"Uncle Sugar"

There are 195 countries on Earth.

Plus two "unofficial" countries, the Vatican and Palestine.  Which was never a country, and never will be.

We, the U. S. of A., trade with 135 of them.  We trade some 600,000 products across the world, and pay a higher tariff on 60% of them than we charge.  That means we pay the exporting country more than they pay us.  And that leads to a net trade imbalance.  Of hundreds of billions of $Dollars.

Today is "Liberation Day," as Trump calls it.  The day when we are supposed to seek "parity" with all those countries who've been screwing us across the decades by imposing "reciprocal" tariffs upon them.*  Tariffs which are supposed to level the playing field.  And because there's been so much confusion about tariffs among the uninformed, I thought I'd try and bring more light on the subject than heat.

Remember, I am a graduate economist.  And although I'll comment on anything, including stuff I know absolutely nothing about, it's glorious to actually know enough to have taught this subject.  So you can "take this to the bank," as they say.

But first, a little history.

I recall my Dad bitching and moaning about how we were spreading our money all over the globe instead of taking care of "America First."  That was post-WW2 when rebuilding war-torn countries was paramount.  We got into the habit of giving to anyone and everyone who needed a hand.  And we haven't yet been able to kick that habit.  Dad called the U. S. "Uncle Sugar."  For good reason.

Learning just how much of a trade imbalance we suffer is often hard to discover.  That's because countries try and hide those numbers, and so does our "Legacy Media."   But these are some of the best numbers I can find for FY 2024:

     -  Canada:  -$63.3 Billion.

     -  Mexico:  -$171.8 Billion

     -  Ireland:  -$86.7 Billion

     -  Germany:  -$84.8 Billion

     -  China:  -$295.4 Billion

     -  India:  -$45.7 Billion

     -  Vietnam:  -$123.5 Billion

     -  South Korea:  -$68 Billion

     -  Japan:  -$68.5 Billion

     -  Taiwan:  -$73.9 Billion

These are just a few of the countries who are eating our lunch.  Both literally and figuratively.  Trump thinks by imposing tariffs on "them" equal to those charged to "us," we can bring in upwards of $600,000,000,000 (with a "B") a year.  Which we can apply to our Federal Debt, currently standing at almost $37 Trillion Dollars.  

Did you know the interest we currently pay on our Federal Debt equals almost $One Trillion Dollars per Year?  More than we pay to fund our Defense Department ($887 Billion)?  Trump thinks it's time to do something about it.  I agree.  Do you?

As an example, these are the import tariffs Canada currently imposes upon America:

     -  Milk:  270%

     -  Cheese:  245%

     -  Butter:  298%

     -  Poultry:  238%

     -  Eggs:  163%

     -  Barley:  160%

     -  Wheat:  94%

     -  Sugar:  265%

     -  Rice:  150%

     -  Peanut Butter:  295%

     -  Vegetables:  100%

     -  Fish Products:  100%

     -  Metals (Steel, Iron, Aluminum):  25%

     -  Tobacco:  100%

Any wonder now why we can't sell milk, butter and eggs into Canada?

It's the same story with Mexico.  The people building cars in our plants down there are paid $3 an hour.  The United Auto Workers in our Country require an average of $48.50 per hour.  Any question why it's cheaper to build cars in Mexico than in Detroit?  And why it's more profitable?  That should all soon change.

The idea of tariffs is to protect products and industries in your country from imports less costly to make than yours.  Canada's been doing that, as you can well see.  And Mexico, and Japan, and China, and South Korea, and all the others.  And they're squealing like a stuck pig over our having finally found out.  And that we're finally, FINALLY doing something about it.  Are we their friends?  Yes.  Are we their "Uncle Sugar?"

President Trump says "No."  

*   Note:  All items manufactured on American soil will be tariff-free.  Zero tariffs.  Which is what these actions are supposed to attract.  To force manufacturers to come on home.  More revenue, more jobs and more taxes generated.  And more American wealth.  Put a businessman in charge and get some sanity back into the way we run our Country. 

Rent-A-Protest!

(NOTE:  If we had a "Legacy Media" that reported on the news, they would be bringing you this information.  We don't.  They haven't.  I am.)

