This little article explains how trade lifted so many out of poverty. If transnational trade were ended the richest consumers would lose 28% of their purchasing power. The poorest 10% would lose 63% of their purchasing power.
I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty much sick of the hypocrisy surrounding the “women’s march” this past weekend. An endless stream of pro-abortion liberal women railing against Trump and his misogyny, all the while screaming about their rights, none of which have been lost. And yet these hypocrites stand shoulder to shoulder with groups like CAIR, the Muslim Brotherhood, and other muslim groups. Groups that actually deny women even the most basic of rights, keep them oppressed, honor kill them, and keep them under the thumb of the men in their society. The womens march shut out pro-life groups, yet stand together with the real oppressors while whining about what Trump could, or might, do.
It’s sickening.
And since they seem clueless to the obvious, or at least playing willfully ignorant, just a reminder for them. THIS is what female oppression looks like.
“I worked in National Security at Breitbart, which made me very grateful to live in America. Every day I covered stories describing actual oppression of females. I bet you anything those females would love to have the cost of their birth control as their only worry.
Those marches made me ashamed of my sex since governments in other countries actually treat its female citizens like second class citizens. I will concentrate on three countries: Saudi Arabia, Iran, and India.
A major American ally. While the country has slowly started making ways out of the stone age, they still live in one. Saudi law prohibits females from leaving the house without a male guardian. The females cannot travel or even conduct any official permission without this guardian’s permission. This guardian must also make medical decisions for the female.
Yes, Leftists. In Saudi Arabia, a male MAKES YOUR MEDICAL DECISION. Last time I checked you guys did not need a male guardian to give you permission to even go to a doctor.”
“Oh, those disgusting vagina and pussy hats you wore? Good luck doing that in Saudi Arabia! Over there, females must keep their bodies covered except for hands and eyes. Now, in some areas a female can have her face uncovered. SO RADICAL, RIGHT?!
Did you enjoy socializing with the males who marched alongside you? In Saudi Arabia, sex segregation is a top priority. In fact, if someone catches you talking to a non-relative male, you can receive charges for adultery or prostitution! In June 2010, the courts sentenced four men and eleven men because they had the nerve for socializing at a party. Yeah, they got lashes and time in jail.
Did you drive to the marches? Because females in Saudi Arabia basically cannot drive. There are no laws, but restrictions basically make it impossible for females to enjoy driving a car. The governments force these citizens to receive a local license to drive and the places do not issue them to females. Rural areas allow a little flexibility.
I saw that the march in DC gave the metro a historic day. Yeah, Saudi Arabia does not like for its females to enjoy public transportation because God forbid they mingle with non-related males. THE HORROR.
I could go on, but let’s move to another country.”
——————————-
The clueless fools are protesting the wrong country/leader.
Attacks on Saudi Arabia remind me of when Little Bush sent his aide Karen Hughes there after 9/11. Hughes left her young son in the US to tell the Saudi women how they were oppressed because they couldn’t vote or drive and few worked outside the home. The Saudi women replied that they liked their king, they had chauffeurs to drive them when they went shopping and they would rather stay home and raise their children than work outside the home. Today, they could say that their king doesn’t say it’s OK to grab women by their genitals.
Madonna and some of the other speakers at the Women’s marches are gross vulgarians like Trump himself. They, like Trump, represent the worst of American culture which is pretty terrible. I don’t remember a Saudi leader comparing his wife’s sexual prowess to that of his mistress in an interview with a New York Post reporter.
Madonna and Trump should both make us ashamed of how degraded and ungodly our culture has become. As long as Trump is our president and people like Madonna are our entertainers, I am really not going to feel like criticizing the culture of other nations.
It is easy to make fun of Saudi laws regarding women. However, we should remember that Clinton and Trump molested women all over the US. I don’t recall hearing about either of them molesting a Saudi woman or any other woman during a visit to Saudi Arabia.
Tychicus, I have discussed this issue with a friend who is a Saudi woman who for years worked as a nurse and hospital administrator in her native country.
