Chinese Clothing Mega-Vendor Shein Shuts Down Its Factories

The tariffs are biting China worse than they're biting us.

We're in a tough period. Business does not like uncertainty. There are thousands of US businesses that rely on Chinese factories to make their products. These business could invest a lot of money into building US factories (or factories in Mexico or something), but they don't know when China will cave, or Trump will make a deal with them. If they invest that money in new factories -- it could be wiped out when Chinese factories are back on-line.

So for now, they're in limbo. They don't know what to do. They can't invest until they know what the future rules will be.

That doesn't mean I object to Trump's tariffs. Trump is attempting to undo 40 years of the US moving almost all of its manufacturing to a hostile foreign communist regime that every once in a while looses a pandemic on the world.

There are going to be dislocations. There is almost certainly going to be a recession. If China goes into a recession, the world will do the same soon after.

I think it's a fight that must be fought... but boy oh boy am I hoping that China comes to the bargaining table sooner rather than later.

Xi will lose his job if China is plunged into a deep recession with huge unemployment.

But... how long will that take?

Let's hope this is enough to get Xi to move.

Factories supplying Chinese fast-fashion giant Shein have ground to a halt in southern China, as President Donald Trump's new tariffs and closure of the "de minimis" loophole upend Beijing's retail export model. With the tariff policy set to take effect on May 2, dozens of garment workshops in Guangzhou's Panyu district -- dubbed "Shein Village" -- have gone idle, marking a major shift in the global fast-fashion supply chain.

The "de minimis" loophole exempted products whose individual-sale cost was under a certain level from any tariffs, even if the factory making those products was exporting billions of dollars worth of them to America.

Trump ended that exemption. That really bites into China, which exports trillions of dollars of crap into the US but a lot of it is cheap on a by-unit basis.

Key Details:
President Trump's removal of the "de minimis" tax exemption will now subject all foreign shipments -- regardless of value -- to import duties.
Chinese garment factories supplying Shein and similar online retailers have shut down operations or shifted sales strategies.
Shein is urging suppliers to move operations to Vietnam, while others unable to adapt have closed entirely.
Diving Deeper:
The Trump administration's decisive end to the de minimis loophole -- which allowed online retailers to ship duty-free goods to the U.S. if orders were under $800 -- has sent shockwaves through China's fast-fashion manufacturing sector. In what many industry insiders view as a long-overdue correction to America's lopsided trade relationship with Beijing, President Trump's policy imposes a new layer of economic accountability on China's retail exporters.

...
Chinese manufacturers had heavily relied on the now-defunct loophole, which provided a price edge over U.S.-based retailers by circumventing import duties. "Orders from Shein have fallen this year, and our sales are down by a lot," said one worker at a local facility. The downturn has forced some business owners to pivot to social media-based direct sales or to explore other Asian markets with lower shipping costs and fewer trade restrictions.

In some positive tariff war news: Swiss drug manufacturer Roche is investing $50 billion in US manufacturing to avoid tariffs.

Roche announced Tuesday it will pour $50 billion into the U.S. over the next five years, creating more than 12,000 jobs and expanding domestic manufacturing. The move comes as President Donald Trump moves to revoke tariff exemptions for foreign pharmaceutical products.
Key Details:
The $50 billion commitment will support new research and development facilities and manufacturing expansions across Indiana, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and California.
Roche said the investment will create over 12,000 jobs--including 1,000 new positions at the company--and result in more pharmaceutical exports from the U.S. than imports.
A new 900,000-square-foot facility will help produce next-generation weight loss drugs, while a Massachusetts-based R&D hub will focus on AI and chronic disease research.

From Real Clear Energy: Japan can negotiate its way out of tariffs by agreeing to buy more energy from the US, instead of China.

The global economy has been jolted by a new round of Trump tariffs. The U.S. has proposed a flat 10% import tariff, along with an additional "reciprocal tariff" pegged to bilateral trade imbalances. For Japan, this would result in an effective cumulative tariff of 34%. While implementation of the reciprocal tariff has been delayed for 90 days, the underlying tensions remain unresolved.
Japan now finds itself in a critical window of negotiation. Washington may push Tokyo to increase agricultural imports or influence currency policy to strengthen the yen. But a more strategic and mutually beneficial path lies in the energy sector--a domain where U.S. and Japanese interests align naturally.
Rather than viewing these tariffs as a threat, Japan should treat them as a wake-up call to reassess its energy and industrial policy. The country's current "Green Transformation" (GX) initiative aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, heavily investing in solar and wind energy, as well as electric vehicles.
However, these sectors are overwhelmingly dominated by China. Over 90% of the world's solar panels and more than half of its wind turbines are produced there. In effect, Japan's green energy push is subsidizing Chinese industry--while reducing demand for fossil fuels, much of which could be supplied by the United States.
Redirecting energy imports toward American oil and gas would simultaneously enhance Japan's energy security and improve the U.S. trade balance--directly addressing one of the Trump administration's key concerns. Given Washington's ongoing economic decoupling from China, a Japanese pivot away from China-centered green energy technologies would be welcomed.

Not only does Trump risk a recession-- again, I think this fight must be had, but we're on the edge of a recession -- but also, that recession will disproportionately affect business owners... also known as "Republican leaners." That's politically dangerous.

So I hope that Trump can execute the Michael Scott Negotiating Gambit against Xi quickly.

Posted by: Ace at 05:45 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 First!

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 22, 2025 05:46 PM (ZOv7s)

2 nd

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 22, 2025 05:46 PM (ZOv7s)

3 Now to read the content.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 22, 2025 05:46 PM (ZOv7s)

4 Heartbreaking.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at April 22, 2025 05:46 PM (ExV1e)

5 Unlike some people... I alerted the previous thread.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at April 22, 2025 05:47 PM (ExV1e)

6 Anyone here “ suffering” from the tariffs???

Posted by: tubal at April 22, 2025 05:48 PM (PCK5/)

7 Coming cheap $hit shortage.

Posted by: Boss Moss Sub Mariner at April 22, 2025 05:49 PM (MySZH)

8 We're in a tough period. Business does not like uncertainty.

*whistles nonchalantly*

Posted by: $37 trillion dollars of debt at April 22, 2025 05:49 PM (Vqx30)

9 Almost the entire economy of china is dependent on selling cheap a$$ crap to the US and the rest of the world. If that is threatened it all comes tumbling down. Hopefully this is the first domino to fall.

Posted by: Mister Scott (Formerly GWS) at April 22, 2025 05:50 PM (e5NfL)

10 I never read the continent before I post.

Because I'm in-continent.

Posted by: Chairborne!...Desk From Above! at April 22, 2025 05:50 PM (W6d+C)

11 Harbor Freight hardest hit…

Posted by: tubal at April 22, 2025 05:50 PM (PCK5/)

12 I am wortied about cape pods becoming inaccessible.

Posted by: Boss Moss Sub Mariner at April 22, 2025 05:50 PM (MySZH)

13 But... how long will that take?

Given that the rest of the world appears to be rebuffing their efforts to form an economic alliance against the US... I assume not that long.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at April 22, 2025 05:50 PM (ExV1e)

14 China is central planning and stupid. They should never have tried to get into a contest with us.

Posted by: runner at April 22, 2025 05:50 PM (g47mK)

15 Vape Pods that is

Posted by: Boss Moss Sub Mariner at April 22, 2025 05:50 PM (MySZH)

16 >>> 6 Anyone here “ suffering” from the tariffs???
Posted by: tubal at April 22, 2025 05:48 PM (PCK5/)

Has XiNN stopped whining about the price of eggs?

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at April 22, 2025 05:51 PM (Vqx30)

17 China has been signaling that they are willing to lose a hundred million people to save face.

Posted by: toby928 at April 22, 2025 05:51 PM (jc0TO)

18 >>>I think it's a fight that must be fought... but boy oh boy am I hoping that China comes to the bargaining table sooner rather than later.

Why's that? Why don't we break China's back here?

They have been raking us over the coals for decades, and being sanctimonious assholes about it the entire time.

And that should allay the fears of the neo-cons at the 'hq who see war with China on the horizon. No war if the US and Europe stop importing cheap Chinese shit and China goes broke in a spectacular fashion.

Yes, there will be short term pain, and yes likely most of the manufacturing won't immediately come back to the US without massive tariffs on other countries, but why pussyfoot around this one?

Posted by: Harry Paratestes at April 22, 2025 05:51 PM (uCjyK)

19 I had a Shein account. Back when the ex was around.

Lots of very inexpensive "clothing." The stuff that was not meant to be daywear, if you know what I mean.

I still have some of it.

Posted by: BurtTC at April 22, 2025 05:51 PM (dGCAG)

20 15 Vape Pods that is
Posted by: Boss Moss Sub Mariner at April 22, 2025 05:50 PM (MySZH)

Thought you were going for Cape Cods… I was nonplussed…

Posted by: tubal at April 22, 2025 05:51 PM (PCK5/)

21 Now that India and Vietnam raised tariffs on steel...China's gonna hurt even more. And where will they dump steel ? Russia?? Russia has its own steel.

Posted by: runner at April 22, 2025 05:52 PM (g47mK)

22 China has all the card

A pair of twos, a Jack, a seven of hearts and a six of spades.

What is the bid?

Posted by: Kindltot at April 22, 2025 05:52 PM (D7oie)

23 I actually think that Trump has gamed out a way to keep the US from being damaged too badly by any troubles his tariffs cause. It might just be wishful thinking but I honestly am pretty sure that he's got stuff in motion and already in place that is getting things rolling in country. We've already seen very good economic numbers so far.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at April 22, 2025 05:52 PM (2VST1)

24 >>> 19 I had a Shein account. Back when the ex was around.

Lots of very inexpensive "clothing." The stuff that was not meant to be daywear, if you know what I mean.

I still have some of it.
Posted by: BurtTC at April 22, 2025 05:51 PM (dGCAG)

Evening vear? Very nice? Did come with flashlight, da?

Posted by: Soviet Advertising Guy at April 22, 2025 05:52 PM (Vqx30)

25 Ace, tariffs are a tax on you, not China. Your problem is with the US government and it's ridiculous tax and spending problem not with Chinese tshirts.

Posted by: Earl Schlobodowicz at April 22, 2025 05:52 PM (P7Iz+)

26 Tim Pool was in the "special media" seat at the White House Briefing room today, and had a question

https://tinyurl.com/55ycjm2b

Posted by: Kindltot at April 22, 2025 05:53 PM (D7oie)

27 Chinese steel is only about 22% cheaper.That is about the size of the subsidy. Free power.

Posted by: Boss Moss Sub Mariner at April 22, 2025 05:53 PM (MySZH)

28 >>>but also, that recession will disproportionately affect business owners... also known as "Republican leaners."

Also, I'm sure these patriotic Americans are willing to suffer a bit to support their fellow Americans and bringing jobs back to the US, right?

They're ideological voters who just vote for what is in their hearts, and now based on which party gives them the most shit, right?

Posted by: Harry Paratestes at April 22, 2025 05:53 PM (uCjyK)

29 Why's that? Why don't we break China's back here?

They have been raking us over the coals for decades, and being sanctimonious assholes about it the entire time.
--
+1

Posted by: Methos at April 22, 2025 05:53 PM (Dnobf)

30 Your problem is with the US government and it's ridiculous tax and spending problem not with Chinese tshirts.
Posted by: Earl Schlobodowicz at April 22, 2025 05:52 PM

I got a problem with both.

Posted by: toby928 at April 22, 2025 05:54 PM (jc0TO)

31 Everyone knew there would be consequences. All of this had been telegraphed for literally years once manufacturing was brought back here. Or attempted to.

Deal with it.

Or don't.

Our resiliency is significantly stronger than anyplace else.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at April 22, 2025 05:54 PM (Q4IgG)

32 25 Ace, tariffs are a tax on you, not China. Your problem is with the US government and it's ridiculous tax and spending problem not with Chinese tshirts.
Posted by: Earl Schlobodowicz at April 22, 2025 05:52 PM (P7Iz+)

Is that so? What are taxes on income? Or taxes on corporations? Or taxes on property? Or taxes on gasoline? Or...

Posted by: Harry Paratestes at April 22, 2025 05:54 PM (uCjyK)

33 Unlike some people... I alerted the previous thread.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic

I have (at least) seven sibs - we learned early on, the weak are left behind.

Posted by: Tonypete at April 22, 2025 05:54 PM (vKNmo)

34 I used to have a different nic, Thank you for your selfless giving to alert that there is a new thread.

Posted by: Ben Had at April 22, 2025 05:54 PM (yp8Vj)

35 Boss Moss Sub Mariner

Is there a story behind this nic?

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at April 22, 2025 05:54 PM (ExV1e)

36 Many voters would sell out for a Five Guys burger and a twelve pack…

Posted by: tubal at April 22, 2025 05:54 PM (PCK5/)

37 Xi will lose his job if China is plunged into a deep recession with huge unemployment.
-----------
That's what should happen. It would certainly happen here, in America.

But China's history is different. In times of stress, the CCP has always ramped up their tyranny. Millions may be impoverished, or even starve, but the CCP will survive and if Xi is brutal enough, he too will survive.

Trump thinks this time will be different in China, and that now the people have had a taste of western prosperity, they won't stand for brutality, and Xi will make a deal. I think Trump is right.

Posted by: Huck Follywood at April 22, 2025 05:54 PM (2jkJ9)

38 That's a real shame!

Posted by: Elrond Hubbard at April 22, 2025 05:55 PM (VJc7E)

39 I don't really give a rip.

We have been getting the royal screwjob from the Chicoms for as long as I've been alive and it's long past time that we confront that shitty nation full of thieving assholes for what it is and divorce ourselves from their slave labor economy.

I don't care for even a hot second that the Cheap Shit Train is going to end. Those that live and die with their latest "haul" of shit they got from Shein for $50 that was produced by Uighur slaves for $0.50 can go suck an array of dicks for all I care.

I'm also tired of hearing how "The Markets" don't like uncertainly. I don't give a flying fuck at a rolling donut if the CEO of BlackRock or Vanguard makes or loses another few billion dollars. Fuck 'em. The American economy should not have as one of its priorities to "Keep the gravy train flowing for the institutional investors and hedge fund managers."

Posted by: ballistic at April 22, 2025 05:55 PM (6R2Yy)

40 Anyone here “ suffering” from the tariffs???
Posted by: tubal at April 22, 2025 05:48 PM (PCK5/)

I suppose if one says the stock market dumps have been tied to the tariffs, then yeah, plenty of people are.

I refuse to open my portfolio. I don't want to know.