If you're like me, you're probably wondering where all those people come from to mount a protest in the middle of the day.

Dozens, even hundreds of folks will magically appear, pick up their professionally-made signs, and then march and sing and shout pre-written songs and phrases and jingles.  At the top of their lungs.  Usually against something or other being debated in the halls of Congress.  And usually against some aspect of the Trump Administration.

Like the 200-odd protests against Tesla which occurred this past Saturday.  All across America and even including Europe.  All carefully organized and conducted as if by professionals.

Because they were.

Don't these people have jobs?  How is it, I wondered, all these folks could wind up at the same place and the same time to all say the same things?  Well, Fellow Patriots, I did some research and found out.

You can now "Rent-A-Protest."  There are two main outfits who specialize in providing you with your very own protest.  The biggest is "Crowds on Demand."  It's a Beverly Hills, California-based company specializing in providing crowds for events.  It calls itself "The ultimate guerilla lobbying and government relations firm."  It will supply any number of actors and activists and demonstrators and pretend-fans for any type of public event.  They pay $15 an hour, 3-hour minimum, with an average pay of about $50 per event.

Their full-time protestors make an average of $99,062 per year, making marching and shouting and demonstrating quite a lucrative career.

Another group is the San Diego Union Tribune newpaper (!).  They hire actors and activists starting at $25 to $30 per hour.  A newspaper!  A Left-wing newspaper.  Does that surprise you?

Other such firms are "Crowds for Rent" and "Rent a Crowd."  I'm sure there are others, but we now know the truth.

This tells us all we need to know.  All those anti-Musk and anti-Tesla and anti-Trump demonstrators parading around as if they actually believe what they're spouting.  We needed to know this.  All Americans need to know this.  Why aren't we being informed?

And you can easily tell which protests are organic or pre-organized, I learned.  The organic gatherings usually trickle in and trickle out.  The paid-for groups will all arive at exactly 12:00 Noon or whatever, and then disperse immediately following their gig.  They're paid by the hour, after all.

And oh yeah, I also learned who pays for this sham.  "MoveOn.org and "Action Network" are the two main purchasers.  And one George Soros* is behind both.  The Democrats' own $Billionaire opens his wallet and buys these protests.  He's worth some $30 $Billion and has donated more than $400 Million to their efforts.  So far.

Wouldn't it be nice if our vaunted "Legacy Media" had made a point of informing you of this?  Not some dude with a laptop, like me, but an actual journalist?  Somebody paid to look underneath the hood and fill you in on the truth?  

Near as I can tell, more than 2,000 people were paid to influence your opinion on Saturday.  To influence your thinking against Musk and Tesla and Trump.  Without you knowing it was all bogus.  And who paid them to do so.  

I just threw up in my mouth... 

*    You can thank Soros for bankrolling all the Left-wing D.A.'s in all the biggest and bluest cities.  They're the ones who keep letting criminals out of jail on no-cash bail.  So they can go forth and reoffend.  The revolving door of Democrat crime prevention. 

 

Hair-on-Fire, and Tesla's Too!

I was blessed with a pretty good memory.  Or perhaps cursed, given the events of the past four years.  

Actually, I've been accused of reminding elephants, but that's another story.

To the point, I recall that the aftermath of the 2020 Election was contentious.  Contested.  A lot of yelling and screaming and cursing.  But then, after all that, the Republicans went on home, licked their wounds, and dedicated themselves to fighting another day.  No yelling and screaming, no torches and pitchforks, no violence at all.

And you'll notice, they did a mighty fine job.  Having just captured the White House, the Senate and the House of Representatives.

And boy, are the Democrats pissed!

So pissed, in fact, they just don't know what to do with themselves.  Some of their "leaders" have gathered themselves on street corners and screamed expletives at the top of their lungs!  The "F Word" has become their favorite.  Cursing and yelling and generally making fools of themselves.  They are in the preverbial wilderness now, with only 27% of the Electorate having a favorable opinion of them.  

The lowest in recorded history, BTW.