She believes that modern American culture underprotects women, that Saudi culture overprotects women and that Texan culture is sort of a happy medium.
This is why she lives now in rural Texas with her Texan oilman husband whose mere glance is enough to scare away foul fiends such as Trump and Clinton.
I read an interesting to me article in the past day or so, about how President Trump is taking jobs from people in Mexico. And, though I can sympathize with the people, it is really not our responsibility to give people in other countries jobs. It is their government that is responsible for making businesses find their area attractive enough to want to build there. And if our government makes it more cost effective to keep the jobs here, it is up to them to make it more appealing if they want the jobs. Or come up with their own businesses that make jobs.
Which does not mean I believe we should make those jobs inaccessible. Instead we should make it as easy as possible for foreigners to legally come here and work jobs and pay taxes and for health care etc, that the workers here have available.
It is again saying how other countries, though they have lots of negatives to say about this country, kind of lean on us for a lot of help. Even to the help given to kill their babies. Glad that is coming to an end. That is an extremely racist/elitist attitude, to go in and “help” a nation with their “over population” problem.
And why are we sending 221 million dollars to Palestine? Why are we paying for other countries to do what is illegal here? There are plenty of places here to spend the money. And again, it is up to other countries to take care of their own or collapse and let things go where they go. That is how the rise and fall of nations happens. Including ours.
“Unless one counts eliminating the natal part as care, that is. In the debate over defunding Planned Parenthood at the federal and state level, its executives and its defenders claim that doing so would be an attack on core health care for women, including pre-natal care for mothers-to-be. Live Action, which has long opposed federal funds for the nation’s largest abortion chain, decided to test that claim by calling 97 different PP clinics around the country. Grand total that provide pre-natal care? Five:
Today, Live Action released a new investigative video debunking Planned Parenthood’s claim that it provides critical prenatal care to pregnant women. The abortion giant has insisted that prenatal care is one of its core services that women will lose if its taxpayer funding is cut off. But Live Action’s investigation proves those services are virtually nonexistent at the abortion chain.
“The Prenatal Care Deception” is the first in Live Action’s “Abortion Corporation” series of investigative videos highlighting Planned Parenthood’s own employees saying its focus is providing abortions, not women’s health care. Live Action is releasing the investigative series as Congress plans to redirect Medicaid dollars away from Planned Parenthood to local health clinics and also vote on the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act.
Although Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards told the media in 2011 that “Prenatal care – these are the kinds of services that folks depend on Planned Parenthood for,” Live Action investigators searching for such services at Planned Parenthood were turned away by 92 of the 97 centers they contacted. They received responses like:
“Planned Parenthood offers abortions, so they don’t offer prenatal care.”
– Tempe, AZ, Planned Parenthood
“No, we don’t do prenatal services. I mean, it’s called Planned Parenthood, I know it’s kind of deceiving.”
– Merrillville, IN, Planned Parenthood
“No, see, we don’t see pregnant women as a way of giving prenatal care, we see pregnant women, um, you know, if they are considering other options.”
– Santa Fe, NM, Planned Parenthood
This is a long-awaited follow-up to a similar investigation about claims from Planned Parenthood about breast-cancer screening and diagnostics. In an earlier round of debate over barring federal funds from flowing to Planned Parenthood, Barack Obama argued that cutting off funds would endanger their ability to provide mammograms, but that claim turned out to be false. PP’s executives also claim that “one in five women depend on Planned Parenthood for health care,” which FactCheck.org demonstrated was way, way off; it’s closer to one in 30, and they offer no unique services that women can’t find at other clinics — except abortions.”
Not sure about this one. The whole DoJ has been compromised and it’d be a lot easier to clean up without Comey. Especially since he’s been part of the problem, and both sides agree, politicized his position. But I guess you could argue that opposition from both sides is a good thing. I won’t buy it, but you could argue it. 🙂
“The F.B.I. director, James B. Comey, told his top agents from around the country that he had been asked by President Trump to stay on the job running the federal government’s top law enforcement agency, according to people familiar with the matter.