Posted by: BurtTC at April 22, 2025 05:55 PM (dGCAG)

41 I don't see a recession coming.

Posted by: Dr Spank at April 22, 2025 05:55 PM (4e+hS)

42 To wait out the tariffs, I'm trying to make my underwear and socks last longer. Standards may be lowered in the interest of economy.

Posted by: fd at April 22, 2025 05:55 PM (vFG9F)

43 I boycotted Panda Express to show my displeasure with Chinese trade practices. And then I found out that everyone that works there is Mexican.

Posted by: Chairborne!...Desk From Above! at April 22, 2025 05:55 PM (W6d+C)

44 Ace, tariffs are a tax on you, not China. Your problem is with the US government and it's ridiculous tax and spending problem not with Chinese tshirts.
Posted by: Earl Schlobodowicz at April 22, 2025 05:52 PM (P7Iz+)

They're only a tax on us if we continue to buy stuff from China.

We should stop doing that.

Posted by: Methos at April 22, 2025 05:55 PM (Dnobf)

45 China has been signaling that they are willing to lose a hundred million people to save face.

Posted by: toby928 at April 22, 2025 05:51 PM

They lost more than that to covid. They really can't afford the huge population losses they used to be able to absorb thanks to the decades of one child rules.

The less people they have, the less of a base for cheap labor to run the factories to produce cheap garbage to ship to the US.

china is on the same track just like europe when the plague ended the feudal period due to steep population decline.

Posted by: Mister Scott (Formerly GWS) at April 22, 2025 05:55 PM (e5NfL)

46 40 Anyone here “ suffering” from the tariffs???
Posted by: tubal at April 22, 2025 05:48 PM (PCK5/)

I suppose if one says the stock market dumps have been tied to the tariffs, then yeah, plenty of people are.

I refuse to open my portfolio. I don't want to know.
Posted by: BurtTC at April 22, 2025 05:55 PM (dGCAG)

Don’t sell, sit tight.

Posted by: tubal at April 22, 2025 05:56 PM (PCK5/)

47 Many voters would sell out for a Five Guys burger and a twelve pack…

----------
Sounds like a great Friday night...

Posted by: Crusader at April 22, 2025 05:56 PM (TN0g+)

48 Lots of very inexpensive "clothing." The stuff that was not meant to be daywear, if you know what I mean.

Posted by: BurtTC

I'm reminded of a dear 'friend' that wore a pair of crotchless panties as a top (only). Wow, was she fun.

Posted by: Tonypete at April 22, 2025 05:56 PM (vKNmo)

49 I'm also tired of hearing how "The Markets" don't like uncertainly. I don't give a flying fuck at a rolling donut if the CEO of BlackRock or Vanguard makes or loses another few billion dollars. Fuck 'em. The American economy should not have as one of its priorities to "Keep the gravy train flowing for the institutional investors and hedge fund managers."
Posted by: ballistic at April 22, 2025 05:55 PM (6R2Yy)

Tell us how you really feel!

Posted by: Harry Paratestes at April 22, 2025 05:56 PM (uCjyK)

50 >>> 39 I don't really give a rip.

We have been getting the royal screwjob from the Chicoms for as long as I've been alive and it's long past time that we confront that shitty nation full of thieving assholes for what it is and divorce ourselves from their slave labor economy.

I don't care for even a hot second that the Cheap Shit Train is going to end. Those that live and die with their latest "haul" of shit they got from Shein for $50 that was produced by Uighur slaves for $0.50 can go suck an array of dicks for all I care.

I'm also tired of hearing how "The Markets" don't like uncertainly. I don't give a flying fuck at a rolling donut if the CEO of BlackRock or Vanguard makes or loses another few billion dollars. Fuck 'em. The American economy should not have as one of its priorities to "Keep the gravy train flowing for the institutional investors and hedge fund managers."
Posted by: ballistic at April 22, 2025 05:55 PM (6R2Yy)

How may I subscribe to your newsletter?

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at April 22, 2025 05:56 PM (Vqx30)

51 Shein bribes thousands of TikTok influencers with free shit to make promo ad videos of their products. All the influencers doit enthuiastically, and all the girls obey their favorite influencers and buy the shit.

The funny part? Nobody--even the influencers making the ads--knows how to pronounce "Shein." Everybody pronounces it differently, from "Shee-Inn" to "Shayne" to "Shine" to "Sheen" to "Shy-In" and more. Sometimes multiple pronunciations in the same TikTok ad. Quite comical.

Posted by: zombie at April 22, 2025 05:56 PM (pMi6S)

52 35 My family used to go to Disney World when I was a kid. We rode 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea many times. That makes ne a sub mariner.

Posted by: Boss Moss Sub Mariner at April 22, 2025 05:56 PM (MySZH)

53 If China goes into a recession, the world will do the same soon after.

==

China has been in a recession. plus there is a collapse of the property sector. Chinese are not spending.

Posted by: runner at April 22, 2025 05:56 PM (g47mK)

54 Ever since most of average cost clothing manufacturing moved to China, my clothes are falling apart.
I’m talking J Crew and Banana Republic quality, not Shein or Temu.
Everything gets hole-y: pants as well as sweaters!
It’s like they inject some kind of cancer into the fabric. This hasn’t happened with higher end product, but the middle of the road tier is just crap.
Thank God I have clothes in good condition from pre-2010.

Posted by: kallisto at April 22, 2025 05:57 PM (q6XPQ)

55 Evening vear? Very nice? Did come with flashlight, da?
Posted by: Soviet Advertising Guy at April 22, 2025 05:52 PM (Vqx30)

Did you mean fleshlight?

Posted by: BurtTC at April 22, 2025 05:57 PM (dGCAG)

56 53 If China goes into a recession, the world will do the same soon after.

==

China has been in a recession. plus there is a collapse of the property sector. Chinese are not spending.
Posted by: runner at April 22, 2025 05:56 PM (g47mK)

Good point.

Posted by: tubal at April 22, 2025 05:57 PM (PCK5/)

57 "Chinese Clothing Mega-Vendor Shein Shuts Down Its Factories"

And the nation of Zambia wept.

Posted by: zombie at April 22, 2025 05:57 PM (pMi6S)

58 China's finances are absurdly gamed and fake, they are seriously a house of cards so it ought not take a lot to push them over the edge. I think that's why China keeps yelling and screaming and announcing 150% tariffs and crap like that: they know they are vulnerable. The entire system is rotten through with corruption and cheating. Their entire culture is about success through any means, no concern for your fellow man, no care about human life, and no moral code to limit behavior.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at April 22, 2025 05:57 PM (2VST1)

59 Ok I called China Dirty Commie Yellow Bastards before I knew there was a new post. So I get to say it again. Those asshoe are Dirty Commie Yellow Bastards.

Posted by: Field Marshal Zhukov at April 22, 2025 05:58 PM (wBaIH)

60 I suppose if one says the stock market dumps have been tied to the tariffs, then yeah, plenty of people are.

I refuse to open my portfolio. I don't want to know.
Posted by: BurtTC

Had my quarterly meeting with my advisor today - we shifted some assets to a higher % of stocks. Many are on sale.

Posted by: Tonypete at April 22, 2025 05:58 PM (vKNmo)

61 Many voters would sell out for a Five Guys burger and a twelve pack…
Posted by: tubal at April 22, 2025 05:54 P

Throw in one of those big sacks of french fries and we can talk.

Posted by: toby928 at April 22, 2025 05:58 PM (jc0TO)

62 I used to have a different nic, Thank you for your selfless giving to alert that there is a new thread.
Posted by: Ben Had at April 22, 2025 05:54 PM (yp8Vj)

I live to serve.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at April 22, 2025 05:58 PM (ExV1e)

63 Evening vear? Very nice? Did come with flashlight, da?
Posted by: Soviet Advertising Guy at April 22, 2025 05:52 PM (Vqx30)

Did you mean fleshlight?
Posted by: BurtTC at April 22, 2025 05:57 PM (dGCAG)

Parts is parts.

Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at April 22, 2025 05:58 PM (VNX3d)

64 In January I ordered a pair of hand made shoes.
According to the shipper they came out of Hong Kong.
3 Full months later they arrived and were exactly as you would expect. While tracking the package they made 21 stops before they made it to the USA.

Posted by: Elrond Hubbard at April 22, 2025 05:58 PM (VJc7E)

65 Tim Pool was in the "special media" seat at the White House Briefing room today, and had a question

https://tinyurl.com/55ycjm2b
Posted by: Kindltot at April 22, 2025 05:53 PM (D7oie)
=================
Love that.

Posted by: Huck Follywood at April 22, 2025 05:58 PM (2jkJ9)

66 Will no one think of Harbor Freight?

Posted by: Karen Sixpack at April 22, 2025 05:58 PM (nW302)

67 I often wonder this about being opining on China: have you ever gone to China? Or even watched a youtube video of a travel blogger wandering through China?

The people there are almost all poor as shit.

The only exceptions are the people well connected with the CCP, who are allowed to (sort of) own businesses and property.

But it is still a communist country. You can lease property from the govt for 99 years to build a hotel on it (if you're connected to the right people), but you never own that land. The government does.

Even in Beijing, Soviet-style apartment blocs are the norm. With communal bathrooms and all of that.

Posted by: Harry Paratestes at April 22, 2025 05:59 PM (uCjyK)

68 Well, now is their opportunity to stimulate the economy! all the crap they sent abroad they can sell at home!

Posted by: runner at April 22, 2025 05:59 PM (g47mK)

69 Anyone here “ suffering” from the tariffs???

Most of us are not, but some manufacturers and contractors are feeling the pain. Most of the stuff just folks like us buy aren't much affected, but specialty items, tech, etc are.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at April 22, 2025 05:59 PM (2VST1)

70 Harbor Freihht. Cheap tools?

Posted by: Boss Moss Sub Mariner at April 22, 2025 05:59 PM (MySZH)

71
China wages will go down, but who will they pay them to? What do they make in a beautiful state-of-the-art manufacturing building? Who lives in the empty city?

But, assassination vans, an unarmed populace and no real way to get rid of Xi, who seems to think Mao had all the answers.

Posted by: Auspex at April 22, 2025 05:59 PM (j4U/Z)

72 66 Will no one think of Harbor Freight?
Posted by: Karen Sixpack at April 22, 2025 05:58 PM (nW302)

Like I said… hardest hit.. oh, and WalMart..

Posted by: tubal at April 22, 2025 05:59 PM (PCK5/)

73 Don’t sell, sit tight.
Posted by: tubal at April 22, 2025 05:56 PM (PCK5/)

Well yeah. This is going to be my non-literal sailboat.

I'm a long way from the ocean.

Posted by: BurtTC at April 22, 2025 05:59 PM (dGCAG)

74 Can Xi lose his job? Is that how China even works?

Posted by: ... at April 22, 2025 06:00 PM (E0p3T)

75 No one that's informed thinks this is going to be a day at the beach. But we absolutely have to do it to survive as a nation (whatever that will turn out to be).

Posted by: Dr Pork Chops & Bacons at April 22, 2025 06:00 PM (g8Ew8)

76 I don't care for even a hot second that the Cheap Shit Train is going to end.

I, for one, would like to see the return of the Quality Shit Train where your shit didn't have to be replaced every 3 months.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at April 22, 2025 06:00 PM (ExV1e)

77 I have wondered if there’s an actual insect in the fiber that eats away at the weave.
I’ve been washing every wearable item as soon as I bring it home from the store, for a LONG time.
The pre-wearing wash doesn’t seem to be getting rid of these munchy bugs. Maybew I should microwave the clothes after I wash them, or UV wand them.

Posted by: kallisto at April 22, 2025 06:00 PM (30WXY)

78 I recall the arguments - many from conservatives - regarding the advantages of free trade with China in that we'd be getting things so much cheaper. What they left out was that even though the goods would be cheaper, it was all relative since all the good paying jobs, with their higher salaries, would also be gone. Meaning that in relative terms all those cheaper goods were still going to cost a lot since you'd be getting less pay in your new 'retail industry' job. I seem to recall Pat Buchanan warning about this more than 30 years ago.

He was right.

Posted by: Chairborne!...Desk From Above! at April 22, 2025 06:00 PM (W6d+C)

79 I had a real easy proof that the Earth is round in the last thread, but I got willowed.

Posted by: NemoMeImpuneLacessit at April 22, 2025 06:00 PM (g/Chl)

80 I refuse to open my portfolio. I don't want to know.
Posted by: BurtTC at April 22, 2025 05:55 PM (dGCAG)

I sold some paper gold and bought Bitcoin ETF.

Posted by: Kindltot at April 22, 2025 06:00 PM (D7oie)

81 54 Ever since most of average cost clothing manufacturing moved to China, my clothes are falling apart.
I’m talking J Crew and Banana Republic quality, not Shein or Temu.
Everything gets hole-y: pants as well as sweaters!
It’s like they inject some kind of cancer into the fabric. This hasn’t happened with higher end product, but the middle of the road tier is just crap.
Thank God I have clothes in good condition from pre-2010.
Posted by: kallisto

Shein garbage-clothes are designed to last maybe 18 months at most, before disintegrating.

A pair of Levi's denim jeans from the 1850s is still is perfect condition 170 years later, after being washed 1,500 times and used to dig out 2/3rds of the Comstock lLode by hand.

Posted by: zombie at April 22, 2025 06:00 PM (pMi6S)

82 dozens of garment workshops in Guangzhou's Panyu district -- dubbed "Shein Village" -- have gone idle
Posted by: Ace

I had a Shein account. Back when the ex was around.
Lots of very inexpensive "clothing." The stuff that was not meant to be daywear, if you know what I mean.
Posted by: BurtTC

So, "Panyu district" was a typo for "Panty district?"

Posted by: mikeski at April 22, 2025 06:00 PM (DgGvY)

83 I'm reminded of a dear 'friend' that wore a pair of crotchless panties as a top (only). Wow, was she fun.
Posted by: Tonypete at April 22, 2025 05:56 PM (vKNmo)

Yeah...

Yeah. Le sigh.

Posted by: BurtTC at April 22, 2025 06:01 PM (dGCAG)

84 Speaking of economics, didja see this? The Donks say we were forced to dye Easter potatoes because the price of eggs is so high.

Democrats@TheDemocrats
Trump’s White House is using 30,000 real eggs worth over $15,500 for their Easter Egg Roll.
Meanwhile, Americans dyed potatoes instead of eggs this Easter to save money.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Soldier of the Persistence at April 22, 2025 06:01 PM (L/fGl)

85 Ace, tariffs are a tax on you, not China. Your problem is with the US government and it's ridiculous tax and spending problem not with Chinese tshirts.
Posted by: Earl Schlobodowicz at April 22, 2025 05:52 PM (P7Iz+)

I don't buy steel from China.

