Speak Out: Tariffs

Posted by Rick Scaggs on Thu, Mar 1, 2018, at 1:45 PM:

Trump says he will impose tariffs on steel and aluminum imports 'next week'

WASHINGTON — President Trump said Thursday he will soon place tariffs on steel and aluminum imports — a move that could trigger retaliation from trade partners who may target American products.

"We'll be signing it next week," Trump said after discussing tariffs with a group of steel and aluminum executives, calling it the first "protection" they have had "in a while."

While arguing that the United States has been treated "horribly treated by other countries," Trump also told the executives that "you'll have to regrow your industries, that's all I'm asking."

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/03/01/trump-prepares-tariffs-s...

Replies (266)

  • The Federal Reserve controls the Economy , not a President

    .............................

    Fed's Powell says no evidence U.S. economy overheating

    WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said on Thursday the U.S. economy does not appear to be running hot, even as the influential head of the New York Fed suggested a faster pace of interest rate increases may still be in the offing for 2018.

    Yet the Fed officials’ comments were overshadowed by President Donald Trump’s announcement of a plan to raise tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, the sort of move Fed policymakers have warned about since the Republican took office last year.

    Such action, and the risk of retaliation by trading partners, could cloud the U.S. economic outlook and derail the global recovery currently benefiting the United States.

    Traders of federal funds futures trimmed bets on a fourth rate increase this year after Trump's announcement. U.S. stock indexes fell sharply, with the S&P 500 .SPX index down more than 1.5 percent in what would be a third consecutive day of losses.

    https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-fed-powell/feds-powell-says-no-evidence-u...

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Thu, Mar 1, 2018, at 2:33 PM
  • *

    The Federal Reserve controls the Economy , not a President--Posted by Rick Scaggs on Thu, Mar 1, 2018, at 2:33 PM

    Rick: During the Obama terms the Fed kept interest rates to historic lows and since Trump took over the Feds have increased the interest rates 3 times - IMO, they tried to help Obama to improve the economy and hurt Trump by slowing down the economy....just saying - no one knows for sure only the dictatorship of the Fed does.

    *******

    As a former Noranda Aluminum employee, it is true that the Russians and Chinese along with some third world countries with aluminum smelters dumped their products on the London Metal Exchange resulting in the lowering of prices of aluminum which is sold as a commodity worldwide. With increased electrical charges (which is a smelter's largest cost) and the dumping of aluminum on the commodities market the result was the closure of at least 6 aluminum smelters that I know of in the last 5 years. President Trump is right to try to protect what's left of the USA steel and aluminum plants for national security - if there is another major war where will the USA get the steel and aluminum in order to produce the items needed for defense. BTW, Noranda at New Madrid and the Hawesville, Ky. plant were/is the only smelter(s) that produced what is known as high purity aluminum that is needed in the production of certain items and now it's down to only one.

    http://foreignpolicy.com/2017/05/08/cheap-chinese-aluminum-is-a-national-securit...

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Thu, Mar 1, 2018, at 4:13 PM
  • semo

    The Fed did in fact manipulate Interest Rates at record lows during Obama's terms in Office to help get out of the "Great Recession" , or so the story goes .

    I find it hilarious when the Obamberals brag about how good Obama did with the economy when the boy didn't do squat . The big economic boom now isn't anything heroic from Trump other then removing regulations , the Market Investors got excited too but that fell back . The Feds have only manipulated Interest Rates once and decided not to at the end of January due to higher inflation then expected . semo

    The Fed did in fact manipulate Interest Rates at record lows during Obama's terms in Office to help get out of the "Great Recession" , or so the story goes .

    I find it hilarious when the Obamberals brag about how good Obama did with the economy when the boy didn't do squat . The big economic boom now isn't anything heroic from Trump other then removing regulations . The Feds have only manipulated Interest Rates once and decided not to at the end of January due to higher inflation then expected . The Market Investors got excited too but that fell back . If the Tariffs happen I believe the Stock Market will fall back even more...

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Thu, Mar 1, 2018, at 4:44 PM
  • *

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Thu, Mar 1, 2018, at 4:44 PM

    Rick: You're right there has been only 2 interest rates increases since Trump's election....however the Fed has a meeting scheduled for late March - will it be 3 or just 2 then.

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Thu, Mar 1, 2018, at 5:10 PM
  • I don't think Tariffs are a good idea but it hasn't happened yet. Quotas could be a better way but in the long run the workers and energy providers will keep the prices up.

    You may recall not that long ago it was cheaper to build a massive bridge in China with Chinese steel and ship it to the West coast. Something wrong with that picture. Maybe some innovation on lower production costs are in order, but that could be temporary if the results went the way of Galvalum and the any new developments were sold to the Chinese.

    -- Posted by R. W. Bess on Thu, Mar 1, 2018, at 5:29 PM
  • *

    Trump has said it will be 25% instead of the 24% that was originally in that. He said he preferred a nice round number.

    Now with Russia putting their new nukes in our face and Trump peeing off the other Countries we are becoming our own worst enemy.

    When Trump issued the most recent sanctions on North Korea it was said that Russia was one of the Countries that had ignored the last ones and still was buying coal and such from them and also selling unknown products to them which the UN figures was supplies to help them build their nukes.

    As they just keep focused on fighting each other here in the US, Russia has been extending it's reach in the Middle East and elsewhere. I have been saying that no one is paying attention but I bet Putin got their attention today!

    I hope they are all proud on Capital Hill tonight. Everyone of them needs to go!

    -- Posted by Karen Jones on Thu, Mar 1, 2018, at 6:16 PM
  • Given that China's top senior economic advisor to President Xi Jinping, Liu He , has been in Washington DC all week makes some things up in the air . Did this dude meet with Trump and the Steel/Aluminum CEO's too or was this Tariff deal a surprise to China ?

    This could turn out to be like China leaving Obama to sit on Air Force One except the other way around . Or , it could be a pre-arranged deal with China . That boy Kushner has been talking trade deals with China for a while now too . I guess time will tell ...

    ................

    China Sends Top-Level Officials to Washington To ‘Correct and Stabilize’ Relations

    Feb. 28, 2018 (EIRNS)—An editorial comment Feb. 27 in China’s Global Times (“Senior Officials’ U.S. Visit Aims To Avoid Further Trade Conflicts”), points out that the recent visits to Washington of two of China’s most senior-level and trusted officials—State Councillor Yang Jiechi (China’s highest foreign policy official) two weeks ago, and this week senior economic advisor to President Xi Jinping, Liu He—is very unusual.

    They reflect, however, the fact that bilateral relations with the U.S. are at a crucial point, and that China “hopes to correct and stabilize the direction of Sino-U.S. relations as soon as possible,” according to Diao Daming, an associate professor at Renmin University of China. Yang Jiechi dealt with key international and regional issues, such as Korea, while, according to the Foreign Ministry, Liu will deal more with bilateral relations, particularly trade and economy.

    https://larouchepub.com/pr/2018/180228_china_officials.html

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Thu, Mar 1, 2018, at 6:55 PM
  • ..and it could just be dumb *** Trump running his dumb *** mouth too .

    "When all is said and done , nothing is done and said."

    ~~ Oscho

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Thu, Mar 1, 2018, at 7:09 PM
  • I've heard we have around 7,000 tariffs in effect already. Some over 100 years old. So far the only benefit is price support.

    Theoretically the corporate tax cut will bring more companies back and willing to pay higher wages for the privilege of established freedom and liberty that protects against the threat of government take over. As far as national security, the government maintains a stockpile of crude oil, why not maintain a stockpile of steel and aluminum stock from friendly trading partners? Tariffs can only raise US consumer prices. IMO

    -- Posted by R. W. Bess on Thu, Mar 1, 2018, at 9:09 PM
  • One thing that caught my attention was Trump saying "you'll have to regrow your industries, that's all I'm asking."

    Wasn't this what the new Tax Law was all about ?

    Now he has to go to tariffs and ask for pay backs ?

    ..and if it don't happen....

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Thu, Mar 1, 2018, at 9:43 PM
  • Trump, I think will wake to the fact that he could easily give the No Trump people more reason to declare the middle class will pay for the tax cuts for business even though though what we call middle class don't pay taxes but will pay in higher prices when they buy stuff. If that makes any sense.

    -- Posted by R. W. Bess on Thu, Mar 1, 2018, at 10:22 PM
  • Corporation and/or business have the option of raising the prices of their goods without expanding or investing in their Corporation and/or business . A person would think they would but there is no guarantee , it's an assumption . If the Corporation and/or business choose not to , the "middle" will lose any tax savings to pay for the higher prices of Corporation and/or business goods . The Corporation and/or business windfall would be enormous , or , close to $1 trillion dollars the Government just spent ...

    And , there really is no tax break to the "middle" , it has to pay the tab . Somebody would be getting by like a fat rat ....

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Fri, Mar 2, 2018, at 7:28 AM
  • Should tariffs kick in and products are started to be made in the USA again their shipping costs will go down , they won't have to pay the fuel for the boats to get the products to the USA plus dock workers will take a big hit too , there won't be as many boats to unload -- unemployment . Railroads and truckers might be affected in the long run too .

    The cost of goods really shouldn't go up all that much due to cost savings to the mfg . but unemployment could go up too .

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Fri, Mar 2, 2018, at 5:20 PM
  • *

    But with Steel Mills and the Aluminum smelters and production increase shouldn't that create more jobs?

    -- Posted by Karen Jones on Fri, Mar 2, 2018, at 6:03 PM
  • *

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Fri, Mar 2, 2018, at 5:20 PM

    Rick: The railroads and truckers will have increased business from increased production here in the USA. Also, more income tax money sent to Washington. Will help a small amount in the trade deficit. America First....MAGA!

    *******

    But with Steel Mills and the Aluminum smelters and production increase shouldn't that create more jobs?

    -- Posted by Karen Jones on Fri, Mar 2, 2018, at 6:03 PM

    Iamhere: True

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Fri, Mar 2, 2018, at 8:05 PM
  • Stepping back for a minute and looking at the overall idea, I can't think of a tariff that did anything other than raise prices. A tariff on steel and aluminum most likely in the long run will create jobs in alternative materials like composite plastics.

    We have about 7,000 tariffs now on everything from fruits,nuts and sugar.

    -- Posted by R. W. Bess on Fri, Mar 2, 2018, at 9:01 PM
  • *

    -- Posted by R. W. Bess on Fri, Mar 2, 2018, at 9:01 PM

    OJ: What about putting a tariff on Mexico for Illegals sneaking over the border.

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Fri, Mar 2, 2018, at 9:05 PM
  • semo, We got one already Just need to collect it from the country that sent them.

    -- Posted by R. W. Bess on Fri, Mar 2, 2018, at 9:25 PM
  • Rick: The railroads and truckers will have increased business from increased production here in the USA. Also, more income tax money sent to Washington. Will help a small amount in the trade deficit. America First....MAGA!

    ......................

    How ? The new Tax Law cut taxes from 37% to 20% plus losing tax revenue from Dock workers .

    Pipelines and loss of coal jobs put the hurt on railroads , take away finished products shipped from the coasts and it's going to hurt . On-line orders are starting to hurt truckers now , take away the coasts shipping and it's going to hurt too .

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Fri, Mar 2, 2018, at 9:40 PM
  • Amazon is working on drone delivery now .

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Fri, Mar 2, 2018, at 9:44 PM
  • Online orders still have to be delivered and drones won't deliver steel and aluminum to factories.

    -- Posted by R. W. Bess on Fri, Mar 2, 2018, at 9:50 PM
  • It wouldn't surprise me a bit if they did or found a way . Stuff happens now I never dreamed would happen before . Hell , they just shot a convertible to Mars .

    They told the Wright Brothers they were crazy too , where there's a will , there's a way .

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Fri, Mar 2, 2018, at 9:55 PM
  • On-line orders are factory direct , a person don't have to leave their home or go to Wal-Mart . Product doesn't have to be shipped and inventoried at Wal-Mart , Target , Ace Hardware , etc...

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Fri, Mar 2, 2018, at 9:58 PM
  • The day will soon come where People can make whatever they want at home .

    https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=3d+printers+in+action

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Fri, Mar 2, 2018, at 10:19 PM
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    How ? The new Tax Law cut taxes from 37% to 20% plus losing tax revenue from Dock workers.-- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Fri, Mar 2, 2018, at 9:40 PM

    Rick: Being to a few docks and the ones I've seen have a backload of containers either being offloaded or loaded onto ships. IMO, if you saved $50 from a tax cut and you spend that extra money at a store, then that store owner has an extra $50 to spend and he then goes and buys a new fixture with some of the that extra money he has now....and it goes on and on - the multiplier effect which in the long run will be more than the 17% loss in revenue by increasing the flow of new money into the economy - just my simple outline.

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Sat, Mar 3, 2018, at 7:45 AM
  • It would appear that during President Trump's spotty career at the Wharton School, he missed the chapter on comparative advantage in trade, which shows how both sides gain in trading.

    A "trade war" is neither good nor easy. It's even worse when it's being waged against our allies. Of steel importers to the US, China ranks 11th.

    -- Posted by Rick Lettau on Sun, Mar 4, 2018, at 11:22 AM
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    A "trade war" is neither good nor easy. It's even worse when it's being waged against our allies. Of steel importers to the US, China ranks 11th.

