A society only produces so much wealth. It can then consume it. Or, it can save and invest...so as to produce more in the future. The real ‘political’ question is: who decides?
"As a general rule, the feds waste wealth. And the more of it that is under their control, the poorer the society becomes." -- Bill in today's missive
It's amazing how Bill doesn't ever discuss the wealth that gets wasted as a result of the "open borders" policies that his beloved Marxist/Leftist/Democrats fervently support and advance (see Joe Biden). Numerous studies of the economic impact on U.S. taxpayers have all determined that the net impact of illegal immigration (which is the cost of educating, medicating, housing, feeding and clothing the average illegal LESS the taxes they pay, because they're just here to work don't you know) is roughly $9,000.00 per year per alien. The numbers encompass all levels of government because it's State, County and Local governments that bear the brunt of the costs.
I believe $9000/year is grossly understated. And taxes? In my area, most illegals are paid cash and don't pay taxes. Additionally, their unmarried partner probably collects ADC. What a country!
“Leftism is the tyranny of structurlessness. Lawlessness. The abhorrence of order. That is why Leftist individuals are characterized by emotional dysregulation. . . . " JT Haltigan
The “strucklessness” is only for creating chaos and fear so people will trade freedom for security and peace. Then the left puts in rigid structures backed up by an iron boot.
Exactly Jack! The left created an entire culture that they use for exactly that purpose. Using the most uneducated and ignorant for their structured chaos. Uneducated and ignorant because that is what these most evil people need to continue their psychotic agenda for world domination.
The typical American adult can only read at the 6th grade level, so I would argue most people aren't getting an education. The ROIC on invested capital is approximately zero. I would like to also understand the source of the data in the studies you quoted. I know the Federal government counts homeless Americans by shelter occupancy alone. If that were the true number, there would be no need for the military or police to remove encampments. I'm a little confused on your point about feeding, housing, and clothing. They buy food, clothing, and transportation out of their wages.
First, you can easily find the studies I referenced via any search engine i.e. Google. Try "Net Cost of Illegal Immigration". There are several such studies and their findings are similar.
Second, illegal aliens send their children to public schools in droves. They are smart enough to realize that taking advantage of free education is a high probability avenue to a better life for their children. I'm not impressed with your arrogant sarcasm about "the typical American adult". You strike me as the typical European adult that is at least partially (or heavily) dependent on the welfare state there.
Finally, you can find countless news reports about how "sanctuary cities" (i.e. New York, Chicago, etc.) paid hotels and motels huge money to put up illegal aliens, as well as countless stories about how illegals threw away the free food these governmental agencies provided because they didn't find it appetizing. These are not people that could pay for anything "out of their wages" as you assert. I suggest you extract your head from the cheeks of your ass and get educated. You know, like we Americans that created the greatest economic engine in the history of the world.
Let me illustrate the issue with blanket statements. The following are statements in a report for the Center for Immigration Studies:
From the Center for Immigration Studies"
A look at health insurance coverage among new mothers by legal status at the state and local level:
"This analysis looks at births to immigrants based on an analysis of the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS). It provides a good picture of births to immigrant mothers, including the mothers' demographic characteristics. These characteristics allow us to estimate the likely number of births to illegal immigrants nationally, as well as births by state and by large metropolitan area."
Notice the word "estimate." This retrospective study is where the number of illegal immigrant births originated. The other thing to consider is what percentage of illegal aliens have children. Based on the percentage, you'd have to adjust the math. I'm sure you are aware that in Mexico, high school is not free - we sponsor a child through the Catholic church. You are correct that their children would have an opportunity to complete high school.
If what you are saying about the paid hotels and free food were true, then it would be made available to our own homeless families FIRST. You are correct some businesses use day labor and will pay cash, but not all.
The United States need immigrants more than they need us. GDP is an implicit function of the number of participants (workforce). This is why the GDP of small island nations are limited. We have an aging workforce that is declining in size. Last year the FED stated that our economy was surprising
strong because of the immigrate labor force.
The numbers being quoted are based on probabilities done in hindsight.
There are several thing completely wrong in your post - you'll have to research them yourself if you care to be educated, but the facts are EASILY available with simple searches:
"If what you are saying about the paid hotels and free food were true, then it would be made available to our own homeless families FIRST." Nope, not by a long shot. Start with NYC and the Roosevelt Hotel, '20-'24.
"The United States need immigrants more than they need us. GDP is an implicit function of the number of participants (workforce)." Absolutely unproven and highly arguable - particularly if one considers the numbers by specific Industry.
Sorry, we do need them. After all, your kids aren’t cleaning the shit in hotel rooms, neither are mine. Ditto for flipping burgers and mowing lawns. The problem is that the US government does not make it easy to come here to work and then when they do arrive state, and federal laws give the so much free hand outs. And not just free medical and education, but think of all the states that require all their documents and court proceedings to be available in countless languages, the costs are enormous. Think about it this way, if an employer needed an employee and it was easy to find a foreign national and easy to get them into the country, with a temporary social security, so these workers can pay into the system, it could really benefit the system and now they are paying their fair share of of free education for their kids. But with stipulations: 1) no translators, learn English or find a friend to assist, 2) no welfare, support yourself or starve, or go home, or deported, 3) paying taxes into social security does not get them any benefits unless they have successfully contributed 30 years into the system, 4) only certain classes of trades are open to this “easy” “expedited” process (higher paying levels require more rigorous screening). An added benefit of creating this process is that by making this process easier, to enter, but at the same time making it more difficult to live hear unless they hunker down and work, reduces the demand for illegal entry in to US. Why? Because making it illegal and difficult to enter just raises the price smugglers can charge, making the whole process big business open to corruption and bribes. I’ve lived on the border most of my life, most want to come here and work hard, but corrupt systems on both sides of the border inflate and distort the seriousness of the situation.
The "Center for Immigration Studies" is one of the DATA sources being used to quantify the impact of illegals. The problem is their "data" is fictional. They took data on immigrants and made a "estimate" on how many of them were illegal. They provide the collected data and I challenge to go through their tables and arrive at ANY conclusion. Furthermore, they state they are going to explain how they made the estimate "later in the paper," BUT never DO! There is an old saying garbage in garbage out. Someone has taken their assertions and made numerous articles. These are the "pesky" facts.
