President Donald J. Trump

[Dr. MD MD]

And for god's sake do not say shit like "they been cancelled yet?" when the man does not yet have the authority to do so. That's a stupid statement.

No big surprise. He's an idiot. 

[Yorkshire pud]

Can image

Put this on it. 

сделать америки здорово снова

[HedgehogNorman]

https://twitter.com/woke8yearold/status/815368717911597057

[SciFiAuthor]

The F35 will be put into service or be a hanger queen, but either way, it will be paid for. Trump knows fuck all about defence contracts.

Which is why he did this.

http://indianexpress.com/article/world/donald-trump-meets-military-brass-to-discuss-cutting-f-35-costs-4439409/

Companies these days build into the contract, cancellations and major remods that are demanded by governments, because they were stung in the past holdng the r&d tab.

There's a good reason for that, budget cuts have forced increasing mods on the F-35 as it and other aircraft have to fill the roles of aircraft that may or may not be slated for retirement. That said, having worked in the aerospace industry and watched SpaceX absolutely assrape Lockheed/ULA and Boeing/ULA at their own game by rethinking literally everything including how contracts are written, I'd say it's only a matter of time before this model becomes outmoded because it is an inherently inefficient system the way it is.

Whether or not Boeing go with an uprated Super Hornet is frankly irrelevant to the F35. Boeing will get paid, so will Lockheed. The F35 is to be put into servce by our RN, the new carriers due for service are to be configured to carry the platform. And I can assure you, there'll be penalty clauses in that if Lockheed pull out of the contract.

It'll get renegotiated if Boeing or Lockheed feels that future government contracts are under threat. They know that if they fuck this up one of these billionaires like Bezos or Musk will be able to waltz in and steal the military aircraft industry from them.

[Kidnostad3]

As an historical analog to what Trump is doing, Hyman Rickover was successful in getting costs under control when General Dynamics (Electric Boat Division) deliveries ran over budget  and late.  He simply refused to pay them.   Seems that there were contractual provisions in place to protect the vendor in that case too, but, there was the real prospect of the money being tied up for years while the case was litigated.  I can personally attest to the fact that EB decided forthwith that it was better to please the Admiral by delivering on time and within budget.  (I can personally attest to this as I was on the commissioning crew of a submarine under construction during that period.)

I think that Trump also subscribes to the belief that "when you have your opponents by the balls, their hearts and minds will soon follow."

[WOTR]

I have absolutely zero problem with providing tax breaks to companies for remaining in the US. No problem whatsoever. I consider it out of the ordinary to not be doing that.

How much money is enough?  Carrier took 530 thousand over the last nine years directly from the state economic development agency.  Carrier took a 5.1 million dollar tax credit in 2013 from a federal program to ensure that green manufacturing jobs remain in the US.  It seems for that money taken so recently there should have been a little guarantee that they would not ship their jobs to Mexico (maybe rather than giving them more $$$ to keep the jobs here, tax them 6 million for moving after accepting that money fraudulently.)

I suppose you could always give them 50 million and ask them to stay for 4 years, or maybe just promise to pay all salaries of the workers they keep in the USA for as long as they keep the jobs here.

I agree- give tax breaks.  But it should not be a bottomless bucket where every time you say "we will move" you get to draw more form the well.

[Kidnostad3]

How much money is enough?  Carrier took 530 thousand over the last nine years directly from the state economic development agency.  Carrier took a 5.1 million dollar tax credit in 2013 from a federal program to ensure that green manufacturing jobs remain in the US.  It seems for that money taken so recently there should have been a little guarantee that they would not ship their jobs to Mexico (maybe rather than giving them more $$$ to keep the jobs here, tax them 6 million for moving after accepting that money fraudulently.)

I suppose you could always give them 50 million and ask them to stay for 4 years, or maybe just promise to pay all salaries of the workers they keep in the USA for as long as they keep the jobs here.

I agree- give tax breaks.  But it should not be a bottomless bucket where every time you say "we will move" you get to draw more form the well.

Point taken.  It's a very slippery slope.  States are already in a competition to attract and retain industry which has and will continue to result in bidding wars.  Picture two scorpions in a bottle. Both loose.

[albrecht]

How much money is enough?  Carrier took 530 thousand over the last nine years directly from the state economic development agency.  Carrier took a 5.1 million dollar tax credit in 2013 from a federal program to ensure that green manufacturing jobs remain in the US.  It seems for that money taken so recently there should have been a little guarantee that they would not ship their jobs to Mexico (maybe rather than giving them more $$$ to keep the jobs here, tax them 6 million for moving after accepting that money fraudulently.)

I suppose you could always give them 50 million and ask them to stay for 4 years, or maybe just promise to pay all salaries of the workers they keep in the USA for as long as they keep the jobs here.

