Buy American

[Elixir]

How is anyone supposed to "buy American" when all things American have already been bought and paid for by China and Russia?
Oh, except 666 5th Avenue, for which the Chinese have made an offer that is estimated to be about $1billion above market value... go figure.
We're running out of emoluments to grant to the Cheato family... time to turn over our National Parks and National Monuments, or the "government" might run out of ways to reward its insiders.

 

[bilby]

It's obvious that it's 100% to muslim ban. Tourists just don't want to risk being turned back for no reason

Except that the drop in tourism isn't only amongst muslims and I don't know that the numbers show that they're even a significant percentage of the drop.

Back during the Cold War, a couple of American soldiers are on duty at Checkpoint Charlie, when they hear a commotion from the Eastern side of the border. Sirens, gunshots, squealing tires - someone is being pursued by the authorities, and is coming in their direction.

So they get out their binoculars, and just as they do, a rabbit breaks out of the shadows into the cleared zone in front of the wall. The East German machine guns open up, and the rabbit ducks and dodges through a hail of bullets to the edge of the minefield. He briefly consults a crude map, and starts a weaving run across the minefield, narrowly avoiding being blown up; reaching the barbed wire, the rabbit struggles under the entanglements, losing a few hanks of fur and suffering some nasty lacerations. In a flash, he bolts up to the American checkpoint, and crosses the line into the American sector and safety.

The East Germans, not wanting to start WWIII, reluctantly admit defeat, and abandon their pursuit.

One of the soldiers bandages the rabbit's wounds, and the other hands him a cigarette, and says 'Wow, buddy; you sure must have had a good reason to get out, if you were prepared to go through all that'.

'I had no choice', says the rabbit. 'They just declared bears illegal in East Germany'.

'But why should that affect you?' Asks the soldier. 'You're not a bear'.

'No', says the rabbit. 'But can I prove it?'

 

[barbos]

Except that the drop in tourism isn't only amongst muslims and I don't know that the numbers show that they're even a significant percentage of the drop.

Back during the Cold War, a couple of American soldiers are on duty at Checkpoint Charlie, when they hear a commotion from the Eastern side of the border. Sirens, gunshots, squealing tires - someone is being pursued by the authorities, and is coming in their direction.

So they get out their binoculars, and just as they do, a rabbit breaks out of the shadows into the cleared zone in front of the wall. The East German machine guns open up, and the rabbit ducks and dodges through a hail of bullets to the edge of the minefield. He briefly consults a crude map, and starts a weaving run across the minefield, narrowly avoiding being blown up; reaching the barbed wire, the rabbit struggles under the entanglements, losing a few hanks of fur and suffering some nasty lacerations. In a flash, he bolts up to the American checkpoint, and crosses the line into the American sector and safety.

The East Germans, not wanting to start WWIII, reluctantly admit defeat, and abandon their pursuit.

One of the soldiers bandages the rabbit's wounds, and the other hands him a cigarette, and says 'Wow, buddy; you sure must have had a good reason to get out, if you were prepared to go through all that'.

'I had no choice', says the rabbit. 'They just declared bears illegal in East Germany'.

'But why should that affect you?' Asks the soldier. 'You're not a bear'.

'No', says the rabbit. 'But can I prove it?'

LOL, true. Reminded me time shortly after USSR dissolved when russians started getting visas to travel to US. Some people were denied for no reason, except person in american embassy did not like the way you looked. The real reason of course was their suspicion that you would not go back, but I bet in some cases embassy worker just had a bad day.

 

[Elixir]

Back during the Cold War, a couple of American soldiers are on duty at Checkpoint Charlie, when they hear a commotion from the Eastern side of the border. Sirens, gunshots, squealing tires - someone is being pursued by the authorities, and is coming in their direction.

So they get out their binoculars, and just as they do, a rabbit breaks out of the shadows into the cleared zone in front of the wall. The East German machine guns open up, and the rabbit ducks and dodges through a hail of bullets to the edge of the minefield. He briefly consults a crude map, and starts a weaving run across the minefield, narrowly avoiding being blown up; reaching the barbed wire, the rabbit struggles under the entanglements, losing a few hanks of fur and suffering some nasty lacerations. In a flash, he bolts up to the American checkpoint, and crosses the line into the American sector and safety.

