OK, so Hillary did not win the election. We'll see who is sworn in, but I do have to pay off about $3 in bets, plus a cup of coffee.
John McCain, war hero, long time politician, "outsider/maverick" lost to an untested newbie. Almost half of the voters voted for McCain, even though he was hoping to be Geo Bush's third term. Where voters had a chance, they voted for dems overwhelmingly. Even this close election is a terrible defeat for the republicans.
This happened in 2006 as well, with a view to ending the war and impeaching Geo Bush, the worst, most dangerous president the USA has ever had. Neither impeachment nor and end to the war happened. Is it reasonable to hope for change with Obama? In the debates he agreed with McCain on the major issues... the war, the bailout, etc. I suppose we can hope he was lying like all politicians do, and he will actually overturn the bailouts and end the war. We can hope for change.
We'll know the economy wil improve if these things happen in the first 100 days:
1. End the war in Iraq and Afghanistan responsibly. Get out immediately. Cut a deal with the Chinese... we are withdrawing, you can have it. We'll buy what we need.
2. Close Guantanamo, bring anyone facing charges into USA court system. end military tribunals. End the military careers of any officer involved in Guantanamo and the military tribunals.
3. Repeal the patriot act and the FISA act.
4. Eliminate the TSA. Airlines can protect their own private property.
5. Eliminate the FED and cancel all bailout programs.
It's a start. If he does these things we can be on our way to the good, true and beautiful, peace and prosperity.
But maybe it is necessary for the dems to have overwhelming power, just like conservatives did, and fail too, to convince people to get back to personal responsibility and the benefits of freedom. We can only hope for change.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Obama?! Who Saw That Coming?
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Alibaba Steps It Up
The online trade lead matching service is upgrading its offer, but I still cannot see any reason for joining. With millions of subscribers it is just too big to be worthwhile. The perennial problem with trade lead lists is the majority of the time it is people with no customers talking to people with no products. It is a tremendous waste of time for someone eager to get going in business.
I wish there was a central direct service for trade leads, and I wish al govt agencies were as good as the hktdc.com. The field of matching demand to production is still wide open for someone to figure out a solution.
Why Fascism Is Loved In USA
Fascism is defined as the goverment and business being one, with all under the state. It works very well for some, such as Archer Daniels Midland. In spite of the economic troubles, it has turned a handsome profit. It is also a beneficiary of massive subsidies and regulations, and a cause for much hardship around the world as its subsidized food floods other lands and ruins local farmers.
The solution is to end its subsidies. This will not happen no matter who becomes president next. Its success will encourage further fascism in USA.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Mojdeh Checks in On Rubies
Mojdeh,
What you have highlighted is precious stones, ready for end-user sales, rubies specifically, you have to declare how many carats you are bringing in, and the duty is 10.5% from WTO member countries, except for a dozen or so countries where it is either low or duty free. Duty from non-wto countries is 50% (say Vietnam). Those dozen or so countries, such as "A" can be found in the front of the document you downloaded, although it really does not matter... you will go where everyone else goes, regardless of the duty rate.
Duty rate is based on what you paid for the goods overseas, not landed cost, not US sales price. What you paid. If they cost you $50, then you pay 10.5% or $5.25 in duty. Make sense?
John
(Click on image for larger view)
On Nov 2, 2008, at 11:30 AM, mojdeh wrote:
Hi John,
I have been trying to find the HTS number for what I am considering (Jewelry: gold with precious/semi precious stones, pearls) for import. I listened to your videos and having a hard time figuring out how to read the HTS table (71)...
I am attaching a section out of the 71 category and have highlighted a section that I hope you can translate for me. Can you? this is the best way I may be able to learn how to read and interpret the information.
Also, is it possible that you may need to use various HTS numbers (within the same category) depending on what is included and what is not?
Will you be covering how tariff is calculated? Is my understanding correct that you pay not based on what cost you but based on what the retail price in US will be? So it may cost $50 to manufacture (making up these numbers) and the retail value based on normal mark up may be $400, then tariff will be based on $400? then again you pay tax on your income when sold to retailers/customers?
Thanks,
Mojdeh
Business Trade Lead Oppty - Service
The feds have announced if you file for foreclosure, they will examine your application from way back when to look for fraud. Driving though San Francisco Friday I heard an interesting news story.
The feds have announced if you file for foreclosure, they will examine your application from way back when to look for fraud.
“Federal, state, and local investigators who make up the 30-member task force have begun to probe as many as 11,000 cases involving people who may have committed fraud during the residential real estate frenzy, said Assistant O.S. Attorney Susan Badger. She heads the task force on behalf of the O.S. attorney's office in San Francisco.”
For whatever reason, the mainstream press is not covering this story.
Guess who the Feds are targeting?
“Some local mortgage agents say at least one-third — and perhaps one-half — of the home loans that were written in the East Bay at the height of the housing bubble were loans with fraudulent documentation about income and debt of borrowers.”
Of course, the “east bay” means the poor, and people of color.
“Borrowers who lied on their loan applications to obtain loans they couldn't afford by overstating their income or understating or hiding their debts.” ...
“What typically happened, executives said, is that an individual seeking a mortgage often could obtain a loan that obliged the borrower to simply state income or debt levels without any verification that the information was accurate. These were known as stated income, or limited documentation, or no documentation, loans.
"It was a pretty common practice at the time," said Don Morton, a broker with Danville-based Empire Realty Associates. "We used to call them liar's loans. People would do whatever it took to get the loans approved."”
Yes, everyone knew. so why wasn’t case number one prosecuted, 10 years ago, five years ago, three years ago... why wait until there are millions of such cases, and the economic damage done before making a first prosecution (and why pick black oakland california, for the first case?)
“"There are a lot of active investigations," Badger said. "Charges are imminent."”
Now, here is another way the banks will charge off their crimes to the taxpayers. This will certainly slow done people going into foreclosure. So now you have two options if you cannot afford your mortgage, and you face fed prosecution:
1. Join the military and there is no foreclosure (the community loses the good of your presence and participation in the community).
2. Turn to crime. What you take from the community in criminal activity will be given to the banks in payment on your loan.
This is a version of how the Hamiltonian USA operates around the world. Since we did not object when the system was benefitting us,it has now come back and turned on us.
Of course, those facing prosecution have a defense in 2 ways:
1 Estopple... the laws were on the books and never enforced, so they are not valid.
2. Selective enforcement. how come just east bay, and not every where in USA?
Neither defense will fly, but it is enough to cover some fed judge who wants to make supreme court in a Hillary administration by quashing these prosecutions. Who knows?
But note the raw politics here... the republican justice department will have the first cases in december. Dems will come in power in January. Poor blacks will be prosecuted. Will dems end the prosecutions? Will they let criminals go free?
TRADE LEAD, BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY, SERVICES
Match active duty military personnel with people in the east bay facing foreclosure. Out the active duty personnel on title, for say 1/100th of the value of the house. Now no foreclosure. Since the military personnel are not on the loan, they are not liable for the debt. Would it work? What’s in it for the soldier/ What do you, the broker make off it?