A decision to retain Mr. Comey would spare the president another potentially bruising confirmation battle. It also would keep Mr. Comey at the center of the F.B.I.’s investigation into several Trump associates and their potential ties with the Russian government.
Retaining Mr. Comey could also help calm the bureau’s work force, which has been rattled after a tumultuous few months in which the F.B.I. and the director himself were sharply criticized for moves that many felt influenced the outcome of the presidential election.”
I really felt sorry for Comey. The poor guy was trying to do his job during the most bizarre election in history and his agency had investigations going on involving both major presidential candidates.
There is a natural alliance of interest with some of the Unions and Trump’s goal of increasing American jobs. Working together could make the next 8 years very profitable for the US as a country. This is a very good start.
The following is a statement from Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa on President Donald Trump signing an executive order to formally withdraw the United States from the Trans Pacific Partnership.
“Today, President Trump made good on his campaign promise to withdraw the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership. With this decision, the president has taken the first step toward fixing 30 years of bad trade policies that have cost working Americans millions of good-paying jobs.
“The Teamsters Union has been on the frontline of the fight to stop destructive trade deals like the TPP, China PNTR, CAFTA and NAFTA for decades. Millions of working men and women saw their jobs leave the country as free trade policies undermined our manufacturing industry. We hope that President Trump’s meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto on Jan. 31 opens a real dialogue about fixing the flawed NAFTA.
“We take this development as a positive sign that President Trump will continue to fulfill his campaign promises in regard to trade policy reform and instruct the USTR to negotiate future agreements that protect American workers and industry.”
And with that statement, pundit attention will closely follow the Trump-Trumka relationship which promises to be one of the more interesting in US politics over the next few years. As Axios points out, “Trump and top advisers like Steve Bannon see an opportunity to destroy traditional political alliances. Their theory worked in the election: They peeled white working class voters (and many union households) away from the Democrats. Now, they believe that delivering major items for this constituency — watch also for a confrontation with Big Pharma — could further wreck the Democrats’ hold on organized labor.”
Working with the unions where possible is a good idea, however, there is always room for trouble in paradise. We’ll have to hope they can work something out. :–)
Between the lines: The Trump-Trumka relationship will be one of the more interesting in American politics over the first term of the new administration. Trump and top advisers like Steve Bannon see an opportunity to destroy traditional political alliances. Their theory worked in the election: They peeled white working class voters (and many union households) away from the Democrats. Now, they believe that delivering major items for this constituency — watch also for a confrontation with Big Pharma — could further wreck the Democrats’ hold on organized labor.
A note of caution: If Trump pursues more traditional Republican policies — like slashing taxes and regulations and repealing and replacing ObamaCare — he could quickly undo much of his goodwill with unions.
Mumsee, the trade relationship with Mexico is more complicated than just pulling back manufacturing jobs to the U.S. After all NAFTA stand for North American Free Trade Agreement, and North America contains three countries. I see on the FB news feed that Trump has signed executive orders giving the go-ahead to the Keystone Pipeline. That oil is coming from Alberta Canada, so that its transport into the U.S. is based on NAFTA – when President Obama refused to allow the pipeline the Canadian-based oil company sued for damages under NAFTA:http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/transcanada-seeks-nafta-damages-keystone-xl-1.3653027 . The oil will be refined in the U.S., meaning that it will create jobs. The U.S. cannot expect to have all of the benefit of free trade with none of its drawbacks.
An interesting website, with data for every U.S. trading partner: https://ustr.gov/countries-regions/americas/
According to the site:
Canada is the largest export market of goods from the U.S. (and is the second largest supplier of goods to the U.S.) and trade with Canada supports 1.7 million jobs in the U.S. The goods and services trade surplus with Canada was almost 12 billion for the U.S. in 2015.
Mexico is the second largest export market for the U.S. (and is the third largest supplier to the U.S.). Trade with Mexico supports 1.1 million jobs in the U.S. However, the U.S. has a trade deficit with Mexico, since it takes in more imports from Mexico than it sends to Mexico.
