Buyer Beware... If you're non-American, think twice before purchasing from the US

[Sunrises Sunsets]

Gainfully employed under a communist regime you mean? No thank you.

The USA isn't a communist's regime but thank you for pointing out that we are a free country and can have this type of employment for our citizens who want it.

When I was young, these types of jobs were available in the community and no one sniffed and said, "Oh, you work there.."

 

[Sunrises Sunsets]

Ooooooh, smartphones and computers have now been exempt from tariffs. Quelle surprise. Voilà.

Pedant alert: a Viola is a musical instrument, or a flower.

Yes, use the diacritic and put the little pinkie out at the same time!

 

[Rockdiamond]

Didn't you sell stock off quickly so you wouldn't suffer the losses others have now suffered? Is that insider trading or cognizant planning with the information at hand?

The fact that you can’t see the difference between a private individual selling stock based on reading the news and reacting, versus government officials who buy or sell stock in advance of government announcements based on privileged ( inside) information…. Wow
I ask again …. Where do you get your news????

 

[Sunrises Sunsets]

See post #458.
We would still need to import semiconductors from China and Taiwan. We don’t have our own supply of the rare earth minerals. The cost of Apple products will become prohibitive with the 145% tariffs. May not be a concern for you, but in the US iPhone has the market share. Follow the money. Again may not be a concern for you, but most Americans can’t do ANYTHING without their phone. That’s a whole other story.I’ve read that some production has moved to Vietnam and India, but they’re not spared from tariffs either.
Like it or not we are a global economy. Bringing back Manufacturing to the extent you are inferring will never make economic sense. As Americans we’ve come to expect the cost of goods at Walmart, Costco, Home Depot etc to be affordable. We can’t have it both ways.

Maybe what should be considered while other's insist this country just cannot handle manufacturing which was our lifeblood before all the desk-side people trashed it, is how little anyone will have when we reach UBI. It will make an equalization of everyone for sure because your's and everyone's money will be spread over the entire, jobless population.

About the celebrated "cellphone".. there is little to no reason for trashing cellphones a couple of years after they are issued. Planned obsolescence for sure as most could be quickly adapted if necessary and they could be replaced far less frequently.

I research just now and found this AI statement:
"Yes, smartphones could be designed to be significantly more durable and last longer, potentially reducing the need for frequent replacements. This could be achieved through various design choices, including using stronger materials, incorporating modular designs for easier repair, and ensuring better software support and longevity.

Can we think outside the box for improvement in our lives?

 

[Sunrises Sunsets]

The fact that you can’t see the difference between a private individual selling stock based on reading the news and reacting, versus government officials who buy or sell stock in advance of government announcements based on privileged ( inside) information…. Wow
I ask again …. Where do you get your news????

You missed the point, you got the jump on selling stock over other people. So now everyone should look askance at you?

There probably is insider trading, I've been banging that bucket for a long, long time. How many begin representing our country with nickels in their bags and leave as multimillionaires or billionaires. Is everyone just waking up to that fact now? I don't want to cross the line so I'll just say they came from both sides of the aisle, big time.

I would really like to link an article about the ridiculous profits she made from insider trading but I'll just leave it to say it is an issue, always has been a problem and the only ones who can really clamp down on it and maybe issue HUGE fines won't do it. And we all put them in that position over the years and now.

 

[missy]

How many begin representing our country with nickels in their bags and leave as multimillionaires or billionaires

Exactly. We cannot discuss details but it is heavily weighted on one side

 

[Texas Leaguer]

There's a reason that Americans are not signing up for jobs picking crops. And it's not because they are lazy. Immigrants fill most of those jobs and there is a reason for that too. Immigrants contribute significantly to our economy.

If the US is planning on manufacturing products like iphones with a thousand tiny parts, we better have an immigration policy that does not demonize the workers we need.

 

[Rockdiamond]

Exactly. We cannot discuss details but it is heavily weighted on one side

It’s an issue. On all sides.

You missed the point, you got the jump on selling stock over other people. So now everyone should look askance at

One of us surely missed the point.
I did advise friends to sell their stocks a few months back.
Why should anyone look askance at that- given that I’m just a regular guy.
If people either in our government - or simply people our government wants to help( on the sly) had prior knowledge of an announcement that would either cause stocks to jump or fall- and they acted upon it.
We all ( probably) agree that stock trading, when done by people who write laws or regulate financial markets is questionable - to say the least.
I would be very surprised if one side of the aisle or the the other is more guilty. They’re pretty much all doing it.
But the massive swings this past week…. Definitely not normal. Someone- or a group of someone’s made billions

 

[Sunrises Sunsets]

Facts.
At this moment in time, facts are……pasè
Canada is our enemy. We’ve been ripped off by every single country in the world.
Starving children in Africa have been taking advantage of us. We’re suckers.