    -- Posted by Rick Lettau on Sun, Mar 4, 2018, at 11:22 AM

    Common: Where is your link to back up your comment.

    Common: BTW, who was President in May 2016? You might want to read the following link to enlarge your world wide view on things....as always glad to help you.

    https://www.cnbc.com/2016/05/26/us-hits-china-and-others-with-more-steep-steel-d...

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Sun, Mar 4, 2018, at 1:17 PM
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    "Because dumping can result in the erosion or destruction of national industries for reasons unrelated to normal market competition, simply permitting dumping to occur without any regulation could endanger the political consensus which supports the current liberal multilateral trading system. Friction arising out of dumping can become particularly acute when dumping injures or destroys industries regarded as vital to national economic well-being and national security, a phenomenon which has been observable at a number of points in this century."

    https://www.nap.edu/read/5902/chapter/28#326

    This is what President Trump is trying to do for America - save the Steel and Aluminum manufacturing. One only has to look at all the empty steel and aluminum plants that had high paying jobs but lost them to countries dumping their products into the USA. GATT is a toothless tool of the WTO by which a true Leader would recognize such as what Trump did and not his predecessor Crawdad Obama.

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Sun, Mar 4, 2018, at 1:39 PM
  • *

    It appears when you caught Ulrich's main boy hitting steel with Tarrifs that he is condemning Trump for he has run out of "explanations".

    -- Posted by Ralph VanGennip on Sun, Mar 4, 2018, at 6:30 PM
  • *

    -- Posted by Ralph VanGennip on Sun, Mar 4, 2018, at 6:30 PM

    Wheels: Don't think Mr. Common will be against Steel and Aluminum tariffs now.😆😆

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Sun, Mar 4, 2018, at 6:38 PM
  • semo471, After reading those links I think Trump may be of the same notion as I espoused earlier and may be using the proposal of tariffs to see what shakes out. If our cost of production is too high to compete we need to invest in innovation to bring cost down, not prop up artificial prices. Tariffs IMO prop up inflated costs of everything involved from raw materiel to finished product.

    -- Posted by R. W. Bess on Sun, Mar 4, 2018, at 9:00 PM
  • There go the "middle tax cuts" and the stock market gains...

    “Markets plunge after Trump announces tariffs on steel, aluminum imports”

    “President Donald Trump announced Thursday that the U.S. will impose tariffs on steel and aluminum imports starting next week, imposing a 10 percent tariff for aluminum and a 25 percent tariff for steel. The stock market nosedived and one GOP senator called the move "a big mistake."

    “Utah Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch, a long-time Trump ally and supporter, said the president should "carefully consider all of the implications."

    “Tariffs on steel and aluminum are a tax hike the American people don’t need and can’t afford. I encourage the president to carefully consider all of the implications of raising the cost of steel and aluminum on American manufacturers and consumers," Hatch said in a statement.”

    http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-imposing-tariffs-steel-aluminum-imports/sto...

    -- Posted by Rick Lettau on Mon, Mar 5, 2018, at 7:21 AM
  • A "trade war" is neither good nor easy. It's even worse when it's being waged against our allies. -- Posted by Rick Lettau on Sun, Mar 4, 2018, at 11:22 AM

    Obama waged a trade surrender and you loved him to death.

    ===

    Barack Hussein Obama: "those jobs of the past are just not going to come back".

    Barack Hussein Obama: "The days when you were just being willing to work hard and you can now walk into a plant and suddenly there’s going to be a job for you for 30 years or 40 years, that’s just not going to be there for our kids."

    Barack Hussein Obama: "The hard truth is that some of the jobs that have been lost in the auto industry and elsewhere won’t be coming back."

    ===

    Again - a real inspiration isn't he? A really good leader? MAWA - Make America Weak Again

    Why should our so-called "allies" benefit for their subsidies and tariffs at the expense of our workers? Clearly you think that's OK.

    Not for workers of America - MAGA you little socialist troll.

    -- Posted by Doug Williams 4/24 on Mon, Mar 5, 2018, at 7:33 AM
  • Trade and Tariffs:

    From Politico 5/26/2017. Trump threatens Germany over trade unfairness: "The criticism (by Trump) of a close U.S. ally (Germany) at a typically pre-programmed diplomatic conference raised eyebrows across Europe... such criticism was long overdue. "They are valid criticisms, certainly of the German macroeconomic policies"

    Look what Obama allowed: "A correspondent with the Wall Street Journal, said the U.S. is also looking at China’s moves on steel and aluminum, and the fact that it forces American companies to turn over INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY to work in the country." - China demanding our trade and manufacturing secrets to export to them?

    A democrat supporting Trump's tariffs against Korea and China???: "Ohio Democrat Senator Sherrod Brown, whose state’s voters went for Trump last November, celebrated the move: "I applaud the administration for this strong relief."

    1/23/2018: "The US is imposing 30 percent tariffs, or border taxes, on imported solar panels. Since most of the solar panels in the US come from China — the world’s leader in solar power production — the move is a pointed jab at Beijing."

    ===

    Close your eyes Commie Lettau. Here it comes... MAGA

    -- Posted by Doug Williams 4/24 on Mon, Mar 5, 2018, at 7:42 AM
  • *

    -- Posted by Rick Lettau on Mon, Mar 5, 2018, at 7:21 AM

    Common: Did you voice concern when King Obama placed tariffs in May of 2016 (see my Mar 4, 2018, at 1:17 PM post)....no I don't think you did because that would go against your King. BTW, the labor unions support President Trump's tariffs - aren't they mostly Democrats. America First and MAGA.

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Mon, Mar 5, 2018, at 7:58 AM
  • *

    President Trump isn’t starting any trade war… it’s been raging for decades and we keep losing....Trump is trying to do what Presidents before him failed to do - win the trade war.

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Mon, Mar 5, 2018, at 9:25 AM
  • Not sure but I think I understand the supreme court ruled years ago that tariffs have to be unilateral and not targeted to certain countries. If so, Trump will have to call it something else. I suspect some sort of limit on the tonnage allowed.

    -- Posted by R. W. Bess on Mon, Mar 5, 2018, at 10:28 PM
  • Think about how stupid the average person is , and then realize that half of them are stupider than that .

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Tue, Mar 6, 2018, at 7:28 AM
  • Are those tariffs official yet or are they just still threats ?

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Tue, Mar 6, 2018, at 7:41 AM
  • *

    Are those tariffs official yet or are they just still threats ?

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Tue, Mar 6, 2018, at 7:41 AM

    Rick: I think sometime this week by Executive Order.

    *******

    Don't recall an uproar over tariffs issued against Chinese solar panels imports this past January.

    http://thehill.com/regulation/overnights/370176-overnight-regulation-trump-order...

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Tue, Mar 6, 2018, at 7:59 AM
  • *

    Addition to my 7:59AM comment:

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Tue, Mar 6, 2018, at 8:00 AM
  • *

    Posted by Rick Scaggs on Tue, Mar 6, 2018, at 7:28 AM

    😂😂

    -- Posted by Karen Jones on Tue, Mar 6, 2018, at 8:02 AM
  • Don't recall an uproar over tariffs issued against Chinese solar panels imports this past January.

    http://thehill.com/regulation/overnights/370176-overnight-regulation-trump-order...

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Tue, Mar 6, 2018, at 7:59 AM

    From your link , this might be there was no uproar about these tariffs .

    "Trump imposes 30 percent tariff on solar panel imports"

    President Trump on Monday imposed tariffs of 30 percent on imported solar panel technology in a bid to protect domestic manufacturers while signaling a more aggressive approach toward China.

    The move is a major blow for the $28 billion solar industry, which gets about 80 percent of its solar panel products from imports.

    The Solar Energy Industries Association predicted the tariffs would increase prices and kill 23,000 jobs. The group represents manufacturers as well as installers, sellers and others in the field.

    “While tariffs in this case will not create adequate cell or module manufacturing to meet U.S. demand, or keep foreign-owned Suniva and SolarWorld afloat, they will create a crisis in a part of our economy that has been thriving, which will ultimately cost tens of thousands of hard-working, blue-collar Americans their jobs,” Abigail Ross Hopper, the group's president, said in a statement.

    http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/370171-trump-imposes-30-tariffs-on-...

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Tue, Mar 6, 2018, at 9:05 AM
  • *

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Tue, Mar 6, 2018, at 9:05 AM

    Rick: The Solar Energy Industries Association predicted the tariffs would increase prices and kill 23,000 jobs....while solar panels producers (in your link) predicted the tariffs would increase 100,000 jobs which is a net job creation of 77,000 - I'll take the increase of American manufacturing jobs anytime over imported items. BTW, this will help a little with the USA trade deficit as well as the government collecting income taxes from the new jobs. America First, MAGA.

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Tue, Mar 6, 2018, at 9:26 AM
  • I'm not sure about the whole MAGA frenzy but a loss of jobs is a loss of jobs . This steel and aluminum is rumored to be a saving Grace , I ain't buying that one either .

    A loss of jobs and revenue is a loss of jobs and revenue .

    Where are all of the gains , profits , and benefits from the last , uumm "tariffs" ? I ain't seeing , and it was suppose to be all countries in the world if I read it right .

    Trump's a chump right on down to the MAGA ...

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Tue, Mar 6, 2018, at 9:37 AM
  • *

    Where are all of the gains , profits , and benefits from the last , uumm "tariffs" ? I ain't seeing , and it was suppose to be all countries in the world if I read it right .

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Tue, Mar 6, 2018, at 9:37 AM

    Rick: The solar panel tariffs only were issued in Jan. 2018 time will tell same goes for the steel and aluminum tariffs which have not even been acted on yet. America First - MAGA.

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Tue, Mar 6, 2018, at 9:46 AM
  • I have a friend who is a PhD in Economics. He argues all the time that anything that interferes with open and free trade is a negative and in the end it costs consumers dearly.

    However, we don't have "open and free trade" in the world. Other countries in the EU, China, Russia, Brazil, Canada, etc. subsidize their industries and kill free trade.

    Trump, IMO, is fighting back against trade deals and tariffs / subsidies that other countries impose. The world loved our anti-American trade deals (NAFTA - Bill Clinton, CTPPP Pacific - Barack Obama). Just like OBama's "Climate Change" BS that heavily penalized the US and let the largest polluters of China and India completely off the hook for 20 years!

    In the end, an American worker assembling a car at the huge Nissan plant in Mississippi does this:

    -when he gets sick, he visits a doctor in America

    -when she wants a home built, she gets a carpenter in America

    -when he need physical therapy, he visits a therapist in America

    -when she pays income tax, she pays it to America

    ===

    Unfair trade, tarrifs, subsidies, etc. MUST be dealt with. Letting this go as liberal democrat and republicans have done is a crime and damaging to American workers.

    MAGA

    -- Posted by Doug Williams 4/24 on Tue, Mar 6, 2018, at 9:46 AM
  • Instead of putting tariffs on imports , why not just make the goods in the USA and not import goods at all , you know , make America great again , don't rely on other Nations to make goods for America , let Americans do the work , let Americans have jobs first .

    nahh..that MAGA crap makes more sense , right ? What a crock of it...

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Tue, Mar 6, 2018, at 10:06 AM
  • *

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Tue, Mar 6, 2018, at 10:06 AM

    Rick: Most of the goods coming into the USA are ex-American manufacturing jobs that went overseas for cheap labor. Tariffs are a means of letting overseas producers to realize it's best to come on back to the USA and start producing here....just saying.

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Tue, Mar 6, 2018, at 10:42 AM
  • ..another one bites the dust....

    *****************

    Gary Cohn to Resign as Trump’s Top Economic Adviser

    Gary D. Cohn, President Trump’s top economic adviser, plans to resign, becoming the latest in a series of high-profile departures from the Trump administration, White House officials said on Tuesday.

    The officials insisted there was no single factor behind the departure of Mr. Cohn, who heads the National Economic Council. But his decision to leave came after he seemed poised to lose an internal struggle amid a Wild West-style process over Mr. Trump’s plan to impose large tariffs on steel and aluminum imports.

    “Gary has been my chief economic adviser and did a superb job in driving our agenda, helping to deliver historic tax cuts and reforms and unleashing the American economy once again,” Mr. Trump said in a statement to The New York Times. “He is a rare talent, and I thank him for his dedicated service to the American people.”

    https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/gary-cohn-to-resign-as-trump’s-top-econo...

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Tue, Mar 6, 2018, at 5:07 PM
  • EU to act if U.S. introduces steel tariffs, Germany warns

    https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-eu-tariffs/eu-to-act-if-u-s-introduces-st...

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Tue, Mar 6, 2018, at 5:11 PM
  • *

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Tue, Mar 6, 2018, at 5:07 PM

    Rick: I disagreed with my boss but I needed my job and just pulled up my big boy pants. Mr. Cohn apparently didn't need the job and didn't want to pull up his big boy pants.

    *******

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Tue, Mar 6, 2018, at 5:11 PM

    Rick: IMO, Trump is just feeling out those countries that scream the loudest as to who the tariffs will be applied to....he is smart as a fox.

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Tue, Mar 6, 2018, at 5:36 PM
  • I think when other countries see American energy rebound they will realize the US can challenge their cheap labor with lower production costs and ease tariffs on American goods.

    -- Posted by R. W. Bess on Tue, Mar 6, 2018, at 6:33 PM
  • Rick: I disagreed with my boss but I needed my job and just pulled up my big boy pants. Mr. Cohn apparently didn't need the job and didn't want to pull up his big boy pants.

