Trump is right about one thing. A tariff is a tax. But it doesn’t make us rich; it makes us poor, falling mostly on our own households… not foreign countries nor big corporations.
"And don’t squander your time squabbling with federal employees or trying to root out ‘waste.’"
Wrong. Spend as much time as possible trying to reduce the overpaid federal workforce and eliminate waste. Biden added 100's of thousands of pointless federal employees over the past 4 years. DOGE exposure of wasteful spending gives Congress the political will needed to make the cuts you are asking for. The President is doing everything he can solo. Your plan needs an unwilling Congress to cooperate.
Also ask why does Germany get to charge 30% tariff on Fords and we charge nothing on VW's? Just asking. Seems like the tariffs, while no panacea, are a useful bargaining chip for President Trump who is demonized and thwarted at every turn.
The statement you quote puts PAID to any notion that Bill Bonner isn't, at heart, a leftard elitist. He puts it right there in front of our faces, folks...
“Poor Mr. Trump… he doesn’t know where he’s going. No compass.” Sounds like Bill describing Bill.
Trump is going in many directions that have a definite definitive system altering purposes. As John Mearsheimer says, “Giant plate shifting in Europe.”
For sure. Years ago their was a reality show on MSNBC about the guy who owned 600 Morton's Restaurants across USA. People would come trying to sell him products (napkins, meat salt shakers) etc. He dealt in quality and pennies. He was perfect teacher of your statement.
Bill just can’t help himself…always devolves into a Trump slam-fest. Good grief. At least my latest “buys” of Tom’s tankers has declined below my buy price…is another CMRE debacle looming?
I just read VW & BMW are out sourcing production to the US & Asia. It appears there are many leftards all over the planet. Lol hahahahaha Sorry but it is funny. Germany or the AfD (Alternative for Duetchland) is calling for a full scale de-globalization of Germany. Bye bye EU.
Historically tariffs were imposed to protect weak industries. That is not what is going on here. I believe Trump’s tariffs are primarily a negotiating tactic, less a serious policy thrust(read The Art of the Deal). Trump knows that to be successful in negotiations the other side must believe you are serious. He is after other objectives, like getting Venezuela to accept returned criminal aliens(which they initially refused to do but soon agreed to under the threat of tariffs). Same goes for Mexico and Canada and the EU. The threat of tariffs is being used to achieve other objectives. If tariffs end up being implemented in certain areas, I expect them to be short lived until the other side cries Uncle. Why? Who has the greatest leverage in a tariff fight? Answer: The biggest buyer.
Brien, Excellent comment. And Bill generalizes so much about tariffs, just like the globalists' leftist flunkies in the legacy media. They have been recently calling Pres. Trump a dictator or emperor because he's reducing the national government. Dictators increase their nations' governments, not reduce them. And they take away their citizens' firearms. Pres. Trump can be counted on to protect gun rights. You can't make up this nonsense from these flunkies.
Bill continues to generalize when he criticizes Pres. Trump; very little rigorous analysis. For example, he--opined--that all of Pres. Trump's tariffs would simply protect insiders' companies in the U.S., and thus these companies would only turn out mediocre products at higher prices. Only mediocre products at higher prices, Bill? There are lots of ChiCom products, for example, that are junk. So all foreign companies turn out quality products, and the U.S. will only turn out junk if some of their companies are protected. Really, Bill? Do you realize how ridiculous you sound? TDS is definitely a dumbing-down disease.
Bill's simple solution: "Instead, just cut the budget. Spending must be reduced, not by a few billions here and there, but by trillions of dollars. Milei in Argentina cut government spending by 40% in his first year in office." Unfortunately, Trump can't even fire federal bureaucrats -- apparently, a federal District judge controls that decision. Cutting the budget requires Congressional approval -- the same folks who are & have been living off of the pork. How does Bill propose to get that approval?
There is a currently-dim light at the end of the tunnel, David. It appears that the current "R" side of the Congress may actually be onboard with reducing spending. At least for this go-round and excepting Scumbag Mitch of course:
Good question How? . That is MR. T's problem to answer. But I agree that Bill can give his nickels worth. Pennies are no longer in the currency manufacturing cycle. That is why I said nickel.
Wish I could, but Our prime minister is a person who has long lost his way and We need the election yesterday. Among many problems that this country has , money like in the US is a problem . But I like Your comment.
Wrong, the LNG terminal in British Columbia will not be ready until 2032 at the earliest. China is getting deep discounted NG from Russia. Where did you read that Canada's GDP was goign up??????
