Trump says he has directed US Treasury to stop minting new pennies, citing rising cost

[dualstow]

Don't wish anyone dead. Rather had he died

Is there really a difference? It’s ok, you’re safe. In the UK you won’t get a visit from the Met unless you complain about Muslims.

[yankees60]

Vin, why are you bolding and then requoting?

Well, certainly I’ve seen nasty comments from Trump supporters on social media. Plenty. Seajay would be pleasant company, and they would not. No doubt.

"Vin, why are you bolding and then requoting?"

For double emphasis, to make sure it is not missed.

[dualstow]

Some of you may get your wish yet.
Yeah, I get it, you only wish in the past tense or past perfect tense — totally different
An armed man was shot outside the White House last night.

[yankees60]

Some of you may get your wish yet.
Yeah, I get it, you only wish in the past tense or past perfect tense — totally different
An armed man was shot outside the White House last night.

Yet it not until much time had passed and a huge amount of people had invaded Congress on January 6th was even one shot fired.

I'm more worried about Elon Musk being killed than Trump. That would be an irreparable loss to the country and the world since he is a true genius. One of the greatest people of this century.

Trump will be a great historical figure but a negative one.

[coasting]

We should have ditched pennies long ago. On the other hand, as inflation continues, we should bring back the $500 note... but they won't. They just want to abolish cash, right?

And dollar (de-dolarization), and now de-NATOization, CIA, FBI, overseas aid ... maybe next the Presidency? Trumpland with Trumpcoin and Trumpforce ... permanently headed by Trump, coz that's what Putin does and he likes Putin.

Have never see Europe so aligned, realization that the US, NATO, dollar cannot and should not be trusted. That's the problem with trust, takes a long time to build, so easily/quickly lost.

From the FT article: “Trust is something you can only break once”
Can the US switch off Europe’s weapons? Long hooked on American defence exports, allies feel buyers’ remorse over hardware dependent on Washington support
https://www.ft.com/content/1503a69e-13e ... ce1f7cc89e

With the US cutting off military support to Ukraine in an abrupt pivot towards Russia, many European governments are feeling buyers’ remorse for decades of US arms purchases that have left them dependent on Washington for the continued functioning of their weaponry.

“If they see how Trump is dealing with [Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelenskyy, they should be worried. He is throwing him under the bus,” said Mikael Grev, a former Gripen fighter pilot and now chief executive of Avioniq, a Swedish defence AI company. “The Nordic and Baltic states need to think: will he do the same to us?”

And Trump may also be shooting US defense companies in the foot:
The chief victim of the uncertainty, meanwhile, is just as likely to be the US arms industry, rather than its European customers.

US defence companies have long used the implicit security guarantee of Washington’s favour as a marketing tool for their bigger-ticket items such as fighter planes. But Tusa said the US showing its willingness to cut off support was “utterly fatal” for the sales pitch.

[coasting]

Following up on your theme:

https://larrykotlikoff.substack.com/p/b ... dium=email

Boycott America
The Likely Reaction to Trump's Selling Out Ukraine and Starting a Trade War
Larry Kotlikoff
Mar 02, 2025

...

I’m also concerned about Musk’s access to our Social Security covered earnings records. Everyone should download their covered earnings histories so they have proof of what they are owed. The just-announced mass firing of 7000 Social Security employees makes doing this even more important.

Great article Vinny, thanks for sharing! Regarding Kotlikoff's last point - several weeks ago when Musk's DOGE team began descending on government agencies, I actually had the same thought to proactively download my current SS statement as a precaution; I am still a few years from being able to collect. I thought to myself at the time "am I being overly paranoid"? I'm a "never suspect malice when incompetence will suffice" type of person, so that was my main concern - something like inadvertently deleting earnings/contributions history or some such stupidity. Who knows at this point. Anyway, it's probably good advice for everyone with a SS#. Coincidentally, this thread popped up on bogleheads yesterday: Social security account access down?
https://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewto ... st=8287119
My access is working ok. I did have to convert my SS web account to the login.gov authentication solution last year.

And on the Trump affinity for Putin subject, you may be interested in recent Hidden Forces podcast episode 403 - Demetri Kofinas speaks with Russia and U.S. national security experts Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Michael Kofman.
https://hiddenforces.io/podcasts/ending ... el-kofman/

[yankees60]

Following up on your theme:

https://larrykotlikoff.substack.com/p/b ... dium=email

Boycott America
The Likely Reaction to Trump's Selling Out Ukraine and Starting a Trade War
Larry Kotlikoff
Mar 02, 2025

...

I’m also concerned about Musk’s access to our Social Security covered earnings records. Everyone should download their covered earnings histories so they have proof of what they are owed. The just-announced mass firing of 7000 Social Security employees makes doing this even more important.

