Political Posts

[cwericb]

4 hours ago, cubsfan said:

 

I know, I know - you're one of the "experts" with your textbook "free trade academics."

The fucking so called experts don't give a rat's ass about the American middle class.

 

 

And you think a bunch of self serving Billionaires in Washington give a crap about the middle class other than how they can extract more money from them?? Thats pretty naive.

[Spekulatius]

Pretty good:

https://www.instagram.com/stories/litquidity/3603573104472566488?igsh=ZHZ4ZWdnYnFzOGRz

Or here:

 

Edited April 5, 2025 by Spekulatius

[Spekulatius]

2 hours ago, Sweet said:

I’m from Europe, and I disagree.  Europe does have a problem with ‘free speech’ and ‘misinformation’.  Things Americans (and probably Canadians) say online could land European in trouble.

 

60 minutes did something on this recently - fast forward to 7 mins:

 

This is simply wrong.

 

The German  constitution begins with Artikel 1  “ Die Würde des Menschen is Unantastbar” (for good reasons. I don’t know if they still teach the constitution in social sciences in Germany but if you look at the still recent history, there are very good reason why human dignity become before free speech.

Germany also does not have anything like a “Patriot act” or the presidents emergency power which I think place the US Democracy at a significant risk. Also look at recent actions form the WH to limit access to reporters or agency that the administration doesn’t agree with. This is mit the case in Germany.

 

We can argue if Germany takes an overzealous approach on free speech, but the US is hardly without issues.

 

Edited April 5, 2025 by Spekulatius

[John Hjorth]

4 hours ago, cubsfan said:

John loves to play the nice guy, all the while continuing with his insulting comments.

When they come from his viewpoint, he's perfectly content to let them pass.
 

I just happen to be his favorite target, along with yourself.  You've never shied away from insults.

 

So don't regret it - well done again on your part.

 

Why is it, that you're posting in this topic the way you actuallly do?

[dealraker]

As I posted on the shrewd'm Berk forum.  Relative to our size we have what is literally a huge investment portfolio which has given us some IRS issues in the past:

 

Within our builders supply and millwork we met repeatedly after the election and unanimously (there's 3 of us on the investment committee but 5 are owners and all 5 of us met) decided to get to 50% cash as tax efficiently as we could. This was the most significant move we have made since deciding to sell all but one of our builders supply businesses over 30 years ago.

We got to 44.8% cash (short term treasuries) and that included selling about 1/3rd of our Berkshire stock. We were lucky to sell all we sold at very solid prices before the plunges started, on pretty significant up days.

This decision isn't one where we expected anything like what has happened, it is a decision based on much longer term thinking. The election just put us in super-charged mode. Every employee we have is a supporter of the current administration and we love them to death. All of them assume completely too that we support the administration. We do not speak of our beliefs whatsoever in our businesses.

Life....great if you can stand it!

 

Edited April 5, 2025 by dealraker

[Spekulatius]

Interesting - Bessent track record on his own wasn’t very good. AUM collapsed due to shitty track record. 

Bessent’s hedge fund:

 

 

Edited April 5, 2025 by Spekulatius

[Red Lion]

1 hour ago, cwericb said:

 

And you think a bunch of self serving Billionaires in Washington give a crap about the middle class other than how they can extract more money from them?? Thats pretty naive.

It seems like free trade and social safety net programs have been a great way for billionaires to extract money from the middle class. Please note, I’m not saying we should have protectionist policies and no safety net, but the status quo has been pretty remarkable for billionaires. 
 

Tax the upper middle/upper middle class to death. Keep the masses happy with bread and circuses (cheap shit, Medicaid, food stamps, housing assistance) all while making the lion’s share of profits from all the wealth redistribution at every step of the way. Just retain control positions in public stocks until death, and then give it all to a foundation which will employ your descendants for generations while maintaining their standard of living. 
 

I’m all for self made billionaires, and I think a wealth tax is unworkable. But a lot of problems could be eliminated by capping the charitable deduction limit to the same as the estate tax. 
 

Edit:

 

Also just throwing out there that as an owner of a closely held c corp the government forces you to pay dividends with the accumulated earnings bullshit, but mega caps can do this forever apparently with no repercussions. The double standards are irritating as hell. 

