2 minutes ago, Mike_Hunt said:

The F150 can seat a family of four. 

A Toyota Hilux can easily seat a family of 10

4 minutes ago, Mike_Hunt said:

The F150 can seat a family of four. 

So can a Mazda2, or a Toyota Vios.

16 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

So can a Mazda2, or a Toyota Vios.

Who wants to sit it he back seat of a Mazda 2?

1 hour ago, CallumWK said:

 

Options don't make a car a better quality.

Recalls and break-downs are what determine if a car is good quality.

Just have a look where Ford and Chevrolet, among other US built cars, are on the list.

 

https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/car-reliability-owner-satisfaction/who-makes-the-most-reliable-cars-a7824554938/

 

The reality is the bottom of that list would be near the top of the list in 1995.  Quality across the board has been raised by modern design and production.  So his statement all companies make good cars is accurate.

 

Personally I love German cars and haven't owned an American car in years but if forced to limit myself I would not feel deprived.  Lincoln makes wonderful luxury vehicles that fit my needs.

1 hour ago, Mike_Hunt said:

I like the US making a windfall from Germany.   

 

How many years will take for Canada to build a new LNG supply system?

Not long 

https://www.lngcanada.ca/who-we-are/about-lng-canada/

 

With construction moving safely and steadily towards completion, the LNG Canada project remains on track to deliver its first cargo by the middle of 2025. Our facility is a long-life asset and our 40-year export license enables us to initially export up to 14 million tonnes of LNG per annum.

Let people have the freedom to choose what they buy!

 

JD Vance

10 hours ago, Lacessit said:

So the US can do without Canadian oil and electricity? I'd like to see that.

 

 

 

No. Canada is going to be a territory of the US. Just wait.

2 hours ago, uncletiger said:

 

No. Canada is going to be a territory of the US. Just wait.

 

See my avatar for your answer

 

It's a shame to see small business like this bear the brunt of idiot mans misplaced policy's

But you got the government you voted for

11 hours ago, rough diamond said:

Where?

In the real world, not the MAGA alternate universe! 😆

20 hours ago, uncletiger said:

This is a win-win, and will push manufacturing back to American shores even faster.

You haven't been paying attention, have you?

 

Pretty much all the major economies have seen tremendous drop in the percentage of their GDP contributed by  manufacturing of goods.  Services are the new gold.

 

In 1947 manufacturing was about 48% of US's GDP.... in 2023 that figure is now 10%.

Even Japan and Germany have seen significant shifts to services from manufacturing.  Despite those two countries instituting many policies attempting to stem that shift, they failed.

On 3/19/2025 at 4:26 AM, Lacessit said:

Detroit was 100 years ago. It's an empty shell for drug dealers now.

 

You're living in 2005 mate, where that might've been the case.

 

Detroit has since attracted tons of talent from the fetid overpriced ghettoes of LA and NYC.

 

Best value real estate in the USA right now aside from Chicago.

 

Buy low Sell high buddy.

 

It's not what it IS - but rather what it WILL BECOME.

1 hour ago, Woke to Sounds said:

 

You're living in 2005 mate, where that might've been the case.

 

Detroit has since attracted tons of talent from the fetid overpriced ghettoes of LA and NYC.

 

Best value real estate in the USA right now aside from Chicago.

 

Buy low Sell high buddy.

 

It's not what it IS - but rather what it WILL BECOME.

Where is the money coming from for urban renewal? I doubt it is in the city tax base.

https://www.eurasiantimes.com/lockheed-scrambles-to-save-f-35-deal/?amp
 

lockheed martin panicking over lost sales and share price fall 

4 hours ago, gamb00ler said:

You haven't been paying attention, have you?

 

Pretty much all the major economies have seen tremendous drop in the percentage of their GDP contributed by  manufacturing of goods.  Services are the new gold.

 

In 1947 manufacturing was about 48% of US's GDP.... in 2023 that figure is now 10%.

Even Japan and Germany have seen significant shifts to services from manufacturing.  Despite those two countries instituting many policies attempting to stem that shift, they failed.

And in ‘47 the labor force participation rate for men was about 95%, now it down to about 60%

In the United States, poverty has both social and political implications. Based on poverty measures used by the Census Bureau (which exclude non-cash factors such as food stamps or medical care or public housing), America had 37 million people in poverty in 2023; this is 11 percent of population.
 

it will be hard to change these figures

In the United States, poverty has both social and political implications. Based on poverty measures used by the Census Bureau (which exclude non-cash factors such as food stamps or medical care or public housing), America had 37 million people in poverty in 2023; this is 11 percent of population.
 

it will be hard to change these figures

Crash and burn Trumpet 

On 3/18/2025 at 11:56 PM, Walker88 said:

Effects are always on the margin. Fewer exports mean fewer jobs, which casts a pall over the economy and gets even employed workers to pull back.

 

Even worse, the attitude toward the US has sunk to its lowest nadir in years. What's more important than exports is funding the 30% of the deficit foreigners currently fund. If they boycott USTs, either rates soar or the Fed has to print 24/7, which is inflationary.

 

I appreciate MAGAs, like their messiah, are willfully ignorant about economics. I guess when they are all unemployed and begging for SNAP and SSDI, Elon will tell them to go to the devil.

An excerpt from an opinion piece from Stephen Joyce of the NZ Herald which makes interesting reading;

 

"This is one of the most fascinating parts of this fascinating time. History, even recent history, seems to be forgotten in nearly all the big calls being made in Washington. It’s as though the current Administration has been living under a rock for the past 150 years.

