What has Trump done now?

[facthunter]

Trump thinks TARIFF's fix Everything. I doubt it's THAT easy..  I use the word "THINK" loosely.  Trump has made the USA Unfit to place trust in.  nev

[red750]

I saw a report (I think on the Daiy Show) that they want hundreds of people inserting those tiny screws in iPhones, while developing industrial robots to do it, then the workers would  be trained to service the robots.

[facthunter]

Chinese stuff is Mostly Robot built.  Nev

[red750]

What happened to the yellow hair? Lost his hair dye?

 

[Jerry_Atrick]

I have said this before, in terms of policy, there are quite a few things I agree with, but I haven't said them all:

• NATO contributions (from his previous reign): Absolutely right to demand all members pay their membership dues (increase spending to the committed level).
• Undocumented migrants. These are illegal migrants. Refugees are not illegal, but a refugee has to register in the host country and state their case, and then be assessed. These are not registered and haven't been for a long time. Therefore, a we would expect at home, they should be deported or processed as refugees. The problem has been that previouos administrations have allowed the economy to become to depend on them.
• Tariffs - There is nothing wrong with tariff equalisation. The US had largely tariff free trade, but have had tariffs on their goods into their trading countries. The US us not required to subsidise other countries' manufacturing at a cost to theirs. Even if, with automation, it would not be a return to previous job levels, intellectual property, employment, indirect positive effects to the economy, etc., are lost. And,m tariffs can be used to convince other countries to fix their human rights abuses, for example.
• Seeking an end to the middle east and Ukraine wars.
• Deporting criminal gang members

Of course, there are things I disagree with:

• Political favours such as pardoning criminals who go on to kill or be killed
• Removal of DEI
• Destruction of education
• Tax custs to the wealthy
• Climate (or lack thereof) policy
• And a few others I can't think of right now.

 

In fact, on the things I agree with, in some areas, such as immigration and NATO, Biden was actively working on.. his approach was a little soft.

 

What I disagree with, though, is his methods. and some of his motives, which is more about consolidation of authortive power than improving America. But, He has shown other weaknesses in the current global order. For example, the operation of equities markets is banal - it is literally sheep herding. Algos aren't helping but if I were a fundamentals investor, I would be treading very cautiously. It also makes abundantly clear the corporate workd has no morals (as if we didn't know this). Since Chump's election, Apple and a few others have colelctively agreed to spend $1.3tn to move manufacturing back to the USA and thris is driven purely on protecting profit... Also, just how reliant the western world has become on the USA.. it is like it is the heart pumping the blood around the wetern world's body; or maybe it is a siamese sibling to every western country. I found it inconceivable not one other country has its own aerial refuelling tanker, for example.

 

And there is an, albeit late, positive. The west has realised that it can't take for granted absolute reliance on the USA. This means countries (and hopefully Australia) are starting to put in place plans and actions to wean themselves off the USA. This will also mean that the USA's benefits from that reliance is watered down and will give the rest of us and adult's seat at the table rather than the high chairs, if any, we currently have.

 

Of course, it will require a lot of will power and staying power of our governments. Something which may be lacking

 

[red750]

14 minutes ago, Jerry_Atrick said:

I found it inconceivable not one other country has its own aerial refuelling tanker, for example.

Do you mean, don't operate airial refuelling aircraft, or don't build their own. The RAAF operates seven KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transports.  

 

[Jerry_Atrick]

Sorry.. should have said Europe.... It is reported that in all war games here, the US have to lend thm the tankers.

Edited Thursday at 11:07 AM by Jerry_Atrick

[Grumpy Old Nasho]

It's all very exciting isn't it? Did y'all buy shares when the prices slumped? You'd be rich now if you did.

[Marty_d]

Just now, Grumpy Old Nasho said:

It's all very exciting isn't it? Did y'all buy shares when the prices slumped? You'd be rich now if you did.

Give it a week.

[Jerry_Atrick]

I wanted to, but I have to get permission from my employer as a control against insider trading, and they have a 3 day cooling off period to ensure we are buying for investment and not speculation. In addition, we have to hold for a minimum of three months.

 

Punters are crazy buying individual shares. low cost ETFs outperform most mum and dad investors by a long way (I can invest in those without permission as I don't mae a decision on individual trades).

