patrick.net

tatupu70 says

Hannah-
Following your link, I find the following quotes:
“During the month, retail sales rose 70 percent – the highest year-over-year gain in the company’s history.”
and
“…the company’s retail sales – those to individual consumers – have increased by 52 percent.”
A rise in dealer inventory would be expected as sales increase. That’s pretty normal.
As to profitability, GM had a net income of $4.7 billion for the calendar year. Seems like they are doing OK profit wise.
Fleet sales were up only 2%, so I wouldn’t attribute their good year to the government buying.
Finally, who cares about the high frequency trading–if the company is profitable, the share price will take care of itself.
As to your last statement, we’ll see, but I dont’ see much evidence that you are correct.

then go long GM stock ...what are you waiting for. while you are at it go long treasuries and aapl and nflx and throw in some california RE....good luck and remember...dont do the numbers just read the headlines....good luck...?!?!

John Bailo says

709hannah says

John Bailo says

This Recovery is all about the basics:
Wages on the lowest end are rising

Manufacturing Growing

Jobs returning to the US
Labor shortages are just around the corner driving up the long beleaguered lower third….

name 50 items in your house that are made in america…….

The top item is my brain. The principle source of income for many.

your brain will take you far...?!?! it is made in america .......god help us.

marcus says

MarkInSF says

orry, I was talking specifically about public employee unions. Those unions are still going strong, much stronger that 50 years ago, and they are hardly powerless.

I am in one of them, and you are wrong. They only have a small amount of power right now, and that is to negotiate exactly what the decreases in pay and or benefits will be. And for the most part, we are not talking from crazy high levels. Trust me, you have NO clue what you are talking about.

Cuts will mostly be by layoffs. Unions will not make large concessions on pay, retirement age, or benefits. You know that. They would rather do what "best for the kids" and let younger teachers go, no matter how stellar they are. It is extremely unlikely this seniority system will change, and all efforts to implement some kind of merit based system will likely successfully be resisted, and it's 100% because of the power of the teachers union.

I know I sound like I'm bashing teachers and I don't mean to. The are hardly where the most abuse of the system lies. In fact I'd argue the abuse elsewhere is keeping good teachers from getting what they deserve.

I am in one of them, and you are wrong. They only have a small amount of power right now, and that is to negotiate exactly what the decreases in pay and or benefits will be. And for the most part, we are not talking from crazy high levels. Trust me, you have NO clue what you are talking about.
>>>

the issue with thugocracy in 2010 vs. 1960 is that there are other countries. So the union extortion rackets, collusion with criminal democrat politicians for jobs rackets/kickback schemes is much more damaging.

The error of margin companies (and countries) have is very small vs. 1950 when half the world's factories were destroyed.

So the baby boomer delusion that we can't run out of money and the rich and corporate america can be milked ad infinitum doesn't work. So you may have to give up a bratty entitlement mentality and understand that we now live in a competitive global marketplace where $70/hour to work and lifetime benefits went out with the 60's. You actually have to carry your weight and can't reply on criminal extortion rackets.

duxbury001 says

Did you even look at the chart? The bubbles happened at exactly the same time! And it’s not even true that these other countries had policies promoting home ownership. You just made that up! Not surprising given all the other stuff you’ve simply made up. ?

>>
1) Jackass, ours is the worst drop of all.. suggesting idiotic government policy.

2) they all have idiotic policies to encourage home ownership

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/workingpapers/soci/w14/text2_en.htm
3) the US fed was giving away money for years.. encouraging bubbles everywhere.

4) Europeans are more prone to house price increases due to limited land and regulation… that’s why their prices go up (but don’t collapse as much as ours).
Pass the bong.

Ah, so you're sticking to your story: The bubbles in all these countries happened because of their respective housing policies. And it was just a coincidence that they all happened at the same time. Am I getting you right?

4) Europeans are more prone to house price increases due to limited land and regulation… that’s why their prices go up (but don’t collapse as much as ours).

You do know most of Europe barely has a positive birth rate right? And the regulations haven't changed much. And their property prices were not increasing much in the decades before that. So why the bubble that just happened to be when ours was, when they didn't have one before?