Posted by: Oldcat at April 22, 2025 06:01 PM (n7h9X)

86 Can Xi lose his job? Is that how China even works?
Posted by: ... at April 22, 2025 06:00 PM (E0p3T)

Publicly, yes. He won't be seen again until his death is reported a few months later.

Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at April 22, 2025 06:01 PM (VNX3d)

87 Walmart is nearshoring, south of the border.

Posted by: Boss Moss Sub Mariner at April 22, 2025 06:01 PM (MySZH)

88 China has been in a recession. plus there is a collapse of the property sector. Chinese are not spending.
Posted by: runner at April 22, 2025 05:56 PM (g47mK)
================
The Chinese haven't ever been big spenders; their economy depends almost entirely on exports for prosperity. And, as Trump keeps reminding people, we are their biggest customer.

Posted by: Huck Follywood at April 22, 2025 06:01 PM (2jkJ9)

89 54 Ever since most of average cost clothing manufacturing moved to China, my clothes are falling apart.
I’m talking J Crew and Banana Republic quality, not Shein or Temu.
Everything gets hole-y: pants as well as sweaters!
It’s like they inject some kind of cancer into the fabric. This hasn’t happened with higher end product, but the middle of the road tier is just crap.
Thank God I have clothes in good condition from pre-2010.
Posted by: kallisto at April 22, 2025 05:57 PM (q6XPQ)
20 year old Wranglers made in America, baby.

Posted by: Eromero at April 22, 2025 06:01 PM (LHPAg)

90 ***Not only does Trump risk a recession-- again
---

Powell is a bottleneck. Cut those rates and Cos will be more eager to invest. It will ease up pressure on the street too.
Employment's up, prices are down, the risk of inflation is nill.
Powell is doing this to hurt Trump but in turn he's hurting the nation.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at April 22, 2025 06:02 PM (CL4hu)

91 Anyone here “ suffering” from the tariffs???

Posted by: tubal

I had saved up $ to buy a 40w hobby laser for $899. It's $2k now,

I ain't paying a dime over $899. I waited three years to save up for it, i'll wait three more for it to either cost the same (or less) or have a made in the USA lable on it.

Fuck Chyna. And fuck the Mitt Romney MBA cocksuckers that sold us out piecemeal while we're at it.

Posted by: BifBewalski at April 22, 2025 06:02 PM (MsrgL)

92 I haven't spent enough time reading either sides claims to really have a strong opinion.
Posted by: Harry Paratestes at April 22, 2025 05:18 PM (uCjyK)

Read about it? You should have been there. Then you'd have a string opinion.

Posted by: Al Crapton at April 22, 2025 06:02 PM (TIizU)

93 Speaking of economics, didja see this? The Donks say we were forced to dye Easter potatoes because the price of eggs is so high.

Democrats@TheDemocrats
Trump’s White House is using 30,000 real eggs worth over $15,500 for their Easter Egg Roll.
Meanwhile, Americans dyed potatoes instead of eggs this Easter to save money.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Soldier of the Persistence at April 22, 2025 06:01 PM (L/fGl)

Things that didn't happen for 500 Alex. Plus raising the price of Eggs was Bidens' crime.

Posted by: Oldcat at April 22, 2025 06:02 PM (n7h9X)

94 A pair of Levi's denim jeans from the 1850s is still is perfect condition 170 years later, after being washed 1,500 times and used to dig out 2/3rds of the Comstock lLode by hand.
Posted by: zombie at April 22, 2025 06:00 PM

They have the Essential Rivet.

Posted by: toby928 at April 22, 2025 06:02 PM (jc0TO)

95 I, for one, would like to see the return of the Quality Shit Train where your shit didn't have to be replaced every 3 months

Literally everyone over the age of 30 talks about how stuff used to last longer and constantly we see pics and videos of how old stuff still works and was better. We all know the reason why, but don't want to discuss it, like that cousin that likes the booze a bit too much.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at April 22, 2025 06:02 PM (2VST1)

96 But China's history is different. In times of stress, the CCP has always ramped up their tyranny. Millions may be impoverished, or even starve, but the CCP will survive and if Xi is brutal enough, he too will survive.

Posted by: Huck Follywood at April 22, 2025 05:54 PM (2jkJ9)
---
Yes, the Chinese are much more likely to rebel and overthrow a regime that can't supply the goodies.

That is the only way they have ever changed governments. I see zero reason why the CCP should be thought of as different from any other dynasty.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 22, 2025 06:02 PM (ZOv7s)

97 Economic upheaval was on the horizon anyway because of the artificial "sugar high" of trillions in deficit spending and attendant inflation.

Better to get it over with.

Posted by: RS at April 22, 2025 06:02 PM (rk5vz)

98 Or at least a strong one.

Posted by: Al Crapton at April 22, 2025 06:02 PM (TIizU)

99 A pair of Levi's denim jeans from the 1850s is still is perfect condition 170 years later, after being washed 1,500 times and used to dig out 2/3rds of the Comstock lLode by hand.

==

wait, you've seen this garment ??

Posted by: runner at April 22, 2025 06:02 PM (g47mK)

100 Nobody can compete with us in cheap $hit consumption.

Posted by: Boss Moss Sub Mariner at April 22, 2025 06:03 PM (MySZH)

101 Parts is parts.
Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at April 22, 2025 05:58 PM (VNX3d)

It's all just wetness... in the dark.

Posted by: BurtTC at April 22, 2025 06:03 PM (dGCAG)

102 It absolutely sucks our politicians, who've wiped out the blue collar sector of our country are now fighting against President Trump who is trying to pull us out of the abyss.

Nothing like having to unwind 40 years of stupidity in just a matter of months.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at April 22, 2025 06:03 PM (tT6L1)

103 6 Anyone here “ suffering” from the tariffs???
Posted by: tubal at April 22, 2025 05:48 PM (PCK5/)

Gold that I bought for my late mother when Trudeau made us realise anything she owned could be grabbed has gone through the roof.

Wait, that's not suffering. And thank you Trudeau.

But at Costco today, there was no Kirkland canned dog food for Ralphy. I don't know if that's tariff related or not.

Posted by: Stateless.. 19% - mental state clawing up from 10%, shit happened, clawing back next week at April 22, 2025 06:03 PM (jvJvP)

104 Xi can lose his head that’s how China works. By the way that’s called losing face because your corpse doesn’t have any.

Posted by: NemoMeImpuneLacessit at April 22, 2025 06:04 PM (g/Chl)

105 101 Parts is parts.
Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at April 22, 2025 05:58 PM (VNX3d)

It's all just wetness... in the dark.
Posted by: BurtTC at April 22, 2025 06:03 PM (dGCAG)

I heard it as “ all cats are gray in the dark”…

Posted by: tubal at April 22, 2025 06:04 PM (PCK5/)

106 Meanwhile, Americans dyed potatoes instead of eggs this Easter to save money.

Okay, that's funny.

Posted by: toby928 at April 22, 2025 06:04 PM (jc0TO)

107 I, for one, would like to see the return of the Quality Shit Train where your shit didn't have to be replaced every 3 months.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at April 22, 2025 06:00 PM (ExV1e)

I agree. I really don't think we're saving money at the end of the day.

I have to HUNT to find "higher quality" versions of just about everything.

Yes, I would much rather pay $20 for a potato peeler that works well and lasts for 20 years then $1.99 for a shitty one that pisses me off and will break at the most inopportune moment, when I'm trying to make mashed potatoes or whatever.

Over 20 years, is anyone saving money buying the $1.99 piece of shit? I don't think so.

Not to mention the gigantic loss of middle class jobs in the US. Which should count for SOMETHING, no?

Posted by: Harry Paratestes at April 22, 2025 06:04 PM (uCjyK)

108
Hong Kong used to have a phenomenal small business tailor culture that would make great suits at really low prices.

But who wears suits anymore?

Posted by: Auspex at April 22, 2025 06:04 PM (j4U/Z)

109 Walmart is nearshoring, south of the border.
Posted by: Boss Moss Sub Mariner at April 22, 2025 06:01 PM (MySZH)

Guess I'm buying a Ukrainian APC for Xmas.

Posted by: Oldcat at April 22, 2025 06:04 PM (n7h9X)

110 Their entire culture is about success through any means, no concern for your fellow man, no care about human life, and no moral code to limit behavior.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at April 22, 2025 05:57 PM (2VST1)

But enough about the democrat party.

Posted by: Dr Pork Chops & Bacons at April 22, 2025 06:05 PM (g8Ew8)

111 Shein garbage-clothes are designed to last maybe 18 months at most, before disintegrating.

A pair of Levi's denim jeans from the 1850s is still is perfect condition 170 years later, after being washed 1,500 times and used to dig out 2/3rds of the Comstock lLode by hand.
Posted by: zombie at April 22, 2025 06:00 PM (pMi6S)

The stuff I bought, if it lasted 18 minutes, that was more than enough.

Posted by: BurtTC at April 22, 2025 06:05 PM (dGCAG)

112 Roche said the investment will create over 12,000 jobs--including 1,000 new positions at the company
---------------------
Which is it? Do you think that means they are moving 11,000 jobs from other countries to America? You'd think that would be the lede, if that's what this is saying.

Posted by: Huck Follywood at April 22, 2025 06:05 PM (2jkJ9)

113 Will no one think of Dollar General?

Posted by: Or Spatula City? at April 22, 2025 06:05 PM (nW302)

114 Meanwhile, Americans dyed potatoes instead of eggs this Easter to save money.

Yeah "The Democrats" twixxed that. It was so bizarrely out of touch, claiming eggs cost LESS under Biden than Trump LOL

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at April 22, 2025 06:05 PM (2VST1)

115 We had a recession during the Biden regime, but they pretended it didn't happen. So it went away? Or rather it lingered like one of Big Mike's farts in Obama's sofa for many years.

Posted by: Field Marshal Zhukov at April 22, 2025 06:05 PM (wBaIH)

116 99 A pair of Levi's denim jeans from the 1850s is still is perfect condition 170 years later, after being washed 1,500 times and used to dig out 2/3rds of the Comstock lLode by hand.

==

wait, you've seen this garment ??
Posted by: runner

Seen it? I'm soaking in it!

Posted by: zombie at April 22, 2025 06:05 PM (pMi6S)

117 95 I, for one, would like to see the return of the Quality Shit Train where your shit didn't have to be replaced every 3 months

Or stuff people could fix themselves.

Posted by: Stateless.. 19% - mental state clawing up from 10%, shit happened, clawing back next week at April 22, 2025 06:05 PM (jvJvP)

118 Democrats@TheDemocrats
Trump’s White House is using 30,000 real eggs worth over $15,500 for their Easter Egg Roll.
Meanwhile, Americans dyed potatoes instead of eggs this Easter to save money.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Soldier of the Persistence at April 22, 2025 06:01 PM

In January 18 extra large eggs at Walmart were $9.02 if they had them in stock and you could only buy two packs, today they are $6.22 and they have cases of them with no purchase limit.

Somebody is not being truthful.

Posted by: Mister Scott (Formerly GWS) at April 22, 2025 06:06 PM (e5NfL)

119 Chinese steel is only about 22% cheaper.That is about the size of the subsidy. Free power.

Posted by: Boss Moss Sub Mariner

Nephew (a farcebook follower of AoS) works welding and fabrication in Longview. His company won't purchase Chyna steel, and forces their suppliers to certify that it ain't Chynesium Steel they supply. Evidently the Chynesium shit has pockets of material other than real steel in it that outgass violently when welded. Dangerous formthe welders, and raises insurance costs for the company due to shitty materials.

Chyna Steel should be 75% to 90% cheeper due to quality alone.

Posted by: BifBewalski at April 22, 2025 06:06 PM (MsrgL)

120 Meanwhile the Amazon code monkeys are working furiously to change the site algorithms away from pushing Chinesium to the top of their selection list.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at April 22, 2025 06:06 PM (tT6L1)

121 I heard it as “ all cats are gray in the dark”…
Posted by: tubal at April 22, 2025 06:04 PM (PCK5/)

Which turns out not to be true! Two of mine are essentially gray, and the other two... they're most black.

In the dark, they look black.

Posted by: BurtTC at April 22, 2025 06:06 PM (dGCAG)

122 But enough about the democrat party

But the Chinese came by it naturally, lacking any Judeo-Christian worldview. Democrats know better, but chose poorly.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at April 22, 2025 06:06 PM (2VST1)

123 Dollar General??? Well la-di-dah!! Mr. Elite… We resort to Dollar Tree

Posted by: tubal at April 22, 2025 06:06 PM (PCK5/)

124 Meanwhile, Americans dyed potatoes instead of eggs this Easter to save money.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Soldier of the Persistence at April 22, 2025 06:01 PM (L/fGl)

The Left reads so differently when you know they don't give a shit about anything they claim to.

Posted by: ... at April 22, 2025 06:07 PM (E0p3T)

125 Suddenly I am having visions of zombie digging up a Comstock miner's corpse and stealing his pants.

Posted by: toby928 at April 22, 2025 06:07 PM (jc0TO)

126 Xi can lose his head that’s how China works. By the way that’s called losing face because your corpse doesn’t have any.

After your Party takes a hundred million or so of it's own people
and shoots them in the back of the head, what's one more XI?

Posted by: I KNOW MY PIGS at April 22, 2025 06:07 PM (OxX9V)

127 I had a real easy proof that the Earth is round in the last thread, but I got willowed.
Posted by: NemoMeImpuneLacessit at April 22, 2025 06:00 PM (g/Chl)

If the earth were flat, cats would have knocked all the shit off of it by now.

Posted by: Oldcat at April 22, 2025 06:07 PM (n7h9X)

128 121 I heard it as “ all cats are gray in the dark”…
Posted by: tubal at April 22, 2025 06:04 PM (PCK5/)

Which turns out not to be true! Two of mine are essentially gray, and the other two... they're most black.

In the dark, they look black.
Posted by: BurtTC at April 22, 2025 06:06 PM (dGCAG)

Oh!!! We’re talking about.. CATS… nevermind..

Posted by: tubal at April 22, 2025 06:07 PM (PCK5/)

129 Meanwhile, Americans dyed potatoes instead of eggs this Easter to save money.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Soldier of the Persistence at April 22, 2025 06:01 PM (L/fGl)

LUXURY! I had to find an appropriate rock. I shined it with my own spit until it was pretty.

Posted by: Kindltot at April 22, 2025 06:07 PM (D7oie)

130 This is going to hurt those YouTube Ladies who try on Translucent Garments made by Shein.

For Fashion Education Purposes, only. Of course.