And let’s ignore realities hitting us in the face. Canada now isn’t a friend anymore. In fact we ( America) don’t have ANY more friends. Except Putin.
As Bryan points out- the unfolding disaster hasn’t hit Main Street yet. As a businessperson, we already feel it.
So you won’t see people crying on street corners maybe yet.
Or even millions of Americans who staged massive protests this past Saturday. That got very little coverage

Facts:

Facts are only out of date if they are twisted
Canadians are not our enemy, I don't know why you feel that way
The leeches who stole the money intended for the very poor in Africa are who is taking advantage of us
No one was crying tears as so many factories in the USA were closed one by one leaving millions without good pay jobs but welfare benefits instead. But then your ox wasn't being gored
According to the alphabet news channel, protesters numbered in the tens of thousands... looks like you missed the mark with "millions". Maybe it went largely unnoticed because the majority of people are in agreement with what needs to happen here

 

[Bonfire]

Sunrises Sunsets said:
How many begin representing our country with nickels in their bags and leave as multimillionaires or billionaires

However you are ok with the world’s richest man spending millions to buy an election for another millionaire?
The same billionaire tried to buy another election in Wisconsin. You vote for that?

 

[missy]

It’s an issue. On all sides.

yes that is what I wrote but more heavily weighted on ONE side

 

[Rockdiamond]

No one was crying tears as so many factories in the USA were closed one by one leaving millions without good pay jobs but welfare benefits instead. But then your ox wasn't being gored.

Through the ‘80’s I was a traveling salesman. I saw the devastation in PA, Ohio and other places.
Empty factories.
North Carolina was the furniture king.
Also decimated as businesses relocated to places with cheap labor for manufacturing.
But things changed in other ways too. Research Triangle in Raleigh became a hub for high tech.
Many places weren’t as lucky.
Towns were devastated.
All of this is a big part of why we are where we are today.
But the notion that we can turn back the clock and re-open those factories…. Is ignoring basic economics- and facts repeatedly posted here.
Still waiting to find out where we are getting our news.
WSJ is also excellent

 

[Rockdiamond]

yes that is what I wrote but more heavily weighted on ONE side

Not discussing politics- but human nature- I’m believe we can find bad behavior on both sides.
Each of us feels the other side is worse.
Probably almost 1/2 the country believes the same as each of us.

 

[Sunrises Sunsets]

It’s an issue. On all sides.


One of us surely missed the point.
I did advise friends to sell their stocks a few months back.
Why should anyone look askance at that- given that I’m just a regular guy.
If people either in our government - or simply people our government wants to help( on the sly) had prior knowledge of an announcement that would either cause stocks to jump or fall- and they acted upon it.
We all ( probably) agree that stock trading, when done by people who write laws or regulate financial markets is questionable - to say the least.
I would be very surprised if one side of the aisle or the the other is more guilty. They’re pretty much all doing it.
But the massive swings this past week…. Definitely not normal. Someone- or a group of someone’s made billions

I agree and it needs attention and a solution. But for the record, although both sides of the aisle were guilted, one side was found to be far worse.

I remember when our son was engaged, he was really into computers, told his future in-laws about a stock that he felt was going to soar, Intel. They bought, it did, they made a bundle and our son never mentioned it to us, lol. He knew we didn't gamble and his future in-laws were into stocks. Funny thing is we are just as sound as they are financially through our wise decisions, sound work ethics and property investments. We never lost sleep over the market swings. Speaking of market swings, remember covid? It all depends on how much of a gambler one is and how much stomach they have for the ride.

 

[Rockdiamond]

one side was found to be far worse

By who???
Where are you getting this information????

 

[missy]

Not discussing politics- but human nature- I’m believe we can find bad behavior on both sides.
Each of us feels the other side is worse.
Probably almost 1/2 the country believes the same as each of us.