But others have begun using violence to express their outrage.  Primarily against the properties of Elon Musk, our appointed Advisor to "DOGE."  That's the Department of Governmental Efficiency."  He's donating his time in an effort to remove "waste, fraud and abuse" from our Federal Government.  A worthy task since the U. S. of A. has never been audited in its entire 250 year history.

Did you know that the Department of Defense has failed 7 audits in a row?  With $Billions unaccounted for?  Yeah.

So Musk and his Team of overachievers has so far saved us, you and me, the Taxpayers, some $130,000,000,000.  That's with a "B."  And he expects to save us a $Trillion Dollars.  They've accomplished that astounding feat in only a bit over two months.  Just half trying.  

Example:  More than $130 Million Dollars in loans were given to 11 year-olds and under during the Pandemic.  Wouldn't you like to know who got them?  And try and claw back that thievery?  So would I.

But it appears Democrats don't.  They're furious at Musk's Team for trying to make sure our taxes are spent wisely.  They're so mad they're burning Teslas.  Their own, and the property of others.  Even blowing them up with homemade pipe bombs.  One corpulent bozo even drove his groaning scooter into Teslas.  Repeatedly.  They're engaging in "Domestic Terrorism" in an effort to show Musk how pissed they are.  And maybe force him to go back to Starbase.  The same far-Left "Progressives" who bought their cars from him in an effort to "fix" Global Warming.  

But their efforts prove that their climate activism was a sham by burning the electric cars that were supposed to help.  Senator Kelly (D-AZ), as an example, traded in his Tesla for a Chevy Tahoe.  Big, ungainly gas-guzzler.  Kelly sure did show Musk a thing or two!

So we've got the elites stamping their little Gucci-clad feet while egging on the even weaker minded Leftist drones to go out and commit terrorism.  Pam Bondi, our Attorney General, says she'll throw the book at those she catches.  I sure hope so.

BTW, they'll get 5 to 20 in the Gray Bar Hotel.  No bargaining.  I hope burning a Tesla was worth it.

But in the meantime, I find it personally ironic, and amusing, and a bit shocking that we're now watching Tesla owners key each other's cars.  I wonder how long it will take before these mental defectives win another election?

(P.S.  Sorry for the extended absense.  A nagging ulcer kicked my ass.)      

When Did We Stop Punishing Criminals?

Back when I was a kid if you did something wrong, they threw the book at you.  So you wouldn't do it again.

And we didn't.

Now?  It seems that, "Don't you do that again!," is used over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again (throw in a few more "overs"), until the threat has no teeth.  No perpetrator believes them anymore.  And that's why the average, AVERAGE number of criminal arrests in our 50 largest cities, before a criminal actually goes to prison, is 34.  

34!

And some are as many as 50!  I write about this because a news story caught my attention.  It seems that Darez Diggs, Buffalo Bills running back Stefon Diggs' brother, was arrested for burglary, assault and robbery in Los Angeles last year.  He and two accomplices followed a jeweler into an elevator, roughed him up, kicked him in the head, and stole more than $100,000 of his jewelry.  Diggs held the elevator for the thieves and then fenced the jewelry, the victim's lawsuit claims.  And Diggs pled guilty to avoid trial, copping to only to petty theft.  

PETTY THEFT?  

So, instead of getting 5 to 8 years for his part in this crime, Diggs was given two years of probation, ordered to serve 20 hours of community service, and fined $1,000.

WHA.....?

I gotta' tell you, after a pretty rocky youth, what with hustling pool in dirty dive bars all over the Country, I straightened out pretty good and became one of those "productive citizens" you read about.  But now I'm wondering why?  Why should anyone stay on the straight and narrow when a.), the chances of getting caught are so remote; and b.), even if they catch you you're out by dark and you get some stupid probation?  As in, don't do that again...

Here's the problem; we have 1,998,443 prison and jail cells in all of America.  And at any one time we have as many as 4,600,000 criminals.  That we don't have a place to put.  So we give them a bond and send them back out into the world.  So that many can commit some more of the same crimes.  They are screwing us, The Public.  And they don't even give a sh*t.