    .............

    With-in a month Trump lost Porter , Hicks , and now Cohn . Last night some pill popping drunk ex-aide was on the TV for an hour talking incoherently about Trump and the White House .

    Methinks it's more then People just wanting their jobs , methinks it's People wanting to get the hell away from their jobs and Trump . These were all Trump appointees , I'm starting wonder when Trump said drain the swamp , he meant his own . There is no continuity or coherence to the Administration , it's a revolving door , how or what kind of policy can be made or set .Methinks he's cornered himself with the tariff threat , if he does it , shat going to get ugly for the American who is working and buying . The price of any product that comes in a can is going up , way up . If he doesn't do it , his credibility , and the USA's , are going to take a hit .

    Why have Administrative advisors if they aren't going to be heard or used ? What's the point ?

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Tue, Mar 6, 2018, at 7:33 PM
  • R. W. Bess

    I could be wrong but I believe the EU uses quota instead of tariffs..

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Tue, Mar 6, 2018, at 7:34 PM
  • I'm thinking take Foreign Aide away would be a better bargaining chip then tariffs...

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Tue, Mar 6, 2018, at 7:35 PM
  • Rick, Don't think we give much foreign aid to China. Besides, considering the way the US spends money we don't have, foreign aid is a drop in the bucket.

    -- Posted by R. W. Bess on Tue, Mar 6, 2018, at 8:21 PM
  • Just noticed this: http://www.semissourian.com/story/2490442.html

    Former Noranda to open.

    -- Posted by R. W. Bess on Tue, Mar 6, 2018, at 8:39 PM
  • Former Noranda to open.

    -- Posted by R. W. Bess on Tue, Mar 6, 2018, at 8:39 PM

    That's good news !

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Tue, Mar 6, 2018, at 9:04 PM
  • *

    Something to think about folks:

    If the USA had the same manufacturing base in 1941 as we do today, we would be speaking German or Japanese now.

    A country's greatness is based on it's ability to manufacture products for internal usage as well as exported usage.

    Trade deficits that the USA have with most countries is killing us by piling up our national debt which is now almost $21 trillion and counting. The USA is a service and consuming nation and not a manufacturing country that promotes high paying jobs.

    The freeloaders and the illegals are taking more and more of our precious treasury that adds to our national debt of which we can not sustain much longer.

    So my point on all of this is that we are in one hell of a mess and hopefully Congress and President Trump can bring us back from the brink of destruction - only if they work together to promote America First which will MAGA.

    http://www.usdebtclock.org/

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Tue, Mar 6, 2018, at 9:20 PM
  • *

    Stopped in at the former Noranda plant (worked there for 22 years) a couple of months ago while on the way back from Memphis and talked to Steve (?) the on site manager of the new company Magnitude 7 Metals who happen to be at the security gate. He had informed me then that they were waiting on an agreeable power contract and would then open up 2 of the 3 pot lines. However; the plant will only make the ingots for resell and not the other products - billets and coiled rod that has a greater amount of employees needed for production....but every job is a blessing. Hopefully a tariff on the countries that dump aluminum ingot on the USA market will help to make the new company profitable and secure hundreds of good paying jobs there.

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Tue, Mar 6, 2018, at 10:05 PM
  • Amazon opening first Missouri fulfillment center in St. Peters, creating 1,500 jobs

    The more than 800,000 square foot facility with robotics to assist employees in fulfilling orders will create more than 1,500 jobs.

    http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/amazon-opening-first-missouri-fulfillment...

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Wed, Mar 7, 2018, at 7:58 AM
  • Would Foreign Aide be more then $3.5 billion ..

    ........................

    E.U. Pledges to Fight Back on Trump Tariffs as Trade War Looms

    "Internationally, the plan for the new American tariffs — blanket penalties of 25 percent on imported steel and of 10 percent on aluminum — have drawn concern from allies including Britain and Canada, as well as from rivals like China. The European Union had warned of retaliatory charges last week, and outlined those plans on Wednesday.

    A provisional list of items being targeted ranges from steel to T-shirts, also including bed linen, chewing tobacco, cranberries, and orange juice, among other products. The overall size of the business affected is relatively small, worth about 2.8 billion euros, or $3.5 billion, in imports, paling in comparison with the nearly €250 billion of goods the 28-nation bloc bought from the United States in 2016."

    https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/eu-pledges-to-fight-back-on-trump-tariffs-a...

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Wed, Mar 7, 2018, at 5:21 PM
  • *

    Let's see if I have this straight, if we place tariffs on steel and aluminum imports that will protect our domestic producers who will add employees for increase production demands plus more income tax collections and the tariffs will add monies to the USA treasury....then the EU will add some tariffs on American made products such as T-shirts, bed linens, chewing tobacco, cranberries, and orange juice, among other products....this will increase EU citizens higher prices of those items which may cause less demand of these products made in the USA to be of a lesser amount of exports to the EU which will cause a surplus in the USA which will lower the prices of these same items in the USA - a bonanza for the USA consumers. The American producers that suffer a lost in dollars from less exports will have monies coming to them from the Tax Cut Bill recently passed....not sure if I'm seeing this right but it looks like a win for the USA....just saying.

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Wed, Mar 7, 2018, at 6:24 PM
  • And the USA just spent $1 trillion dollars . Looks like a loser to the USA citizens to me , imports , tariffs or not . Add all the jobs you want , it's a loser .

    The EU loses money from exports but still gets paid Foreign Aide , I'm sure they aren't worried . China has nothing to lose . Nothing . Russia isn't even a player , neither is North Korea or the Middle East .

    Trump ain't doing anything to be a hero but pisting off the USA Allies and making China laugh , if even that .

    No , wait , he added $1 trillion onto the $20 trillion that was already in the hole .."Jobs , jobs , jobs" -- funny as hell -- ain't going to pay off $21 trillion ...

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Wed, Mar 7, 2018, at 6:34 PM
  • Why and how does Trump have so many hypnotized ?

    It's exactly like Obama did to People .

    Is it only about the (R) and the (D) ?

    Trump ain't all that and a free bag of chips too..

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Wed, Mar 7, 2018, at 6:36 PM
  • Draining the swamp

    ......................

    35 and counting: The list of senior officials who have left the Trump administration (so far)

    "Many, many people want every single job. You know, I read where, 'Oh, gee, maybe people don't want to work for Trump.' And believe me, everybody wants to work in the White House. They all want a piece of that Oval Office; they want a piece of the West Wing. And not only in terms of it looks great on their résumé; it's just a great place to work."

    Trump's insistence that the White House is "a great place to work" seems to be belied by the fact that so many senior aides have either resigned or been fired over just the first year of this presidency.

    https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/msn/35-and-counting-the-list-of-senior-officials-...

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Wed, Mar 7, 2018, at 6:41 PM
  • *

    No , wait , he added $1 trillion onto the $20 trillion that was already in the hole .."Jobs , jobs , jobs" -- funny as hell -- ain't going to pay off $21 trillion ...

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Wed, Mar 7, 2018, at 6:34 PM

    Rick: Don't you think that maybe that $1 trillion might be less if the economy continues to grow, remember Obama did $10 Trillion of that and the Snowflakes and the news media just loved him.

    *******

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Wed, Mar 7, 2018, at 6:41 PM

    Rick: Most have left for better paying jobs in the private sector using their WH experience on their resumes or was fired for being ineffective employees....whatever the case of the turnovers IMO it's not that great of a concern. The biggest concern that Americans should look into is the FISA abuses, Hillary's email mishandling, Clinton Foundation pay for play scheme, Uranium One scandal, and the fake Democratic Trump Dossier which was the Hillary/Russian collusion.

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Wed, Mar 7, 2018, at 7:13 PM
  • *

    "The overall size of the business affected is relatively small, worth about 2.8 billion euros, or $3.5 billion, in imports, paling in comparison with the nearly €250 billion of goods the 28-nation bloc bought from the United States in 2016."

    Rick, those numbers don't seem correct to me when you look at the overall trade imbalance we reportedly suffer annually. I think MSN may have fibbed a little, or at best given us only part of the truth.

    -- Posted by Ralph VanGennip on Wed, Mar 7, 2018, at 8:10 PM
  • I agree , those are all some nasty shat . Americans need to be concerned with Trump too , he's not as advertised by a long shot . The USA doesn't revolve around him , it's not all about Trump , it's all about the Peoples of America .

    Every week there's a new surprise . Every week . And 9 times out of 10 that surprise is all about Trump , not what's good for all of the People or all of the USA - whatever keeps Trump in the news , whatever it takes even if it's some dumb *** tweet with a Hollywood star .

    He thinks with his thumbs and speaks out of his *** .

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Wed, Mar 7, 2018, at 8:14 PM
  • *

    Guess we could have had Hillary as President - it was one of the two and we have Trump till 2020. IMO, we are better off with Trump.

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Wed, Mar 7, 2018, at 8:19 PM
  • *

    "Why and how does Trump have so many hypnotized ?"

    Rick,

    I don't think Trump has everybody hypnotized. I think Americans are desperate for a reversal of what has been happening with our country over the past 50 years. And they see Trump as the catalyst to make it happen. Will it happen? We sure won't know unless we try it. Trump has plenty of faults, but he is a successful business man and he is what we have to work with at this point. I agree we need to work on the debt. A start would be to cause those on welfare to work for the money they get. I had relatives that worked for the WPA back in the depression to keep food on the table. The key word was they "worked". The idea that some have the God given right to sit on their hind ends letting the rest of us support them and their families has got to change. And I think that will be on the agenda if we can get our factories pumping again. It will not happen overnight. And it will take longer if the press and kis political enemies keep doing everything possible to keep Trump from succeeding.

    Doing what isn't working over and over is insane.

    -- Posted by Ralph VanGennip on Wed, Mar 7, 2018, at 8:33 PM
  • Trump did stop the Obama/Clinton agenda which was a good thing . But get beyond that , well...

    One week it's releasing Government Documents to clear his name

    The next week it's the Democrats trying to release documents to smear his name

    Then the next week Porter

    Then did his son-in-law have the right security clearance

    Then Hicks

    This week Cohn and tariff spat

    What will it be next week , the porn star gal ?

    It just goes on and on and on..

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Wed, Mar 7, 2018, at 8:35 PM
  • *

    It's starting to work already. The workers returning to work at Granite City and at New Madrid don't give a rat's tail about the EU threat of tariffs.

    http://www.nwitimes.com/business/lake-newsletter/u-s-steel-restarting-granite-ci...

    http://www.semissourian.com/story/2490442.html

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Thu, Mar 8, 2018, at 8:51 AM
  • *

    Semo471

    I don't pretend to understand all of the ramifications and/or the rewards of Tariffs, but I do know we have been getting screwed over on the World Scene and it is the American taxpayers who are footing the bill for it, one way or the other.

    -- Posted by Ralph VanGennip on Thu, Mar 8, 2018, at 9:05 AM
  • Are those tariffs official yet ?

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Thu, Mar 8, 2018, at 9:18 AM
  • *

    I don't think so Rick

    -- Posted by Ralph VanGennip on Thu, Mar 8, 2018, at 9:31 AM
  • I have a real bad gut feeling about all of this , I could be wrong , I have many times before , there's just something that's not adding up to me . Why not stop imports altogether and make everything here instead of tariffs . It sounds more like threat then truth , I dunno...

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Thu, Mar 8, 2018, at 9:48 AM
  • *

    Rick,

    I don't know either, but we have to do something to bring the trade imbalance down. We have been taking a beating for years.

    https://tradingeconomics.com/united-states/balance-of-trade

    -- Posted by Ralph VanGennip on Thu, Mar 8, 2018, at 9:56 AM
  • *

    Rick

    One thing for sure.... there are too many pickup trucks with buy American, buy Union bumper stickers in Walmart parking lots buying Chinese products.

    We either believe in ourselves or we don't.

    -- Posted by Ralph VanGennip on Thu, Mar 8, 2018, at 10:01 AM
  • *

    Rick & Wheels: The Tariff info will be either today or tomorrow....guess Trump is seeing who yells the loudest while making the decision of what countries receive the tariffs on steel and aluminum.

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Thu, Mar 8, 2018, at 10:23 AM
  • I could be wrong but I'm thinking tariffs were tried in the past with little success . One thing I object to is the EU saying they'll turn the issue over to the WTO (World Trade Organization) as being unfair to the EU . IMO , **** the WTO , it doesn't decide the USA affairs in any way shape or form . As far as that goes , no Nation decide the USA affairs but the USA ..but , it's not a good reason for the USA to slit it's own throat either .

    One thing of note , the State of Pennsylvania , the heart of the USA Steel industries , will be having special term elections next week . Trump is due to make appearances backing GOP candidates for these elections . I gotta wonder if his tariff deal has any influence on these elections .

    Also , Jeb Bush's son just won a special election in Texas . He is a strong supporter of Trump and broke ranks with the Bush family , neither Jeb or either George's supported Trump ..

    Sometimes the truth is stranger then fiction..

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Thu, Mar 8, 2018, at 11:55 AM
  • Now Trump is trying to tie in lack of NATO payments from EU Nations as responsible for the tariffs . Why didn't he say so from the get-go ?

    I gotta wonder .

    His announcement will be at 3:30 today , or so the White House says .