1) Jackass, ours is the worst drop of all.. suggesting idiotic government policy.

Well, no, that would be Ireland. Did you even read that piece on their housing policies that you posted a link to? Clearly not. Not a word on extending or backing credit to Irish home buyers. No the private banking sector did that entirely on their own. The government backing of the loans came after the fact when their economy imploded.

This is a lie that I’ve destroyed before, and as usual I can destroy it with a simple graph.

The small bump you see during World War II and then continuing to about 1950 is the FULL EXTENT OF UNITED STATES DOMINATION OF WORLD PRODUCTION.
>>>

A lie? based on balance of trade? they aren't related. Look at industrial output. US share of global industrial production skyrocketed and dominated the post war era. GM and Ford dominated auto production. By the 80's Japan and Germany had caught up. By the 70's we had lost the steel industry. 80's garment and auto.

The problems is that unions can't compromise. You don't walk up to Vinny and say "hey vinny, can we cut our wages 10% because we've got japanese companies undercutting us". Vinny replies "FU, shut down the factory and fire the workers, we ain't budging"

You say Vinny, but we can't fire 100,000 pittsburg steelworkers.. why can't we just change the rules to keep them or lower the wages.

Vinny says "FU"

This had happened to millions of workers over 50 years. That's why there are virtually no private sector union workers left. Why? Because if Vinny cut salaries then union headquarters would go nuts. The racket is pulled.. every factory will demand this "competitiveness" BS, and the union racket is shut down. So better off for the thugs to send them out of business. With unions issues like "product quality", competitiveness, innovation.. are all BS.. unions are about bribing politicians, destroying businesses, extorting, corruption... not flexibilty.

>>>
4) Europeans are more prone to house price increases due to limited land and regulation… that’s why their prices go up (but don’t collapse as much as ours).
Pass the bong.

Ah, so you’re sticking to your story: The bubbles in all these countries happened because of their respective housing policies. And it was just a coincidence that they all happened at the same time. Am I getting you right?
>>>

Loose monetary policies from 1990 to 2010.. greenspan era. Easy money, economic boom

>>
4) Europeans are more prone to house price increases due to limited land and regulation… that’s why their prices go up (but don’t collapse as much as ours).

You do know most of Europe barely has a positive birth rate right? And the regulations haven’t changed much. And their property prices were not increasing much in the decades before that. So why the bubble that just happened to be when ours was, when they didn’t have one before?
>>
Europe is tiny and a farming mecca.. they have little land, hence high prices. Go to japan and look at real estate prices. Fixed supply + increasing wealth + population = rising prices. Can you go back to high school again?

>>>
Well, no, that would be Ireland. Did you even read that piece on their housing policies that you posted a link to? Clearly not. Not a word on extending or backing credit to Irish home buyers.
>>>
ummmm... the irish banking industry imploded because of dumb mortgages and easy credit. They had a boom similar to Japan in the 80's where the economy grew too fast.

I feel like I am having an argument with this guy in a grass skirt on a south pacific island telling me the world is flat. Unions are criminal enterprises that compel grossly inflated wages. You can't live in a fantasy world where people get paid $70 an hour to mow lawns and teachers $100/hour while trying the sleep with the students. You can't force banks to give money to minorities who default at staggering rates and subsidize housing to an absurd degree, give away money at low rates (then jack it up suddenly) and then wonder where the default crisis came from.

marcus says

. Teachers
sleeping with students gets them prison. But yes the rumor of it might be hard to get fired for. Then again it’s nice to know that some s

this is where it gets kinda funny... you think a NYC teacher can get fired or thrown in prison? To union thugs, you are the sucker and the underclass. They can rape your daughter or do what they want and you don't stand a chance (so get used to it).

NYC has a "rubber room" where they put these teachers and they can't fire them or get rid of them... full of perverts and pedophiles. Far from going to jail... go fondle a girl and you get a full salary to do nothing.

