Trumps Presidency 2025

[Tiger337]

1 hour ago, gehringer_2 said:

And his public loves him for it. I saw a children's book the other day - just an ordinary heavy cardboard cover, two sentence on a page, illustrated 1st grade kind of book about a kid being a pain at home. It was full of the 'F' word. Completely normalized as how children and their parents should talk to one another. 

We're doomed.

I don't think his Evangelist supporters would like it.  They generally don't like swear words.  It's OK when Trump uses them because it's Trump being Trump and he has to to talk tough because the whole world is against him. Plus, he is saving America and Christianity, so they are able to tolerate swear words.  I don't think they want their chidren using those words though.  

[Screwball]

35 minutes ago, 1776 said:

This is a pox on average investors. The great majority of workers that contribute to 401k plans know little to nothing about what they’re invested in. Far too many are auto enrolled because they won’t do it themselves. They’re the ones that will likely suffer the most. They’re not financially literate enough to follow their accounts and police them. 
These folks are going to get rolled. The fees will cost them bigly. They won’t know the difference. 
I am so glad we are retired. Prior to this destructive move, I have always suggested folks get their retirement account into a personal brokerage account when leaving a job. Don’t leave it with an employer. 
 

Pox doesn't come close to describing how stupid this is.

The first obvious problem is private equity has no transparency - they are private - DUH!

From Vanguard; Private Equity

[bold mine]

Quote

 

What is a private equity fund?

A private equity fund invests in companies that aren't listed on a public stock exchange. Its performance depends greatly on the quality of the firm and the fund team's skills. Private equity funds typically play an active role in the companies they invest in to create value. Private equity is characteristically illiquid and more complex than investing in public markets, but it has distinct market dynamics that may enable you to earn excess returns over the long term while increasing the diversification of your equity allocation.

 

 

Quote

 

Who's eligible to invest in private equity?

Clients must have $5 million in Vanguard assets, in addition to meeting qualified purchaser and accredited investor regulatory standards.²

 

^{Footnote 2;}

Quote

²Clients must meet the qualified purchaser and accredited investor standards under federal law, typically showing that their net worth is over $1 million or their annual income has been more than $200,000 in the last two years.

Ain't that great? Giggle. They keep finding ways to fleece us.

To your second paragraph, I couldn't agree more, but it is in conflict with the first one. They still wouldn't know how to manage it. To be honest, the ones I dealt with while employed didn't give me a bunch of choices as far as timing and choice anyway. In other words - run and hide.

The whole ****ing thing is a giant scam. 

Edited August 11 by Screwball

[Screwball]

And thinking further - think of the private equity derivatives the wizards of Wall Street can come up with. Wankin' ****in bankers.

[1776]

…and there won’t be any Social Security to fall back on in a few short years. The latest projection as to when SS hits the wall is in the fourth quarter of 2032. Think about that. 

[GalagaGuy]

I have two IRA's with Vanguard and I just don't see them doing anything stupid that would put my money at risk.  

[Screwball]

I'm not worried about that, and I'm on it. Money is fungible and we have a printing press.

There is no trust fund, and we are what (have to look) 37 with the big T trillion in debt. 

It all went to the people in the big club.

[chasfh]

“Does this look exciting and thrilling to you? Do you have something to prove? Then come join us. We’ll be your new family …” 

 

[Tigerbomb13]

Now it’s time to disappear homeless people. Gotta add another layer of cruelty here. 

[Tigerbomb13]

1 minute ago, chasfh said:

“Does this look exciting and thrilling to you? Do you have something to prove? Then come join us. We’ll be your new family …” 

 

No chance Jay-Z gave permission to use that song 

[romad1]

9 hours ago, GalagaGuy said:

I have two IRA's with Vanguard and I just don't see them doing anything stupid that would put my money at risk.  

So, Private Equity needing greater regulation was on my list of things that needed doing under a reform program.   Less and more dangerous was not. 

[1776]

9 hours ago, GalagaGuy said:

I have two IRA's with Vanguard and I just don't see them doing anything stupid that would put my money at risk.  

VG is pretty transparent. Our IRA’s are with VG as well. Like most reputable fund companies, VG lists the holdings of all their funds and the weight of each holding. 
Anytime the words “complex” and “sophisticated” are associated with an investment, AVOID!

