[Rhodes22-list] Politics

[Brad Haslett]

Slim,

You probably 'git' your numbers from the same source as mine - thin air!
Don't make me look this up right now but the National Debt (a fuzzy number
depending on how it is measured) is well under control compared to GNP.

That is small comfort.  There are a lot of hungry Chinese and Indians.  The
Japanese, Koreans, Taiwanese (fellow travelers in China world according to
Fan) and  a variety of assorted labor sources are worried about the
Vietnamese and others who will work even cheaper.

Plumbers make $90 per hour.  I pay $65 per hour for mechanics to work on my
airplane which is less than the shop rate on Fan's Honda.  It ain't that
tough to make it in this world.  We paid Mexicans $15 per hour on the coast
until the locals insisted that they be run off.  OK, let's raise the minimum
wage.  The locals still won't work as long as they have a FEMA trailer and a
stipend.

God help us!  I'm sorry, non-descriptional benevolent supreme being,
subsidize us!

Brad




On 11/9/06, Slim <salm at mn.rr.com> wrote:
>
> Brad,
>
> I'm referring to the total national debt.  I don't know where I git that
> number--you know I'm never that well-informed.  8-)
>
> Slim
>
>
> On 11/9/06 5:04 PM, "Brad Haslett" <flybrad at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Slim,
> >
> > We've got 30 minutes max until I have to drive Cora to an 'appointment'.
> > One thing I learned from my undergraduate in accounting and an MBA is to
> > distrust numbers when they are thrown out for effect.  What number are
> you
> > talking about?  Trade deficit?  Total national debt?  Big numbers are
> > scary.  Where did you get your number? Our national debt as a percentage
> of
> > GNP is mild.
> >
> > By all conventional measures, the economy is in great shape.  Now let's
> look
> > at the dark side.  The good paying middle class union jobs have gone
> > overseas, emphasis on the GONE!  The middle class semi-skilled jobs, ie.
> > telephone work, accounting, etc, has gone overseas, GONE!  We still fry
> the
> > best Freedom Fries in the world at minimum wage.  Raise the minimum wage
> and
> > $5000 automatic fryers look attractive.
> >
> > Slim, it doesn't make a rat's ass which party won the most recent
> election
> > in long term economic trends provided we stick with a capitalistic
> system.
> > We (as a nation) are sucking left rear hind tit in many economic ways.
> I
> > just cashed in my international funds at what I think was the high point
> to
> > buy my new toy.  Maybe the French and Germans are where you should
> invest
> > your money, but, based on Airbus and their host countries lackluster
> economy
> > compared to ours, perhaps not.  If you're a fan of socialism, none of
> this
> > talk about economic numbers matters.  If you want an expert opinion,
> call
> > George Soros.  He doesn't give a fuck about anything but his bottom
> line,
> > but, perhaps could give you much better advice.
> >
> > Economic news is economic news.  Spin it to suit your needs.  I do!
> >
> > Brad
> >
> >
> > On 11/9/06, Slim <salm at mn.rr.com> wrote:
> >>
> >> On 11/9/06 8:04 AM, "Brad Haslett" <flybrad at gmail.com> wrote:
> >> The economy is in excellent shape by all conventional
> >>> measures.
> >>
> >> Um, Brad, am I missing something?  What part of an 8-trillion-dollar
> >> (plus)
> >> debt do you see as "excellent?"  That would be an 8 with 14 zeros!  I
> >> suppose it's excellent if you're China.
> >>
> >> Slim
> >>
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