Bonner writes: "And don’t squander your time squabbling with federal employees or trying to root out ‘waste.’"
"Instead, just cut the budget. Spending must be reduced, not by a few billions here and there, but by trillions of dollars."
The problem is that you can't justify the cutting without showing the waste. You would never get it passed through Congress. Trump is actually going about this the logical way, while Bonner is just dabbling in wishful thinking. By showing the waste and the bloated bureaucracy, Trump and Musk are delegitimizing the federal government for all to see and therefore creating a willingness (at least among the honest and sane) to cut the budget.
What do we expect from the BPR jefe? He has an irrational hatred for Trump, now his ass is getting further chapped because the Donald/Elon Duo are having success where Bill failed all those years ago.
Trump could run a $36Trillion surplus tomorrow, and Bonner would still find fault. TDS is a truly debilitating thing. As you’ve said, it’s clear Bonner is a leftwinger, and his politics slants his missives now, no matter how much he claims that economics is his only concern, and this newsletter is apolitical. Ain’t a flagpole high enough to run-up the BS flag on that claim by Bonner.
I’m starting to wonder if Bonner got some of that USAID money to start his worldwide enterprise?!?! We now know why his company was allowed to exist. He’s a far left troll. Something smells.
This just in on the DOGE front. BREAKING - Elon Musk and DOGE have discovered that there are 394 million Social Security recipients in the U.S., despite the country having only 334 million citizens, a discrepancy of more than 60 million.
Rip these frauds up by the roots and prosecute the thieves immediately. Congress is useless. They have let this rot and fraud fester to the point of the near death of the Republic. Extraordinary measures are called for at this point.
Wait'll you see how many over-100-year-olds are cashing monthly checks - not to mention how many Medicaid/Medicare "recipients" don't even LIVE in the US:
Yet Bonner has the pebbles to tell us today that uncovering this MASSIVE, WIDESPREAD fraud in all areas of "government" is a waste of time and not where we should be focusing our efforts. I smell a YUUUUGE rat...
Welcome back, Pat. Still spouting ignorant, unverified nothings I see. Better not click on any of the multitude links I have posted today. Your heart might not be able to take the Reality...
Spoken like a true bureaucrat. Gs 5Gs g 25 blah. The translated in Latin. That means" f*** the system and the taxpayer.. "for those reading it's bureaucrat jargon total bureaucrat language.
I have siblings who work in education. They were able to bank all their unused vacation days, which were up to 6 weeks a year, despite the fact they only work given holidays and such eight months a year. Really don't need to use your vacation in six days when you're off four months. When they retired, they wold take all their unused vacation and suck pay that was banked and put it the last year's pay. That would boost their pensions payout by as much as fifty percent. Not a secret they all laugh about it. It's
a practice used today in education in every school district ... The poor underpaid teachers. Most of them have second jobs because they have so much spare time while they're working as dangerous. Further, When they advanced their educational hours their pay increases. Sounds like it makes sense.They do it in their off time and the taxpayers pay forward. They go out and party every day as a group. I promise you this is cliche and every city.
I was married to one for quite a while. She was a great teacher to her 1st Graders - but played the system as they all did. She would occasionally agree that the whole "poor, under-paid teacher" schtick was a load of baloney. If they actually worked a full 8 months in a year, it was a rare occurrence...
I read them all , Tell me what all this has to do with firing a bunch of poor GS-5's. And shutting down USAID.
No sane person would believe Musk's list on SS recipients is true.
and please explain, wtf this means. “According to the Social Security database, these are the numbers of people in each age bucket with the ‘death’ field set to FALSE." ????????
As Bill has told U , ALL this Gov waste and corruption has been known and addressed for 50 yrs and here U think the Donald is going to do anything about that with his tariffs and firing of poor Gov workers . U better do some critical thinking about all this , Dont U think?
Do you even read what you write? Verified WHEN? Addressed HOW??
And the GS5's can piss off. There are probably 1.25 million government "employees" that we DON'T NEED because they do VERY LITTLE. They haven't even been required to SHOW UP for the past 4+ years. It is straight-up an addition Entitlement Program. Doubt me? Look up the Racial percentages of our darling government "workers".
Look up Bill Bonners manifesto in the Taxpayers Union , U'll see plenty of acknowledgement and addressing of waste. Are U too ignorant to know about the teabagers acknowledgement and addressing of Gov waste .
Why don't u explain my Q on "death field "False" as I asked ?
