Tariffs

[PlainName]

I prefer to go see for myself.

I think you'd see less than you'd pick up via the media. Even in my own small-ish town I have no idea what some parts are like. I am sometimes surprised by other towns, and I've been to other countries and couldn't honestly tell you how the people there really think or behave. Or even what their circumstances are. There is just no way you can get an overall picture of someone by toddling around on holiday, and even less so if you're stuck in a job instead of visiting places.

Did you mean to say you "do your own research"?

[Zero999]

Still has major problems with racism as demonstrated by continued excessive use of force cases (including outright murder) against black and brown people, despite our overwhelming (well, formerly overwhelming) economic successes.

That's not even true. It's the narrative pushed by the race baiting media, but it's not so straightforward.

The reality is, certain demographics are more likely to commit violent crime, hence why they're more likely to be subject to force, or killed by the police. For example, most black people are killed by other black people. Now look at the number of black homicides vs the number of white homicides. Note that the ratio is pretty similar to the amount of times black people are more likely to be killed by the police (this does vary, depending on the source, but note it's within the same ballpark) compared to white.

This is why simply saying black people are X times more likely to be hurt by the police is misleading. It's like saying the police are much more likely to kill men, than women, is due to sexism.

[MT]

Americans soon have to walk barefoot!

[Analog Kid]

Did you know that I had to drive 4.5 hours across the state to visit a DMV? That's right, local DMV's have long lines, you come 6:30 PM the previous evening and already there are 20 people in line, waiting all night. You come 3 AM, be prepared to wait around the block, because the line is so long. This is because of DEI, diversity, equality, inclusion. I drove 4.5 hours across the state where there is no this "woke" thing, walked into DMV and was out within an hour.

At the risk of turning this into a verboten political discussion (heavens to Betsy!), I have to challenge you on this.

I have no idea what state or what part of that state you're in, but I'm pretty sure I can confidently say that "DEI" is not the reason for those long lines at the DMV. (And believe me, I know about long waits at the DMV: spent many an hour at the Oakland, CA office.)

It may be due to budget cuts. It could be mismanagement of that particular office. It could be a lot of things, but I fail to see how "DEI" could cause those long lines. Unless you're somehow inferring that because of DEI, the staff there is incompetent.

In any case, if you have any evidence to show us to support this assertion, then please do so. Otherwise, color me skeptical.

(And no, while I am quite aware of lingering racism in the US and other maladies that need fixing, I'm not a big fan of DEI policies.)

[tautech]

Still has major problems with racism as demonstrated by continued excessive use of force cases (including outright murder) against black and brown people, despite our overwhelming (well, formerly overwhelming) economic successes.

That's not even true. It's the narrative pushed by the race baiting media, but it's not so straightforward.

That's about the only thing Donald got right, Fake News.

All media is fighting for readership and will construct news from anything. 

[tom66]

Did you know that I had to drive 4.5 hours across the state to visit a DMV? That's right, local DMV's have long lines, you come 6:30 PM the previous evening and already there are 20 people in line, waiting all night. You come 3 AM, be prepared to wait around the block, because the line is so long. This is because of DEI, diversity, equality, inclusion. I drove 4.5 hours across the state where there is no this "woke" thing, walked into DMV and was out within an hour.

At the risk of turning this into a verboten political discussion (heavens to Betsy!), I have to challenge you on this.

I have no idea what state or what part of that state you're in, but I'm pretty sure I can confidently say that "DEI" is not the reason for those long lines at the DMV. (And believe me, I know about long waits at the DMV: spent many an hour at the Oakland, CA office.)

It may be due to budget cuts. It could be mismanagement of that particular office. It could be a lot of things, but I fail to see how "DEI" could cause those long lines. Unless you're somehow inferring that because of DEI, the staff there is incompetent.

In any case, if you have any evidence to show us to support this assertion, then please do so. Otherwise, color me skeptical.

(And no, while I am quite aware of lingering racism in the US and other maladies that need fixing, I'm not a big fan of DEI policies.)