The argument that "immigrants do the work that Americans won't do" is fallacious. You can do a simple search and debunk that loser as well. Illegal immigration does nothing but pollute the labor market and keep wages artificially low (and that's if the employer actually pays "over the table" such that they pay for Workers' Compensation Insurance, Unemployment Insurance, and all the other payroll tax contributions. Oh, and it also makes Marxist/Leftist/Democrats giddy because they believe they will eventually vote for their Marxist policies and agenda.
Question: Which generation of Americans produced the largest number of people in American history? Answer: The Millennial generation, now aged 29-44. This generation is much larger than the Baby Boomer generation and they are now in their prime earning and procreating years. You might want to reconsider your blanket statements about an "aging workforce" and anything that comes from the Fed. The only reason the Workforce Participation percentage is not as high as it should be is because there is a significant slice of the pie that don't work because the government has made it easy not to work. With the current administration in charge hopefully that's about to change.
I suggest you visit some farms and new home construction sites - see and talk to the workers. Simple searches are just that. I was visiting Kennedy Space Center years ago, there was two people digging a hole with shovels and six watching. You can argue that eight people were digging the hole. I've visited farms from Connecticut to California.
The current unemployment rate is 4.2% which is FULL employment. Too many illegal immigrates workers would drive this number up. So employed illegal immigrates are not an issue. The mean entry level starting salary nationally is about $20. The issue is not the starting pay but the incredible cost of housing, automobiles, insurance, etc.
You're an ignorant rube, John. Just ask Bill Bonner - if you can figure out which of his many properties around the world he is currently sleeping in....
Here's some good music from my favorite band. Three sisters raised in south Georgia on a cattle farm, homeschooled, two graduated from University of Georgia, the other with a single engine pilots license. Then, at the suggestion of a friend, they posted some songs on social media in 2022 and their career blew up as the music industry started calling. Came out with a 7 song EP on 2/9/24 and another on 5/30/25:
WELL WELL WELL… Here we are, folks. The Horsemen have mounted up, the gates of logic have rusted shut, and the Secretary of Defense is a walking circus tent with a tactical vest, ladies and gentlemen, please give a demonic round of applause for Hegsbeth the Honk-Wielding Harbinger of Hellfire! The man just declared contingency plans for Greenland and Panama, because clearly the biggest threats to national security are ice cubes and canal toll booths. Next week, he’ll probably brief the Joint Chiefs on launching preemptive strikes against IKEA and Sesame Street.
And Trump? Oh ho ho… he ain’t no mere mortal in this end-times fever dream. He’s riding shotgun with the Whore of Babylon, cracking jokes and chewing on democracy like a Slim Jim. The Antichrist? Please. That’s too mild. The Beast of Revelation wishes it had this much stage presence. The Bible warned us, Satan will appear as a savior, a shepherd of men, a uniter of nations. And what better disguise than a swaggering orange messiah with a spray-tanned halo and a Twitter sword dipped in delusion? He ain’t leading us into glory, folks, he’s strip-mining souls for sport and handing out front-row tickets to the Lake of Fire with a side of Lee Greenwood karaoke and triple tariffs on common sense.
America 2025: where Hell hath no fury like a nation run by sick bastards in MAGA hats, where the only thing more bankrupt than the economy is the moral compass, and the Boy Scouts now answer to a Pentagon that thinks Campfire Safety is a prelude to drone strikes. You want prophecy? Brother, you just walked into the Last Supper of Civilization and Trump’s carving the Constitution with a bone saw while Pete Hegsbeth juggles hand grenades in clown shoes.
Unfortunately, wrong. He is a delusional narcissistic. He thinks he knows best for the whole world. He thinks he is the smartest man that has ever lived. And, if everyone would just bow down and do what he says - the World would be wonderful. US$2.2T deficit in year 1. Ukraine war still raging. Israel completely out of control. Wants to invade Greenland and Panama. The only thing he is optimistic about is his brilliance. So sad. As always - just an ol' man's opinion.
A delusional narcissistic is not an optimist - far from it. It may - from some perspective look like a optimist but on deeper analysis far from it. Here is a list of Characteristics of Narcissists:
Angry, Trump doesn't care about us minions at all. He just wants us not to roll-out the guillotines any time soon. Trump acts much like ol' King George III. Trump understands how to keep the minions distracted and fearful. Just like the continued fear-mongering against Russia and China. Neither of those countries want to invade the U.S. or Europe. I get it - you want optimism because it makes you feel good for awhile. But, like Napoleon, Trump's Waterloo lies ahead.
But Donnie doesn't seem to be much of an optimist when it comes to the free markets. He's crying about interest rates at 4.5%. I remember getting 4.5% interest on a passbook savings account in the '60s. Higher interest rates encourage savers and discourages speculation. If Donnie is optimistic why can't the US handle 4.5% interest rates?
... my understanding (which ain't much) the backbone of the capitalist system is commerce.
Monies/assets/credit/capital must flow.
"Free Market" refers to that flow.
That which you are "saving" is being borrowed by someone else.
-
My previous quip (free market is an oxymoron) is a play on words as the market obviously exists for capital gain.
-
Lower interest rates encourage all sorts of ugly economic behavior;
however it also encourages activities that accelerate economic growth.
Prolonged extremes of any kind (high or low interest rates) are detrimental; investors/borrowers play until they see the music stop; there is no such thing as prudence en-masse.
As rates/market ratios/asset prices move in between extremes the money is made.
Likely explains economic cycles as one trend rolls into another...
Lower interest rates encourage all sorts of ugly economic behavior;
however it also encourages activities that accelerate economic growth.
Prolonged extremes of any kind (high or low interest rates) are detrimental; investors/borrowers play until they see the music stop; there is no such thing as prudence en-masse.
As rates/market ratios/asset prices move in between extremes the money is made.
You're right, Cartero - 'cause nothing has changed in our Economy, Banking System or world of Finance since the '60's. Oh - and the value of the dollar has been steady too.
C'mon man. Y'all are putting forth less-and-less effort in the disguises you are dressing the incessant Trump criticisms in...