Edited April 5, 2025 by Red Lion

[cubsfan]

3 hours ago, Jaygo said:

Cubs I agree it is not Americas job to take care of foreign citizens. 

 

In the case of poor countries like Cambodia, Vietnam and Bangladesh the populace is incredibly poor and they are willing to sew textiles for us for practically nothing. We benefit enormously by this setup. This is not some charitable donation to the countries, they are just very low on the production line of global trade.

 

The trouble with the Trump admin is they dont give a shit about anyone but themselves and possibly their voters. At the end of the day some poor soul in Cambodia is just as human as an American and pulling the rug from under them is simply a prick move whether is helps America or not. The worst part is it does not help America at all, so its just hurting others because they want to kick some dust up.

 

If they had made an organised effort to bring valuable and security related production back to US soil I would respect it even if I thought it poor policy. The fact is they are hurting the most vulnerable on American soil and foreign soil with the retarded policy and having fun doing it.

 

I like that take a little better. If governments wish to abuse their citizens and use them as slave labor, I fail to see how this falls on Trump. Trump's job is to take care of the forgotten man in America.

If Lebron James wants his $200 shoes made by abusive corporations paying $1 an hour, that's on LeBron and Nike. Lebron loves his billions and could give 2 shits about that little cambodian girl.

I feel for her, but Nike & Lebron certainly don't.

 

But, yeah, lay it all on Trump.

 

Governments fail citizens all the time. 

[dwy000]

19 minutes ago, Spekulatius said:

Interesting - Bessent track record on his own wasn’t very good. AUM collapsed due to shitty track record. 

Bessent’s hedge fund:

 

 

Bessent looks really, really uncomfortable out there. Hes obviously been kept out of the loop on the tariffs and even more obviously doesn't like it but has to hold the party line. I'd be surprised if he lasts another 3 months. 

[cubsfan]

4 hours ago, dwy000 said:

@cubsfan can you name a single policy where you have thought for yourself and disagree with Trump?  A lot of the pushback is because its like watching Fox, just a spouting of the party line even if it makes no sense. 

 

It's so interesting that you think you know everything about me.

 

In my younger days, I considered myself quite liberal, although I always believe in hard work and accountability.  Until about 15 years ago - I NEVER cared about politics.

 

In the 90's I voted Clinton for his 2nd term. Thought he was an very good President although he was a snake. Ok, good President, but flawed. Can't win them all.

 

In 2008 I was heads & tails over Obama - such a wonderful speaker with a great heart, that was all about "we are all Americans".  Wow, 3 years after electing him - he turned into the most divisive President I remember. All identity politics. All about racial inequality.  I couldn't believe it, but he did what he needed to do after the disastrous 2010 mid-terms where he lost tremendous support in the house, senate and local elections. 

 

In 2016, I didn't vote, cause I was disgusted with Hillary and Benghazi. I could not stand Trump

since I thought like most here: he's in it for himself. He's not a serious person.  6 months into his first term - I was totally sold. He did what he said he would do. He was about the forgotten working class. His methods are crude - and like Clinton - he's a flawed individual. He's definitely a fighter, which the RINO's have never had the courage to take the fight to the other party.

 

I think he'll be a historic figure. So I did a total 180 on Trump, and a few of my buddies still remind me about 2016 and how wrong I was. It doesn't matter to me - I want what's best for the country.

 

You want to talk about Fox news, whatever - I could give a shit.

 

The truth is, in 2016, the media made me hate Trump totally. 

Only his actions could change my opinion.

 

But actions mean something. Obama talked an awesome game - It's just he did not possess the moral courage to make the country better - he made it WORSE in terms of race relations.

 

Obama blew a totally golden opportunity to become one of the greatest Presidents in USA history.

He had it ALL teed up. The country adored him. Barrack took the easy way out - and ushered in the most divisive politics in my generation - and good old Joe from Scranton gave him his 3rd term.

Edited April 5, 2025 by cubsfan

[cubsfan]

52 minutes ago, John Hjorth said:

 

Why is it, that you're posting in this topic the way you actuallly do?

 

You should really use your ignore button that always you threaten.

 

You have no problem bringing the heat, but can't stand it when it gets turned on you.