The East Germans, not wanting to start WWIII, reluctantly admit defeat, and abandon their pursuit.

One of the soldiers bandages the rabbit's wounds, and the other hands him a cigarette, and says 'Wow, buddy; you sure must have had a good reason to get out, if you were prepared to go through all that'.

'I had no choice', says the rabbit. 'They just declared bears illegal in East Germany'.

'But why should that affect you?' Asks the soldier. 'You're not a bear'.

'No', says the rabbit. 'But can I prove it?'

LOL, true. Reminded me time shortly after USSR dissolved when russians started getting visas to travel to US. Some people were denied for no reason, except person in american embassy did not like the way you looked. The real reason of course was their suspicion that you would not go back, but I bet in some cases embassy worker just had a bad day.

Ah, those were the good old days. Now, all it takes is a fat wallet and you're in like Flynn.

 

[barbos]

LOL, true. Reminded me time shortly after USSR dissolved when russians started getting visas to travel to US. Some people were denied for no reason, except person in american embassy did not like the way you looked. The real reason of course was their suspicion that you would not go back, but I bet in some cases embassy worker just had a bad day.

Ah, those were the good old days. Now, all it takes is a fat wallet and you're in like Flynn.

Fat wallet would have helped back then too I think.

 

[Elixir]

Ah, those were the good old days. Now, all it takes is a fat wallet and you're in like Flynn.

Fat wallet would have helped back then too I think.

Yabut, there were laws against bribery back then. Now, with Trump's real estate company offering up hundreds of properties, the sale of which directly and personally profits Cheato, there is a semi-legal way for anyone wishing to buy influence to drop a few (million) bucks into El Cheato's pocket.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

Buy American......politicians.

 

[barbos]

Fat wallet would have helped back then too I think.

Yabut, there were laws against bribery back then. Now, with Trump's real estate company offering up hundreds of properties, the sale of which directly and personally profits Cheato, there is a semi-legal way for anyone wishing to buy influence to drop a few (million) bucks into El Cheato's pocket.

You misunderstood, I did not imply bribery. I implied that US visa immigration requirements were and still are welcome to people with a lot of money. You can actually and legally buy US citizenship.

 

[Elixir]

Yabut, there were laws against bribery back then. Now, with Trump's real estate company offering up hundreds of properties, the sale of which directly and personally profits Cheato, there is a semi-legal way for anyone wishing to buy influence to drop a few (million) bucks into El Cheato's pocket.

You misunderstood, I did not imply bribery.

I know. I did. You should know that it is implicit in what you said as well.

I implied that US visa immigration requirements were and still are welcome to people with a lot of money. You can actually and legally buy US citizenship.

What's the price tag?

 

[barbos]

You misunderstood, I did not imply bribery.

I know. I did. You should know that it is implicit in what you said as well.

I implied that US visa immigration requirements were and still are welcome to people with a lot of money. You can actually and legally buy US citizenship.

What's the price tag?

I think it is around $800K now and it's in a form of investment into some junk. So if you are millionaire you can get green card and eventually citizenship pretty cheap.

 

[Elixir]

I know. I did. You should know that it is implicit in what you said as well.

I implied that US visa immigration requirements were and still are welcome to people with a lot of money. You can actually and legally buy US citizenship.

What's the price tag?

I think it is around $800K now and it's in a form of investment into some junk. So if you are millionaire you can get green card and eventually citizenship pretty cheap.

I'd love to see where you 'learned' that, barbos. Do you have any links?

 

[blastula]

I read something similar, that there's a program for investors like that. It was reported when the Muslim ban order came out because people were trying to speed up those applications. But not sure if it was for a visa or citizenship.

 

[Elixir]

I read something similar, that there's a program for investors like that. It was reported when the Muslim ban order came out because people were trying to speed up those applications. But not sure if it was for a visa or citizenship.

Ah! I think I found it - EB-5

This looks like the rundown

- - - Updated - - -



It's quite a bit different from Cheato's "direct payments to the POTUS" system that he has set up via his real estate Company...
No matter how you slice it, Cheato is taking money from foreign powers in violation of the emoluments clause.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

I know. I did. You should know that it is implicit in what you said as well.

I implied that US visa immigration requirements were and still are welcome to people with a lot of money. You can actually and legally buy US citizenship.

What's the price tag?