There was a particularly productive car thief last year who stole a car in West Covina at 2:15 a.m.  He was arrested by 5:00 a.m., booked into jail, fingerprinted and released.  He stole another car at 1:20 p.m. and was subsequently arrested, booked and released on a separate bond.  And while the cops were still filling out the booking papers from his earlier two car thefts, he stole yet a third at 9:49 p.m.  From the police parking lot.  He was arrested at 12:40 a.m. the next morning and booked into jail.  This time they decided to keep him.

So one would logically think that so long as they keep on releasing perpetrators this law-breaking will continue.

Well DUH!

In case anyone with a hint of common sense might just be reading this, how about putting Bad Guys into jail and leaving them there?  Hello?  Anyone there?

We move to the cities for convenience and jobs and a better life.  We do so expecting we'll be kept safe in exchange for the outrageous taxation those cities impose upon us.  But when we're forced to swim through a sea of sharks, I'm thinking a return to hunting/gathering might be in order.

It's BigFEET!

I was just wondering whether Bigfoot(feet) get together every now and again.

You know, like a convention of Bigfeet.  And I hereafter name them that.  Bigfeet, that is.  If there's more than one, it's "Bigfeet."  I proclaim it to be so.  And forevermore.

Yes, Fellow Patriots, I still have a few questions I'd like answered before I take the "Celestial Discharge."  Like who built the pyramids?  And when are those folks gonna' find the Oak Island treasure?  And why do Lefties try so hard to disarm our citizens?

Existential questions, like those.

Us older folks tend to do a lot of thinking.  And since there's a whole bunch of Bigfeet sightings every year, there must be Bigfeet.  Not many, but some.

And it seems they sure do leave a lot of footprints.

In fact, a Dr. Jeff Meldrum of the University of Utah, its specialist in bi-pedal movement, has plaster casts of more than 300 'Feetprints in his lab.  Sent to him from all over 'Murica.  He suggests there may be 2,500 of them roaming around.  Maybe even twice that many, he says.  Located mainly in the Pacific Northwest and around Ohio, and in the High Sierra, and in Florida swamps.  But there's been sightings in every state.

No real way of knowing how many, Meldrum says, but enough to sustain a population.  And that's the key; there has to be enough of them to permit repopulation.  A Bigfeet Ball, maybe?  Pot Luck Wednesday, down by that big upside down tree?  A dating app?  

Which brings me back to my original question:  Are there Bigfeet conventions?  If so, maybe we should be launching drones around likely sites until we scare one up.  And then take oodles of pictures of it so we can finally resolve the issue.  

I have rejected a suggestion from one of my readers.  He wanted us to sprinkle needles filled with meth throughout the forests.  Then they'd then get hooked and have to come to us for a fix...

But do not shoot one.  Believe it or not, 8 of our states have "Bigfoot Protection Orders" on file.  Near murder, it is, if you gun one down.  And you don't want to be the first one to test the legality.

Imagine the trial.  It sure would be entertaining, though.

I hear the chuckling out there.  Some of you doubt that Bigfeet exist.  And why, I ask?  Our Family Tree includes at least 13 other hominids competing at one time with us for dominance.  We won, they lost.  But among the last to lose were beasts called the "Denisovans."  We've only discovered a couple of humungous teeth, and a finger bone, and a thigh bone, but they were enough to declare it a separate "branch" of our family tree.  And oh, BTW, it was 10 feet tall and weighed in at 1,200 pounds.

Did it "run for the hills" to escape us Homo Sapiens Sapiens?  Did it hide in the forests of uninhabited areas to escape our rampage (we "survivors" killed every competitor for our food, our women and our territory)?  Did the Denisovans make a living above the tree line and only come down every now and again for a spare cow or two?  

I presume I'll find out the answer once I pass.  I'm betting us "good folk" will have informational privileges in Heaven's Library.  And somebody, er, soul will enlighten me once I get there.  But I'd sure like to find out before I go.

On the way out the Digital Door, I heard they used to live in California.  But they saw the light and left... 

You See How That Works?

It was mere moments after taking the helm that our 47th President began spewing forth Executive Orders.  

Dozens of them.  So many the "Legacy Media" were overwhelmed.  They couldn't keep up.  By design.