It gets really funny with the rumor with the psycho in the Arizona shooting.. turns out mommy was a government employees (a milliondollar pension.. she's richer than you and your overlord). So her son the nut job got away with being a nut and nothing every happened bc mommy made the calls. So when they aren't raping your kid, bankrupting your state or killing you.. I guess unions are OK.

709hannah says

then go long GM stock …what are you waiting for. while you are at it go long treasuries and aapl and nflx and throw in some california RE

I'm more of an index guy.

709hannah says

….good luck and remember…dont do the numbers just read the headlines….good luck

No---headlines are often misleading. I'm assuming you are being sarcastic, and if so, it's one thing I'll agree with you on. Unfortunately, you appear to have your mind made up before you get to the numbers..

duxbury001 says

this is where it gets kinda funny… you think a NYC teacher can get fired or thrown in prison? To union thugs, you are the sucker and the underclass. They can rape your daughter or do what they want and you don’t stand a chance (so get used to it).

NYC has a “rubber room” where they put these teachers and they can’t fire them or get rid of them… full of perverts and pedophiles. Far from going to jail… go fondle a girl and you get a full salary to do nothing.

Ray, this is so exaggerated. You take a true union flaw, and blow it up to a level that is dishonest. How do you look yourself in the mirror, does honesty and integrity mean nothing to you ?

It's true that bad teachers have a bit too much protection, but there is a reason that evolved. It has to do with providing job security for someone who is willing to choose (and commit to) a teaching career which is a service to the community and which historically has been paid less than most other careers. You wouldn't want good teachers career to end because he looked at some crazy administrator the wrong way. (Yes, bad administrators occur every now and then).

If teachers were too easily fired, would they be committing those key decades developing their craft, only to be fired at 50 (for some made up reason) and replaced by a younger cheaper more obedient teacher.

About the rubber rooms. Yes, it is a long process firing a teacher (it takes too long), but fortunately teachers can be taken out of the classroom before that firing occurs. That is they are removed from the class before the process completes itself - and thus end up in one of those rooms.

I am for getting rid of bad teachers more easily. But I understand how and why the process is as it is in the largest districts and it has nothing to do with union thugs.

marcus says

unions are so beaten down and powerless (and have been for decades), that they are no longer a check against corporate exploitation of workers.

We need to have a Telethon to raise money for the poor, poor, downtrodden unions. I'm getting teary eyed just thinking about it.

duxbury001 says

NYC has a “rubber room” where they put these teachers and they can’t fire them or get rid of them… full of perverts and pedophiles. Far from going to jail… go fondle a girl and you get a full salary to do nothing.

This is not an exageration, but a well-documented fact. All because of the power of the Teacher's Union in NYC.

RayAmerica says

This is not an exageration, but a well-documented fact. All because of the power of the Teacher’s Union in NYC.

Actually it's a lie.

"they can't fire them or get rid of them" is the part that is a lie. Most are in the process of being gotten rid of. Yes that due process is because of the union. And if you read my full comment, you would understand why that policy exists. What it comes down to is that the process for taking someone out of the classroom is far different than the process for firing them.

I wonder what percentage of New York teachers end up in that room. Maybe two or three teachers out of every 1000. Probably less.

The need to get rid of bad teachers goes far beyond the dramatic stories about that room, and I agree with it. But it is a tricky business for anyone that understands the profession.

marcus says

Actually it’s a lie.

Really? I saw a segment on this very subject on "60 Minutes" several years ago. Last I checked, and I might be wrong, but "60 Minutes" is owned and produced by one CBS. Not exactly what one might consider to be a member of the "Vast Right Wing Conspiracy."

RayAmerica says

Really? I saw a segment on this very subject on “60 Minutes” several years ago.

This is why I have you on ignore. You don't even read or attempt to comprehend my comments. I didn't deny that the rooms exist. The false part is: “they can’t fire them or get rid of them”

The truth is most teachers in these rooms are in a long process of being fired.

