Reich writes: "Politically, Trump's blast at Germany is stupid. Germany is now the most powerful democracy in the world, and our most powerful ally in Europe. Rather than cozy up to dictators, Trump would serve America's interests better by cozying up to our friends."
Former Clinton Labor Secretary Robert Reich. (photo: Steve Russell/Toronto Star)
Trump's Habit of Cozying Up to Dictators Only Makes America Weaker
31 May 17
his morning, Trump tweeted that the United States has a �MASSIVE trade deficit with Germany, plus they pay FAR LESS than they should on NATO & military. Very bad for U.S. This will change.�
Rubbish.
Trump is just trying to get even for the negative things Angela Merkel and the German foreign minister had to say about him over the weekend -- which were entirely justifiable. Trump�s refusal to endorse NATO�s famous Article 5, the guarantee of mutual defense, at the NATO summit, combined with his refusal to join the Paris climate accord, made his trip a catastrophe.
As to Trump's morning tweet, he's wrong both on substance and on politics. Substantively, Trump (and his obtuse trade adviser, Peter Navarro) assume Germany wants a weak euro when, in fact, Germany has been critical of the European Central Bank�s quantitative easing policy that�s helping hold down the euro.
Germany also saves a big chunk of what it earns, resulting in more money flowing out of Germany in search of investments around the world (capital outflows) into places like the United States. So the real issue is capital flows, not trade. And it�s not all bad for America.
Politically, Trump�s blast at Germany is just as stupid. Germany is now the most powerful democracy in the world, and our most powerful ally in Europe. Rather than cozy up to dictators, Trump would serve America�s interests better by cozying up to our friends.
What do you think?
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Who cares about this issue. Style in clothes always pushes some boundaries. It often represents some "statement" that someone wants to make. So Florida is going to outlaw some styles now but not others. The clothes police will be out in full force, cracking the heads of kids who wear their pants a little too low.
In the past, there have been attempts to outlaw short skirts on women. They said it was indecent or some nonsense. These prudes like Councilwoman Mary Rich just need to get laid. That would give her something else to think about. If she does not like seeing people's underwear, then don't look at it. Why is she staring at men's underwear anyway?
Thank god I will never have to go to Florida (or Mississippi).
No, just see her for what she is: a woman with too much power who can negatively affect the lives of young - yes, usually black - men.
Bu I can't help but smile at the image of Florida senior men who wear their pants practically up to their chins! (Remember the Martin Short character of many years ago?) No one is making their clothing choices illegal.
Right on.
Don't these people have bigger fish to fry, like more jobs at good wages in Ocala. Let their precious free market fix this.
Low pants are not a uniform for the average job except maybe in WalMart. That store is full of ass-cracks and very few teeth.
There are real threats to public safety that needs to be enforced no matter how stupid you might find somebody is dressed ! ! What is next excessive tattoos piercing shaven heads Mohawks and pink and orange hair or long hair or miss mated socks or T-shirts with holes being ticketed as well Maybe going after leather or wearing white after labor day . Everybody is going wear something somebody finds stupid.!
many levels
Besides, it's good for us older folks to keep up to date with the fashions in patterns for underwear fabrics. They're lots more lively than what us old guys wear in the way of golf and fishing shirts -- at least here in Orlando (but maybe things are different up north in Ocala).
How many of you went through a Hippy tie-dye disheveled-hair spell, the Beatles hair, suits winkle-pickers, or the Carnaby Street "Twiggy" look, Dreadlocks and bags, the ghastly "Disco-plastic" trend of the 80's, Afros, or further back, the drainpipe, Ducks-arse "Teddy-boy" trend of the early-rock late 50's and the "Angry young Beatnik" alternative of the same era.
Most were in "dubious" taste in their time but were in truth, statements of resistance to conformity, imposed tastes and mores of the post WW11 "square" powers, Cold War/McCarthy era fear-mongering and doomsday scenario which our leaders chose to visit on their populaces.
I suspect that these kids are giving the corrupt, often stupid and almost invariably self-serving makers of laws and dictators of lifestyle in the dominant, PC, bland Corporate/milit ary culture that squeezes the life out of everything creative, the vertical finger!
We don't HAVE to like it!
Best comment of the day...
excuse me a sec,,, "Hey Kid !!! get off my lawn"