 

All these previously reliable policy positions were put in place precisely because they suited the US. It remade the world order after World War II in its own image with a complex web of alliances and friends because it wanted to prosper economically and ensure a more stable globe that didn’t require it to fight more wars.

 

Critics may say that didn’t work in Eastern Europe, but is that really true? The mere existence of Nato has meant the latest expansionist Russian dictator seeking to justify himself to his people by means of conquest became bogged down in the Donbas rather than going on to threaten Poland, Romania and the Baltic states.

 

The US has prospered hugely through the world order it put in place. Through free trade, it has created the mightiest economy the world has seen. Its emphasis on the rule of law has enabled its companies to operate around the globe. Its tech companies run the world’s most innovative industries. Its massive defence industry has benefited from the web of alliances the country has anchored, and it has overseen a peace dividend that has largely kept its young people from fighting wars since the 1960s. It is the headquarters of world finance and it owns the world’s reserve currency, which gives it huge benefits. Yet, apparently, that is not enough.

 

Which brings us to the irony. All the things the Trump Administration is doing may or may not make sense in their own right, but collectively they do one thing. They make the US a much less reliable partner, whether it be in trade, finance, the rule of law or security.

 

And when your partner becomes unreliable, you have to start looking for others you can depend on to achieve what your country needs. America is, in effect, inviting countries to dismantle the very web of alliances and trade links that made it great. And they will – the world can’t stand still".

 

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/making-america-weaker-again-us-uncertainty-under-trump-threatens-economic-recovery-steven-joyce/6DU7TUMTWFDYDD54R55J3FYFRU/

2 hours ago, 3NUMBAS said:

In the United States, poverty has both social and political implications. Based on poverty measures used by the Census Bureau (which exclude non-cash factors such as food stamps or medical care or public housing), America had 37 million people in poverty in 2023; this is 11 percent of population.
 

it will be hard to change these figures

The poverty level for an individual is $1,149 a month before any benefits. 

 

The left’s solution? Let another two million illegal aliens a year in to drive down wages, drive up housing and overload schools and social programs. 

5 minutes ago, mogandave said:

The poverty level for an individual is $1,149 a month before any benefits. 

 

The left’s solution? Let another two million illegal aliens a year in to drive down wages, drive up housing and overload schools and social programs. 

And most of those below the poverty level have at least one car...

20 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

And most of those below the poverty level have at least one car...

due to the decisions made to spend little on public transportation systems..... thank you GOP.

2 minutes ago, gamb00ler said:

due to the decisions made to spend little on public transportation systems..... thank you GOP.

Thank the left, they run virtually every large metropolitan area and has for a good long time.

 

Hey, tell me about California's high-speed rail. 

 

 

1 hour ago, mogandave said:

The poverty level for an individual is $1,149 a month before any benefits. 

 

The left’s solution? Let another two million illegal aliens a year in to drive down wages, drive up housing and overload schools and social programs. 

The farmers and builders who want the cheap labor are not leftists. They are Republicans, and Trump supporters. More fool them.

 

https://www.aginfo.net/report/58605/Southeast-Regional-Ag-News/Agri-Pulse-Poll-Shows-Farmers-Support-Donald-Trump

3 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

The farmers and builders who want the cheap labor are not leftists. They are Republicans, and Trump supporters. More fool them.

 

https://www.aginfo.net/report/58605/Southeast-Regional-Ag-News/Agri-Pulse-Poll-Shows-Farmers-Support-Donald-Trump

Less than 1% of voters are farmers. 

13 hours ago, mogandave said:

And in ‘47 the labor force participation rate for men was about 95%, now it down to about 60%

The labor force  includes all adults over the age of 16 except those in the military, prisons, hospitals, or elder care facilities. So if someone is 90 years old and still living at home they would be counted as part of the labor force. 

3 hours ago, placeholder said:

The labor force  includes all adults over the age of 16 except those in the military, prisons, hospitals, or elder care facilities. So if someone is 90 years old and still living at home they would be counted as part of the labor force. 

And in ‘47 the labor force participation rate for men was about 95%, now it down to about 60%

1 hour ago, Yellowtail said:

And in ‘47 the labor force participation rate for men was about 95%, now it down to about 60%

In 1947 America produced over 50% of the world's steel.

 

Now, its production is one-tenth of China's.

 

The traditional provider : home maker combination hierarchy has shrunk considerably.

15 hours ago, gamb00ler said:

due to the decisions made to spend little on public transportation systems..... thank you GOP.

Nothing wrong with public transport system in the USA, as used by millions every day, if and when convenient.  It's available for those that want or need it.

 

I've even used it on a daily basis when it was convenient, and definitely cheaper than owning a car.  Even though I had a vehicle or 3, I took public trans to jobs daily.   Used it quite often when not wanting to drive if knowing going to have a few too many.  

 

Used to go to/from a few jobs.  And used to do weekly happy hour pub crawls in the city.  All location dependent of course.  

 

Those that disparage the public transport system, obviously never used or needed it, on a regular basis.

23 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Nothing wrong with public transport system in the USA, as used by millions every day, if and when convenient.  It's available for those that want or need it.

 

I've even used it on a daily basis when it was convenient, and definitely cheaper than owning a car.  Even though I had a vehicle or 3, I took public trans to jobs daily.   Used it quite often when not wanting to drive if knowing going to have a few too many.  

 

Used to go to/from a few jobs.  And used to do weekly happy hour pub crawls in the city.  All location dependent of course.  

 

Those that disparage the public transport system, obviously never used or needed it, on a regular basis.

China has 48,000 km of high speed rail. The USA has 80 km.

 

What does that tell you?

 

The combined GDP of the G7 countries is now less than the BRICS countries.