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Thu, Mar 8, 2018, at 11:58 AM
  • *

    The following article is dated 8/1/17 and has links that are updated to the present time. As President Trump has said our trading partners have taken advantage of the USA for many many years. They cry but the truth is on the USA side.

    https://www.commerce.gov/news/opinion-editorials/2017/08/free-trade-two-way-stre...

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Thu, Mar 8, 2018, at 12:00 PM
  • didn't Jefferson try the import embargo idea only to be repeated on a smaller scale by Wilson? Best use the profits of higher steel prices to innovate ways to cut production costs and make US steel more affordable than the imports then maybe require a percentage of American steel in American products.

    -- Posted by R. W. Bess on Thu, Mar 8, 2018, at 2:03 PM
  • *

    While working at Noranda, my boss and I made a business trip to the Hawesville, Ky. Century Aluminum smelter....back then it was called National Aluminum. The New Madrid plant and Hawesville plant were the only two smelters capable of producing "high purity" aluminum used in various aerospace products which has some national security aspects. Looks like Century Aluminum will increase their production from 40% currently to upwards towards 100% latter this year. Also, with Magnitude 7 Metals announcement of the start up of part of the old New Madrid plant jobs plus more national security is at hand.

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Thu, Mar 8, 2018, at 3:26 PM
  • Noranda is a Switzerland-based ARG International AG that's working to get one potline back in production this fall at the long-idled, 263,000 mt/year New Madrid primary aluminum smelter, which has been renamed Magnitude 7 Metals, in southeastern Missouri, a spokesman for the smelter said Wednesday.

    Magnitude 7 Metals is Swedish owned , I hope it pays USA taxes .

    https://www.platts.com/latest-news/metals/louisville-kentucky/idled-new-madrid-a...

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Thu, Mar 8, 2018, at 3:46 PM
  • Other then Clinton being as dirty as a used oil rag , tariffs can have negative effects

    *****************

    Dems: Uranium One informant provided 'no evidence' of Clinton 'quid pro quo'

    By Katie Bo Williams - 03/08/18 12:25 PM EST

    "The Toronto-based Uranium One controlled land equal to about 20 percent of the U.S.’s uranium capacity, according to Oilprice.com — although experts note that the country doesn’t actually produce a significant amount of the world’s uranium supply. The U.S. imports more than 90 percent of its uranium."

    http://thehill.com/policy/national-security/377404-dems-uranium-one-informant-pr...

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Thu, Mar 8, 2018, at 6:49 PM
  • U.S. Allies Sign Sweeping Trade Deal in Challenge to Trump

    "In its original incarnation as the TPP, the accord was conceived as a counterweight to China, whose vast economy was drawing other Asian countries closer despite its state-driven model and steep trade barriers. Not only does the pact lower trade barriers, it could also prod Beijing to make changes to enjoy the same benefits. His order could affect Brazil, China, Germany, Japan, South Korea and Turkey, though he said he would have leeway to add or take countries off the list as he sees fit.

    The United States has “gone from being a leader to actually being the No. 1 antagonist and No. 1 source of fear” on trade, said Jeffrey Wilson, the head of research at Perth U.S.-Asia Center at the University of Western Australia. “If you’re a trade policy maker in Asia, your No. 1 fear is that Trump is going to take a swing at you.”

    He added that such fears could prompt countries, however reluctantly, to tether themselves more closely to China. “The U.S. is really delivering the region to China at the moment,” Mr. Wilson said.

    https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/08/world/asia/us-trump-tpp-signed.html

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Thu, Mar 8, 2018, at 7:22 PM
  • *

    Well now look who helped to start up the Perth Think Tank:

    http://www.news.uwa.edu.au/201211135216/events/perth-usasia-centre-launched

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Thu, Mar 8, 2018, at 8:17 PM
  • Good thing Clinton isn't President !

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Thu, Mar 8, 2018, at 8:23 PM
  • It sure doesn't make Trump any kind of hero...

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Thu, Mar 8, 2018, at 8:26 PM
  • *

    It sure does explains the "Think Tanks" thinking.

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Thu, Mar 8, 2018, at 8:50 PM
  • seems to me anytime Trump says anything there is an organized effort to make him look bad. Meanwhile we hear little about all the good he's already done. Even when the left was for it before, now it's going to destroy our 'Democracy' when Trump makes it possible.

    I'm still sticking with MAGA.

    -- Posted by R. W. Bess on Thu, Mar 8, 2018, at 9:09 PM
  • The only good I've seen so far is blocking Clinton . I didn't like Obama and I ain't seeing much out of Trump either , I'll stay Independent , think and speak for myself and let the chips fall where they may -- "right" , "left" , or whatever the latest fad might be .

    Yeah , bring all those foreign Companies to America , let's sell out America to foreigners . Then pist them off with tariffs so they can rip us off without paying taxes . Sounds great .

    USA just played the nuke game with Iran--Russia's ally in Syria , what a Foreign Policy Legacy that turned out to be -- never mind the UN just caught North Korea passing nuke goods on to Syria , that's a whole different issue .

    Trump's the hero of hero's...yeah , right .

    I'll stay Independent .

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Thu, Mar 8, 2018, at 10:23 PM
  • Bring back a Republic , to hell with Democracy .

    Cuban is being accused of using sound waves to make Americans sick , use those types of sounds waves on North Korea to make them sick .

    Stop the dog~n~pony show...

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Thu, Mar 8, 2018, at 10:41 PM
  • I'm trying to clean off my desk, and unending process. Ran across some notes I took watching CSPAN congress in session when the Trump Tax plan was debated. Democrats said jobs will go over seas if passed and and 8 million people will lose their entitlement of Social security. Hakeem Jefferies was arguing against it a week after it was passed.

    I have no reason to agree with everything Trump does but it seems he is trying his best to do something different and that is better than what we had. MAGA

    -- Posted by R. W. Bess on Fri, Mar 9, 2018, at 12:19 AM
  • *

    Make America First, the heck with these one sided trade deals that only benefits the nations that take advantage of the USA - about time that we have a President who is President of the USA and not owned by foreign countries. MAGA

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Fri, Mar 9, 2018, at 8:28 AM
  • *

    Rick: Believe that the USA is a Representative Republic and not a true Democracy. Also, foreign countries that produces and sells products in the USA pay federal income taxes as well as local taxes - Noranda Aluminum at first was owned by Noranda Mines & Minerals out of Canada and paid US taxes federal and local.

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Fri, Mar 9, 2018, at 8:47 AM
  • These are the results of Gary Cohn , the very top Economist of the White House and Trumps Administrative Staff , who just resigned because he disagreed with Trumps new Tariff policies .

    https://www.politico.com/story/2018/03/09/monthly-jobs-numbers-february-2018-448...

    .................

    The results of Trumps new tariffs are yet to be seen . Most of Congress , both Parties , have advised and disagreed with the tariffs . Most of Trump's Administration have advised against the tariffs , why mess with a good thing ?

    I guess time will tell .

    One thing I'm having trouble understanding , Trump is all gung-ho about immigration , the who , what and where on one hand but everybody come to America with your business . I'm not seeing how it can be pick~n~choose but c'mon everybody , America's open again ....

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Fri, Mar 9, 2018, at 11:15 AM
  • *

    "Most of Trump's Administration have advised against the tariffs , why mess with a good thing?"

    Now, if his tariffs actually work.... will that mean he is smarter than the rest of them put together?

    It appears to me that the rest of them want to keep on the same old hum ho that we have been on for 50 years or more while the rest or our jobs and economy goes down the tubes.

    Wouldn't it be wonderful if the best job one could get was flipping burgers at McDonalds.... but wait by then they will be doing the burger flipping with machines, if they haven't already done so.

    Where is the money going to come from to keep buying the burgers if all of the jobs keeping leaving our borders.

    I don't think we have much choice but to hope trying something different for a change works.

    -- Posted by Ralph VanGennip on Fri, Mar 9, 2018, at 1:43 PM
  • *

    I don't think we have much choice but to hope trying something different for a change works.-- Posted by Ralph VanGennip on Fri, Mar 9, 2018, at 1:43 PM

    Wheels: Same here.

    Do you think Mr. Common has enter into Rehab to get over Hillary & Obama? The FBI is already looking into the connection between Uranium One/Clinton Foundation and a 2nd Special Counsel might soon be investigating the twosome in the FISA abuse case.

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Fri, Mar 9, 2018, at 4:41 PM
  • Do you think Mr. Common has enter into Rehab to get over Hillary & Obama? -- Posted by David Schaefer on Fri, Mar 9, 2018, at 4:41 PM

    Possible Semo.

    I think he's on an extended vacation in Havana, Cuba or Caracas, Venezuela with Comrades. Two of his favorite progressive / liberal / communist governments that have fully implemented marxist ideology.

    -- Posted by Doug Williams 4/24 on Fri, Mar 9, 2018, at 4:48 PM
  • *

    "Do you think Mr. Common has enter into Rehab to get over Hillary & Obama?"

    Haven't really missed him all that much yet.

    But some say you will even miss a toothache once it's gone.

    -- Posted by Ralph VanGennip on Fri, Mar 9, 2018, at 10:45 PM
  • -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Sat, Mar 10, 2018, at 7:59 AM
  • Wheels

    I believe Gary Cohn was trying to do it a different way then the old hum ho that we have been on for 50 years or more , it's one reason for the growth . He was also an architect of Trump's new Tax Law too , something beyond ho hum .

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Sat, Mar 10, 2018, at 8:06 AM
  • ..but then , I'm the dissident , a rebel

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Sat, Mar 10, 2018, at 8:07 AM
  • *

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Sat, Mar 10, 2018, at 8:06 AM

    Boy been an exciting corner of the paper today, hasn't it?

    Rick, true what you say. We will have to wait and see what happens I guess. For all of their blustering, I don't see the EU causing us much of a problem.

    And Germany, we had to kick their hind ends in WW II and then help build their country back again. Don't see where we need them telling us what we can and can't do.

    -- Posted by Ralph VanGennip on Sat, Mar 10, 2018, at 5:48 PM
  • *

    The Art of the Deal....first you have to have something in your corner to negotiate with your adversary.

    https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/donald-trump-european-union-tariffs-steel/2018...

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Sat, Mar 10, 2018, at 5:55 PM
  • Aren't those allies and not adversaries .

    I guess I'm mixedfused , is Trump asking allies to drop something he put on them , tariffs , or the other way around .

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Sat, Mar 10, 2018, at 6:12 PM
  • *

    Drop Your Tariffs and We'll 'Drop Ours'

    -- Posted by Ralph VanGennip on Sat, Mar 10, 2018, at 6:47 PM
  • *

    Rick: Trump is wanting the EU to void their tariffs and the USA will do the same. Example: When a USA car maker ships cars to the EU they add a 10% tariff....when a EU car maker ships cars to the USA we only charge a 2.5% tariff which makes the USA car more expensive to sell in the EU while their cars are cheaper to sell in the USA - unfair. BTW, when you negotiate both parties or adversaries to each other....we are indeed Allies but that is for political and militarily means.

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Sat, Mar 10, 2018, at 6:49 PM
  • I wasn't aware of that .. They are allies , or should be , when they buy Military Defense equipment such as planes , tanks , rockets and such . I wonder if there's tariffs on these ..

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Sat, Mar 10, 2018, at 6:56 PM
  • *

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Sat, Mar 10, 2018, at 6:56 PM

    Rick: Don't know that answer....IMO, the price has a built in secret tariff but don't tell them. lol

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Sat, Mar 10, 2018, at 6:59 PM
  • *

    Rick have a good night - I'm out of here, taking girlfriend out.

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Sat, Mar 10, 2018, at 7:00 PM
  • *

    OK, all ya'all.

    You wasted an extra hour sleeping last night. It's Daylight Saving Time once again! You're late already .

    -- Posted by Ralph VanGennip on Sun, Mar 11, 2018, at 8:22 AM
  • "Only the white man would believe you could cut a foot off the top of a blanket and sew it to the bottom of the blanket and have a longer blanket ."

    ~~ Oscho

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Sun, Mar 11, 2018, at 10:12 AM
  • *

    "Only the white man would believe you could cut a foot off the top of a blanket and sew it to the bottom of the blanket and have a longer blanket ."

    No doubt about it. Sounds like a Committee decision to me.

    -- Posted by Ralph VanGennip on Sun, Mar 11, 2018, at 1:49 PM
  • I've spent an hour setting clocks, still got 3 to go.

    -- Posted by R. W. Bess on Sun, Mar 11, 2018, at 4:08 PM
  • -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Sun, Mar 11, 2018, at 6:36 PM
  • -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Sun, Mar 11, 2018, at 7:13 PM
  • *

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Sun, Mar 11, 2018, at 6:36 PM

    Rick: Socialism at work.

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Sun, Mar 11, 2018, at 7:13 PM
  • -- Posted by Ralph VanGennip on Sun, Mar 11, 2018, at 9:42 PM
  • More keeps coming out about the disgrace of Obama.

    Trump is fulfilling his campaign promises one by one and the idiots are having a melt down.

    -- Posted by R. W. Bess on Sun, Mar 11, 2018, at 10:46 PM
  • Sorry , I just can't jump on the Trump Train , I'm not an idiot but I'm sure I have my moments . The man seems like he's all about money and nothing else , there's more to the USA besides money . He's got to be the Leader for all People of the USA , not jus the "MAGA" People . He's not going to be President forever , the next person can come behind him and change everything around , look what Obama did , it's totally possible .