RayAmerica says

I saw a segment on this very subject on “60 Minutes” several years ago

When did 60 minutes become objective journalism? They originated the concept of write the conclusions you want for the story then come up with a story that supports it without letting any inconvenient facts interfere. Although they have been far surpassed, 60 minutes was at the beginning the most slanted, biased "news" program on the air. Many of their stories have been shown to be more entertainment than journalism.

bob2356 says

When did 60 minutes become objective journalism?

Exactly what I suspected; 60 Minutes is a part of the sneaky, diabolical "Vast Right Wing Conspiracy." Very clever of them to air on a liberal network. Well, you have to hand it to them. They have a lot of people fooled.

60 Minutes? Target market seems to be 80+. Perhaps age and advancing senility explain things.

duxbury001 says

ummmm… the irish banking industry imploded because of dumb mortgages and easy credit. They had a boom similar to Japan in the 80’s where the economy grew too fast.

Glad to see you backed off your absurd claim that government promotion of housing ownership caused the housing bubble in Ireland.

And the cause of the dumb mortgages and easy credit was.....?

RayAmerica says

bob2356 says

When did 60 minutes become objective journalism?

Exactly what I suspected; 60 Minutes is a part of the sneaky, diabolical “Vast Right Wing Conspiracy.” Very clever of them to air on a liberal network. Well, you have to hand it to them. They have a lot of people fooled.

Where exactly in my comment did I mention left or right wing? You seem to see the entire world as a vast pool of extreme liberals attempting to overrun your tiny tin hat bunker world. Grow up.

I said 60 minutes is crappy journalism, if anyone would go so far as to call them journalism at all. Period. If you want to use 60 minutes as a cornerstone to your world view that's you problem. If I ever watched a 60 minutes piece (doubtful, washing the dog would be a much better use of my time) I would then go and check the actual facts, not rely on 60 minutes "news".

marcus says

It’s true that bad teachers have a bit too much protection, but there is a reason that evolved. It has to do with providing job security for someone who is willing to choose (and commit to) a teaching career which is a servic

You really have a poor understanding of thugocracy. The people serve the government and the government serves its unions. NYC can't fire teachers because it costs millions in litigation. So it is open season on your daughters in NYC schools.

Thugocracy means that the connected can kill the silly taxpayers at will (like Richard Daley's nephew who just got away with murder). In chicago the union electricians were charging conventions $1200 to plug in a computers. The convention business was imploding. Out of some miracle the state government actually stood up to thugocracy and allowed conventions to not use unions (producing 10's of millions in revenues.

To quote Al Shanker (NEA founder) "I'll start caring about students when they start paying dues". For teachers, thugocracy trumps students any day. Teachers have an adversarial relationship with students and taxpayers (suckers to exploit).

it gets funny when people think increasing education spending will boost educational quality. The problem is that teachers are part of a gangster racket. Paying gangsters hostage money just makes them more powerful and belligerent. So the more educational spending has gone up in 30 years, the more the quality has gone down.

duxbury001 says

in 1945 the US had no significant foreign industrial competition

So what you're saying is--I don't care about the facts, here's my story again.

what was theMarkInSF says

Glad to see you backed off your absurd claim that government promotion of housing ownership caused the housing bubble in Ireland.

And the cause of the dumb mortgages and easy credit was…..?

Ireland was a giant recipient of EU money and had super stimulative low tax rates. These huge imbalances cauesed a tidal wave of prosperity that lead to a boom. Of course government policy plays a part in these booms. Markets are rapidly self-correcting. Government influence is not.

tatupu70 says

So what you’re saying is–I don’t care about the facts, here’s my story again.

Baffoon.... just out of curiosity... can you an industrial concern with significant revenues outside of the US in 1945? THEN SHUT THE F-UP.