And in addition to a bevy of E.O.'s, Trump also began firing off insults and accusations and demands and wishes and requirements with his mouth.  Like, insulting Canada's P.M. by calling him our 51st State governor.  And suggesting, strongly, that Canada would be far better off being one of our states.  

It would have lower taxes, Trump said.  And lower costs for energy.  And better defense, and a whole lot of other stuff.  Pissing off Trudeau and embarrassing him in front of the world.  Throwing him off kilter before the negotiations even began.  

Trump explained to Trudeau, and the world, all the ways Canada has been screwing us, the U. S. Taxpayer.  To the tune of more than $200 Billion Dollars a Year.  Trump had taken the measure of the man and proceeded to go for the figurative jugular.  Remember, Canada taxes the crap out of us on bourbon, and cars, and lumber, and milk, and paper, and grain, and so many other commodities.

We can't even sell milk across the border to Canada, fergoddsake!  They won't let us!  

He did the same to Meheeeeko.  Demanding they stop their cartels or we would.  Stop permitting Fentanyl from crossing the River, Trump demanded.  And illegal aliens.  Trump threatened 25 - 50% tariffs on cars and tequila and fruit and a bunch of other stuff, in an effort to equalize the cross-border taxation between them and us. 

Annual income from tariffs currently favors Meheeeeko to the tune of more than $288 Billion Dollars a Year.    

He did the same to the European Union, issuing 200% tariffs on Champagne and wine and cars and a bunch of other stuff.  Which could benefit our wineries and distilleries greatly.  BMW just issued a statement telling the world they'll be moving the production of U. S.-bound cars to the U. S.  Another victory.  A victory the "Legacy Media" won't tell you about.

You see how that works?

Except we wouldn't introduce those tariffs if Europe and Canada and Meheeeko would lower theirs.  To our rates.  Reciprocal.  Or none at all.  Same for both parties.       

Trump also demanded an end to the Russia - Ukraine War.  Something our previous "occupant" of the Oval Office never did.  Or even tried to do.  Of course, it might have helped if Mr. Biden had come to work...

He first had to determine if Putin wanted peace, he said.  Preliminary negotiations said he did (whether he did or not).  He then called upon Ukraine to see if they also wished a cessation to hostilities.  After a childish blow-up in the White House, Zelenskyy said he did.  Bi-lateral peace talks may now take place.  With the U. S. as the mediator.  The Honest Broker.  Something we couldn't have been if we'd appeared to be on Ukraine's side from the outset. 

You see how that works?

Just think:  We've given Ukraine more than $125 Billion Dollars so it can fight Russia.  As our proxy.  And more than 100,000 soldiers have died in the process.  Wouldn't it be better to stop the killing?  Trump thinks so.  And only Trump can get them both to the table.  

You see how that works? 

We're watching those peace talks begin to unfold.  Zelenskyy finally said "yes."  Putin's said a "qualified "yes."  Those qualifications need to be addressed and worked out.  Else, Russia will be declared the impediment to peace, an international pariah.  And the U. S., and its allies, will unleash every tariff and tax and all the economic warfare on them available to us.  Including forcing our allies to cease the purchasing of Russian oil.  And making ours available for purchase.  Which we can do.  And which would bring them to their knees.  And to the negotiating table, within weeks.

You see how that works?

Oh yeah, and he threatened to invade Greenland and take back the Panama Canal.  We don't really need to invade Greenland.  And he doesn't want to invade Greenland.  We just need to take defensive control of it.  In response, it just called a snap election and their version of our Republicans were elected.  I predict our troops will have that defensive control of Greenland without having to annex it.  And our doing so would be much cheaper.  

And "invading" the Panama Canal won't prove necessary, either.  Blackrock Corp. is now in the process of buying the port controls from the two companies that own both its Pacific and the Atlantic ends (both members of the CCP).  Which Panama sold as a result of Trump bluster.  So the U. S. will have "control" of the Canal, but without having to buy it.  Or invade it.

You see how that works?  

It astounds me that so few of the folks I speak with on a daily basis fail to understand that Trump's bluster is nothing but a negotiating tactic.  You ask for far more than you expect to receive.  You ask for the moon, then go from there.  Or even demand the moon if you've got the advantage, and the other side capitulates for someting less than the moon.  But far more than they would have given had each side started at the 50 yard-line.  Carrots and sticks.  Teddy Roosevelt knew it.  Donald J. Trump knows it.  And he's putting it on display.  