[73 Reds]

22 minutes ago, Red Lion said:

It seems like free trade and social safety net programs have been a great way for billionaires to extract money from the middle class. Please note, I’m not saying we should have protectionist policies and no safety net, but the status quo has been pretty remarkable for billionaires. 
 

Tax the upper middle/upper middle class to death. Keep the masses happy with bread and circuses (cheap shit, Medicaid, food stamps, housing assistance) all while making the lion’s share of profits from all the wealth redistribution at every step of the way. Just retain control positions in public stocks until death, and then give it all to a foundation which will employ your descendants for generations while maintaining their standard of living. 
 

I’m all for self made billionaires, and I think a wealth tax is unworkable. But a lot of problems could be eliminated by capping the charitable deduction limit to the same as the estate tax. 
 

Edit:

 

Also just throwing out there that as an owner of a closely held c corp the government forces you to pay dividends with the accumulated earnings bullshit, but mega caps can do this forever apparently with no repercussions. The double standards are irritating as hell. 

@RedLion I dunno, if we limit the charitable deduction at death, wealthy folks will figure out other ways to avoid paying estate taxes.  At least with the unlimited charitable deduction, large sums go to (what we hope are) charitable causes.  It is interesting, there are other issues with charitable gifting, namely whether those entities that qualify for the charitable deduction are truly charitable and just how much influence and/or other benefits flow back to donors and their own interests.  This issue was addressed in the 2024 Book "Warren and Bill - Gates, Buffet and The Friendship that Changed the World" by Anthony McCarten (though I found the book somewhat disappointing).  

[cubsfan]

3 hours ago, Sweet said:

I’m from Europe, and I disagree.  Europe does have a problem with ‘free speech’ and ‘misinformation’.  Things Americans (and probably Canadians) say online could land European in trouble.

 

60 minutes did something on this recently - fast forward to 7 mins:

 

This is simply wrong.

 

 

Such an objective view. Good on you @Sweet

[changegonnacome]

3 hours ago, dwy000 said:

Agreeing with most policies is fine. Agreeing with every policy means you have probably lost the ability to think independently.  When's the last time Hannity said Trump was wrong?  

 

Exactly - I think some folks have lost their critical facilities.....I can see the good in some of Trump's policies (immigration for example) but even there some of the actions I disagree with (emergency powers again - deportation with no due process like a 3rd world country) etc. etc. Biden was the same....some good, some bad.

 

@cubsfan as the kind of ride or die Trump guy on here - can you think or say out loud something that Trump has done already in his 2nd term that you think is simply wrong or an overreach?......like any of power grab tactics that attempt to expand the executives power beyond the constitution........or say for example launching a crypto meme shit coin two days before you take office making millions personally for yourself and family off the back of the Presidency?

[changegonnacome]

Separately apart from the stupidity of this approach with tariffs......which is to say lowering aggregate standards of living in the hope you can raise up one sub-segment of the population is quite hubristic all by itself.....that your doing it without the approval or continuity of congressional legislation on a Presidential timeline which simply doesn't work politically makes it even dumber.

 

The other thing lost on many who turn around and say Wall St isnt Main St. as the Nasdaq drops 22% completely forget the consumerist math that drives the USA - 

• The top 10% income earners: account for roughly 40–50% of total household consumption expenditures.

• The top 20% income earners: account for 60–70% of total consumption.

I can assure you a great many of these high earners have both a 401k's that at the margins support purchasing intent and also I'd guess in the main work in multinational corporations or their sub-suppliers who sell their services/products globally. You mess with these people at your peril....they are the US economy.

 

 

[Gregmal]

I mean if we’re gonna pick on @cubsfan, why not open it up? There’s many names I could tag with similar questions; such as, how come the only time you open your yap it’s regarding some whining, complaint or attempt to undermine the current administration? 
 

[Sweet]

1 hour ago, Spekulatius said:

The German  constitution begins with Artikel 1  “ Die Würde des Menschen is Unantastbar” (for good reasons. I don’t know if they still teach the constitution in social sciences in Germany but if you look at the still recent history, there are very good reason why human dignity become before free speech.

Germany also does not have anything like a “Patriot act” or the presidents emergency power which I think place the US Democracy at a significant risk. Also look at recent actions form the WH to limit access to reporters or agency that the administration doesn’t agree with. This is mit the case in Germany.

