economy – Page 5 – Len Bilén's blog, a blog about faith, politics and the environment.

Verse 56 of the Obama Impeachment song. Chinese yuan in free-fall tanking our economy.

China Tuesday 8/11 devalued the Yuan by 2%. Not much, but it caused a big uproar on the world markets. The next day they set the Yuan free, allowing it to move 2% PER DAY.

The big currency war is on.
Which leads to verse 56 of the Obama Impeachment song (as if sung by Obama to the tune of “Please release me, let me go”)

China’s Yuan is falling free

and tanking our economy.

My grand plan will come to be:

A racial uprising scenery.

Here is the complete impeachment song: https://lenbilen.com/2015/02/25/the-complete-obama-impeachment-song/

The fiscal status of all fifty states according to party rule.

The Mercatus Center of George Mason University has come out with a study of which states are most fiscally solvent as of fiscal year 2013. These are their rankings of all 50 states. The best fiscal status in enjoyed by states ruled by a Republican governor, Republican legislature. There are 25 of these with an average score of 0.87

1. Alaska 8.26

2. North Dakota 2.97

3. South Dakota 2.84

4. Nebraska 2.75

5. Florida 2.74

6. Wyoming 2.67

7. Ohio 1.30

8. Tennessee 1.10

9. Oklahoma 0.99

11. Utah 0.95

12. Nevada 0.62

13. Alabama 0.60

15. Idaho 0.32

16. Indiana 0.07

17. South Carolina – 0.03

19. Texas – 0.12

24. Kansas – 0.48

26. Georgia – 0.58

27. North Carolina – 0.63

28. Wisconsin – 0.64

29. Arkansas – 0.66

32. Arizona – 0.78

33. Mississippi – 0.78

34. Michigan – 0.80

35. Louisiana – 0.85

Slightly negative for fiscal responsibility is to have a Democrat Governor, Republican Legislature. There are 6 of these with an average score of – 0.20

10. Montana 0.98

14. Missouri 0.49

20. New Hampshire – 0.13

21 Virginia – 0.21

41. Pennsylvania – 1.14

43. West Virginia – 1.20

Now we are getting into real negative territory for fiscal solvency. We start with a Republican Governor, Split Legislature. There are six of those with an average score of – 1.01

18. Iowa – 0.04

22. Colorado – 0.27

36. New Mexico – 0.92

42. Maine – 1.15

48. Massachusetts – 1.84

50. Illinois – 1.86

Equally bad is to have a Democrat Governor, split Legislature. There are four of them with an average 0f – 1.01

23. Washington – 0.43

31. Minnesota – 0,70

45. Kentucky – 1.42

46. New York – 1.49

Worse still is to have a Democrat Governor, Democrat Legislature. The seven of them have an average score of – 1.09

25. Oregon – 0.50

30. Delaware – 0.69

38. Rhode Island – 1.06

39. Vermont – 1.08

40. Hawaii – 1.08

44. California – 1.41

47. Connecticut – 1.83

And finally, worst of all is to have a Republican Governor, Democrat Legislature. There are two of those with an average

of – 1.42.

37. Maryland – 0.98

49. New Jersey – 1.86

This helps to explain why Democrats want the Federal Government to handle everything for them since their states are hopelessly irresponsible with their states affairs, while Republicans as a rule tend to want to have every state handle their own affairs as they see best fit.

One further startling observation is that New Jersey under Governor Chris Christie came in next to last. This helps to explain the reluctance of the more conservative (or fiscally responsible states) to endorse him for President.

On the other hand, Alaska came in first, not in small part due to the heroic efforts of Sarah Palin during her 31.7 month reign as Governor, where she managed to get the Credit Rating for her state to go from AA to AA+ and then raised again to AAA shortly after her resignation. She accomplished more in this short time than most governors do in two terms.

This also helps in part to explain the irrational hatred for Sarah Palin. She did clean up the graft and corruption in Alaska, and they are afraid she would do the same on a national level should she become President.

The ten most attractive countries to invest in, and the ten worst.

Daniel Altman’s 2015 list of investment attractiveness by country is out. The ranking is based on an index for baseline profitability that assumes that three factors affect the ultimate success of a foreign investment: how much the value of an asset grows; the preservation of that value while the asset is owned; and the ease of repatriation of proceeds from selling the asset. The index combines measures for each of these factors into a summary statistic that conveys a country’s basic attractiveness for investment. Daniel Altman is the creator of the index and an Adjunct Professor at New York University’s Stern School of Business, in the Foreign Policy magazine.

How did it go? India jumped from number 6 to first, and Hong Kong, the 2014 leader slumped to the 11th position.

The list of the top ten is surprising, at least to a person unaccustomed to foreign investing.

1. India.

2. Qatar

3. Botswana.

4. Singapore.

5. Ghana.

6 Malaysia.

7. Mongolia.

8. Rwanda.

9. Zambia.

10. Sri Lanka.

How did the U.S.A. do? it came in as number 50 dropping 24 positions from 2014, when it came in as number 26.

China dropped to number 65, down from number 60 in 2014.

