Results 176 to 200 of 236
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01-25-2017, 11:35 AM #176
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01-25-2017, 11:50 AM #177
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01-25-2017, 12:04 PM #178
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01-25-2017, 12:08 PM #179
The whole policy (and history) of no drug price negotiation is insane and needs to be addressed for sure. But as mentioned, services, service overhead, and peripheral costs of healthcare are also ridiculous. You would hope a proactive healthcare system leads to a healthy population leads to reduced need of drugs.
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01-25-2017, 01:37 PM #180
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01-25-2017, 01:54 PM #181observing free range rude
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I hear ya. Services cost can't go down imo without reform of education. Modest quality dilution is needed to bring down ed costs & subsequent services. It sounds antithetical, but scarcity is one stubborn bitch. Either acknowledge the efficacy of good, cost effective care or fall victim to the moth to flame situation we have now with "the best care" that only wealthy corporations can afford.
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01-27-2017, 06:46 AM #182AF
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In the year before NAFTA the U.S ran a trade surplus with Mexico, $1.35 billion. That surplus immediately turned to a deficit of $16 billion and has been rising ever since. In 2016 the deficit was $58.8 billion. If you can remember one of the "promises" of NAFTA was that it would raise the standard of living of Mexicans increasing their buying power. 50% of Mexicans live below the poverty line. According to Reuters Mexican auto workers make $8 - $10 per hour including benefits. At those wages they have little extra money to buy any goods much less U. S. products. I understand that we would pay more for goods if they do not come from Mexico but what is the benefit to our economy of more skilled workers in good paying jobs? Having spent too much time in Mexico on business its a corrupt, government with contempt for its citizens. BTW, remittances from Mexicans sent to primarily relatives in Mexico exceeds the revenue of oil that Mexico sells. The last number I could find on money sent to Mexico was $26 billion in 2014. The Mexican Government badly needs the revenue from remittances and because of this they make no effort to slow the flow of illegals.
Last edited by bigdude2468; 01-27-2017 at 07:05 AM.
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01-27-2017, 07:01 AM #183
What's the message? It looks like you're saying NAFTA hasn't been good for the US or Mexico but go on to acknowledge what used to be a US trade surplus with Mexico turned into a bigger trade deficit which, despite lower Mexican wages relative to those in the US indicates increased Mexican purchasing power. Is there other work in Mexico that would pay more than $8-10/hr if auto facilities didn't exist?
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01-27-2017, 07:07 AM #184
Don't mess with Texas: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...exas/97120400/
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01-27-2017, 07:29 AM #185AF
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The message is how do trade deficits, in this case very large trade deficits help the U.S. other than less expensive products? Mexico is the winner in this scenario and with wages so low in Mexico they do not have the buying power that over the long run would make this a win win. In 1995 the Peso was 3.5 to the $. It doubled to 7.5 in the late 90" and it currently over 20. That is why Mexico can't pull their weight when it comes to buying U.S. products. Any thought that Mexico will ever be anything than a third world country is dreaming.
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01-27-2017, 08:03 AM #186Funky But Chic
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01-27-2017, 08:06 AM #187
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01-27-2017, 11:24 AM #188
Company stock price. Yet another reason why the "trump bump" is b.s. in my opinion. It will be interesting to see how the mid west farmer companies react when they get priced out of selling corn to Mexico (assuming Mexico counters with a tariff).
Is the wall really going to be that expensive? 20% from Tacoma sales alone you would think should cover many walls. (plus there already is a wall.)
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01-27-2017, 11:56 AM #189observing free range rude
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01-27-2017, 12:04 PM #190
Estimates I've read are in the $30-50 billion range. So, not astronomical, but still the dumbest way we could spend tens of billions on infrastructure. Last week's This American Life episode had a segment about border patrol agents. The segment the agents they interviewed patrol has a 18-ft fence. One agent said that immediately after the fence was finished they started confiscating 19-ft ladders. In no time they had taken so many they had nowhere left to store them and stopped even bothering to take the ladders down. I'm sure it will be different this time....
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01-27-2017, 12:08 PM #191
Who is going to mow the weeds on the US side of the wall? Come on Donald, think a littlw
Decisions Decisions
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01-27-2017, 12:18 PM #192
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01-27-2017, 12:58 PM #193
MIT examines cost of building wall
https://www.technologyreview.com/s/6...s-border-wall/
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01-27-2017, 01:31 PM #194
I've raised cash this week. Gone from zero to 8%. Also cut margin debt in my taxable account by 80%.
I'm in forced change the next few months so that is my reason more than change of opinion.
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01-29-2017, 08:45 PM #195
I have been putting a lot of my admittedly small assets into cash
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02-04-2017, 07:48 AM #196
Ask questions.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...m-donald-trump
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02-05-2017, 10:43 PM #197
Definitely sell your stock in Invanka's fashion business.
Edit--Unless she starts selling jock straps and wife beaters.Last edited by old goat; 02-06-2017 at 06:14 PM.
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02-07-2017, 06:38 PM #198
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02-07-2017, 06:55 PM #199
Yeah, very interesting. My argument, too, about tariffs and protectionism. All the infrastructure spending in the world can't fix what sorrow that would bring, especially in today's world. GM just reported a very shaky quarter, with China slowing down, and he's going to essentially raise their production costs dramatically with his little brown people hate? Idiot.
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02-07-2017, 07:07 PM #200
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