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Why Amanda Spielman Deserves her Peerage – politicalbetting.com

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  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 34,171
    If this statistic is true it's a bit of an eye-opener.

    "In 1978 for example, about a third of people in the UK had no natural teeth."

    https://www.uniquesmiles.co.uk/blog/brits-really-bad-teeth/
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 65,217
    Avatar
    Donald J. Trump

    @realDonaldTrump

    ·
    6m
    We have massive Financial Deficits with China, the European Union, and many others. The only way this problem can be cured is with TARIFFS, which are now bringing Tens of Billions of Dollars into the U.S.A. They are already in effect, and a beautiful thing to behold. The Surplus with these Countries has grown during the “Presidency” of Sleepy Joe Biden. We are going to reverse it, and reverse it QUICKLY. Some day people will realize that Tariffs, for the United States of America, are a very beautiful thing!
  • viewcodeviewcode Posts: 23,996
    Andy_JS said:

    If this statistic is true it's a bit of an eye-opener.

    "In 1978 for example, about a third of people in the UK had no natural teeth."

    https://www.uniquesmiles.co.uk/blog/brits-really-bad-teeth/

    Your statisitic is not implausible. My grandparents had full dentures, my mother partial ones, my father with many missing, and if my tooth loss continues (see previous posts) I'll end up with them. Lack of health and money takes its toll, and two years of Covid isolation didn't help.
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 29,882
    viewcode said:

    Andy_JS said:

    If this statistic is true it's a bit of an eye-opener.

    "In 1978 for example, about a third of people in the UK had no natural teeth."

    https://www.uniquesmiles.co.uk/blog/brits-really-bad-teeth/

    Your statisitic is not implausible. My grandparents had full dentures, my mother partial ones, my father with many missing, and if my tooth loss continues (see previous posts) I'll end up with them. Lack of health and money takes its toll, and two years of Covid isolation didn't help.
    Pre-NHS, a common wedding present was to have all your teeth removed.
  • viewcodeviewcode Posts: 23,996

    viewcode said:

    Andy_JS said:

    If this statistic is true it's a bit of an eye-opener.

    "In 1978 for example, about a third of people in the UK had no natural teeth."

    https://www.uniquesmiles.co.uk/blog/brits-really-bad-teeth/

    Your statisitic is not implausible. My grandparents had full dentures, my mother partial ones, my father with many missing, and if my tooth loss continues (see previous posts) I'll end up with them. Lack of health and money takes its toll, and two years of Covid isolation didn't help.
    Pre-NHS, a common wedding present was to have all your teeth removed.
    That and the vaccination discussion shows how much of an impact the NHS made. I'm not its biggest fan, but it was an enormous improvement on what went before.
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 29,882
    Labour to axe dozens of quangos
    ...
    Pat McFadden, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, has written to ministers asking them to justify all quangos that operate under their departments, with a view to closing many of them later this year.
    ...
    Ministers have been told to take more responsibility for their policy areas, and warned that arm’s-length bodies should not be given responsibility for decisions of “national importance” unless they are required by law to be made by an independent body.

    Mr McFadden has said that engaging with stakeholders or providing advice is not a sufficient reason to run a separate body that may be duplicating the work of a government department.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/04/06/labour-axe-dozens-of-quangos-starmer-mcfadden/ (£££)
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 29,882

    Oh dear, how sad.

    Seems MAGA Cult are starting to realise that Elon Musk runs a globalised business with thousands of supply chains from multiple foreign countries.

    His commitment to Total Trade War of all against all is being questioned.

    We have previously discussed tensions between what we can loosely call the Vance and Musk wings, but in this instance the immediate cause is probably Musk's weekend suggestion of free trade between America and Europe.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 54,561
    The Australian dollar is crashing against the USD:

    image
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 29,882

    The Australian dollar is crashing against the USD:

    image

    Seen from the White House, this is surely evidence of Australia cheating by devaluing its currency in order to flood American markets. Another reason Trump's tariffs might be self-defeating.
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 29,882
    Bankers rake in £7bn bonuses after Reeves kept Truss perks for City
    https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/bankers-7bn-bonuses-after-reeves-kept-truss-perks-city-3624929

    Labour looks after the workers.
  • Penddu2Penddu2 Posts: 743

    Avatar
    Donald J. Trump

    @realDonaldTrump

    ·
    6m
    We have massive Financial Deficits with China, the European Union, and many others. The only way this problem can be cured is with TARIFFS, which are now bringing Tens of Billions of Dollars into the U.S.A. They are already in effect, and a beautiful thing to behold. The Surplus with these Countries has grown during the “Presidency” of Sleepy Joe Biden. We are going to reverse it, and reverse it QUICKLY. Some day people will realize that Tariffs, for the United States of America, are a very beautiful thing!

    Tarrifs can not bring any dollars into US. Tarrifs are paid by importers (and ultimatley consumers) whose dollarscare already in US.

    Economically illiterate.
  • CiceroCicero Posts: 3,339
    Penddu2 said:

    Avatar
    Donald J. Trump

    @realDonaldTrump

    ·
    6m
    We have massive Financial Deficits with China, the European Union, and many others. The only way this problem can be cured is with TARIFFS, which are now bringing Tens of Billions of Dollars into the U.S.A. They are already in effect, and a beautiful thing to behold. The Surplus with these Countries has grown during the “Presidency” of Sleepy Joe Biden. We are going to reverse it, and reverse it QUICKLY. Some day people will realize that Tariffs, for the United States of America, are a very beautiful thing!

    Tarrifs can not bring any dollars into US. Tarrifs are paid by importers (and ultimatley consumers) whose dollarscare already in US.

    Economically illiterate.
    Not just illiterate. Moronic.

    It's going to be limit down all week.

    This has the potential to lead not just to a markets crisis- that's already happening- but a systemic collapse. All eyes on the Fed now, and if Trump does try to break the power of the Fed, then the bottom is a very long way down.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 26,295
    edited 4:33AM
    Eabhal said:

    Noticed a couple of houses in the Highlands with a slightly mad solar setup. They've put two steel supports at the northern corners of the house and extended their array from the south facing roof into the air, so it's double the size and across the whole footprint of their house. Heatpumps attached to the supports too.

    Looks dreadful tbh. Not sure why it wasn't cheaper to just create a big standalone array in the garden. Something to do with a planning loophole? Gardeners trying to preserve space?

    That seems strange - makes sense to do it, but they should be extending it the other way to give a sheltered veranda, at that or a lowee level, or if newbuild just do a skillion roof.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 26,295
    I'd welcome some commentary from someone-who-knows on the impact of the latest Trump-Slump on the UK given that we hold $700bn of US Government debt in our national portfolio.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 26,295

    Bankers rake in £7bn bonuses after Reeves kept Truss perks for City
    https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/bankers-7bn-bonuses-after-reeves-kept-truss-perks-city-3624929

    Labour looks after the workers.

    What's the tax rate on these?
  • MattWMattW Posts: 26,295
    edited 4:45AM
    MattW said:

    Bankers rake in £7bn bonuses after Reeves kept Truss perks for City
    https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/bankers-7bn-bonuses-after-reeves-kept-truss-perks-city-3624929

    Labour looks after the workers.

    What's the tax rate on these?
    Plus How many of these are based on long-term performance?

    And can she introduce it for a year which was already part way through when her Government was elected?

    IMO that has a sniff of a self-serving media outrage bus.