Posted by: garrett at April 22, 2025 06:07 PM (F30Ty)

131 99 A pair of Levi's denim jeans from the 1850s is still is perfect condition 170 years later, after being washed 1,500 times and used to dig out 2/3rds of the Comstock lLode by hand.

==

wait, you've seen this garment ??
Posted by: runner

Seen it? I'm soaking in it!
Posted by: zombie at April 22, 2025 06:05 PM (pMi6S)
---
As long as they are still functional, they're allowed on the Sunday Morning Book Thread.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at April 22, 2025 06:08 PM (cweKM)

132 We had a recession during the Biden regime, but they pretended it didn't happen

And we had one day of low stock markets and they declared a recession immediately LOL

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at April 22, 2025 06:08 PM (2VST1)

133 >>>Will no one think of Harbor Freight?
Posted by: Karen Sixpack at April 22, 2025 05:58 PM (nW302)

Like I said… hardest hit.. oh, and WalMart..

Posted by: tubal

>I like harbor freight. Cheap, light-duty tools that perform, until stolen.

Posted by: Rev Wishbone at April 22, 2025 06:08 PM (fY84s)

134 Chyna Steel should be 75% to 90% cheeper due to quality alone.
Posted by: BifBewalski

I am not surprised.
This is the country that puts melamine in kibble.

Posted by: vmom deport deport deport at April 22, 2025 06:08 PM (GhIJO)

135 I think there's a bit more going on than just a trade war or a resetting of the global trade agreements. We are rapidly approaching the next turning, there's a reason China has been heavily investing in things like AI and robotics and so are we.

We are moving into a new industrial age where the old paradigm of manufacturing is going to change dramatically. Companies like TSMC and Nvidia are making massive investments in the US instead of China. The Trump administration taken in over $7 trillion in investment commitments over the last 3 months, way more than Biden took in over 4 years.

I don't think Trump is trying to just win the present trade world, he's trying to win the future. Elon isn't just there for DOGE.

Posted by: JackStraw at April 22, 2025 06:08 PM (viF8m)

136 Anyone here “ suffering” from the tariffs???
Posted by: tubal

Got some steroid cream from the doc last week. Cleared them right up.

Posted by: mikeski at April 22, 2025 06:08 PM (DgGvY)

137 Anyone here “ suffering” from the tariffs???

==

I am. from press' hysteria about that of which they know very little.

Posted by: runner at April 22, 2025 06:09 PM (g47mK)

138 >>I heard it as “ all cats are gray in the dark”…

"But, most you can find by the smell alone.", continued Mr Franklin.

Posted by: garrett at April 22, 2025 06:09 PM (F30Ty)

139 Dyed potatoes you say. Reminds me of homemade ketchup, Eddie.

Posted by: Francis at April 22, 2025 06:09 PM (bbuBP)

140
Bangladesh made Russian style track suits is the future, baby.

Posted by: Auspex at April 22, 2025 06:09 PM (j4U/Z)

141 Hong Kong used to have a phenomenal small business tailor culture that would make great suits at really low prices.

But who wears suits anymore?

Posted by: Auspex at April 22, 2025 06:04 PM

We would have our Navy uniforms made in Hong Kong back in the day. Pull in on Friday go see the tailor and by Monday they would have a full set of dress whites and blues tailor made for you for cheap.

Posted by: Mister Scott (Formerly GWS) at April 22, 2025 06:10 PM (e5NfL)

142 Meanwhile the Amazon code monkeys are working furiously to change the site algorithms away from pushing Chinesium to the top of their selection list.
Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at April 22, 2025 06:06 PM (tT6L1)

Finally, when I go to buy six new pair of skidmark free tightie whities, I get Fruit of the Loom as the top result, and not Foofoo Onaloon loosie brownies.

Posted by: BurtTC at April 22, 2025 06:10 PM (dGCAG)

143 In January 18 extra large eggs at Walmart were $9.02 if they had them in stock and you could only buy two packs, today they are $6.22 and they have cases of them with no purchase limit.

Somebody is not being truthful.
Posted by: Mister Scott (Formerly GWS) at April 22, 2025 06:06 PM (e5NfL)

Also, "true" egg shortages could have easily been alleviated by importing eggs from just about anywhere. it isn't like Biden killed chickens everywhere.

Posted by: Oldcat at April 22, 2025 06:10 PM (n7h9X)

144 Wow -- history repeats itself:

https://www.the-independent.com/ news/world/americas/ oldest-pair-of-levi-jeans-auction-b2201880.html

Levi jeans from 1800s found in abandoned mine shaft sell for $87,000

A pair of Levi’s jeans from the 19th century has sold for $87,000 at auction in New Mexico, making them one of the most expensive pairs of vintage jeans ever sold.

The jeans were discovered by a “denim archaeologist” in an abandoned mine shaft.

They were auctioned at the Durango Vintage Festivus on 1 October, where they were listed as one of the oldest known Levis from the gold rush era and described as “the holy grail of vintage denim collecting”.

The inside label reads: “The only kind made by white labor,” which dates the pair to the late 1800s, in reference to the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which forbid Chinese workers from the US. The slogan was dropped in the 1890s"

Posted by: zombie at April 22, 2025 06:10 PM (pMi6S)

145 How soon until we go to disposable clothes, with corporate sponsorships all over, like in Idiocracy?

Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at April 22, 2025 06:10 PM (VNX3d)

146 The only jobs that matter are in manufacturing. Every Americans’ highest aspiration must be to work 8n a factory. No one should dare be allowed to do anything else or to aspire to be anything else.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at April 22, 2025 06:10 PM (vm8sq)

147 Dyed potatoes sounds like an Irish Easter.

Posted by: toby928 at April 22, 2025 06:10 PM (jc0TO)

148 Chyna Steel should be 75% to 90% cheeper due to quality alone.
Posted by: BifBewalski a
========
Yep but like the Japanese before WWII, China has a voracious appetite for US scrap steel much of which was of good quality domestically produced.

They send up the shitty steel and scarf up our good scrap.

Back when I was buying gunsmith tools, the Chinesium ones appeared stout but in practice they broke, bent, or even shattered at times because of improper heat treatment, shoddy steel making, or inferior alloys. The old US or Euro made tools held up.

Posted by: whig at April 22, 2025 06:11 PM (ctrM5)

149 This is going to hurt those YouTube Ladies who try on Translucent Garments made by Shein.

For Fashion Education Purposes, only. Of course.
Posted by: garrett

Is China putting a reverse tariff on their affiliate links?

Posted by: mikeski at April 22, 2025 06:11 PM (DgGvY)

150 Fuck Chyna. And fuck the Mitt Romney MBA cocksuckers that sold us out piecemeal while we're at it.

The biggest hospital system in my county has been teetering on the edge of closing due to those private equity cocksuckers.
It’s one thing if you Lee Iacocca an auto manufacturer, which is terrible. But to do it to the health care system that serves over a half million people??
These creatures have no soul.

Posted by: kallisto at April 22, 2025 06:11 PM (q6XPQ)

151 By the way, the DOW closed above 39,000 today. It's not like traders are plunging to their deaths on Wall Street.

Posted by: JackStraw at April 22, 2025 06:11 PM (viF8m)

152 The jeans were discovered by a “denim archaeologist” in an abandoned mine shaft.

on a skeleton.

Posted by: toby928 at April 22, 2025 06:12 PM (jc0TO)

153 113 Will no one think of Dollar General?
Posted by: Or Spatula City?

Dallah nineynine to you round eye.

Posted by: Auspex at April 22, 2025 06:12 PM (j4U/Z)

154 Powell is doing this to hurt Trump but in turn he's hurting the nation.
Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at April 22, 2025 06:02 PM (CL4hu)

Powell is doing it to strangle the European Central Bank and the City of London Finance people, who are having to drop their own interest to make up for expensive dollars they need to fund their net zero, energy importation and their newly planned European Army.
If that all goes TU, then Canada comes and starts asking if they can sit by our fire for a while.

Posted by: Kindltot at April 22, 2025 06:12 PM (D7oie)

155 You know you can buy quality American goods if you go looking for it and are willing to pay for the quality. There is set of Vermont Flannel pajamas on a hanger in my bedroom that will outlast me!

Posted by: NemoMeImpuneLacessit at April 22, 2025 06:12 PM (g/Chl)

156 I actually think trump could have still blamed Biden on a recession if 3 months in , it happened, but the way this trade war was kicked off, he fully owns it now.

I also think Powell is not going to bail him out, very political FED and we’re stuck with him

I agree with what trumps doing, but I hope he targets china and not the whole world.

It took us 40 years to get here, none of this gets fixed quickly or easily

Posted by: Maroon at April 22, 2025 06:12 PM (lT8Vi)

157 84 Speaking of economics, didja see this? The Donks say we were forced to dye Easter potatoes because the price of eggs is so high.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks,

--------------

Fuck these people too.
$15k, that is like a trip to the airport on Marine One. Are they saying he should have saved money? Should we have DOGE look into it?

Seriously fuck those people. I want to see their fucking painted potatoes and tell them to stop lying.

Posted by: bob (moron incognitus) at April 22, 2025 06:12 PM (nE5hF)

158 Oh!!! We’re talking about.. CATS… nevermind..
Posted by: tubal at April 22, 2025 06:07 PM (PCK5/)

Sorry, I was already creeping myself out. I don't want people thinking I'm some kind of prevert.

Posted by: BurtTC at April 22, 2025 06:12 PM (dGCAG)

159 Chyna Steel should be 75% to 90% cheeper due to quality alone.
Posted by: BifBewalski
----

Are you talking about that pile of rusty stainless steel?

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at April 22, 2025 06:13 PM (CL4hu)

160 There are going to be dislocations. There is almost certainly going to be a recession.
---
This is false. On-shoring is much easier than people think, and we already did some of this in 2017. Was that so long ago?

When you move production here - which can be done simply by shipping the tooling home from China - you get immediate economic activity just through the infrastructure preparation. Then you transfer the payments that were once sent to Chinese slaves laborers to well-paid American ones.

Cutting of Chinese dumping is an immediate economic bonus. Adding third shifts at American auto plants is already going to jump start the economy.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 22, 2025 06:13 PM (ZOv7s)

161
She got the denim.
I got the shaft.

Posted by: Jerry Lee at April 22, 2025 06:13 PM (nW302)

162 146 The only jobs that matter are in manufacturing. Every Americans’ highest aspiration must be to work 8n a factory. No one should dare be allowed to do anything else or to aspire to be anything else.
Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at April 22, 2025 06:10 PM (vm8sq)

No, but you can't run a country with 320 million doctors, lawyers, accountants, podcasters, and Instagram influencers, can you?

There has to be stuff that is made, right? And if the stuff is being made, isn't it preferable that the stuff is made in the US, and Americans get paid decent wages to make it?

Wouldn't that help with a lot of our societal ills?

Because I don't know if you've travelled around the US at all, but there are massive parts that are full of immigrants, fentanyl, despair, and no jobs for anyone.

Hard to keep a civilization going on McJobs and Only Fans income.

Posted by: Harry Paratestes at April 22, 2025 06:14 PM (uCjyK)

163 Also, "true" egg shortages could have easily been alleviated by importing eggs from just about anywhere. it isn't like Biden killed chickens everywhere.
Posted by: Oldcat at April 22, 2025 06:10 PM (n7h9X)
---
I'm willing to bet someone in his inner circle who reported to the WEF wanted to kill all chickens everywhere. It would be an excellent way to cause a global famine to depopulate the earth.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at April 22, 2025 06:14 PM (cweKM)

164 I wouldn't think the tariffs would work that fast so something else could be going on

Posted by: Skip at April 22, 2025 06:14 PM (ypFCm)

165 Also, "true" egg shortages could have easily been alleviated by importing eggs from just about anywhere. it isn't like Biden killed chickens everywhere.
Posted by: Oldcat at April 22, 2025 06:10 PM (n7h9X)

I think maybe egg shortages were the shark attacks of baby formula.

Posted by: BurtTC at April 22, 2025 06:14 PM (dGCAG)

166 146 The only jobs that matter are in manufacturing. Every Americans’ highest aspiration must be to work 8n a factory. No one should dare be allowed to do anything else or to aspire to be anything else.
Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33
======
Most people in any age do the work so that they can enjoy their families. Manufacturing just happens to be one that offers better salaries and benefits than construction.

A lot of white collar jobs will become redundant in this next move to AI expert systems and many will be crying for a factory job.

Expecting to build a stable economy from service industries is a foolish utopian dream and the result is impoverishment, crime, and economic destruction in the long run.

Posted by: whig at April 22, 2025 06:15 PM (ctrM5)

167 We can't get by taking in each other's laundry, unless me make it up in volume.

Posted by: toby928 at April 22, 2025 06:15 PM (jc0TO)

168 We would have our Navy uniforms made in Hong Kong back in the day. Pull in on Friday go see the tailor and by Monday they would have a full set of dress whites and blues tailor made for you for cheap.
Posted by: Mister Scott (Formerly GWS) at April 22, 2025 06:10 PM (e5NfL)
Liberty cuffs, get you on report.

Posted by: Eromero at April 22, 2025 06:15 PM (LHPAg)

169 152 The jeans were discovered by a “denim archaeologist” in an abandoned mine shaft.

on a skeleton.
Posted by: toby928

Or maybe those '49ers were totally ghey and they often dropped trou deep in the mines for some surreptitious a**-f*fucking in the dark.

Posted by: zombie at April 22, 2025 06:15 PM (pMi6S)

170 Let's not pretend we haven't been dipping into in and out of a recession for over 4 years...

So much so, they decided to redefine it while Potato Joe was in office.

Posted by: garrett at April 22, 2025 06:15 PM (F30Ty)

171 >>>Also, "true" egg shortages could have easily been alleviated by importing eggs from just about anywhere. it isn't like Biden killed chickens everywhere.

Posted by: Oldcat

>Neighbor has chickens. We plow their road and we get 3 dozen eggs about every 2 weeks. I cannot deny I love hard-boiled eggs.

Posted by: Rev Wishbone at April 22, 2025 06:15 PM (fY84s)

172 >>>162 146 The only jobs that matter are in manufacturing. Every Americans’ highest aspiration must be to work 8n a factory. No one should dare be allowed to do anything else or to aspire to be anything else.
Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33
----

Stop paying people not to work and there will be plenty of people to man the factories.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at April 22, 2025 06:15 PM (CL4hu)

173 Cape Cod makes me think of Patti Page.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at April 22, 2025 06:15 PM (DC0mj)

174 The jeans were discovered by a “denim archaeologist” in an abandoned mine shaft.

on a skeleton.
Posted by: toby928 at April 22, 2025 06:12 PM (jc0TO)

beat me to it...