I’m not necessarily in favour of NAFTA. I was only a child when it was signed, but I clearly remember the extensive debate which went on. The farmers in the rural area I grew up in frequently spoke of the effect that the subsidization of crop farmers in the U.S. had on their ability to sell their crops. I saw a lot of farms get sold off to developers in the following years. When I went to Northern Mexico on a missions trip, I saw the wasteland that is Ciudad Juarez, and I recall reading a book Murder City which observed that the American owned factories in Ciudad Juarez paid such a low wage that it actually incentivized turning to drug smuggling, which paid much better. So, I understand the impulse to turn away from free trade. However, neither is it possible to go back. Even if politicians decided to restore the state of farming in Canada, it would do no good to bulldoze the highways and housing developments that have been built over what was some of the most fertile farmland in all Canada – the topsoil has been piled up and carted away. Bulldozing would simply destroy the structures that have been built since. That could be an analogy for the larger picture.
Oh, I understand the working together as nations, I am just frustrated with our nation for driving out businesses with so many regulations whereas allowing in products from countries breaking those regulations. And with other countries not taking care of their own.
You may not recall but I have been an open borders person for a long time. But I also agree with dealing with crime.
Tychicus, I just had time to watch the video of the lady Saudi doctor. Her description of Saudi women’s conditions is eerily similar to my friend’s account.
“The Canadian dollar surged after U.S. President Donald Trump moved to advance the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, which would enable the country to ship more crude oil to the U.S. and buoy growth.
The currency rallied as much as 1 per cent to 76.30 US cents, outperforming all of its Group-of-10 peers and extending its advance this year to 2.1 per cent. It appreciated for a second day, recovering from a two-week low reached on Friday.
The currency was at 75.99 US cents at 2:22 p.m., close to its 200-day moving average of 76.24 US cents in Toronto.
Trump’s decision to move forward with the pipeline that would transport Alberta oil sands crude to the U.S. Gulf Coast is a departure from the Obama administration, which rejected the project in 2015. It helped reignite a rally in the currency that was halted last week by comments from Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz, who said he was prepared to cut interest rates if the U.S. administration imposes protectionist measures that derail the nation’s economy.”
A stronger Canadian dollar may actually be somewhat detrimental to the economy. A lower dollar than the U.S. makes Canadian products cheaper, increasing exports.
I’m actually somewhat disappointed the pipeline is going through. After all the brouhaha during Obama’s administration, there was some talk of building a refinery somewhere in Eastern Canada, perhaps Ontario, which would have created jobs. However, the oil company clearly didn’t think it was worth their while to build the pipeline to Eastern Canada – and there was the environmental factors too. But continued refusal on the part of the U.S. might have forced their hand.
“Wall Street investors were back in rally mode Tuesday, pushing the S&P 500 and Nasdaq to new records and lifting the dollar against the euro on renewed optimism about US President Donald Trump’s policies.
The buoyant spirt, which also lifted the Dow back to within striking distance of the 20,000-point milestone, came on a muted day for other leading markets. The London bourse was flat and the pound was pressured after a British court ruled that Britain’s government must win parliament’s approval before beginning formal Brexit negotiations.
US stocks began quietly but picked up momentum as the day progressed. Trump met with leading US automakers and took action to advance two major pipeline projects that had been blocked by former president Barack Obama.
Meanwhile, House speaker Paul Ryan signaled support for public works spending, telling reporters he wants an infrastructure package “as expansive as possible.”
The gains were more in line with the market’s bullishness in the six weeks after election, in contrast to recent weeks when US stocks have stagnated.
Analysts were generally wary of Trump’s inauguration address, which emphasized an “America First” agenda and revived fears of trade protectionism, backed up by his first executive orders Monday.
Jack Ablin, chief investment officer at BMO Private Bank said until now it seemed like backing away from trade pacts like the North American Free Trade Agreement and the Trans-Pacific Partnership “were the big priorities and investors were sort of disappointed with that.”
“Investors finally got a lot of what they were looking for,” he said.”
