***Official Political Discussion Thread***

[Belgium]

https://www.nbcnews.com/business/travel/tourism-u-s-down-trump-took-office-costing-4-6-n840326
Tourism to U.S. under Trump is down, costing $4.6B and 40,000 jobs

Travel to the U.S. has been on the decline ever since President Donald Trump took office, and new data shows the slump translates to a cost of $4.6 billion in lost spending and 40,000 jobs.

The latest data from the National Travel and Tourism Office shows a 3.3 percent drop in travel spending and a 4 percent decline in inbound travel.

The downturn has also caused America to lose its spot as the world's second-most popular destination for foreign travel, ceding to Spain.

International tourism to the U.S. began to wane after Trump took office, leading to a so-called Trump slump. Experts say that Trump's proposed travel bans and anti-immigration language have had a negative impact on the U.S.'s attraction for foreign visitors, in addition to a weaker dollar and heightened security measures.

“It’s not a reach to say the rhetoric and policies of this administration are affecting sentiment around the world, creating antipathy toward the U.S. and affecting travel behavior,” Adam Sacks, the president of Tourism Economics, told The New York Times.

The U.S. Travel Association plans to launch a “Visit U.S.” lobbying campaign to encourage Washington to embrace the vital economic impact of foreign tourists, reports The Los Angeles Times

Hardly surprising given the indications in Gallup's recent global Trump approval polling I posted a few days ago.
http://news.gallup.com/poll/225761/world-approval-leadership-drops-new-low.aspx
Sidenote: Portugal, Belgium, Norway and Canada led the declines worldwide, with approval ratings of U.S. leadership dropping 40 points or more in each country. While majorities in each of these countries approved of U.S. leadership in 2016, majorities disapproved in 2017.

 

[sfc415]

Eastern Europe isn't a surprise, but Africa??? Come on...

 

[elpablo21]

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[gry60]

Eastern Europe isn't a surprise, but Africa??? Come on...

You'd be surprised.

Combine the appetite for strongmen (despite being unhappy under their current, youth-potion-drinking rulers), the growth of the prosperity gospel, a fervent, open anti-gay sentiment, a pretty visible disbelief in science (the "White Man's witchcraft" as some call it, and too many anti-vaxxers), and a weird penchant for self-flagellation (seen many folks on social media actually defend his ****hole comment without realizing he was insulting them), and you have a bunch of reasons why some African nations would have a better approval of the US under Trump.

I should say that Obama wasn't that popular within Africa for the same reason he wasn't popular among certain segments of the AA population: he didn't turn out to be the Santa Claus they expected.

 

[dwalk31]

Lol so the new witch hunt is that the payments to the porn star are illegal campaign contributions???



It is difficult to see how people do these investigations with a straight face.

 

[Korofi]

bunch of yall in here talking politics with no understanding. SMH

 

[RustyShackleford]

k

 

[ninjahood]

Same guy who thinks tax cuts for the rich and corporations are going to trickle down and magically create a boom of new jobs

Apple, the world’s most valuable company, said Wednesday that it will spend $350 billion on development and create 20,000 jobs in the United States in the next five years, outlining for the first time how it will invest in the U.S. economy following the new tax law passed late last year

https://washingtonpost.com/news/the...20000-jobs-to-the-u-s-within-next-five-years/

 

[RustyShackleford]

They are bringing in 350 billion in total but only creating 20K jobs.

The PR finesse is so obvious

 

[Based Jesus]

They are bringing in 350 billion in total but only creating 20K jobs.

The PR finesse is so obvious

350Bs. I wonder how much of that will be given to lower level employees.

 

[ninjahood]

Apple, already the largest US taxpayer, anticipates repatriation tax payments of approximately $38 billion as required by recent changes to the tax law. A payment of that size would likely be the largest of its kind ever made.

https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2018/01/apple-accelerates-us-investment-and-job-creation/

 

[tekthemaestro]

Apple, the world’s most valuable company, said Wednesday that it will spend $350 billion on development and create 20,000 jobs in the United States in the next five years, outlining for the first time how it will invest in the U.S. economy following the new tax law passed late last year

https://washingtonpost.com/news/the...20000-jobs-to-the-u-s-within-next-five-years/

are you SUUUUURRREEE? this the same apple that has lowkey announced theyre cancelling their latest flagship model for the first time ever, thus... sending them back to the drawing board on R&D for the next model? u sure this 350B on "development" has nothing to do with the fact that theyre about to open a second headquarters? Where did u hear this number $350 billion? cuz uh

"Apple also pledged this week to create 20,000 new jobs in the U.S. over the next five years through a $30 billion spending plan."

and also

"Combining new investments and Apple’s current pace of spending with domestic suppliers and manufacturers—an estimated $55 billion for 2018—Apple’s direct contribution to the U.S. economy will be more than $350 billion over the next five years, not including Apple’s ongoing tax payments, the tax revenues generated from employees’ wages and the sale of Apple products.”