Non-political -- but kinda strange you even have a 'DMV' you have to go to. In the UK pretty much everything related to a driving licence and registering a car is done by ordinary mail, or even online in some cases.  Theoretically a few things need to be done at the Post Office branch itself, but in all my years I don't think I've ever had to do those.  The service isn't particularly fast (several weeks is pretty typical), but it's legal to drive whilst you're waiting for a new photocard licence for instance, you just have to prove you asked for one.  Also when you buy/sell a car the documents are sent to the 'DVLA' who will transfer the ownership, but technically the moment you sign the form the car is yours.  There's no type of 'title', a car's ownership isn't for the state to determine (in the UK at least), all they care about is who is legally responsible for the car (i.e. who speeding tickets will go to if the car is seen speeding... and then it becomes your responsibility to tell the cops who was driving, which may involve you responding that it was 'you'.)

[Analog Kid]

Non-political -- but kinda strange you even have a 'DMV' you have to go to. In the UK pretty much everything related to a driving licence and registering a car is done by ordinary mail, or even online in some cases.

Just to be clear, in most (all?) parts of the US, things like registration renewal are all done by mail after the vehicle is registered.

But to get your license (take the written and possibly a driving test), you need to go to an office in person.

Not sure what that person's business at the DMV was.

[eigenvictor]

One could cast similar kinds of aspersion even on the United States of Amnesia, which still has major problems with racism as demonstrated by continued excessive use of force cases (including outright murder) against black and brown people

Didn't expect to read this in 2025.
You are about 5 years late with this propaganda. The last five years is  why we now have tariffs (due to a certain chain of events which I will not mention).  Oh well. 

[shabaz]

At my local windixie cashier don't speak English. Perfect Spanish.

Something tells me Americans are fed up with certain things. Because I'm here only 2 months and it already bugs me.

Says you, the guy with a heavy foreign accent on your YouTube channel, desperately trying to emphasise that you're a different class of Russian immigrant.

You cannot speak perfect English, but at least the cashier spoke perfect Spanish, and why shouldn't he speak his perfect Spanish, or even limited English, if he finds it sufficient for his work.

The people you say are "fed up" with such non-native-limited-English-speaking immigrants cannot stand you either.

In fact, you're even more unlikeable because even they would recognize you'd give away your own grandmother if she couldn't speak English, just to paint yourself as a different kind of immigrant, and no-one likes that sort of person.

[BravoV]

Start with https://www.state.gov/office-to-monitor-and-combat-trafficking-in-persons/releases/2025/01/uyghur-forced-labor-prevention-act-uflpa-fact-sheet

I absolutely __LOVE__ this!! What Chinese are doing and there is link to resource by United States government!!

Good stuff. 


You'd have to be woke and drink budlight to go to that site and with straight face read the __TRUTH__ about China. 


Personally, I wouldn't be reading anything by anyone putting dirt on someone. I prefer to go see for myself. Furthermore, I wouldn't be trusting anyone who is relying on reading something instead of experiencing something for themselves.

Why China sucks? Because state.gov said so! Perfect logic!

One sample of how heavily brainwashed some people are, and so bad it defies basic logic and common sense. 

[zapta]

I seem to remember zapta pasting a photograph of muslims kneeling to pray in a discussion on this site recently, maybe relevant if one doesn't want those types of people in their country, but it had absolutely zero to do with engineering. Given you rammed that photo into that discussion because it suited whatever agenda you may have, you're the last person with a valid objection here.

@shabaz, that's sounds like whataboutism.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whataboutism

[shabaz]

I seem to remember zapta pasting a photograph of muslims kneeling to pray in a discussion on this site recently, maybe relevant if one doesn't want those types of people in their country, but it had absolutely zero to do with engineering. Given you rammed that photo into that discussion because it suited whatever agenda you may have, you're the last person with a valid objection here.

@shabaz, that's sounds like whataboutism.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whataboutism

I couldn't care less if that's what you think!

[TimFox]

Non-political -- but kinda strange you even have a 'DMV' you have to go to. In the UK pretty much everything related to a driving licence and registering a car is done by ordinary mail, or even online in some cases.

Just to be clear, in most (all?) parts of the US, things like registration renewal are all done by mail after the vehicle is registered.