    LOL. There's even a walk on part for Fred Goodwin.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 76,113
    Cicero said:

    Penddu2 said:

    Avatar
    Donald J. Trump

    @realDonaldTrump

    ·
    6m
    We have massive Financial Deficits with China, the European Union, and many others. The only way this problem can be cured is with TARIFFS, which are now bringing Tens of Billions of Dollars into the U.S.A. They are already in effect, and a beautiful thing to behold. The Surplus with these Countries has grown during the “Presidency” of Sleepy Joe Biden. We are going to reverse it, and reverse it QUICKLY. Some day people will realize that Tariffs, for the United States of America, are a very beautiful thing!

    Tarrifs can not bring any dollars into US. Tarrifs are paid by importers (and ultimatley consumers) whose dollarscare already in US.

    Economically illiterate.
    Not just illiterate. Moronic.

    It's going to be limit down all week.

    This has the potential to lead not just to a markets crisis- that's already happening- but a systemic collapse. All eyes on the Fed now, and if Trump does try to break the power of the Fed, then the bottom is a very long way down.
    He is quite mad.

    He genuinely appears to believe his own drivel.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 76,113
    Actually, it is.

    Bill Ackman warns Trump to call a timeout on trade war: ‘This is not what we voted for’
    https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5235232-ackman-warning-trump-tariffs/

  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 50,864
    GIN1138 said:

    FF43 said:

    Stock market crash underway

    Black Monday?
    Looks like it. Hang Seng down over 10% overnight.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 76,113
    Asian markets plunge further amid tariff fallout; Trump says ‘sometimes you have to take medicine’
    https://www.theguardian.com/business/blog/live/2025/apr/07/global-stock-markets-brace-donald-trump-us-tariffs-business-live-updates-news

    Quite extraordinary that one idiot can precipitate what looks to be a global meltdown.

    All that sane washing meant a lot of people didn't believe he was an ignorant fool.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 73,133

    Avatar
    Donald J. Trump

    @realDonaldTrump

    ·
    6m
    We have massive Financial Deficits with China, the European Union, and many others. The only way this problem can be cured is with TARIFFS, which are now bringing Tens of Billions of Dollars into the U.S.A. They are already in effect, and a beautiful thing to behold. The Surplus with these Countries has grown during the “Presidency” of Sleepy Joe Biden. We are going to reverse it, and reverse it QUICKLY. Some day people will realize that Tariffs, for the United States of America, are a very beautiful thing!

    I've got an idea, based on the thread header:

    Let's give Trump and Vance peerages.

    They meet all of the criteria laid out by @rcs1000

    And it would make them ineligible to hold US offices, so they would have to resign.
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 30,544
    edited 5:13AM
    Andy_JS said:

    If this statistic is true it's a bit of an eye-opener.

    "In 1978 for example, about a third of people in the UK had no natural teeth."

    https://www.uniquesmiles.co.uk/blog/brits-really-bad-teeth/

    I think it was more than bad dentistry and dental habits though - the privations of the war had a lot to do with it. Milk rationing etc.

    More recently I think we have/had a ban on the use of peroxide in toothpaste/dental products? I know you had to order Crest White Strips from America. Very stupid ban. I am not sure it still exists. But stuff like this means UK teeth are naturally a relatively well kept but stained sort of colour, and US teeth (though obviously the very poor have bad teeth) generally look white.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 50,864
    edited 5:19AM
    Edited for messed up blockquores
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 76,113
    edited 5:18AM
    Reporter: The president of El Salvador said he would be willing to take American citizens in federal prison population.

    Trump: I love that

    https://x.com/Acyn/status/1909032577291505794

    Anyone still think the US is as safe as (say) Europe ?
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 50,864
    It's simple really.

    A lot of people can't accurately interpret medical reports. They have no training in critical appraisal or looking for bias and uncontrolled variables. It doesn't make much difference if they are an Islington journalist or Texas farmer.

    They just take "expert" advice, and that often means from Social Media rather than real experts.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 50,864

    Andy_JS said:

    If this statistic is true it's a bit of an eye-opener.

    "In 1978 for example, about a third of people in the UK had no natural teeth."

    https://www.uniquesmiles.co.uk/blog/brits-really-bad-teeth/

    I think it was more than bad dentistry and dental habits though - the privations of the war had a lot to do with it. Milk rationing etc.

    More recently I think we have/had a ban on the use of peroxide in toothpaste/dental products? I know you had to order Crest White Strips from America. Very stupid ban. I am not sure it still exists. But stuff like this means UK teeth are naturally a relatively well kept but stained sort of colour, and US teeth (though obviously the very poor have bad teeth) generally look white.
    And drinking lots of sugary tea.

    Tea staining makes a big difference to British teeth.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 73,133
    Nigelb said:

    Reporter: The president of El Salvador said he would be willing to take American citizens in federal prison population.

    Trump: I love that

    https://x.com/Acyn/status/1909032577291505794

    Anyone still think the US is as safe as (say) Europe ?

    Trump wants to serve his sentence in El Salvador?

    Why?
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 76,113
    Everyone still sane washing on the BBC.


    Why can't someone just say "this guy is a nutter" ?
  • Penddu2Penddu2 Posts: 743
    This whole liberation day fiasco is starting to look a lot like the Kwasi/Truss debacle. But while the men in grey suits (or medical scrubs) might remove the orange one - he would only be replaced by the bigger lunatic Vance - who appears to be healthy enough to ride out a 4 year shitstorm.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 73,133
    Nigelb said:

    Everyone still sane washing on the BBC.


    Why can't someone just say "this guy is a nutter" ?

    Because they're worried about being sued by those who have been sectioned?
  • TazTaz Posts: 17,262
    Nigelb said:

    Actually, it is.

    Bill Ackman warns Trump to call a timeout on trade war: ‘This is not what we voted for’
    https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5235232-ackman-warning-trump-tariffs/

    His fund has not long bought a position in Nike who make trainers jn vietnam. Oops.
  • vikvik Posts: 196
    Penddu2 said:

    This whole liberation day fiasco is starting to look a lot like the Kwasi/Truss debacle. But while the men in grey suits (or medical scrubs) might remove the orange one - he would only be replaced by the bigger lunatic Vance - who appears to be healthy enough to ride out a 4 year shitstorm.

    The House & Senate can easily stop the insanity at any time without going to the extreme step of removing Trump and Vance.

    All they have to do is vote for the Grassley-Cantwell Senate Bill & take back Congress' power to set tariff rates.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 73,133
    vik said:

    Penddu2 said:

    This whole liberation day fiasco is starting to look a lot like the Kwasi/Truss debacle. But while the men in grey suits (or medical scrubs) might remove the orange one - he would only be replaced by the bigger lunatic Vance - who appears to be healthy enough to ride out a 4 year shitstorm.

    The House & Senate can easily stop the insanity at any time without going to the extreme step of removing Trump and Vance.

    All they have to do is vote for the Grassley-Cantwell Senate Bill & take back Congress' power to set tariff rates.
    That would require them to have a backbone. Or integrity. Or brains.

    If David Low had lived he would be revising his view on the most spineless leaders of democracy ever to exist.
  • vikvik Posts: 196
    edited 5:48AM
    ydoethur said:

    vik said:

    Penddu2 said:

    This whole liberation day fiasco is starting to look a lot like the Kwasi/Truss debacle. But while the men in grey suits (or medical scrubs) might remove the orange one - he would only be replaced by the bigger lunatic Vance - who appears to be healthy enough to ride out a 4 year shitstorm.