This was a specific comment about Trump's optimism. He doesn't seem to be very optimistic about the economy if the Fed needs to suppress interest rates. The Fed's ZIRP and QE policies got us in this bubble economy in the first place. Low interest rates for the big boys allowed zombie companies to survive, encouraged speculation instead of savings, and prevented the Creative Destruction necessary for future success. It's not just Trump, it's both parties ruining the economy.
Trump crying about lower rates (I agree with the sentiment) is but one plank in the ship he is building to try and "rescue" all of us. It's actually probably the Keel - we need lower rates to help pay off the debt. That is the Truth - agree or disagree.
It would be more efficient, permanent and obvious for CONgress to do it, but spending less is not in the Nature of the slimy scumbags from either side...
Trump/Hitler comparisons immediately identify the user as an unserious, likely not-to-bright person who is ruled by their emotions and easily swayed by a Narrative. Facts.
I didn’t compare Trump to Hitler. The post I replied to saw Trump’s optimism as a virtue. I simply pointed out that that’s not necessarily true. You seem to be very sensitive to any perceived criticism of Trump and lose your mind when you think you have detected it. Calm down. Try being rational and don’t resort to insult. Try intelligent responses.
You DID compare Trump to Hitler in context and I just pointed out how ignorant that is - whether it is you doing it or Bill Bonner. Also, there are plenty of things to criticize Trump about and when someone points out something that is valid, I'm right there next to them. The steady diet we get here consists of criticisms based on "maybes", "what-abouts", jealousies and straight-up lies.
I'm extremely calm, but thanks for your concern. As to the "intelligence" of my posts - I'll leave that decision up to people worthy of Respect...
You misunderstood my post. I don’t think calling Trump Hitler makes sense but comparing his optimism of the effectiveness of his economic policies to the optimism of Hitler’s optimism of conquering the world is a fair comparison
I respect both Terry and Starboard's opinions regarding tyrannical despot analogies and metaphors to Trump... we have to give pause as I suppose it's one the very few moments of hope and optimism TDS folks experience.
BB has been drawing out the central control, i.e., big gov, crowd from those who prefer limited gov and personal responsibility. “Rugged realism, practical idealism” is at play here. If you want pessimism, read Charles Bukowski on Poetic Outlaws. That’ll really give inspiration to “cry in your green beer.” Bill is merely giving small doses of his book “The New Empire of Debt.”
If it is your plan to decrease your readership you are achieving it... A note to you. "healing of the soul is the healing of humanity" I often wonder what your purpose really is?
No Terry. He is losing his readership because of the lies, deception, jealousy and apparent desire to see Trump fail in each and every area of Policy and Legislation - regardless if it would actually be good for the Nation. That's why he's losing his readership, and a sprinkling of Truth about how bad everything really is while tearing down the only group trying to implement fixes is probably not a wise strategy. However, it is successful in getting people like you to cheer on the complete negativity. I hope there's enough of y'all around to keep Dan and Tom paid as the rest of us turn to more accurate, less immature sources for News and Commentary...
Being negative about deficits, tariffs and statist policies is a virtue. Supporting such policies is evidence of a poor understanding of the benefits of capitalism.
That’s one way to deal with it. Supporting something you don’t agree with insures it will continue. I do hope it succeeds but logic and history says it won’t.
Would love to hear your actionable, individual and personal recommendations to be successful while not playing by the rules and conditions as they currently exist.
For me, trashing everything Trump and/or Conservative-related (regardless of potential Merit) is not a viable strategy - but for many here it seems to be just what the doctor ordered. SMH...
S.E. I do not know if You have read David Sto. in to days missive. He has certainly put a different light under things that I would not even think of in My wildest political dreams. MR T. has more in his cup than I think He can manage.
His daily e-letter, Bill Bonner’s Diary, is published to over 500,000 readers!
I don’t know how many people subscribe to International Living magazine or if he’s even still involved with it to any great degree but it has been around for a considerable number of years!
There are a number of people on here that are hanging around to complain about Bill and to deride him! I’m not sure he’s losing as much readership as you think!
I don't really "think" he's losing readership and don't really care either way. I wish him no ill will. I WOULD prefer he puts out information (good, bad and ugly) based on an OBJECTIVE analysis - but that is seldom what we get from him anymore.
Sad - because it USED to be his method in all of his missives. Present Facts, point out History if applicable, draw objective conclusions/predictions based on Logic and Critical Thinking. THAT Bill Bonner disappeared around 2021...
If that's all Bonner did, there would be no pushback. Do you seriously just cherry pick the things you like about what Bonner writes, or do you analyze the whole column? He is seriously unhinged in a lot of his analysis, distorting and exaggerating facts in order to attack the Trump administration, while at times making some good points along the way. But you have to ignore a lot of crap just to get to the good points. That is the issue. He often times puts his analysis in a totally unhinged context.
I would add that the "good points" all focus around the very real Negatives, and he's been repeating himself using different words for 10+ years. The immature and constant Trump insults are just a bonus....
"The feds use taxpayer money — and fake money! — to insinuate themselves into everything. Then, people come to rely on it so heavily, they have no choice but to go along with whatever the feds want." Yes, deal with the devil and you most assuredly will be burned. Just ask the Native Americans living on their reservation or the African Americans living on their urban plantation. Government doesn't just destroy wealth it also eviscerates culture. Yet we live in country where Statists outnumber Classical Libertarians 10 to 1. Listening to a Statist complain about indoctrination might just rot your brain faster than watching reality television. Fascism and Socialism are both diseased fruit from the same Statist tree. We're getting exactly what we deserve. Forget the cure for cancer how about the cure for stupidity :-)
Ha! The problem with THAT cure is all your potential buyers are too dumb to take it. We're seeing this in real time right now - the Truth is there for anyone with an internet connection, yet the Cultist dimocrats still exist.....
What Bill fails to mention this day is all the problem areas he mentions occurred under Biden. The Trump admn was left with a poker hand of 2-4-6-9-3. In other words a bummer. He also ever fails to mention we live in a dangerous world surrounded by China, Russia, N.Korea and Iran. 3 out of 4 have nukes and would use them if possible. We aren’t Argentina where saving 20 billion makes a difference. Bill has already hedged his bets with property around the world. The rest of us aren’t going anywhere else so hitch up your big boy pants and get behind Trump. He has most of the country pulling for his efforts including me.
