Comments for "Five Short Blasts" Forum

Comment on Silverdome Sells for 0.0025 X Original Cost by Mark A. Hall

Mark A. Hall — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 18:05:40 +0000

Pete:

This is a good example of the conditions that have been allowed to develop throughout the U.S.

It is amazing how quickly and how far we have fallen in 10-15 years.

Comment on U.S. Trade Policy Ranks Among World’s Worst by Study Reveals Link Between Global Trade Imbalances and Population Density « "Five Short Blasts" Forum

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:59:34 +0000

[...] States’ trade policies ranks near the very bottom of the nations of the world. (See U.S. Trade Policy Ranks Among World’s Worst.) Since the near-total collapse of the global economy last year, most economists who once [...]

Comment on Obama Returns from Asia Empty-Handed by Mark A. Hall

Mark A. Hall — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:27:39 +0000

Today, President Obama announced that “the nation’s economy is in good shape for the long term thanks to core strengths such as its universities, its innovation and a dynamic workforce.”

I’m confused!

Was he talking about us?

Comment on Obama Returns from Asia Empty-Handed by Mark A. Hall

Mark A. Hall — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:45:56 +0000

I heard that these were going to be handed
out as part of the graduation ceremonies for
retrained American manufacturing workers.

However, in addition to the “tin cups”, the
U.S. government will also be including a
free “starter kit” which includes (1) penny,
(1) nickel, (1) dime and (1) quarter.

Comment on Obama Returns from Asia Empty-Handed by Pete Murphy

Pete Murphy — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 12:06:08 +0000

You lost me with that last one, Randy. “Bioscience personnel?”

Regarding manufacturing and automation, you’re correct, of course, that a lot of the manual labor jobs have been replaced by automation. But not entirely; not by a long shot. There’s still a lot of manual, skilled labor involved. And operating those robot machines isn’t for dummies, not to mention the engineering, software and maintenance personnel required to keep them going.

Comment on Obama Has Plan to Boost Exports. I Smell a Rat! by Pete Murphy

Pete Murphy — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 12:01:53 +0000

Thanks, Clyde. I truly have no vested interest in either party. I’ll hitch my wagon to anyone who promises to do something about the trade deficit and about our ridiculous policy of stoking the economy with destructive population growth.

Regarding your last sentence, that’s what frustrates me most. We already had the total breakdown (or as close to it as we may ever get) while, simultaneously, we had a candidate who promised to do something to fix our trade imbalance. But, while he does seem to understand that the imbalance lies at the root of our problems, he’s completely unwilling to take any meaningful action to fix it. It’s totally irresponsible. I’m afraid that we’re headed for something worse than we’ve witnessed in the past year, but we’ll probably muddle along for a while with the delusion that the stimulus spending has actually fixed the problem.

Comment on Obama Returns from Asia Empty-Handed by Pete Murphy

Pete Murphy — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 11:55:22 +0000

Great. Now we can add those tin cups to the trade deficit.

Comment on U.S. Trade Policy Ranks Among World’s Worst by Pete Murphy

Pete Murphy — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 11:54:04 +0000

Thanks for reporting back on this, Mark. His reply is typical and predictable. It’s hard to have much hope that anything will ever improve when our nation is led by morons like these.

Comment on Obama Returns from Asia Empty-Handed by Randy

Randy — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:52:14 +0000

How can there be a future in manufacturing when automation has turned the majority of employees into machine operators. You mention the worlds vast over population which is undeniable. How do you suppose that problem is going to resolve itself? The financial superclass (which Obama represents) needs a worthy enemy. Which class of people do you beleive is more likely to scare the elite: a bunch of machine operators or bioscience personnel?

Comment on Obama Has Plan to Boost Exports. I Smell a Rat! by ClydeB

ClydeB — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:24:27 +0000

I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how well you’ve managed to keep both the Obama and the Bush-Cheney haters to a minimum on your blog. At least until now.

Truth be known, none have done anything positively memorable and all have failed to recognize the problem. A pox on both parties going back to GATT fo that matter.

The solution to the trade policy failures may require a total breakdown and monetary collapse before either is willing to realize the true cause and obvious solution.