    The House & Senate can easily stop the insanity at any time without going to the extreme step of removing Trump and Vance.

    All they have to do is vote for the Grassley-Cantwell Senate Bill & take back Congress' power to set tariff rates.
    That would require them to have a backbone. Or integrity. Or brains.

    If David Low had lived he would be revising his view on the most spineless leaders of democracy ever to exist.
    At a certain point, the pain of losing money will be enough for them (and their rich donors) to take action.

    The Republican donor class really hates the tariffs & really hates losing money.

    If the market bloodbath continues in Wall Street on Monday, then we might even see a panicked vote in favour of the Grassley-Cantwell bill as soon as Tuesday.

    I mean, when even someone as craven as Ted Cruz is saying that he hates tariffs, then it does seem like there is some stiffening of backbones taking place.
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 37,790
    @profsaunders.bsky.social‬

    “A top Goldman Sachs executive summed up the frustration with Mr. Trump succinctly: Someone has to stop him.”

    https://bsky.app/profile/profsaunders.bsky.social/post/3lm6l7izgik2b

    @lethalityjane.bsky.social‬

    I'm just saying I'm pretty sure if all the major bank CEOs called up the GOP party leadership and said they're starting a united superpac dedicated to never electing another Republican, we'd have a 25th amendment scenario within 24 hours.

    https://bsky.app/profile/lethalityjane.bsky.social/post/3lm6o3hhusk2t
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 37,790
    Trump was interviewed on AF1 last night.

    He says tariffs will remain in place until the trade deficit is zero

    There is no rational answer to that
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 37,790
    If the ticker chart I am looking at is accurate, Tesla will open down another 25%
  • StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 18,216
    Nigelb said:

    Everyone still sane washing on the BBC.


    Why can't someone just say "this guy is a nutter" ?

    Partly, the doctrine that the customer/voter is always right.

    Partly... Does the BBC ever say that the leader of another country is a nutter? Even when they have obviously unambiguously taken a one-way journey on the Fruitloop Express?
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 50,864
    vik said:

    Penddu2 said:

    This whole liberation day fiasco is starting to look a lot like the Kwasi/Truss debacle. But while the men in grey suits (or medical scrubs) might remove the orange one - he would only be replaced by the bigger lunatic Vance - who appears to be healthy enough to ride out a 4 year shitstorm.

    The House & Senate can easily stop the insanity at any time without going to the extreme step of removing Trump and Vance.

    All they have to do is vote for the Grassley-Cantwell Senate Bill & take back Congress' power to set tariff rates.
    They don't want to do that. They are all MAGA now.

    Mike Johnson changed the House rules so that a vote for Congress to reclaim authority to do tariffs will never be scheduled, by declaring the rest of this Congressional term one single calendar day. www.wakeuptopolitics.com/p/house-quie.... He could fix all of this before the US markets open.

    https://bsky.app/profile/costasamaras.com/post/3lm73ttbgr22q
  • vikvik Posts: 196
    Scott_xP said:

    Trump was interviewed on AF1 last night.

    He says tariffs will remain in place until the trade deficit is zero

    There is no rational answer to that

    Yeah, that's the problem.

    How is any country supposed to "negotiate" when he has that insane a belief ?

    The discussion on PB about how Starmer should "negotiate" with Trump was just surreal. The only way Trump is going to remvoe the 10% tariff on the UK is if Starmer gives him something really valuable such as possession of Scotland, or something.
  • StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 18,216
    vik said:

    Scott_xP said:

    Trump was interviewed on AF1 last night.

    He says tariffs will remain in place until the trade deficit is zero

    There is no rational answer to that

    Yeah, that's the problem.

    How is any country supposed to "negotiate" when he has that insane a belief ?

    The discussion on PB about how Starmer should "negotiate" with Trump was just surreal. The only way Trump is going to remvoe the 10% tariff on the UK is if Starmer gives him something really valuable such as possession of Scotland, or something.
    Besides, the USA already has a goods surplus with the UK. Which is why our tariff rate is "only" 10%/25% on cars.
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 37,790
    vik said:

    Scott_xP said:

    Trump was interviewed on AF1 last night.

    He says tariffs will remain in place until the trade deficit is zero

    There is no rational answer to that

    Yeah, that's the problem.

    How is any country supposed to "negotiate" when he has that insane a belief ?

    The discussion on PB about how Starmer should "negotiate" with Trump was just surreal. The only way Trump is going to remvoe the 10% tariff on the UK is if Starmer gives him something really valuable such as possession of Scotland, or something.
    It's a shakedown

    The problem then is what does he demand next

    The solution will ultimately be for every country in the World to gang up on the US, and every Republican to gang up on MAGA

    But we're not quite there yet
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 37,790
    Tokyo stock market closes down 2300
  • CiceroCicero Posts: 3,339
    This now looks like that scene in Woody Allen's "Bananas", where the newly installed revolutionary leader goes mad and issues decrees like "the national language shall be Swedish".
    I spoke with a rock ribbed Republican yesterday who was already convinced that the GOP would be massacred at the mid terms.
    I am beginning to wonder if Trump makes it that far.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 50,864
    The practical consideration for those of us with equity investments is whether to sell or not.

    On the one hand sanity could be restored, but on the other hand being one of the first of the panicking sheep is generally a good move.
  • noneoftheabovenoneoftheabove Posts: 24,099
    vik said:

    Scott_xP said:

    Trump was interviewed on AF1 last night.

    He says tariffs will remain in place until the trade deficit is zero

    There is no rational answer to that

    Yeah, that's the problem.

    How is any country supposed to "negotiate" when he has that insane a belief ?

    The discussion on PB about how Starmer should "negotiate" with Trump was just surreal. The only way Trump is going to remvoe the 10% tariff on the UK is if Starmer gives him something really valuable such as possession of Scotland, or something.
    Let him play Rory at St Andrews twice a year. Probably worth 5% off the tariffs.
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 50,995
    Foxy said:

    The practical consideration for those of us with equity investments is whether to sell or not.

    On the one hand sanity could be restored, but on the other hand being one of the first of the panicking sheep is generally a good move.

    I considered it at the beginning of last week. But consoled myself with the protection that my sell positions on the Dow, FTSE and Tesla offered. The latter have delivered £thousands in cash but the shares are well down and it looks like more falls to come.
  • noneoftheabovenoneoftheabove Posts: 24,099
    Foxy said:

    vik said:

    Penddu2 said:

    This whole liberation day fiasco is starting to look a lot like the Kwasi/Truss debacle. But while the men in grey suits (or medical scrubs) might remove the orange one - he would only be replaced by the bigger lunatic Vance - who appears to be healthy enough to ride out a 4 year shitstorm.

    The House & Senate can easily stop the insanity at any time without going to the extreme step of removing Trump and Vance.

    All they have to do is vote for the Grassley-Cantwell Senate Bill & take back Congress' power to set tariff rates.
    They don't want to do that. They are all MAGA now.

    Mike Johnson changed the House rules so that a vote for Congress to reclaim authority to do tariffs will never be scheduled, by declaring the rest of this Congressional term one single calendar day. www.wakeuptopolitics.com/p/house-quie.... He could fix all of this before the US markets open.

    https://bsky.app/profile/costasamaras.com/post/3lm73ttbgr22q
    It would obviously help a lot but it doesn't fix it. Global and corporate trust and confidence in the USA has evaporated, it would not return in place even if the actions were reversed.
  • pm215pm215 Posts: 1,227
    Foxy said:

    The practical consideration for those of us with equity investments is whether to sell or not.