    I'm not seeing how cutting revenue and increasing spending at the same time can be a good thing . The boy just can't stop twitter , that's high school stuff . I just ain't seeing how he's all that and a free bag of chips too .

    Just because a person disagrees with Trump doesn't necessarily make them un-American nor does it make them a Socialist or leftist . It doesn't make a person a chump for "fake news" just because he didn't say it either . In my opinion , "MAGA" , means a person doesn't think or speak for theirself .

    If some want to throw all behind Trump , good for them . At the same time , if some disagrees with Trump , they should have the same perogative , just as they did with Obama .

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Mon, Mar 12, 2018, at 12:05 AM
  • I do not melt down , never have and refuse to do it too . I speak and think for myself .....Independent .

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Mon, Mar 12, 2018, at 12:07 AM
  • Trump seeking tariffs on up to $60 billion of Chinese goods; targets tech, telecoms

    https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/trump-seeking-tariffs-on-up-to-dollar60-...

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Wed, Mar 14, 2018, at 7:23 AM
  • *

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Wed, Mar 14, 2018, at 7:23 AM

    Rick: The key sentence in your link is: "Washington is targeting Chinese high technology companies to punish them for forcing U.S. companies to give up their technology secrets in exchange for being allowed to operate in the country." The Chinese takes our technology and starts making the products there causing our companies to shut down production here in the USA. He** yea, slap them tariffs on the Chinese.

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Wed, Mar 14, 2018, at 8:29 AM
  • *

    "China runs a $375 billion trade surplus with the United States and when President Xi Xinping's top economic adviser visited Washington recently, the administration pressed him to come up with a way of reducing that number."

    It is about time somebody turns this mess around. One might wonder, under who's watch did this disaster happen.

    -- Posted by Ralph VanGennip on Wed, Mar 14, 2018, at 9:02 AM
  • *

    -- Posted by Ralph VanGennip on Wed, Mar 14, 2018, at 9:02 AM

    Wheels: All past Presidents who didn't have the Ba*** to stand up to the Chinese and other countries who have trade advantages over the USA.

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Wed, Mar 14, 2018, at 9:19 AM
  • *

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Wed, Mar 14, 2018, at 9:19 AM

    Makes one wonder why we always seem to end up with the short end of the stick on a trade deal. We have managed to do a turnaround from the world's greatest producer of goods to the world's biggest user of goods produced by others.

    I know a Socialistic One World Government type would try and tell us why that is good. Where is Commie when you need him to explain it to us?

    -- Posted by Ralph VanGennip on Wed, Mar 14, 2018, at 10:10 AM
  • -- Posted by David Schaefer on Wed, Mar 14, 2018, at 8:29 AM

    What's the odds this stuff couldn't be hacked by China to get the info , China might could get it using a backdoor rat or router farming . Shoot , any other Foreign State could , the whole world is in cahoots now with that "WTO" , nothing would surprise me . It's good to see somebody poking China in the *** with a stick for a change ...

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Wed, Mar 14, 2018, at 10:41 AM
  • Hell , China wouldn't even let Obama off Air Force One .

    What does that say ?

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Wed, Mar 14, 2018, at 10:54 AM
  • In Frontenac speech, Trump says he made up facts in meeting with Trudeau

    http://www.stltoday.com/news/national/govt-and-politics/in-frontenac-speech-trum...

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Thu, Mar 15, 2018, at 8:37 AM
  • *

    Rick

    Not having heard the speech myself, and knowing the bias of The St Louis Post Disgrace, I couldn't take a Trump article from them seriously.

    -- Posted by Ralph VanGennip on Thu, Mar 15, 2018, at 8:55 AM
  • Wheels

    I just try to look both ways before I walk the street .

    I hear what he's saying , I'm not seeing how he can say it .

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Thu, Mar 15, 2018, at 9:01 AM
  • *

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Thu, Mar 15, 2018, at 8:37 AM

    Rick: It's called a Bluff....Trump was however right the USA does have a trade deficit with Canada by $18 billion.

    https://www.thebalance.com/trade-deficit-by-county-3306264

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Thu, Mar 15, 2018, at 9:10 AM
  • *

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Thu, Mar 15, 2018, at 9:01 AM

    Rick,

    I far from agree with Trump on many things he says and how he says them, but I have read too much of the St. Louis Post Dispatch and their biases and opinions to take them seriously. That is why I quit paying for a subscription to their rag around 20 years ago

    -- Posted by Ralph VanGennip on Thu, Mar 15, 2018, at 9:30 AM
  • semo

    I agree about the bluff , I'm not understanding why show the hand though .

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Thu, Mar 15, 2018, at 10:09 AM
  • Wheels

    All of the media cracks me up , is it information , is it entertainment , or is it both , infortainment . Their slogans are funny as hell .

    MSNBC , "This is who we are."

    FOXNews , "Real news . Real opinions you can trust ."

    KFVS12 , "Live . Local . Now ."

    Their lies melt away like the mist in the early morning sun rise .

    The USA has a Reality Show host for President who fired People on his Reality Show and now fires People on his Cabinet then brags about it . Now he's bragging about how he's duping other World Leaders .

    I hear what he's saying . I can't see how he's saying it .

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Thu, Mar 15, 2018, at 10:38 AM
  • Trump administration sanctions Russians for 2016 election interference, other cyber attacks

    http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-administration-sanctions-russia-2016-electi...

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Thu, Mar 15, 2018, at 10:42 AM
  • *

    At least something appears to be headed in the right direction.......

    https://www.newsmax.com/finance/streettalk/jobless-unemployment-claims-labor/201...

    Now we need to get the truly disabled seperated from those who just don't want to work. Time for them to rejoin the workforce instead of freeload at the worker's expense.

    -- Posted by Ralph VanGennip on Thu, Mar 15, 2018, at 11:26 AM
  • These have been the Great Lands since the beginning of time , they were the Great Lands long before the illegal immigrant invaders arrived from across the Great Waters to rape , rob , and pillage it . To hear Trump say he himself will make the Great Lands "Great Again" is not only a lie , it is sickening . One of his first orders of business was to open one of the most Sacred sites of the Ancient Ones , "Bear Ears" , to be raped , robbed , and pillaged .

    Hao ! Let's tear down some Cathedrals , Temples , and Mosques . Let's dig up Arlington National Cemetery and lay more pipeline -- jobs ! jobs !jobs !

    It is sickening , it is disrespectful , and it is so wrong on so many levels . What he has done is said it's time to rape , rob , and pillage again .

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Thu, Mar 15, 2018, at 8:47 PM
  • Trump was right or wrong about trade deficit with Canada depending on what is being traded. And to that he admitted he was assuming. The Canadians voted in a liberal progressive that promised everything to everyone. I can't see it working out well for Canada in the long run.

    -- Posted by R. W. Bess on Thu, Mar 15, 2018, at 9:25 PM
  • *

    Here is a well written article - be sure to read to the end....America First, MAGA.

    https://nypost.com/2018/03/13/the-critics-are-wrong-about-trumps-tariffs/

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Sun, Mar 18, 2018, at 11:05 AM
  • Semo, That goes right to what I suggested in more efficient competition for free trade as a way to curb imports with lower prices in the long run.

    -- Posted by R. W. Bess on Sun, Mar 18, 2018, at 2:04 PM
  • *

    -- Posted by R. W. Bess on Sun, Mar 18, 2018, at 2:04 PM

    OJ: Free trade doesn't exist when one trading partner such as China has a 25% tariffs on American made cars and the USA has a 2.5% tariff on Chinese made cars. Free Trade should be Fair Trade and not sending the over production of an item into the USA at "Dumping Prices".

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Sun, Mar 18, 2018, at 2:40 PM
  • Don't think Chinese cars are much threat to US economy.

    -- Posted by R. W. Bess on Sun, Mar 18, 2018, at 9:39 PM
  • *

    Richard,

    I also don't see Chinese cars being a problem here, at least until they steal enough of our technology to build a decent product.

    The problem as I see it, with all of the stuff headed out of China headed for the Walmarts and other large chains, we should have a chance to compete fairly on what we build better, automobiles.

    But of course Government Motors who was bailed out with taxpayer dollars cut and run for China to build there so they could sell more cars in China than they do in the US. Did they beat the Chinese Tariff by building the cars there? If so one can see where unfair tariffs on the part of our trading partners come back to bite us in the hind side.

    Clinton and Obama have been two of the biggest leaders to help push manufacturing out of our country. And I don't see where Bush was a lot of help. Maybe Trump will even things up again.

    -- Posted by Ralph VanGennip on Sun, Mar 18, 2018, at 10:38 PM
  • -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Sun, Mar 18, 2018, at 10:43 PM
  • *

    -- Posted by Ralph VanGennip on Sun, Mar 18, 2018, at 10:38 PM

    Wheels: American plants making cars in china pays no tariff. However, if those cars come into the USA they are subject to a 2.5% tariff....China has to keep their masses at work at America's expense.

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Mon, Mar 19, 2018, at 7:48 AM
  • *

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Sun, Mar 18, 2018, at 10:43 PM

    Rick: The WTO is unfair to the USA that is why President Trump doesn't like trade agreements that do not benefit the USA. America First....MAGA.

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Mon, Mar 19, 2018, at 7:51 AM
  • how to Make Another Goofy Agenda

    1.) Have "MAGA" hats Made in Japan instead of China

    2.) Have products labeled Made in Taiwan instead of China so tariffs are pointless

    3.) Brag about trade deals before they're done

    4.) Be Progressive , create change every week whether it be People or procedure , do not be stable

    5.) Cry for 2 years after winning the election

    6.) Find a catchy jingle like "MAGA" and repeat it over and over until it's pointless

    7.) Post self-righteous suicide daily tweets

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Mon, Mar 19, 2018, at 10:35 AM
  • Eliminating redundant regulations on industry here goes a long way. Requiring imported products to meet same standards that are left in place here would go a longer way. Importing countries should have to have in place programs to keep workers from being part of the finished product. Universal verifiable standards of quality should be met also. How do we know the steel and aluminum is of the same grade and quality of American made?

    -- Posted by R. W. Bess on Mon, Mar 19, 2018, at 11:04 AM
  • *

    How do we know the steel and aluminum is of the same grade and quality of American made?

    -- Posted by R. W. Bess on Mon, Mar 19, 2018, at 11:04 AM

    OJ: Don't know about steel but aluminum ingot is traded and sold by it's purity....99.7% ingot is the same no matter who produced it as long as it meets the analysis of 99.7% purity.

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Mon, Mar 19, 2018, at 11:25 AM
  • semo, Who checks and certifies the purity?

    -- Posted by R. W. Bess on Mon, Mar 19, 2018, at 11:45 AM
  • *

    OJ: The lab at the production facially takes a sample, analysis it and prints out copies for the company along with a set for the customer. Believe me the customer will soon find out if the analysis is not correct once the ingot is melted at their location.

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Mon, Mar 19, 2018, at 12:21 PM
  • How do we know the steel and aluminum is of the same grade and quality of American made?

    -- Posted by R. W. Bess on Mon, Mar 19, 2018, at 11:04 AM

    We used magnets on steel . They don't stick , it don't get unloaded , doesn't matter which mill ...

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Mon, Mar 19, 2018, at 12:29 PM
  • U.S. retailers, shoe companies urge Trump not to hit China with tariffs

    https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trade-retail/u-s-retailers-shoe-companies...

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Tue, Mar 20, 2018, at 6:35 AM
  • *

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Tue, Mar 20, 2018, at 6:35 AM

    Rick: What's funny about these shoe companies complaining is that they all moved their manufacturing plants from the USA to China, S. Korea, and Japan. If these companies are so concern about the USA consumers then bring these plants back to the USA where folks can afford to buy their products from the new paychecks....America First - MAGA.

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Tue, Mar 20, 2018, at 7:41 AM
  • *

    Making our own shoes is as old as when our relatives came to this country. Nearly every Dutch settlement had their own Wooden Shoe Maker...... what happened???

    We're worried about LGBT and how many genders there are and now we have to worry about going bare footed.

    What the hell is wrong with this country anyway?

    PS: From what I have read so far the DNA folks are only talking about two Genders, male and female and our orgins for earliest man is in Africa. Does that make me the latest African American or what? And all this time I been thinking I was Dutch American.

    Life is so confusing!

    -- Posted by Ralph VanGennip on Tue, Mar 20, 2018, at 10:24 AM
  • *

    Wheels I got mine back and I have NO Sub-Saharan African!

    I must be an alien! Did have some out of left field though!

    -- Posted by Karen Jones on Tue, Mar 20, 2018, at 11:59 AM
  • *

    -- Posted by Karen Jones on Tue, Mar 20, 2018, at 11:59 AM

    Iam,

    Actually I haven't sent my sample in yet. I got that information from a book I started reading and then got sidetracked. The book has a name for the oldest traceable information to date and they are calling this Adam something or other and said we are all related to him and he derives from Africa. Presumably that covers you, me and even Jesus Christ????

    -- Posted by Ralph VanGennip on Tue, Mar 20, 2018, at 12:33 PM
  • You still down south Ralph?

