sdw2001

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sdw2001
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  • President Trump talked to Apple CEO Tim Cook after China tariff reduction

    I suspect that Apple is really regretting not kicking both Truth Social and Twitter off the App Store. 

    Tim got played by the right wing goons and now he’s trying to keep them from doing irreparable harm to Apple’s long term future. 

    Don’t get me wrong, I like Tim as much as I can like any Billionaire. But it wasn’t the working class who rigged the system so that the only options were a disingenuous lady who couldn’t even say genocide was bad, and a geriatric baby who can’t remember what he said last sentence let alone last week. 

    Apple could have been pushing Biden for more reforms that would have benefitted society. They could have been working with their unions. Instead Apple like everyone else kept acting like America could keep eating its own tail and it would never get to the head. 

    And honestly now it’s too late for Tim to fight back in any meaningful capacity. The only thing that will give America a chance of avoiding complete collapse in the next three years is a heart attack, stroke or some other surprise illness. Or at least something that looks like one of those. 

    America’s debt to GDP is out of control and the politicians want to slash taxes for those who need it the least so they can make… more innovative… restaurant delivery apps? 

    The politicians are acting like they can squeeze the working class more to dig themselves out of the debt crisis that they’ve been fostering for decades.

    America is being sacrificed on the alter of Reaganomics. 

    I completely disagree.  I realize it's more than fashionable here to trash Trump, the tariffs, etc.  But the reality is that our trade policy has been a nightmare for decades, particularly with China.  We had been operating in the 20th-century paradigm, both for China and the rest of world.   For the former, the theory of the case was "free" trade (which was nothing of then kind) would enable economic growth in both countries, but that China would liberalize as its prosperity grew.   In fact, China went exactly the opposite way.  China has become more closed, more authoritarian, more corrupt and more aggressive.  For the latter, our policies were stuck in the post-war mentality, when Europe was devastated and we were helping them recover.   

    What Trump is doing is resetting these relationships.  His plan should now be obvious to anyone who doesn't have--pardon me---"derangement syndrome."  That goal was to triangulate China into changing the way it does business...from tariffs, to non-tariff barriers, to theft of IP, etc.  Secondarily, the goal was to improve terms with our other trading partners or "allies."   As a supporter of the president, I have to admit that I didn't really understand the strategy of going after allies as well as foes (or frien-a-mies.).   After all, why not just target China and go the opposite way with allies?  Why not treat them in a more conciliatory way, but go hard on China?  

    However, as deals with India, the UK, Vietnam  and others took shape, it dawned on me.  Trump hit everyone hard (but China harder) and then proceeded to quickly work on deals with those friendlier nations.  He was able to largely correct (or is in process of correcting) the trade problems we've  had with our allies, and leave China--pardon me again---standing with its junk in its hand.   It explains why they are now negotiating and willing to stand down.  Their economy is getting hammered, millions are unemployed, factories are closing....and Trump is running around making trade deals with everyone but them.  

    I'll admit it's been somewhat chaotic.  Wall Street hates tariffs.   But we're already seeing the results.  Debt growth has slowed dramatically.  Inflation is nearing the 2% target.  Prices of staples (such as eggs) continue to fall.  Ditto on energy prices.  Private payrolls are showing solid growth.   Even last quarter's GDP reduction (-.3%) was misleading, as companies like Apple rushed to import goods before tariffs kicked in (this reduces GDP in the calculation).   

    You've railed against debt, tax cuts, Reagannomics, etc.   Briefly:  

    Debt:  We agree on the scope of the problem.  I would think you'd support things like DOGE, energy development, tax cuts for economic stimulation, etc.   I'd certainly think you'd realize both parties have historically been a nightmare on this issue, but that the Democrat party is currently far, far worse (just take 2021-24 alone).   

    Tax cuts:  I don't know where this notion of "squeezing the working class" and "tax cuts for the rich" comes from, other than the Democrat party propagandists and their media allies.  The Trump tax cuts benefited the lower and working classes more than the wealthy.  That is simply a fact.  Another fact is that Trump and the GOP are considering actually raising taxes on the wealthy in the planned extension (reconciliation) package.  

    Reagannomics:  I'm not sure I see the connection.  I also have my doubts that you have a full understanding of what "Reaganomics" even was/is.   You've no doubt been told (as nearly everyone has) that it was cutting taxes on the wealthy, slashing welfare and healthcare, and giving "tax breaks" to evil corporations and the mega rich.  Sound familiar?  I wonder why?  
    londorforegoneconclusionramanpfaffStrangeDaysbloggerblog12StrangerstheelectricchairrepairmanWesley_Hilliardjibwilliamlondon
  • iPhone 16 Pro users face random freezes and repeated restarts

    Well, I’d love to comment, though I’ve been waiting for my Pro Max since September 15. Estimated delivery was October 4.
    watto_cobragrandact73
  • Flagship smartphone showdown - Apple iPhone 15 Pro vs Google Pixel 9 Pro

    We’ve reached the point where the specs are close enough that they don’t matter.  You can’t have a gear to head and then say you’re evaluating it in a platform independent way. The platform is everything.  Apple’s image processing, and “ the whole is greater than the sum of its parts” approach literally affects everything one does with a smart phone.  It ends up coming down to design, preferences , and OS preference.  Personally, I use both iOS and android almost every day. Android absolutely sucks next to iOS in my opinion. So there’s no way I would even consider an android phone unless I had to.   

    As an aside, i’m not really sure for whom these articles are written. This isn’t a technology blog or consumer report site. It’s called AppleInsider. Is anyone consulting AppleInsider to see if they should buy an iPhone or a Google pixel? I really doubt it. It seems to me articles like this or nothing but revenue drivers.   
    pulseimageswatto_cobra
  • All of the iPhone 16 Pro Max measurements have been leaked

    maggot777 said:
    Why are we going backwards on weight? The light weight of the 15 Pro for me is its best feature.  
    Because it’s insignificant especially compared to the features they are prioritizing, like a bigger battery, screen, etc.  The difference  is 4 grams.  You wouldn’t feel 10 times that difference 
    napoleon_phoneapartgilly33watto_cobra
  • New Music & audio enhancements plus a mysterious 'Passthrough' feature are coming at WWDC

    I’ll tell you what, I’ll forego every single one of those features if Apple can figure out how not to have the music app automatically start playing when I connect to my car’s Bluetooth. It doesn’t even matter if I quit the app first. It’s absolutely infuriating.  
    mattinozwilliamlondon