I never said anything about "darling workers " I said POOR workers who can't pay their rent.
So , U think there should be 1.25 million MORE people unemployed !!!!
How about ALL the military personnel , they produce nothing, fire all of them, right?
So , the GS5's can piss off, huh ? Thats the problem, u elitists republinuts think the Gov is strictly for u . u are, wrong , The Government is for the protection of ALL the people . E Plurimus Unam!
U tell me the Racial percentage of the work force, if u have the guts, I'm sure its heavy black . Is that Ur point ?
LMAO old man. You are WAY out of touch on BOTH counts.
And yes - the worthless, soon-to-be-unemployed government "workers" can fill in washing all those dishes, cleaning all those toilets and mowing all those yards that the deported illegal invaders used to do - no matter what color they are...
Bill: here you go again. Tariffs make the economic balance between countries more on a level playing field. WHAT IF instead of increasing our tariffs to level the field, the countries involved LOWERED their tariffs. Instead of raving and ranting give trump (and Musk) a chance at getting rid of waste and fraud; it could amount to a significant amount of dollars. Be fair in your comments. AP
"What really matters is the total amount of a society’s output that is crippled, diverted, or wasted by the feds. The more the feds take…the less is left for everyone else."
This is why the Fed bureaucrat herd needs thinning. Or wholesale Milei department elimination. They drag everything down. Even before you get to the fact that much of it is a criminal enterprise focused on diverting funds to NGO's and special interests. With healthy donations and support coming back to our elected "servants."
The only thing missing from your screed today Bill is Trump hasn't done anything about the price of eggs. Three weeks in and he's already cutting spending, firing employees and advocating getting rid of entire departments. Both he and Musk have stated the debt is too high, government is too big and it all has to change.
"Why don't you knock it off with them negative waves Moriarty? Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change?"
And it appears the most important PHASE II is going to happen - that being our Congress actually REDUCING SPENDING when the Budget Circus gets rolling next month.
Personally - I am most excited about Phase III - that would be the Investigations, Prosecutions, Incarcerations and limited Hangings of each and EVERY NGO/"Government"/Private Contractor THIEF...
Here is where I side with Bill. I don't have much faith in the Elephants when it comes to things like actually cutting spending. Every time they get the majority of both houses of Congress it always winds up we can't do it. To paraphrase Ron White, that bunch has a lot of quit in 'em.
Lee - I am RIGHT there with you. They have been a HUGE disappointment my entire life. Is it going to be different this time? I don't know. There are a lot of factors at play that have never held much sway before. As the link shows, they are talking a good game this time around. Let's see what the final Spending Plan looks like - then again next year and beyond.
Wow. Just wow. I am absolutely speechless—though, thankfully, not typeless. So many patently absurd ad hominem attacks on Trump. And King Herod? Now that’s some deep-dish historical cherry-picking.
This country has no shortage of wise pundits, it seems. Sadly, they are all barbers, bartenders, and employees of Bonner Private Research. If only they would take a break from dispensing haircuts and happy hour wisdom to actually running for president. Instead, they prefer to lounge on the sidelines, hurling empty pop cans into the arena and mistaking the sound of their own echoes for thunderous applause.
Bill failed miserably in the 80’s with his Taxpayers Union, ergo President Trump and Elon will fail also! What a crock of garbage. Bill is getting more insufferable by the day. I expect TDS will have driven him completely insane by the end of the year. Lol 😂 he’ll have plenty of company in the rubber room! I couldn’t even stomach reading his whole spiel today. Sad
He didn't fail because of effort, he failed because the House & Senate were Democrat controlled until 1995. Communication was Newspapers and TV all mostly left wing. The public really did not know what was really going on and believed everything Walter Cronkite told us. Until the Internet became available we were kept in the dark. Now we see the truth but may be too late.
I lived through it and voted for Reagan. Bill and the Taxpayer Union failed miserably. Reagan had a mandate. Lots of other things succeeded, not nearly enough though. Bill failed and he’s just completely eat up with jealousy that Trump and the tech boys are succeeding, so far. We’ll see how it all shakes out.
Bill was not able to get the message out to the masses. Few followed him and the main stream press were all against his message. Congressman John Ashbrook was my representative & railed against most of the same things but their were too few like him in Congress then. With the financial success Bill has had I seriously doubt he is Jealous of anybody or thing. Doge is already successful. Until it takes money out of some Republican politicians re-election campaign funds it will be crickets as now.
