Politics

[Tanks]

... I could go on, but from a "Main Street" perspective, the stock market is currently just a magic show with the "smoke and mirrors" trick leading the way. The show will end soon and the remnants won't be pretty.

On boutique stocks like Tesla it could be. However, solid companies have been doing really well for a long time.

 

[BSO Dave]

For me, personally, it is a wash with a slight edge to current economy. Yes, gas is more. I think groceries are a bit more as well. Stocks are a different story. My Apple stock was $78 on Jan. 23, 2020. Today it is $178. Amazon was $93 and today it is $177. Other stocks are up as well. Pretty good return I would say.

Wow... Just wow is all I can say... LOL...

There are at least a half dozen of your recent claims about the economy that I could quote that have me shaking my head in disbelief, but this one above summarizes the overall sentiment of my continued assertion that you are living in a parallel universe to some of us here...

Your claims leave me wondering if you don't actually understand inflation, the numbers that are both included and excluded from the CPI, and how that all affects consumer prices, or if you are simply ignoring the reality? Is your Marie-Antoinette-like dismissiveness and aloofness intended to be offensive to a huge portion of this country's population myself included?

I assume from these ignorant comments that you make more than enough income to be shielded by much of the devastation this economy is inflicting on the middle class... Good for you buddy! Meanwhile, about 50% of American families are struggling to buy an apple at the supermarket let alone a share of Apple Stock.

When the masses come with the torches and pitchforks, I hope they stop at your place first so you can explain how good things are in person...

 

[B0MBOY]

So, the latest POTUS approval rating are out and it seems that rather than getting the "bump" in approval that most Presidents enjoy post SOTU speech, Brandon's numbers have actually gone down to 38% nearly matching his all-time low of 37%... This is no surprise, but what continues to confound me is that even 38% approval is a shocking number to me and begs the question of what parallel universe these 38% are living in... 82% of those who approve are registered democrats which explains some of the insanity, but democrats don't account for the entire 38%... Brandon gets a thumb's up from 26% of independents and even 3% of republican voters which I find most surprising of all...

With around 38.8 million registered republicans in the USA, there is no possible way for Liz Cheney and Mitt Romney to account for the entire 3% approval from republicans which would represent somewhere around 116,400... This means that in addition to Liz and Mitt there are another 116,398 republicans out there with their heads placed firmly up their own arses...

It gets even better... In the most recent Gallup poll, 70% (down from 74% a month ago) of ALL registered voters say that they think this country is on the wrong track, and of that 70%, 54% are democratic voters... So, how exactly do you have a party who overwhelmingly approves of Brandon's performance (82%) and at the same time, over half of them (54%) think the country is heading in the wrong direction? WTF? We have to be the most uniformed, and indoctrinated electorate in the free world...

The shmucks who consume legacy media still approve of biden. The establishment likes biden. 1.9% of our workforce is a federal employee so they like him. Everyone who’s business relies on government contracts like him. The automotive industry likes his green initiatives because it’s forcing people and businesses to buy new green (read: premium) vehicles. Plus idiot democrats who support him no matter what because he’s theirs.

 

[Tanks]

I ran across this a while back, and it could explain the demographics of Democrat voters that will still vote for Biden. There is a reason Democrats have been playing the race card often.

 

[BSO Dave]

 

[PARA45]

 

[sestoppelman]

No, we'll stay home (actually vote GOP down ballot, just not Trump) as Trump is on record for not wanting our vote or money.

BTW, if I weren't hearing you guys complain I'd have said economy is going great. My companies are breaking revenue records, stocks are skyrocketing, and my vendors are booked for months in advance. As a result, my employees got significant bonuses last year. Heck, I had to hire another engineering firm overseas to help out with non-Federal work. I ordered a 300 kW natural gas Cummins generator for a client the other day, 287 day backlog. It seems various sectors are doing well.