"POTUS thinks he should also decide how much interest you pay, too." Financial repression goes down a lot easier if you're poor, financially illiterate, and stupid. Hum, how about just stop running multiple trillion dollar annual deficits. A good old fashioned sovereign debt crisis will bring back financial literacy in a hurry :-)
Bill's point is to enlighten those of us who might be living under the illusion that the US with its loose cannon president is on a safe path to make America great again. Time will tell whether he is right or wrong. I suspect that being forewarned will avoid disappointment. Forewarned allows one to be forearmed. Blind faith in DJT's competence could be dangerous.
Well there you go. Bill will not enlighten everyone. You are fully entitled to take the view that all is well with the US under the stewardship of DJT. Only time will tell.
Bill only enlightens the gullible and I did not say all is well. I also think you give Trump too much credit for power he doesn't posses. If things go worse than they already are it will be because of the 535 stooges and morons in Congress and the Tyranny of Nine In Black Robes.
It's a shame so many people these days aren't vested in the knowledge of how our system of government is supposed to work, including Bill.
His only criticism is aimed at the person with the least amount of power to effectuate change. It's called Trump Derangement Syndrome. He has very little to say about Congress or that tyrant baseball team dressed in black.
You’re describing Trump’s scheme of disrupting everything productive—trade, tourism, universities, agriculture, etc—in order to scapegoat and terrorize non-white, non-American human beings. He’s selling out and endangering our future in order to glorify himself and appear powerful right out of Hitler’s playbook. But has he built a single bridge, opened a new market or built a ship? We’ll be lucky to avoid a $10 trillion deficit this year alone as we join Israel in becoming the world’s second pariah nation. Are you planning to attend his Big Beautiful Parade tomorrow? Is anyone? It’s going to look pretty raggy compared to Nuremberg. Where does he go from there? Hitler bombed the world leader, England. Trump bombs Yemen and Iraq.
As if all the institutions BB writes about were ‘clean & pure’ before Trump came along!! Not that I’m saying he can fix anything but at least he has exposed them … more so than himself.
Another bizarre column by Bonner. So, Hegseth is not allowed to have contingency plans? Really? Does BPR have contingency plans if things don't shake out the way they now expect them to? I hope so. Somehow Bonner uses the Hegseth analogy to "educate" us on the difference between North and South Korea, as if we all don't know it already. It is a bizarre analogy. Bongo Bill has to find something, anything, to highlight so he can attack some part of the Trump administration. Nothing less will do. And, as usual, he does make a few good points along the way, but unfortunately within a context that seems to equivocate the Trump administration with North Korea and Nazi Germany as well as several other derogatory associations.
Well, Bill, you've finally disclosed your true colors. Your "unbiased" historical prose about politicians (especially Democrats), the US and conservatives has been taken for what its worth. However, your deliberate put down of Lee Greenwood says it all. If we like a singer that you don't, then we must be of that "conservative" class of peasants, that appreciates a patriotic country music singer that supports Trump.
“The president was supposed to execute the laws of the land as laid out in the Constitution and elaborated by Congress and the courts. His main role was to protect The People from their government. In other words, he wasn’t meant to run the country at all; it was supposed to run him...” Agree 100% here, Mr. Bonner.
Alas, your bias (predictably) starts to ooze forth, and begins to ruin a promising essay. But this wasn’t enough: your northeasterner snob bursts free. Since you detest Lee Greenwood, I’m assuming it’s a safe bet that us low-class MAGA rubes attending the Dwight Yoakam concert won’t cross paths with you, and thus will be spared your arrogance.
But that’s ok. I doubt you’d find many of us in your lofty, enlightened Ivory Towers. Like Garth Brooks sings, I’ve got friends in low places. And I’m with Randy Travis: a better class of losers suits me fine.
You've gone and done it now Bill...dis-respected Lee Greenwood ! This looks like the end, I'm going to have to cancel my subscription. I can no longer read/support someone who has "taste" when it comes to music.
Signed into law by President Bill Clinton on September 30, 1996
The 1996 Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant
Responsibility Act (IRIRA) allows deportation without a judicial hearing through a process called "expedited removal."
"As a general rule, the feds waste wealth. And the more of it that is under their control, the poorer the society becomes." -- Bill in today's missive
It's amazing how Bill doesn't ever discuss the wealth that gets wasted as a result of the "open borders" policies that his beloved Marxist/Leftist/Democrats fervently support and advance (see Joe Biden). Numerous studies of the economic impact on U.S. taxpayers have all determined that the net impact of illegal immigration (which is the cost of educating, medicating, housing, feeding and clothing the average illegal LESS the taxes they pay, because they're just here to work don't you know) is roughly $9,000.00 per year per alien. The numbers encompass all levels of government because it's State, County and Local governments that bear the brunt of the costs.
I believe $9000/year is grossly understated. And taxes? In my area, most illegals are paid cash and don't pay taxes. Additionally, their unmarried partner probably collects ADC. What a country!
“Leftism is the tyranny of structurlessness. Lawlessness. The abhorrence of order. That is why Leftist individuals are characterized by emotional dysregulation. . . . " JT Haltigan
The “strucklessness” is only for creating chaos and fear so people will trade freedom for security and peace. Then the left puts in rigid structures backed up by an iron boot.
Exactly Jack! The left created an entire culture that they use for exactly that purpose. Using the most uneducated and ignorant for their structured chaos. Uneducated and ignorant because that is what these most evil people need to continue their psychotic agenda for world domination.
The typical American adult can only read at the 6th grade level, so I would argue most people aren't getting an education. The ROIC on invested capital is approximately zero. I would like to also understand the source of the data in the studies you quoted. I know the Federal government counts homeless Americans by shelter occupancy alone. If that were the true number, there would be no need for the military or police to remove encampments. I'm a little confused on your point about feeding, housing, and clothing. They buy food, clothing, and transportation out of their wages.
First, you can easily find the studies I referenced via any search engine i.e. Google. Try "Net Cost of Illegal Immigration". There are several such studies and their findings are similar.
