Small Business Optimism Slipped in March
Small business optimism slipped 2.9 points to 104.7 in March following February’s strong reading, which was the second highest in series history. Earnings and compensation trends were notable bright spots in the report.
Higher worker compensation was reported by a net 33% of respondents, which is the highest level since May 2000. Firms are paying workers more to retain them. The time and effort needed to find suitable replacement workers has increased as the labor market has tightened. A whopping 89% of business owners seeking to hire workers reported few or no qualified applicants for those openings.
US Raw Steel Production Rose Last Week
US raw steel production rose 1.6 percent last week as mills operated at an ACUR of 77 percent. In the corresponding week last year, mills operated at an ACUR of 73.8 percent. Thus far this year mills have produced prox 24,397,000 tons compared to the prox 24,089,000 tons produced in the like period last year.
North Korea Denuclearization
Some great news (hopefully) on Sunday: The Wall Street Journal reported that North Korea has told the United States that Kim Jong Un is prepared to discuss the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in his meeting with President Trump next month.
This will be a very positive and real game changer for the world. If Kim denuclearizes, world trade and help would open for the North Korean people, who are starving to death. Kim would become a hero to his people and many lives would be changed for the better.
It makes sense for him to do this. North Korea stands zero chance of success in a nuclear showdown with the United States. Continued threats will only continue to harm North Korea and her citizens. Get ‘er done…
Syria’s “Big Price”
Also, on Sunday the President warned Syria’s Assad of a “big price” if a suspected chemical -weapons attack which killed dozens of people, is proven to have been carried out by Assad’s people. Hopefully this means something more destructive than Tomahawk missiles…at least many more of them…directed at the royal palace or wherever that rat is known to reside.
Spratly Islands Jamming Systems
And Monday morning we learn that China has installed jamming systems on two of its fortified outposts in the Spratly Islands, capable of jamming communications and radar systems, a significant step in its creeping militarization of the South China Sea, US officials say.
Art of the Deal Prevails
Once again, the Art of the Deal prevails. Almost everyone had their shorts in a dither over a possible trade war with China. Why? Because the goal of the left and the mainstream media is to destroy our president. I have said before that the tariffs were the beginning of negotiations, not the be all and end all. Those who thought that are complete idiots.
Now, since the tariffs were announced on steel and aluminum, 33 countries have thus far been exempted from them and those countries are now re-negotiating their steel and/or aluminum trade deals with the USA. Tuesday, Xi Xinping publicly stated that he is willing to open Chinese markets by lowering unfair import tariffs on autos specifically and will also take action on intellectual property theft.
Naturally, the left and the media will find some way to prostitute what is happening, when in fact they should be kissing the President’s arse. Both President Xi and President Trump are aware that both countries are inextricably connected through trade and each country needs the other in order to allow prosperity to grow. A trade war would benefit no one and both leaders know that.
Infrastructure X (Keystone & Dakota pipelines) Regulation Reform XX 1 in 2 out
Individual Tax Reform XX Entitlement Reform
Business Tax Reform XX Education Reform X
Healthcare Reform Veterans Administration Reform X
Rebuild our Military X Trade Reform X
Secure our Borders (The Wall) XX Lead the world from the front XX
Help for the poor XX Drain the swamp X as we speak
Peace through unmatchable strength Support Israel X
Destroy ISIS XX Extreme Vetting XX
Conservative Supreme Court nominees XX American Jobs XX
I will track these campaign promises and will check them off as each is accomplished adding those I have missed as they become apparent. This is quite an agenda and will be difficult to achieve all in one term but I believe the American people are behind him and know these things need to be done. Now, if he can get our legislators to support him instead of fighting him….
“MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN”
Have a great weekend…. God bless America!
Buy American made products whenever you can, it’s good for you, good for your friends and neighbors and good for our country.
If you are hiring…try to hire a veteran…. they are loyal, disciplined, hardworking…and they deserve our support.
By the way, if you wish to comment on my rants or offer any other insights you may have, you are encouraged to email me.
TEDDY ROOSEVELT ON IMMIGRANTS IN AMERICA…1907
In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person’s becoming in every facet an American and nothing but an American. There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn’t an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag…We have room for but one language here and that is the English language…and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.”
