US-Imposed Tariffs Ended on Steel and Aluminum Imported from Canada and Mexico

US-imposed tariffs ended on steel and aluminum imported from Canada and Mexico. Just in from the Wall Street Journal 2:48pm 5/17/19:

The Trump Administration has reached agreements with Canada and Mexico to end US-imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, removing a major barrier to the three countries’ new trade pact (USMCA)

Suffering for Dividends …

…one had to concern oneself with the rational, not the insane-that one had to seek that which was right, because the right answer always won-that the senseless, the wrong, the monstrously unjust could not work, could not succeed, could do nothing but defeat itself.” Ayn Rand

Everyone is crying about the effect the tariffs are having on the American consumer. I have said before, you may recall, that in order to right the ship (trade deals with other countries) we would have to experience some financial pain through the process. The United States has been ripped off since the end of WWII by poorly constructed trade deals, costing trillions of lost dollars ($500 billion per year deficit with China alone), hundreds of thousands of jobs and more. It had to stop at some point, we all know that. I believe a little suffering (?) now will lead to beneficial dividends down the road. At least we have a Commander-in-Chief with the balls to do it now and not kick the can down the road.

US Drill Rigs Running Down Two from Prior Week

As of May 10, there were 988 drill rigs running in the USA, down two from the prior week. Meanwhile, there were 63 operating rigs in Canada, up two from the previous week.

US Raw Steel Production at ACUR 82.8%

In the week ending May 11, 2019 US raw steel production was 1,927,000 tons at an ACUR of 82.8 percent. Thus far this year mills have produced prox 35,625,000 tons compared to the prox 33,417,000 tons produced in the like period last year.

Small Business Optimism Index Rose for Third Straight Month

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Small Business Optimism Index rose for the third straight month. Labor market indicators remain extremely positive yet hiring at small firms has begun to moderate. Wells Fargo

Empire State Manufacturing Picked Up Significantly

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York released its May 2019 Empire State Manufacturing Survey and reports business activity picked up significantly in the state. The headline general business conditions index climbed to its highest level in six months. New orders and shipments also grew at a faster pace than in recent months.

Continued Growth in Regional Manufacturing

The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia released its May Manufacturing Business Outlook Survey which suggests continued growth for the region’s manufacturing sector. The indexes for general activity, shipments and employment all increased from their April readings.

…meanwhile, the Democrats are busy reading the Muller report to each other…at OUR expense. What a bunch of losers these people are. Vote for us…we don’t do ANYTHING worthwhile!


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.”