    On the one hand sanity could be restored, but on the other hand being one of the first of the panicking sheep is generally a good move.

    If you wanted to be the first sheep you should have sold last week...
  • noneoftheabovenoneoftheabove Posts: 24,099
    Scott_xP said:

    Trump was interviewed on AF1 last night.

    He says tariffs will remain in place until the trade deficit is zero

    There is no rational answer to that

    Of course there is, prioritise trade with the rest of the world and watch Americans get poorer and weaker.
  • EabhalEabhal Posts: 10,009
    vik said:

    Penddu2 said:

    This whole liberation day fiasco is starting to look a lot like the Kwasi/Truss debacle. But while the men in grey suits (or medical scrubs) might remove the orange one - he would only be replaced by the bigger lunatic Vance - who appears to be healthy enough to ride out a 4 year shitstorm.

    The House & Senate can easily stop the insanity at any time without going to the extreme step of removing Trump and Vance.

    All they have to do is vote for the Grassley-Cantwell Senate Bill & take back Congress' power to set tariff rates.
    Trump's record on the rule of law makes that wishful thinking. He's currently using an "emergency" powers act to do all this - what's to stop him conjuring up some other power to swerve this new bill?

    I don't think there is any way to stop this.
  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 25,777

    Scott_xP said:

    Trump was interviewed on AF1 last night.

    He says tariffs will remain in place until the trade deficit is zero

    There is no rational answer to that

    Of course there is, prioritise trade with the rest of the world and watch Americans get poorer and weaker.
    LOL

    yeah like Starmer's going to save the economy.
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 37,790
    The only way to stop Trump is remove him

    Not happening any time soon
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 76,113
    Taz said:

    Nigelb said:

    Actually, it is.

    Bill Ackman warns Trump to call a timeout on trade war: ‘This is not what we voted for’
    https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5235232-ackman-warning-trump-tariffs/

    His fund has not long bought a position in Nike who make trainers jn vietnam. Oops.
    He's a big Trump pumper.
    Until this week.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 26,295
    edited 6:21AM

    Andy_JS said:

    If this statistic is true it's a bit of an eye-opener.

    "In 1978 for example, about a third of people in the UK had no natural teeth."

    https://www.uniquesmiles.co.uk/blog/brits-really-bad-teeth/

    I think it was more than bad dentistry and dental habits though - the privations of the war had a lot to do with it. Milk rationing etc.

    More recently I think we have/had a ban on the use of peroxide in toothpaste/dental products? I know you had to order Crest White Strips from America. Very stupid ban. I am not sure it still exists. But stuff like this means UK teeth are naturally a relatively well kept but stained sort of colour, and US teeth (though obviously the very poor have bad teeth) generally look white.
    We have a survey every decade apparently. From the same piece with more recent data (this sounds like extreme USA inequality showing through):

    So do Americans have better teeth than Brits?

    Actually, it seems the teeth of Brits are actually healthier be than Americans’ teeth. According to the latest figures from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the average 12-year-old child in the UK has 0.7 missing or filled teeth. In comparison, the average 12-year-old American has 1.3 missing or filled teeth. The UK also fares better than other major countries, such as Australia where the average 12-year-old has 1.1 missing or decayed teeth.
  • noneoftheabovenoneoftheabove Posts: 24,099
    Scott_xP said:

    @profsaunders.bsky.social‬

    “A top Goldman Sachs executive summed up the frustration with Mr. Trump succinctly: Someone has to stop him.”

    https://bsky.app/profile/profsaunders.bsky.social/post/3lm6l7izgik2b

    @lethalityjane.bsky.social‬

    I'm just saying I'm pretty sure if all the major bank CEOs called up the GOP party leadership and said they're starting a united superpac dedicated to never electing another Republican, we'd have a 25th amendment scenario within 24 hours.

    https://bsky.app/profile/lethalityjane.bsky.social/post/3lm6o3hhusk2t

    People consistenty underestimate Trumps political power. That threat would be easily ignored by Trump.

    Invoking the 25th is more likely to lead to perpetual Republican defeat than losing bank CEOs.
  • eekeek Posts: 29,588

    Scott_xP said:

    Trump was interviewed on AF1 last night.

    He says tariffs will remain in place until the trade deficit is zero

    There is no rational answer to that

    Of course there is, prioritise trade with the rest of the world and watch Americans get poorer and weaker.
    You can’t argue with stupid so the only solution is to accept your US market is smaller and focus on selling to the rest of the world.

    And nothing is going to solve that so all we can do is continue as if nothing has happened
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 76,113
    edited 6:23AM
    Foxy said:

    vik said:

    Penddu2 said:

    This whole liberation day fiasco is starting to look a lot like the Kwasi/Truss debacle. But while the men in grey suits (or medical scrubs) might remove the orange one - he would only be replaced by the bigger lunatic Vance - who appears to be healthy enough to ride out a 4 year shitstorm.

    The House & Senate can easily stop the insanity at any time without going to the extreme step of removing Trump and Vance.

    All they have to do is vote for the Grassley-Cantwell Senate Bill & take back Congress' power to set tariff rates.
    They don't want to do that. They are all MAGA now.

    Mike Johnson changed the House rules so that a vote for Congress to reclaim authority to do tariffs will never be scheduled, by declaring the rest of this Congressional term one single calendar day. www.wakeuptopolitics.com/p/house-quie.... He could fix all of this before the US markets open.

    https://bsky.app/profile/costasamaras.com/post/3lm73ttbgr22q
    Without a two thirds majority to override him, Trump will just veto any such legislation anyway.

    I think he'll have to get even madder before that happens.
  • noneoftheabovenoneoftheabove Posts: 24,099

    Scott_xP said:

    Trump was interviewed on AF1 last night.

    He says tariffs will remain in place until the trade deficit is zero

    There is no rational answer to that

    Of course there is, prioritise trade with the rest of the world and watch Americans get poorer and weaker.
    LOL

    yeah like Starmer's going to save the economy.
    The world will now be poorer whatever Starmer or other governments do. But we may as well get on with it rather than spend time and energy negotiating with a simpleton who cannot be trusted and does not understand his own interests or care about ours.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 26,295
    Foxy said:

    vik said:

    Scott_xP said:

    Trump was interviewed on AF1 last night.

    He says tariffs will remain in place until the trade deficit is zero

    There is no rational answer to that

    Yeah, that's the problem.

    How is any country supposed to "negotiate" when he has that insane a belief ?

    The discussion on PB about how Starmer should "negotiate" with Trump was just surreal. The only way Trump is going to remvoe the 10% tariff on the UK is if Starmer gives him something really valuable such as possession of Scotland, or something.
    You can't negotiate with someone who rips up agreements on a whim.

    Agreements with Trump are worth nothing.
    Trump is negotiating British Victorian style.

    Waiting for the gunboats in the Thames ...
  • No_Offence_AlanNo_Offence_Alan Posts: 4,924
    pm215 said:

    Foxy said:

    The practical consideration for those of us with equity investments is whether to sell or not.

    On the one hand sanity could be restored, but on the other hand being one of the first of the panicking sheep is generally a good move.