That is true.
I think they both (all) suck
But I am not the idealist you are
I hate (almost) everyone (in politics)
In fact, no never mind. Don't get me started LOL
But yeah bad behavior exists on both sides no question about it

 

[Sunrises Sunsets]

Through the ‘80’s I was a traveling salesman. I saw the devastation in PA, Ohio and other places.
Empty factories.
North Carolina was the furniture king.
Also decimated as businesses relocated to places with cheap labor for manufacturing.
But things changed in other ways too. Research Triangle in Raleigh became a hub for high tech.
Many places weren’t as lucky.
Towns were devastated.
All of this is a big part of why we are where we are today.
But the notion that we can turn back the clock and re-open those factories…. Is ignoring basic economics- and facts repeatedly posted here.
Still waiting to find out where we are getting our news.
WSJ is also excellent

What happened in business is that owners switched the debit side of the ledger to the American people. Business owners would no longer pay wages here, vacation time, health care benefits, disability coverages, facility ownership or rent and they unloaded on the American people those responsibilities while they collected clean profits. We are penny-wise and pound foolish here.

I remember as a child, when people every once in a while would turn over an item with made in that country stamped on the bottom or a sticker with it's name and laugh. Little did they know it would be our downfall.

 

[missy]

@Sunrises Sunsets When we were growing up my parents only bought American cars. As one example. I was actually the first in our family to buy a non American car (Toyota Corolla). Because I wanted something reliable since I was driving long distances every day and I was a poor student so couldn't spend a fortune. I got a second hand Corolla and it was a great car. But yeah the days of buying American are a very distant memory

 

[Bonfire]

What happened in business is that owners switched the debit side of the ledger to the American people. Business owners would no longer pay wages here, vacation time, health care benefits, disability coverages, facility ownership or rent and they unloaded on the American people those responsibilities while they collected clean profits. We are penny-wise and pound foolish here.

This I agree with. Corporate greed. However, this administration is all about corporate greed and cronyism. Did you see all the billionaires lined up in the front row of the inauguration licking their proverbial chops? This is all about wealth redistribution to the top 1%

 

[Sunrises Sunsets]

By who???
Where are you getting this information????

It takes a good amount of digging but it's there, particularly one famous member who has made a killing. I would love to link it but I'm going to follow the guidelines here.

It's all insider trading and both parties are so crooked, I don't know how they fit in bed to sleep at night. It's one of the reasons we don't gamble in the market to say nothing of the information on the floor of the exchange. And any gain is a thing on paper, take some profits, pay the taxes, the fees and see what is left.

I firmly believe in paying taxes and we do. (I didn't say we enjoy it..). I just wish everyone, including the wealthy, would ditch the loopholes and do the right thing.

 

[Sunrises Sunsets]

This I agree with. Corporate greed. However, this administration is all about corporate greed and cronyism. Did you see all the billionaires lined up in the front row of the inauguration licking their proverbial chops? This is all about wealth redistribution to the top 1%

Yes and I saw all the chop licking millionaire/billionaires during the recent past, 4 years and cronyism was alive and well then.

I believe many of those wealthy are now seeing the light and how things have to change or they will no longer have their successful business. Bringing businesses back here will put those expenses back on the debit side of the ledger for businesses and off our tax backs. Continuing as is creates more ruination.

People saw cheaper price tags and thought they were happy to see that stuff from overseas. They missed the slight of hand where they were paying more for those items via taxes due to the debit side of the ledger being paid by us.

 

[Sunrises Sunsets]

@Sunrises Sunsets When we were growing up my parents only bought American cars. As one example. I was actually the first in our family to buy a non American car (Toyota Corolla). Because I wanted something reliable since I was driving long distances every day and I was a poor student so couldn't spend a fortune. I got a second hand Corolla and it was a great car. But yeah the days of buying American are a very distant memory

That sounds very similar to our situation only with a limited budget and desire for the vehicle to last a long time. East Asia may have had an edge with their vehicles now but why can't we match them quality for quality? We have brains, technology and the ambition to build these vehicles and we need to do it. I would love to buy an American company's vehicle built in the USA and it can happen. Less shipping, better air!

 

[Bonfire]

@Sunrises Sunsets When we were growing up my parents only bought American cars. As one example. I was actually the first in our family to buy a non American car (Toyota Corolla). Because I wanted something reliable since I was driving long distances every day and I was a poor student so couldn't spend a fortune. I got a second hand Corolla and it was a great car. But yeah the days of buying American are a very distant memory

Missy I’m a lot older than you. My dad owned a small business until he closed in the mid 80s. He couldn’t compete with the new big box stores that were popping up all over. Dad only bought used Chevy’s.
In my town many folks worked at the meat packing plant and afforded to raise large families. College has become unaffordable along with health care. It’s a bygone era.
Trying to bring back low paying factory jobs isn’t realistic, just ask any millennial or Gen Z
There are many avenues for job creation and we are not on the right track

 

[missy]