Posted by: runner at April 22, 2025 06:15 PM (g47mK)

175 Posted by: Harry Paratestes

Arguing with an ideologue is never worth it.

Posted by: whig at April 22, 2025 06:16 PM (ctrM5)

176 I, for one, had scalloped Easter potatoes. Second helpings, too.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Soldier of the Persistence at April 22, 2025 06:16 PM (L/fGl)

177 155 You know you can buy quality American goods if you go looking for it and are willing to pay for the quality. There is set of Vermont Flannel pajamas on a hanger in my bedroom that will outlast me!
Posted by: NemoMeImpuneLacessit at April 22, 2025 06:12 PM (g/Chl)

You can, and I do. But it's getting harder to find them by the day, between fake SEO and AI nonsense on the internet, and most retailers specializing in cheap Chinese shit or massively overpriced, slightly better, Chinese shit.

Posted by: Harry Paratestes at April 22, 2025 06:16 PM (uCjyK)

178 We can just sell each other insurance.

Posted by: Susie with an MBA at April 22, 2025 06:16 PM (nW302)

179 Posted by: whig

Japan was scarfing up scrap because it was cheaper to import scrap than ore and coke.

China is not keeping the "good stuff" at home because there is no good stuff. They are commies and think "fee market" means to lie cheat and steal. I honestly think free markets can not work in certain societies as they have such low internal trust that they should only be avoided by free peoples.

Posted by: bob (moron incognitus) at April 22, 2025 06:16 PM (nE5hF)

180 We have been in a recession by most metrics for several years. The media refused to use the "R" word during Biden's admin in order to try and retain the White House, but as predicted, as soon as Trump started this term, suddenly and "unpredictably", they're all screaming "Recession!!!"
Did anyone here not know that the disastrous policies from Biden's admin would be blamed on Trump?
Does anyone remember where gas, food, rent prices were (and are) for the last 4 years?
Was inflation "transitory"???? (Hint: NO)
Were the employment numbers all falsified? (Hint: YES)
Using the Trump tariffs (or threat of tariffs) as the scapegoat for Dem policies is just the latest deflection (and lie).
The recession has been real, although not severe, but definitely felt by all of us who aren't multi-millionaires or billionaires.

Posted by: UncleJefe at April 22, 2025 06:17 PM (DzC+b)

181 I'm more inclined to trust Trump's judgement, I don't know enough about the complexities of international trade...but I do know China is ruled by immoral monsters who do not mean us well.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at April 22, 2025 06:17 PM (xcxpd)

182 Neighbor has chickens. We plow their road and we get 3 dozen eggs about every 2 weeks. I cannot deny I love hard-boiled eggs.

I hope this isn't a string of euphemisms.

Posted by: toby928 at April 22, 2025 06:17 PM (jc0TO)

183 When you move production here - which can be done simply by shipping the tooling home from China - you get immediate economic activity just through the infrastructure preparation. Then you transfer the payments that were once sent to Chinese slaves laborers to well-paid American ones.

Cutting of Chinese dumping is an immediate economic bonus. Adding third shifts at American auto plants is already going to jump start the economy.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 22, 2025 06:13 PM (ZOv7s)

Some commenter a while back was speaking of an Aussie plant being moved lock-stock-and barrel to China in a few shiploads.

Also, in Russia the factories moved east set up in the new sites from fallen cities and were getting going in just months. Sometimes before they built roofs to cover them.

Posted by: Oldcat at April 22, 2025 06:17 PM (n7h9X)

184 The biggest hospital system in my county has been teetering on the edge of closing due to those private equity cocksuckers.
It’s one thing if you Lee Iacocca an auto manufacturer, which is terrible. But to do it to the health care system that serves over a half million people??
These creatures have no soul.
Posted by: kallisto at April 22, 2025 06:11 PM (q6XPQ)

The ascension of private equity in health care is one of the worst things to happen to it in a long time. They'll get their money, pick the bones clean, and push even the staunchest of free marketeers into at least the socialized-medicine-curious categories. And it's not just hospitals, it's physician groups that they buy up, consolidate, and suck the cash out of.

Posted by: It's a bad system made worse to enrich a lucky few at April 22, 2025 06:17 PM (TbWk/)

185 170 Let's not pretend we haven't been dipping into in and out of a recession for over 4 years...

So much so, they decided to redefine it while Potato Joe was in office.
Posted by: garrett
----

So much so that by old timey numbers we were in a recession for most of sleepy Joe's administration.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at April 22, 2025 06:17 PM (CL4hu)

186 Let's not pretend we haven't been dipping into in and out of a recession for over 4 years...

So much so, they decided to redefine it while Potato Joe was in office.
Posted by: garrett

Didn't someone here point out that if you subtract the government's portion of GDP "growth," and only include the private sector, we've been in a technical recession (pre-Biden definition) since about 2007?

Posted by: mikeski at April 22, 2025 06:17 PM (DgGvY)

187 The only jobs that matter are in manufacturing.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at April 22, 2025 06:10 PM (vm8sq)
---
The Industrial Revolution was a watershed in human development, and those nations that went through it first had a massive advantage against those that did not.

Like what happened to China, which was the largest, richest, most powerful nation on earth, yet had European gunboats patrol its canals and inland rivers for a century.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 22, 2025 06:18 PM (ZOv7s)

188 Arguing with an ideologue is never worth it.
Posted by: whig at April 22, 2025 06:16 PM (ctrM5)

I think all of us here are at least somewhat of an ideologue, no?

Posted by: Harry Paratestes at April 22, 2025 06:18 PM (uCjyK)

189 159 Chyna Steel should be 75% to 90% cheeper due to quality alone.
Posted by: BifBewalski
----

Are you talking about that pile of rusty stainless steel?
Posted by: Braenyard

The new eastern span of the SF Bay Bridge had to be retrofitted immediately after opening at a cost of umpty-ump billionty-billion dollars because they discovered on opening day the the huge bolts used to hold the main cables in place were ALREADY rusting. Reason? MADE IN CHINA.

Had to replace them with US-made bolts.

Posted by: zombie at April 22, 2025 06:18 PM (pMi6S)

190 The PRC delenda est.

Posted by: Bulg at April 22, 2025 06:18 PM (77rzZ)

191 A lot of the "cheap" Chinese products are designed by American companies to be cheap. If they are made to spec they are cheap because of the design.

A lot of industries are gone forever from the US. I buy Pendleton wool shirts, they are expensive ($150) they are sewn in Mexico. The latest ones (cotton flannel ) I bought are made Sri Lanka.

Posted by: Kyane West at April 22, 2025 06:18 PM (NtVYv)

192 So I should pre-order from overseas the forthcoming HK Models 1/48 Douglas Boston III?

Is that what I am hearing?

Posted by: Anna Puma at April 22, 2025 06:19 PM (HTwBY)

193 I'm more inclined to trust Trump's judgement, I don't know enough about the complexities of international trade...but I do know China is ruled by immoral monsters who do not mean us well.
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at April 22, 2025 06:17 PM (xcxpd)

China has a lot more people to drag to prosperity and are not crammed with resources to do so. Their own past errors are also becoming a bigger dead weight than ours.

Posted by: Oldcat at April 22, 2025 06:19 PM (n7h9X)

194 169 152 The jeans were discovered by a “denim archaeologist” in an abandoned mine shaft.

on a skeleton.
Posted by: toby928

Or maybe those '49ers were totally ghey and they often dropped trou deep in the mines for some surreptitious a**-f*fucking in the dark.
Posted by: zombie at April 22, 2025 06:15 PM (pMi6S)

And here I thought Gay Frisco started in the 1940's....

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at April 22, 2025 06:19 PM (xcxpd)

195 I write down all of my ideas.
In a log.
I'm an...

Posted by: Mr. Snarky at April 22, 2025 06:19 PM (nW302)

196 Didn't someone here point out that if you subtract the government's portion of GDP "growth," and only include the private sector, we've been in a technical recession (pre-Biden definition) since about 2007?
Posted by: mikeski at April 22, 2025 06:17 PM (DgGvY)
---
I've been saying that for a long time. If you use the C+G+I calculation, massive government spending will make it look like an expansion.

But if you index it to national debt, there is no actual growth. During the Obama years, we were in a constant recession, but it was papered over by borrowing.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 22, 2025 06:19 PM (ZOv7s)

197 We can just sell each other insurance.
Posted by: Susie with an MBA at April 22, 2025 06:16 PM (nW302)

This is a funny comment - but Susie and Braden with MBAs are a large part of why the economy is fucked.

Posted by: More Bullshit Added at April 22, 2025 06:19 PM (TbWk/)

198 China has a lot more people to drag to prosperity and are not crammed with resources to do so. Their own past errors are also becoming a bigger dead weight than ours.
Posted by: Oldcat at April 22, 2025 06:19 PM (n7h9X)

Man, I hope so.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at April 22, 2025 06:20 PM (xcxpd)

199 meh, I don't want a "deal" with china so much as to see the country crippled for generations and the communist party overthrown, and yes, I recognize that others' mileage may vary and further, that it won't happen anyway.
just sayin'

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at April 22, 2025 06:20 PM (/Ghsb)

200 I also think Powell is not going to bail him out, very political FED and we’re stuck with him

I agree with what trumps doing, but I hope he targets china and not the whole world.

It took us 40 years to get here, none of this gets fixed quickly or easily
Posted by: Maroon

Powell is fired anyway next year as his term runs out. Trump's appointees to the Fed will gradually destroy his power as well as the Fed chair is really first among equals rather than being able to set interest rates all by himself.

Posted by: whig at April 22, 2025 06:20 PM (ctrM5)

201 >>The Industrial Revolution was a watershed in human development, and those nations that went through it first had a massive advantage against those that did not.

What if we are about to go through the next one?

The future is not Lucy and Ethel on an assembly picking chocolates. It's Lucy and Ethel running the robots who pick the chocolates.

Posted by: JackStraw at April 22, 2025 06:20 PM (viF8m)

202 There are only so many seashells Susie can sell.

Posted by: Anna Puma at April 22, 2025 06:21 PM (HTwBY)

203 Wages have not kept up with inflation. Minimum wage in 1962 was $1.25. But that was six 90% silver quarters. That junk silver used to convert to about $22.50. With the recent spike in precious metal prices it’s well over $24 USD. We was robbed!

Posted by: NemoMeImpuneLacessit at April 22, 2025 06:21 PM (g/Chl)

204 That One Child Policy was bad for demographics apparently.

Posted by: Boss Moss Sub Mariner at April 22, 2025 06:21 PM (MySZH)

205 >>>I hope this isn't a string of euphemisms.

Posted by: toby928

>It's an anthology and a love story over several decades.

Posted by: Rev Wishbone at April 22, 2025 06:21 PM (fY84s)

206 170 Let's not pretend we haven't been dipping into in and out of a recession for over 4 years...

So much so, they decided to redefine it while Potato Joe was in office.
Posted by: garrett at April 22, 2025 06:15 PM (F30Ty)

More than 4 years... when your combined Inflation and Trade deficit is greater than your economic growth?

Your economy is contracting... you are paying more, for less stuff.

In 2016, inflation was 2.1%... GDP growth was 1.8%... and that does not even count the trade deficit...

Annndddd... these are government numbers, which are really suspect (especially on inflation).

Posted by: Romeo13 at April 22, 2025 06:21 PM (QAkQ3)

207 Who controls the Three Gorges Dam controls China.

Posted by: Anna Puma at April 22, 2025 06:22 PM (HTwBY)

208 the US business can invest in new US factories and never go back to the Chinese sweatshops ... even if a deal is made ... seems to me to be a stable future ...

Posted by: The Dark Lord at April 22, 2025 06:22 PM (DBAaD)

209 6 quarters=$1.25?

Posted by: Boss Moss Sub Mariner at April 22, 2025 06:22 PM (MySZH)

210 202 There are only so many seashells Susie can sell.
Posted by: Anna Puma at April 22, 2025 06:21 PM (HTwBY)

Has she tried selling sanctuary?

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at April 22, 2025 06:22 PM (xcxpd)

211 China has a lot more people to drag to prosperity and are not crammed with resources to do so. Their own past errors are also becoming a bigger dead weight than ours.
Posted by: Oldcat at April 22, 2025 06:19 PM (n7h9X)
---
The Chinese colossus has feet of clay. The One Child policy has permanently choked down their population growth, so they will get old before they get rich.

China culture is hostile to military service, which is why China has to use conscription to fill out its military ranks.

China is so cohesive and happy that they have a second army just for internal security - one that was created when PLA units refused orders back in 1989.

There's a book about it...

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 22, 2025 06:22 PM (ZOv7s)

212 We can just sell each other insurance.
Posted by: Susie with an MBA

This is a funny comment - but Susie and Braden with MBAs are a large part of why the economy is fucked.
Posted by: More Bullshit Added

You don't know what you're babbling about. It's the Gig Economy now! We'll all Uber each other to our DoorDash jobs.

Posted by: Braden with an MBA at April 22, 2025 06:23 PM (DgGvY)

213 consolidate, and suck the cash out of.
Posted by: It's a bad system made worse to enrich a lucky few at April 22, 2025 06:17 PM (TbWk/)

Was this process facilitated by obamacare?

Because everything health care related since the insurance that bears Shit Midas name was thrust upon us

Posted by: kallisto at April 22, 2025 06:23 PM (q6XPQ)

214 What if we are about to go through the next one?

The future is not Lucy and Ethel on an assembly picking chocolates. It's Lucy and Ethel running the robots who pick the chocolates.
Posted by: JackStraw at April 22, 2025 06:20 PM (viF8m)

The future is Lucy and Ethel being euthanized because the anticipated cost of public benefits will exceed the projected productivity of their lives.

Posted by: Dystopia! at April 22, 2025 06:23 PM (TbWk/)

215 I recently heard about a Youtube channel called The China Show, run by two guys who have vast experience living and working there. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants insight into how things are going over there (hint, it's not good). Xi will destroy his people by trying to save face. Mao-type exhortations like "work hard and make less money" do not bode well. There's a lot of saber-rattling going on.

I feel sorry for the Chinese people.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at April 22, 2025 06:23 PM (w6EFb)

216 213…
Forgot the last part…has gone to crap

Posted by: kallisto at April 22, 2025 06:23 PM (q6XPQ)

217 Many voters would sell out for a Five Guys burger and a twelve pack…
Posted by: tubal at April 22, 2025 05:54 PM (PCK5/)

Does the burger come with fries?? If so, I'm in!!

Posted by: Average Voter at April 22, 2025 06:24 PM (5xuJ/)

218 Who controls the Three Gorges Dam controls China.
Posted by: Anna Puma at April 22, 2025 06:22 PM (HTwBY)
---
False. North China gives a shit for the Yangtze valley.

