U.S. Economy and its Mess

[rareboy]

So last month again, we made 3% on investments. So far in the last 12 months the gains have been ridiculously high and every month I say the same thing.

It is unsustainable.

And where are the huge gains?

Oil, gold, silver and base metals. So we are either headed to a major war, a massive consumer spending spree or markets have moved into a pre-collapse range that will benefit those betting on the other side of the economy the most.

What do you think is ahead for the world?

And by the way.

While meanwhile:

 

[Kulindahr]

 

[KaraBulut]

So last month again, we made 3% on investments. So far in the last 12 months the gains have been ridiculously high and every month I say the same thing.

It is unsustainable.

And where are the huge gains?

Oil, gold, silver and base metals. So we are either headed to a major war, a massive consumer spending spree or markets have moved into a pre-collapse range that will benefit those betting on the other side of the economy the most.

Ask people who live in rural areas about the enormous box buildings that are going up in sparsely inhabited areas of the Southern and Southwestern US. Those are bitcoin and AI processing centers. They have huge footprints but only a handful of employees.

There is a major investment bubble going on in tech firms, particularly those in the AI sectors. It is distorting the market.

Eventually, coders graduating from IT programs will be replaced by AI. Long haul truck drivers and Lyft/Uber drivers will be replaced by self-driving cars and trucks. Tech writers, paralegals, attorneys and other white-collar jobs will be replaced by AI. And it will likely end with a financial crash in the AI sector.

It's dystopian.

 

[Norri]

There is a major investment bubble going on in tech firms, particularly those in the AI sectors.

The good news is I agree with you the bad news, at least for me, is that I thought the same thing 3 yrs ago and I wasn’t exactly right.

 

[rareboy]

When even FOX can't spin this....

 

[rareboy]

The good news is I agree with you the bad news, at least for me, is that I thought the same thing 3 yrs ago and I wasn’t exactly right.

I remember the last tech boom and bust.

And one of the reasons I remember it was because I had investments in tech funds and shares in Nortel, one of the legacy widows and orphans stocks and bonds and undisputed leader in telco and lost about 35 K when it turned out that like so many other tech companies they suddenly were all smoke and mirrors, poorly positioned to keep ahead of the new tech players.

What I see happening right now is the fattening of the golden goose right before the big money players strangle it in front of all of us in order to collapse the share prices so that they can buy up even more.

I think that the rise in base metals is in large part driven by the lust for rare earth...and a rising tide lifts the est of the ships as people hedge against the collapse of paper companies and consumer driven companies by buying precious metals.

 

[KaraBulut]

I remember the last tech boom and bust....

What I see happening right now is the fattening of the golden goose right before the big money players strangle it in front of all of us in order to collapse the share prices so that they can buy up even more.

Something that the maintream media neglected to mention: for all of the buffoonery at Windsor Castle, that State dinner where Trump gave the bumbling speech was chock full of billionaires- particularly tech billionaires.

Like Tim Cook (aka Tim Apple):

AI billionaire Sam Altman:

Jensen Huang, head of Nvidia, the chip maker:

Others included Brian Moynihan (CEO of Bank of America), Stephen Schwarzman (CEO of Blackstone), Rupert Murdoch, Vivian Hunt, (UnitedHealth executive), Demis Hassabis (CEO of Google DeepMind), Ruth Porat (President/Chief Investment Officer for Alphabet/Google), Christopher Ruddy, chief executive of Newsmax, Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft and David Sacks (White House crypto czar).

That guest list for the dinner sends a clear message.

 

[rareboy]

^ Britain is so keen to suck tech bro cock that they are making careless deals. But the pics tell the story. The real purpose of Starmer's taint kissing was to corral the richest
dealmakers in the world in order to make broader connections and strengthen the network of ties between Britain's government and the super charged money and power of the
American oligarchs.

 

[KaraBulut]

Remember when he was going to lower grocery prices?

https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/20/business/grocery-store-prices-kroger-coupons

Trump’s tariffs, deportations and climate change are making groceries more expensive

President Donald Trump pledged to bring down grocery costs. But his administration’s policies are contributing to an acceleration in prices, food economists and companies say.

Grocery prices last month rose at their fastest pace in three years, stoked by Trump’s tariffs, a crackdown on immigration, and extreme weather hurting food production. Prices jumped 0.6% in August from the month prior, according to the latest reading from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and they are up 2.7% from a year ago.

Food prices are deeply personal to consumers, and weekly grocery bills shape their overall perceptions of the economy. More than half of Americans count grocery costs as a major stress in their lives.

 

[rareboy]

^ But we don't hear the MAGAts screaming about the price of eggs everywhere these days. It really does prove that all rage now is algorithmic.

 

[rareboy]

Again...there may be some merit in a weaker US dollar...but I don't see that there is a strategy behind this.

 

[Norri]

^ But we don't hear the MAGAts screaming about the price of eggs everywhere these days. It really does prove that all rage now is algorithmic.

That’s an interesting thought and it might apply to more than rage. We love to talk about our freedoms and who may be messing with them but in a technological time if our actions have been programmed then the joke really is on us.
That’s actually hard for me to believe except that it sure does fit.

 

[rareboy]

Watch Jon Stewart's program from last Thursday. His interview with Maria Ressa is illuminating. It is posted in one of the other threads..I am unable to post because
we can't get the video in Canada due to Paramount restricting access

 

[rareboy]

Ah yes...Hamburger Helper.

Because even in a financial pinch, Americans would much rather overpay for processed food than to
make a hamburger casserole with their own macaroni and spices.

 

[rareboy]

The GQP wnat a hutdown that they can blame on the Dems.

Now Trump refuses to meet with Dem leadership to avoid a shutdown.

Trump will own this one...but will loudly blame it on the enemies of the people!!!

Obviously he didn't write this. But he is hitting all the notes of racism, xenophobia, trans bashing....have we missed anything?

Of course, the Dems could be just pointing out that the GQP can just go ahead and pass their bill since they control both chambers.

 

[Kulindahr]

 

[Kulindahr]

 

[KaraBulut]

Trump is in a trap.

The Democrats want him to reverse the Medicaid cuts in exchange for Democratic votes on the Continuing Resolution to keep the government open. They also want him to continue the additional supplemental payments for ACA plans that reduce the out-of-pocket premium payments for people who mean the poverty level requirements.

That's a lowball ask on the part of the Democrats since, in effect, they are bailing out the Republicans in the event that the Republican can't get the Freedom Caucus to vote for what the White House has proposed.

The Republicans are in this predicament because the previous Continuing Resolution required that a handful of Democrats vote for the extension just a few months ago. In both the last Continuing Resolution and this Continuing Resolution, the two sides weren't willing to renegotiate something that both parties could agree to support.

We're probably headed for a shutdown while both houses of Congress have been wasting time with performative nonsense.

 

[rareboy]

Again, I think that if the GQP have the numbers to carry the resolution it is up to them to pass it.

The Dems shouldn't have to bail them out every fucking time.

 

[Kulindahr]

That's a lowball ask on the part of the Democrats

No kidding! They should demand that ICE have to get actual evidence on people and stop invading homes or snatching people off the streets, for starters.
Hell, they could demand to defund ICE.