Great article Vinny, thanks for sharing! Regarding Kotlikoff's last point - several weeks ago when Musk's DOGE team began descending on government agencies, I actually had the same thought to proactively download my current SS statement as a precaution; I am still a few years from being able to collect. I thought to myself at the time "am I being overly paranoid"? I'm a "never suspect malice when incompetence will suffice" type of person, so that was my main concern - something like inadvertently deleting earnings/contributions history or some such stupidity. Who knows at this point. Anyway, it's probably good advice for everyone with a SS#. Coincidentally, this thread popped up on bogleheads yesterday: Social security account access down?
https://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewto ... st=8287119
My access is working ok. I did have to convert my SS web account to the login.gov authentication solution last year.

And on the Trump affinity for Putin subject, you may be interested in recent Hidden Forces podcast episode 403 - Demetri Kofinas speaks with Russia and U.S. national security experts Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Michael Kofman.
https://hiddenforces.io/podcasts/ending ... el-kofman/

Thanks for that. Have it set up to listen to and have subscribed to their newsletter.

[seajay]

Is there really a difference? It’s ok, you’re safe. In the UK you won’t get a visit from the Met unless you complain about Muslims.

The younger generations have accepted loss of freedoms, are all too willing to sell their soul in return for 'free' Google/social media/whatever services. Be monitored by millions of cameras, have all their thoughts (internet activities) recorded, even to declare where all of their money comes in from/is saved/spent. Fundamentally are content to live in a open prison system, where if you're non compliant and say/do things that someone/somewhere defines as being unacceptable then you may be moved from the open prison into a prison cell.

When others know where 'your' money is - and have control capacity, that's no longer your money its just a loan, open to being partially/fully confiscated at any time - such as via unavoidable punitive taxation (which takes many forms such as via currency debasement). You become a slave - self servicing such as paying for your own shelter/clothing/feeding/transportation etc. Basically just a commodity of little/no significance.

It wasn't that long ago when income taxes weren't viable - if individuals were asked to disclose where and how much they had saved (or earned) the typical reply would be "it's none of your business". The collective desire to become enslaved isn't confined to the UK, the US is perhaps even more-so, as is Australia etc.

[seajay]

Copper pennies are no longer (solid) copper. Silver and gold coins - worth their weight are no longer common currency. Bank deposits are no longer a service to secure your money but are you lending to the bank, often at relatively low rates of interest. Even stock shares are more commonly not registered in your name with each stock/company, instead the shares are registered in your brokers (custodian) name.

Whilst much of the younger generations have given up freedoms there are those that see the situation for what it is, and are opting for perhaps something like 5/95 Bitcoin/gold instead of 50/50 stock/gold (or 67/33 stock/bonds)

Bitcoin has become more 'mainstream' since after 2017/2018, and since 2019 ...

https://www.portfoliovisualizer.com/bac ... xiwhUhcaDn



2/48/50 Bitcoin/Gold/T-Bills versus PP ...

https://www.portfoliovisualizer.com/bac ... SsusKvkZsh

[dualstow]

…
When others know where 'your' money is - and have control capacity, that's no longer your money its just a loan, open to being partially/fully confiscated at any time - such as via unavoidable punitive taxation (which takes many forms such as via currency debasement). You become a slave - self servicing such as paying for your own shelter/clothing/feeding/transportation etc. Basically just a commodity of little/no significance.

It wasn't that long ago when income taxes weren't viable - if individuals were asked to disclose where and how much they had saved (or earned) the typical reply would be "it's none of your business". The collective desire to become enslaved isn't confined to the UK, the US is perhaps even more-so, as is Australia etc.

I fear the notion of a wealth tax. I never heard of it until Sophie brought it up here a few years ago. It’ll probably never happen, but it keeps coming up.
Meanwhile, Florida is entertaining the idea of eliminating property taxes. That also probably won’t happen.

The collective desire to become enslaved

That’s pretty much how my wife talks about China’s citizens.

[boglerdude]

Given how tribalism works I suppose ~700 million Chinese think communism is good economic policy

And I'm surprised Vinny can consider "MAGA" Elon a genius

[yankees60]

Given how tribalism works I suppose ~700 million Chinese think communism is good economic policy

And I'm surprised Vinny can consider "MAGA" Elon a genius

The Tesla car

AI

Space X


Was that a true statement when he said that Space X is responsible for 90% of what is currently in the skies with China at 5% and the United States and all the rest of the countries the remaining 5%?

Read Issacson's book on Musk and you will have a better sense of how genius Musk is.