Wandering Views 
The last act of a pitiful presidency:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/01/24/us-quietly-sent-221m-to-palestinians-in-obamas-last-hours.html
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This little article explains how trade lifted so many out of poverty. If transnational trade were ended the richest consumers would lose 28% of their purchasing power. The poorest 10% would lose 63% of their purchasing power.
https://twitter.com/halsinger/status/823505700911513600
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty much sick of the hypocrisy surrounding the “women’s march” this past weekend. An endless stream of pro-abortion liberal women railing against Trump and his misogyny, all the while screaming about their rights, none of which have been lost. And yet these hypocrites stand shoulder to shoulder with groups like CAIR, the Muslim Brotherhood, and other muslim groups. Groups that actually deny women even the most basic of rights, keep them oppressed, honor kill them, and keep them under the thumb of the men in their society. The womens march shut out pro-life groups, yet stand together with the real oppressors while whining about what Trump could, or might, do.
It’s sickening.
And since they seem clueless to the obvious, or at least playing willfully ignorant, just a reminder for them. THIS is what female oppression looks like.
http://legalinsurrection.com/2017/01/oppression-of-women-in-america/#more-199936
“I worked in National Security at Breitbart, which made me very grateful to live in America. Every day I covered stories describing actual oppression of females. I bet you anything those females would love to have the cost of their birth control as their only worry.
Those marches made me ashamed of my sex since governments in other countries actually treat its female citizens like second class citizens. I will concentrate on three countries: Saudi Arabia, Iran, and India.
A major American ally. While the country has slowly started making ways out of the stone age, they still live in one. Saudi law prohibits females from leaving the house without a male guardian. The females cannot travel or even conduct any official permission without this guardian’s permission. This guardian must also make medical decisions for the female.
Yes, Leftists. In Saudi Arabia, a male MAKES YOUR MEDICAL DECISION. Last time I checked you guys did not need a male guardian to give you permission to even go to a doctor.”
“Oh, those disgusting vagina and pussy hats you wore? Good luck doing that in Saudi Arabia! Over there, females must keep their bodies covered except for hands and eyes. Now, in some areas a female can have her face uncovered. SO RADICAL, RIGHT?!
Did you enjoy socializing with the males who marched alongside you? In Saudi Arabia, sex segregation is a top priority. In fact, if someone catches you talking to a non-relative male, you can receive charges for adultery or prostitution! In June 2010, the courts sentenced four men and eleven men because they had the nerve for socializing at a party. Yeah, they got lashes and time in jail.
Did you drive to the marches? Because females in Saudi Arabia basically cannot drive. There are no laws, but restrictions basically make it impossible for females to enjoy driving a car. The governments force these citizens to receive a local license to drive and the places do not issue them to females. Rural areas allow a little flexibility.
I saw that the march in DC gave the metro a historic day. Yeah, Saudi Arabia does not like for its females to enjoy public transportation because God forbid they mingle with non-related males. THE HORROR.
I could go on, but let’s move to another country.”
——————————-
The clueless fools are protesting the wrong country/leader.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Attacks on Saudi Arabia remind me of when Little Bush sent his aide Karen Hughes there after 9/11. Hughes left her young son in the US to tell the Saudi women how they were oppressed because they couldn’t vote or drive and few worked outside the home. The Saudi women replied that they liked their king, they had chauffeurs to drive them when they went shopping and they would rather stay home and raise their children than work outside the home. Today, they could say that their king doesn’t say it’s OK to grab women by their genitals.
Madonna and some of the other speakers at the Women’s marches are gross vulgarians like Trump himself. They, like Trump, represent the worst of American culture which is pretty terrible. I don’t remember a Saudi leader comparing his wife’s sexual prowess to that of his mistress in an interview with a New York Post reporter.
Madonna and Trump should both make us ashamed of how degraded and ungodly our culture has become. As long as Trump is our president and people like Madonna are our entertainers, I am really not going to feel like criticizing the culture of other nations.