I agree- give tax breaks.  But it should not be a bottomless bucket where every time you say "we will move" you get to draw more form the well.

Yeah, but I would give tax-breaks across the board to keep and attract more business but for everyone- not targetted, indivudal sweetheart deals. Why are local businesses often ignored but the big guys get the sweetheart tax-break deals? Attract and keep all businesses by lowering taxes, less regulation, etc. When often there are more employed by small businesses, in aggregate, than the new tech firm that wants to build a plant? And putting all of your eggs in one basket can impact the economy when some technology changes, there is a buy-out, public demand shifts. Where as a lot of small to mid-size businesses of different types can withstand those changes better.  Also why does the public so often have to pony-up actual cash or give crazy tax-deals to build a stadium for millionaire/billionaire owners of professional sports teams? If they are profitable, then build your own stadium.

[WOTR]

Yeah, but I would give tax-breaks across the board to keep and attract more business but for everyone- not targetted, indivudal sweetheart deals...Also why does the public so often have to pony-up actual cash or give crazy tax-deals to build a stadium for millionaire/billionaire owners of professional sports teams? If they are profitable, then build your own stadium.

It looks like we will start out the new year in complete, 100% agreement.  There is still a full year to find opposing views.

I keep finding that the larger the company, the more tax payer money they seem to get to stifle competition from the smaller companies who would, otherwise be competitive.  It makes it very easy for them to either buy up anybody who threatens their position at the top or drive them out of business by using tax payer dollars to continue operating at a loss until their competition can't absorb those losses any longer (due to not having access to a bottomless well of tax payer $.)

[PB the Deplorable]

On the federal level I would do away with all income taxes - individual and business, and take a chainsaw to federal government spending.  Do away completely with many if not most departments and agencies.

We've been hearing about taxing the rich for decades, yet the tax bills end up taxing current income, which is mostly earned by the middle class.  How about a wealth tax.  On everything within the US, and everything US citizens and residents own outside the US.  An annual percentage of the total each person owned. 

The states would continue to raise revenue however they wanted - sales tax, property tax, income tax, and fund whatever was cut from the federal budget they wanted to continue funding. 

[SciFiAuthor]

How much money is enough?  Carrier took 530 thousand over the last nine years directly from the state economic development agency.  Carrier took a 5.1 million dollar tax credit in 2013 from a federal program to ensure that green manufacturing jobs remain in the US.  It seems for that money taken so recently there should have been a little guarantee that they would not ship their jobs to Mexico (maybe rather than giving them more $$$ to keep the jobs here, tax them 6 million for moving after accepting that money fraudulently.)

I agree on the guarantee. It seems total common sense to do it that way. Why that wasn't done is because someone in the government didn't know what they were doing and fucked up one way or another. That does not surprise me with the current administration.

I agree- give tax breaks.  But it should not be a bottomless bucket where every time you say "we will move" you get to draw more form the well.

All they need to be is effective in getting the company to remain in the US. Tax breaks should always start with the intent of fostering job growth. But, TBH I don't think you'll need them at all if you drop the corporate tax rate by 20 percent as Trump said. Then you can likely eliminate tax breaks completely.

[SciFiAuthor]

Bad news for China . . .

http://www.wsj.com/articles/re-energized-dollar-looms-over-the-rest-of-the-world-1483272003

Thanks again Mr. President-elect.

[ItsOver]

https://twitter.com/woke8yearold/status/815368717911597057

Heh.  Big surprise.

[Jackstar]

It seems total common sense to do it that way. Why that wasn't done is because someone in the government

"someone"? lol.

[Yorkshire pud]

Bad news for China . . .

http://www.wsj.com/articles/re-energized-dollar-looms-over-the-rest-of-the-world-1483272003

Thanks again Mr. President-elect.

China and the West's trade with it is so inextricably linked that a drop in China won't help anyone. Foxconn who make Iphones have said that their production will be almost entirely automated, with very few humans involved. They'll still be made in Taiwan though.Unlikely to move production to the US


And if you think Trump should get thanks for China's demise; does it also stand he'll get the flack if they get stronger or for that matter, anything that makes America weaker? 

[SciFiAuthor]

"someone"? lol.

I dated a satanist once. She was into biting which was a little weird but otherwise was great in the sack. That's literally all I have to say about satanists.

[SciFiAuthor]

China and the West's trade with it is so inextricably linked that a drop in China won't help anyone. Foxconn who make Iphones have said that their production will be almost entirely automated, with very few humans involved. They'll still be made in Taiwan though.Unlikely to move production to the US

That depends entirely on corporate tax rates really. It would not surprise me if we see Chinese corporations relocating their corporate headquarters to the US. There's already been a partial example of that and they are really bitchy lately about the PRC's corporate taxes. As to automation, that's the rub in all of this. Any factoriess that are brought back are likely to be heavily automated from the start.