 

We can argue if Germany takes an overzealous approach on free speech, but the US is hardly without issues.

 

Don’t agree Spek.  

 

In the UK there were cops turning up to the doors of people because they misgendered someone and it being recorded as a non-crime hate incident.  This would go on your record and would be flagged during background checks which could prohibit you from some jobs.
 

Mark Meekhan was fined £800 in Scotland because he trained his girlfriend’s dog to raise its paw when he said ‘gas the Jews’ as a joke.  The video of it got it and the cops got involved.
 

Lee Price was jailed because he sent a racist tweet - yes jailed for being a knob head.  Racism isn’t even discrimination.

 

Bradley McCarthy jailed because he goaded police and shouted at the police dog during the recent immigration rioting.

 

There are many more cases.  It’s wrong. 
 

I do agree that just because there is free speech doesn’t mean you should use it to be an asshole.  But hurry words are just words, mute the person, block them… it’s social media.  Jail though?  Come on.

 

Edited April 5, 2025 by Sweet

[hasilp89]

17 minutes ago, changegonnacome said:

Separately apart from the stupidity of this approach with tariffs......which is to say lowering aggregate standards of living in the hope you can raise up one sub-segment of the population is quite hubristic all by itself.....that your doing it without the approval or continuity of congressional legislation on a Presidential timeline which simply doesn't work politically makes it even dumber.

 

The other thing lost on many who turn around and say Wall St isnt Main St. as the Nasdaq drops 22% completely forget the consumerist math that drives the USA - 

• The top 10% income earners: account for roughly 40–50% of total household consumption expenditures.

• The top 20% income earners: account for 60–70% of total consumption.

I can assure you a great many of these high earners have both a 401k's that at the margins support purchasing intent and also I'd guess in the main work in multinational corporations or their sub-suppliers who sell their services/products globally. You mess with these people at your peril....they are the US economy.

 

 

I agree with you in areas but some push back

- are the top 10% actually financially hurting even after the dramatic pull back in stock prices? Interest rates going to 5% didn’t do them in? Markets are back to levels of last May, even if the propensity to spend amongst the top 10% is diminished their safety net is far from gone. 
- there will be some psychology and consistency/confirmation bias at play. No matter how dumb the tariffs sound or how much money is lost, if you voted for him the first thing you will do is seek some sort of rationale for why the policy makes sense (even if you’ve lost a ton of money in they last week) (see ackman)

- so if the rich aren’t truly hurting, they are ok with the ST pain because they voted for him and they don’t want to change their minds - what actually happens?

[james22]

 

1 hour ago, changegonnacome said:

. . . as the kind of ride or die Trump guy on here - can you think or say out loud something that Trump has done already in his 2nd term that you think is simply wrong or an overreach?

 

Trump doesn't make it easy for this supporter.

 

He shoots himself in the foot with most every unstatesmanlike statement and tweet.

 

Launching a meme coin? Goddammit.

 

OTOH, every Republican (Romney!) gets called Hitler anyway, so does it really matter?

[Gregmal]

22 minutes ago, james22 said:

 

 

Trump doesn't make it easy for this supporter.

 

He shoots himself in the foot with most every unstatesmanlike statement and tweet.

 

Launching a meme coin? Goddammit.

 

OTOH, every Republican (Romney!) gets called Hitler anyway, so does it really matter?

That was what Obama did to politics. I’ve said it for years but all the complainers are getting exactly what they asked for when they supported that shit. All it took was calling someone a racist or making some made for TV zinger and you’d win if you were a dem.
 

Remember the debate where Romney and Obama were asked the most serious foreign threat? And Romney eloquently states that it’s Russia? To which all Barry had to say was “the 1980s called and wants its foreign policy back”….then a year or two later these assclowns wanna tell us how big a threat Russia is. Trump just took the depravity to God mode because that was the only way to beat them at their game.

[cubsfan]

1 hour ago, changegonnacome said:

@cubsfan as the kind of ride or die Trump guy on here - can you think or say out loud something that Trump has done already in his 2nd term that you think is simply wrong or an overreach?......like any of power grab tactics that attempt to expand the executives power beyond the constitution........or say for example launching a crypto meme shit coin two days before you take office making millions personally for yourself and family off the back of the Presidency?