Second, illegal aliens send their children to public schools in droves. They are smart enough to realize that taking advantage of free education is a high probability avenue to a better life for their children. I'm not impressed with your arrogant sarcasm about "the typical American adult". You strike me as the typical European adult that is at least partially (or heavily) dependent on the welfare state there.
Finally, you can find countless news reports about how "sanctuary cities" (i.e. New York, Chicago, etc.) paid hotels and motels huge money to put up illegal aliens, as well as countless stories about how illegals threw away the free food these governmental agencies provided because they didn't find it appetizing. These are not people that could pay for anything "out of their wages" as you assert. I suggest you extract your head from the cheeks of your ass and get educated. You know, like we Americans that created the greatest economic engine in the history of the world.
Let me illustrate the issue with blanket statements. The following are statements in a report for the Center for Immigration Studies:
From the Center for Immigration Studies"
A look at health insurance coverage among new mothers by legal status at the state and local level:
"This analysis looks at births to immigrants based on an analysis of the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS). It provides a good picture of births to immigrant mothers, including the mothers' demographic characteristics. These characteristics allow us to estimate the likely number of births to illegal immigrants nationally, as well as births by state and by large metropolitan area."
Notice the word "estimate." This retrospective study is where the number of illegal immigrant births originated. The other thing to consider is what percentage of illegal aliens have children. Based on the percentage, you'd have to adjust the math. I'm sure you are aware that in Mexico, high school is not free - we sponsor a child through the Catholic church. You are correct that their children would have an opportunity to complete high school.
If what you are saying about the paid hotels and free food were true, then it would be made available to our own homeless families FIRST. You are correct some businesses use day labor and will pay cash, but not all.
The United States need immigrants more than they need us. GDP is an implicit function of the number of participants (workforce). This is why the GDP of small island nations are limited. We have an aging workforce that is declining in size. Last year the FED stated that our economy was surprising
strong because of the immigrate labor force.
The numbers being quoted are based on probabilities done in hindsight.
There are several thing completely wrong in your post - you'll have to research them yourself if you care to be educated, but the facts are EASILY available with simple searches:
"If what you are saying about the paid hotels and free food were true, then it would be made available to our own homeless families FIRST." Nope, not by a long shot. Start with NYC and the Roosevelt Hotel, '20-'24.
"The United States need immigrants more than they need us. GDP is an implicit function of the number of participants (workforce)." Absolutely unproven and highly arguable - particularly if one considers the numbers by specific Industry.
Facts are pesky things, Mr. King....
Sorry, we do need them. After all, your kids aren’t cleaning the shit in hotel rooms, neither are mine. Ditto for flipping burgers and mowing lawns. The problem is that the US government does not make it easy to come here to work and then when they do arrive state, and federal laws give the so much free hand outs. And not just free medical and education, but think of all the states that require all their documents and court proceedings to be available in countless languages, the costs are enormous. Think about it this way, if an employer needed an employee and it was easy to find a foreign national and easy to get them into the country, with a temporary social security, so these workers can pay into the system, it could really benefit the system and now they are paying their fair share of of free education for their kids. But with stipulations: 1) no translators, learn English or find a friend to assist, 2) no welfare, support yourself or starve, or go home, or deported, 3) paying taxes into social security does not get them any benefits unless they have successfully contributed 30 years into the system, 4) only certain classes of trades are open to this “easy” “expedited” process (higher paying levels require more rigorous screening). An added benefit of creating this process is that by making this process easier, to enter, but at the same time making it more difficult to live hear unless they hunker down and work, reduces the demand for illegal entry in to US. Why? Because making it illegal and difficult to enter just raises the price smugglers can charge, making the whole process big business open to corruption and bribes. I’ve lived on the border most of my life, most want to come here and work hard, but corrupt systems on both sides of the border inflate and distort the seriousness of the situation.
The "Center for Immigration Studies" is one of the DATA sources being used to quantify the impact of illegals. The problem is their "data" is fictional. They took data on immigrants and made a "estimate" on how many of them were illegal. They provide the collected data and I challenge to go through their tables and arrive at ANY conclusion. Furthermore, they state they are going to explain how they made the estimate "later in the paper," BUT never DO! There is an old saying garbage in garbage out. Someone has taken their assertions and made numerous articles. These are the "pesky" facts.
The argument that "immigrants do the work that Americans won't do" is fallacious. You can do a simple search and debunk that loser as well. Illegal immigration does nothing but pollute the labor market and keep wages artificially low (and that's if the employer actually pays "over the table" such that they pay for Workers' Compensation Insurance, Unemployment Insurance, and all the other payroll tax contributions. Oh, and it also makes Marxist/Leftist/Democrats giddy because they believe they will eventually vote for their Marxist policies and agenda.
Question: Which generation of Americans produced the largest number of people in American history? Answer: The Millennial generation, now aged 29-44. This generation is much larger than the Baby Boomer generation and they are now in their prime earning and procreating years. You might want to reconsider your blanket statements about an "aging workforce" and anything that comes from the Fed. The only reason the Workforce Participation percentage is not as high as it should be is because there is a significant slice of the pie that don't work because the government has made it easy not to work. With the current administration in charge hopefully that's about to change.
I suggest you visit some farms and new home construction sites - see and talk to the workers. Simple searches are just that. I was visiting Kennedy Space Center years ago, there was two people digging a hole with shovels and six watching. You can argue that eight people were digging the hole. I've visited farms from Connecticut to California.
The current unemployment rate is 4.2% which is FULL employment. Too many illegal immigrates workers would drive this number up. So employed illegal immigrates are not an issue. The mean entry level starting salary nationally is about $20. The issue is not the starting pay but the incredible cost of housing, automobiles, insurance, etc.
I like Lee Greenwood…….
You're an ignorant rube, John. Just ask Bill Bonner - if you can figure out which of his many properties around the world he is currently sleeping in....
I'd like to know what Bill considers music that is tasteful.
I have no idea but I'd bet good money that it wouldn't make a decent background soundtrack for a BBQ or a day at the beach...