Nomograph says

I could go on, but you get the picture…

Solectron Corporation was a global electronics manufacturing company for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). It pioneered the electronics manufacturing services (EMS) industry in 1977 and was a leader in the field. Solectron's first customer designed and distributed an electronic controller for solar energy equipment, hence the name — "Solectron" is derived from combining the words "solar" and "electronics".[3] The company was acquired by Flextronics International, Ltd. on October 15, 2007.
Flextronics has manufacturing operations in over 30 countries, totalling approximately 27.2 million square feet (as of March 2009).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solectron

From a single manufacturing location in the early days to eventual global manufacturing presence in Asia, Europe and the Americas (approximately 50 sites worldwide), Solectron offered global manufacturing, supply chain management and product life cycle services to the world's leading technology companies

Solectron core businesses consisted of designing, manufacturing products and providing after-sales services for OEMs.[2]

Computing and Storage — Mainframe computers, PCs and notebooks, point-of-sale systems, servers, storage systems and workstations.

Networking — Core and edge routers, core and edge Ethernet switches, DSL and cable broadband equipment, NICs and optical interconnect.

Telecommunications — Cellular infrastructure equipment, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) equipment, IP PBX, wireless and wireline Broadband infrastructure, optical networking equipment and DSLAMS.

Markets Automotive — ABS and airbag control modules, car audio and navigation systems, engine and ignition control modules, telematics, HVAC units and body electronics.

Consumer — Handheld devices (MP3 players, mobile handsets, GPS), video game systems, PDAs, personal video recorders and digital set-top boxes.

Industrial — Process automation equipment, test and measurement instruments, security systems, semiconductor fabrication equipment controls and handheld instruments.

Medical — X-ray equipment, ultrasound equipment, fetal monitors, MRI scanners, blood analyzers and surgical robotic systems.

Field Services — Solectron also holds direct contracts with large companies, providing an end user defect exchange solution for electronic units in the field.

Aftermarket services — warranty management, parts management and logistics, forward and reverse logistics, fast repair and return, asset recovery and remarketing.

As of January 2010, Flextronics' largest customers include Cisco Systems, Inc. (consumer electronics products), Eastman Kodak (digital cameras and self-service kiosks), Ericsson Telecom AB (business telecommunications systems and GSM infrastructure), Hewlett-Packard (inkjet printers and storage devices), Microsoft (computer peripherals and consumer electronics gaming products), Motorola (cellular phones and telecommunications infrastructure), Research in Motion(RIM) (smartphones and other mobile communication devices), Sony-Ericsson (cellular phones), Lenovo (commercial desktops, server and workstation products), Dell Computer Corporation (AC Adapters for portable computers), Western Digital (hard drives), and Sun Microsystems (network computing infrastructure products). Their RTS division is also contracted by Verizon Wireless for in-store technical support services

duxbury001 says

So it is open season on your daughters in NYC schools.

duxbury001 says

Thugocracy means that the connected can kill the silly taxpayers at will

duxbury001 says

For teachers, thugocracy trumps students any day. Teachers have an adversarial relationship with students and taxpayers (suckers to exploit).

duxbury001 says

it gets funny when people think increasing education spending will boost educational quality. The problem is that teachers are part of a gangster racket. Paying gangsters hostage money just makes them more powerful and belligerent. So the more educational spending has gone up in 30 years, the more the quality has gone down.

A troller's troll.

This guy reminds me of Troy. Always with the calm well thought out reason. No emotional bias. You can't help but respect his intellect and the way he assembles specific facts to convince readers of his position.

Even though I am a teacher, Ray Duxbury has such an incredible and higher grasp of all the issues in public education, that I can't begin to dispute his airtight arguments.

Nomograph says

My high-performance liquid chromatography equipment (HPLC) is all US-designed and US-made

Maybe...

Agilent Properties

Our corporate headquarters and Agilent Technologies Research Laboratories are located in Santa Clara, California. In total, with the addition of the Varian Inc. acquisition, we have 30 principle sites. Of these sites, 13 are located in the U.S. and the remaining 17 are located in Australia, China, India, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland and the United Kingdom. Many of our primary functions are conducted at multi-building campuses.

http://yahoo.brand.edgar-online.com/displayfilinginfo.aspx?FilingID=7616148-134100-140354&type=sect&TabIndex=2&companyid=8244&ppu=%252fdefault.aspx%253fcik%253d1090872

Agilent owns the facilities at these locations but the land is subject to long-term lease from the governments of the respective countries.