    If you wanted to be the first sheep you should have sold last week...
    I think I will stay pat. I am invested in shares that pay a good dividend.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 50,864
    pm215 said:

    Foxy said:

    The practical consideration for those of us with equity investments is whether to sell or not.

    On the one hand sanity could be restored, but on the other hand being one of the first of the panicking sheep is generally a good move.

    If you wanted to be the first sheep you should have sold last week...
    I sold my most vulnerable equities or at least reduced my holding back in January. I am about 25% cash at present, but could do more. On the other hand my housing stocks (Bellway and Persimmon) could recover if there was anything urgent interest rate cut to compensate for the chaos.

    I still have some miners (S32, Anto, Rio) and export oriented stocks like Spirax that probably will drop further, though basically sound companies.
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 37,790
    Nigelb said:

    I think he'll have to get even madder before that happens.

    Not much room for that

    Overnight he also expressed a desire to put US citizens in El Salvador prisons
  • noneoftheabovenoneoftheabove Posts: 24,099

    pm215 said:

    Foxy said:

    The practical consideration for those of us with equity investments is whether to sell or not.

    On the one hand sanity could be restored, but on the other hand being one of the first of the panicking sheep is generally a good move.

    If you wanted to be the first sheep you should have sold last week...
    I think I will stay pat. I am invested in shares that pay a good dividend.
    Pay or paid.....
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 76,113
    There is no negotiating with this.
    A average twelve year old has a better grasp of economics.

    Trump: I spoke to a lot of leaders European, Asian from all over the world, they are been dying to make a deal. But I said we’re not going to have deficit with your country. We’re not going to do that because to me a deficit is a loss
    https://x.com/Acyn/status/1909035977399747034
  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 25,777

    Scott_xP said:

    Trump was interviewed on AF1 last night.

    He says tariffs will remain in place until the trade deficit is zero

    There is no rational answer to that

    Of course there is, prioritise trade with the rest of the world and watch Americans get poorer and weaker.
    LOL

    yeah like Starmer's going to save the economy.
    The world will now be poorer whatever Starmer or other governments do. But we may as well get on with it rather than spend time and energy negotiating with a simpleton who cannot be trusted and does not understand his own interests or care about ours.
    Well our government seems intent on making us all poorer. While it's fun to have Trumpty Dumpty to blame for all our problems the fact is most of our problems are home grown and currently there is no meaningful plan to sort them out.

    Investment ? Training ? Reform ? Why bother with all that nonsense when we can blame Trump, it's too much like hard work.
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 43,147

    Andy_JS said:

    If this statistic is true it's a bit of an eye-opener.

    "In 1978 for example, about a third of people in the UK had no natural teeth."

    https://www.uniquesmiles.co.uk/blog/brits-really-bad-teeth/

    I think it was more than bad dentistry and dental habits though - the privations of the war had a lot to do with it. Milk rationing etc.

    More recently I think we have/had a ban on the use of peroxide in toothpaste/dental products? I know you had to order Crest White Strips from America. Very stupid ban. I am not sure it still exists. But stuff like this means UK teeth are naturally a relatively well kept but stained sort of colour, and US teeth (though obviously the very poor have bad teeth) generally look white.
    It was also the lack of ability to fight fatal infection. Both my maternal grandparents had all their largely healthy teeth removed in their thirties (pre war) ‘just to be on the safe side’.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 26,295
    edited 6:28AM
    Scott_xP said:

    vik said:

    Scott_xP said:

    Trump was interviewed on AF1 last night.

    He says tariffs will remain in place until the trade deficit is zero

    There is no rational answer to that

    Yeah, that's the problem.

    How is any country supposed to "negotiate" when he has that insane a belief ?

    The discussion on PB about how Starmer should "negotiate" with Trump was just surreal. The only way Trump is going to remvoe the 10% tariff on the UK is if Starmer gives him something really valuable such as possession of Scotland, or something.
    It's a shakedown

    The problem then is what does he demand next

    The solution will ultimately be for every country in the World to gang up on the US, and every Republican to gang up on MAGA

    But we're not quite there yet
    I saw some coverage of alleged conversation amongst Canada, Japan, South Korea, Australia, which is what plenty of us have been speculating about. Add in the UK and just that list is approx. half of US GDP.

    There's potential for a rules-based order minus the USA in there ... somewhere.
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 44,018
    Penddu2 said:

    Avatar
    Donald J. Trump

    @realDonaldTrump

    ·
    6m
    We have massive Financial Deficits with China, the European Union, and many others. The only way this problem can be cured is with TARIFFS, which are now bringing Tens of Billions of Dollars into the U.S.A. They are already in effect, and a beautiful thing to behold. The Surplus with these Countries has grown during the “Presidency” of Sleepy Joe Biden. We are going to reverse it, and reverse it QUICKLY. Some day people will realize that Tariffs, for the United States of America, are a very beautiful thing!

    Tarrifs can not bring any dollars into US. Tarrifs are paid by importers (and ultimatley consumers) whose dollarscare already in US.

    Economically illiterate.
    you just noticing he is thick
  • noneoftheabovenoneoftheabove Posts: 24,099

    Scott_xP said:

    Trump was interviewed on AF1 last night.

    He says tariffs will remain in place until the trade deficit is zero

    There is no rational answer to that

    Of course there is, prioritise trade with the rest of the world and watch Americans get poorer and weaker.
    LOL

    yeah like Starmer's going to save the economy.
    The world will now be poorer whatever Starmer or other governments do. But we may as well get on with it rather than spend time and energy negotiating with a simpleton who cannot be trusted and does not understand his own interests or care about ours.
    Well our government seems intent on making us all poorer. While it's fun to have Trumpty Dumpty to blame for all our problems the fact is most of our problems are home grown and currently there is no meaningful plan to sort them out.

    Investment ? Training ? Reform ? Why bother with all that nonsense when we can blame Trump, it's too much like hard work.
    Sure, I would love to see loads of investment, faster and more effective planning reform and updating education for the 21st century. Regularly say so on here. But the current discussion is on Trump and tariffs for obvious reasons.
  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 25,777

    Scott_xP said:

    Trump was interviewed on AF1 last night.

    He says tariffs will remain in place until the trade deficit is zero

    There is no rational answer to that

    Of course there is, prioritise trade with the rest of the world and watch Americans get poorer and weaker.
    LOL

    yeah like Starmer's going to save the economy.
    The world will now be poorer whatever Starmer or other governments do. But we may as well get on with it rather than spend time and energy negotiating with a simpleton who cannot be trusted and does not understand his own interests or care about ours.
    Well our government seems intent on making us all poorer. While it's fun to have Trumpty Dumpty to blame for all our problems the fact is most of our problems are home grown and currently there is no meaningful plan to sort them out.

    Investment ? Training ? Reform ? Why bother with all that nonsense when we can blame Trump, it's too much like hard work.
    Sure, I would love to see loads of investment, faster and more effective planning reform and updating education for the 21st century. Regularly say so on here. But the current discussion is on Trump and tariffs for obvious reasons.
    Except it shouldnt be.

    Trump is going to do what he believes is best for the USA. Our government should be doing whar;s best for the UK and isnt.
  • noneoftheabovenoneoftheabove Posts: 24,099

    Scott_xP said:

    Trump was interviewed on AF1 last night.