And if you think Trump should get thanks for China's demise; does it also stand he'll get the flack if they get stronger or for that matter, anything that makes America weaker?

Donald Trump will get fake flack for anything he does.

[analog kid]

I dated a satanist once. She was into biting which was a little weird but otherwise was great in the sack. That's literally all I have to say about satanists.

As long as they look like Zeena Levay. But I don't want to hear their ridiculous satanism horseshit. No more than I'd want to hear a teenager philosophize through a haze of bong smoke.

[Yorkshire pud]

That depends entirely on corporate tax rates really. It would not surprise me if we see Chinese corporations relocating their corporate headquarters to the US. There's already been a partial example of that and they are really bitchy lately about the PRC's corporate taxes. As to automation, that's the rub in all of this. Any factors that are brought back are likely to be heavily automated from the start.

Donald Trump will get fake flack for anything he does.

Fake? Oh I was thinking along the lines of very real genuine flack when the honeymoon period is over and stuff promised gets kicked into the weeds.

[SciFiAuthor]

As long as they look like Zeena Levay. But I don't want to hear their ridiculous satanism horseshit. No more than I'd want to hear a teenager philosophize through a haze of bong smoke.

That's pretty much what killed the relationship. I got tired of talismans laying around everywhere and staring at a huge poster of Anton laVey she had over her bed. She also believed that cats were demons in corporeal form or some weird shit like that to cover for the fact that she was a budding crazy cat lady which is what she ended up as.

[PB the Deplorable]

Thanks K. Having a quiet evening at home with champagne and loved ones. Just think. We have a shiny new year ahead to disagree on all things political. Goody

Did ''Russian hacking'' cause you to vote for Trump instead of Hilary?

[SciFiAuthor]

Fake? Oh I was thinking along the lines of very real genuine flack when the honeymoon period is over and stuff promised gets kicked into the weeds.

Like that shit ever sticks. Presidents never deliver on all of their promises. It's expected that they won't. All Trump has to do to have a successful presidency is grow the economy, which he's already doing just by getting elected. If this country sees a modest 4 percent growth, Trump will have nothing to worry about. He hits 6 percent and he will landslide reelection. All that is needed to accomplish that is to roll back all of the thousands upon thousands of Obama-era regulations that fucked everything up. Any flack he takes will be the usual dingbat bullshit from the liberals.

[Yorkshire pud]

Like that shit ever sticks. Presidents never deliver on all of their promises. It's expected that they won't. All Trump has to do to have a successful presidency is grow the economy, which he's already doing just by getting elected. If this country sees a modest 4 percent growth, Trump will have nothing to worry about. He hits 6 percent and he will landslide reelection. All that is needed to accomplish that is to roll back all of the thousands upon thousands of Obama-era regulations that fucked everything up. Any flack he takes will be the usual dingbat bullshit from the liberals.

Let's hope you're right then eh? Then your umbrage can be reserved for them for being bad losers and not getting with the game.

I do think though its quaint that you see Trump as the messiah, and maybe think he really will cut through his own self regarding but deeply fragile and thin skinned persona and put aside his own wants and needs in favour of the population. I'm actually looking forward to his first televised temper tantrum as POTUS. 

[SciFiAuthor]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2017/01/01/housing-outlook-brightens-despite-higher-rates/95953932/

Thank you Mr. President-elect.

[Jackstar]

That's literally all I have to say about satanists.

I think it's supposed to be capitalized, actually. Are you sure you're qualified to use language?

[Yorkshire pud]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2017/01/01/housing-outlook-brightens-despite-higher-rates/95953932/

Thank you Mr. President-elect.

Putin will get mad if you carry on this virtual fellatio of Trump. Be careful, Putin is KGB..bad ass.

[Dr. MD MD]

Putin will get mad if you carry on this virtual fellatio of Trump. Be careful, Putin is KGB..bad ass.

Shouldn't you be fluffing the queen right now? I understand she's very ill and it might help lift her spirits. I mean, shouldn't you be doing everything you can to help at this point? 

[SciFiAuthor]

Putin will get mad if you carry on this virtual fellatio of Trump. Be careful, Putin is KGB..bad ass.

See avatar. Vladsy and I go way back.

[Yorkshire pud]

Shouldn't you be fluffing the queen right now? I understand she's very ill and it might help lift her spirits. I mean, shouldn't you be doing everything you can to help at this point? 

You're eating into your video trawling time...You shouldn't be here.

[Dr. MD MD]

You're eating into your video trawling time...You shouldn't be here.

As long as I'm here I might as well correct your horrible, ham-fisted attempts at propaganda.