America under President Trump

[bush_cheney2004]

31 minutes ago, Zeitgeist said:

The world will look very different after the boomers die off.  Everyone knows that Trump is a throwback.  The Millenials just have to wait them out.

 

That's fine....the boomers used to be hippies and yippies too.  Millennials will morph in the same way as their hair turns gray.

[Centerpiece]

I ask this question honestly because I'm not that familiar with the inner workings of either party. Bernie Sanders barely lost the nomination battle to Hillary Clinton. Some would say he was robbed. By American standards, Bernie was a socialist. The Democrats seem to be bereft of leadership, policies and direction - but appear to have shifted  more the the Left due to the Bernie factor. If there is a Traditional/Socialist rift in the party, how serious is it? 

[betsy]

Just look at this:

 

U.S. Is World’s Most Competitive Economy for First Time in a Decade

https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-is-worlds-most-competitive-economy-for-first-time-in-a-decade-1539727213

 

 

Quote

The U.S. is followed by Singapore, Germany, Switzerland and Japan in the top five spots among the 140 economies considered. In nearly 40 years of the group's rankings on competitiveness, the U.S. previously earned top honors in 2008. Switzerland was No. 1 last year.

https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2018/10/16/world/europe/ap-eu-world-economic-forum-competitiveness.html

 

All those Democrats who mock "Make America Great Again," by saying "America has always been great".....are obviously lying!   America's economy competitiveness went diving under OBAMA!

Edited October 18, 2018 by betsy

[betsy]

 

Quote

 

On 10/6/2018 at 3:11 PM, Zeitgeist said:

The world will look very different after the boomers die off.  Everyone knows that Trump is a throwback.  The Millenials just have to wait them out.

 

Lol.  Wait for the boomers to die off?    You seem to think Trump is going to be President forever!  

If I'm not mistaken, if he wins on 2020 - that would be his last term.  So, we're talking just another 4 years.

 

But I agree with you  though, the world will indeed look very different - scarily different - after the boomers die off.  We can all see the writings on the wall.  

Your only hope comes from the offsprings of the boomers........hoping they will carry the torch!

Edited October 18, 2018 by betsy

[Zeitgeist]

Trump has alienated allies, borrowed money to pay for massive tax cuts that mostly benefit the rich, undermined democracy (including trust in the press), empowered white supremacists, dismantled legislation that reduces climate change, and encouraged dictators and human rights abusers.  He is about money and instilling fear, but what does he propose to do with any perceived power?  Show me other values or vision.  This is why the U.S. may not just be overtaken in terms of economic heft; it may also be overtaken as a leader towards a better world.  Whether or not you think he is advancing America for Americans in accord with his America First approach depends on where you stand politically.  It's arguable that short-term economic wins will be outstripped by a long-term hit to foreign relations, domestic relations (with the opposition), and fiscal capacity.  Catastrophic climate change is the ultimate economic hit.   

[bush_cheney2004]

7 hours ago, Zeitgeist said:

  This is why the U.S. may not just be overtaken in terms of economic heft; it may also be overtaken as a leader towards a better world. 

 

Why are other nations/nationals so concerned about what the U.S. may or may not be on any issue ?   

Why can't they do it for themselves, without relying on another nation to "lead" ?

Edited October 22, 2018 by bush_cheney2004

[GostHacked]

8 hours ago, bush_cheney2004 said:

 

Why are other nations/nationals so concerned about what the U.S. may or may not be on any issue ?   

Why can't they do it for themselves, without relying on another nation to "lead" ?

IF the USA cannot lead , then get out of the way.  And when we have things like the crash of 2008 that affected many that did not even live in the USA, that is where you will find the concern. If the USA kept their problems to themselves (rarely happens) then no one else would need to bitch about it.

When the USA with Colin Powell lied to get into Iraq and affects other areas, that warrants concern from other nations.

When the USA supports terrorist groups like Al-Queda and ISIS and dictatorships like Saudi Arabia...... hard to ignore it.

[-TSS-]

Just tell me how are all those Hondurans supposed to be able to claim asylum in the USA if they have travelled all through Mexico which is a safe country?

Well, that was a kind of rhetorical question. We all know why, don't we?

[Wilber]

How to export more vehicles?

