The Tariff Questions?

[Mr. Coffee]

I bet my Fidelity guy could offer a solution.

A guy named Marx beat him to it by 150 years.

If you had the government making investments in private securities how exactly would that work? Who would decide what securities to buy and which ones to sell? Who would decide when those were bought and sold? Also, if the securities are shares they come with voting rights, so the government would have votes and probably seats on the board.

You also get kind of stuck because that would be a very large portfolio. You'd obviously want transparency around its management. Except when you didn't want it -- e.g. because if you gave out advance information about your intentions to buy or sell certain classes of assets you'd make the markets go crazy. Well, crazier.

The whole idea is a demonstrably bad one. We have lots of experience in how well it works and all of it is ugly.

 

[mschwett]

 

[Roamers]

The whole idea is a demonstrably bad one.

All ideas that one disagrees with are bad. It can be made to work. I choose Fidelity, because that's who I use, there are others. Fidelity manages $4.5T; the OASDI Trust fund is $2.8T. Yes there is a way.

 

[Roamers]

Reference: https://www.cbo.gov/system/files/2024-03/59727-Federal-Budget.pdf and Post #86

Let's make this easy:

• Total revenues actually = 4.4 - 1.6 = 2.8T (can't count Payroll taxes, they only go for SS and Medicare)
• Total outlays actually =6.1 - 1.3 - .839 + .539 = 4.5T (outlays - SS - Medicare + diff between ss/medicare outlays and payroll taxes)

Not going to take the time to go deeper, but I don't agree Medicaid and Income Security Programs are Mandatory (reference the Constitution), Defense is mandatory (but I don't know if it can be reduced). I doubt $2T is reasonable to cut, but I would say 1.7 + .616 + .448 = $2.7T can be looked at.

Been fun, but other things to do! I got paid for creating solutions in the past.

 

[Xyeet]

With Chinese tariffs making European e-bikes more competitively priced, would we see an increase in their presence on US markets?

 

[February]

Even though it is the season to put fair weather bikes away here in Michigan, I'm buying as many components and batteries as I can before cheeto hitler comes to power. I don't know why some one can't sit that imbecile down and explain tariffs to him, but good lord yes to anyone waiting to pull the trigger on a purchase, do not hesitate. If this mad man's tariff fetish becomes reality we are all screwed, buy now while you can. I'm poor, but there is a reason I'm dropping $300 on a pair of Moth Bars from France. They are made in Taiwan and were supposed to have a second run, almost a year ago. Chances are, if they are ever available again, during cheeto hitler's reign, they will cost an arm and a leg. BUY NOW IF YOU CAN.

 

[mschwett]

Even though it is the season to put fair weather bikes away here in Michigan, I'm buying as many components and batteries as I can before cheeto hitler comes to power. I don't know why some one can't sit that imbecile down and explain tariffs to him, but good lord yes to anyone waiting to pull the trigger on a purchase, do not hesitate. If this mad man's tariff fetish becomes reality we are all screwed, buy now while you can. I'm poor, but there is a reason I'm dropping $300 on a pair of Moth Bars from France. They are made in Taiwan and were supposed to have a second run, almost a year ago. Chances are, if they are ever available again, during cheeto hitler's reign, they will cost an arm and a leg. BUY NOW IF YOU CAN.

there are some signs that at least 2 or 3 senators will oppose things that are just beyond the pale, e.g. matt gaetz. i mean, wtf.

the question now is simply how bad things will get in the short term before the need for more change is obvious to at least another couple percent of americans in 7 states.

 

[February]

Well, here is the good and the bad. The AP crunched the numbers and I'm happy to report, the young people under the age of 45 got out to vote, women got out to vote, non white people got out to vote and so too did white dudes for Harris. Even 3rd party voting was less than last election. So important facts for anyone who thinks we are going down the fascist rabbit hole"

Only half the people that could vote did vote. That means 25% of or citizenry are fascist at heart, or too stupid to understand they are a bunch of rubes. the other 75% of us are more or less sane, we just don't vote. Trump won by the same amount of votes he lost by last time. We knew the boomers(no offense to awesome boomers, I personally know many) were going to vote far right. It was my generation, ages 45 to 64 which includes old x's and young boomers, that turned the tide last election, for some reason those 6-8 million voters who got out and voted democratic last election, stayed home this election. Basically, we're going through Bernie Bros 2.0. We will survive this, just like we did last time. Real question for me is, not if, but when, we have president Vance, because the republicans in the senate don't fear trump anymore.

 

[February]

there are some signs that at least 2 or 3 senators will oppose things that are just beyond the pale, e.g. matt gaetz. i mean, wtf.

the question now is simply how bad things will get in the short term before the need for more change is obvious to at least another couple percent of americans in 7 states.

Agreed.