I think it is around $800K now and it's in a form of investment into some junk. So if you are millionaire you can get green card and eventually citizenship pretty cheap.

IIRC it's a million per green card (and it's green card, not citizenship, that you can buy. Going from a green card to citizenship is easy, though.) While the usual investments aren't very good that's because there are US backers who exploit the situation to package poor investments into a turnkey fashion for those seeking green cards.

However, the actual rule only involves creating/expanding a business with at least the required investment (which must be maintained for IIRC 5 years) and hiring IIRC 10 Americans. The government does not dictate what you invest in. It's just pretty hard for a foreigner to do this without substantial local help.

 

[braces_for_impact]

Who knew economics was so...complicated?

 

[TSwizzle]

http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/trump-slump-travel-ban-muslims-us-tourism-holidays-foreign-visitors-a7666461.html

All this has resulted in an estimated loss of $185 million in business travel bookings from January 28 to February 4, as calculated by the Global Business Travel Association. The drop-off in tourism is predicted to result in 4.3 million fewer visitors this year, which adds up to a staggering loss of $7.4 billion in revenue for the US.

Tourism has dropped significantly since he took office, so US companies will be much more reliant on getting Americans to buy from them, due to less available options. People seem to be making a moral decision to just not help fund this guy.

Fucking hell, I had to look twice at the link, I thought it was The Onion. What a load of crap but I stuck with it to the end.

However, it’s not all bad news for American tourism. Bucking the trend, New York has seen a surge in bookings this Easter. According to data from online travel agent Opodo.co.uk, bookings are up 198 per cent compared to Easter 2016. However, this could have more to do with high profile deals offered by budget airlines such as Norwegian, rather than an endorsement of the new president.

 

[barbos]

I know. I did. You should know that it is implicit in what you said as well.

I implied that US visa immigration requirements were and still are welcome to people with a lot of money. You can actually and legally buy US citizenship.

What's the price tag?

I think it is around $800K now and it's in a form of investment into some junk. So if you are millionaire you can get green card and eventually citizenship pretty cheap.

I'd love to see where you 'learned' that, barbos. Do you have any links?

I don't remember, it was long time ago. I remember last year they doubled amount of money and a lot of people were trying to do before the raise. It's really the only sure and legal way to emigrate to US if you are not a some kind of refugee. If you are ordinary person who don't have money you are left with no legal options other than H1B which is a scam, just ask Loren

 

[Loren Pechtel]

I don't remember, it was long time ago. I remember last year they doubled amount of money and a lot of people were trying to do before the raise. It's really the only sure and legal way to emigrate to US if you are not a some kind of refugee. If you are ordinary person who don't have money you are left with no legal options other than H1B which is a scam, just ask Loren

H1-B is a scam on Americans. It works for the applicants, though.

 

[funinspace]

I don't remember, it was long time ago. I remember last year they doubled amount of money and a lot of people were trying to do before the raise. It's really the only sure and legal way to emigrate to US if you are not a some kind of refugee. If you are ordinary person who don't have money you are left with no legal options other than H1B which is a scam, just ask Loren

H1-B is a scam on Americans. It works for the applicants, though.

I'll also say it is a scam on Americans. I've been lucky to not have been displaced. But I've personally seen two large computer related companies use the H1-B system to bring in below average, to average, skilled IT workers simply to lower wage costs. I've worked with about 20-25 H1-B imported workers, and I'd say just one of them was a sharp IT worker, and he still was no 'rocket scientist'. His skills were still quite available from the US worker pool. The company would just need to cough up at least another $20k a year or so get find one. Most of the ones that I've seen up close, worked long hours, lived in groups in apartments, and sent money back home.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

H1-B is a scam on Americans. It works for the applicants, though.

I'll also say it is a scam on Americans. I've been lucky to not have been displaced. But I've personally seen two large computer related companies use the H1-B system to bring in below average, to average, skilled IT workers simply to lower wage costs. I've worked with about 20-25 H1-B imported workers, and I'd say just one of them was a sharp IT worker, and he still was no 'rocket scientist'. His skills were still quite available from the US worker pool. The company would just need to cough up at least another $20k a year or so get find one. Most of the ones that I've seen up close, worked long hours, lived in groups in apartments, and sent money back home.

Exactly. I have no problem with bringing in the best and brightest. I have a problem with bringing in average people who will work for less and will work unreasonable hours.