World Politics, Good Or Bad

The Lobby
545

You know what? Your country is set up a certain way, and you want to protect it. So, you’re free to have whatever immigration restrictions you want.

Other countries can disagree, but that’s their problem.

If you don’t want to offer citizenship because it’s part of your strategy, then it is what it is. If someone doesn’t like it, they can go somewhere else.

I think your program makes sense. Instead of allowing anyone and everyone, you’re permitting whatever profession your country needs.

Good move.

1 Like
546

Hopefully, I have more citizens than expats.

Expatriates in the United Arab Emirates represent about 88% of the population, while Emiratis constitute roughly 12% of the total population, making the UAE home to one of the world’s highest percentage of expatriates.

1 Like
547

I never knew that. That’s insane!!!

1 Like
548

I’d have to take a page from your book on this one.

Assessing current needs before facilitating immigration is a wise move.

If labourers are needed, then I will have to choose which country I want to open my borders to.

I have to think about culture and religion as well.

1 Like
549

I think this is part of Japan’s problem. They want more people, but how can you invite so many people who don’t know the language, and may never learn it?

I think I posted about this before. But imagine Japan giving citizenship to 500,00 people who will NEVER learn the language? Now what?

There are signs in English at the train stations and airports, but most stuff is in Japanese. We can all imagine how difficult it is to learn to read, write, and speak Japanese.

Much harder than French or Spanish. Western languages have more in common, making them easier to learn.

Japanese, Arabic, and other languages that are completely different from other Western tongues, are difficult to learn. That makes assimilation quite difficult.

A country risks compromising its cultural integrity by making such large accomodations to immigrants who struggle with assimlation.

Such a country would have two options: facilitate immigrants’ assimilation, or boost population internally.

Well, a third option could be cloning. But we’re not there yet. Haha

Farming your own fruits and vegetables will increase self-reliance. I think it’s a good idea. It also ensures that during global economic recessions your food prices won’t fluctuate so much—they’ll be more stable.

Hopefully, none of that GMO stuff!

@SmallPaul @TYGMedia @Mondeoman What in the world is Japan thinking?

image

Japan has been able to lend $1T to the US, but doesn’t have the resources to boost its dwindling birth rate?

Can you make sense of this, please?

550

Hi @dushimes, It’s problem with trade deficit between US and Japan. China had experienced the same, due to risk management, china sold part of US bond.

Look at the information bellow.

Screenshot from 2024-10-26 19-53-42
Screenshot from 2024-10-26 19-53-42815×475 97.6 KB

It’s crazy to see US deficit. I don’t know how to manage the endless debt.

The living cost in Japan just too high. If you look at the way of their life, most of them work till late night. No time for family, no time for baby :pensive:

We really have to invent new economic system, current system is just too fragile. I have no clue how to improve it :thinking:

1 Like
551

I’m not sure that trade deficit and national debt have any correlation.

Are the Two Deficits linked?

Not necessarily. You could argue a national debt creates increased Aggregate Demand, which encourages consumer spending on imports. But, you can have a national debt without creating a current account deficit, e.g. Japan.

The twin deficit refers to

  1. Government borrowing– government spending greater than tax revenues. Government borrowing creates an annual budget deficit and increases national debt.

  2. Current account deficit (imports greater than exports) on Balance of Payments US current account deficit 5% of GDP

1 Like
552

I have never dived deep into government debt but here’s what I found.

Which countries own the most US debt?

As of April 2024, foreign countries own approximately $7.9 trillion in Treasury securities — or 22.9% of total US debt.

The US government owes trillions of dollars in debt to foreign entities, including governments, central banks, companies, and individual investors.

This debt includes US Treasury bonds and other securities, which are popular as they are considered safe investments.

Many nations buy US Treasury securities (also called “Treasurys”) because they are considered one of the safest investment options available.

How much US debt do foreign countries own?

As of April 2024, foreign countries own approximately $7.9 trillion[1] in Treasurys — or 22.9% of total US debt. Over the past two decades, central banks and other government entities have owned more than 50% of foreign-owned debt.[2] Independent investors and companies held the rest.

Which countries own the most US debt?.

1 Like
553

Time to pick a side!!

Is a Balanced Federal Budget a Good Thing?

Some economists say that a balanced budget is necessary because it helps to protect future generations from untenable taxes and to keep interest rates low. It also keeps the economy growing.

Opponents say that taxes would have to be raised to reduce the deficit. They suggest that the deficit isn’t necessarily a problem because investors don’t consider U.S. debt to be a problem. They see federal bonds as among the safest investments on the market.

Remember:
A government budget shouldn’t be compared to a household budget because a government can print money and raise taxes.

In my opinion, that doesn’t mean I can’t compare the government’s budget and a household’s budget. The principle is the same: over-leveraged debt is detrimental.