 

I have no idea, nor do I pay attention to crypto. It's not at all my thing, so I have no opinion.

If Trump loves crypto, it won't influence me one way or another about crypto.

You're asking the wrong guy.

 

Trump is using executive orders to fulfill his agenda. I see no problem with any of them really.

You say overeach - you don't know that, because the final rulings are not in.

I do see tremendous judicial overreach, where judges believe they can stop national defense actions such as deportations of terrorist groups.

 

You are going to have to show me where he expands his power beyond the constitution.
That's a good one. I don't see it.  Let's see what the Supreme Court says..

 

BTW - I think about 45% or so of Obama's executive orders were reversed. As I remember, the 

largest percentage ever - and this from a so-called "constitutional expert" from Harvard.

 

I do see judges that think they can dictate foriegn policy, which is within the wheelhouse of the executive branch.

 

Do you have an issue with sanctuary cities?  Do you think that cities/states can overrule federal law?

Edited April 5, 2025 by cubsfan

[changegonnacome]

55 minutes ago, hasilp89 said:

I agree with you in areas but some push back

- are the top 10% actually financially hurting even after the dramatic pull back in stock prices? Interest rates going to 5% didn’t do them in? Markets are back to levels of last May, even if the propensity to spend amongst the top 10% is diminished their safety net is far from gone. 
- there will be some psychology and consistency/confirmation bias at play. No matter how dumb the tariffs sound or how much money is lost, if you voted for him the first thing you will do is seek some sort of rationale for why the policy makes sense (even if you’ve lost a ton of money in they last week) (see ackman)

- so if the rich aren’t truly hurting, they are ok with the ST pain because they voted for him and they don’t want to change their minds - what actually happens?

Yep agree not there yet by any means - but globalism is the goose that laid the golden egg of the last number of decades of aggregate prosperity…Trump is messing with the model here with this nonsense….SPY/QQQ revenues are an international phenomenon….easily 50% of which come outside the US….and the HQ’s in the USA are exactly where these top 20% income earners sit…they earn so much cause they sit at the top of infinitely scalable (in the case of tech) global digital empires….enabled by globalization.

 

To do as Trump does and claim the US is a victim of trade is really something else….as every tech/biotech/conglomerate of note is American.

[cubsfan]

42 minutes ago, james22 said:

OTOH, every Republican (Romney!) gets called Hitler anyway, so does it really matter?

 

Now that is the smartest thing anyone has said on this thread. Conservatives - not welcome.

[changegonnacome]

14 minutes ago, cubsfan said:

Do you have an issue with sanctuary cities?  Do you think that cities/states can overrule federal law?

Yes I do have an issue with sanctuary cities - and I don’t think cities/states can overrule federal law.

 

re: Trump / Meme coin launch prior to inauguration….i think that truly the Rorschach test for folks with inverse TDS…..if your an American and you don’t see a problem in what him and First Lady did…then you’ve jumped the shark IMO….it doesn’t require any of knowledge of crypto…the President elect of the United States & First Lady 72hrs before inauguration…enriched themselves to the tune of tens of millions of dollars. Unbelievably unethical if not illegal. 

[cubsfan]

1 minute ago, changegonnacome said:

Yes I do have an issue with sanctuary cities - and I don’t think cities/states can overrule federal law.

 

re: Trump / Meme coin launch prior to inauguration….i think that truly the Rorschach test for folks with inverse TDS…..if your an American and you don’t see a problem in what him and First Lady did…then you’ve jumped the shark IMO….it doesn’t require any of knowledge of crypto…the President elect of the United States & First Lady 72hrs before inauguration…enriched themselves to the tune of tens of millions of dollars. Unbelievably unethical if not illegal. 

 

I'm not ducking this. I have just zero interest in crypto or what your getting at.

 

I do not know what his rights are in this regard.

 

I do know the man has never taken a salary as he donates his to veterans, etc.

Seems pretty admirable to me.

 

I do know the man spent hundreds of millions defending himself from corrupt politicians like Alvin Bragg, Fani Willis, Jack Smith, etc.    If he wanted to get richer, he sure would not have run and risk going to jail for 300 years.  Hard to get rich when your bankrupt and in jail with billions in judgements against you.

 

So forgive me if I am dubious about your conclusion that he's in it for the money.