And who are the ten worst countries to invest in? (The list only has 110 countries, so Iran, Cuba and North Korea among others are not included.)

101. Nigeria.

102. Belarus.

103. Italy.

104. Papua New Guinea.

105. Russia.

106. Lebanon.

107. Angola.

108. Dem. Rep. of Congo.

109. Argentina.

110. Venezuela.

The Hindu Digest added a nice picture to brag about the great progress India has made since Narendra Modi became Prime Minister.

Congress stands up to Obama on Trans-Pacific trade deal. A Limerick.

U.S. President Barack Obama, with House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi at his side, walks from a meeting room to make a last-ditch appeal to House Democrats to support a package of trade bills vital to his Asian policy agenda in the U.S. Capitol in Washington June 12, 2015. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque — U.S. President Barack Obama, with House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi at his side, walks from a meeting room to make a last-ditch appeal to House Democrats to support a package of trade bills vital to his Asian policy agenda in the U.S. Capitol in Washington June 12, 2015.
REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

The bill on the trade Trans-Pacific

defeated in Congress: Terrific.

It was more like a pact

to lose freedoms – a fact.

Obama as leader – Horrific.

The U.S. economy shrank by 0.7% in first quarter due to lack of Global Warming. A Limerick.

The U.S. economy shrank by 0.7 in the first quarter of 2015 as harsh weather dampened consumer spending and energy companies struggling with low prices slashed spending.

Gross domestic product contracted at a 0.7% percent annual rate, the Commerce Department said Thursday, coming dangerously close to a recession. That was a big step down from the fourth quarter’s 2.2 percent rise and does not bode well for the rest of the year.

This winter’s cold Climate Disruption

has caused a big growth interruption.

When it’s warm it is good

makes the plants grow more food.

This CO2 scare: Just corruption.

CO2 concentration has increased from about 280 ppm in pre-industrial times to over 400 ppm today, and is increasing at a rate of 2 ppm per year. We are way past the point of no return, 350 ppm which would lead to a temperature catastrophe. But instead, something rather interesting is occurring. The earth is getting greener! This 40 % increase in CO2 the last 250 years has led to a more than 30 % increase in agricultural production all by itself without adding fertilizer or using higher yielding seeds. Thanks to this we can now feed an additional two billion people on earth without starvation. The news are so good, that the per capita food production is increasing, even as the population is increasing.

Look at it this way. The value of basic agricultural products is more than 1.5 trillion dollars worldwide. 30% of that is due to increased CO2. That means that the CO2 emitted is worth 450 billion dollars, spread out over all farmers and ranchers worldwide. This wealth transfer is occurring right now, and knows no national boundary. It is a gift from the developed countries to the rest of the world. Who could be against that?

It turns out that this wealth transfer occurs without global governance. The leaders of the world will not have their say in who gets the wealth transfer, the U.N. bureaucrats will not get their cut, and politicians cannot get a campaign issue since it occurs without their involvement.

The support for this argument: https://lenbilen.com/2014/02/22/co2-the-life-giving-gas-not-carbon-pollution-a-limerick-and-explanation/

Nikki Haley did it again! Snagged the Volvo deal

Nikki Haley did it again! She had a meteoric rise in the South Carolina Legislature, and her big break came when Governor Mark Sanford had some extramarital incidents and then he and his (ex)wife endorsed her for Governor in 2010. Even with the Sanfords’ endorsements she was mired in fourth place in the polls. Then Governor Sarah Palin endorsed her and it propelled her to first place. She forced a run-off in the GOP primary, which she easily won, and after some planted stories from fellow Republicans Sarah Palin stood by her, and she became Governor, the youngest U.S Governor, female minority to boot. She has done a lot of things right for South Carolina since then, so she won re-election easily in 2014.

Her latest feat is snagging the Volvo assembly plant.

Gov. Nikki Haley and state Commerce officials made the bombshell revelation that Volvo Cars has decided to open its first U.S.-based plant in Berkeley County, bringing millions in investment and 4,000 jobs to the state by 2020

Haley said the Charleston Port was a deciding factor in snagging the deal.

“And they wanted to see a state that was going to care about the business atmosphere, but more than that, a state that was going to have a relationship. Because they wanted to be made in America, and all credit goes to Volvo Cars for saying we want to make it in America. More importantly, we love that they’re now going to be made in South Carolina,” Haley said.

The $500 million facility at the Berkeley County timber plantation, which is nearly 40 miles northwest of port and export-rich Charleston. At full capacity, 100,000 cars will be built at the factory each year.

Haley credited the state’s workforce for helping land the automaker.

“They saw the fact that this is a state where they build planes,” Haley said. “We now have three car companies, we now have five tire companies. We have carbon fiber, we have TV. What they knew was if we build it, we build it well, we build it with quality, we build it with loyalty, and we build it with pride. And that’s something you can’t just find anywhere.”

Information on jobs at the plant can be found online. Or, if you’re a vendor interested in doing business with the plant, you can find that information on the Commerce Department’s website.

So, what is so good about the South Carolina Workforce? Besides being a right to work state, and a nearby good port in Charleston, what else is there?