Very entertaining thread today guys! Well done. I'm not sure if you saw it--or if it addresses your specific concerns here--but I asked Bill a question about why he is so steadfast in maintaining unpopular opinions these days (and really, since I first met him in the late 1990s). It's at 41:06 in the Private Briefing from this weekend.
To Mike's concerns above, I'm not aware that we (or Agora) has ever taken a dime from Uncle Sam for any of our views. I AM aware we've ended up in court a few times with the full power of the federal government arrayed against us (I've been on the other side of the table being deposed by government lawyers before).
But no; unless I'm a dupe and a pawn or a useful idiot, we're not funded by USAID, the FBI, the DNC, or the CIA. Readers who like our work and subscribe are how we pay the bills. And there are definitely times, like now, where swimming against the political tide costs us.
Wouldn't have it any other way. And very glad to have built a community where people are free to disagree (even if it occasionally borders on the personal).
Thanks for weighing in Dan. I’ve been following Bill for, I believe at least 25yrs? I’m a paying subscriber just trying to figure out this extreme, in my opinion, irrational hatred Bill seems to have for President Trump. I realize, after following him so long, that he’s a contrarian but he’s definitely veering into the personal, and I’m trying to figure out why. All well and good if y’all have been on the other side of the government hacks. Have you seen what they’ve done to Donald Trump for the last 8 years?
"And very glad to have built a community where people are free to disagree (even if it occasionally borders on the personal)."
THAT'S what keeps many of us hanging around, Dan. So THANK YOU, and Tom, and yes, Bill Bonner - who makes it all possible. Just because I disagree with alot of what he says doesn't mean I don't respect him, personally or professionally...
“Instead, just cut the budget. Spending must be reduced, not by a few billions here and there, but by trillions of dollars”.
Well, apparently there are about 64 million more SSN then there are people living in the US. Presumably getting benefits. And disability. Medicare. And voting.
There might be trillions right there. The SSA IG identified 7 million dead people getting benefits in 2015. Neither Congress or the media took note. And SSA couldn’t be bothered.
The IG tried again in 2023. Only the number had risen to 23 million. Neither Congress or the media took note. And SSA, well they said the knew about the issue. But the fix was too complicated.
My math skills are lacking. But if 23 million are getting 2k per month I think that totals 500 billion. Which is 1/4 of the deficit. But it’s not 23 million. It’s 64 million. Or thereabouts. Someone with a better head for numbers can figure it out. But I’m betting a large part of the deficit has been hiding in plain sight for decades.
One of the top problems for credit card users is the insane interest amounts institutions apply to charge accounts. Some 39.9% maybe even higher. A few years ago I did a year long test on one of my credit cards. I paid $100.00 more than required each month. Result, didn't help a thing. The only way to defeat the high interest rates is to pay each credit cards balance OFF. Today my monthly credit card usage is about the same, yet no balance is left over. This also leads to a high Credit Score. If you cant pay off all the cards each month, choose one, then another to you have NO interest rates applied to your credit card bills.
Sir, do you not understand why so many people are against Tariffs? Is it because the citizens still have not weened themselves from the liberal, legacy media? Probably. And, I muse that you and your cohorts are too deep in the "market' in your perusing efforts to get outside the proverbial "Box". But, you will prevail in your beliefs without suggesting any alternatives to what is now happening within the walls of present-day government. C'mon Bill, shake some of your reasoning onto the champions of our present government and suggest alternatives if they are doing so badly.
"And don’t squander your time squabbling with federal employees or trying to root out ‘waste.’"
Wrong. Spend as much time as possible trying to reduce the overpaid federal workforce and eliminate waste. Biden added 100's of thousands of pointless federal employees over the past 4 years. DOGE exposure of wasteful spending gives Congress the political will needed to make the cuts you are asking for. The President is doing everything he can solo. Your plan needs an unwilling Congress to cooperate.
Also ask why does Germany get to charge 30% tariff on Fords and we charge nothing on VW's? Just asking. Seems like the tariffs, while no panacea, are a useful bargaining chip for President Trump who is demonized and thwarted at every turn.
The statement you quote puts PAID to any notion that Bill Bonner isn't, at heart, a leftard elitist. He puts it right there in front of our faces, folks...
“Poor Mr. Trump… he doesn’t know where he’s going. No compass.” Sounds like Bill describing Bill.
Trump is going in many directions that have a definite definitive system altering purposes. As John Mearsheimer says, “Giant plate shifting in Europe.”
Those (pennies) millions add up.
There is an old business truism. " Take care of the little things and the big things will take care of themselves."