Massive floods used to be the norm, so they'll get a really big one and then just go on as they always did.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 22, 2025 06:24 PM (ZOv7s)

219 >>More than 4 years...

Oh, I agree.

I am just pointing out the most recent events that qualify under the definition we used right up until it failed to be convenient for Democrats and the Media.

Posted by: garrett at April 22, 2025 06:24 PM (F30Ty)

220 Don't worry, the newly unemployed live in a Communist paradise, so they'll be taken care of.

Posted by: Rob Crawford at April 22, 2025 06:24 PM (6/frM)

221 Maybe we could export tits to them, they don't have much.

Posted by: Hatari somewhere on Ventura Highway at April 22, 2025 06:24 PM (NtVYv)

222 We certainly get more information on both sides than Leftists do with their 1 stop news

Posted by: Skip at April 22, 2025 06:24 PM (ypFCm)

223 There are only so many seashells Susie can sell.
Posted by: Anna Puma at April 22, 2025 06:21 PM (HTwBY)

Has she tried selling sanctuary?
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at April 22, 2025 06:22 PM (xcxpd)

Fire woman, she's to blame.

Posted by: And Todd. Fucking Todd... at April 22, 2025 06:24 PM (TbWk/)

224 Powell is fired anyway next year as his term runs out. Trump's appointees to the Fed will gradually destroy his power as well as the Fed chair is really first among equals rather than being able to set interest rates all by himself.
Posted by: whig
----

Problem is Trump's play is going now, it's working right now and Powell is trying to stifle it.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at April 22, 2025 06:24 PM (CL4hu)

225 >>Has she tried selling sanctuary?

Fire Woman is the better song.

Posted by: garrett at April 22, 2025 06:25 PM (F30Ty)

226 Man, I hope so.
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards

Age. Most consumer spending comes from younger people when they are raised and then when they leave the nest. Old people buy less and are much more price sensitive in most economies. China's average age hit 40 in 2022 and is likely closer to 41-42 by now.

Demographics crash is getting to the extent that China's government has quit reporting child fertility as it has crashed to .8 children per family at the time of its last report.

China is suffering from what killed the Japanese economic boom and now killing the S. Korean one. Paucity of workers and an aging population is not a good mix for economic growth.

Posted by: whig at April 22, 2025 06:25 PM (ctrM5)

227 Canada has a plan for the remaining FDR blue voters.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at April 22, 2025 06:25 PM (u82oZ)

228 The future is Lucy and Ethel on OnlyFans.

Posted by: Masturbating Pete's brother Daryl at April 22, 2025 06:25 PM (nW302)

229 Look up what happened to the forerunner of the Three Gorges Damn.

Posted by: Boss Moss Sub Mariner at April 22, 2025 06:25 PM (MySZH)

230 Was this process facilitated by obamacare?

Because everything health care related since the insurance that bears Shit Midas name was thrust upon us
Posted by: kallisto at April 22, 2025 06:23 PM (q6XPQ)
---
Wait till the Luigi fans realize that CEOs don't set prices, government does.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 22, 2025 06:25 PM (ZOv7s)

231 181, yeah, this

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at April 22, 2025 06:25 PM (/Ghsb)

232 The only jobs that matter are in manufacturing. Every Americans’ highest aspiration must be to work 8n a factory. No one should dare be allowed to do anything else or to aspire to be anything else.
Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at April 22, 2025 06:10 PM (vm8sq)

ever ask the concrete cutter how much he makes and check that against your salary? Or the plumber, or the pipe fitter?

Don't be a snob. All a college degree and a professional license does is make you incapable of doing manual work.
My friends after high school got jobs in the mill, logging, and in a chip fab. They got married and bought houses. Pretty much all of them lost their houses and most of their marriages broke up when the forests got closed, the mills closed and the fabs got shipped to Asia.
They liked having a house and a marriage for some reason.

Posted by: Kindltot at April 22, 2025 06:25 PM (D7oie)

233 I think I flation has to cover: food, gas, shelter. If it does not include any of these (because people HAVE to buy them) then the number is worthless.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at April 22, 2025 06:26 PM (DC0mj)

234 The mystery click is from Donald Fagen's (sp?) Nightfly album.

Which has a special place in my heart as it was the first cd I heard coming out of an Infinity speaker and the clarity of the tiny details in I.G.Y. blew me away.

Not like the ad, but very impressive!
: -))

Posted by: Adriane the Film Noir Critic . . . at April 22, 2025 06:26 PM (tcomi)

235 Problem is Trump's play is going now, it's working right now and Powell is trying to stifle it.
Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at April 22, 2025 06:24 PM (CL4hu)

India AND Viet Nam have placed Tariffs on Chinese Steel...

Posted by: Romeo13 at April 22, 2025 06:26 PM (QAkQ3)

236
The ascension of private equity in health care is being accompanied by the splitting of liability between a facilities company, a care staff employment company, equipment companies, and whoever else cares to have a small share when it comes to being sued.

Lawyers, insurance actuarials and failed judges have it all figured out.

Posted by: Auspex at April 22, 2025 06:27 PM (j4U/Z)

237 I recently heard about a Youtube channel called The China Show, run by two guys who have vast experience living and working there. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants insight into how things are going over there (hint, it's not good). Xi will destroy his people by trying to save face. Mao-type exhortations like "work hard and make less money" do not bode well. There's a lot of saber-rattling going on.

I feel sorry for the Chinese people.
Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at April 22, 2025 06:23 PM (w6EFb)

I watched them while they were still living in China, riding motorbikes about the country until they were forced to flee with their wives. Their early shows were very interesting.

Have lost contact with them a bit. One of the 2 is South African so he has experience with the troubles there.

Posted by: Oldcat at April 22, 2025 06:27 PM (n7h9X)

238 My friends after high school got jobs in the mill, logging, and in a chip fab. They got married and bought houses. Pretty much all of them lost their houses and most of their marriages broke up when the forests got closed, the mills closed and the fabs got shipped to Asia.
They liked having a house and a marriage for some reason.
Posted by: Kindltot at April 22, 2025 06:25 PM (D7oie)

They should have learned to code. Or died. Either way.

Posted by: Kevin D. Williamson at April 22, 2025 06:27 PM (TbWk/)

239 I want trade barriers, I just don’t want them done in a manner where the economy goes into a ditch first and it takes a decade to see the benefit.

I also think expectations need to be tempered. The reason millions of illegals are pouring in here is because there’s jobs Americans aren’t willing to do.

We have a 4% unemployment rate and I’m not sure there a large swath of Americans that want to work on assembly lines any more . Too lazy and entitled. Many of these jobs will probably be similar to working in an Amazon distribution center. Doesn’t automatically equal high pay, high benefits

Posted by: Maroon at April 22, 2025 06:27 PM (lT8Vi)

240 I think that the first couple Trump years probably pulled us out of recession because they showed the first real gain of the dollar's earning power in decades, but it was erased by the Wuhan Flu

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at April 22, 2025 06:27 PM (2VST1)

241 Food and Energy are not figured into inflation numbers.

Posted by: Boss Moss Sub Mariner at April 22, 2025 06:27 PM (MySZH)

242 This is where Trump's BFF is putting his bet.

>>Elon Musk says Tesla factories to have 1,000 working Optimus robots by 2025

>>Elon Musk believes Optimus robots will make Tesla a $25 trillion company.

https://tinyurl.com/388z438k

Posted by: JackStraw at April 22, 2025 06:27 PM (viF8m)

243 I haven't listened to The Cult in a while.

Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory, red heifer owner at April 22, 2025 06:27 PM (OZyEP)

244 Problem is Trump's play is going now, it's working right now and Powell is trying to stifle it.
Posted by: Braenyard
=======
And if Trump ends up cutting about 1 trillion from the budget which may be in reach, Powell is going to get a market drop in Treasury demand that he can't control. Yield will spike when less Treasuries are put in the market putting market pressure on Powell to lower rates.

Ultimately, teh Fed has the most power when you have ballooning deficits, not when the deficit begins the shrink. That is why financialization always ends up ruining economies until financial values match the real underlying value of things.

Posted by: whig at April 22, 2025 06:27 PM (ctrM5)

245 China is suffering from what killed the Japanese economic boom and now killing the S. Korean one. Paucity of workers and an aging population is not a good mix for economic growth.
Posted by: whig at April 22, 2025 06:25 PM (ctrM5)
---
South Korea's fertility rate actually went up last year. Could be the Christian influence.

Another factor people need to think about: Pope Francis bent over backwards for the CCP. The next pope is not likely to do so, which means another source of instability will be created in China.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 22, 2025 06:27 PM (ZOv7s)

246 By the way, the DOW closed above 39,000 today. It's not like traders are plunging to their deaths on Wall Street.

Posted by: JackStraw at April 22, 2025 06:11 PM

Yet the number one lead on the nightly news is "Trump defies stock market drops and downplays fears of a recession while he wages tariff wars with the world."

Posted by: Mister Scott (Formerly GWS) at April 22, 2025 06:28 PM (e5NfL)

247 I think I flation has to cover: food, gas, shelter. If it does not include any of these (because people HAVE to buy them) then the number is worthless.
Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at April 22, 2025 06:26 PM (DC0mj)

Its also worthless if it includes items whose high price is do to scarcity. Shooting chickens to get high egg prices is not inflationary. Just expensive.

Posted by: Oldcat at April 22, 2025 06:28 PM (n7h9X)

248 Food and Energy are not figured into inflation numbers.
Posted by: Boss Moss Sub Mariner at April 22, 2025 06:27 PM (MySZH)

Exactly. Ergo...

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at April 22, 2025 06:29 PM (DC0mj)

249 Xi don't know sh!t from Sheinola

Posted by: 496 at April 22, 2025 06:29 PM (Qn9hv)

250 I would be happy to do my part to increase Japan's and South Korea's birth rates.

Posted by: The old fashioned way at April 22, 2025 06:29 PM (TbWk/)

251 "I feel sorry for the Chinese people.
Posted by: Miley, okravangelist "

and this too

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at April 22, 2025 06:29 PM (/Ghsb)

252 I also think expectations need to be tempered. The reason millions of illegals are pouring in here is because there’s jobs Americans aren’t willing to do.

Posted by: Maroon at April 22, 2025 06:27 PM (lT8Vi)
---
You left out "for below-market, non-taxed wages."

There are lots of Americans willing to do those jobs, but they can't compete against illegals with free housing and health care.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 22, 2025 06:30 PM (ZOv7s)

253 Has she tried selling sanctuary?

Fire Woman is the better song.
------------
I really, really like "Rise" from the "Beyond Good and Evil" album.

Posted by: Crusader at April 22, 2025 06:30 PM (TN0g+)

254 Almost time for NBC Nightly News and tjeir tales of DOOM!,

It's like Monty, bless him, is running the news division. Well, an evil liberal version of Monty.

Posted by: Stateless.. 19% - mental state clawing up from 10%, shit happened, clawing back next week at April 22, 2025 06:30 PM (jvJvP)

255 243 I haven't listened to The Cult in a while.
Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory, red heifer owner at April 22, 2025 06:27 PM (OZyEP)

It was kind of a product of its time.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at April 22, 2025 06:30 PM (xcxpd)

256
"the nightly news"

LOL

Posted by: Pull the other one at April 22, 2025 06:30 PM (nW302)

257 Powell was always eager to bail out Biden and Harris, even though their policies caused the inflation crisis

With Trump, suddenly it’s a Mexican standoff where he’s basically threatening to hurt the economy if Trump doesn’t bend to his will

If Powell accommodated what Trump was doing and cut rates, countries would be scrambling to sign trade deals with the us

Posted by: Maroon at April 22, 2025 06:30 PM (lT8Vi)

258 234 The mystery click is from Donald Fagen's (sp?) Nightfly album.

Which has a special place in my heart as it was the first cd I heard coming out of an Infinity speaker and the clarity of the tiny details in I.G.Y. blew me away.

Not like the ad, but very impressive!
: -))
Posted by: Adriane the Film Noir Critic . . . at April 22, 2025 06:26 PM (tcomi)
One of the best ever albums by one of the best ever groups.

Posted by: Eromero at April 22, 2025 06:30 PM (LHPAg)

259 Xi don't know sh!t from Sheinola
Posted by: 496 at April 22, 2025 06:29 PM (Qn9hv)

*golfclap*

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at April 22, 2025 06:30 PM (DC0mj)

260 I would be happy to do my part to increase Japan's and South Korea's birth rates.
---------
No yellow!

Posted by: Hunter Biden at April 22, 2025 06:31 PM (TN0g+)

261 246 By the way, the DOW closed above 39,000 today. It's not like traders are plunging to their deaths on Wall Street.

Posted by: JackStraw at April 22, 2025 06:11 PM

Yet the number one lead on the nightly news is "Trump defies stock market drops and downplays fears of a recession while he wages tariff wars with the world."
Posted by: Mister Scott (Formerly GWS) at April 22, 2025 06:28 PM (e5NfL)

Yeah, my stock funds are still a couple % higher than they were at this time last year.

Posted by: Romeo13 at April 22, 2025 06:31 PM (QAkQ3)

262 One of the things I would work hard to do when I left office is to get congress to pass a law codifying out inflation is calculated, to stop the shenanigans every president does to redefine it so they look better.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at April 22, 2025 06:31 PM (2VST1)

263 Chinese Clothing Mega-Vendor Shein Shuts Down Its Factories

I got no problem going commando!

Posted by: Diogenes at April 22, 2025 06:31 PM (W/lyH)

264 With the dam I was thinking more in line with economic ripple effect because of electricity production.

Posted by: Anna Puma at April 22, 2025 06:31 PM (HTwBY)

265 I always thought The Cult was essentially Danzig for the Masses.

Posted by: garrett at April 22, 2025 06:31 PM (F30Ty)

266 249, lol

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at April 22, 2025 06:31 PM (/Ghsb)

267 >>Yet the number one lead on the nightly news is "Trump defies stock market drops and downplays fears of a recession while he wages tariff wars with the world."

Call me crazy but I don't much give a shit what the dopes on teevee say. I'm much more likely to listen to the self-made richest man in the world who routinely is miles ahead of the curve.

Posted by: JackStraw at April 22, 2025 06:31 PM (viF8m)

268 Hey. The Pope is dead.

And before he could solve priest shortages by allowing trans 'men' to serve.

That's a shame.

Posted by: Stateless.. 19% - mental state clawing up from 10%, shit happened, clawing back next week at April 22, 2025 06:32 PM (jvJvP)

269 "the nightly news"

LOL
Posted by: Pull the other one at April 22, 2025 06:30 PM (nW302)
---
Does anyone under 70 watch the nightly news?

