Understanding the US - Again

[Vayutuvan]

cuts to food stamps, housing assistance, unemployment benefits, phase out of solar/wind credits, shift to nuclear energy. Trump white house believes that record job growth will offset any tax reductions.

I don't like the "red" part. Green is a go. What is debatable is growth in jobs. What kind of jobs? Where are the manufacturing jobs?

[Amber G.]

Multiple Countries Just Issued Travel Warnings for the U.S.


This shift is highly unusual and significant, especially considering it's coming from close U.S. allies like Australia, Canada, the U.K., and New Zealand—countries that traditionally have very strong diplomatic, cultural, and travel ties with the United States.

Countries like Canada and Australia rarely issue travel advisories about the U.S. In fact, the U.S. is usually considered one of the safest and most accessible destinations for their citizens.

Travel warnings have typically gone in the opposite direction—with the U.S. advising Americans about travel to other countries, especially those with political unrest or high crime.

These warnings represent a deeply unusual break from the norm, especially from America’s closest partners. They’re not just bureaucratic advisories—they’re signals of changing perceptions about safety, fairness, and reliability in the U.S.

[KL Dubey]

Regarding the "90 deals in 90 days":

https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/do ... 02876.html

As of July 4: one actual agreement (with Vietnam). I think Indonesia is also ready to sign a trade agreement.

A couple of limited agreements on specific issues with UK and China.

The other major negotiations are either ongoing or stalled (India, Kanadda, Japan, EU, Korea, Australia). Other than Kanadda, all the others will be very limited agreements.

[Amber G.]

Happy Fourth of July to all.

Allow me to share a beautiful 4th of July anecdote from Physicist Freeman Dyson about when he finally felt at home in America.

[Vayutuvan]

Fox poll

Are you proud of the country today?

June 2024. Yes:45% No:52%
June 2025. Yes:58% No:41%

June13-26
Registered Voters +-3% points

[bala]

That is pretty high income even in CA and NYC/Tristate.

Vayu saar, siliCone valley has dual income families, with Software geeks getting 200K salary each and their gambling stock income, stock options, CDs, mutual fund capital gains/dividends will put the family income around <500K. The average home costs millions and tax rate is 1.46%, so the 40K SALT is useful. Just saying that DJT delivered the tax break for all to use in the US. The high income desi tech crowd of US is benefitting (people like thambi Pichai are excluded), which means more gold buying.

cuts to food stamps, housing assistance, unemployment benefits, phase out of solar/wind credits, shift to nuclear energy. Trump white house believes that record job growth will offset any tax reductions.

I don't like the "red" part. Green is a go. What is debatable is growth in jobs. What kind of jobs? Where are the manufacturing jobs?

Again the cut is based on fraud and abuse that is happening, normal eligible folks will be assisted. Many illegal immigrants are taking advantage of such systems and officials in Blue States like Gov Nuisance are grabbing money for their pet projects like getting illegals housing, food and other assistance.

[Vayutuvan]

Fox poll
June13-26

Yes, Are you proud of the country today?

Now - Dems: 36%; Reps: 85%; Indep.: 44%
2024 - Dems: 55%; Reps: 36%; Indep.: 42%
2011 - Dems: 73%; Reps: 67%; Indep.: 66%

Dems/Reps: +-4.5%; Indep.:+-7.5%
---------------------------------------
My comments: If the BBB effects yield positive results in the next year, GOP will win midterms else Dems will. (Wall Street) Journal Editors are predicting that within one year we will see positive results from the tax cuts. So GOP it is unless Dems can find it in themselves to get rid of the influence that the Squad, The Bern, Liz Warren, and Mamdani ilk are exerting on the (over)educated white young/middle aged urban population.

[chetak]

Fourth of July: There was Fireworks for hours across every corner and every town and city of the USA for JULY 4 independence day celebrations and it was organised mostly by authorities

Not one person shouted my Dogs are afraid of sound (US has more dogs than India) or my cat didn’t drink milk due to noise

And not a single soul spoke about air pollution

We seem to have a bit too much "freedom" in India, especially with wokes, urban naxals, and venomous commies

[drnayar]

https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/elo ... y-b368ae6a

Elon Musk Says He’s Forming ‘America Party’

The billionaire announced the new political party on social media without offering evidence he had taken steps to create it

[vera_k]

A lot of places have banned fireworks.
Because of fire risk and impact on pets.

Public fireworks display are few and far between, but on a grand scale when they are put on.

Indian reservations sell fireworks and allow you to let them off since they are not subject to US law due to treaties signed in the 1800's.

Fireworks

The sale of legal fireworks on tribal lands is quite commonplace due to the sovereign nature of these lands. Tribes that are federally recognized—such as the Muckleshoot Tribe—possess the authority to govern activities on their land without state government control, according to the Bureau of Indian Affairs. This allows the tribe to sell and detonate outside of the State of Washington’s typical restrictions regarding fireworks.

Moreover, customers patronizing the reservation’s fireworks depot can detonate their purchases in a designated lighting area a short (but safe) walk from the booths.

[Amber G.]

While fireworks are completely banned in New Delhi—even during Diwali—due to strict anti‑pollution laws, here in Ohio we’re lucky: consumer fireworks are legally allowed on holidays like Diwali, the 4th of July (July 3–5), New Year’s Eve/Day, Labor Day weekend, Memorial Day weekend, Chinese New Year, Cinco de Mayo, and Juneteenth ...