For sure. Years ago their was a reality show on MSNBC about the guy who owned 600 Morton's Restaurants across USA. People would come trying to sell him products (napkins, meat salt shakers) etc. He dealt in quality and pennies. He was perfect teacher of your statement.
Bill just can’t help himself…always devolves into a Trump slam-fest. Good grief. At least my latest “buys” of Tom’s tankers has declined below my buy price…is another CMRE debacle looming?
I just read VW & BMW are out sourcing production to the US & Asia. It appears there are many leftards all over the planet. Lol hahahahaha Sorry but it is funny. Germany or the AfD (Alternative for Duetchland) is calling for a full scale de-globalization of Germany. Bye bye EU.
Wrong !
Historically tariffs were imposed to protect weak industries. That is not what is going on here. I believe Trump’s tariffs are primarily a negotiating tactic, less a serious policy thrust(read The Art of the Deal). Trump knows that to be successful in negotiations the other side must believe you are serious. He is after other objectives, like getting Venezuela to accept returned criminal aliens(which they initially refused to do but soon agreed to under the threat of tariffs). Same goes for Mexico and Canada and the EU. The threat of tariffs is being used to achieve other objectives. If tariffs end up being implemented in certain areas, I expect them to be short lived until the other side cries Uncle. Why? Who has the greatest leverage in a tariff fight? Answer: The biggest buyer.
Nailed it, Brien.
Those suffering from advanced TDS can't/won't see or acknowledge such basic FACTS...
Brien, Excellent comment. And Bill generalizes so much about tariffs, just like the globalists' leftist flunkies in the legacy media. They have been recently calling Pres. Trump a dictator or emperor because he's reducing the national government. Dictators increase their nations' governments, not reduce them. And they take away their citizens' firearms. Pres. Trump can be counted on to protect gun rights. You can't make up this nonsense from these flunkies.
Bill continues to generalize when he criticizes Pres. Trump; very little rigorous analysis. For example, he--opined--that all of Pres. Trump's tariffs would simply protect insiders' companies in the U.S., and thus these companies would only turn out mediocre products at higher prices. Only mediocre products at higher prices, Bill? There are lots of ChiCom products, for example, that are junk. So all foreign companies turn out quality products, and the U.S. will only turn out junk if some of their companies are protected. Really, Bill? Do you realize how ridiculous you sound? TDS is definitely a dumbing-down disease.
The biggest buyer , Yes I agree, but who loses? Besides the other side?
I agree
Bill's simple solution: "Instead, just cut the budget. Spending must be reduced, not by a few billions here and there, but by trillions of dollars. Milei in Argentina cut government spending by 40% in his first year in office." Unfortunately, Trump can't even fire federal bureaucrats -- apparently, a federal District judge controls that decision. Cutting the budget requires Congressional approval -- the same folks who are & have been living off of the pork. How does Bill propose to get that approval?
In his mind, vote for Kamala, she would do it! Disgusting
There is a currently-dim light at the end of the tunnel, David. It appears that the current "R" side of the Congress may actually be onboard with reducing spending. At least for this go-round and excepting Scumbag Mitch of course:
https://budget.house.gov/fy-2025-budget-resolution
Good question How? . That is MR. T's problem to answer. But I agree that Bill can give his nickels worth. Pennies are no longer in the currency manufacturing cycle. That is why I said nickel.
What are you guys doing up there in Canada to cut your budget?
Wish I could, but Our prime minister is a person who has long lost his way and We need the election yesterday. Among many problems that this country has , money like in the US is a problem . But I like Your comment.
But your GDP is going up. China is now buying LNG from you and spurned the Good Ol' USofA.
Wrong, the LNG terminal in British Columbia will not be ready until 2032 at the earliest. China is getting deep discounted NG from Russia. Where did you read that Canada's GDP was goign up??????
LNG Canada will be fully operational by mid 2025 .
It was completed late last year .
Canada GNP has been creeping up but due to huge immigration the per capita number has been decreasing .
Any other questions ?
You mean from our one and only LNG port?
The one in BC will not be operational until 2032 at the earliest
Yep - Hallejuah! Hopefully on the west coast?
Bonner writes: "And don’t squander your time squabbling with federal employees or trying to root out ‘waste.’"
"Instead, just cut the budget. Spending must be reduced, not by a few billions here and there, but by trillions of dollars."
