in the military, at the Department of Defense as a civilian, at NASA, and now at Homeland Security, I have never been asked to lie. I have never been asked to perpetuate a lie, which is the same as lying,"

Finally a bit of news on this item as ICE investigating after attorney says her foot was broken when agent pushed her and suffered a broken foot while attempting to reunite a Honduran woman with her three-year-old son Tuesday.

"Shocked that I would get hit in the face and my colleague would be pushed down," said attorney Megan Galicia. "I mean these are people that we have a relationship with and work with every day representing all kinds of clients. I think they're just mad."

Wow....

Remember jobs, jobs well the tariffs are not creating them but rather its doing the opposite. U.S. Steel expansions touted by President Trump not happening

I am not surprised....

All that has occurred is a plant closed temporarily by U.S. Steel a few years ago has been gradually reopening over the last several months, said Bradford, who offered the view that U.S. Steel has not kept pace with technology that allows mini mills equipped with electric furnaces to operate more efficiently.

Given steel workers account for a minuscule portion of the American workforce, Bradford questions why the industry is being given so much attention. Of a workforce of 150 million people, there are about 86,000 steel workers, he estimated.

Tariffs and the rise in steel prices are hurting business for American manufacturers who take the raw material and turn it into products such as pipes or nails-- some are pausing expansion plans, while others have been forced to lay off workers.

Manufacturers and end users make up a much larger portion of the economy. That means tariffs on raw materials, combined with retaliation from angry trading partners, may end up causing more harm than good.

Offline

#1268 2018-06-29 17:40:20

SpaceNut
Administrator
From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
Posts: 29,433

Re: Politics

Recession fears are flaring as Trump's trade war has markets behaving in a way not seen since the financial crisis

GM warns import tariffs could lead to a smaller company a reduced presence at home and abroad for this iconic American company, and risk less — not more — U.S. jobs."

Treasury chief Mnuchin slams report that Trump wants to exit WTO a move with potentially disastrous implications for global commerce.

Offline

#1269 2018-06-30 21:17:23

SpaceNut
Administrator
From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
Posts: 29,433

Re: Politics

Just more of the same in that the tariffs are heading in the wrong direction with job lose.

Another motorcycle maker, Polaris, considers moving some production overseas

Not a done yet but will most likely be the only choice to keep the company afloat...

Offline

#1270 2018-07-01 09:43:30

SpaceNut
Administrator
From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
Posts: 29,433

Re: Politics

The Kmart store chain had gone through its closings last year and with that the merged agreement with sears it is now Sears turn to do the same as it announced back in january that 100 would be closing.

It appears that some stores have been saved but for how long as Sears is closing 78 more stores. Here are all of the locations shutting down where you live.

The department store chain was once the largest retailer in the United States, but has cut its store count in half in the last five years which is another indicator of the dollars that consumers have to spend and how we are trying to stretch that dollar by what ever means possible. To which we would use online activity if it was cheaper but with net nutrality now gone that may start to go back the other way as now the state taxation will now be charged for that online purchase which now puts it back inline with the brick and mortar
stores.

Offline

#1271 2018-07-01 17:01:52

SpaceNut
Administrator
From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
Posts: 29,433

Re: Politics

Striking out seems to be becoming the normal of those that have severe bias to all not like themselves.

Dunkin’ Donuts employee fired for shaming homeless woman who wrote a disparaging message on a homeless woman’s cup “Stop ‘Hangin out in-front of the store. If you have a Full Time job! — management.”

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2 … 746731002/

"It goes against everything we stand for," Benhase told The Enquirer.  "We're just a small family business and we preach to our employees long and hard about the values of respect and dignity."

I guess there was something wrong with the money.....It just goes to show that color, imigration are not always the problem...

Everybody has a color and saying that yours is not right is old news and is not where we are as a world or society just the same as being rich or poor. Walk in there shoes and learn about the real value of your money....

Offline

#1272 2018-07-01 20:18:22

SpaceNut
Administrator
From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
Posts: 29,433

Re: Politics

Continuing on hate crime 6 children among 9 stabbed in apartment complex attack by resident who was asked to leave

It was not M-13 imagrants but a stupid american act of "pure evil," a knife-wielding man stormed a 3-year-old girl's birthday party.

Offline

#1273 2018-07-01 21:25:01

SpaceNut
Administrator
From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
Posts: 29,433

Re: Politics

Remember that tax cut for you and I well it was for corporate america and this is what they did rather than investing in there business or its people to stay prosperous.
What did corporate America do with that tax break? Buy record amounts of its own stock. The White House promised '70 percent' of the tax cut would go to workers. It didn't.

More lies from the top....

The Republican tax reform package that was supposed to raise wages and spur hiring has instead funded a record stock buyback and dividend spree, benefiting investors and company executives over workers.

"Productivity has been lousy in the U.S. since the dotcom boom ended, but companies have seemed to not need high productivity to have high profits, so they don't have incentive to invest in their workers or in capital,"

Some companies did use part of the tax cut to give their employees a one-time cash bonus, allowing them to benefit workers without raising the company's fixed costs. However, employees pay a higher tax on bonuses as supplemental income.

"Instead of focusing on tax cuts, we should be focused on ways to get that capital invested in growth industries that employ ordinary Americans,"

Sort of hard to grow when the tariffs are causing the economy to go the other way as well..

Offline

#1274 2018-07-04 19:20:04

SpaceNut
Administrator
From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
Posts: 29,433

Re: Politics

Why? After Promises Of 'Transparency,' Pentagon Under Scrutiny For Troop Number Blackout quietly scrubbing troop numbers for Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria.

To protect our forces?

Offline

#1275 2018-07-09 20:21:18

SpaceNut
Administrator
From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
Posts: 29,433

Re: Politics

New supreme court pick is in Brett Kavanaugh sort of the same as the other under study that was put in after quite a fight to confirm so would not expect it to be much different for getting this one approved. Trumps pick he is hoping to be a quick confirmation and rushed right in.

Trump’s former personal driver of 25 years is suing Trump for 3,300 hours of unpaid overtime. Donald Trump’s former personal driver, Noel Cintron, is suing the president for unpaid or owed 3,300 hours of uncompensated overtime.. I would say true to form will try and buy his way out with a settlement....stick it to him.....as if you do its another crime not on the books....to go with the nearly 4000 others....

Offline

Board footer

Powered by FluxBB