Recent Comments

1. about 17 hours ago on Bill Bramhall

   “… Tariffs have long been used to prop up homegrown industries by inducing citizens to buy goods produced domestically. Since the end of World War II, however, tariffs have largely fallen out of favor in developed economies because they often lead to reduced trade, higher prices for consumers, and retaliation from abroad.

   President Donald Trump broke with this economic orthodoxy and imposed tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars worth of imported goods from China and other countries in an effort to combat alleged unfair trade practices, reduce the U.S. trade deficit, and boost domestic manufacturing in the name of national security and U.S. economic competitiveness. President Joe Biden has left these tariffs in place, leading some experts to fear that they will become a permanent part of the U.S. trade landscape. …"

   — cfr .org/backgrounder/truth-about-tariffs

2. about 17 hours ago on Bill Bramhall

   “… The United States possessed approximately 12% of the world’s global chip manufacturing capacity as of 2021. This is a notably lower percentage of global capacity than the US enjoyed just a few decades previously (37% in 1990, for instance), before countries such as Taiwan and China ramped up their semiconductor production capabilities. Despite this decline, the semiconductor industry remains quite lucrative in the US. According to the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), semiconductors exports added $62 billion (USD) to the US economy in 2021, more than any product other than refined oil, aircraft, crude oil, and natural gas. Many of these imported chips return to the US in the form of finished consumer electronics.

   Although the US held just 12% of the world’s total semiconductor manufacturing capacity in 2021, US-based companies held approximately 46.3 percent of the total semiconductor market share. This seeming discrepancy can be explained by both the dollar value of imported US semiconductors, outlined above, and the fact that many US-based companies own and operate semiconductor fabrication plants in other countries, such as Japan. In such cases, the manufacturing capacity is added to that country’s capacity rather than the capacity of the US, but the profits typically count as part of the US economy.

   The COVID-19 pandemic caused a severe slowdown in the manufacture of semiconductors, as well as in the transport of both raw materials and finished semiconductors., triggering a worldwide shortage. In light of this complication, the US government is working to actively expand the country’s domestic semiconductor manufacturing capabilities. …" — worldpopulationreview .com/country-rankings/semiconductor-manufacturing-by-country

3. about 17 hours ago on Al Goodwyn Editorial Cartoons

   “… AUSTIN, Texas — The gap in ideology between the U.S. Supreme Court and the public has grown since 2020, with the court moving to a position that is more conservative than an estimated 75% of the American public. That is the finding from a decadelong study co-authored by a researcher at The University of Texas at Austin.

   “We show that after conservatives achieved a 6-3 majority in late 2020, the court is ideologically closer to the conservative Republican voter,” said co-author Stephen Jessee, associate professor of government. “That is to the ideological right of roughly three-quarters of all Americans.”

   The study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

   The findings show that although the Supreme Court is now more conservative than the average American, the public still views it as somewhat moderate, something that was still true as recently as 2020 but is no longer the case today. As a result, the researchers said support for proposed changes to the court’s structure (for example, an increase in the number of justices) is weaker than it might be if people knew how conservative the court has become. According to the surveys, Democrats are particularly likely to view the court as more liberal than it actually is. …" — utexas .edu/2022/06/06/supreme-court-is-more-conservative-than-public-study-shows/#:~:text=AUSTIN%2C%20Texas%20—%20The%20gap%20in,75%25%20of%20the%20American%20public.
4. about 17 hours ago on Bill Bramhall

   We have tried on several occasions to create a high-volume highly flexible semiconductor manufacturing network in the US but have not been able to attain the momentum to sustain it as a profitable industry with a workforce capable of coping with the demands. I seriously doubt it happen this time.

5. about 19 hours ago on John Deering

   I do wish, that our federal representatives were more professional and less political, [and less entertainers/narcissists] working toward collaborative, consensual, agreements as most thriving, team-oriented, successful for-profit/non-profit organizations do.

6. about 19 hours ago on Bill Bramhall

   I worry that tariffs may hurt small businesses with slim profit margins as affordable supplies they now depend on become too expensive … and native replacements are also cost-prohibitive and not available any time soon.

7. about 20 hours ago on John Deering

   It is not always what the founders were hoping for a [reflective, objective, prudent,] constitutional democratic republic’s supreme court to rule, it seems.

8. about 20 hours ago on Matt Davies

   “.. Property insurance rates increased 3%, with the highest increases in the US and reductions in Asia and in the India, Middle East, and Africa region.

   Casualty lines rates increased 3%; the same as in the prior quarter. Globally, insurers remained concerned with continuing large jury awards in US courts.

   Financial and professional lines rates decreased 7%, compared to 6% in the prior quarter as every region experienced a decrease. US exposures — such as US listed companies for directors and officers (D&O) coverage — were again a focus of insurers.

   Cyber rates continued to decline, falling 6% globally and with decreases in every region. Insurers continued to focus on cybersecurity controls, typically looking for year-over-year improvements. …" — .marsh .com/sa/en/services/international-placement-services/insights/global_insurance_market_index.html

9. about 20 hours ago on Al Goodwyn Editorial Cartoons

   With both parties being to the right of the public’s median opinions, all that remains — it seems — are uncivil ad hominem attacks. Don’t expect meaningful legislation from this rabid [dis]organization.

10. about 21 hours ago on Bill Bramhall

    5. Bahamas

    Tariff Rate (2018): 17.10%

    Trade % of GDP (2022): 80%

    The Bahamas has a GDP of $18.90 billion and trade represented 80% of the country’s GDP in 2022. The Bahamas had a tariff rate of 17.10% in 2018 and is one of the countries that has the highest tariff rates in the world.

    4. DjiboutiTariff Rate (2014): 17.60%

    Trade % of GDP (2022): 340%

    Djibouti ranks fourth among the countries with the highest tariffs. Djibouti had a tariff rate of 17.60% in 2014 and has a GDP of $7.80 billion, as of 2024.

    3. Gambia

    Tariff Rate (2020): 17.80%

    Trade % of GDP (2022): 35%

    Gambia has a GDP of $8.15 billion and the country boasted a 35% trade-to-GDP ratio in 2022. Gambia had a tariff rate of 17.80% in 2020 and ranks third among the countries with the highest tariffs.

    2. Belize

    Tariff Rate (2020): 18.70%

    Trade % of GDP (2022): 108%

    Belize is located on the eastern coast of Central America and has a GDP of $5.30 billion. With an 18.70% tariff rate in 2020, Belize ranks second among the countries with the highest tariffs.

    1. Bermuda

    Tariff Rate (2020): 24.10%

    Trade % of GDP (2022): 78%

    Bermuda has the highest tariff rate in the world, reported at around 24.10% in 2020. Bermuda’s trade accounted for 78% of its GDP in 2022. …"

    — insidermonkey .com/blog/5-countries-with-the-highest-tariffs-1276518/?singlepage=1