The problem is that you can't justify the cutting without showing the waste. You would never get it passed through Congress. Trump is actually going about this the logical way, while Bonner is just dabbling in wishful thinking. By showing the waste and the bloated bureaucracy, Trump and Musk are delegitimizing the federal government for all to see and therefore creating a willingness (at least among the honest and sane) to cut the budget.
What do we expect from the BPR jefe? He has an irrational hatred for Trump, now his ass is getting further chapped because the Donald/Elon Duo are having success where Bill failed all those years ago.
REEEEEEEEE Harder, Bill...
Trump could run a $36Trillion surplus tomorrow, and Bonner would still find fault. TDS is a truly debilitating thing. As you’ve said, it’s clear Bonner is a leftwinger, and his politics slants his missives now, no matter how much he claims that economics is his only concern, and this newsletter is apolitical. Ain’t a flagpole high enough to run-up the BS flag on that claim by Bonner.
I’m starting to wonder if Bonner got some of that USAID money to start his worldwide enterprise?!?! We now know why his company was allowed to exist. He’s a far left troll. Something smells.
Was allowed
Actually I think both are correct in their thinking. A little of both would make the medicine go down easier. Just My opinion .
This just in on the DOGE front. BREAKING - Elon Musk and DOGE have discovered that there are 394 million Social Security recipients in the U.S., despite the country having only 334 million citizens, a discrepancy of more than 60 million.
Rip these frauds up by the roots and prosecute the thieves immediately. Congress is useless. They have let this rot and fraud fester to the point of the near death of the Republic. Extraordinary measures are called for at this point.
Wait'll you see how many over-100-year-olds are cashing monthly checks - not to mention how many Medicaid/Medicare "recipients" don't even LIVE in the US:
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/02/elon-musks-doge-team-uncovers-25-million-people/
https://www.newsnationnow.com/politics/government-waste-inefficiency-trump-doge/
Yet Bonner has the pebbles to tell us today that uncovering this MASSIVE, WIDESPREAD fraud in all areas of "government" is a waste of time and not where we should be focusing our efforts. I smell a YUUUUGE rat...
totally ridiculous
Welcome back, Pat. Still spouting ignorant, unverified nothings I see. Better not click on any of the multitude links I have posted today. Your heart might not be able to take the Reality...
Spoken like a true bureaucrat. Gs 5Gs g 25 blah. The translated in Latin. That means" f*** the system and the taxpayer.. "for those reading it's bureaucrat jargon total bureaucrat language.
I have siblings who work in education. They were able to bank all their unused vacation days, which were up to 6 weeks a year, despite the fact they only work given holidays and such eight months a year. Really don't need to use your vacation in six days when you're off four months. When they retired, they wold take all their unused vacation and suck pay that was banked and put it the last year's pay. That would boost their pensions payout by as much as fifty percent. Not a secret they all laugh about it. It's
a practice used today in education in every school district ... The poor underpaid teachers. Most of them have second jobs because they have so much spare time while they're working as dangerous. Further, When they advanced their educational hours their pay increases. Sounds like it makes sense.They do it in their off time and the taxpayers pay forward. They go out and party every day as a group. I promise you this is cliche and every city.
Verified.
I was married to one for quite a while. She was a great teacher to her 1st Graders - but played the system as they all did. She would occasionally agree that the whole "poor, under-paid teacher" schtick was a load of baloney. If they actually worked a full 8 months in a year, it was a rare occurrence...
I read them all , Tell me what all this has to do with firing a bunch of poor GS-5's. And shutting down USAID.
No sane person would believe Musk's list on SS recipients is true.
and please explain, wtf this means. “According to the Social Security database, these are the numbers of people in each age bucket with the ‘death’ field set to FALSE." ????????
As Bill has told U , ALL this Gov waste and corruption has been known and addressed for 50 yrs and here U think the Donald is going to do anything about that with his tariffs and firing of poor Gov workers . U better do some critical thinking about all this , Dont U think?
"has been known and addressed for 50 yrs..."
Do you even read what you write? Verified WHEN? Addressed HOW??
And the GS5's can piss off. There are probably 1.25 million government "employees" that we DON'T NEED because they do VERY LITTLE. They haven't even been required to SHOW UP for the past 4+ years. It is straight-up an addition Entitlement Program. Doubt me? Look up the Racial percentages of our darling government "workers".
You bet your ass I said it...
Look up Bill Bonners manifesto in the Taxpayers Union , U'll see plenty of acknowledgement and addressing of waste. Are U too ignorant to know about the teabagers acknowledgement and addressing of Gov waste .
Why don't u explain my Q on "death field "False" as I asked ?