[Jack Jones]

…
When others know where 'your' money is - and have control capacity, that's no longer your money its just a loan, open to being partially/fully confiscated at any time - such as via unavoidable punitive taxation (which takes many forms such as via currency debasement). You become a slave - self servicing such as paying for your own shelter/clothing/feeding/transportation etc. Basically just a commodity of little/no significance.

It wasn't that long ago when income taxes weren't viable - if individuals were asked to disclose where and how much they had saved (or earned) the typical reply would be "it's none of your business". The collective desire to become enslaved isn't confined to the UK, the US is perhaps even more-so, as is Australia etc.

I fear the notion of a wealth tax. I never heard of it until Sophie brought it up here a few years ago. It’ll probably never happen, but it keeps coming up.
Meanwhile, Florida is entertaining the idea of eliminating property taxes. That also probably won’t happen.

The collective desire to become enslaved

That’s pretty much how my wife talks about China’s citizens.

We should note that people are not born this way. The socialist horrors the Chinese have endured have destroyed tradition, family, and spirit. This was an aim of the socialists, and they succeeded.

[yankees60]

…
When others know where 'your' money is - and have control capacity, that's no longer your money its just a loan, open to being partially/fully confiscated at any time - such as via unavoidable punitive taxation (which takes many forms such as via currency debasement). You become a slave - self servicing such as paying for your own shelter/clothing/feeding/transportation etc. Basically just a commodity of little/no significance.

It wasn't that long ago when income taxes weren't viable - if individuals were asked to disclose where and how much they had saved (or earned) the typical reply would be "it's none of your business". The collective desire to become enslaved isn't confined to the UK, the US is perhaps even more-so, as is Australia etc.

I fear the notion of a wealth tax. I never heard of it until Sophie brought it up here a few years ago. It’ll probably never happen, but it keeps coming up.
Meanwhile, Florida is entertaining the idea of eliminating property taxes. That also probably won’t happen.

The collective desire to become enslaved

That’s pretty much how my wife talks about China’s citizens.

We should note that people are not born this way. The socialist horrors the Chinese have endured have destroyed tradition, family, and spirit. This was an aim of the socialists, and they succeeded.

The Chinese are communists, correct? Not socialists. There is some overlapping but a big difference between them?

All of us have accepted socialism in the United States with no complaints in certain areas. Police and fire being the main two. I don't think we've had any communism in the United States.

[dualstow]

We should note that people are not born this way. The socialist horrors the Chinese have endured have destroyed tradition, family, and spirit. This was an aim of the socialists, and they succeeded.

Absolutely.

[yankees60]

We should note that people are not born this way. The socialist horrors the Chinese have endured have destroyed tradition, family, and spirit. This was an aim of the socialists, and they succeeded.

Absolutely.

So you are concurring that is it socialism in China and not communism? If so, that leaves me confused!

[dualstow]

Well, socialism is just a broader spectrum.

[yankees60]

Well, socialism is just a broader spectrum.

Looks like you are correct. However, it seems more specific to describe them as communists.

Vinny

Communism and socialism are related but distinct ideologies. While both aim to reduce economic inequality and promote public control of the means of production, they differ significantly in their methods and ultimate goals.

**Socialism** is a broader ideology that seeks to achieve greater economic equality through various means, including public ownership of key industries and redistribution of wealth. Socialism can coexist with elements of capitalism and often advocates for gradual reforms through democratic processes. Private property is generally allowed, and individuals can own personal assets[1][2].

**Communism**, on the other hand, is a more radical ideology that seeks to eliminate private property entirely and establish a classless society. Communists advocate for a revolutionary overthrow of capitalism to achieve their goals, aiming for a stateless and classless society where resources are distributed based on need rather than market principles[2][3]. Communism is often seen as a more advanced form of socialism, with socialism acting as a transitional phase towards communism according to some interpretations[3][5].

In this context, communism can be considered a subset of socialism in the sense that it shares many of socialism's goals, such as reducing inequality and promoting public control of production. However, communism is more extreme in its methods and objectives, aiming for a complete abolition of private property and the establishment of a classless society, which not all socialists support[1][4]. Therefore, while all communists are socialists, not all socialists are communists[4].

Citations:
[1] https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answer ... ialism.asp
[2] https://study.com/academy/lesson/commun ... ences.html
[3] https://www.britannica.com/topic/communism
[4]
[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Types_of_socialism
[6] https://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/marxism.asp
[7] https://byjus.com/free-ias-prep/differe ... socialism/
[8] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_socialist_states
[9] https://www.britannica.com/question/How ... -socialism
[10] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communism
[11] https://www.history.navy.mil/content/da ... ground.pdf
[12] https://www.thoughtco.com/difference-be ... ism-195448
[13]
[14]

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