u/Olderpostie

Has any economist done a deep dive into the effect the tariffs have had on manufacturing output and employment?

I have seen a lot of arguments as to legality and theories of how the economy would behave, but it seems to me that eighteen months in, we should be seeing actual outcomes, both negative and positive.

Also, can anyone explain the rationale for putting tariffs on raw materials needed in manufacturing, such as steel, aluminum, lumber and plywood?

Once again today, President Trump accused Canada of ripping off the USA, citing tariffs of 400% on dairy products. The situation has been brought up again and again. It has also been refuted again and again.

No U.S. farmer or dairy has paid such duties. They are a barrier imposed in excess exports. The USA has done likewise in aspects of its agricultural system employing supply management, such as sugar and peanuts, to protect domestic agriculture.

In the USMCA negotiations, U.S. producers were authorized a 10% share of the Canadian dairy market, tariff free. That is the deal that was signed by the President, then abrogated in his second term.

Canada imported over $1 billion in dairy products last year from the USA, nearly three times the value of dairy products Canada exported to the USA.

The angry tone of the President actually impairs discussions on trade. He is making up his own facts. He is creating conditions detrimental to the economic benefit of the USA.

I understand that the recall for the software updating started in August. Is this being done in the order of manufacture dates? I have had no advice yet from Ford as to when mine is scheduled.

I have a late 2024 model (August, 2024). I did receive the announcement about restricting charge to 80%.

As we know, the creditors of the USA, the overall bond market, are disturbed with the debt level. That is why long term interest rates have taken a hop upward. They do not see clarity in how the USA will fight inflationary forces.

Now, we see this promise of an unfunded "dividend,", which simple arithmetic shows will add a further $1.3 trillion to the debt.

Am I right to be concerned that two likely things will occur:

1- The influx of cash when the dividend is paid will push up prices.

2 - Long term interest rates will go even higher. I think even putting forth this notion by the President demonstrates to world financiers that the United States government is not serious about its debt situation.

I seem to get optimum range at 24°, being 50 km. with 80% charge. It drops bit by bit below that. At 12°, my range is about 38-40 km.

I do not use cabin heating, or seat heating at 12°. So, just why does my car's range drop at these in between temperatures? Is it just a programming matter in the "guess-o-mdter, or does the vehicle use battery heating at such moderate temperatures?

Numerous times Howard Lutnick asks why anybody would set up auto manufacturing plants in Canada. Also, that plants ",moved" there. He doesn't have a grasp of the facts. Surprising that a staffer doesn't apprise him of the facts. Auto plants were built in Canada, more or less in parallel with American, at the start of the automotive era. During World War II, the Canadian motor industry turned out over 800,000 heavy duty Canadian Military Pattern trucks, used by the British Empire and Soviet Union.

Also, Canadian workers were represented by the same union, the United Automotive Workers of America, from its founding in 1937.

Would Lutnick be surprised that countries with a fraction of Canada's population, such as Austria and Hungary produce motor vehicles?

How can a man in his position make good decisions, when he goes by gut feel and not by facts. I would be embarrassed if I worked in the Commerce Department and had such a loose cannon as the person in charge.

Airlines state that names on tickets must match passports exactly. Yet, it seems none can handle names with apostrophes. Why is that? Wouldn't it simply be a matter of fixing their computer program used for ticketing?

Names with apostrophes are found in so many ethnicities - Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, Irish, Dutch and Native American.

Presently, one uses capitals only for the first letter in a sentence, or for the first letter of proper nouns.

But, reading some works of people around the era of the American Revolution, I see random words in sentences capitalized. Not verbs or adverbs, seemingly mostly nouns and some adjectives. These are even in the writings of notable persons, who were erudite, such as Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin. I do not understand the purpose, except perhaps to add emphasis. Were there rules about these?

The only modern day situations I see are in relation to religious naming, such as "Merciful Redeemer", not merciful Redeemer. Or, "Blessed Sacrament", not blessed sacrament.

I noticed on the Smerconish show on CNN this morning that SS pension benefits account for 22% of federal spending.

But, I thought that the SS system is funded by special withholding, "FICA" deductions by employees and employers. I recall as a foreign student in the USA, back in the 70s, when I got a social security card, it stated that I even had a special account assigned within social security in my name.