    He says tariffs will remain in place until the trade deficit is zero

    There is no rational answer to that

    Of course there is, prioritise trade with the rest of the world and watch Americans get poorer and weaker.
    LOL

    yeah like Starmer's going to save the economy.
    The world will now be poorer whatever Starmer or other governments do. But we may as well get on with it rather than spend time and energy negotiating with a simpleton who cannot be trusted and does not understand his own interests or care about ours.
    Well our government seems intent on making us all poorer. While it's fun to have Trumpty Dumpty to blame for all our problems the fact is most of our problems are home grown and currently there is no meaningful plan to sort them out.

    Investment ? Training ? Reform ? Why bother with all that nonsense when we can blame Trump, it's too much like hard work.
    Sure, I would love to see loads of investment, faster and more effective planning reform and updating education for the 21st century. Regularly say so on here. But the current discussion is on Trump and tariffs for obvious reasons.
    Except it shouldnt be.

    Trump is going to do what he believes is best for the USA. Our government should be doing whar;s best for the UK and isnt.
    The UK govt isn't doing everything you or I think is best for the UK and clearly we each wish they would follow our own ideas and preferences instead. But they are probably doing what they think is best for the UK.

    I'm not a Starmer fan and didn't vote for Labour last time but they are better than our (admittedly terrible) recent average govt.
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 43,147

    vik said:

    Scott_xP said:

    Trump was interviewed on AF1 last night.

    He says tariffs will remain in place until the trade deficit is zero

    There is no rational answer to that

    Yeah, that's the problem.

    How is any country supposed to "negotiate" when he has that insane a belief ?

    The discussion on PB about how Starmer should "negotiate" with Trump was just surreal. The only way Trump is going to remvoe the 10% tariff on the UK is if Starmer gives him something really valuable such as possession of Scotland, or something.
    Let him play Rory at St Andrews twice a year. Probably worth 5% off the tariffs.
    Play and beat.
    ‘Sorry Rory, you’ll just have to take one for the team. Make it look convincing.’
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 76,113
    Russian state TV celebrates Trump launching a global trade war:

    “Trump destroyed trust in the global economy… let’s build him a monument… well done! You really socked it to them!”

    https://x.com/RpsAgainstTrump/status/1908989444373258366
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 30,544

    Andy_JS said:

    If this statistic is true it's a bit of an eye-opener.

    "In 1978 for example, about a third of people in the UK had no natural teeth."

    https://www.uniquesmiles.co.uk/blog/brits-really-bad-teeth/

    I think it was more than bad dentistry and dental habits though - the privations of the war had a lot to do with it. Milk rationing etc.

    More recently I think we have/had a ban on the use of peroxide in toothpaste/dental products? I know you had to order Crest White Strips from America. Very stupid ban. I am not sure it still exists. But stuff like this means UK teeth are naturally a relatively well kept but stained sort of colour, and US teeth (though obviously the very poor have bad teeth) generally look white.
    It was also the lack of ability to fight fatal infection. Both my maternal grandparents had all their largely healthy teeth removed in their thirties (pre war) ‘just to be on the safe side’.
    It's extraodinary. And the provision of false teeth on the NHS meant some did it (my Dad knew a young lady) as a cosmetic procedure.

    Looking at the teeth of the victorious England 1966 football team is very telling.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 26,295
    edited 6:37AM
    Found late, but I did quite enjoy this April 1st story over at UKDJ, which starts plausibly, and then ....:

    Number of F-35 jets ‘missing’ from hangar at RAF base

    The Ministry of Defence has downplayed reports that several F-35B Lightning II jets are currently “unaccounted for” on the flight line at a base.

    The Ministry of Defence is reviewing the status of several F-35B Lightning II aircraft after routine checks at RAF Marham revealed that a number of jets were not immediately locatable. Officials stressed there is no indication of foul play and that the situation is “well understood given the nature of the platform.”

    https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/number-of-f-35-jets-missing-from-hangar-at-raf-base/
  • EabhalEabhal Posts: 10,009
    edited 6:38AM

    Scott_xP said:

    Trump was interviewed on AF1 last night.

    He says tariffs will remain in place until the trade deficit is zero

    There is no rational answer to that

    Of course there is, prioritise trade with the rest of the world and watch Americans get poorer and weaker.
    LOL

    yeah like Starmer's going to save the economy.
    The world will now be poorer whatever Starmer or other governments do. But we may as well get on with it rather than spend time and energy negotiating with a simpleton who cannot be trusted and does not understand his own interests or care about ours.
    Well our government seems intent on making us all poorer. While it's fun to have Trumpty Dumpty to blame for all our problems the fact is most of our problems are home grown and currently there is no meaningful plan to sort them out.

    Investment ? Training ? Reform ? Why bother with all that nonsense when we can blame Trump, it's too much like hard work.
    Sure, I would love to see loads of investment, faster and more effective planning reform and updating education for the 21st century. Regularly say so on here. But the current discussion is on Trump and tariffs for obvious reasons.
    Except it shouldnt be.

    Trump is going to do what he believes is best for the USA. Our government should be doing whar;s best for the UK and isnt.
    If you think this Labour government is economically illiterate, then surely you don't want them to do what they think is best for the UK?

    I'm eager for some serious reform, particularly around energy markets and council tax. But there is something in the "do nothing" option, which from personal work experience is often the best course of action when faced with massive uncertainty. Don't put fuel on the fire.
  • TazTaz Posts: 17,262
    Nigelb said:

    Taz said:

    Nigelb said:

    Actually, it is.

    Bill Ackman warns Trump to call a timeout on trade war: ‘This is not what we voted for’
    https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5235232-ackman-warning-trump-tariffs/

    His fund has not long bought a position in Nike who make trainers jn vietnam. Oops.
    He's a big Trump pumper.
    Until this week.
    Yeah, I know, I follow him on Twitter.
  • eekeek Posts: 29,588

    Scott_xP said:

    Trump was interviewed on AF1 last night.

    He says tariffs will remain in place until the trade deficit is zero

    There is no rational answer to that

    Of course there is, prioritise trade with the rest of the world and watch Americans get poorer and weaker.
    LOL

    yeah like Starmer's going to save the economy.
    The world will now be poorer whatever Starmer or other governments do. But we may as well get on with it rather than spend time and energy negotiating with a simpleton who cannot be trusted and does not understand his own interests or care about ours.
    Well our government seems intent on making us all poorer. While it's fun to have Trumpty Dumpty to blame for all our problems the fact is most of our problems are home grown and currently there is no meaningful plan to sort them out.

    Investment ? Training ? Reform ? Why bother with all that nonsense when we can blame Trump, it's too much like hard work.
    Sure, I would love to see loads of investment, faster and more effective planning reform and updating education for the 21st century. Regularly say so on here. But the current discussion is on Trump and tariffs for obvious reasons.
    Except it shouldnt be.

    Trump is going to do what he believes is best for the USA. Our government should be doing whar;s best for the UK and isnt.
    It’s just a shame he’s so economically illiterate that he thinks low paid, low value added textile and similar work is something that needs to be brought back to the USA.

    And that manufacturing is something that can be moved in weeks / months when in reality it takes years AND requires a consistent (unchanging) market to justify the investment required.

    Reality is nothing is going to change and US customers are going to be paying more so buying less.
  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 25,777

    Scott_xP said:

    Trump was interviewed on AF1 last night.