 

Make them more expensive to build of course

[Wilber]

Dow and  S&P have worst October since 2009. All of 2018's gains erased. When are Trump and his supporters going to start bragging about that?

 

2018 gains erased.

[Michael Hardner]

1 hour ago, Wilber said:

Dow and  S&P have worst October since 2009. All of 2018's gains erased. When are Trump and his supporters going to start bragging about that?

That's the 'blame' book, not the 'brag' book !  

[Wilber]

Just now, Michael Hardner said:

That's the 'blame' book, not the 'brag' book !  

Truman. The buck stops here

Trump. The buck stops anywhere but here.

[bush_cheney2004]

On 10/22/2018 at 12:17 PM, Wilber said:

How to export more vehicles?

 

Make them more expensive to build of course

 

If too expensive be your concern, then Ford and other automakers should leave Canada, the most expensive place to build in North America.

[Zeitgeist]

4 hours ago, bush_cheney2004 said:

 

If too expensive be your concern, then Ford and other automakers should leave Canada, the most expensive place to build in North America.

That is an incorrect statement.  Our lower dollar and universal health care makes the cost of auto production virtually the same or less expensive than in the U.S..  In the states where labour conditions and salary are worse (Right to Work states), productivity is also lower, so there's no real price advantage. 

Edited October 25, 2018 by Zeitgeist

[bush_cheney2004]

22 minutes ago, Zeitgeist said:

That is an incorrect statement.  Our lower dollar and universal health care makes the cost of auto production virtually the same or less expensive than in the U.S..  In the states where labour conditions and salary are worse (Right to Work states), productivity is also lower, so there's no real price advantage. 

 

Guess again....Canada is/was the most expensive for labour costs, energy costs, and taxes. When the Canadian dollar rises costs go up, and foreign automakers move production to lower cost plants outside of Canada (Canada has no major domestic car make).

From 2012....

 

Quote

Canada is the most expensive auto-producing jurisdiction in the world and the Canadian Auto Workers union must close the labour cost gap with their U.S. counterparts, said General Motors CEO Dan Akerson

https://business.financialpost.com/transportation/canada-now-the-most-expensive-place-to-build-a-car-in-the-world-says-gm-chief

 

President Trump should follow through on auto tariffs if Canada refuses to accept quotas...kill off what is left of the dying automotive industry in Ontario !

Edited October 25, 2018 by bush_cheney2004

[Zeitgeist]

19 minutes ago, bush_cheney2004 said:

 

Guess again....Canada is/was the most expensive for labour costs, energy costs, and taxes. When the Canadian dollar rises costs go up, and foreign automakers move production to lower cost plants outside of Canada (Canada has no major domestic car make).

From 2012....

 

 

President Trump should follow through on auto tariffs if Canada refuses to accept quotas...kill off what is left of the dying automotive industry in Ontario !

I agree that auto production costs rise and fall with the exchange rate.  Show me another article six months from now and you'll get different stats.  Any attempt to kill off Canadian auto production by the U.S. government will lead to equal counter-tariffs against U.S. auto exports.  This is important because we buy more cars from you than the reverse.  It's also important to appreciate that we don't just produce cars made by companies with U.S. head office addresses.  Besides, U.S. auto makers and steel makers for that matter have always had Canadian components.  Trying to separate the Canadian components of these companies to gain some mercantile advantage is disgustingly transparent and both consumers and governments will respond.  We produce and buy brands from many other countries.  The response when Heinz closed a production plant in Ontario was swift: Canadians started buying French's.  Stop trying to squeeze allies.  It looks bad on you.  You still don't get the size of the hit relations between our countries have taken under Trump.  Yeah yeah, you'll say you don't care.  Whatever.   

Edited October 25, 2018 by Zeitgeist

[bush_cheney2004]

15 minutes ago, Zeitgeist said:

I agree that auto production costs rise and fall with the exchange rate.  Show me another article six months from now and you'll get different stats.  Any attempt to kill off Canadian auto production by the U.S. government will lead to equal counter-tariffs against U.S. auto exports.  This is important because we buy more cars from you than the reverse.

