Small Business Optimism Rose in January to 106.9
Small Business Optimism rose 2.0 points in January to 106.9, just shy of its all-time high hit in November. Firms report improved pricing power and increased wage pressure while capital spending plans also increased. Wells Fargo
Cutting Tool Demand Rose 8.3% in 2017
Cutting tool demand rose 8.3% in 2017 after a small decline in November. Cutting tools represent “a primary consumable in the manufacturing process,” according to the US Cutting Toll Institute and the Association for Manufacturing Technology (AMT).
Empire State Manufacturing Survey Reports Continued Expansion in Business Activity
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York released its February 2018 Empire State Manufacturing Survey and reports business activity continued to expand in the month. The headline general business conditions index fell suggesting a somewhat slower pace of growth than in January.
Manufacturing Business Outlook Survey Reports Index Increases From January
The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia released its February 2018 Manufacturing Business Outlook Survey and reports the region’s manufacturing sector continued to expand in the month. The indexes for general activity, new orders and employment were all positive and increased from January’s readings.
US Raw Steel Production Pulled Back Last Week
US raw steel production pulled back a slight 0.6 percent last week as mills operated at an ACUR of 74.5%. In the corresponding week last year mills operated at an ACUR of 75.9%. Thus far this year mills have produced prox 10,000,000 tons compared to the prox 10,200,000 tons produced in the like period last year.
DACA Proposal
Meanwhile, back in the Swamp, the President has recently set out a powerful offer to the Democrats regarding the “DACA” people…who are now adults. They have been here for 20 or 30 years and have not taken ONE step toward becoming an American citizen. Why is that? The plan would give a PATH to citizenship which could take as long as 12 years. What do they care? They are here, most are living off the American taxpayer anyway, and those who have chosen to go through the process are already better off than any illegal.
Many have already gone through school, are business owners or otherwise contributing positively to American society. So, a path to citizenship, an end to chain migration, and an end to the lottery system. These are all good things and yet the Democrats are totally against them. Why? Because if they do what is right, Trump will WIN another one for the country and for the American people and they cannot have that. Also, any DACA bill must include funding for a border security wall. Again, they cannot let him have that because it would be another WIN for America and the American people. How sad is that friends??? Drain the swamp!!!!!
Food Stamp Reform
This is great: Trump has proposed a reform to food stamps wherein recipients would be mandated to receive healthy and nutritious foods instead of frivolously spending their entitlement money however they wish. We, the American taxpayer, are who fund these transfer payments. Should we not have a say in how the money is spent? They say this proposal would save $129 billion over 10 years. Not a small sum. (see below)
From an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) regarding the deficit problem 2/13/18:
…the most important thing to understand about the US budget, Donald Trump or no, is illustrated in the nearby chart (which I cannot reproduce but the explanation here will explain). Even with Mr. Trump’s modest increases, defense barely rises as a share of federal outlays. In 1989, when the Berlin Wall fell, defense was 26.5% of outlays. In 2019 it will be 15.6%. In the meantime, look at “payments for individuals,” which encompass such income transfers as Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and food stamps, among other things. This category was 47.7% of outlays in 1989 and has steadily climbed to reach an estimated 69.2% in 2019.
Net interest on the federal debt soaks up another 7.4% of outlays for 2018 and that will rise with interest rates. But as long as Donald Trump (Republicans) and Democrats refuse to reform entitlements, whining about debt and deficits is phony. Defense hawks like John McCain have a compelling case that troops have been denied adequate resources to defend the country, and the giant sucking sound in the federal fisc isn’t defense. It’s the relentless rise of income transfers.
Misuse of Taxpayer Funds
Another fool: Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin improperly accepted a gift of Wimbledon tennis tickets, misspent taxpayer money and misused department resources in an official trip to Europe last year, according to the inspector general’s report. WSJ
These creeps need to understand that the American people are watching everything they do regarding our money. None of our government employees are entitled to ANY special monetary favors. No exorbitant expense accounts, no spousal travel expenses, no private jets, not first-class seating ad nauseum. The president is the only government employee who deserves such monetary benefits.
I know President Trump cannot watch or know what all his employees are doing, good or bad. Good thing there are watchdogs holding people accountable. Shulkin, in my opinion, should lose his job, as did Scott Pruitt after being found abusing his office, chartering private jets etc. Who in the fuck do these people think they are and why do they believe they are entitled? This crap should be explained to them BEFORE they assume a governmental position.
Fools on the Hill
The Fool(s) on the Hill: the Senate on Thursday killed all four immigration reform bills. What don’t these idiots understand? The President has repeatedly said he will sign any bill that offers a path to citizenship, ends chain migration, ends the lottery system, provides funding for the wall and border security.
He has offered a path to citizenship for 1.8 million illegals, twice what the Dems wanted and they still will not support his plan
Infrastructure X (Keystone & Dakota pipelines) Regulation Reform XX 1 in 2 out
Individual Tax Reform XX Entitlement Reform
Business Tax Reform XX Education Reform X
Healthcare Reform Veterans Administration Reform X
Rebuild our Military X Trade Reform X
Secure our Borders (The Wall) XX Lead the world from the front XX
Help for the poor XX Drain the swamp X as we speak
Peace through unmatchable strength Support Israel X
Destroy ISIS XX Extreme Vetting XX
Conservative Supreme Court nominees XX American Jobs XX
I will track these campaign promises and will check them off as each is accomplished adding those I have missed as they become apparent. This is quite an agenda and will be difficult to achieve all in one term but I believe the American people are behind him and know these things need to be done. Now, if he can get our legislators to support him instead of fighting him….
“MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN”
Have a great weekend…. God bless America!
Buy American made products whenever you can, it’s good for you, good for your friends and neighbors and good for our country.
If you are hiring…try to hire a veteran…. they are loyal, disciplined, hardworking…and they deserve our support.
By the way, if you wish to comment on my rants or offer any other insights you may have, you are encouraged to email me.
TEDDY ROOSEVELT ON IMMIGRANTS IN AMERICA…1907
In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person’s becoming in every facet an American and nothing but an American. There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn’t an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag…We have room for but one language here and that is the English language…and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.”