But to get your license (take the written and possibly a driving test), you need to go to an office in person.

Not sure what that person's business at the DMV was.

Specifically, in the US one needs to go in person to the DMV (in Illinois, the Secretary of State's local office) to take a driving test, a vision test (when required), and be photographed for the license.
In between periodic tests, etc., the license can be renewed online if there are no pending offenses, etc.

[PlainName]

Non-political -- but kinda strange you even have a 'DMV' you have to go to. In the UK pretty much everything related to a driving licence and registering a car is done by ordinary mail, or even online in some cases.

Just to be clear, in most (all?) parts of the US, things like registration renewal are all done by mail after the vehicle is registered.

But to get your license (take the written and possibly a driving test), you need to go to an office in person.

Not sure what that person's business at the DMV was.

Specifically, in the US one needs to go in person to the DMV (in Illinois, the Secretary of State's local office) to take a driving test, a vision test (when required), and be photographed for the license.
In between periodic tests, etc., the license can be renewed online if there are no pending offenses, etc.

Not on topic, but better than politics... 

Are you saying you turn up at DMV to take a test whenever you feel like it? Or do you make an appointment and then turn up at the allotted time? In the first case I'm not surprised there might be lengthy queues, but in the latter a couple of people a bit delayed would be the worst expectation.

Edit: I "did my own research" and found the DMV website. Looks like you can make an appointment for everything, so I'm a bit puzzled. However, what struck me as funny (and the primary reason for not deleting this after my 'research') was the big headline: "User your passport now - get a REAL ID later" 

[tautech]

However, what struck me as funny (and the primary reason for not deleting this after my 'research') was the big headline: "User your passport now - get a REAL ID later" 

Son did 2 six months stints in the US on harvest duties where he had to get heavy traffic licenses as they moved gear over a # of states.
Although he had a short term Green card, he would've also be required to show his passport as ID.

[Zoli]

Start with https://www.state.gov/office-to-monitor-and-combat-trafficking-in-persons/releases/2025/01/uyghur-forced-labor-prevention-act-uflpa-fact-sheet

I absolutely __LOVE__ this!! What Chinese are doing and there is link to resource by United States government!!

Good stuff. 


You'd have to be woke and drink budlight to go to that site and with straight face read the __TRUTH__ about China. 


Personally, I wouldn't be reading anything by anyone putting dirt on someone. I prefer to go see for myself. Furthermore, I wouldn't be trusting anyone who is relying on reading something instead of experiencing something for themselves.

Why China sucks? Because state.gov said so! Perfect logic!

One sample of how heavily brainwashed some people are, and so bad it defies basic logic and common sense. 

I would agree with u666sa here; get first hand experience, or at least read/watch first hand experience, and don't rely on biased reports serving US interests. As side note, one of the main targets of the detention camps were the uyghur criminal gangs from the big cities(Shanghai, Hong-Kong etc.) - fact which is missing from the mentioned USAID report.

[TimFox]

Non-political -- but kinda strange you even have a 'DMV' you have to go to. In the UK pretty much everything related to a driving licence and registering a car is done by ordinary mail, or even online in some cases.

Just to be clear, in most (all?) parts of the US, things like registration renewal are all done by mail after the vehicle is registered.

But to get your license (take the written and possibly a driving test), you need to go to an office in person.

Not sure what that person's business at the DMV was.

Specifically, in the US one needs to go in person to the DMV (in Illinois, the Secretary of State's local office) to take a driving test, a vision test (when required), and be photographed for the license.
In between periodic tests, etc., the license can be renewed online if there are no pending offenses, etc.

Not on topic, but better than politics... 

Are you saying you turn up at DMV to take a test whenever you feel like it? Or do you make an appointment and then turn up at the allotted time? In the first case I'm not surprised there might be lengthy queues, but in the latter a couple of people a bit delayed would be the worst expectation.

