We can’t control what others do and we can’t stop misfortune from striking. But we can control our own actions. Those who are financially prudent will most likely enjoy success, even if events don’t always go their way.
Where are all the cult members who scream about socialism?
Last time I looked, government ownership, control and profiting from what normally would be private business was socialism.
What do call this – other than giving Trump more power over our economy and us?
From the WSJ 7-25-25
Past trade agreements have included investment pledges, but the Japan deal is unusual, said Christina Davis, a Harvard University professor of Japanese politics who directs its program on U.S.-Japan relations.
“Where this one deviates is the step toward investing at the president’s direction, with the profits going to the U.S.,” she said. “It makes it sound coercive, socialist and unprecedented in any sense of past trade negotiations.”
Having an investment fund at his disposal would expand his role in American business.
“This is literally the Japanese government giving Trump $550 billion and says, ‘Go fix whatever you need to fix,’” Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said in a TV appearance.
If this isn’t socialism, what is it? It’s worse.
One administration official gave a hypothetical example of how Japanese money could be deployed: The U.S. could fund construction of a semiconductor facility—for, say, Intel—then lease it to Intel and keep 90% of the leasing revenue. The official also offered the example of buying a mine and arranging for a company such as Rio Tinto to operate it.
I wonder where this will leave private American investment?
“cult members”–wow never heard that one before–Quinn must be referring to the loons in Minneapolis and NYC who are embracing socialism/communism–won’t even go to AOC–“crazy Bernie” and the Squad folks along with a large part of the Democrat Party who just love power.
same Quinn who wants to nationalize health care with Medicare For All–when the government calls the shot on certain programs/industries like Intel and other New Green boondoggles we hear nothing from the likes of Quinn–suffering from TDS affects all body parts but especially the lack of bias portion in one’s cranium.
good points Jack–was thinking the same thoughts–stay the heck out of business–this becomes selecting winner and losers–makes no difference if it is a “D” or “R”–I believe government contracts under the old administration had to show DEI was being followed and you had to have LGBTQXYZ representation in the work force.
You did read how the administration plans to get involved in private enterprise with the Japanese money it’s getting right? Like building and owning facilities and then leasing to private companies. That is about as close to socialism as we have so far.
Give me a break. 2MM Americans live in government owned public housing – do you think the Republicans give a care for those folks … versus the other 5+MM where they buy them off with vouchers and rent subsidies? Is the federal government a good landlord? Hell no!
Then there are the “investments” in student loans. It was the President Obama that decided to socialize/take over the Student Loan program, with provisions that were part of H.R.4872 – Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, which became Public Law 111-152. To quote the CBO:
“… CBO and JCT estimate that enacting both pieces of legislation—H.R. 3590 and the reconciliation proposal—would produce a net reduction in federal deficits of $143 billion over the 2010–2019 period as result of changes in direct spending and revenues (see Table 1). That figure comprises $124 billion in net reductions deriving from the health care and revenue provisions and $19 billion in net reductions (in federal spending) deriving from the education provisions.”
Here are the guts of the changes:
Ending the process of the federal government giving subsidies to private banks to give out federally insured loans. Instead loans will be administered directly by the Department of Education.
Increasing the Pell Grant scholarship award.
For new borrowers of loans starting in 2014, those who qualify would be able to cap the amount they must spend on loan repayment each month to 10% of their discretionary income, down from 15%.
For new borrowers after 2014, loans would be eligible to be forgiven to those who make timely payments after 20 years, down from 25 years previously.
To quote a study by the Pete G. Peterson Foundation: “… The switch to direct lending was expected to produce budgetary savings, but falling rates of repayment due to student loan forgiveness and income-driven repayment programs have contributed to greater-than-anticipated costs to the government. …”
Actual savings / deficit losses (in billions) identified by the Peterson Foundation study:
And, expanded and existing forgiveness programs during the Biden Administration, AFTER COVID ENDED, erased another $190+ billion in balances for more than 5 million borrowers since 2021.
That is, the feds suck when it comes to banking and credit – here it is the Democrats sticking it to future taxpayers to fund their vote buying crap via student loan forgiveness.
I wonder where this will leave private American investment?
How about Intel? President Biden just signed into law the Chips Act, where the government granted $8.5 Billion to Intel – fifteen months ago the headlines read: “Intel, White House announce new subsidies for now $28 billion New Albany chip plants.” Last week’s Intel headlines: “Intel Announces Mass Job Cuts, Sounds Alarm for Ohio” “Intel is cutting more jobs as CEO Tan tries to fix manufacturing missteps” “Intel cancels European (chip) fabs” “Intel to Cut 24,000 Jobs”
How about solar panel maker Solyndra, where, in 2009, the Obama administration co-signed $535 million in loans and only two years later, the company filed for bankruptcy on September 1, 2011.
