cubsfan

This was excellent @Luca - thanks

Respectfully, I think you need to dig a little deeper into this issue. Republicans wanted a REAL deal to seal the border - not a PHONY deal like the one on the table. This past "deal" still destroys the border, allowing 5000+ immigrants per day to enter, instead of customary 10,000+ per day. That deal was a smoke screen that accomplished nothing. But beautifully, the phony "bi-partisan security bill" failed and now Republicans are to blame. So, yeah, it will be used as a huge issue in November - since it's the number one issue in the country right now. The open southern border will ruin America for generations to come - so like Biden's foreign policy, which is also in total ruins - both will have to be settled in the coming election.

A much more accurate depiction. And totally justified, as well as backed by a large majority of the USA.

Ha! That's a great article, that explains the situation well. Like a friend of mine told me - Russian interference in our elections?!, Hell, that's what Russians do..! And that's what we do!

I worked at NeXT for a short time. He was a genius and visionary for sure that brought greatness back to Apple. But you just never wanted to be too close to Jobs.

FMC - 4%, with plenty of upside on the common.

You want to improve the quality and pay those that deserve rewards in Academics - get rid of the bloat. It's totally out of control at these Universities. They need to pay the teaching assistants better, since they are basically slaves to the Professors - and get rid of the Administrators. Get back to teaching. https://stanforddaily.com/2024/03/13/behind-stanfords-doubled-staff-to-student-ratio/ The number of staff at Stanford has more than doubled since 2000, drawing some criticism of administrative bloat — including fromformer U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. https://www.mindingthecampus.org/2023/01/05/more-employees-than-students-at-stanford-give-each-student-a-concierge/ Specifically, there were 15,750 administrators, 2,288 faculty members, and 16,937 students. The paid help of 18,038 (administrators plus faculty) outnumbered the customers (students) by 1,101.

It's a race to the bottom because you are NOT firing those overpaid non performers. The teaching assistants do all the work - and you can't rid of dead wood, so they can move up. The definition of entitlement and protection.

^^^ We love teachers. I owe a lot to them. What we are seeing now is not academics - but soft jobs, ridiculous tuitions driven by useless administration staffing, and inability to get rid of bad teachers. That is disaster for education in America. What company do you know of that can survive not firing people that don't perform well? I attended a meeting in Chicago 10 years ago re: education. The stats that were discussed: the Chicago Public Schools, the 2nd largest and highest paid big city teachers in America - fired 4 people that year - 4 out of 20,000.

It's a complete grift. The teaching assistants do most of the work. The hard sciences are the best of the bunch. The soft sciences & humanities are the worst. Once you have tenure, all you have to do is keep your politics straight - and you'r e golden. Many universities are a cesspool of bloated staffs that drive tuition way beyond inflation. The administration personal growth are out of control - and those are easy and useless degrees.

^^^ It's a big mistake to hold many professors in esteem. You can see the disaster playing out among higher education in America. I've got more respect for carpenters and heavy equipment operators than many professors.

Absolutely agree - they have pricing power because of great products, not collusion. The FTC ought to be chasing criminals.

Yeah, great point. Serious moat + oligopoly

@Longnose - hilarious clip!

@Jaygo - you could not have spelled out the problem more clearly. Unfortunately, in the USA, we are right on your heels. Greg's solution will be used more & more every year - get to an area that somewhat aligns with your beliefs - and protect your children.

^^^ With no comment of course, on the brazen corruption of the NY AG and Judge. Now THAT is the real reputational risk NY state will have to live with as far as investors are concerned. Selective, malicious, and punitive prosecution when no victim is harmed - investors beware. And thanks for your great comments @gfp, @Maverick47, @longterminvestor I stand corrected.

Some grumpy old people still value "Don't tread on me"

^^^ Totally understand your point. He can't be trusted. But he's going to need a "victory" to stop the carnage. The border is going to need to be fortified like N. & S. Korea. Assisted in some way by Europe, something short of NATO membership - which it seems was Putin's original goal to stop. Unless Europe wants to be involved right now - I see no path for Ukraine to wage war when they simply do not have the manpower for a multi-year conflict.

Eventually, this probably needs to end as a stalemate, with a new DMZ, partitioning Ukraine. For Putin to save face and declare victory to the Russian people - he keeps Donbas, and of course, Crimea, and no NATO membership. Zelensky says he saved the rest of Ukraine, which he did. I can't see anything other than a negotiated settlement. Europe doesn't want to throw troops at this. Ukraine doesn't have the troops. Russia does. Europe and the Ukrainian will have enough commitment staffing a fortified border. Ukraine can not sustain these type of losses. No one completely happy, but each can declare victory.

@Luca - I really, really don't get you dude. France & Germany are the LEADERS of Europe, not the USA. The US does not control Europe - we are an ALLY - hopefully a vital one for the interests of Europe. If those nations want no part of the USA - they should go their own way. What is this ridiculous talk of US puppets?? That's just silly. You are sovereign nations! If you feel Germany has nothing to fear from Russia - go for it.

^^^ Like I said @Luca - good luck going it alone. The world is a dangerous place. Get real. IMHO - the USA and Western Europe need each other - very badly.

^^^ Luca - somehow you seem to think that Freedom is free. And somehow the world is safe again. It wasn't that long ago that a good portion of Germany was under Soviet control. How foolish to think it can not happen again. But IF you feel that Germany is indeed a "US Puppet", then I hope you get your wish and you can go it alone - without NATO. I doubt the Baltic states & Poland feel the same way.

Bingo! Good luck going it alone Germany! You will make the US taxpayers very, very happy. How you pacifists underestimate Russia. That's gratitude for you - too bad the Marshall Plan rebuilt Germany...

Gregmal knows how to pick 'em

Nice summary - he's a little soft on Zelensky though. He makes him sound like a freedom fighter, but I think the bloom is off the rose on the President. Zelensky has suspended Habeas corpus, instituted martial law, outlawed political parties and elections, etc - so most of that is covered up - as you can't really criticize the guy as far as allies are concerned. Personally, I'd like to see Ukraine get their US aid - but not without a secure US southern border, which is currently a catastrophe - and not too much to ask. Doesn't look like it will happen. But any aid package needs to be audited as Ukraine is still among the most corrupt countries in the world. None of that is hard or too much to ask if you're giving a country $60B.