I never said anything about "darling workers " I said POOR workers who can't pay their rent.
So , U think there should be 1.25 million MORE people unemployed !!!!
How about ALL the military personnel , they produce nothing, fire all of them, right?
So , the GS5's can piss off, huh ? Thats the problem, u elitists republinuts think the Gov is strictly for u . u are, wrong , The Government is for the protection of ALL the people . E Plurimus Unam!
U tell me the Racial percentage of the work force, if u have the guts, I'm sure its heavy black . Is that Ur point ?
So I'm an "elitist republican"?
LMAO old man. You are WAY out of touch on BOTH counts.
And yes - the worthless, soon-to-be-unemployed government "workers" can fill in washing all those dishes, cleaning all those toilets and mowing all those yards that the deported illegal invaders used to do - no matter what color they are...
Bill: here you go again. Tariffs make the economic balance between countries more on a level playing field. WHAT IF instead of increasing our tariffs to level the field, the countries involved LOWERED their tariffs. Instead of raving and ranting give trump (and Musk) a chance at getting rid of waste and fraud; it could amount to a significant amount of dollars. Be fair in your comments. AP
"What really matters is the total amount of a society’s output that is crippled, diverted, or wasted by the feds. The more the feds take…the less is left for everyone else."
This is why the Fed bureaucrat herd needs thinning. Or wholesale Milei department elimination. They drag everything down. Even before you get to the fact that much of it is a criminal enterprise focused on diverting funds to NGO's and special interests. With healthy donations and support coming back to our elected "servants."
The only thing missing from your screed today Bill is Trump hasn't done anything about the price of eggs. Three weeks in and he's already cutting spending, firing employees and advocating getting rid of entire departments. Both he and Musk have stated the debt is too high, government is too big and it all has to change.
"Why don't you knock it off with them negative waves Moriarty? Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change?"
And it appears the most important PHASE II is going to happen - that being our Congress actually REDUCING SPENDING when the Budget Circus gets rolling next month.
Personally - I am most excited about Phase III - that would be the Investigations, Prosecutions, Incarcerations and limited Hangings of each and EVERY NGO/"Government"/Private Contractor THIEF...
https://budget.house.gov/fy-2025-budget-resolution
Here is where I side with Bill. I don't have much faith in the Elephants when it comes to things like actually cutting spending. Every time they get the majority of both houses of Congress it always winds up we can't do it. To paraphrase Ron White, that bunch has a lot of quit in 'em.
Lee - I am RIGHT there with you. They have been a HUGE disappointment my entire life. Is it going to be different this time? I don't know. There are a lot of factors at play that have never held much sway before. As the link shows, they are talking a good game this time around. Let's see what the final Spending Plan looks like - then again next year and beyond.
Like you, I am not exactly optimistic...
Tariffs started in 1790. They seemed to have worked better than income tax.
Quiet, you...
😜
Wow. Just wow. I am absolutely speechless—though, thankfully, not typeless. So many patently absurd ad hominem attacks on Trump. And King Herod? Now that’s some deep-dish historical cherry-picking.
This country has no shortage of wise pundits, it seems. Sadly, they are all barbers, bartenders, and employees of Bonner Private Research. If only they would take a break from dispensing haircuts and happy hour wisdom to actually running for president. Instead, they prefer to lounge on the sidelines, hurling empty pop cans into the arena and mistaking the sound of their own echoes for thunderous applause.
I find that barbers and bar tenders seem to have more common sense than most politicians.
Bill failed miserably in the 80’s with his Taxpayers Union, ergo President Trump and Elon will fail also! What a crock of garbage. Bill is getting more insufferable by the day. I expect TDS will have driven him completely insane by the end of the year. Lol 😂 he’ll have plenty of company in the rubber room! I couldn’t even stomach reading his whole spiel today. Sad
He didn't fail because of effort, he failed because the House & Senate were Democrat controlled until 1995. Communication was Newspapers and TV all mostly left wing. The public really did not know what was really going on and believed everything Walter Cronkite told us. Until the Internet became available we were kept in the dark. Now we see the truth but may be too late.
I lived through it and voted for Reagan. Bill and the Taxpayer Union failed miserably. Reagan had a mandate. Lots of other things succeeded, not nearly enough though. Bill failed and he’s just completely eat up with jealousy that Trump and the tech boys are succeeding, so far. We’ll see how it all shakes out.