Of course, the difference is that the idiot Trump, instead of asking taxpayers to fund government picks, he has the Japanese fund his picks? Given government’s track record, the Japanese will be funding a loser.
So, private American investments may be slightly more likely to pick winners?
The US government picking winners and losers in commercial endeavors is ALWAYS a mistake.
It is bad enough when they pick suppliers for Defense, low income housing construction for HUD, and other actual government operations/entities.
ALWAYS, ALWAYS!
ALWAYS … whether the picking of investments in commercial endeavors is done by the Democrats or the Republicans or whatever kind of idiot Trump turns out to be.
QUINNSCOMMENTARY 
AL, LINDQUIST
“cult members”–wow never heard that one before–Quinn must be referring to the loons in Minneapolis and NYC who are embracing socialism/communism–won’t even go to AOC–“crazy Bernie” and the Squad folks along with a large part of the Democrat Party who just love power.
same Quinn who wants to nationalize health care with Medicare For All–when the government calls the shot on certain programs/industries like Intel and other New Green boondoggles we hear nothing from the likes of Quinn–suffering from TDS affects all body parts but especially the lack of bias portion in one’s cranium.
good points Jack–was thinking the same thoughts–stay the heck out of business–this becomes selecting winner and losers–makes no difference if it is a “D” or “R”–I believe government contracts under the old administration had to show DEI was being followed and you had to have LGBTQXYZ representation in the work force.
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You did read how the administration plans to get involved in private enterprise with the Japanese money it’s getting right? Like building and owning facilities and then leasing to private companies. That is about as close to socialism as we have so far.
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Give me a break. 2MM Americans live in government owned public housing – do you think the Republicans give a care for those folks … versus the other 5+MM where they buy them off with vouchers and rent subsidies? Is the federal government a good landlord? Hell no!
Then there are the “investments” in student loans. It was the President Obama that decided to socialize/take over the Student Loan program, with provisions that were part of H.R.4872 – Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, which became Public Law 111-152. To quote the CBO:
“… CBO and JCT estimate that enacting both pieces of legislation—H.R. 3590 and the reconciliation proposal—would produce a net reduction in federal deficits of $143 billion over the 2010–2019 period as result of changes in direct spending and revenues (see Table 1). That figure comprises $124 billion in net reductions deriving from the health care and revenue
provisions and $19 billion in net reductions (in federal spending) deriving from the education provisions.”
Here are the guts of the changes:
To quote a study by the Pete G. Peterson Foundation: “… The switch to direct lending was expected to produce budgetary savings, but falling rates of repayment due to student loan forgiveness and income-driven repayment programs have contributed to greater-than-anticipated costs to the government. …”
Actual savings / deficit losses (in billions) identified by the Peterson Foundation study:
2010 2.6 savings
2011 5.7 savings
2012 -5.6 loss
2013 8.2
2014 – 6.8
2015 – 21.8
2016 – 7.7
2017 – 28.4
2018 11.5
2019 – 26.3
2020 – 63.2
2021 – 52.8
And, expanded and existing forgiveness programs during the Biden Administration, AFTER COVID ENDED, erased another $190+ billion in balances for more than 5 million borrowers since 2021.
That is, the feds suck when it comes to banking and credit – here it is the Democrats sticking it to future taxpayers to fund their vote buying crap via student loan forgiveness.
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Not a great idea–we agree
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I wonder where this will leave private American investment?
How about Intel? President Biden just signed into law the Chips Act, where the government granted $8.5 Billion to Intel – fifteen months ago the headlines read: “Intel, White House announce new subsidies for now $28 billion New Albany chip plants.” Last week’s Intel headlines: “Intel Announces Mass Job Cuts, Sounds Alarm for Ohio” “Intel is cutting more jobs as CEO Tan tries to fix manufacturing missteps” “Intel cancels European (chip) fabs” “Intel to Cut 24,000 Jobs”
How about solar panel maker Solyndra, where, in 2009, the Obama administration co-signed $535 million in loans and only two years later, the company filed for bankruptcy on September 1, 2011.
Of course, the difference is that the idiot Trump, instead of asking taxpayers to fund government picks, he has the Japanese fund his picks? Given government’s track record, the Japanese will be funding a loser.
So, private American investments may be slightly more likely to pick winners?
The US government picking winners and losers in commercial endeavors is ALWAYS a mistake.
It is bad enough when they pick suppliers for Defense, low income housing construction for HUD, and other actual government operations/entities.
ALWAYS, ALWAYS!
ALWAYS … whether the picking of investments in commercial endeavors is done by the Democrats or the Republicans or whatever kind of idiot Trump turns out to be.
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