    -- Posted by Doug Williams 4/24 on Tue, Mar 20, 2018, at 9:16 PM
  • *

    -- Posted by Ralph VanGennip on Tue, Mar 20, 2018, at 12:33 PM

    Wheels: I can trace my family tree back to Adam and Eve with the ancestral home at the Garden of Eden.

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Tue, Mar 20, 2018, at 9:25 PM
  • As long as there's branches on that tree...

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Tue, Mar 20, 2018, at 10:17 PM
  • One would have to be related to Noah or his family to have traceable DNA, I would think.

    -- Posted by R. W. Bess on Tue, Mar 20, 2018, at 10:24 PM
  • Things just don't make sense , the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing and vice-versa

    ******************

    ******************

    Trump to boost exports of lethal drones to more U.S. allies

    https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-arms-drones-exclusive/exclusive-trump-to-...

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Tue, Mar 20, 2018, at 10:33 PM
  • *

    Still down South Doug. Got about 10 days left. Making the most of it. Got to have a few more Royal Reds.

    Then it's back to the real world.

    -- Posted by Ralph VanGennip on Wed, Mar 21, 2018, at 1:56 AM
  • Enjoy. Might be headed that way this week. All the college kids there? I heard from a friend it's pretty busy. We couldn't hardly get a condo rental in OB.

    -- Posted by Doug Williams 4/24 on Wed, Mar 21, 2018, at 8:40 AM
  • *

    Had breakfast Sunday morning at the pancake house in the Best Western on the beach in GS. Good breakfast, alligator sausage and some of the best gravey ever. Not too busy then but it was foggy and the "beautiful people" weren't up yet. Haven't been south of King Neptune's since. Cooled a little but it is a pleasant 60 degree sunny morning from where I sit contemplating my navel. No alcohol on the beach rule during Spring Break might curb some of the associated problems.

    -- Posted by Ralph VanGennip on Wed, Mar 21, 2018, at 11:16 AM
  • No alcohol on the beach rule during Spring Break might curb some of the associated problems. -- Posted by Ralph VanGennip on Wed, Mar 21, 2018, at 11:16 AM

    No alcohol for anyone? Wow. I wonder if thats true in OB as well? I hate rules that apply broadly to everyone like Obamacare and "No alcohol for anyone" on the beach.

    That is a bummer. I love to have a beer(s) on the beach during the day.

    -- Posted by Doug Williams 4/24 on Wed, Mar 21, 2018, at 11:20 AM
  • OB? if common reads this as Obama Beach, he may on his way. :)

    -- Posted by R. W. Bess on Wed, Mar 21, 2018, at 11:49 AM
  • *

    Hear that the youngsters are giving South Padre Island, Tx the whirl this year - too bad, good place to go....hope they don't tear the place up.

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Wed, Mar 21, 2018, at 12:12 PM
  • -- Posted by R. W. Bess on Wed, Mar 21, 2018, at 11:49 AM

    OB - yep. I had trouble typing those two letters... Orange Beach. Right next to Gulf Shores.

    I did a little research and was greatly relieved that OB doesn't have the alcohol ban. Whew!!! :-)

    -- Posted by Doug Williams 4/24 on Wed, Mar 21, 2018, at 12:46 PM
  • *

    Doug

    Sorry not keeping up, been working on a computer problem. Not mechanical, not technical. It's me, I am the problem. About 20 years of files collected on genealogy. Trying to organize them where they make sense.

    I started a vast project with a half vast organizational plan.

    While I know nothing for sure as the information was here say, 5 thought ir was absolute and was both OB & GS. That could be wrong and it is temporary.

    -- Posted by Ralph VanGennip on Wed, Mar 21, 2018, at 2:30 PM
  • *

    Doug

    Did some checking. Think You Are OK in Orange Beach but Gulf Shores is no alcohol until Spring Break is over.

    -- Posted by Ralph VanGennip on Wed, Mar 21, 2018, at 2:36 PM
  • Thanks Ralph. Bottoms up! :-)

    -- Posted by Doug Williams 4/24 on Thu, Mar 22, 2018, at 9:48 AM
  • Rick: What's funny about these shoe companies complaining is that they all moved their manufacturing plants from the USA to China, S. Korea, and Japan. If these companies are so concern about the USA consumers then bring these plants back to the USA where folks can afford to buy their products from the new paychecks....America First - MAGA.

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Tue, Mar 20, 2018, at 7:41 AM

    Maybe those companies are saying they just got a hell of a break through the new Tax Laws to build , expand , and hire . Don't mess with their new chances by using tariffs and a trade wars with China .

    Gary Cohn , the dude Trump hired to draft that new Tax Law , was dead set against tariffs . Trump fired him for disagreeing . I'm not seeing how any of this makes any sense , he drafted that Tax Law , Trump promoted the Tax Law , business love the Tax Law , then Trump fires the dude because Trump disagrees with him . And now the business disagrees with Trump too .

    Things just don't add up on this one..

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Thu, Mar 22, 2018, at 10:05 AM
  • *

    Maybe those companies are saying they just got a hell of a break through the new Tax Laws to build , expand , and hire . Don't mess with their new chances by using tariffs and a trade wars with China .

    Rick: These companies are producing in China. The tariffs are to entice them to move their operations back to the USA or face tariffs on their products. China doesn't want the companies to move back because of their vast population that needs jobs.

    Trump fired him for disagreeing.

    Rick: Cohn quit and wasn't fired.

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Thu, Mar 22, 2018, at 10:05 AM

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Thu, Mar 22, 2018, at 10:50 AM
  • Wall Street gripped by trade war fears

    (Reuters) - The three major U.S. indexes fell more than 1.5 percent on Thursday, on track for their steepest drop in six weeks, gripped by the growing threat of a global trade war.

    https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-stocks/wall-street-gripped-by-trade-war-f...

    **************************************

    **************************************

    Rick: Cohn quit and wasn't fired.

    Right you are , my bad .

    ...

    Gary Cohn resigning from White House post

    Top White House economic adviser Gary Cohn is resigning, after speculation that he might depart after a losing battle to keep President Trump from announcing new trade tariffs. Cohn had urged the president against imposing steep tariffs on steel and aluminum, which Mr. Trump announced last week.

    "Gary has been my chief economic adviser and did a superb job in driving our agenda, helping to deliver historic tax cuts and reforms and unleashing the American economy once again," the president said in a statement. "He is a rare talent, and I thank him for his dedicated service to the American people."

    https://www.cbsnews.com/news/gary-cohn-resigning-from-white-house-post/

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Thu, Mar 22, 2018, at 12:04 PM
  • There is a difference between supporting a President and giving them free reign to do as they please .

    America will never recover as long as it's Party before country .

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Thu, Mar 22, 2018, at 12:06 PM
  • Tillerson officially retired today .

    ..........

    What the heck ever happened to Hunter and BCStoned ?

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Thu, Mar 22, 2018, at 12:39 PM
  • Rick: These companies are producing in China. The tariffs are to entice them to move their operations back to the USA or face tariffs on their products. China doesn't want the companies to move back because of their vast population that needs jobs.

    .............

    Another way to look at it , what happens if those companies band together and say no . They'll still get their Tax Cuts if they produce in the USA or not , what do they have to lose ? Besides all that , there are no Unions in China , the USA companies would have to deal with that mess too .

    They're all saying , "I wouldn't do that if I were you ."

    Time will tell...

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Thu, Mar 22, 2018, at 1:41 PM
  • Trump announced beginning of Tariffs on steel and aluminum .

    The irony ? The majority of Nations who export steel and aluminum to the USA were made exempt -- Canada , Mexico , Europe , Japan , South Korea , Australia , and other Allies . I wonder , what could stop China from exporting steel and aluminum to those Nations and then they export them to the USA .

    China threatens to tariff beef , soy beans , and other agriculture goods from the USA . The USA's heartland is gonna take a hit .

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Thu, Mar 22, 2018, at 2:31 PM
  • American car companies were propped up to benefit the union voting block and now take a look at where American cars are being imported from. It's hard to follow. Even if you have that prestigious German emblem on your grille, it may be made in an old Soviet Block country and your Buick or Jeep may be an import. We assume the Japanese cars for American market are built here but they too are importing. For this tariff thing to work it will have to be targeted specifically.

    You may see where I am going with this.

    -- Posted by R. W. Bess on Sun, Mar 25, 2018, at 8:34 PM
  • *

    Place tariffs on products that have an Unfair advantage against American made products of the same quality from countries that are dumping on the USA market or placing Quotas on American imports into their country.

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Sun, Mar 25, 2018, at 8:50 PM
  • semo, Agree but there has to be a balance of free choice for consumers and I think that is key.

    -- Posted by R. W. Bess on Sun, Mar 25, 2018, at 9:00 PM
  • *

    Now here is a threat to be taken seriously. China cuts off our credit and we have to live within our means. What will the Democrats do if they cannot overspend. Add to that the RINOs!

    https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-23/china-s-ambassador-doesn-t-ru...

    -- Posted by Ralph VanGennip on Mon, Mar 26, 2018, at 7:39 AM
  • Which Nation has the most to lose by stop producing everyday essentials to tariff . Which Nation pays their labor and materials the least to produce those everyday essentials that will get tariffed . Which Nation's economy will take the biggest hit because of one person's decisions . Which Nation pays the transportation costs from Nation to Nation . Is it actually tariffs or a hissy fit -- can the next President manipulate or truncate any new tariffs , is it just a waiting game in the end .

    Any Chess players out there ?

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Mon, Mar 26, 2018, at 8:08 AM
  • I read that the US had a 2.5% tariff on Chinese cars and that China had a 25% tariff on US cars.

    Tariffs are around and have been forever. I've also always heard that China has a lot more to lose than we do. Don't know how true that is but I guess we'll see. Unless this is just more talk and not really much going to happen here.

    -- Posted by Doug Williams 4/24 on Mon, Mar 26, 2018, at 8:18 AM
  • *

    Any Chess players out there ?

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Mon, Mar 26, 2018, at 8:08 AM

    Rick: IMO, President Trump moved the first piece on the board with a $50 billion tariffs on China while China's move was a $8 billion tariffs on the USA - so far the USA is ahead and hopefully just as it is in Chess, Trump is planning 3 moves ahead.

    *******

    -- Posted by Doug Williams on Mon, Mar 26, 2018, at 8:18 AM

    Dug: Can you image what would happen to the Chinese if the majority of American plants relocate back to the USA - the government of China would be faced with vast protests from the workers with no jobs, no money, no food - China knows this will happen and will bend to Trump's Tariffs. When you gamble you need to know when to hold and when to fold - Kenny Rodgers.

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Mon, Mar 26, 2018, at 8:51 AM
  • Hope you're right David! It would be great if it all works that way.

    -- Posted by Doug Williams 4/24 on Mon, Mar 26, 2018, at 8:57 AM
  • semo

    I see the opening move -- is it a gambit ?

    Can the next President undo , or move the pieces that Trump has moved .

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Mon, Mar 26, 2018, at 9:23 AM
  • ..and there are no vast protests in China , those People don't have the Rights as Americans do , China doesn't play that **** at all .

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Mon, Mar 26, 2018, at 9:25 AM
  • *

    Can the next President undo , or move the pieces that Trump has moved .

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Mon, Mar 26, 2018, at 9:23 AM

    Rick: IMO, as long as there is not a law passed by Congress, the next President can do what they want to do but doubt if Trump will change anything during his second term.

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Mon, Mar 26, 2018, at 10:20 AM
  • semo

    From my experience , we had to pay transportation costs to get the goods across the ocean , they were considered our product . We also had to pay for packaging too . Our Q/C went over there at least twice a year to check on quality of product and packaging .

    China's production facilities are fenced in Government controlled . The workers live inside the compounds where they are fed , housed , and medical care for 11 months , 24/7 until the Chinese New Year and they all are released to go home and celebrate . After the Chinese New Year is over , the People go back looking for work , there is no guarantee they will get the same job back at the same facility , it's a first come , first serve basis . And it doesn't pay squat either . China can still lower prices to under cut American Made world wide , I believe China has a whole lot less to lose on tariffs then the USA ..

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Mon, Mar 26, 2018, at 12:17 PM
  • Another move on the Chess board...

    **********************

    North Korean train arrives in Beijing under heavy guard, sparking claims Kim Jong-Un on secret China visit

    Heavy security was reported at the Friendship Bridge before the train passed from North Korea to China, and there were reports of it passing through several stations on the way from North Korea to Beijing, the AP added. The NTV network said the green and yellow train appeared very similar to the one that former North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, Kim Jong Un's late father, took to Beijing in 2011 and has 21 cars.

    A video that aired on NTV also showed a motorcade of black limousines waiting at the train station and rows of Chinese soldiers marching on what appeared to be a train platform. The video did not show anyone getting off the train.

    https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/north-korea-train-kim-jong-un-chin...

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Mon, Mar 26, 2018, at 12:30 PM
  • *

    I believe China has a whole lot less to lose on tariffs then the USA ..

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Mon, Mar 26, 2018, at 12:17 PM

    Rick: That is if the plants stay in China.

    *******

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Mon, Mar 26, 2018, at 12:30 PM

    Rick: Little Rocket Man may be in China to get some Chess pointers from them or LRM may be giving China some Chess pointers....or Kim is picking up some new digs to wear when he meets Trump.

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Mon, Mar 26, 2018, at 1:56 PM
  • *

    ....or Kim is picking up some new digs to wear when he meets Trump.