 

[red750]

According to Wikipedia, the UK operates 14 Airbus A330 MRTT (Multi Role Tanker Transports) , France have 15, Netherlands 10, and Spain 3 ordered and 1 delivered. That's just in Europe. Also operated by Canada, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Singapore and South Korea.

 

KC-30A is the Australian designation for the MRTT.

[Jerry_Atrick]

As I have said, the fixed income market is the real bellweather of the market's outlook on the economy. This is today's FT headline:

 

As I also mentioned, US Treasuries are considered risk free. I haven't checked my market data terminal today, but this would imply USTs risk free status is being reviewed by the markets. That would cause a problem, because the market would need to put an arbitrary rate value on as theoretical. risk free bond. What it does say is that it there are currently big risks in the US at the moment.. So, you can have your short-term specualtive plays, but investors will start looking for more safe assets if Chump continues his reckless execution of his policies.

Edited Thursday at 11:37 AM by Jerry_Atrick

[Grumpy Old Nasho]

The stock market will keep climbing steadily for a month, maybe a bit longer. The pause in tariffs is for 90 days, then the market will fall again. Investors will be getting used to it, and make wise choices getting close to the end of the 90days. They'll know what to expect, more or less. 

[Jerry_Atrick]

59 minutes ago, red750 said:

According to Wikipedia, the UK operates 14 Airbus A330 MRTT (Multi Role Tanker Transports) , France have 15, Netherlands 10, and Spain 3 ordered and 1 delivered. That's just in Europe. Also operated by Canada, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Singapore and South Korea.

 

KC-30A is the Australian designation for the MRTT.

Dang it... I fell for a bit of "misinformation".. I checked my source and the article was in 2005!.  Must remember to check the dates. However, there was a recent article I am sure that echoed it... Must have fell for it like I did.

[Jerry_Atrick]

Here was the recent article I was referring to: https://www.iiss.org/sv/online-analysis/military-balance/2025/03/europes-air-of-dependence/#:~:text=NATO's overall air mobility and air-to-air refuelling,longer and to extend their mission radius.

 

It was more about the amount - or lack thereof - needed versus has..

 

Either way, Chumps actions just shows how embedded theUSA is in other countries defence, and how reliant other countries are.. some to the point I sovereignty is granteed, not guaranteed by the USA.

[Grumpy Old Nasho]

8 hours ago, Jerry_Atrick said:

some to the point I sovereignty is granteed

Interpretation ?

[old man emu]

Interpretation: "The USA has your nation's defence capability by the short and curlies.

[facthunter]

The US is an UNRELIABLE Partner under Trumps rule. He's CHAOTIC and unpredictable and not that BRIGHT as well as having a very flawed personality has illusions of Grandeur and is a Vindictive BULLY.   Nev

[facthunter]

Australia's Trade balance is very much in USA's favour.  That's unusual. Nev

[old man emu]

I wonder if the leaders of US industry and military are trying to find some legal way to put an end to Trump's chaos. There are no true grounds for impeachment that have been uncovered. Even the application of Breaker Morant's "Rule 303" is unlikely to alter the administration's course very much. Vance would simply be the puppet of the faceless men who came up with Project 2025.

 

Although less that 50% of people polled approved of Trump, the percentage who disapproved was almost the same. You could say that of those who had an opinion, there is no clear division of opinion. If is approval rate fell to below 40%, then that would be significant. 

[facthunter]

Assuming a free and fair election is still Possible? THAT's highly unlikely NOW. . Nev

[rgmwa]

Trump often complains that America is not respected any more. Respect is normally understood to be a feeling of admiration or regard for somebody or something. Trump has said he wants other countries to respect the US again, but what he means by respect is special attention or consideration. It's the kind of 'respect' a Mafia boss wants that is based on relative power and fear of consequences. There's nothing very noble it.

 

[facthunter]

He's doing his BEST to TRASH it and that's NO BULL.  Nev

[Marty_d]

32 minutes ago, rgmwa said:

Trump often complains that America is not respected any more. Respect is normally understood to be a feeling of admiration or regard for somebody or something. Trump has said he wants other countries to respect the US again, but what he means by respect is special attention or consideration. It's the kind of 'respect' a Mafia boss wants that is based on relative power and fear of consequences. There's nothing very noble it.

 

Basically he wants to be an emperor, god-king, pharaoh type figure. 

[Grumpy Old Nasho]

Your biggest fear, is fear itself