In fairness, I don't think Biden or Trump had anything to do with much of it. Things like gas prices or groceries, while visible aren't a big part of people's budgets (if it is, it is indicative of a bigger problem). Gas is much more expensive in CA than TX, that is due to CA taxes not Federal policy.

Houthis blocking Red Sea (for all practical purposes) will have more of an impact on pricing than anything a POTUS does.

Isnt it wonderful for you that your bottom line is ticking right along??

Listen to the millions of other voices in this country that did better under Trump the first time around and are doing poorly under your hero and ready to dump his sorry lying ass!!

You would vote for the moron who just proposed a 7.3 TRILLION dollar budget for ONE FREAKING YEAR??

Shameful, you should vote for the one who would improve things for everyone, not just you and other big shot DJI guys. Wow.

But I get it, the left and woke, dont like Trump because he isnt nice. I want the guy who has run a business before and proved he could run a country better than anyone else in the running. Joe Biden never ran a damn ice cream stand, never accomplished anything in his whole life worth mentioning except nearly ruin this country in less than 4 years!
A vote for Joe Biden is a vote for continued ruination of America, thanks a lot!

 

[sestoppelman]

View attachment 593064

Or someone who has been lobotomized.

 

[sestoppelman]

 

[Tundra Tiger]

You would vote for the moron who just proposed a 7.3 TRILLION dollar budget for ONE FREAKING YEAR??

I don't remember Tanks ever saying he plans to vote for Biden, so I believe that's a false statement.

Shameful, you should vote for the one who would improve things for everyone...

Here's the thing: not all of us are convinced of the veracity of this statement. You do believe that, and will vote accordingly. Good for you. I'm not convinced he has a snowball's chance of duplicating his first term and that coupled with how he presents himself right now? NoPe.

 

[Tanks]

....

Your claims leave me wondering if you don't actually understand inflation, the numbers that are both included and excluded from the CPI, and how that all affects consumer prices, or if you are simply ignoring the reality? Is your Marie-Antoinette-like dismissiveness and aloofness intended to be offensive to a huge portion of this country's population myself included?

I assume from these ignorant comments that you make more than enough income to be shielded by much of the devastation this economy is inflicting on the middle class... Good for you buddy! Meanwhile, about 50% of American families are struggling to buy an apple at the supermarket let alone a share of Apple Stock.

When the masses come with the torches and pitchforks, I hope they stop at your place first so you can explain how good things are in person...

Just for you I added my grocery bill and gas costs for last month. My grocery bill, which was from Whole Foods was $440, gas was $245. That is for two people and two gasoline cars and CA gas prices of $5.30+ per gallon.

You do not need to be rich to afford the cost above, middle class income is all that is needed.

When talking about masses with torches and pitchforks are you talking about something like the "Bolshevik Revolution"? Seems like a Biden demographic rather than a conservative demographic.

Sometimes I wonder if you are a conservative or just a socialist that has somehow hitched his wagon to Trump hoping he will be the reincarnation of Lenin. You seem not to like capitalism after all.

 

[sestoppelman]

You would vote for the moron who just proposed a 7.3 TRILLION dollar budget for ONE FREAKING YEAR??

I don't remember Tanks ever saying he plans to vote for Biden, so I believe that's a false statement.

Shameful, you should vote for the one who would improve things for everyone...

Here's the thing: not all of us are convinced of the veracity of this statement. You do believe that, and will vote accordingly. Good for you. I'm not convinced he has a snowball's chance of duplicating his first term and that coupled with how he presents himself right now? NoPe.

Oh well. He as much as said so in my view. You think Biden will make things better?
Its down to making a choice now, no more BS, no more options, its either Joe Biden the worst president in history, or the businessman, former successful president that is more concerned with America than how fat he can make his wallet with overseas under the table deals with the CCP and other countries not our friend.

But dang I forgot, Trump has orange hair and says mean things... boo freaking hoo!

 

[BSO Dave]

You seem not to like capitalism after all.