[chasfh]

1 hour ago, Tigerbomb13 said:

No chance Jay-Z gave permission to use that song 

Then Jay-Z can sue, and the government will withdraw the video, and the song will have served its purpose.

[Tiger337]

11 hours ago, 1776 said:

…and there won’t be any Social Security to fall back on in a few short years. The latest projection as to when SS hits the wall is in the fourth quarter of 2032. Think about that. 

There may be cuts, but I doubt social security will go away.  I am trying not to count on social security for my retirement income, but realistically I expect I'll still get it, just not as much as it's currently projected.  

[romad1]

7 minutes ago, Tiger337 said:

There may be cuts, but I doubt social security will go away.  I am trying not to count on social security for my retirement income, but realistically I expect I'll still get it, just not as much as it's currently projected.  

this infuriates me.  I paid for it and I want it. 

[gehringer_2]

8 minutes ago, Tiger337 said:

There may be cuts, but I doubt social security will go away.  I am trying not to count on social security for my retirement income, but realistically I expect I'll still get it, just not as much as it's currently projected.  

"fixing" SS is pretty easy - raise contribution limits - add another 6mo to the age for the max benefit, etc. Congress just has to be able feel the edge of the precipice before they are willing to act. You only have to bridge about 10-15 yrs until most of the Boomers are dead and the system will get a lot more solvent.

[Tiger337]

1 minute ago, romad1 said:

this infuriates me.  I paid for it and I want it. 

This is why it won't get pulled entirely or even close to entirely.  

 

[romad1]

enough moving the goddamn goalposts.  Just because I'm eating better and taking a shocking amount of supplements and and getting stress under control doesn't mean my time on this mortal coil is any less risky.  The government of the people, by the people and for the people needs to stop doing what is in the best interests of the rich people. 

[gehringer_2]

10 minutes ago, Tiger337 said:

This is why it won't get pulled entirely or even close to entirely.  

 

Interestingly, it's been discussed here that the SS 'trust fund' is really just a political fiction constructed to remove the taint of 'socialism', which made the original efforts to pass a Federalized old age pensions controversial even in FDR's day. But as it turns out, it has continued to be a useful political fiction because as Romad points out - there are a hundred million voters out there who believe it's their money held in trust and any politician who doesn't want to 'give it back' is going to be in deep ****.

Edited August 11 by gehringer_2

[GalagaGuy]

So Trump just said he's going to Russia on Friday to see Putin.  😬

[mtutiger]

[CMRivdogs]

Trump “plans to turn the White House into a condominium,” names everything after himself (including Camp David, which becomes Trump Village II) and holds his inauguration in Atlantic City. 2/4

He is eager to go to the USSR to make deals with the Russians, who “really want the feeling of Trump Tower in New York.” He will “substitute the Japanese yen for the fading American dollar.” 3/4

The column appeared on Sept. 6, just after 41-year-old Trump had placed newspaper ads attacking U.S. foreign policy, starting speculation he was seeking political office. As far as I can tell Duggan’s prophecy has never drawn any notice in the online era. (He died in 2006.) 4/4

[CMRivdogs]

In truth the entire Regime’s goal is diversion. 

Edited Monday at 03:27 PM by CMRivdogs

[CMRivdogs]

If only they’d arrest the REAL criminals in DC

 

[1776]

56 minutes ago, Tiger337 said:

This is why it won't get pulled entirely or even close to entirely.  

 

Means testing has been discussed. I wouldn’t rule that out in the future. Just my opinion. 
For years there have been suggestions and/or solutions discussed, here and everywhere else. To date, nothing!

We are currently seven years out from a consensus date as to when the program will cease to be solvent. Currently the projections are 24% cuts across the board at that point. Again, the 4th quarter of 2032.
Individuals that are approaching retirement or in retirement but delaying filing, this can be frustrating. How do you plan? You don’t have any insight into what the system will be like in a few short years. It’s ridiculous. Do you file early, wait, whatever. When you file to start, you’re locked in. 

 

[1776]

1 hour ago, Tiger337 said:

There may be cuts, but I doubt social security will go away.  I am trying not to count on social security for my retirement income, …  

Smart approach.