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Mon, Mar 26, 2018, at 1:56 PM

    Semo471

    Maybe Little Rocket Man could borrow some of Hillary's pants suits that she had purchased for the Nov 8, 2016 Election Day Celebration and the one for the Jan 20, 2017 Inauguration Day. They were unused and probably not returnable. They do dress a lot alike and some pastel shades could change his whole attitude.

    -- Posted by Ralph VanGennip on Mon, Mar 26, 2018, at 5:34 PM
  • *

    Semo471,

    The thought just occurred to me, what if Hillary had won the election and it was her instead of Trump going to meet Little Rocket man..... and they both showed up wearing the same pants suits?

    -- Posted by Ralph VanGennip on Mon, Mar 26, 2018, at 5:38 PM
  • Rick: That is if the plants stay in China.

    .........

    Which would be the higher ROI ?

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Mon, Mar 26, 2018, at 6:08 PM
  • semo

    Why do you believe all of those plants will move back to the USA when their products are being produced for next to nothing .

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Mon, Mar 26, 2018, at 6:29 PM
  • I was familiar with a fellow that had a good product idea. He contracted with a Chinese Co. to mold the plastic frame and imported the electric motor from Mexico and had it assembled by a contract co. in the states using the cheapest immigrant labor [his words] so he could label it USA. The product was a hit for about a year when the near identical product with the big "made in China" label showed up on Walmart shelves for half his price.

    Right now I understand that is a major problem concerning trade with China. They are taking orders for a commercial airliner very similar to US offerings.

    Downside is that it will take an all new agency to keep up with and target products that have been conceived with stolen concepts and technology.

    -- Posted by R. W. Bess on Mon, Mar 26, 2018, at 6:36 PM
  • When Wal-Mart first started and Sam was still running the show his motto was sell "Made in America" only . He went to college with the owner of the mom & pop where I worked and took a tour of the place to check out stuff because it was Made in America . Des Lee got a contract with Wal-Mart until Sam died , they went with cheapest supplier they could find , domestic or import .

    I wonder how many People check to see where the product they are buying was produced . A lot of People are saying plants and factories will be coming back , how many have been checking all this time to see if they're buying Made in the USA .

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Mon, Mar 26, 2018, at 7:40 PM
  • How much of Trump's product line is imported ?

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Mon, Mar 26, 2018, at 7:41 PM
  • *

    -- Posted by Ralph VanGennip on Mon, Mar 26, 2018, at 5:38 PM

    Wheels: First of all IMO Hillary wouldn't be meeting with Kim to de-nuke North Korea but to pay him off like her husband did for a few years of good will.

    *******

    Why do you believe all of those plants will move back to the USA when their products are being produced for next to nothing .

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Mon, Mar 26, 2018, at 6:29 PM

    Rick: I am by far no expert on World Economics but I do have opinions on the matter. The link below is written by Bloomberg concerning monies that American companies have in offshores accounts since the American business taxes are one of the highest around at 35%. Now that the rate has been reduced to 21% some of that monies will come back into the USA in start up companies while reducing the overseas plant who would only be their competitor. The business tax cuts are not to expire so that companies can formulate long term operational plans. Also, the increase tariffs on Chinese goods (a lot from American owned companies) will make their sell prices in the USA higher and make the American owners rethink about the overseas plants. All of this might be wishful thinking on my part but it could happen if the cards are played right by President Trump and his new economic adviser Larry Kudlow.

    https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-04/u-s-companies-are-stashing-2-...

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Mon, Mar 26, 2018, at 7:56 PM
  • In theory it sounds great . In reality there's nothing to stop business owners from pocketing that 14% tax savings they just received . If their ROI is not greater then 14%, moving back doesn't sound like a very good business plan IMO .

    The USA consumers could have put a dent in this long ago buy purchasing Made in the USA but chose to purchase the best deal they could get . I can only assume business will do the same thing , take the best deal they can get .

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Mon, Mar 26, 2018, at 8:05 PM
  • Rick, Why would companies come back and pocket money? They are already doing that where they are. I think the incentive to come back is in reducing the tax on money made overseas when declared as profit. If the same profit is possible with the protections offered by USA law, I think many would be happy to headquarter in USA.

    -- Posted by R. W. Bess on Mon, Mar 26, 2018, at 10:16 PM
  • Business just got a 14% or 16% break .

    Aluminum tariff is 10% .

    If business does nothing at all and continues to have their aluminum made in China they are still ahead 4% or 6% .

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Mon, Mar 26, 2018, at 10:27 PM
  • By Law .

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Mon, Mar 26, 2018, at 10:28 PM
  • *

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Mon, Mar 26, 2018, at 10:27 PM

    Rick: The companies can't realize the savings from the tax cut until they bring all/some of their money back into the USA.

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Tue, Mar 27, 2018, at 8:22 AM
  • Seems Trump is working on a new kind of tariff, the kind that says if we export our help to keep the peace in your Shathole country, you pay our export tax.

    -- Posted by R. W. Bess on Tue, Apr 3, 2018, at 10:25 PM
  • I'm not going to believe an issue is best for the Peoples just because Trump or any other President says so , I prefer to think for myself instead of blind faith . Look where the last President got the USA when everybody believed his rhetoric .

    *******************

    US proposes tariffs on $50 billion in Chinese imports

    http://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/us-proposes-tariffs-on-50-billion-in-chines...

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Wed, Apr 4, 2018, at 5:53 AM
  • Trump just signed off to send the National Guard down to meet the Caravan . Since the Caravan is unarmed , no combat or military actions will be taken by the National Guard .

    What are they suppose to do , lock arms and form a human chain .

    What happened to the wall .

    How long will the National Guard be there and how much will it cost .

    Arizona and California don't agree or want the National Guard in their State , what has happened to Individual State's Rights .

    Why even consider any trade agreement with Mexico while it's Army escorts and aids Caravans to the USA border .

    ...................

    Trudeau sees high chance of NAFTA deal with US, Mexico

    "Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland headed to Washington to meet with her counterpart, US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, who on Wednesday met with Mexican Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo, to try to reach an agreement in principle on NAFTA.

    The trio are to get together for a working dinner Thursday evening, according to public broadcaster CBC, and hold talks on Friday."

    https://www.yahoo.com/news/trudeau-sees-high-chance-nafta-deal-us-mexico-1444462...

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Thu, Apr 5, 2018, at 1:29 PM
  • Trump sending military to southern border , the Caravan , and NAFTA....

    http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/video/trump-sending-military-southern-border-5420...

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Thu, Apr 5, 2018, at 8:11 PM
  • The National Guard has been there before. Bush and Obama did the same thing. They will have no law enforcement duty, just free the border agents to be more aggressive. Immigration is not one of those things unmentioned and left to the states.

    Mexico may very well have to pay for the wall when certain products they need from USA and Canada have an export tax on them. Plus there are ways to tax money the illegals here are sending to wanna be illegals there.

    -- Posted by R. W. Bess on Thu, Apr 5, 2018, at 8:35 PM
  • So there is and isn't Individual State's Rights at the same time ? Bush did it in 2006 and Obama did the same thing in 2010 to no avail , I have to wonder what will make this one be any different . Those same Individual States didn't want the National Guard then either .

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Thu, Apr 5, 2018, at 9:47 PM
  • The Government can move Troops into any State it wants to do whatever it wants for however long it wants ?

    There isn't something in the USA Constitution that warns about this and gives citizens the Rights and protections from Government doing these actions to the citizens so the Government can't remove their Freedoms ?

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Thu, Apr 5, 2018, at 10:01 PM
  • Oregon governor: I'll say no if Trump asks me to deploy National Guard troops to Mexico border

    "If @realDonaldTrump asks me to deploy Oregon Guard troops to the Mexico border, I'll say no," Brown tweeted.

    "As Commander of Oregon's Guard, I'm deeply troubled by Trump's plan to militarize our border."

    She added: "There's been no outreach by the President or federal officials, and I have no intention of allowing Oregon's guard troops to be used to distract from his troubles in Washington."

    Trump on Wednesday signed a proclamation ordering National Guard troops to be sent to the U.S.-Mexico border to address a "surge of illegal activity."

    In a memo to Defense Secretary James Mattis and Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, Trump ordered the National Guard be used to secure the border "to stop the flow of deadly drugs and other contraband, gang members and other criminals, and illegal aliens into this country."

    https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/oregon-governor-ill-say-no-if-trump-asks-me-to...

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Thu, Apr 5, 2018, at 10:15 PM
  • Trump threatens further $100bn in tariffs against China

    http://www.bbc.com/news/business-43664243

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Fri, Apr 6, 2018, at 2:33 AM
  • The Chinese have

    - stolen our intellectual property and secrets for a couple of decades now

    - had massive tariffs on US products for years. If I were Trump I'd simply match their 25% tariff on US cars and all their other tariffs to a "T"

    - they openly flaunt their desire to become the global power in the world. That's OK. That's their right. But when a communist (now dictator) like their leader is the global power look out.

    ===

    The stronger will in this struggle is clearly in China's hands. Their people don't get a crap-load of freebies, they raise a lot of their own food and they depend on themselves. An economic "war" would really upset the snowflakes running around the US yelling "where's mine" every day.

    -- Posted by Doug Williams 4/24 on Fri, Apr 6, 2018, at 8:39 AM
  • We need more people with this woman's attitude! Her mother attempted to abort her and she miraculously survived with some brain damage - 40 years ago. She is speaking tonight in Cape Girardeau and the article is on the SE Missourian home page. Her thoughts:

    "I feel like every time I wake up and look on Twitter every day, everyone's demanding a day about something. And I'm thinking, 'You know, can you just be awesome and not need to be congratulated every single second of your life?'"

    Awesome attitude. The story:

    http://www.semissourian.com/story/2498857.html

    If we had more people with her attitude a "trade war" with China would be winnable.

    -- Posted by Doug Williams 4/24 on Fri, Apr 6, 2018, at 9:11 AM
  • *

    "Well to be perfectly honest, in my humble opinion, of course without offending anyone who thinks differently from my point of view, but also by looking into this matter in a different perspective and without being condemning of one's view's and by trying to make it objectified, and by considering each and every one's valid opinion, I honestly believe that I completely forgot what I was going to say." (anonymous)

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Fri, Apr 6, 2018, at 9:27 AM
  • I remember seeing documentaries in the late 1960s of US sponsored groups teaching Chinese peasants how to grow their own food. Not sure the communist dictator bases any trade decisions on how they would affect the Chinese poor people.

    -- Posted by R. W. Bess on Fri, Apr 6, 2018, at 10:47 AM
  • -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Sat, Apr 7, 2018, at 4:04 PM
  • *

    Rick, were there 31?

    -- Posted by Ralph VanGennip on Sun, Apr 8, 2018, at 1:25 AM
  • *

    Rick: 14 animals going towards the river.

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Sun, Apr 8, 2018, at 7:45 AM
  • Depends - when the 1 rabbit going to the river and saw 6 elephants, were the elephants going to the river or away???

    I think that's the point. You can't tell what is going on with this tariff stuff. :-)

    -- Posted by Doug Williams 4/24 on Sun, Apr 8, 2018, at 8:32 AM
  • *

    With the USA having a trade deficit with China of $300 billion a year that has being going on for years why not try something to bring that number down. What can China do....who will buy their junk products. If the peasants are out of a job due to the USA not buying their stuff, what will they do - protest & riot. What will the peasants do if the food stuffs from the USA are not imported - food revolt would be the answer....so go ahead China put on your big boy pants and let's get on with either trade negotiations or trade war. BTW, the USA owes trillions to China - will they let the USA go under or are we too big to fail....food for thought.

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Sun, Apr 8, 2018, at 8:48 AM
  • semo

    Southeast Asia is slowly changing it's currency over to bitcoin and bit-chains , I believe this is part of Trump's complaining about China's manipulating technology . If China , Taiwan , the Koreas , etc.. go exclusively to bitcoin a big question will be what happens to those billion$ of dollar$ it has loaned to the USA . A couple of European nations , Finland and Switzerland , I think , have also started going the way of the bitcoin and bit-chain .

    With China being one of the world's largest economy's , will the bitcoin replace the USA dollar as the world's standard currency gage ? I've read the value of the USA dollar is shrinking world wide , maybe this is one reason Trump is trying to renegotiate trade deals , dunno...

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Sun, Apr 8, 2018, at 9:49 AM
  • Rick, were there 31?

    -- Posted by Ralph VanGennip on Sun, Apr 8, 2018, at 1:25 AM

    I honestly don't know . Every time I read the question I get a different amount , it's why I posted the question to see if those who are way smarter then me could help .

    I'm easily mixfused ...

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Sun, Apr 8, 2018, at 9:52 AM
  • Migrant caravan, down by almost half, soldiers on through Mexico

    https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-immigration-caravan/migrant-caravan-down-...

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Sun, Apr 8, 2018, at 9:53 AM
  • ..maybe the tariffs will do something , things are so slow at the factory they had to lay Betty and Jaack off

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Sun, Apr 8, 2018, at 11:16 AM
  • I'm still trying to figure the connection of 5 animals with immigration. Does it mean nobody knows how many are coming in illegally?

    -- Posted by R. W. Bess on Sun, Apr 8, 2018, at 9:19 PM
  • Hopefully the pickle slicer can find work.