    He says tariffs will remain in place until the trade deficit is zero

    There is no rational answer to that

    Of course there is, prioritise trade with the rest of the world and watch Americans get poorer and weaker.
    LOL

    yeah like Starmer's going to save the economy.
    The world will now be poorer whatever Starmer or other governments do. But we may as well get on with it rather than spend time and energy negotiating with a simpleton who cannot be trusted and does not understand his own interests or care about ours.
    Well our government seems intent on making us all poorer. While it's fun to have Trumpty Dumpty to blame for all our problems the fact is most of our problems are home grown and currently there is no meaningful plan to sort them out.

    Investment ? Training ? Reform ? Why bother with all that nonsense when we can blame Trump, it's too much like hard work.
    Sure, I would love to see loads of investment, faster and more effective planning reform and updating education for the 21st century. Regularly say so on here. But the current discussion is on Trump and tariffs for obvious reasons.
    Except it shouldnt be.

    Trump is going to do what he believes is best for the USA. Our government should be doing whar;s best for the UK and isnt.
    The UK govt isn't doing everything you or I think is best for the UK and clearly we each wish they would follow our own ideas and preferences instead. But they are probably doing what they think is best for the UK.

    I'm not a Starmer fan and didn't vote for Labour last time but they are better than our (admittedly terrible) recent average govt.
    They are no different than the last lot. They believe the same things.
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 30,544
    A good move for Trump would be to do a trade deal with the UK. Obviously it won't solve the sweatshops in Cambodia issue, but it would be an outward display of things moving forward a bit. If he had some sense, Starmer could use this to our advantage and perhaps get some useful concessions.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 76,113

    Scott_xP said:

    @profsaunders.bsky.social‬

    “A top Goldman Sachs executive summed up the frustration with Mr. Trump succinctly: Someone has to stop him.”

    https://bsky.app/profile/profsaunders.bsky.social/post/3lm6l7izgik2b

    @lethalityjane.bsky.social‬

    I'm just saying I'm pretty sure if all the major bank CEOs called up the GOP party leadership and said they're starting a united superpac dedicated to never electing another Republican, we'd have a 25th amendment scenario within 24 hours.

    https://bsky.app/profile/lethalityjane.bsky.social/post/3lm6o3hhusk2t

    People consistenty underestimate Trumps political power. That threat would be easily ignored by Trump.

    Invoking the 25th is more likely to lead to perpetual Republican defeat than losing bank CEOs.
    In any event, Congress is full of numpties like this.

    Rick Scott: "When Trump left office in the beginning of '21, we had a great economy. The Biden administration and Democrats ruined it."
    https://x.com/atrupar/status/1908294696968851885
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 13,453

    A good move for Trump would be to do a trade deal with the UK. Obviously it won't solve the sweatshops in Cambodia issue, but it would be an outward display of things moving forward a bit. If he had some sense, Starmer could use this to our advantage and perhaps get some useful concessions.

    You worry whether Starmer has some sense, but the problem with your plan is whether Trump has some sense… and he clearly doesn’t.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 76,113
    Taz said:

    Nigelb said:

    Taz said:

    Nigelb said:

    Actually, it is.

    Bill Ackman warns Trump to call a timeout on trade war: ‘This is not what we voted for’
    https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5235232-ackman-warning-trump-tariffs/

    His fund has not long bought a position in Nike who make trainers jn vietnam. Oops.
    He's a big Trump pumper.
    Until this week.
    Yeah, I know, I follow him on Twitter.
    I muted him, as he brings too much drivel in his wake, along with the occasional useful post.
  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 25,777
    Eabhal said:

    Scott_xP said:

    Trump was interviewed on AF1 last night.

    He says tariffs will remain in place until the trade deficit is zero

    There is no rational answer to that

    Of course there is, prioritise trade with the rest of the world and watch Americans get poorer and weaker.
    LOL

    yeah like Starmer's going to save the economy.
    The world will now be poorer whatever Starmer or other governments do. But we may as well get on with it rather than spend time and energy negotiating with a simpleton who cannot be trusted and does not understand his own interests or care about ours.
    Well our government seems intent on making us all poorer. While it's fun to have Trumpty Dumpty to blame for all our problems the fact is most of our problems are home grown and currently there is no meaningful plan to sort them out.

    Investment ? Training ? Reform ? Why bother with all that nonsense when we can blame Trump, it's too much like hard work.
    Sure, I would love to see loads of investment, faster and more effective planning reform and updating education for the 21st century. Regularly say so on here. But the current discussion is on Trump and tariffs for obvious reasons.
    Except it shouldnt be.

    Trump is going to do what he believes is best for the USA. Our government should be doing whar;s best for the UK and isnt.
    If you think this Labour government is economically illiterate, then surely you don't want them to do what they think is best for the UK?

    I'm eager for some serious reform, particularly around energy markets and council tax. But there is something in the "do nothing" option, which from personal work experience is often the best course of action when faced with massive uncertainty. Don't put fuel on the fire.
    The Trump diversion is manna from heaven for the current government. If there were no Trump tofill the headlines they would be getting pasted for their obvious failures.

    Almost one year in government and we are building less houses than under Sunak.
  • TazTaz Posts: 17,262
    Foxy said:

    pm215 said:

    Foxy said:

    The practical consideration for those of us with equity investments is whether to sell or not.

    On the one hand sanity could be restored, but on the other hand being one of the first of the panicking sheep is generally a good move.

    If you wanted to be the first sheep you should have sold last week...
    I sold my most vulnerable equities or at least reduced my holding back in January. I am about 25% cash at present, but could do more. On the other hand my housing stocks (Bellway and Persimmon) could recover if there was anything urgent interest rate cut to compensate for the chaos.

    I still have some miners (S32, Anto, Rio) and export oriented stocks like Spirax that probably will drop further, though basically sound companies.
    If the companies are sound and, for them, nothing has changed then why sell ?

    I have kept most of my equities as they are good companies. I hold Rio as I do Glencore.

    Funds wise I closed a few positions at the end of Feb and reduced holding in S&P and US trackers.

    I did so purely because Warren Buffett was building up a big cash pile. I’m no expert at all.
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 44,018

    A good move for Trump would be to do a trade deal with the UK. Obviously it won't solve the sweatshops in Cambodia issue, but it would be an outward display of things moving forward a bit. If he had some sense, Starmer could use this to our advantage and perhaps get some useful concessions.

    fantasy
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 50,864
    edited 6:44AM

    A good move for Trump would be to do a trade deal with the UK. Obviously it won't solve the sweatshops in Cambodia issue, but it would be an outward display of things moving forward a bit. If he had some sense, Starmer could use this to our advantage and perhaps get some useful concessions.

    A deal with Trump is worth less than nothing. He banks the advantages and ignores the obligations.

    The better tactic is the one of the Heard Island penguins. Just ignore the tariffs.
  • EabhalEabhal Posts: 10,009
    edited 6:45AM

    A good move for Trump would be to do a trade deal with the UK. Obviously it won't solve the sweatshops in Cambodia issue, but it would be an outward display of things moving forward a bit. If he had some sense, Starmer could use this to our advantage and perhaps get some useful concessions.

    You worry whether Starmer has some sense, but the problem with your plan is whether Trump has some sense… and he clearly doesn’t.
    And the concession would be the removal of the 10% tariff in exchange for something that damages UK industry or services. The man has zero-sum Mercantilist thinking. There is no deal that he would sign unless it continues to hurt the other party.