So.... either u have a fundamental misunderstanding of your own point...or u just flat out twisted whats going on to suit your agenda. So apple will spend ~55B, not ~350B. Dont give those thieves more credit than they deserve. They're no patron saints at all. Lets go deeper

Theyre not investing in the US. Theyre bringing money that was just about illegally held overseas back into american banks because theyre getting pardoned on paying what they actually owe, thanks to Trump. AKA, Trump is giving get out of jail free cards for the big companies. Sort of like a bail out, which is what trump supporters are VEHEMENTLY against... at least when obama did it they were.

"Apple, which had long deferred paying taxes on its foreign earnings and had become synonymous with hoarding money overseas, unveiled plans on Wednesday that would bring back the vast majority of the $252 billion in cash that it held abroad and said it would make a sizable investment [[<--- new headquarters and R&D costs]] in the United States. Apple took advantage of the new tax code that President Trump signed into law last month. A provision allows for a one-time repatriation of corporate cash held abroad at a lower tax rate than what would have been paid under the previous tax plan. Apple, which has 94 percent of its total cash of $269 billion outside the United States, said it would make a one-time tax payment of $38 billion on the repatriated cash."

So what have we learned? Apple is using the money it already planned to spend on a new headquarters and R&D, and calling it an "investment in new jobs." And the money theyve been hoarding in overseas accounts will be brought back to the US cuz trump is giving them amnesty to pay an obscenely low amount compared to what they actually owed America. Its good to be in bed with the president. Isnt that right Stormy Daniels?

Sources:
http://www.newsweek.com/where-will-apple-build-its-second-headquarters-tim-cook-narrows-list-785220
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/17/technology/apple-tax-bill-repatriate-cash.html

 

[ninjahood]

are you SUUUUURRREEE?

https://www.cnbc.com/video/2018/01/...redits-most-of-350b-plan-to-repatriation.html

watch da video yourself.

tax plan been a boom thus far.

 

[ninjahood]

apple was NEVER gonna bring that cash back had that tax plan not pass.. can't count money that's not yours.

 

[milestailsprowe]

Thus far? Its been less then a month. The Success of a Tax plan is tracked over time. Don't get caught in the initial hype.

 

[boris]

Lol so the new witch hunt is that the payments to the porn star are illegal campaign contributions???



It is difficult to see how people do these investigations with a straight face.

I guess we will see.

 

[whywesteppin]

It is difficult to see how a billionaire talks about how he's afraid of sharks in front of a date he paid $130,000 for with a straight face.

Hey, at least he didn't have to take her furniture shopping.

 

[boris]

Apple, the world’s most valuable company, said Wednesday that it will spend $350 billion on development and create 20,000 jobs in the United States in the next five years, outlining for the first time how it will invest in the U.S. economy following the new tax law passed late last year

https://washingtonpost.com/news/the...20000-jobs-to-the-u-s-within-next-five-years/

The company did not say how much of its investments announced Wednesday were already planned.

Probably all of them considering Apple is a huge company and will pursue any opportunity that can bring in more money.

 

[whywesteppin]

Shortly after President Trump fired his FBI director in May, he summoned to the Oval Office the bureau’s acting director for a get-to-know-you meeting.

The two men exchanged pleasantries, but before long, Trump, according to several current and former U.S. officials, asked Andrew McCabe a pointed question: Whom did he vote for in the 2016 election?

McCabe said he didn’t vote, according to the officials, who, like others interviewed for this article, spoke on the condition of anonymity to talk candidly about a sensitive matter.

...

One person said the Trump-McCabe conversation is of interest to special counsel Robert S. Mueller III.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/worl...b50818-0073-11e8-8acf-ad2991367d9d_story.html

 

[whywesteppin]

Are they having an affair???

 

[Nike Jordan]

Travel to the U.S. has been on the decline ever since President Donald Trump took office, and new data shows the slump translates to a cost of $4.6 billion in lost spending and 40,000 jobs.

The latest data from the National Travel and Tourism Office shows a 3.3 percent drop in travel spending and a 4 percent decline in inbound travel.

The downturn has also caused America to lose its spot as the world's second-most popular destination for foreign travel, ceding to Spain.

International tourism to the U.S. began to wane after Trump took office, leading to a so-called Trump slump. Experts say that Trump's proposed travel bans and anti-immigration language have had a negative impact on the U.S.'s attraction for foreign visitors, in addition to a weaker dollar and heightened security measures.