    -- Posted by R. W. Bess on Sun, Apr 8, 2018, at 9:21 PM
  • Realities Of U.S.-China Trade Illustrate Why Trump's Tariffs Won't Succeed

    https://www.forbes.com/sites/kenroberts/2018/04/04/trumps-xis-tariffs-wont-succe...

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Mon, Apr 9, 2018, at 7:56 AM
  • I'm still trying to figure the connection of 5 animals with immigration. Does it mean nobody knows how many are coming in illegally?

    -- Posted by R. W. Bess on Sun, Apr 8, 2018, at 9:19 PM

    It's how Trump's world tariff plan has been working out .

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Mon, Apr 9, 2018, at 8:30 AM
  • U.S. Needs China More Than China Needs the U.S.

    To avoid Trump's disastrous trade war, three things need to be addressed.

    https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2018-04-06/trump-s-tariffs-overlook-how-...

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Mon, Apr 9, 2018, at 2:01 PM
  • It is absolutely stupid to cut revenue in half then increase spending at the same time . It makes no sense to me to support anyone who would approve such actions , whether they be Democrat , Republican , or otherwise . Pile this inane foolishness on top of the waste Obamacare and the Peoples will get what they deserve -- be careful what you ask for , you just might get it .

    What the hell , it's our kids who are going to be punished by us .

    .....................

    Analysis: Tax cuts, spending to raise deficit to $1T by 2019

    WASHINGTON (AP) — The combined effects of President Trump's tax cuts and last month's budget-busting spending bill is sending the government's budget deficit toward the $1 trillion mark next year, according to a new analysis by the Congressional Budget Office.

    The CBO report says that that the twin tax and spending bills will push the budget deficit to $804 billion this year and just under $1 trillion for the upcoming budget year.

    CBO says economic growth from the tax cuts will add 0.7 percent on average to the nation's economic output over the coming decade. Those effects will only partially offset the deficit cost of the tax cuts. The administration had promised the cuts would pay for themselves.

    http://www.whsv.com/content/news/Analysis-Tax-cuts-spending-to-raise-deficit-to-...

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Mon, Apr 9, 2018, at 2:13 PM
  • -- Posted by David Schaefer on Tue, Apr 10, 2018, at 9:37 PM
  • Trust but verify.

    -- Posted by R. W. Bess on Tue, Apr 10, 2018, at 9:41 PM
  • Seems some democrats representing some agricultural states claim farmers are all going to go broke due to Trump while some Republicans representing agricultural states claim Trump will make them more profitable. Me thinks when it comes down to it, Democrats see a Trump failure more important than farmers.

    -- Posted by R. W. Bess on Wed, Apr 18, 2018, at 9:52 PM
  • *

    Good news, the trade deficit is going down.

    https://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-trade-deficit-narrows-sharply-in-march-2018...

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Thu, Apr 26, 2018, at 8:32 AM
  • "The numbers: The trade deficit in goods narrowed 10.3% to $68 billion, according to the government’s advanced report released Thursday."

    .........

    I wonder if they were Steel and Aluminum and which Foreign Nations they came from..."advanced report" makes me wonder .

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Thu, Apr 26, 2018, at 12:11 PM
  • *

    Rick: Still a long way to go but at least it's a start on the right track.

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Thu, Apr 26, 2018, at 3:25 PM
  • semo

    I was only wondering because I was talking with a former co-worker who is still working in PIC , he tells me the amount of imports from China and Canada have actually gone up instead of down . It got me to wondering because we spent every Friday , all day Friday , ordering imported goods from China and Canada . That was even after we figured out how to write Cisco software macro scripts too .

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Thu, Apr 26, 2018, at 7:40 PM
  • I thought so...

    *****************

    Trump Administration Delays Most Tariffs On Steel, Aluminum

    April 30, 20188:28 PM ET

    The Trump administration has decided to hold off on imposing most of its tariffs on imported steel and aluminum until at least June 1.

    Tariffs were scheduled to take effect at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday on imports from Canada, the largest U.S. supplier of steel and aluminum, as well as Mexico, Argentina, Australia, Brazil and the EU.

    https://www.npr.org/2018/04/30/607228321/trump-administration-delays-most-tariff...

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Mon, Apr 30, 2018, at 8:55 PM
  • I think Trump the Chump has a plan.

    -- Posted by R. W. Bess on Mon, Apr 30, 2018, at 10:23 PM
  • A bad one too .

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Tue, May 1, 2018, at 7:33 AM
  • *

    Rick & OJ: IMO, Trump tells folks what he's going to do and lets them think about it and when they start to cry then the bargaining starts.

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Tue, May 1, 2018, at 7:55 AM
  • IMO , Trump's shouldn't play his hand publicly on Twitter , that's nothing but PR . His threat about tariffs comes down to what happened -- nothing . After awhile People realize he's only crying wolf , no different then the Wall that Mexico was suppose to pay for when in the end , the National Guard was called in to defend the border . People will not take him seriously .

    Trump will try to take credit for North Korea when it was South Korea who are making the peace . The Trump supporters will swear to the Bible it was him but in all reality it was South Korea's Moon .

    Entitlements are still going strong , this hasn't changed .

    Spending has increased at the same time as revenue has been decreased .

    He appoints staff then fires them , no swamp draining going on there .

    China already owns billion$ of dollars of assets in the USA , tariffs really mean squat to them .

    He's the Commander-in-Twitter and not the Commander-in-Chief , for sure .

    He does have a plan -- "I'M FAMOUS , LOOK AT ME!!"

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Tue, May 1, 2018, at 8:29 AM
  • The Caravan People are now being admitted into the USA . Pregnant women and women with kids get the top priorities , whatever happened to DACA . No gangsters yet but plenty of baby mommas ....seven different States are suing about DACA , Texas being the Leader , saying Obama had no Constitutional right to create DACA from the get go , it might be headed to the SCOTUS . If one President can create rules why can't another President erase those rules ?

    Suddenly Trump is rubbing elbows with the Kardashians , or Kayne West , one of the stars of the Reality Show "The Kardashians" . Odd , no ?

    Trump gave the okay to continue with the Keystone Pipeline and the Dakota Access Pipeline , oil should be flowing , what's up with the price of gas . Regular gas now costs more then diesel , what's up with all that ?

    I still say the only good thing about Trump is he stopped the Obama/Clinton Agenda . He has to understand , it's all about the People of America and not all about Trump . Put that cell phone down and slowly back away , dude .

    He's hurting the Republicans when the 2018 mid-term happens , not helping at all because he's making it all about him .

    ..just from an Independent's point of view ..

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Tue, May 1, 2018, at 8:14 PM
  • Does the USA Government have a secure Twitter Account or is Trump using his own personal account and cell phone ? If so , how much different is this then Hillary having her own personal e-mail server ?

    Trump can't post a tweet without including the words "NO COLLUSION" somewhere in his post . As Rep. Trey Gowdy said , "If you didn't do anything wrong , act like it ."

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Tue, May 1, 2018, at 8:21 PM
  • US-China trade talks begin with Trump call for 'level playing field' - business live

    ..................

    As for the deficit with China, the March figure fell from $29.26bn to $25.88bn.

    BUT: the year to date figure for the trade gap with China is up sharply, from $78.8bn to $91bn.

    By sending so many senior officials to China, the Trump administration may actually have lowered the chances of a breakthrough.

    That’s because the delegation don’t really agree with each other about trade, making it harder to reach an agreement with Beijing.

    On the trade gap, the Trump administration want China to reduce its trade surplus with the US by around $100bn (it’s $375bn today). Unless US consumers start consuming less, that means opening up more Chinese markets to American imports.

    https://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2018/may/03/us-trade-talks-china-donal...

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Thu, May 3, 2018, at 8:51 AM
  • Pentagon Bans Chinese-Made Smartphones From Military Exchanges

    https://finance.yahoo.com/news/pentagon-bans-chinese-made-smartphones-221231652....

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Thu, May 3, 2018, at 9:22 AM
  • *

    Rick,

    In today's technology age, we could all be at risk from products built in a hostile country.

    -- Posted by Ralph VanGennip on Thu, May 3, 2018, at 9:30 AM
  • I agree . Another reason I have never and will never own a cell phone unless there is no other choice and I have to .

    I'm old school and stay land line..

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Thu, May 3, 2018, at 9:36 AM
  • *

    Rick,

    I don't know what to think there. I have used them from the beginning and currently use a so called smart phone. Maybe one day my head will explode, I don't know. But I have already passed the 80 mark and am speeding on my way. So I am not going to worry about the downside. So far it has come in handy in a lot of cases

    -- Posted by Ralph VanGennip on Thu, May 3, 2018, at 10:05 AM
  • Wheels

    But you have good sense and brains . A whole lot of People don't...

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Thu, May 3, 2018, at 10:12 AM
  • *

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Thu, May 3, 2018, at 10:12 AM

    Rick, you obviously have not spoken to the woman I married over 60 years ago. 😕

    -- Posted by Ralph VanGennip on Thu, May 3, 2018, at 10:16 AM
  • *

    Cell phones are a convenience and not one of the items that mankind can not live without.

    *******

    Wheels: 80 + 60= 140 years of experience.

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by David Schaefer on Sun, May 6, 2018, at 7:49 AM
  • So much for that famous "Tax Cut" to create jobs

    ************************

    Metal tariffs already hurting Heartland businesses

    CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KFVS) -

    Tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum from the Europe, Canada and Mexico will likely start Friday, but Heartland businesses that sell metal products are already hurting because of it.

    Sonny Underwood, the president of Mid-South Steel Products, only buys raw steel here in the U.S. but says prices quickly escalated after the tariffs we’re announced in early March.

    “I’ve been through lots of price changes both up and down,” Underwood said. “This time in two or three weeks you know we are seeing anywhere from 35 to over 50 percent increase in my raw materials. To me it doesn’t make a lot of sense.”

    Matt Wormington with Bootheel Fence Company says his customers are also noticing higher prices for their metal products and thinks the aluminum market has had some irregular spikes.

    “We’ve had the first set of increases now that we’ve seen in three years. We’ve already had two increases this year, and we are expecting probably another one again,” Wormington said. “Hopefully it will settle out quickly and then we get it back to level so maybe it’s not a yearly or every couple year increase on our products that would be ideal.”

    “I think we’ll see some settling down near the fourth quarter this year. We may even see some reduction,” he said. “For our company, it won’t cost anybody their job. We will probably not need to hire any new people for manufacturing because we have to pass the prices along so it’s ultimately our customers that have to pay the higher price for our product.”

    “I don’t have a negative view on president Trump over this but I’m not sure it was the smartest direction for him to take. Time will only tell,” Underwood said.

    http://www.kfvs12.com/story/38322166/metal-tariffs-already-hurting-heartland-bus...

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Thu, Jun 21, 2018, at 6:10 PM
  • Tariffs stir unrest among American whiskey producers

    What American whiskey makers have dreaded is becoming reality. The European Union will start taxing a range of U.S. imports on Friday, including Harley-Davidson bikes, cranberries, peanut butter, playing cards and whiskey. The union is responding to President Donald Trump's decision to slap tariffs on European steel and aluminum.

    American distilleries large and small have watched warily as the threat of tariffs from Europe ratcheted up in recent weeks. And while larger, corporate-owned facilities tend to do the most business overseas, small and mid-sized companies could be especially vulnerable, since they lack the ability to stockpile reserves and take other protective steps.

    Foreign markets have become lucrative for American whiskey makers. Export revenues for bourbon, Tennessee whiskey and rye whiskey products topped $1 billion in 2017, continuing a strong trend in recent years, according to the Distilled Spirits Council.

    Four of the five top growth markets by dollar value for American distilled spirits were in Europe - the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Spain. Total U.S. spirits exported to the EU in 2017 were valued at $789 million, the distilled spirits trade group said.

    http://www.kfvs12.com/story/38479048/tariffs-stir-unrest-among-american-whiskey-...

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Thu, Jun 21, 2018, at 6:20 PM
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    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Thu, Jun 21, 2018, at 6:20 PM

    Rick: If the whiskey is good they will probably keep buying it, if not the whiskey maker's inventory can be sold domestically at reduced prices that would be cheaper than shipping costs to overseas....think about it - hold my beer.

    *******

    Like Sonny Underwood said - Time will tell.

    Schaefer's World

    -- Posted by Dennis Smith on Thu, Jun 21, 2018, at 7:47 PM
  • semo

    Time well tell depends on two things , how long is time and what will be he answer . All prayers are answered , sometimes the answer is no .

    I believe moonshine will make a come back . There is also a push to legalize sweat leaf too , what effect will this have on alcohol anyway ? I also believe the price of goods are going to increase marginally , enuff so any or all raises plus "tax breaks" will be ate up paying for this higher cost of living . How much patience by the over all Public will last and will they be satisfied with the answer time has given them . Some how it isn't all jiving with America First . What are the odds another great bubble is going to pop , a great bubble with a loud bang . Are the trade inequalities more valuable -- which is greater , the risk or the benefit .

    btw , the size of Government has not went down , if the Space Army becomes a reality , the size of Government is going to shoot through the roof . Have any of the alphabet soup of Government agencies been eliminated or just the rules to the existing ones been changed .

    I wonder if Trump can smell those words coming out of his mouth , they sure smell like bullshat to me...

    -- Posted by Rick Scaggs on Thu, Jun 21, 2018, at 9:47 PM

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