Here's some good music from my favorite band. Three sisters raised in south Georgia on a cattle farm, homeschooled, two graduated from University of Georgia, the other with a single engine pilots license. Then, at the suggestion of a friend, they posted some songs on social media in 2022 and their career blew up as the music industry started calling. Came out with a 7 song EP on 2/9/24 and another on 5/30/25:
One of their latest official videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FWo1Jeb66s
And from a live performance:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cu06kUD55Lc
I can't help pushing for these girls. They deserve to be known.
John, thanks for the input….
You’re right…..three lovely and talented ladies….we will all wish them the best…..
I was thinking more like black, stuffy ties and lots of acoustic instruments with strings set in a European garden. But hey, I like your idea better.
Dear God - could it be??
https://x.com/GRDecter/status/1616487426251460610?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1616487426251460610%7Ctwgr%5E36a10c6972cdf96c66115ee701c315399016caab%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.indy100.com%2Fnews%2Fworld-economic-forum-davos-singer
LMAO. Have a great weekend, brother!
You got THAT right, SE!
WELL WELL WELL… Here we are, folks. The Horsemen have mounted up, the gates of logic have rusted shut, and the Secretary of Defense is a walking circus tent with a tactical vest, ladies and gentlemen, please give a demonic round of applause for Hegsbeth the Honk-Wielding Harbinger of Hellfire! The man just declared contingency plans for Greenland and Panama, because clearly the biggest threats to national security are ice cubes and canal toll booths. Next week, he’ll probably brief the Joint Chiefs on launching preemptive strikes against IKEA and Sesame Street.
And Trump? Oh ho ho… he ain’t no mere mortal in this end-times fever dream. He’s riding shotgun with the Whore of Babylon, cracking jokes and chewing on democracy like a Slim Jim. The Antichrist? Please. That’s too mild. The Beast of Revelation wishes it had this much stage presence. The Bible warned us, Satan will appear as a savior, a shepherd of men, a uniter of nations. And what better disguise than a swaggering orange messiah with a spray-tanned halo and a Twitter sword dipped in delusion? He ain’t leading us into glory, folks, he’s strip-mining souls for sport and handing out front-row tickets to the Lake of Fire with a side of Lee Greenwood karaoke and triple tariffs on common sense.
America 2025: where Hell hath no fury like a nation run by sick bastards in MAGA hats, where the only thing more bankrupt than the economy is the moral compass, and the Boy Scouts now answer to a Pentagon that thinks Campfire Safety is a prelude to drone strikes. You want prophecy? Brother, you just walked into the Last Supper of Civilization and Trump’s carving the Constitution with a bone saw while Pete Hegsbeth juggles hand grenades in clown shoes.
YEEEEEEE DOGGIE!!!
May God have mercy on our GDP.
Nothing starts the day quite like a fresh dose of pessimism ... eh Mr. Bonner?
Like hm or not, Trump is an optimist...
Unfortunately, wrong. He is a delusional narcissistic. He thinks he knows best for the whole world. He thinks he is the smartest man that has ever lived. And, if everyone would just bow down and do what he says - the World would be wonderful. US$2.2T deficit in year 1. Ukraine war still raging. Israel completely out of control. Wants to invade Greenland and Panama. The only thing he is optimistic about is his brilliance. So sad. As always - just an ol' man's opinion.
...I do not disagree with much that you lament, however nothing you state detracts from the fact Trump is an optimist.
A delusional narcissistic is not an optimist - far from it. It may - from some perspective look like a optimist but on deeper analysis far from it. Here is a list of Characteristics of Narcissists:
Shun introspection
Lack empathy
Become hypersensitive to slights
Act impulsively
Spoil others’ good moods
Deny or hide mistakes
Are driven by fear
Blame others
Stonewall or withdraw when upset
Get enraged when criticized
Pursue win-lose strategies
Hold grudges
Have one-way relationships
Frankly, pretty much sums up our TACO president.
We are fortunate Trump (sometimes) chickens out.
Your's are great examples of how to look at positivity in a negative way...
Angry, Trump doesn't care about us minions at all. He just wants us not to roll-out the guillotines any time soon. Trump acts much like ol' King George III. Trump understands how to keep the minions distracted and fearful. Just like the continued fear-mongering against Russia and China. Neither of those countries want to invade the U.S. or Europe. I get it - you want optimism because it makes you feel good for awhile. But, like Napoleon, Trump's Waterloo lies ahead.
... not so sure Trump is as angry as you seem to be.
Inso far as Trump's altruism; if nothing else, Trump feigns it better than his predecessors.
You understand well how Trump's chaotic distractions upset you...
Imagine how they twist those that are engaged?
This is Trump's M.O.
Create a boogieman, then make a deal to eliminate it...
But Donnie doesn't seem to be much of an optimist when it comes to the free markets. He's crying about interest rates at 4.5%. I remember getting 4.5% interest on a passbook savings account in the '60s. Higher interest rates encourage savers and discourages speculation. If Donnie is optimistic why can't the US handle 4.5% interest rates?
Low interest rates favor the borrower, who then engages the "market".
High rates favor the saver, saving means not engaging the "market".
Seems low interest rates favor "market" activity...
The very word "free market" is an oxymoron...
Rates are strictly controlled to favor the prevailing economic and political weather...
But there is no market. Just gamblers speculating on Fed policy. Aren't savings the backbone of a successful capitalist system?
... my understanding (which ain't much) the backbone of the capitalist system is commerce.
Monies/assets/credit/capital must flow.
"Free Market" refers to that flow.
That which you are "saving" is being borrowed by someone else.
-
My previous quip (free market is an oxymoron) is a play on words as the market obviously exists for capital gain.
-
Lower interest rates encourage all sorts of ugly economic behavior;
however it also encourages activities that accelerate economic growth.
Prolonged extremes of any kind (high or low interest rates) are detrimental; investors/borrowers play until they see the music stop; there is no such thing as prudence en-masse.
As rates/market ratios/asset prices move in between extremes the money is made.
Likely explains economic cycles as one trend rolls into another...
I don't think you understand the situation. lower interest encourages more debt, more leverage, and MORE default!
Lower interest rates encourage all sorts of ugly economic behavior;
however it also encourages activities that accelerate economic growth.