Missy I’m a lot older than you. My dad owned a small business until he closed in the mid 80s. He couldn’t compete with the new big box stores that were popping up all over. Dad only bought used Chevy’s.
In my town many folks worked at the meat packing plant and afforded to raise large families. College has become unaffordable along with health care. It’s a bygone era.
Trying to bring back low paying factory jobs isn’t realistic, just ask any millennial.
There are many avenues for job creation and we are not on the right track

Similar story. My dad owned a small business too and he retired relatively young because he couldn't keep up with the bigger corporations We were lucky he did OK but he was not (IMO) a very savvy business person and never raised his fees the entire time. But he enjoyed what he did and it served our family well. You are right. These days things are very different. And not necessarily better

 

[Sunrises Sunsets]

Missy I’m a lot older than you. My dad owned a small business until he closed in the mid 80s. He couldn’t compete with the new big box stores that were popping up all over. Dad only bought used Chevy’s.
In my town many folks worked at the meat packing plant and afforded to raise large families. College has become unaffordable along with health care. It’s a bygone era.
Trying to bring back low paying factory jobs isn’t realistic, just ask any millennial.
There are many avenues for job creation and we are not on the right track

College is being avoided by many young men. They are going into the trades where they can contribute a tangible to this country, make a decent living and not be stuffed in a desk chair for the remainder of their lives. College is a limited resource and isn't the end-all solution. After you cull out the Drs, nurses, necessary medical staff, teachers, CPA's, scientists, engineers and a few other fields, many college grads are floating around with no adequate jobs.

We have so many studies ongoing and I would guess 90% of them are worthless. The latest one I heard on TV last night was the best time to take a nap. Really? People have been napping on their own for thousands of years without this million dollar tidbit and I'm going to have to track some of the doozies I'm hearing. If people want to study this on their own time, more power to them but I, personally, don't want to fund foolishness.

Factory jobs wouldn't have to be low paying, we are just switching the debit side of the sheet to the factory owners and we would have much lower taxes without subsidies that aren't covered by business now. Stock market payouts maybe less but cash would be earned by employment and not the "something for nothing" premise.

 

[Bonfire]

Yep not everyone is college material. Trade schools are a great alternative. We always need electricians, car mechanics and plumbers etc. We also need doctors, nurses, scientists, lab technicians, computer techs, etc.
Anyway I digress… carry on

 

[Sunrises Sunsets]

Yep not everyone is college material. Trade schools are a great alternative. We always need electricians, car mechanics and plumbers etc. We also need doctors, nurses, scientists, lab technicians, computer techs, etc.
Anyway I digress… carry on

I agree with you in that college is essential for some occupations. We have now loaded millions of people into our population who for the most part do not have college degrees or the ability to obtain one. But they can be vital members of American society with their present or trainable skills.

 

[Lookinagain]

College is being avoided by many young men. They are going into the trades where they can contribute a tangible to this country, make a decent living and not be stuffed in a desk chair for the remainder of their lives.

Well, I definitely think this is a good thing. There are too many young adults out there with their college degrees, but no real marketable skills. And finding a good plumber or electrician isn't very easy these days. We definitely need more trades people, men and women.

 

[Sunrises Sunsets]

Sunrises Sunsets said:
How many begin representing our country with nickels in their bags and leave as multimillionaires or billionaires

However you are ok with the world’s richest man spending millions to buy an election for another millionaire?
The same billionaire tried to buy another election in Wisconsin. You vote for that?

Unfortunately, that door swings both ways and I can cite a recent election prior to this where the exact same situation occurred only with different players.

The Wisconsin Election... look at where most of the funding came for the other side.

We all vote but big money has taken the vote from the people and we are all puppets on their stage, on both sides. This isn't a you against me situation, this is the common man against the dollar. I tend to vote for the person who is trying to build this country back to it's strengths and not tear it down. Your vote, this time was probably different than mine. It doesn't make you or me evil, we have different perspectives. But we are both under the big money umbrella spread when it comes to elections.

 

[Bonfire]

We have so many studies ongoing and I would guess 90% of them are worthless. The latest one I heard on TV last night was the best time to take a nap. Really? People have been napping on their own for thousands of years without this million dollar tidbit and I'm going to have to track some of the doozies I'm hearing. If people want to study this on their own time, more power to them but I, personally, don't want to fund foolishness

I don’t think research and studies in children’s brain cancers are foolish. As well as additional cancer studies that have been halted. I’m sure if you had cancer you might see this differently. Many of the cuts that are being made are negligent and malevolent. A slash and burn approach. We should be leaders in this field. This is not making America …(fill in the slogan).