I suggest you grasp the full meaning of a term before you actually try to use it in a sentence... Of all the people on here, YOU are the absolute LAST one who should be lecturing me or anyone else on the economy or the meaning of capitalism.... LOL..!

 

[Tanks]

Isnt it wonderful for you that your bottom line is ticking right along??
...
You would vote for the moron who just proposed a 7.3 TRILLION dollar budget for ONE FREAKING YEAR??
...
Shameful, you should vote for the one who would improve things for everyone, not just you and other big shot DJI guys. Wow.
...
A vote for Joe Biden is a vote for continued ruination of America, thanks a lot!

To clarify things, first I am not voting for either one of them.

Secondly, my bottom line will not see a difference one way or another. Actually, I might end up paying a bit more in income taxes under Biden if he also increases capital gains tax. Hopefully, people will show up and vote for GOP Congress candidates to stop his budget from becoming a reality even if they are not voting for Trump.

Finally, I actually think, based on his isolationist views, Trump is actually worse for America than Biden. We can recover and reverse Biden's domestic policies in the future, just like he has reversed many of Trump's policies on day one. We cannot recover from a Europe dominated by Russia short of a nuclear war if we give Putin a free rein like Trump wants to do. Not to mention China waiting in the wings.

In the case of lesser of two evils, Trump is not the one when one looks at things from a worldwide perspective.

BTW, I live in CA. I know firsthand what a future Biden economy could look like.

 

[sestoppelman]

To clarify things, first I am not voting for either one of them.

Secondly, my bottom line will not see a difference one way or another. Actually, I might end up paying a bit more in income taxes under Biden if he also increases capital gains tax. Hopefully, people will show up and vote for GOP Congress candidates to stop his budget from becoming a reality even if they are not voting for Trump.

Finally, I actually think, based on his isolationist views, Trump is actually worse for America than Biden. We can recover and reverse Biden's domestic policies in the future, just like he has reversed many of Trump's policies on day one. We cannot recover from a Europe dominated by Russia short of a nuclear war if we give Putin a free rein like Trump wants to do. Not to mention China waiting in the wings.

In the case of lesser of two evils, Trump is not the one when one looks at things from a worldwide perspective.

BTW, I live in CA. I know firsthand what a future Biden economy could look like.

As Biden would say, thats a load of malarkey!

 

[Tanks]

As Biden would say, thats a load of malarkey!

I can only go by Trump's own words. Are you saying he is not trustworthy?

 

[Red Leg]

To clarify things, first I am not voting for either one of them.

Secondly, my bottom line will not see a difference one way or another. Actually, I might end up paying a bit more in income taxes under Biden if he also increases capital gains tax. Hopefully, people will show up and vote for GOP Congress candidates to stop his budget from becoming a reality even if they are not voting for Trump.

Finally, I actually think, based on his isolationist views, Trump is actually worse for America than Biden. We can recover and reverse Biden's domestic policies in the future, just like he has reversed many of Trump's policies on day one. We cannot recover from a Europe dominated by Russia short of a nuclear war if we give Putin a free rein like Trump wants to do. Not to mention China waiting in the wings.

In the case of lesser of two evils, Trump is not the one when one looks at things from a worldwide perspective.

BTW, I live in CA. I know firsthand what a future Biden economy could look like.

@Tanks owns and operates a successful business in our capitalist system. He is a classic entrepreneur. He also has a lot of international investment experience. That gives him a unique economic perspective with regard to our two parties and presumptive nominees. Several other members currently hold or have held senior positions with successful enterprises with an international footprint. I think all, to a greater or lesser extent, have expressed concern about a Trump presidency. Rather than debate those concerns, the typical response is to employ name calling, or more recently pray for pitchforks and torches.