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It is easy to make fun of Saudi laws regarding women. However, we should remember that Clinton and Trump molested women all over the US. I don’t recall hearing about either of them molesting a Saudi woman or any other woman during a visit to Saudi Arabia.
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rw: Did you listen to the doctor’s testimony?
Where are women more oppressed – in the US, or in Saudi Arabia?
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Interesting clip Tychicus.
Every woman should see that.
“A woman out without a man is like a piece of meat in the sun.”
LikeLiked by 2 people
Tychicus, I have discussed this issue with a friend who is a Saudi woman who for years worked as a nurse and hospital administrator in her native country.
She believes that modern American culture underprotects women, that Saudi culture overprotects women and that Texan culture is sort of a happy medium.
This is why she lives now in rural Texas with her Texan oilman husband whose mere glance is enough to scare away foul fiends such as Trump and Clinton.
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I read an interesting to me article in the past day or so, about how President Trump is taking jobs from people in Mexico. And, though I can sympathize with the people, it is really not our responsibility to give people in other countries jobs. It is their government that is responsible for making businesses find their area attractive enough to want to build there. And if our government makes it more cost effective to keep the jobs here, it is up to them to make it more appealing if they want the jobs. Or come up with their own businesses that make jobs.
Which does not mean I believe we should make those jobs inaccessible. Instead we should make it as easy as possible for foreigners to legally come here and work jobs and pay taxes and for health care etc, that the workers here have available.
It is again saying how other countries, though they have lots of negatives to say about this country, kind of lean on us for a lot of help. Even to the help given to kill their babies. Glad that is coming to an end. That is an extremely racist/elitist attitude, to go in and “help” a nation with their “over population” problem.
LikeLiked by 2 people
And why are we sending 221 million dollars to Palestine? Why are we paying for other countries to do what is illegal here? There are plenty of places here to spend the money. And again, it is up to other countries to take care of their own or collapse and let things go where they go. That is how the rise and fall of nations happens. Including ours.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Another Planned Parenthood lie exposed. Much like mammograms, their pre-natal treatment is also largely non-existent.
http://hotair.com/archives/2017/01/24/liveaction-investigation-planned-parenthood-pre-natal-care-virtually-non-existent/
“Unless one counts eliminating the natal part as care, that is. In the debate over defunding Planned Parenthood at the federal and state level, its executives and its defenders claim that doing so would be an attack on core health care for women, including pre-natal care for mothers-to-be. Live Action, which has long opposed federal funds for the nation’s largest abortion chain, decided to test that claim by calling 97 different PP clinics around the country. Grand total that provide pre-natal care? Five:
Today, Live Action released a new investigative video debunking Planned Parenthood’s claim that it provides critical prenatal care to pregnant women. The abortion giant has insisted that prenatal care is one of its core services that women will lose if its taxpayer funding is cut off. But Live Action’s investigation proves those services are virtually nonexistent at the abortion chain.
“The Prenatal Care Deception” is the first in Live Action’s “Abortion Corporation” series of investigative videos highlighting Planned Parenthood’s own employees saying its focus is providing abortions, not women’s health care. Live Action is releasing the investigative series as Congress plans to redirect Medicaid dollars away from Planned Parenthood to local health clinics and also vote on the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act.
Although Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards told the media in 2011 that “Prenatal care – these are the kinds of services that folks depend on Planned Parenthood for,” Live Action investigators searching for such services at Planned Parenthood were turned away by 92 of the 97 centers they contacted. They received responses like:
“Planned Parenthood offers abortions, so they don’t offer prenatal care.”
– Tempe, AZ, Planned Parenthood
“No, we don’t do prenatal services. I mean, it’s called Planned Parenthood, I know it’s kind of deceiving.”
– Merrillville, IN, Planned Parenthood
“No, see, we don’t see pregnant women as a way of giving prenatal care, we see pregnant women, um, you know, if they are considering other options.”