South Carolina has a very good Technical College system with Workforce Training with readySC™, providing well-trained employees to qualifying companies that invest in South Carolina. A comprehensive and customized process, readySC™ includes recruiting, screening and training, tailoring guidelines and curriculum to fit a company’s needs. This is not Crony Capitalism, just concern for a well trained and educated work force.

This is the future of manufacturing. Rather than concentrating of University education, the backbone of manufacturing is through Technical College, and even trade schools.

Good going, Nikki Haley and South Carolina!

The economy nearly stalled in first quarter due to lack of Global Warming. A Limerick.

U.S. economic growth nearly stalled in the first quarter as harsh weather dampened consumer spending and energy companies struggling with low prices slashed spending.

Gross domestic product expanded at an only 0.2 percent annual rate, the Commerce Department said on Wednesday. That was a big step down from the fourth quarter’s 2.2 percent pace and marked the weakest reading in a year

This winter’s cold Climate Disruption

has caused a big growth interruption.

When it’s warm it is good

makes the plants grow more food.

More CO2: Food distribution.

CO2 concentration has increased from about 280 ppm in pre-industrial times to nearly 400 ppm today, and is increasing at a rate of 2 ppm per year. We are way past the point of no return, 350 ppm which would lead to a temperature catastrophe. But instead, something rather interesting is occurring. The earth is getting greener! This 40 % increase in CO2 the last 250 years has led to a more than 30 % increase in agricultural production all by itself without adding fertilizer or using higher yielding seeds. Thanks to this we can now feed an additional two billion people on earth without starvation. The news are so good, that the per capita food production is increasing, even as the population is increasing.

The support for this argument: https://lenbilen.com/2014/02/22/co2-the-life-giving-gas-not-carbon-pollution-a-limerick-and-explanation/

Verse 40 of the Obama impeachment song. China’s Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

Verse 40 of the Obama impeachment song. China’s Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. (As if sung by Obama to the tune of “Please release me, let me go”).

China’s new investment bank;

are our banks about to tank?

U.S. influence just sank.

Oblivion? You have but me to thank.

Item: The Israeli government has submitted its application to become a founding member of a controversial Chinese-led development bank, in a move that is likely to cause consternation in Washington.

Newly re-elected Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed a letter to join the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) by the March 31 deadline, according to the country’s foreign ministry.

Israel would become the latest country to join the 40-nation bank, which already includes the UK, Germany, France, Italy and Australia.

“Israel’s membership in the Bank will open opportunities for integration of Israeli companies in various infrastructure projects, which will be financed by the bank,”said an Israeli government statement.

The creation of the Bank, under the vision of Chinese premier Xi Jinping, has attracted criticism from the United States, who has warned their closest allies against courting better relations with Beijing.

The complete Obama Impeachment song.

Verse 31 of the Obama Impeachment song: Raising taxes through executive action.

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest confirmed Monday that President Obama is “very interested” in the idea of raising taxes through unilateral executive action.

“The president certainly has not indicated any reticence in using his executive authority to try and advance an agenda that benefits middle class Americans,” Earnest said in response to a question about Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) calling on Obama to raise more than $100 billion in taxes through IRS executive action.

Raising taxes on my own

Contempt for Congress I have shown.

All the money I have blown,

Now China demands: Repay our loan.

The complete Obama Impeachment song: https://lenbilen.com/2015/02/25/the-complete-obama-impeachment-song

Trouble ahead. The Baltic Dry Index hit a fourth time all time low. 2/19 at 509.

This morning (Feb 12) the Baltic Dry Index hit an all time low at 553. The previous low of 554 was set on Aug 6 1985. What is the BDI you say?

The BDI is a very leading indicator signaling future guesses on the amount of shipping of dry freight that are to be conducted in the future. It is very volatile as we can see from these charts with a high of nearly 12000 in the spring of 2008 and dropping to about 700 a couple of months before the crash of 2008.

The new low of 553 signals major trouble ahead.

A hint is in the Chinese trade balance for Jan 2015.

China Posts Highest Trade Surplus on Record in January.

China reported a USD 60 billion trade surplus in January of 2015 compared with a USD 31.86 billion surplus a year earlier as imports fell at a faster pace than exports.

In January, imports dropped by 19.9 percent toCNY 860 billion year-on-year (approximately USD 140 billion) with imports from US down 9.3 percentExports unexpectedly declined by 3.3 percent to CNY 1.23 trillion (approximately USD 200 billion), but exports to the US rose 4.9 percent.

Since the Lunar New Year typically falls in January or February, the country’s trade figure in early year often considered as volatile, due to companies rushing to fill orders ahead of holidays. What is doubly troubling is that this year the Chinese new year fell in February. Last year it fell in January, so the declines are doubly troubling.

There is trouble ahead.

Update 1: Friday 2/13 it hit 530, a new record low

Update 2: Tuesday 2/17 it hit 522 a new all-time low.

Update 3: Wednesday 2/18 hit 516, a new all time low.

Update 4: Thursday 2/19 hit 509, a fourth new all time low in a row.