So, is that 22% of federal government spending a top up of St the social security fund itself provides to seniors and disabled people?

I recall when we used paper straws as the norm, up to the past 35 years or more. The straws were made in a lapping spiral for better stiffness and waxed to avoid porosity. For all intents and purposes they were the equal of plastic straws in terms of effectiveness.

Now, when paper straws returned to the scene, it was like the makers started from scratch. The present paper straws use more material than necessary, being bigger in diameter and thicker. And, quite porous and difficult to draw if you are having a thick drink.

A few years ago, while in England, I asked an acquaintance there what church denomination operated a particular hospital with a saint's name. (St. Swithins, I think). He was puzzled as to why a hospital would be operated by a church. But, that is how it goes in the USA and Canada; many churches are religious based, though not limited to use by any one faith.

How about other European countries? Are all hospitals nationalized, or is it a mix of community based and religious ones?

The matter of Canada's "unfairness" to U.S. farmers keeps coming up. But, the dairy business is done differently in Canada, with market shares allocated by provincial dairy boards. There was a small slice allocated to U.S. dairy in the USMCA deal, but that slice has not even been used.

Now, dairy is logically the kind of thing that falls into "buy local" category. Even within Canada there is not much cross provincial dairy trade.

President Trump keeps stating about so many other products that the USA does not need to import from Canada. It is a similar thing for Canada when it comes to dairy. Canada produces all it needs internally.

President Trump is becoming annoying, like the vacuum cleaner salesman who keeps putting his foot in the door as you try to chase him away.

So, just what is the deal with him on this? The Canadian dairy market isn't all that big, and the USA doesn't really need the Canadian market either.

I understand an American bishop has directed priests in his diocese to forbid eulogies by family members and friends going forward. My own thought is that eulogies can be long and problematic if embedded within the Mass. But, why not have them just before the Proper of the Mass, when the priest begins prayers at the altar? I think families want to share memories.

The bishop says eulogizing should be done at the wake. But, at best, most families have a visitation spread over four hours in a room that cannot handle more than 30 or 40 people. Who has wakes anymore?

I was recently in Montreal and Quebec City. What you learn in visiting is that the people there kept their language, schools, churches and civil law after the early New France colony became a part of the British Empire in 1760. Lawyers in Quebec have a whole different curriculum in dealing with matters like real estate, family law and estate law than other Canadian lawyers. Though Quebec joined the Empire, it also carried on in many ways as if it did not.

It seems a parallel would have been the acquisition of New Amsterdam a century earlier. But, of course, practically nobody uses the Dutch language. Was there any concerted effort by the early Dutch settlers to maintain their language, customs, cuisine, etc. after the British took over?

I was recently in Montreal and Quebec City. What you learn in visiting is that the people there kept their language, schools, churches and civil law after the early New France colony became a part of the British Empire in 1760. Lawyers in Quebec have a whole different curriculum in dealing with matters like real estate, family law and estate law than other Canadian lawyers. Though Quebec joined the Empire, it also carried on in many ways as if it did not.

It seems a parallel would have been the acquisition of New Amsterdam a century earlier. But, of course, practically nobody uses the Dutch language. Was there any concerted effort by the early Dutch settlers to maintain their language, customs, cuisine, etc. after the British took over?

I have seen Paula White several times on the news. She is the spiritual advisor, apparently, to President Trump. He has named her to the White House faith office.

But, I have a concern as to her vocation and authenticity. I do not see evidence of her academic grounding. A lot of her personal life also seems problematic as a spiritual advisor. Does the White House staffing department have any say in her hiring, or is the matter strictly in the President's hands? As, I do not find him very good at digging into details. I wonder if the President may be mesmerized in some way by her. In the old days, a lot of revival type preachers had a lot of charisma, but little substance. I wonder if Paula may be of that ilk.

There is an historic curiosity of airline cabin staff being paid only for time elapsed from a flight departure from one airport to docking at the next airport. Yet, airlines tag staff with responsibilities prior and post flight time.

How is this even legal under the federal labour code, if such staff are hourly rated? Can a collective agreement override the basics of the law?