As of October 31, 2010, with the addition of the Varian Inc. acquisition we owned or leased a total of approximately 11.6 million square feet of space worldwide. Of that, we owned approximately 8.7 million square feet and leased the remaining 2.9 million square feet. Our sales and support facilities occupied a total of approximately 1.6 million square feet. Our manufacturing plants, R&D facilities and warehouse and administrative facilities occupied approximately 10.0 million square feet. Information about each of our businesses appears below:

Electronic Measurement Group.

Our electronic measurement business has manufacturing and R&D facilities in China, Germany, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, India and the U.S. Additionally, we have marketing centers in Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the U.S., and sales offices throughout the world.

Life Sciences Measurement.

Our life science measurement business has manufacturing and R&D facilities in Australia, France, Germany, Poland, United Kingdom and the U.S. Additionally, we have marketing centers in Germany, Singapore and the U.S., and sales offices throughout the world.

Chemical Analysis Measurement.

Our chemical analysis measurement business has manufacturing and R&D facilities in Australia, China, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, United Kingdom and the U.S. Additionally, we have marketing centers in Australia, Italy, Japan, Singapore and the U.S., and sales offices throughout the world.

Remember, when our educational quality is compared to other countries, included are far more homogeneous countries, and countries where students are split off into training for trades at about the age of 12 to 14.

Our system is quite different.

If you look at the number of students taking AP classes (college classes in high school) it has steadily increased, most dramatically in recent years. It is debatable whether this is an entirely good thing, but it shows that we have an increasing number of students that are well prepared for college.

Yes, at the same time that public schools are producing more well prepared students than ever for college, they are doing a bad job with students from the poorest families.

duxbury001 says

So the more educational spending has gone up in 30 years, the more the quality has gone down.

So you think that spending per student is the only variable, and it is inversely correlated to outcomes.

Consider that poverty is a variable. Including low income but not quite technically below the poverty line. I wonder how those numbers have done the last 30 years. Because that is the group that we (public educators) don't do nearly well enough with.

I think the reason trolls like you hang around here is that in spite of your emotion, deep down you might be willing to learn something. The first step is realizing that there are many people with a lot more intellectual horsepower who can help you out.

RayDuxbury: You might consider exercising your mind. Because as far as I can tell you only exercise your emotions here. It has been shown that for seniors as well as everyone else, exercising you brain can lead to effective increases in intelligence.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4838849_exercise-your-brain.html

http://www.braintraining101.com/exercise-your-brain-in-15-minutes-flat/

I'm not kidding Dux, this would benefit you. Maybe just play some Soduko or do a crossword puzzle.

duxbury001 says

what was theMarkInSF says

Glad to see you backed off your absurd claim that government promotion of housing ownership caused the housing bubble in Ireland.
And the cause of the dumb mortgages and easy credit was…..?

Ireland was a giant recipient of EU money and had super stimulative low tax rates. These huge imbalances cauesed a tidal wave of prosperity that lead to a boom. Of course government policy plays a part in these booms.

Please explain how low taxes and a few hundred dollars per person per year of EU aid money caused the financial industry to make over $100 billion of bad loans, and then completely collapse. There is an enormous gap in your logic here.

MarkInSF says

Please explain how low taxes and a few hundred dollars per person per year of EU aid money caused the financial industry to make over $100 billion of bad loans, and then completely collapse. There is an enormous gap in your logic here.

ummm.. you know if you want me to teach you basic economics you really need to pay me $100/hour (like public school teachers). Google Irish tiger... THEN SHUT THE F-UP.

bubblesitter says

But how are realtors and potatoes related?

If you want to sell your house, pay two years' crops of potatoes to your scumbag realtor.

duxbury001 says

As for your “Reagan” problem… the seventies were an economic abomination.

The 1970s get a bad rap but job-wise they were outstanding.

Total Nonfarm Payrolls: All Employees (PAYEMS) 1971-1981

shows that the 1970s were a period of very strong growth.

