Business Politics

Wall Street shrugs at Washington’s debt pileup

Wall Street doesn't care about the debt...most people don't...and either party doesn't care when THEY are in control.
It's just a wedge issue...spin it to make your opposition hurt.

Really, the thing that take care of the debt is making the ship run better.
Money is made...taxes taken in, the bills get paid over time.

Right now, isn't a time to retreat or restrict...we're in a war, VS a plague. People AND businesses are hurting.
And statisticians say every dollar WELL spent comes back in the long run 10 fold.

But this doesn't mean corrupt handouts to those not truly in need...People AND especially business.
y'gotta keep track of it.
A target water spout...not an uncontrolled fire hose.

Ignore the bullshit, do what's right.

 

China is feeling insecure about its global rare earths dominance

This is one I've been watching for awhile
And will become even more important, as we go through what's available.

If anything that Biden and the states can go conservative on and ignore some environmental impact...it's this one.
Gotta kill the China monopoly on this and utilize what the US has. IF it is done smart and discretionary...not slapdash like we did with oil.
Controlled but moving forward.

 

I find the whole thing hilarious.
Another unexpected consequence of the internet and its unending apps.

But the one thing I'll be fascinated with is what government actions and laws come out of this.
Because they're certainly not going leave it alone.
Too much money involved, too many VIPs.

Nice to fuck with some millionaires and billionaires in the meantime.
Not that I'd mind being one myself.
I'm just not that manipulative or driven.

 

Texas issues order to prevent providers from sending electric bills — The Texas Tribune

Now this is what government is good for...
Making sure that business doesn’t get out of control.

Often, business is only interested in the bottom line, profit, the owners and stockholders.
Government is “supposed to” serve the people.

Often, they’ve let automation, policy and service get out of scope.

And god knows what I went through fighting the utilities...and that was just about $1500

Business has a conflict of interest.
Sometimes it just gets plain greedy or negligent.

Government is check
A necessary evil.

I like the idea of laissez-faire
But real terms, it doesn’t work always.
There is a balance

And sometimes even that needs to be tweaked for circumstance.

This IS one of those scenarios.

 

U.S. and Europe Will Suspend Tariffs on Alcohol, Food and Airplanes

This is where my "Laissez-faire" thoughts kick in.
I've never really understood the idea of using tariffs.
Mostly they backfire.
Mostly of the time, more money is made & saved for everyone when they're reduced or dropped. (on both sides)

IMHO, mostly it's used by politicians and lobbyists to posture and protect their sponsors or ego.

Anyone see any good?

 

Biden picks 2 antitrust crusaders. But his biggest choices come next.

This topic is one of the reasons I made this thread.
I hope they effectively use the antitrust laws.

We've been rubber stamping most mergers and acquisitions in the past 20 years.
And now we've got a bunch of over power companies.

Ex: Google is most of the searches
Facebook data mines like crazy, as Google does.
Amazon is submarining the retail market.
And so on...

The question is...isn't if they're big and rich...it's if it's harmful and unfair.
Are they chokeholding the industry or taking advantage of citizens.

Do they have balanced competition?

--- Double Post Merged, Mar 21, 2021, Original Post Date: Mar 15, 2021 ---

Opinion | How to Collect $1.4 Trillion in Unpaid Taxes

ALL should pay their fair share.
People or businesses, etc
Big or small, rich or poor.

You cannot claim freedom of speech...to influence with money, then not pay (big biz, we're talking to you)
You cannot use universal resources and not pay (roads, bridges, etc)

No, you do NOT get to eat your cake and have it too.

 

Voting rights: Why the GOP and corporate America are breaking up - CNNPolitics

Well, they've figured out some things
1. The GOP base is insane...and getting more so
2. They're getting pulled into battles from a minority party
3. So they don't want to go down the rabbit hole
4. Don't want to lose the majority of their customers...including global.

The GOP base is a SMALL fraction of the whole nation and world.
Why would you cater to an unstable shrinking crowd??? (even if noisy...or especially so)

Biz is about volume and growth

--- Double Post Merged, May 24, 2021, Original Post Date: Apr 5, 2021 ---

Hundreds of PPP loans went to fake farms in absurd places

I hope the federal jails will be filling up...

--- Double Post Merged, Jun 5, 2021 ---

G7 seals breakthrough deal to tax global companies

Now THIS will change things.
As the business becomes more international they can't hide their profits.
It allows post-industrial nations to share.
And gives them an excuse to put a minimum on the tax. (corrupt national politicians can't give tons of write-off as easy, due to international law)

Now, the only question is everyone going to commit? And continue it?
All it takes is nationalist short-sighted dimwit to tear it all up. (Mr. T is a case in point)

Oh well, y'gotta start somewhere.

But the lobbyists, politicians and so on, paid off by businesses, are all going to do what they can to minimize or kill it.

I don't mind taxes, as long as they're reasonable and fair.
I just wish businesses didn't treat it like a zero sum game.