swissie

Nobody in his right mind would doubt that the US is a rich country. But to focus merely on "government dept" is not the whole picture. Even if every new born baby owes "the government" over 100'000 $ upon birth. There is also "corporate dept" and especially "private dept". As far as private dept is concerned, Americans are world champions. Their homes and cars belong to the bank. Their crdit cards maxed-out. Their retirement stock investment "leaveraged". Upon losing their jobs, after 3 months, personal financial "armageddon" hits. The "low income crowd" even navigating from month to month. All this not for all, but for many. Way too many. Could it be that is was not "productivity gains" but a gigantic credit bubble that made "The West Great"? Time to deflate the baloon?

I am old enough to remember the "Japan Situation" in 1989. Stock analyst were not bothered by crazy high P/E ratios. "This is a new situation not to be compared to anything before". That was the wisdom of the time. We all know the rest of the story. Rinse and repeat?

All the above can happen if Donald gets his way. The question is: Who or what is possibly going to stop him? I believe that violent reactions of the international financial markets can serve as a final referee to restrain or reverse the plans of the current oval-office "wild bunch". Amazing, it takes 1 single person to unhinge the world. By a person, if not rich and famous, would have spent the last years in a mental institution.

Alone to pay interest on the outstanding dept it's nummber 3 as far as annual budget deficit is concerned. If that's not alarming, then I don't know what is.

Taxes is a dirty 5 letter word. Better: Everybody in the US works for free for 2 years. Or even more better: Kick off some hyperinflation. The most elegant solution.

First of all, I can understand your situation. You are 79 years old. Unless your wife is 40 years younger, long term benefits can not be reaped. So your wife is condemned to "trading". Unfortunately, most "short-term" traders lose money, as every (transperant) international broker/trading platform will confirm. It can happen, that the "retirement money" does not cover the increasing cost of living as planned. To fill the "gap" by trading the markets resembles going to the casino. Your wife operating with 1000 $. I assume 500 $ profit per month would help your financial situation. Right? If she manages to do this month after month she would dwarf any investement Guru that ever lived in recorded history. Talk to her like a Dutch Uncle. If she is younger than you she may find gainful employement somewhere, increasing your monthly budget in a risk free environement. You and your wife will have to "face the music". As unpleasent as it may be.

Readers of this sub-forum must have realised that there is an increasing number of complaints concerning "new ways of transferring money". Western Union was never mentioned here in connection with "transfer problems". I wuold stay with Western Union as they have been in business for the last 174 years by transferring money (among other things). More: Avoid internet hokus pokus. Go to the many WU offices in your neighborhood in person. Never no "transfer problems".

And no matter what, they will keep faith in Donald, as they have declared him as their "Messias". Of course, I would never allow my daughter to marry a guy that was involved in 3000 law suits.

So he is alienating his "big money" buddies. The High Tech guys as well as the "drill baby drill" guys. Fine, in the end he will only have some staunch West Viginia Hillbillies as supporters left. But only if the coal mines re-open😂.

I think it would be helpful to immerse ourselfs into the mental universe of Donald. He is a real estate guy and still is. "Diplomacy" to him is reduced to monetary deals. During his career, he may have learned something about "microeconomics", but "macroecomics" is something he simply does not understand. In his first term, he fired advisors that did not support his simplistic views. This time he made sure that only strict loyalists are part of his surroundings. In other words: Donald has not managed to elevate his microeconomic knowledge to the level of macroeconomics. That is the root of all problems that the rest of the world faces today, only because 1 person in power, has refused to do his homework.

For whom?

The steam engine, the combustion engine. Every machine replacing human "muscle". Even airplanes flew in Europe before the Wright brothers. (Otto von Liliental). All this during a time, when the average US settler was busy chasing savage "Indians" in order to get them off "their land".

Alan Turing was classified as a Homosexual after the war. His career came to an end. He committed suicide. The internet started, when a minor scientist working at the CERN in Switzerland in the late 60ties/early70ties started to wonder why should we not connect computers by telefone lines. That was the beginning of the internet. Far away from SIlicone Valley.

Yes, at Blaechly Park during WW2 by Alan Turing. He could not have deciphered the German "Enigma-Code" without "early day computers". The rest is Silicon Valley.

All Silicone Valley stuff.