Prolonged extremes of any kind (high or low interest rates) are detrimental; investors/borrowers play until they see the music stop; there is no such thing as prudence en-masse.
As rates/market ratios/asset prices move in between extremes the money is made.
You're right, Cartero - 'cause nothing has changed in our Economy, Banking System or world of Finance since the '60's. Oh - and the value of the dollar has been steady too.
C'mon man. Y'all are putting forth less-and-less effort in the disguises you are dressing the incessant Trump criticisms in...
This was a specific comment about Trump's optimism. He doesn't seem to be very optimistic about the economy if the Fed needs to suppress interest rates. The Fed's ZIRP and QE policies got us in this bubble economy in the first place. Low interest rates for the big boys allowed zombie companies to survive, encouraged speculation instead of savings, and prevented the Creative Destruction necessary for future success. It's not just Trump, it's both parties ruining the economy.
Trump crying about lower rates (I agree with the sentiment) is but one plank in the ship he is building to try and "rescue" all of us. It's actually probably the Keel - we need lower rates to help pay off the debt. That is the Truth - agree or disagree.
It would be more efficient, permanent and obvious for CONgress to do it, but spending less is not in the Nature of the slimy scumbags from either side...
Indeed, just an old man’s opinion. And you’re most certainly entitled to it.
Have a nice day.
And you are...?
So was Hitler.
Trump/Hitler comparisons immediately identify the user as an unserious, likely not-to-bright person who is ruled by their emotions and easily swayed by a Narrative. Facts.
Looking at you and yours, Terry...
I didn’t compare Trump to Hitler. The post I replied to saw Trump’s optimism as a virtue. I simply pointed out that that’s not necessarily true. You seem to be very sensitive to any perceived criticism of Trump and lose your mind when you think you have detected it. Calm down. Try being rational and don’t resort to insult. Try intelligent responses.
You DID compare Trump to Hitler in context and I just pointed out how ignorant that is - whether it is you doing it or Bill Bonner. Also, there are plenty of things to criticize Trump about and when someone points out something that is valid, I'm right there next to them. The steady diet we get here consists of criticisms based on "maybes", "what-abouts", jealousies and straight-up lies.
I'm extremely calm, but thanks for your concern. As to the "intelligence" of my posts - I'll leave that decision up to people worthy of Respect...
PS - See? I did it again, huh...
You misunderstood my post. I don’t think calling Trump Hitler makes sense but comparing his optimism of the effectiveness of his economic policies to the optimism of Hitler’s optimism of conquering the world is a fair comparison
I respect both Terry and Starboard's opinions regarding tyrannical despot analogies and metaphors to Trump... we have to give pause as I suppose it's one the very few moments of hope and optimism TDS folks experience.
Meh - bit of a stretch and apples-to-oranges, but ok. I can kinda see it....
It's kinda hard not to be an optimist if you're gonna take over the world...
BB has been drawing out the central control, i.e., big gov, crowd from those who prefer limited gov and personal responsibility. “Rugged realism, practical idealism” is at play here. If you want pessimism, read Charles Bukowski on Poetic Outlaws. That’ll really give inspiration to “cry in your green beer.” Bill is merely giving small doses of his book “The New Empire of Debt.”
If it is your plan to decrease your readership you are achieving it... A note to you. "healing of the soul is the healing of humanity" I often wonder what your purpose really is?
You think he is decreasing his readership by talking about the elements of a free society? When are you leaving?
No Terry. He is losing his readership because of the lies, deception, jealousy and apparent desire to see Trump fail in each and every area of Policy and Legislation - regardless if it would actually be good for the Nation. That's why he's losing his readership, and a sprinkling of Truth about how bad everything really is while tearing down the only group trying to implement fixes is probably not a wise strategy. However, it is successful in getting people like you to cheer on the complete negativity. I hope there's enough of y'all around to keep Dan and Tom paid as the rest of us turn to more accurate, less immature sources for News and Commentary...
Being negative about deficits, tariffs and statist policies is a virtue. Supporting such policies is evidence of a poor understanding of the benefits of capitalism.
I'd agree with you if we actually had a Capitalist System - which we both know we don't.
You play with the cards you're dealt....
That’s one way to deal with it. Supporting something you don’t agree with insures it will continue. I do hope it succeeds but logic and history says it won’t.
Would love to hear your actionable, individual and personal recommendations to be successful while not playing by the rules and conditions as they currently exist.
For me, trashing everything Trump and/or Conservative-related (regardless of potential Merit) is not a viable strategy - but for many here it seems to be just what the doctor ordered. SMH...
S.E. I do not know if You have read David Sto. in to days missive. He has certainly put a different light under things that I would not even think of in My wildest political dreams. MR T. has more in his cup than I think He can manage.
His daily e-letter, Bill Bonner’s Diary, is published to over 500,000 readers!
I don’t know how many people subscribe to International Living magazine or if he’s even still involved with it to any great degree but it has been around for a considerable number of years!
There are a number of people on here that are hanging around to complain about Bill and to deride him! I’m not sure he’s losing as much readership as you think!
I don't really "think" he's losing readership and don't really care either way. I wish him no ill will. I WOULD prefer he puts out information (good, bad and ugly) based on an OBJECTIVE analysis - but that is seldom what we get from him anymore.
Sad - because it USED to be his method in all of his missives. Present Facts, point out History if applicable, draw objective conclusions/predictions based on Logic and Critical Thinking. THAT Bill Bonner disappeared around 2021...
If that's all Bonner did, there would be no pushback. Do you seriously just cherry pick the things you like about what Bonner writes, or do you analyze the whole column? He is seriously unhinged in a lot of his analysis, distorting and exaggerating facts in order to attack the Trump administration, while at times making some good points along the way. But you have to ignore a lot of crap just to get to the good points. That is the issue. He often times puts his analysis in a totally unhinged context.
I would add that the "good points" all focus around the very real Negatives, and he's been repeating himself using different words for 10+ years. The immature and constant Trump insults are just a bonus....