You see how that works?

A lawyer friend of mine taught me years ago that a successful deal is one where both sides are mildly unhappy.  Where neither side feels like they got all they wanted.  Where both sides are allowed to take away a "victory," even if it's only pyrrhic.

For those of you who've been trained to hate Trump, to detest the ground upon which he walks; who cannot stand the sound of his voice,* who wish he'd be hit by a comet, just take this one piece of advice from your hoary old friend, The Chuckmeister:

Stop listening to him.  Stop watching the negotiating process.  Stop following his every word.  Turn off the Telly, get some "Books on Tape," buy a fishing pole and head to the lake.  Check back in in 6 months to see how things are going.  I'm betting EGBOK.  That means, 

"Everything's Gonna' Be Okay."  

*     I confess, neither can I.

On Predicting the Future.

If I could go back in time and predict the future, I wouldn't have done anything as lame as asking for winning Lotto numbers.  

Nope, I'd have conjured up something mucho more exciting.  And enjoyable to watch.  In fact, the only time in my life I've wished to be able to predict the future was back in 2020 - 21...

That was when the Powers That Be decided to shut down our Gubmint.  And all the bidnezzes.  And all the churches.  Because you just might contract the evil Chinese Wuhan Coronavirus.*  Or give it to somebody else.

But they left liquor stores and casinos open.  For some strange reason...

Everyone was required to go home, shut and lock the doors behind them, close all the windows, pull down the shades, and wait for somebody to rescue you.  No going out unless an absolute necessity.  Like just before you starve to death.

Two things happened as a result of that Guburnmental Proclamation.  Number One:  Uber had previously been fighting with Yellow Cab, trying to snake riders from them at the local airports.  COVID-19 helped them find an exit from that dummmass strategy as they morphed into "Uber-Eats."  They would now happily bring you a $10.00 hamburger and fries for only $25.00.  

I wish I'd been able to predict that little transformation.  I'd have bought a sh*t load of Uber stock and never had to work again.

Number Two:  I'd have shorted Gillette.  I'd have bet its stock would tank.  Because everybody was sent home and didn't have to go back to the office.  So they could sit in front of their computer in their jammies.  Eating bon bons.  And drinking Pabst Blue Ribbon.  While watching Jerry Springer reruns.  

And not having to go to the office for our menfolk meant they didn't have to look presentable.  No more need to shave.  That terrible, awful, nasty process we must undergo.  So the growing of beards became a thing.  For the first time since the 19th Century.** 

(Was there a pandemic back then?) 

No shaving meant Gillette's sales would drop.  And so would their stock.  No more shaving meant no more buying razor blades.  So Shorting Gillette would mean I'd be making a windfall for every time their stock took a hit.  I'd have been jumping up and down with glee. 

Just look at the next guy with a beard you see and know deep down, that guy is lame.  He's lazy.  He's too uncaring about his appearance to actually want to shave his face.***  Don't trust your daughters or your money with these bozos.  

So going back in time a bit, and being able to predict the future, would have meant I'd be making a fortune on Uber going up, and making another fortune as Gillette was going down.  I wouldn't have needed winning Lotto numbers to join the ranks of those who don't pay their "fair share."   

*      BTW, Florida gave the Feds the finger by refusing to close down.  Instead, it stayed open and flourished.  Because Freedom-Loving 'Muricans moved there in droves.  NOTE to Blue States:  You can keep on shedding population by continuing with your idiotic policies and procedures...

**     NOTE:  I had a Zapata moustache for 27 years.  It looked great, but only because I spent about 30 minutes every morning trimming it and styling it and plucking little hairs from where they didn't belong.  It was a lot of work.  A LOT of work!  An accident with an errant razor while under the influence of something or other one day resulted in a chunk being cut off.  So I was forced to mow the rest.  And that, as they say, was that.   

***   Except for wannabe' lumberjacks.  And observant Jews.  And Hindu holy-types.  And J. D. Vance, our current V.P.  He grew a beard to try and look old enough to buy alcohol...