@SmallPaul @TYGMedia Balance the budget or not? Which side would you choose?

Would you advocate for paying back all debt?

1 Like
554

For things like this, I will have to research to the fullest with my economic advisors because as of now if I ran a country and tried to get it established I would definitely be in debt.

Despite hearing that future generations would carry the burden of U.S. debt, the U.S. government and presidents have been lowering the tax rate at the same time. By doing so, they are adding to the debt because they are now taking in less revenue. So how important is the debt?

Nevertheless, I am against unlimited spending, Zimbabwe has taught me the dangers of unlimited spending.

1 Like
555

The Zig, which stands for Zimbabwe Gold, was launched over six months ago and is the country’s sixth currency in 25 years.

That’s the problem isn’t it? Every politician is gonna blame the opposition. In the end, no one does anything. In their eyes, it’s their opponent’s problem—not their own.

Just keep pushing the problem onto someone else seems to be the prevailing strategy.

1 Like
556

Hi @dushimes, there is no direct correlation when the scale is a country. But economist will refers to the elements of the cause. The main reason of the incurred debt is trades. When we have surplus trade balance, our debt will be stable, otherwise deficit.

Unlike in a family, a country will cost more. In family we need to maintain productivity to the whole family (husband and wife have to work), to have more income, increase living quality. The increment of life quality will be a burden, when suddently the family productivity is reduced.

In scale of a country, the principle of macro economic shows us how every aspect is circulated and shape a country. The current US condition is the result of past policies without further consideration. We can compare with the era of Clinton’s Administration.

Btw, I’ve limited my self to talk politic :sweat_smile: I love to observe the economic process within country. For me, US Gov has burdened by his ineffective projects, but it’s necessary to maintain his exclusiveness.

Having a balanced budget will slowdown the economic’s growth. It’s similar with having a company. Without debt, you can’t grow your company optimally. So having a debt is important for a profit-orriented institution, a country is included.

Even though it’s important, debt has to be controlled, tighter budget have to be administered to prevent crisis, periodically after a boost. Even USD has privillege to be a world currency, the principle of money supply is still needed to be respected. Money printing is done when it’s necessary as in principle of money supply, it’s not driven by “desire”.

Anyway we talk to deep here, when we have no country to manage :sweat_smile:

2 Likes
557

Yup, that’s what they’re there for! You can’t do anything without money. When turning around a country/city, you MUST have money. You won’t get far with volunteers.

And you need big money. Millions. Local residents can chip in, but local investors or outside investors will be necessary.

If you’re dealing with a country, you’re talking billions. That’s heavy hitter money. But it’s fun to see things developing, and to see change happen.

1 Like
558

They keep kicking the can down the road, all talk with little actions to address the problem.

U.S. Debt by President: Dollar and Percentage

1 Like
559

You’re absolutely right. I think the problem is that national debt is like a bubble—every other economic bubble in recent history.

Everyone thinks it’s not a problem, until it bursts. This whole time, everyone knows what they’re doing, but they don’t care.

The real problem is that everyone loves to spend, but no one wants to make the hard decision to cut back.

And this is where we, the stupid people, come in. If a president balances the budget and makes cutbacks, his approval rating will go down the drain and we blame him. So, if he wants a high approval rating, what choice does he have?

Dan Peña said, “there’s never an easy time to make a hard decicion.” No one wants to do it.

People want the budget balanced, but don’t want to give up anything. Please, make that make sense.

The process of balancing the budget may be complicated, but the decision to do it is simple. It’s really just a yes or question.

Are you going to balance the budget or not?

Then, here’s another problem: if one president creates a program to balance the budget and pay back 75% of our debt through tough cutbacks, the next president is going to undo it all (pretending to be a hero) and go right back to overspending.

And this brings us back to what we’ve talked about so much in other threads: take of those around you to the best of your ability, and enjoy your life—forget everyone else.

1 Like
560

I wonder if 75% can ever be achieve/paid back

1 Like
561

Yup. Action isn’t the game. The game is the talk, the sell, and the promises.

1 Like
562

I do know American citizens can be all talk, too. We claim we want a balanced budget until we hear about programs that may need to be cut, and then it’s a different story.

I say they can start by cutting wasteful spending and seeing what happens.

1 Like
563

I say start with foreign aide.

Since the war began, the U.S. Congress has voted through five bills that have provided Ukraine with ongoing aid, doing so most recently in April 2024. The total budget authority under these bills—the “headline” figure often cited by news media—is $175 billion.

Think about what else could have been done with that money.

1 Like
564

Nothing, Congress must approve all extra money. Congress would not have approved this money for anything else.

Other programs, including the Biden economic plan, were already funded