Edit: I "did my own research" and found the DMV website. Looks like you can make an appointment for everything, so I'm a bit puzzled. However, what struck me as funny (and the primary reason for not deleting this after my 'research') was the big headline: "User your passport now - get a REAL ID later" 

Driver’s licensing and similar procedures are determined by each State, which usually calls the relevant office the DMV.  Appointment requirements vary from State to State:  until recently, Illinois did not offer sensible appointments, and the lines on the sidewalk at the office about a mile from my house in Chicago could be dreadful. 

[Marco]

I would agree with u666sa here; get first hand experience, or at least read/watch first hand experience

I'd rather be able to speak my mind. In the age of internet surveillance, visiting a dictatorship and trash talking dictators on the internet has become a bad idea. I'm not giving up calling him Pooh.

[Monkeh]

I would agree with u666sa here; get first hand experience, or at least read/watch first hand experience

I'd rather be able to speak my mind. In the age of internet surveillance, visiting a dictatorship and trash talking dictators on the internet has become a bad idea. I'm not giving up calling him Pooh.

You don't even have to be visiting the dictatorship these days, just their benefactors..

[nctnico]

I would agree with u666sa here; get first hand experience, or at least read/watch first hand experience

I'd rather be able to speak my mind. In the age of internet surveillance, visiting a dictatorship and trash talking dictators on the internet has become a bad idea. I'm not giving up calling him Pooh.

For as long as you can speak your mind. I have been reading up a bit on 'project 2025' which is instigated by the people surrounding Trump and that is some scary stuff on multiple levels. It is like reading the manifesto of extremist / fanatic Islamic groups like IS and so on announcing their caliphate. But then with god instead of allah. The tariffs are just a start of what is about to come. Dark days! It would not surprise if some of the big American companies move away from the US and setup their HQs elsewhere.

[tggzzz]

I would agree with u666sa here; get first hand experience, or at least read/watch first hand experience

I'd rather be able to speak my mind. In the age of internet surveillance, visiting a dictatorship and trash talking dictators on the internet has become a bad idea. I'm not giving up calling him Pooh.

Nor, for that matter, T'rump, The Orange One, etc Never thought that would come to the USA.

[tggzzz]

I would agree with u666sa here; get first hand experience, or at least read/watch first hand experience

I'd rather be able to speak my mind. In the age of internet surveillance, visiting a dictatorship and trash talking dictators on the internet has become a bad idea. I'm not giving up calling him Pooh.

For as long as you can speak your mind. I have been reading up a bit on 'project 2025' which is instigated by the people surrounding Trump and that is some scary stuff on multiple levels. It is like reading the manifesto of extremist / fanatic Islamic groups like IS and so on announcing their caliphate. But then with god instead of allah. The tariffs are just a start of what is about to come. Dark days!

Dark indeed.

Three points:

• tariffs can be instantly reversed, but neutered science and education and justice departments cannot
• there was always the concept of "flooding" the opposition, the opposition being the media as much as the Democrats
• even if some of the crap is reversed later rather than sooner, the damage will have been done and there won't be time to reverse much of it

Hence there is a lot to the concept that the tariffs are a smokescreen allowing the other stuff to be implemented

[Marco]

For as long as you can speak your mind. I have been reading up a bit on 'project 2025' which is instigated by the people surrounding Trump and that is some scary stuff on multiple levels.

I do not fear Trump starting a military coup and he is not overturning the 22th Amendment with a vote. Meanwhile Pooh has been the defacto dictator of China for 11 years already.

[PlainName]

I'd rather be able to speak my mind. In the age of internet surveillance, visiting a dictatorship and trash talking dictators on the internet has become a bad idea. I'm not giving up calling him Pooh.

Nor, for that matter, T'rump, The Orange One, etc Never thought that would come to the USA.

It's worth bearing in mind that Trump's hallmark is to call people he dislikes by ridiculous nicknames. It would be a shame to be associated with the likes of Trump because you do the same thing. Sure, you're free to trash talk them or call them stupid names, but being free to do so doesn't mean you have to.

[Marco]

BTW, I didn't notice until now but the SHIPS act which also includes some tariffs is actually bipartisan.

The Washington apparatus is all too happy to let Trump take the fall for the economic fallout the current tariffs will have, but after he's gone it gets a lot easier on them to stay the course of protectionism ... and they aren't unwilling.