– Santa Fe, NM, Planned Parenthood
This is a long-awaited follow-up to a similar investigation about claims from Planned Parenthood about breast-cancer screening and diagnostics. In an earlier round of debate over barring federal funds from flowing to Planned Parenthood, Barack Obama argued that cutting off funds would endanger their ability to provide mammograms, but that claim turned out to be false. PP’s executives also claim that “one in five women depend on Planned Parenthood for health care,” which FactCheck.org demonstrated was way, way off; it’s closer to one in 30, and they offer no unique services that women can’t find at other clinics — except abortions.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Obama may not be Muslim, but everything he does is to support them.
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Not sure about this one. The whole DoJ has been compromised and it’d be a lot easier to clean up without Comey. Especially since he’s been part of the problem, and both sides agree, politicized his position. But I guess you could argue that opposition from both sides is a good thing. I won’t buy it, but you could argue it. 🙂
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-plans-to-keep-comey-target-of-both-sides-at-fbi/ar-AAmaXrv?li=BBnb7Kz&ocid=U452DHP
“The F.B.I. director, James B. Comey, told his top agents from around the country that he had been asked by President Trump to stay on the job running the federal government’s top law enforcement agency, according to people familiar with the matter.
A decision to retain Mr. Comey would spare the president another potentially bruising confirmation battle. It also would keep Mr. Comey at the center of the F.B.I.’s investigation into several Trump associates and their potential ties with the Russian government.
Retaining Mr. Comey could also help calm the bureau’s work force, which has been rattled after a tumultuous few months in which the F.B.I. and the director himself were sharply criticized for moves that many felt influenced the outcome of the presidential election.”
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I really felt sorry for Comey. The poor guy was trying to do his job during the most bizarre election in history and his agency had investigations going on involving both major presidential candidates.
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It complicates things when you know one of the candidates is a crook..
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There is a natural alliance of interest with some of the Unions and Trump’s goal of increasing American jobs. Working together could make the next 8 years very profitable for the US as a country. This is a very good start.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-01-23/labor-unions-pivot-praise-trumps-tpp-withdrawal-describe-meeting-president-incredibl
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Working with the unions where possible is a good idea, however, there is always room for trouble in paradise. We’ll have to hope they can work something out. :–)
https://www.axios.com/afl-cio-praises-tpp-move-2209637685.html
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Mumsee, the trade relationship with Mexico is more complicated than just pulling back manufacturing jobs to the U.S. After all NAFTA stand for North American Free Trade Agreement, and North America contains three countries. I see on the FB news feed that Trump has signed executive orders giving the go-ahead to the Keystone Pipeline. That oil is coming from Alberta Canada, so that its transport into the U.S. is based on NAFTA – when President Obama refused to allow the pipeline the Canadian-based oil company sued for damages under NAFTA:http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/transcanada-seeks-nafta-damages-keystone-xl-1.3653027 . The oil will be refined in the U.S., meaning that it will create jobs. The U.S. cannot expect to have all of the benefit of free trade with none of its drawbacks.
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A Clemson girl is now US Ambassador to the UN.
She will also be the best looking one in the room. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
An interesting website, with data for every U.S. trading partner: https://ustr.gov/countries-regions/americas/
According to the site:
Canada is the largest export market of goods from the U.S. (and is the second largest supplier of goods to the U.S.) and trade with Canada supports 1.7 million jobs in the U.S. The goods and services trade surplus with Canada was almost 12 billion for the U.S. in 2015.
Mexico is the second largest export market for the U.S. (and is the third largest supplier to the U.S.). Trade with Mexico supports 1.1 million jobs in the U.S. However, the U.S. has a trade deficit with Mexico, since it takes in more imports from Mexico than it sends to Mexico.