Bill was not able to get the message out to the masses. Few followed him and the main stream press were all against his message. Congressman John Ashbrook was my representative & railed against most of the same things but their were too few like him in Congress then. With the financial success Bill has had I seriously doubt he is Jealous of anybody or thing. Doge is already successful. Until it takes money out of some Republican politicians re-election campaign funds it will be crickets as now.
"The jealousy of a successful man is of the keenest, most personal variety."
- StarboardEdge, 2025
All true - and not a whit of it explains the irrational hatred, half-truths and gaslighting we are getting from him now...
Very entertaining thread today guys! Well done. I'm not sure if you saw it--or if it addresses your specific concerns here--but I asked Bill a question about why he is so steadfast in maintaining unpopular opinions these days (and really, since I first met him in the late 1990s). It's at 41:06 in the Private Briefing from this weekend.
https://www.bonnerprivateresearch.com/p/private-briefing-with-jules-and-bill
To Mike's concerns above, I'm not aware that we (or Agora) has ever taken a dime from Uncle Sam for any of our views. I AM aware we've ended up in court a few times with the full power of the federal government arrayed against us (I've been on the other side of the table being deposed by government lawyers before).
But no; unless I'm a dupe and a pawn or a useful idiot, we're not funded by USAID, the FBI, the DNC, or the CIA. Readers who like our work and subscribe are how we pay the bills. And there are definitely times, like now, where swimming against the political tide costs us.
Wouldn't have it any other way. And very glad to have built a community where people are free to disagree (even if it occasionally borders on the personal).
Thanks for weighing in Dan. I’ve been following Bill for, I believe at least 25yrs? I’m a paying subscriber just trying to figure out this extreme, in my opinion, irrational hatred Bill seems to have for President Trump. I realize, after following him so long, that he’s a contrarian but he’s definitely veering into the personal, and I’m trying to figure out why. All well and good if y’all have been on the other side of the government hacks. Have you seen what they’ve done to Donald Trump for the last 8 years?
"And very glad to have built a community where people are free to disagree (even if it occasionally borders on the personal)."
THAT'S what keeps many of us hanging around, Dan. So THANK YOU, and Tom, and yes, Bill Bonner - who makes it all possible. Just because I disagree with alot of what he says doesn't mean I don't respect him, personally or professionally...
“Instead, just cut the budget. Spending must be reduced, not by a few billions here and there, but by trillions of dollars”.
Well, apparently there are about 64 million more SSN then there are people living in the US. Presumably getting benefits. And disability. Medicare. And voting.
There might be trillions right there. The SSA IG identified 7 million dead people getting benefits in 2015. Neither Congress or the media took note. And SSA couldn’t be bothered.
The IG tried again in 2023. Only the number had risen to 23 million. Neither Congress or the media took note. And SSA, well they said the knew about the issue. But the fix was too complicated.
My math skills are lacking. But if 23 million are getting 2k per month I think that totals 500 billion. Which is 1/4 of the deficit. But it’s not 23 million. It’s 64 million. Or thereabouts. Someone with a better head for numbers can figure it out. But I’m betting a large part of the deficit has been hiding in plain sight for decades.
Trump has been in office less than a month, and you guys are whining louder than the Democrats after Republicans freed the slaves.
One of the top problems for credit card users is the insane interest amounts institutions apply to charge accounts. Some 39.9% maybe even higher. A few years ago I did a year long test on one of my credit cards. I paid $100.00 more than required each month. Result, didn't help a thing. The only way to defeat the high interest rates is to pay each credit cards balance OFF. Today my monthly credit card usage is about the same, yet no balance is left over. This also leads to a high Credit Score. If you cant pay off all the cards each month, choose one, then another to you have NO interest rates applied to your credit card bills.
Good that You have figured this out and live within Your means. Unlike many a government these days.
Dan - plz ask Matt about the possibility that the phyz in Ft. Knox has been "rehypothecated" into oblivion.
What good is the revaluation of our nations gold reserves if we don't use it to pay down the debt?
A savvy real estate magnate may use the revaluation to expand his credit line? Oh dear!
peter
Sir, do you not understand why so many people are against Tariffs? Is it because the citizens still have not weened themselves from the liberal, legacy media? Probably. And, I muse that you and your cohorts are too deep in the "market' in your perusing efforts to get outside the proverbial "Box". But, you will prevail in your beliefs without suggesting any alternatives to what is now happening within the walls of present-day government. C'mon Bill, shake some of your reasoning onto the champions of our present government and suggest alternatives if they are doing so badly.
Ruff! Sig 'em! "To the chase"