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 22, 2025 06:32 PM (ZOv7s)

270 Musk better take Tesla private, before WS destroys it.

Posted by: runner at April 22, 2025 06:32 PM (g47mK)

271 Xi don't know sh!t from Sheinola
Posted by: 496 at April 22, 2025 06:29 PM (Qn9hv)

*golfclap*
Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at April 22, 2025 06:30 PM (DC0mj)

Xi need Frex Sear to fix economy.

Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at April 22, 2025 06:32 PM (VNX3d)

272 252.

Do you really think there’s lots of young Americans that want to work in the trades ?

Even with huge pay increases, they still can’t find people to fill these jobs.

Everyone thinks they’re white collar workers now

Posted by: Maroon at April 22, 2025 06:32 PM (lT8Vi)

273 I also think expectations need to be tempered. The reason millions of illegals are pouring in here is because there’s jobs Americans aren’t willing to do.

Posted by: Maroon at April 22, 2025 06:27 PM (lT8Vi)
---
You left out "for below-market, non-taxed wages."

There are lots of Americans willing to do those jobs, but they can't compete against illegals with free housing and health care.
------------
I ain't pickin' no cotton!

Posted by: Jasmine's wig at April 22, 2025 06:32 PM (TN0g+)

274 We have a 4% unemployment rate and I’m not sure there a large swath of Americans that want to work on assembly lines any more . Too lazy and entitled. Many of these jobs will probably be similar to working in an Amazon distribution center. Doesn’t automatically equal high pay, high benefits
Posted by: Maroon
======
Nope, what has happened is that illegals have taken over jobs from Americans and they have a) become disabled (soared during Biden recession), b) left the job market entirely (aka discouraged workers), and c) engaged in the gig economy. All of the Biden job growth figures, which were overstated anyway, came from illegals taking over American jobs and Americans dropping out off the official job market.

I would recommend study of economics in order to distinguish the bullshit that the media puts out and reality. Most of them have only a casual set of buzzwords and talking points that has little to no connection with the reality of economics.

One thing is always true, you cannot build a stable economy on cheap labor. You will have what is common in the Turd World. A few very rich people that live at the top of society and then people fighting over literal garbage.

Posted by: whig at April 22, 2025 06:32 PM (ctrM5)

275 Powell was always eager to bail out Biden and Harris, even though their policies caused the inflation crisis

With Trump, suddenly it’s a Mexican standoff where he’s basically threatening to hurt the economy if Trump doesn’t bend to his will

If Powell accommodated what Trump was doing and cut rates, countries would be scrambling to sign trade deals with the us
Posted by: Maroon at April 22, 2025 06:30 PM (lT8Vi)
***

Powell is a dumbass when it comes to economics.
Don't be like Powell.

Posted by: Diogenes at April 22, 2025 06:32 PM (W/lyH)

276 The future is Lucy and Ethel on OnlyFans.
Posted by: Masturbating Pete's brother Daryl at April 22, 2025 06:25 PM (nW302)

I don't believe in any OF revolution. Pimps have been around a long time and only a tiny fraction of girls have made a lot of money at it. They will get into that space if it did not start with them.

Posted by: Oldcat at April 22, 2025 06:33 PM (n7h9X)

277 I think all of us here are at least somewhat of an ideologue, no?
Posted by: Harry Paratestes

I just know that sometimes when I have a big problem, I go out in the back yard, and sit on the idea log.

And think.

Posted by: A face in the crowd.... at April 22, 2025 06:33 PM (vcOmj)

278 >>One of the best ever albums by one of the best ever groups.

It's a solo record.

Posted by: garrett at April 22, 2025 06:33 PM (F30Ty)

279 I think that the first couple Trump years probably pulled us out of recession because they showed the first real gain of the dollar's earning power in decades, but it was erased by the Wuhan Flu.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at April 22, 2025 06:27 PM (2VST1)

---------------

I believe during much of DogEater's Reign of Error we were actually in a depression disguised as a recession (via the typical cooking of the "economic numbers" which always are manipulated to favor a D President and disfavor an R President).

Posted by: ShainS --Waking Up Early is White Supremacy at April 22, 2025 06:33 PM (n1Sp2)

280 23 I actually think that Trump has gamed out a way to keep the US from being damaged too badly by any troubles his tariffs cause. It might just be wishful thinking but I honestly am pretty sure that he's got stuff in motion and already in place that is getting things rolling in country. We've already seen very good economic numbers so far.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at April 22, 2025 05:52 PM (2VST1)

This comment made me think of something. Trump timed Liberation Day, 2 Apr 2025, perfectly. This was the earliest date that he could start the tariff 'war' while ensuring that there would be a steady report of 1Q2025 earnings that didn't reflect the negative impact. This would give us a continuous flow of positive economic news while China sucks wind. Financial pros know that the China economic numbers are rigged bigly anyway, so if this Shein news is getting out now, it must really be bad for them if you look under the hood even a little bit.

Posted by: Darrell Harris at April 22, 2025 06:33 PM (SqA5H)

281 And before he could solve priest shortages by allowing trans 'men' to serve.

That's a shame.
Posted by: Stateless.. 19% - mental state clawing up from 10%, shit happened, clawing back next week at April 22, 2025 06:32 PM (jvJvP)
---
The shortage is actually being solved right now. Seminaries in the US are full, with massive amounts of new priests being ordained.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 22, 2025 06:33 PM (ZOv7s)

282 At least some older people, say, Gen X still have the nightly news on while eating dinner but aren't really paying attention. The TV is more a friendly voice on in the background, not something they sit and watch.

But I bet a lot of it gets through anyway, it influences people.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at April 22, 2025 06:34 PM (2VST1)

283 I always thought The Cult was essentially Danzig for the Masses.
------------
I find Danzig hard to listen to...especially once you get past hearing "Mother" for the 10-thousandth time.

I've seen the Cult live twice--both shows were amazing.

Posted by: Crusader at April 22, 2025 06:34 PM (TN0g+)

284 235 Problem is Trump's play is going now, it's working right now and Powell is trying to stifle it.
Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at April 22, 2025 06:24 PM (CL4hu)

India AND Viet Nam have placed Tariffs on Chinese Steel...
Posted by: Romeo13
---

Right. Things are going our way. Powell has to loosen up the money so that downstream can get into the play. A new steel mill, a fab shop. Burgum is working on opening up mining and refining there was and article yesterday.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at April 22, 2025 06:34 PM (CL4hu)

285
I worked construction on and off summers while in school decades ago; the latinonex's that got picked up at the corner and got paid in cash worked their asses off and in general did a better job.

Back against the wall syndrome.

Posted by: Auspex at April 22, 2025 06:34 PM (j4U/Z)

286 225 >>Has she tried selling sanctuary?

Fire Woman is the better song.
Posted by: garrett at April 22, 2025 06:25 PM (F30Ty)

Agreed but it wouldn't work as a joke here

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at April 22, 2025 06:34 PM (xcxpd)

287 Chinese Clothing Mega-Vendor Shein Shuts Down Its Factories

I got no problem going commando!
Posted by: Diogenes

If you're wearing Shein undies, you never know when that might happen spontaneously.

Posted by: according to reports upthread at April 22, 2025 06:35 PM (DgGvY)

288 Let's not pretend we haven't been dipping into in and out of a recession for over 4 years...

So much so, they decided to redefine it while Potato Joe was in office.
Posted by: garrett
----

So much so that by old timey numbers we were in a recession for most of sleepy Joe's administration.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at April 22, 2025 06:17 PM

If you remove federal deficit spending from the economic mix we have most likely been in a constant recession for the last 10-20 years.

GDP growth has for the most part not been above deficit level spending since 9/11.

And that is why we will continue to have huge amounts of deficit spending for the foreseeable future. If we stop it, the whole thing collapses hard.

Posted by: Mister Scott (Formerly GWS) at April 22, 2025 06:35 PM (e5NfL)

289
Everyone thinks they’re white collar workers now
Posted by: Maroon

The laptop bourgeoisie

Posted by: A face in the crowd.... at April 22, 2025 06:35 PM (vcOmj)

290 Do you really think there’s lots of young Americans that want to work in the trades ?

Even with huge pay increases, they still can’t find people to fill these jobs.

Everyone thinks they’re white collar workers now
Posted by: Maroon
====
Nope, they don't. Look at the trend of white and black native males not going to college but learning a trade. Males, in particular are eschewing high debt useless degrees and seeking out paying real jobs that cannot be offshored or AI ed.

Is it perhaps that you always thought you were a white collar worker and someone else, preferably cheap, should dig your ditches, build your home, and make things cheap for you to live.

Posted by: whig at April 22, 2025 06:35 PM (ctrM5)

291 Does anyone under 70 watch the nightly news?

I turn 70 this year. Does that mean I have to start watching the nightly news?

Posted by: Archimedes at April 22, 2025 06:35 PM (s8j++)

292 I also think expectations need to be tempered. The reason millions of illegals are pouring in here is because there’s jobs Americans aren’t willing to do.

Posted by: Maroon at April 22, 2025 06:27 PM (lT8Vi)
---
You left out "for below-market, non-taxed wages."

There are lots of Americans willing to do those jobs, but they can't compete against illegals with free housing and health care.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 22, 2025 06:30 PM (ZOv7s)

Indeed. The same people in corporate America saying "nobody wants to work anymore" are paying salaries that were average entry-level in 1997, and want 60-80 hours a week for what's supposed to be a 40-hour a week position. People have also gotten wise to the future-faking lies they get told about the potential for salary growth and promotion, which never materialize but go to the popular lazy guy down the hall whose dad goes boating with the board chairman on Sundays. This old and tired stereotypically "Boomer" line needs to go away.

Posted by: Shit products + poor wages = C suite bonus! at April 22, 2025 06:35 PM (TbWk/)

293 101

It's all just wetness... in the dark.

Posted by: BurtTC at April 22, 2025 06:03 PM (dGCAG)
----
Is this about the crotchless panties?

Posted by: Ciampino - keeping you panting at April 22, 2025 06:35 PM (sPQoU)

294 Judge pauses closing of Voice of America.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at April 22, 2025 06:35 PM (63Dwl)

295 The shortage is actually being solved right now. Seminaries in the US are full, with massive amounts of new priests being ordained.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 22, 2025 06:33 PM (ZOv7s

That's good then.

My late mother was actually a nun for 14 years. Left. Met my Dad. Got married. I came about a year later.

Posted by: Stateless.. 19% - mental state clawing up from 10%, shit happened, clawing back next week at April 22, 2025 06:35 PM (jvJvP)

296 I believe during much of DogEater's Reign of Error we were actually in a depression disguised as a recession

Yes, we were. I was sure of it at the time, things were unbelievably bad. Then we got Clinton's "even I couldn't have done better, nobody could fix this!" speech LOL

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at April 22, 2025 06:35 PM (2VST1)

297 Yet the number one lead on the nightly news is "Trump defies stock market drops and downplays fears of a recession while he wages tariff wars with the world."
Posted by: Mister Scott (Formerly GWS) at April 22, 2025 06:28 PM (e5NfL)

Dems tying themselves to the oligarchs -- sure to win over the left wingers.

Posted by: Oldcat at April 22, 2025 06:36 PM (n7h9X)

298 " ... One thing is always true, you cannot build a stable economy on cheap labor. You will have what is common in the Turd World. A few very rich people that live at the top of society and then people fighting over literal garbage.

Posted by: whig at April 22, 2025 06:32 PM (ctrM5) "

well, that describes the whole goal of the global deep state in a nutshell.

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at April 22, 2025 06:36 PM (/Ghsb)

299 Do you really think there’s lots of young Americans that want to work in the trades ?

Even with huge pay increases, they still can’t find people to fill these jobs.

Everyone thinks they’re white collar workers now
Posted by: Maroon at April 22, 2025 06:32 PM (lT8Vi)
---
I think a cultural shift is underway as we speak. Women now make up a majority of undergrads because men are seeing the trades as a viable option.

Seriously, in less than 10 years we went from "Colleges are rape factories" to "women who don't let men shower with them are bigots."

I think a shift to men deciding they like to make money and buy things is a lot easier.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 22, 2025 06:37 PM (ZOv7s)

300 I always thought The Cult was essentially Danzig for the Masses.
Posted by: garrett

Interesting take. You have a point there.

Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory, red heifer owner at April 22, 2025 06:37 PM (OZyEP)

301 Judge pauses closing of Voice of America.
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at April 22, 2025 06:35 PM (63Dwl)

Demands it be renamed Voice of American Judges.

Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at April 22, 2025 06:37 PM (VNX3d)

302
Everyone thinks they’re white collar workers now
Posted by: Maroon

The laptop bourgeoisie
Posted by: A face in the crowd....

What do these people do on their laptops all day?

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at April 22, 2025 06:37 PM (63Dwl)

303
Hey, Ace!

It appears time for another -

MORON MOVIE NIGHT

And here's the perfect film:

"Tiptoes"

which appears to be an insanely bad movie about dwarves starring a bunch of YUGE stars including:
Matthew McConaughey, Kate Beckinsale, Gary Oldman and many many more.

Here's some guys reviewing it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yk7yI2Iz0zw

Posted by: naturalfake at April 22, 2025 06:37 PM (iJfKG)

304 >>I find Danzig hard to listen to...especially once you get past hearing "Mother" for the 10-thousandth time.

Kinda my point, entirely.

But, everything up to Lucifuge was bomber stuff, imo. I & II specifically.

The Cult was the same recipe, but built for Radio Play. Production wise, there's not a lot of space between the two.

Posted by: garrett at April 22, 2025 06:38 PM (F30Ty)

305 Judge pauses closing of Voice of America.

===

This has gone beyond ludicrous.

Posted by: runner at April 22, 2025 06:38 PM (g47mK)

306
Is it perhaps that you always thought you were a white collar worker and someone else, preferably cheap, should dig your ditches, build your home, and make things cheap for you to live.
Posted by: whig at April 22, 2025 06:35 PM (ctrM5)
---------------

Anecdote of two: I have two grandsons who are roughly two years out of high school. One works as a boiler tech the other is a lineman. Neither were interested in college even though they're more than smart enough.

I'm so proud of those two and really proud of daughter and SiL for raising those kids right.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at April 22, 2025 06:38 PM (tT6L1)

307 China has two choices. Sink their economy or give up their place as the number one trade cheat in the world. The latter will dictate a smaller Chinese economy and hit their defense budget right in the balls. I see no problem with that.

They are already propping up their currency and putting trading limits on their brokers.