It's my thesis that it was the baby boom turning 20 and 30 that prompted a lot of the inflation

The 2000s are a total joke compared to the 1970s:

Total Nonfarm Payrolls: All Employees (PAYEMS) 2001-2011

actually ending with FEWER jobs than what we started at. "Bush Economy" FTL.

and this graph:

National Debt / GDP, 1965 - 1995

shows that the national debt DECLINED vs GDP from 1970 to 1980, and EXPLODED from 1980 to 1990.

Troy says

In a just world their professional vocabulary would center on “Do you want fries with that?”

Good one. :-)

How do I start a new thread? I don't see a 'Compose' button or anything like that...

Troy says

bubblesitter says
But how are realtors and potatoes related?
In a just world their professional vocabulary would center on “Do you want fries with that?”

I don't think anyone could come up with something better.

Jacob M says

How do I start a new thread? I don’t see a ‘Compose’ button or anything like that…

I got it...

=

Bullshit. You’re simply making up nonsense and pretending it’s true when you have no idea if you’re right or not. Japan’s period of huge industrial growth was called the “Golden 60s”. The 1960s was also termed the second decade of the “Japanese economic miracle. ” Industrial growth in Germany during the 1960s was termed the “Miracle economy”. Since you’re ignorant of these terms I suggest you look them up and educate yourself.

Yea, ok... my little asian boy from samoa. Yes, the earth really is round. Why don't you check out German industrial production vis-a-vis the US circa 1910? Or British? The 1950's was a delusional era when the three great powers (Uk, Germany, Japan) were on their knees. I am not doubting that they recovered from their cities being flattened and nuked very well... but their industries were playing catchup for decades and the US had no serious competitors. Japan's products were a joke in the 60's, Britain committed suicide by socializing its industries and Germany was just getting its act in gear. We all know how much of a serious rival China was in 1950... with those rice paddies and huts.

So I am not sure why your pea sized brain can't adjust to this... Like the Roman empire, we faced NO SERIOUS RIVALS from 1945-1980. After 2010 we don't face a rival, but are inferior to China in overall economic activity by some metricts.

So you are basically saying economic policy should be based on a very temporary period when the US had no major rivals... and that we should keep the idiotic complacency in 2010. We should pay people $70/hour to let them mow the lawn and $100/hour to teach our kids. Am I getting this straight?

duxbury001 says

Like the Roman empire, we faced NO SERIOUS RIVALS from 1945-1980. After 2010 we don’t face a rival, but are inferior to China in overall economic activity by some metricts.

Again-how come our balance of trade over that time period doesn't reflect this then? It should be easy to prove this--why don't you post some data to back it up?

Troy says

The 1970s get a bad rap but job-wise they were outstanding.

Sometimes you've really got to admire the work of college professors. As stupid it is... you really have to kick back and wonder. This is among the dumbest statements... bar none... I have ever heard. Its not something you argue against... like at a freak show when they have the wolf boy. You have to ask yourself can people be this stupid or indoctrinated? Who or what is responsible for this? You have to get philosophical about it and start to question how different we are from apes indeed. It starts to make sense about why the holocaust happend or Joe Stalin... Mao. It all makes sense now. People really can be that stupid.

tatupu70 says

Again-how come our balance of trade over that time period doesn’t reflect this then? It should be easy to prove this–why don’t you post some data to back it up?

OK, I realize your IQ is about half mine, but I am going to try to explain this in small words so that you might understand. Let's give a try? C'mon.. try to listen this time.

If the US is doing really, really swell.. and has super, duper money!!! really happy! Daddy and Mommy might buy a German car like a Porsche (zoom, zoom!!). So because Daddy and Mommy have SOOOOOOOOOOO much money they buy lots of stuff overseas.

But those Germans aren't doing so well.. they can't get as many credit cards and other things. They don't make as much money. So those germans don't buy that many IBM computers from the US.

And to add to our problems... THOSE MEAN GERMANS AND JAPANESE put up trade barriers and super sneaky ones like the VAT, which may our products super duper expensive over there.

So it ends up that we buy stuff from Germany than they buy from us... even though our economy is doing well at the time.