    The UK had Adam Smith squash that nonsense, and became the greatest Empire in world history on the back of it.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 50,864
    Taz said:

    Foxy said:

    pm215 said:

    Foxy said:

    The practical consideration for those of us with equity investments is whether to sell or not.

    On the one hand sanity could be restored, but on the other hand being one of the first of the panicking sheep is generally a good move.

    If you wanted to be the first sheep you should have sold last week...
    I sold my most vulnerable equities or at least reduced my holding back in January. I am about 25% cash at present, but could do more. On the other hand my housing stocks (Bellway and Persimmon) could recover if there was anything urgent interest rate cut to compensate for the chaos.

    I still have some miners (S32, Anto, Rio) and export oriented stocks like Spirax that probably will drop further, though basically sound companies.
    If the companies are sound and, for them, nothing has changed then why sell ?

    I have kept most of my equities as they are good companies. I hold Rio as I do Glencore.

    Funds wise I closed a few positions at the end of Feb and reduced holding in S&P and US trackers.

    I did so purely because Warren Buffett was building up a big cash pile. I’m no expert at all.
    Well, they were sound, but are they still sound?
  • noneoftheabovenoneoftheabove Posts: 24,099
    eek said:

    Scott_xP said:

    Trump was interviewed on AF1 last night.

    He says tariffs will remain in place until the trade deficit is zero

    There is no rational answer to that

    Of course there is, prioritise trade with the rest of the world and watch Americans get poorer and weaker.
    LOL

    yeah like Starmer's going to save the economy.
    The world will now be poorer whatever Starmer or other governments do. But we may as well get on with it rather than spend time and energy negotiating with a simpleton who cannot be trusted and does not understand his own interests or care about ours.
    Well our government seems intent on making us all poorer. While it's fun to have Trumpty Dumpty to blame for all our problems the fact is most of our problems are home grown and currently there is no meaningful plan to sort them out.

    Investment ? Training ? Reform ? Why bother with all that nonsense when we can blame Trump, it's too much like hard work.
    Sure, I would love to see loads of investment, faster and more effective planning reform and updating education for the 21st century. Regularly say so on here. But the current discussion is on Trump and tariffs for obvious reasons.
    Except it shouldnt be.

    Trump is going to do what he believes is best for the USA. Our government should be doing whar;s best for the UK and isnt.
    It’s just a shame he’s so economically illiterate that he thinks low paid, low value added textile and similar work is something that needs to be brought back to the USA.

    And that manufacturing is something that can be moved in weeks / months when in reality it takes years AND requires a consistent (unchanging) market to justify the investment required.

    Reality is nothing is going to change and US customers are going to be paying more so buying less.
    That is a decent level of stupid but it is certainly trumped by imposing massive tariffs on

    Madagascar - for daring to export vanilla as it produces 80% of the worlds supply and has less than 0.5% of the worlds population
    Heard and McDonald Islands - no people, just a lot of penguins......
  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 25,777
    eek said:

    Scott_xP said:

    Trump was interviewed on AF1 last night.

    He says tariffs will remain in place until the trade deficit is zero

    There is no rational answer to that

    Of course there is, prioritise trade with the rest of the world and watch Americans get poorer and weaker.
    LOL

    yeah like Starmer's going to save the economy.
    The world will now be poorer whatever Starmer or other governments do. But we may as well get on with it rather than spend time and energy negotiating with a simpleton who cannot be trusted and does not understand his own interests or care about ours.
    Well our government seems intent on making us all poorer. While it's fun to have Trumpty Dumpty to blame for all our problems the fact is most of our problems are home grown and currently there is no meaningful plan to sort them out.

    Investment ? Training ? Reform ? Why bother with all that nonsense when we can blame Trump, it's too much like hard work.
    Sure, I would love to see loads of investment, faster and more effective planning reform and updating education for the 21st century. Regularly say so on here. But the current discussion is on Trump and tariffs for obvious reasons.
    Except it shouldnt be.

    Trump is going to do what he believes is best for the USA. Our government should be doing whar;s best for the UK and isnt.
    It’s just a shame he’s so economically illiterate that he thinks low paid, low value added textile and similar work is something that needs to be brought back to the USA.

    And that manufacturing is something that can be moved in weeks / months when in reality it takes years AND requires a consistent (unchanging) market to justify the investment required.

    Reality is nothing is going to change and US customers are going to be paying more so buying less.
    It's just his delusion.

    Here we have an energy minister who believes having some of the highest energy prices in the world will bring back manufacturing and help us open loads of data centres,

    Instead of worrying about Trump's mistakes we should worry about our own.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 121,460

    NEW THREAD

  • noneoftheabovenoneoftheabove Posts: 24,099
    Taz said:

    Foxy said:

    pm215 said:

    Foxy said:

    The practical consideration for those of us with equity investments is whether to sell or not.

    On the one hand sanity could be restored, but on the other hand being one of the first of the panicking sheep is generally a good move.

    If you wanted to be the first sheep you should have sold last week...
    I sold my most vulnerable equities or at least reduced my holding back in January. I am about 25% cash at present, but could do more. On the other hand my housing stocks (Bellway and Persimmon) could recover if there was anything urgent interest rate cut to compensate for the chaos.

    I still have some miners (S32, Anto, Rio) and export oriented stocks like Spirax that probably will drop further, though basically sound companies.
    If the companies are sound and, for them, nothing has changed then why sell ?

    I have kept most of my equities as they are good companies. I hold Rio as I do Glencore.

    Funds wise I closed a few positions at the end of Feb and reduced holding in S&P and US trackers.

    I did so purely because Warren Buffett was building up a big cash pile. I’m no expert at all.
    You do realise "something" has changed?
  • vikvik Posts: 196
    Nigelb said:

    Scott_xP said:

    @profsaunders.bsky.social‬

    “A top Goldman Sachs executive summed up the frustration with Mr. Trump succinctly: Someone has to stop him.”

    https://bsky.app/profile/profsaunders.bsky.social/post/3lm6l7izgik2b

    @lethalityjane.bsky.social‬

    I'm just saying I'm pretty sure if all the major bank CEOs called up the GOP party leadership and said they're starting a united superpac dedicated to never electing another Republican, we'd have a 25th amendment scenario within 24 hours.

    https://bsky.app/profile/lethalityjane.bsky.social/post/3lm6o3hhusk2t

    People consistenty underestimate Trumps political power. That threat would be easily ignored by Trump.

    Invoking the 25th is more likely to lead to perpetual Republican defeat than losing bank CEOs.
    In any event, Congress is full of numpties like this.

    Rick Scott: "When Trump left office in the beginning of '21, we had a great economy. The Biden administration and Democrats ruined it."
    https://x.com/atrupar/status/1908294696968851885
    Rick Scott is one of the MAGA true believers. There are 13 of them in the Senate, which is the number that voted for him when he ran for Senate majority leader.

    That means there are up to 87 total Senators that could potentially be willing to vote to rein in Trump's power to set tariffs.
  • eekeek Posts: 29,588

    A good move for Trump would be to do a trade deal with the UK. Obviously it won't solve the sweatshops in Cambodia issue, but it would be an outward display of things moving forward a bit. If he had some sense, Starmer could use this to our advantage and perhaps get some useful concessions.

    I don’t know what we would gain from the deal (unless he exempts is from the separate 25% car tariffs) and I dread to think what we would need to do given that Trump regards VAT as a tariff.

    So the reality is - I doubt the deal would be a sane deal for us
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