Posted by: Marcus T at April 22, 2025 06:38 PM (xmboI)

308 But China's history is different. In times of stress, the CCP has always ramped up their tyranny. Millions may be impoverished, or even starve, but the CCP will survive and if Xi is brutal enough, he too will survive.

Trump thinks this time will be different in China, and that now the people have had a taste of western prosperity, they won't stand for brutality, and Xi will make a deal. I think Trump is right.
Posted by: Huck Follywood at April 22, 2025 05:54 PM (2jkJ9)

Perhaps times have changed. A lot, maybe most of the PRC's elite class owns private property in the West. In Europe, Canada, and the US. Their children have attended Western universities. That doesn't mean their loyalties have change, of course, but they certainly have a greater awareness of the disparity when it comes to comparing national economic strengths.

Posted by: mrp at April 22, 2025 06:38 PM (rj6Yv)

309 I think all of us here are at least somewhat of an ideologue, no?
Posted by: Harry Paratestes

I think of myself as more of an iconoclast.

Burn, scatter, salt, and burn.

Posted by: mikeski at April 22, 2025 06:38 PM (DgGvY)

310 Nbc....Hegseth is apparently horrible.

Posted by: Stateless.. 19% - mental state clawing up from 10%, shit happened, clawing back next week at April 22, 2025 06:39 PM (jvJvP)

311 Seriously, in less than 10 years we went from "Colleges are rape factories" to "women who don't let men shower with them are bigots."

more like 3 years. It was insane, whiplash-inducing how fast the change went. Feminists went from worrying about men attacking them to defending men invading their most private spaces. I haven't seen such a betrayal of their core values since they went to bat for Clinton's abuse of power with an intern.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at April 22, 2025 06:39 PM (2VST1)

312 Do you really think there’s lots of young Americans that want to work in the trades ?

Even with huge pay increases, they still can’t find people to fill these jobs.

Everyone thinks they’re white collar workers now
Posted by: Maroon at April 22, 2025 06:32 PM (lT8Vi)

I had a guy wanting me to hire him for IT that was working in a grocery store. He wanted starting pay of 60K because he passed an online cybersecurity class with no on the job experience. I keep hearing yolo all the time by some of these kids.

Posted by: ryukyu at April 22, 2025 06:39 PM (r+m2N)

313 291 Does anyone under 70 watch the nightly news?
---

52% of women over 65, there's your audience.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at April 22, 2025 06:39 PM (CL4hu)

314 I think all of us here are at least somewhat of an ideologue, no?
Posted by: Harry Paratestes

I think of myself as more of an iconoclast.

Burn, scatter, salt, and burn.
Posted by: mikeski at April 22, 2025 06:38 PM (DgGvY)

Icons are pretty. Keep them, burn the rest.

Posted by: Oldcat at April 22, 2025 06:40 PM (n7h9X)

315 301 Judge pauses closing of Voice of America.
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at April 22, 2025 06:35 PM (63Dwl)

And a NY "judge" says Trump can't deport a group who were on their way to being deported.. says "You can't just kick people out of the Country without them being able to defend themselves." I guess he missed the part that they are illegally here...

Posted by: It's me donna at April 22, 2025 06:40 PM (VE6XX)

316 I find Danzig hard to listen to...

I found them intolerable the first time I heard Mother.

Kinda my point, entirely.

Yeah. Both are bands with awful singers.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at April 22, 2025 06:40 PM (2VST1)

317 I also think expectations need to be tempered. The reason millions of illegals are pouring in here is because there’s jobs Americans aren’t willing to do.

We have a 4% unemployment rate and I’m not sure there a large swath of Americans that want to work on assembly lines any more . Too lazy and entitled. Many of these jobs will probably be similar to working in an Amazon distribution center. Doesn’t automatically equal high pay, high benefits
Posted by: Maroon at April 22, 2025 06:27 PM (lT8Vi)

This is all bullshit.

There are no jobs "Americans aren't willing to do" that Mexicans are genetically pre-disposed to.

What is happening here is people won't clean toilets for $7.25 an hour when welfare is available to them -- unless they can't get welfare and are under constant threat of deportation. Then they will.

If you paid $20/hr for a custodian job, plenty of Americans would be willing to do it.

As far as unemployment rates? There is a massive amount of bullshit involved in that, ESPECIALLY when it comes to smart kids with college degrees working at Panera Bread or whatever the fuck because they have no other opportunities to make money where they live.

Posted by: Harry Paratestes at April 22, 2025 06:40 PM (uCjyK)

318 You remember the old Guess Who song American Woman?

Maryland ma han
Stay away from me he
Maryland ma han
Dude, just let me be he
Don't come hangin' round my door
I don't wanna see your face no more
I got more important things to do
Than spend my time growin' old with you

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Soldier of the Persistence at April 22, 2025 06:40 PM (L/fGl)

319 nood

Posted by: Harry Paratestes at April 22, 2025 06:41 PM (uCjyK)

320 >>Do you really think there’s lots of young Americans that want to work in the trades ?

Any that haven't been poisoned by the School to College Pipeline, yes.

Posted by: garrett at April 22, 2025 06:41 PM (F30Ty)

321 310 Nbc....Hegseth is apparently horrible.
Posted by: Stateless.. 19% -
----------

Houthis agree

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at April 22, 2025 06:41 PM (CL4hu)

322 But... but... what about my WM Doll?

Posted by: wth at April 22, 2025 06:41 PM (v0R5T)

323 She got the denim.
I got the shaft.

It all seems kinda funny...
but it hurts too much to laugh..

Posted by: Nelly at April 22, 2025 06:42 PM (pSknm)

324 more like 3 years. It was insane, whiplash-inducing how fast the change went. Feminists went from worrying about men attacking them to defending men invading their most private spaces. I haven't seen such a betrayal of their core values since they went to bat for Clinton's abuse of power with an intern.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at April 22, 2025 06:39 PM (2VST1)

Feminism has always hated women.

Started with moms and housewives.
Then get the working women hating coworking men.
Now its getting psychotic men to destroy them.

Posted by: Oldcat at April 22, 2025 06:42 PM (n7h9X)

325 >>Nope, they don't. Look at the trend of white and black native males not going to college but learning a trade. Males, in particular are eschewing high debt useless degrees and seeking out paying real jobs that cannot be offshored or AI ed.

I've had to have a bunch of electrical and plumbing work done over the last year. Not by choice. I use the same company for both because they do really good work.

Everyone of the workers who has worked on my place is under 30 and making good money judging my the whole in my bank account.

Around here young people are lining up to take jobs in the trades. Turns out making good money with no debt for a useless degree has some appeal.

Posted by: JackStraw at April 22, 2025 06:42 PM (viF8m)

326 I had a guy wanting me to hire him for IT that was working in a grocery store. He wanted starting pay of 60K because he passed an online cybersecurity class with no on the job experience. I keep hearing yolo all the time by some of these kids.
Posted by: ryukyu at April 22, 2025 06:39 PM (r+m2N)

At least he's currently employed. That's something

60K is his opening bid. How much did you offer him?

Posted by: mrp at April 22, 2025 06:42 PM (rj6Yv)

327 RFK jr wants a ban on all artificial colors by 2027, I dunno. I suspect that the dangers are very overstated, but its not like we'll be worse off for having slightly less shiny Skittles.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at April 22, 2025 06:42 PM (2VST1)

328 Perhaps times have changed. A lot, maybe most of the PRC's elite class owns private property in the West. In Europe, Canada, and the US. Their children have attended Western universities. That doesn't mean their loyalties have change, of course, but they certainly have a greater awareness of the disparity when it comes to comparing national economic strengths.
Posted by: mrp at April 22, 2025 06:38 PM (rj6Yv)
---
The society that was willing to accept the Great Leap Forward no longer exists. In fact, the Great Leap Forward was such a disaster that Mao was sidelined as a result of it. The Cultural Revolution was his attempt to regain power and it worked, albeit at great cost.

China is a land of western-educated only children, mostly men. It is a society without precedent, and there's a reason for that.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 22, 2025 06:42 PM (ZOv7s)

329 >>I found them intolerable the first time I heard Mother

rufkm?

Was the Stripper Fat or something?

Posted by: garrett at April 22, 2025 06:42 PM (F30Ty)

330 I haven't seen such a betrayal of their core values since they went to bat for Clinton's abuse of power with an intern.
-------------

I've felt for some time that was one of society's marker-points of giving up good for evil, and I was a Democrat at the time who had voted for Bill Clinton. Men have cheated on spouses for as long as time has existed, but it took the Democratic party of Clinton's time to say out loud and without any pretense of shame "Oh, its no big deal--everybody does it." And then much of Europe and the rest of the world followed suit.

9/11 was the final straw and I was done being a Democrat.

Posted by: Crusader at April 22, 2025 06:43 PM (TN0g+)

331 Anything Trump can do a Judge can stop it better
No you can't
Yes I can

Posted by: Skip at April 22, 2025 06:43 PM (ypFCm)

332 At least he's currently employed. That's something 60K is his opening bid. How much did you offer him?
Posted by: mrp at April 22, 2025 06:42 PM (rj6Yv)

30K since all he was going to be doing at first is desktop support. He didn't even have an server or firewall experience. He moved to Colorado with his wife to try there.

Posted by: ryukyu at April 22, 2025 06:44 PM (r+m2N)

333 RFK jr wants a ban on all artificial colors by 2027, I dunno. I suspect that the dangers are very overstated, but its not like we'll be worse off for having slightly less shiny Skittles.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at April 22, 2025 06:42 PM (2VST1)

Isn't the shiny bit natural, from beetles? RFK should be fine with that.

Posted by: Oldcat at April 22, 2025 06:45 PM (n7h9X)

334
Xi will lose his job if China is plunged into a deep recession with huge unemployment.

What's the over/under on Xi being Lin Biao'd when he tries to flee into exile in Russia?

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at April 22, 2025 06:45 PM (y9nCu)

335 Everyone of the workers who has worked on my place is under 30 and making good money judging my the whole in my bank account.

Around here young people are lining up to take jobs in the trades. Turns out making good money with no debt for a useless degree has some appeal.
Posted by: JackStraw at April 22, 2025 06:42 PM (viF8m)
-----------------

As Denninger pointed out a few years ago, when comparing salaries between College and Blue Collar one has to include time out of the work force, because, college and college debt. Which most of the people who talk about, "on average, a college graduate makes more money" never take into account.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at April 22, 2025 06:46 PM (tT6L1)

336 Feminism has always hated women.

Started with moms and housewives.
Then get the working women hating coworking men.
Now its getting psychotic men to destroy them.
Posted by: Oldcat at April 22, 2025 06:42 PM (n7h9X)
----
Show me a real dyed-in-the-wool Feminist and I'll show you an ugly shrew who hates her fellow females slightly more than she hates men.
-----------
Rush Limbaugh used to say "Feminism was started by ugly women..."

Posted by: Crusader at April 22, 2025 06:47 PM (TN0g+)

337 "I’m not sure there a large swath of Americans that want to work on assembly lines any more . Too lazy and entitled. "

Not hungry enough then.

Posted by: fd at April 22, 2025 06:48 PM (vFG9F)

338 We're in a tough period. Business does not like uncertainty.

*whistles nonchalantly*

Posted by: $37 trillion dollars of debt at April 22, 2025 05:49 PM (Vqx30)
_______________

$37 trillion dollars of debt is a certainty!

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at April 22, 2025 06:50 PM (YqDXo)

339 278 >>One of the best ever albums by one of the best ever groups.

It's a solo record.
Posted by: garrett at April 22, 2025 06:33 PM (F30Ty)
It's on other discs, has to be as I quit buying singles when they were 45s.

Posted by: Eromero at April 22, 2025 06:50 PM (LHPAg)

340 Show me a real dyed-in-the-wool Feminist and I'll show you an ugly shrew who hates her fellow females slightly more than she hates men.
________________

Even her psychiatrist(s)?

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at April 22, 2025 06:52 PM (YqDXo)

341 Around here young people are lining up to take jobs in the trades. Turns out making good money with no debt for a useless degree has some appeal.
Posted by: JackStraw
=======
Few want to admit that they want cheap things--cheap labor, cheap shit from China, cheap houses, etc. But one of the things I noticed about my putative economic class, most of them resemble planters in the South in never really having to work their ass off at menial labor ever in their lives.

Posted by: whig at April 22, 2025 06:52 PM (ctrM5)

342 Rush Limbaugh used to say "Feminism was started by ugly women..."

Posted by: Crusader at April 22, 2025 06:47 PM (TN0g+)
______________

Truth.

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at April 22, 2025 06:52 PM (YqDXo)

343 327 RFK jr wants a ban on all artificial colors by 2027, I dunno. I suspect that the dangers are very overstated, but its not like we'll be worse off for having slightly less shiny Skittles.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor
------
Ace will get to grumble that no kids get that great artificial coloring in their breakfast KaBoom anymore.

Posted by: whig at April 22, 2025 06:54 PM (ctrM5)

344 I haven't seen such a betrayal of their core values since they went to bat for Clinton's abuse of power with an intern.
_________________

They didn't betray their core values. They betrayed their nominal core values. Their true core values were communism, and that they never betrayed.

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at April 22, 2025 06:55 PM (YqDXo)

345 They didn't betray their core values. They betrayed their nominal core values. Their true core values were communism, and that they never betrayed.
Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara
-

I just logged in and this was the first comment I saw, and it's maybe one of the best comments I've seen posted anywhere online in weeks.

I might just go read a book and consider it a night. Well done.

Posted by: Boron Quidquid - you realize Darwin disproved evolution, right? at April 22, 2025 07:35 PM (km43Y)

346 Sorry, I did a Sheldon*. Yes 5 quarters but this was something I worked out some time ago. The $22.50 is correct. The $24 USD is based on more recent silver prices. I used a junk silver app on my iPad.
*Sheldon on an old episode of “The Big Bang Theory” presented a paper pre-publication to the actual Steven Hawking, who was slumming in a cameo on the show, in which he made an arithmetic error in the first paragraph, negating his whole theory of everything.

Posted by: NemoMeImpuneLacessit at April 22, 2025 08:48 PM (g/Chl)

347 If you go to a Suffragette meeting you can hear some ugly things and see them, too!
- H.L. Mencken, IIRC

Posted by: NemoMeImpuneLacessit at April 22, 2025 08:51 PM (g/Chl)

348 Micheal Scott is like a submarine. 6 months of idiocy punctuated by 6 minutes of sheer genius

Posted by: Fen at April 23, 2025 12:34 AM (jY3Ey)

Processing 0.04, elapsed 0.0512 seconds.
14 queries taking 0.0137 seconds, 356 records returned.
Page size 205 kb.
Powered by Minx 0.8 beta.