"The feds use taxpayer money — and fake money! — to insinuate themselves into everything. Then, people come to rely on it so heavily, they have no choice but to go along with whatever the feds want." Yes, deal with the devil and you most assuredly will be burned. Just ask the Native Americans living on their reservation or the African Americans living on their urban plantation. Government doesn't just destroy wealth it also eviscerates culture. Yet we live in country where Statists outnumber Classical Libertarians 10 to 1. Listening to a Statist complain about indoctrination might just rot your brain faster than watching reality television. Fascism and Socialism are both diseased fruit from the same Statist tree. We're getting exactly what we deserve. Forget the cure for cancer how about the cure for stupidity :-)
Ha! The problem with THAT cure is all your potential buyers are too dumb to take it. We're seeing this in real time right now - the Truth is there for anyone with an internet connection, yet the Cultist dimocrats still exist.....
What Bill fails to mention this day is all the problem areas he mentions occurred under Biden. The Trump admn was left with a poker hand of 2-4-6-9-3. In other words a bummer. He also ever fails to mention we live in a dangerous world surrounded by China, Russia, N.Korea and Iran. 3 out of 4 have nukes and would use them if possible. We aren’t Argentina where saving 20 billion makes a difference. Bill has already hedged his bets with property around the world. The rest of us aren’t going anywhere else so hitch up your big boy pants and get behind Trump. He has most of the country pulling for his efforts including me.
"POTUS thinks he should also decide how much interest you pay, too." Financial repression goes down a lot easier if you're poor, financially illiterate, and stupid. Hum, how about just stop running multiple trillion dollar annual deficits. A good old fashioned sovereign debt crisis will bring back financial literacy in a hurry :-)
And, ya’ know, tuning in to smackdown Friday night with a couple of my “roadies” and a twelve pack of PBR is hard to beat….
Is there a point to this pointless column? It's all over the place.
Bill's point is to enlighten those of us who might be living under the illusion that the US with its loose cannon president is on a safe path to make America great again. Time will tell whether he is right or wrong. I suspect that being forewarned will avoid disappointment. Forewarned allows one to be forearmed. Blind faith in DJT's competence could be dangerous.
Bill isn't enlightening anybody about anything. As far as Trump goes, so far, so good.
Well there you go. Bill will not enlighten everyone. You are fully entitled to take the view that all is well with the US under the stewardship of DJT. Only time will tell.
Bill only enlightens the gullible and I did not say all is well. I also think you give Trump too much credit for power he doesn't posses. If things go worse than they already are it will be because of the 535 stooges and morons in Congress and the Tyranny of Nine In Black Robes.
It's a shame so many people these days aren't vested in the knowledge of how our system of government is supposed to work, including Bill.
How the system works and how it is supposed to work I believe that you have identified as 2 different matters.
I believe Bill has a pretty good idea of how it is supposed to work which is the reason the is critical of how it is working now,
His only criticism is aimed at the person with the least amount of power to effectuate change. It's called Trump Derangement Syndrome. He has very little to say about Congress or that tyrant baseball team dressed in black.
...running alongside with you, I believe we have 3 different facets.
The way it works with an "auto pen" signature.
The way it works with a "Richter scale" pen signature (referring to Trump and his distinctive signature).
And the signature way in which we wish it would work...
...blind faith in media has been the norm.
DJT stirs the pot...
I am not sure "competence" is the correct defining term for manufacturing serendipity.
I fully agree. Stirring the pot in the hope that by chance there might be a good or a serendipitous outcome is IMO not a strategy without risk..
You’re describing Trump’s scheme of disrupting everything productive—trade, tourism, universities, agriculture, etc—in order to scapegoat and terrorize non-white, non-American human beings. He’s selling out and endangering our future in order to glorify himself and appear powerful right out of Hitler’s playbook. But has he built a single bridge, opened a new market or built a ship? We’ll be lucky to avoid a $10 trillion deficit this year alone as we join Israel in becoming the world’s second pariah nation. Are you planning to attend his Big Beautiful Parade tomorrow? Is anyone? It’s going to look pretty raggy compared to Nuremberg. Where does he go from there? Hitler bombed the world leader, England. Trump bombs Yemen and Iraq.
As if all the institutions BB writes about were ‘clean & pure’ before Trump came along!! Not that I’m saying he can fix anything but at least he has exposed them … more so than himself.
Another bizarre column by Bonner. So, Hegseth is not allowed to have contingency plans? Really? Does BPR have contingency plans if things don't shake out the way they now expect them to? I hope so. Somehow Bonner uses the Hegseth analogy to "educate" us on the difference between North and South Korea, as if we all don't know it already. It is a bizarre analogy. Bongo Bill has to find something, anything, to highlight so he can attack some part of the Trump administration. Nothing less will do. And, as usual, he does make a few good points along the way, but unfortunately within a context that seems to equivocate the Trump administration with North Korea and Nazi Germany as well as several other derogatory associations.
He's writing to the least-educated, shallowly-"intelligent" among his readers - and we all see it. Some cheer, some scold as a result...
Well, Bill, you've finally disclosed your true colors. Your "unbiased" historical prose about politicians (especially Democrats), the US and conservatives has been taken for what its worth. However, your deliberate put down of Lee Greenwood says it all. If we like a singer that you don't, then we must be of that "conservative" class of peasants, that appreciates a patriotic country music singer that supports Trump.
“The president was supposed to execute the laws of the land as laid out in the Constitution and elaborated by Congress and the courts. His main role was to protect The People from their government. In other words, he wasn’t meant to run the country at all; it was supposed to run him...” Agree 100% here, Mr. Bonner.
Alas, your bias (predictably) starts to ooze forth, and begins to ruin a promising essay. But this wasn’t enough: your northeasterner snob bursts free. Since you detest Lee Greenwood, I’m assuming it’s a safe bet that us low-class MAGA rubes attending the Dwight Yoakam concert won’t cross paths with you, and thus will be spared your arrogance.
But that’s ok. I doubt you’d find many of us in your lofty, enlightened Ivory Towers. Like Garth Brooks sings, I’ve got friends in low places. And I’m with Randy Travis: a better class of losers suits me fine.
You've gone and done it now Bill...dis-respected Lee Greenwood ! This looks like the end, I'm going to have to cancel my subscription. I can no longer read/support someone who has "taste" when it comes to music.