I’m not necessarily in favour of NAFTA. I was only a child when it was signed, but I clearly remember the extensive debate which went on. The farmers in the rural area I grew up in frequently spoke of the effect that the subsidization of crop farmers in the U.S. had on their ability to sell their crops. I saw a lot of farms get sold off to developers in the following years. When I went to Northern Mexico on a missions trip, I saw the wasteland that is Ciudad Juarez, and I recall reading a book Murder City which observed that the American owned factories in Ciudad Juarez paid such a low wage that it actually incentivized turning to drug smuggling, which paid much better. So, I understand the impulse to turn away from free trade. However, neither is it possible to go back. Even if politicians decided to restore the state of farming in Canada, it would do no good to bulldoze the highways and housing developments that have been built over what was some of the most fertile farmland in all Canada – the topsoil has been piled up and carted away. Bulldozing would simply destroy the structures that have been built since. That could be an analogy for the larger picture.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, I understand the working together as nations, I am just frustrated with our nation for driving out businesses with so many regulations whereas allowing in products from countries breaking those regulations. And with other countries not taking care of their own.
You may not recall but I have been an open borders person for a long time. But I also agree with dealing with crime.
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Tychicus, I just had time to watch the video of the lady Saudi doctor. Her description of Saudi women’s conditions is eerily similar to my friend’s account.
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Roscuro;
“The U.S. cannot expect to have all of the benefit of free trade with none of its drawbacks.”
As Kare noted on Facebook, this is already paying benefits to Canada as well.
http://business.financialpost.com/news/trumps-keystone-xl-boost-sends-loonie-soaring-against-its-peers
“The Canadian dollar surged after U.S. President Donald Trump moved to advance the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, which would enable the country to ship more crude oil to the U.S. and buoy growth.
The currency rallied as much as 1 per cent to 76.30 US cents, outperforming all of its Group-of-10 peers and extending its advance this year to 2.1 per cent. It appreciated for a second day, recovering from a two-week low reached on Friday.
The currency was at 75.99 US cents at 2:22 p.m., close to its 200-day moving average of 76.24 US cents in Toronto.
Trump’s decision to move forward with the pipeline that would transport Alberta oil sands crude to the U.S. Gulf Coast is a departure from the Obama administration, which rejected the project in 2015. It helped reignite a rally in the currency that was halted last week by comments from Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz, who said he was prepared to cut interest rates if the U.S. administration imposes protectionist measures that derail the nation’s economy.”
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Your welcome.
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Of course with all the fracking, the US actually doesn’t need that oil anymore . . .
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A stronger Canadian dollar may actually be somewhat detrimental to the economy. A lower dollar than the U.S. makes Canadian products cheaper, increasing exports.
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I’m actually somewhat disappointed the pipeline is going through. After all the brouhaha during Obama’s administration, there was some talk of building a refinery somewhere in Eastern Canada, perhaps Ontario, which would have created jobs. However, the oil company clearly didn’t think it was worth their while to build the pipeline to Eastern Canada – and there was the environmental factors too. But continued refusal on the part of the U.S. might have forced their hand.
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The dollar has joined the loonie.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/dollar-ekes-gains-asia-sharp-losses-025648627.html
“Wall Street investors were back in rally mode Tuesday, pushing the S&P 500 and Nasdaq to new records and lifting the dollar against the euro on renewed optimism about US President Donald Trump’s policies.
The buoyant spirt, which also lifted the Dow back to within striking distance of the 20,000-point milestone, came on a muted day for other leading markets. The London bourse was flat and the pound was pressured after a British court ruled that Britain’s government must win parliament’s approval before beginning formal Brexit negotiations.
US stocks began quietly but picked up momentum as the day progressed. Trump met with leading US automakers and took action to advance two major pipeline projects that had been blocked by former president Barack Obama.
Meanwhile, House speaker Paul Ryan signaled support for public works spending, telling reporters he wants an infrastructure package “as expansive as possible.”
The gains were more in line with the market’s bullishness in the six weeks after election, in contrast to recent weeks when US stocks have stagnated.
Analysts were generally wary of Trump’s inauguration address, which emphasized an “America First” agenda and revived fears of trade protectionism, backed up by his first executive orders Monday.
Jack Ablin, chief investment officer at BMO Private Bank said until now it seemed like backing away from trade pacts like the North American Free Trade Agreement and the Trans-Pacific Partnership “were the big priorities and investors were sort of disappointed with that.”
“Investors finally got a lot of what they were looking for,” he said.”
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