 

[February]

With Chinese tariffs making European e-bikes more competitively priced, would we see an increase in their presence on US markets?

No, because the tariffs won't just affect Chinese products. They are going to screw everyone. And since like it or not, Americans are the largest consumer group on the planet, what affects us will have a ripple affect across the globe.

 

[Roamers]

Well, here is the good and the bad. The AP crunched the numbers and I'm happy to report, the young people under the age of 45 got out to vote, women got out to vote, non white people got out to vote and so too did white dudes for Harris. Even 3rd party voting was less than last election. So important facts for anyone who thinks we are going down the fascist rabbit hole"

Only half the people that could vote did vote. That means 25% of or citizenry are fascist at heart, or too stupid to understand they are a bunch of rubes. the other 75% of us are more or less sane, we just don't vote. Trump won by the same amount of votes he lost by last time. We knew the boomers(no offense to awesome boomers, I personally know many) were going to vote far right. It was my generation, ages 45 to 64 which includes old x's and young boomers, that turned the tide last election, for some reason those 6-8 million voters who got out and voted democratic last election, stayed home this election. Basically, we're going through Bernie Bros 2.0. We will survive this, just like we did last time. Real question for me is, not if, but when, we have president Vance, because the republicans in the senate don't fear trump anymore.

Curious are you retired or still working?

 

[Xyeet]

U.S. e-bike market poised for rapid growth amidst European influence

Compared to Europe, the U.S. e-bike market is still in its infancy, but its growth potential is huge.

www.gzsamebike.com

 

[February]

Curious are you retired or still working?

Both and Neither. Sorry, you're going to have to be more specific. I sense there is another question behind your first one-

 

[February]

It should also be known that the USA does not have the political or financial leverage it once had with China, because they sold all their US government bonds to Japan after the 2008 collapse. If the orange one thinks he'll win a tariff war with china, he's sadly mistaken. Like I said, its a consumer thing. The US economy makes it possible for Americans to buy goods from everywhere. As soon as everyone's biggest buyer get's shafted, trust me, everyone else will feel it. And if you think he will stop at china, think again. Yeah, Murica first.... All we can hope is that the senate keeps him in check, because neither the courts nor house will. I think his 3rd or is 4th impeachment might be the end of him, finally. As soon as people start feeling the hurt, the senate and house will act, maybe. All we can do is hope the adults can keep the orange one in check.

Also, the SCOTUS can not stop the orange one from being dethroned If the Senate both impeaches and removes the president. How long you think it will take the senate to find an impeachable offense?

 

[DaveMatthews]

It should also be known that the USA does not have the political or financial leverage it once had with China, because they sold all their US government bonds to Japan after the 2008 collapse. If the orange one thinks he'll win a tariff war with china, he's sadly mistaken. Like I said, its a consumer thing. The US economy makes it possible for Americans to buy goods from everywhere. As soon as everyone's biggest buyer get's shafted, trust me, everyone else will feel it. And if you think he will stop at china, think again. Yeah, Murica first.... All we can hope is that the senate keeps him in check, because neither the courts nor house will. I think his 3rd or is 4th impeachment might be the end of him, finally. As soon as people start feeling the hurt, the senate and house will act, maybe. All we can do is hope the adults can keep the orange one in check.

Also, the SCOTUS can not stop the orange one from being dethroned If the Senate both impeaches and removes the president. How long you think it will take the senate to find an impeachable offense?

Project 2025 is being formed as we speak, right in your face which the leopards will start eating rather soon...

 

[February]

People should also know Trump has the absolute power to issue tariffs by executive order. Some of his Rubes still hold out hope and maybe he wants a legacy? All we can do is wait and see.

 

[February]

Project 2025 is being formed as we speak, right in your face which the leopards will start eating rather soon...

Agreed except, they will be eating their own faces, I voted Harris. "Leopards ate my face" describes someone doing something terribly wrong that they think will hurt others, but it only ends up hurting them; that would be Trump voters, or the 6 to 8 million people between the ages of 45 and 64 who voted Democratic last election, but stayed home this election.

 

[tomjasz]

What does that mean?

Amazon is a sub par employer when it comes to wages and benefits. But hey that's OK they're Amerkans.

 

[Roamers]

Amazon is a sub par employer when it comes to wages and benefits. But hey that's OK they're Amerkans.

If people can find better with the skills they have, they should change.

 

[tomjasz]

If they are hiring illegals, the business owners should be penalized.

Yeah those darn illegals. But hey Roamers, don't look at who is running the milk parlors and most large dairies. HINT they speak Spanish. Who drywalled your new house? Poured the concrete? Mows, blows and goes to work on your landscape? That's the dirty little secret that your ilk seems to miss. Oh boy and let me know when the neighborhood white kids get up at 4AM to pick tomatoes for 10 hours so you and I can afford them.