I personally believe that what happens with respect to Russian territorial ambitions, the chaos on our border, and the state of our economy are all critical national interests. Of the three, I frankly think Russia is the most important and represents the most dangerous long term threat. Second is the economy, though I trust most here realize this is a dynamic issue and not a stagnant one. Simply cutting spending solves nothing if the net effect is a reduction in GDP growth. I am confident most Republicans at the senate level get that, and thus it is very important that the senate flip republican this cycle. It should be easy, but because Trump is our nominee, it is likely to be very close. I doubt he has any coattails at all where the elections will be a tossup.

The border is more complex. We absolutely do need immigration. What I and I think most informed people understand is that an unregulated invasion by the least productive and most needy is not an immigration policy or program. The legislature has limited ability to affect control measures - the vast majority of those are in the hands of the Executive department. As we saw a few weeks ago, the house and senate were not even able to act in the interests of the country. The president matters.

But the president matters even more on the international stage. I am convinced Trump is capable of doing this country lasting generational harm in that realm. I will absolutely vote every republican down ticket and pray that we somehow hang onto the house - I personally think that unlikely - and retake the senate. Unless something changes dramatically, I will not vote for Donald Trump.

 

[sestoppelman]

@Tanks owns and operates a successful business in our capitalist system. He is a classic entrepreneur. He also has a lot of international investment experience. That gives him a unique economic perspective with regard to our two parties and presumptive nominees. Several other members currently hold or have held senior positions with successful enterprises with an international footprint. I think all, to a greater or lesser extent, have expressed concern about a Trump presidency. Rather than debate those concerns, the typical response is to employ name calling, or more recently pray for pitchforks and torches.

I personally believe that what happens with respect to Russian territorial ambitions, the chaos on our border, and the state of our economy are all critical national interests. Of the three, I frankly think Russia is the most important and represents the most dangerous long term threat. Second is the economy, though I trust most here realize this is a dynamic issue and not a stagnant one. Simply cutting spending solves nothing if the net effect is a reduction in GDP growth. I am confident most Republicans at the senate level get that, and thus it is very important that the senate flip republican this cycle. It should be easy, but because Trump is our nominee, it is likely to be very close. I doubt he has any coattails at all where the elections will be a tossup.

The border is more complex. We absolutely do need immigration. What I and I think most informed people understand is that an unregulated invasion by the least productive and most needy is not an immigration policy or program. The legislature has limited ability to affect control measures - the vast majority of those are in the hands of the Executive department. As we saw a few weeks ago, the house and senate were not even able to act in the interests of the country. The president matters.

But the president matters even more on the international stage. I am convinced Trump is capable of doing this country lasting generational harm in that realm. I will absolutely vote every republican down ticket and pray that we somehow hang onto the house - I personally think that unlikely - and retake the senate. Unless something changes dramatically, I will not vote for Donald Trump.

I am shocked, shocked that you might not vote for Trump, truly shocked!

 

[freefall]

If you REALLY believe that Biden is better on foreign policy than Trump was, all I can say is look around.
Did your bogeyman Putin invade anywhere while Trump was President? No, he did that while Obama and Biden were president. Did the Palestinians or the Iranians stage any major outrages while Trump was President? No, they watched him kick the shit out of Isis and eased off.
You all voice all these concerns about "how Trump will damage the country" if elected. People just like you said the same thing in 2016. Did he do what they said? No, he governed competently and the world treated him with respect. Saudi Arabia even made peace with Israel!
Now, we have the "adult replacement" every tinpot dictator from every shit-hole country mocks and laughs at him, pisses on his leg and tells him it's raining, and he thinks his Depends are leaking.
Why do you think Putin and Xi are both supporting Biden? So you can make more $?

 

[sestoppelman]

I can only go by Trump's own words. Are you saying he is not trustworthy?

No, I am saying your post was a load of malarkey. And while RedLeg may be impressed with your capitalist creds, I am not.
You appear to be more concerned with feathering your own nest than having any concern for the direction our country is headed, which is right down the toilet.
May you continue to make lots of money, as that is what you seem to find most important.