“It’s not a reach to say the rhetoric and policies of this administration are affecting sentiment around the world, creating antipathy toward the U.S. and affecting travel behavior,” Adam Sacks, the president of Tourism Economics, told The New York Times.

The U.S. Travel Association plans to launch a “Visit U.S.” lobbying campaign to encourage Washington to embrace the vital economic impact of foreign tourists, reports The Los Angeles Times.

 

[tekthemaestro]

https://www.cnbc.com/video/2018/01/...redits-most-of-350b-plan-to-repatriation.html

watch da video yourself.

tax plan been a boom thus far.

some direct quotes

" first theres the 20,000 jobs apple announced today through direct hiring at existing campuses...... along with the new campus its going to build at a new location." - clearly bulk of new jobs will go to fill the new campus

"second, when i sat down with Tim Cook last May in Cupertino, he announced on this show that his company was creating an advanced manufacturing fund endowed with 1 billion dollars to support innovation among American manufacturers." - wait, so they want to invest "350 billion" (even though multiple times its said they only have ~250) in America, but just 7 months ago were only going to invest ONE billion into their own manufacturers? hmmmm

"......but you know what? today apple increased the amount to 5 billion." there is a 345 billion dollar gap we've yet to see covered thus far.


"Tim cook has explained on our show that when you consider direct employment by apple, 84,000 people in all 50 states, 9000 apple suppliers both big and small medium whatever, that are created by the app economy? how many people from the app economy? apple is already supporting more than 2 million jobs." - LMAOOOOOOOOOOOO hold on. so apple has 84k on staff, is taking credit for the staffs of 9k suppliers ..... AND says they support every person who makes an app for apple? word? So if I make an app, apple gave me that job? thats how we're gonna skew numbers? with this logic, walmart employs 1.4 million in the US. but when you factor in manufacturers of their buildings and stockrooms, logistics and personnel, and the staff of the manufacturers whose items are sold in walmart.... they are supporting more than 50 eleven billion people!


he then goes into a 1 minute pitch about why you should buy apple stock and get a piece of the action cuz theyre going to give 3 year vested employees 2500 in shares. (does this count as more investing? getting rid of their YEARLY bonuses in favor of a THREE year stock plan?)

do i really need to keep going? who is this fooling?

 

[IATT]

 

[IATT]

Trump say anything at all about Kentucky shooting?

 

[gry60]

First comment:

"I work for the largest renewable energy contractor in America and I just want to make sure everyone knows this.

This will not affect utility scale solar all that much for the next 2-3 years. Most utility project are designed, bid and planned a year or two in advance. Our industry is full of incredibly smart people who saw this crap coming and they've been buying up modules as much as they possibly can in anticipation of Trump doing this. We've known about this for over a year now.

This all started because Trump wanted to phase out the renewable energy tax credits in his tax bill. When lobbyists from our industry showed up in Washington even red-state congresspersons recognized it was a losing issue. They tried one last ditch effort to get rid of it back in November and we showed up again. It ultimately got left in and they will be phased out according to the initial agreement over the next 3-4 years. That is why they are coming now. It is not at all about saving American manufacturing jobs. It is about hurting the solar industry and sticking it to Trumps boogeyman China in an effort to pad coal.

The good news is that even with a 30% tariff a utility scale solar farm is cheaper to build than a coal plant. So coal still loses. In the next few months, maybe even the next month, we expect to see a TON of proposals for new projects coming in as our clients figure out their numbers. A lot of new work was temporarily in limbo because they wanted to see how bad that tariffs wold be and how they would be lowered over time. Initially they were going to make it as high as 70% which is insanity.

Trump even went as far as exempting the first, I believe, 2-2.5gw of panels that are imported each year from the tarriffs. Basically what that does is force companies who are not buying in bulk to buy domestic. Us utility scale companies are going to buy up those imports as fast as we can cause we're buying in bulk and we want the best and longest lasting modules on market. The guys who are going to get ****** are the little guys because they are forced to either pay for the widely known inferior American ones or they will have to pay 30% more which most smaller companies absolutely cannot handle--at least not without cutting employees. Either way. All this tariff does is raise the price for residential solar installers who are the small business owners that you hear so much about.

They're already projecting 23,000 jobs will be lost over the next 5 years due to this. That would still put the industry at a net gain for employees because the demand for solar does not change. Trump can keep trying to **** with renewable energy all he likes, but the numbers will never lie. It is cheaper to build a 600mw solar field or wind farm than it is to build a 600mw coal plant."