 

That's OK by me...Canada exports 85% of automotive production to the USA...the reverse is not true.  Trump needs to keep the pressure on Ontario's auto sector to minimize parts transshipments from China as they try to beat the tariffs.     Canada/Ontario has done far more to kill off automotive production than anything Trump can do.

 

Quote

It's also important to appreciate that we don't just produce cars made by companies with U.S. head office addresses.  Besides, U.S. auto makers and steel makers for that matter have always had Canadian components.  Trying to separate the Canadian components of these companies to gain some mercantile advantage is disgustingly transparent and both consumers and governments will respond. 

 

So what...nothing special about Canada when it comes to competition for jobs and market share.   

Still waiting for that Canadian corp owned car assembly plant to be built in the USA.

 

Quote

We produce and buy brands from many other countries.  The response when Heinz closed a production plant in Ontario was swift: Canadians started buying French's.  Stop trying to squeeze allies.  It looks bad on you.  You still don't get the size of the hit relations between our countries have taken under Trump.  Yeah yeah, you'll say you don't care.  Whatever.   

 

I don't care !!    (French's is also American owned.)

Allies mean nothing when it is about competition, tariffs, dumping, IP theft, transshipments, etc.   

Go find a better ally if you don't like Trump's methods....fat chance.

 

Edited October 25, 2018 by bush_cheney2004

[Boges]

9 hours ago, bush_cheney2004 said:

I don't care !!    (French's is also American owned.)

Allies mean nothing when it is about competition, tariffs, dumping, IP theft, transshipments, etc.   

Go find a better ally if you don't like Trump's methods....fat chance.

ASAIK, Congress has yet to vote on the new NAFTA. If the House goes to the Dems, perhaps "Trump's Methods" will not be as big an issue. 

[bush_cheney2004]

40 minutes ago, Boges said:

ASAIK, Congress has yet to vote on the new NAFTA. If the House goes to the Dems, perhaps "Trump's Methods" will not be as big an issue. 

 

Trump can still slap auto tariffs on Canada through the Dept. of Commerce.

Hoping and praying what might happen with a foreign government/elections is not a good position to be in.

[Boges]

1 minute ago, bush_cheney2004 said:

Trump can still slap auto tariffs on Canada through the Dept. of Commerce.

Hoping and praying what might happen with a foreign government/elections is not a good position to be in.

Who says I'm praying? But you're still actings as New Nafta is a fait au complet 

This New NAFTA doesn't include Auto Tariffs. Sounds like you're still praying that may happen. 

[bush_cheney2004]

Agreed...don't bother praying....it won't make any difference to the U.S. government.  

Trump can still threaten/impose auto tariffs get what he wants on quotas.

Canada can walk away from the USMCA...but we both know that Canada won't !

[Boges]

5 minutes ago, bush_cheney2004 said:

Agreed...don't bother praying....it won't make any difference to the U.S. government.  

Trump can still threaten/impose auto tariffs get what he wants on quotas.

Canada can walk away from the USMCA...but we both know that Canada won't !

Evidence on why scrapping Article 19 was deal breaker. Trump's word isn't worth the paper it's written on. 

[bush_cheney2004]

3 minutes ago, Boges said:

Evidence on why scrapping Article 19 was deal breaker. Trump's word isn't worth the paper it's written on. 

 

Pure political theater for domestic Canadian politics....the U.S. will continue to impose tariffs/countervailing duty...just as it did long before a President Trump came along.

Trump promised changes to NAFTA...and he has delivered.    Canada and Mexico can like it or lump it.

[Zeitgeist]

2 hours ago, bush_cheney2004 said:

 

Pure political theater for domestic Canadian politics....the U.S. will continue to impose tariffs/countervailing duty...just as it did long before a President Trump came along.

Trump promised changes to NAFTA...and he has delivered.    Canada and Mexico can like it or lump it.

Canada was sucker punched by Trump, no doubt.  We have learned much about how low the POTUS can go.  I hope we diversify trade away from the US and keep our border secure.  

[bush_cheney2004]

1 minute ago, Zeitgeist said:

Canada was sucker punched by Trump, no doubt.  We have learned much about how low the POTUS can go.  I hope we diversify trade away from the US and keep our border secure.  

 

I doubt Canada will actually do that...but if it does, you can thank President Trump for motivating Canada to stop being so dependent on the U.S. economy.