Sunday, July 04, 2010

Lady Liberty Fireworks



Fourth of July 2010 Facts from the Census Bureau (including the fact that we imported $209 million worth of fireworks from China last year, and $2.5 million worth of U.S. flags from China). 

Wall Street Journal (2007): "Nearly all the celebratory explosions set off by Americans -- from the lowly New Year's firecracker to today's mighty Fourth of July mortar -- originate in Liuyang, a county nestled into the red hills and bamboo forests of Hunan, China."

15 Comments:

At 7/04/2010 9:45 AM, Blogger PeakTrader said...

I wonder how many public schools start their days with the Pledge of Allegiance or a prayer from the bible?

A problem with immigration is Democrats want cheap votes and Republicans want cheap labor. We can solve those problems:

1. Rather than giving away citizenships, 10-year temporary visas should be available instead.

2. Children of non-citizens shouldn't automatically become citizens.

3. Foreigners should be paid premiums for work the domestic population doesn't want.

4. Citizenship could be granted when foreigners complete two-years of U.S. military service.

 
At 7/04/2010 10:31 AM, Anonymous RWW said...

How sad that the first comment on this entry is so utterly in opposition to the principles of freedom.

 
At 7/04/2010 11:06 AM, Blogger PeakTrader said...

RWW, the sad reality is Obama wants poor illegal immigrants to pay a fine to become legal, which will make them poorer.

There will be a huge tax hike from the new health care law next year, and another huge tax hike from the expiration of the Bush tax cuts.

The country could better handle tax hikes if there was a strong economic recovery underway rather than the weak recovery today.

 
At 7/04/2010 11:51 AM, Blogger PeakTrader said...

RWW, perhaps you're against an opening prayer:

A Brief History of School Prayer

"Although many people may not realize this, there is no actual clause in the Constitution specifically stating the doctrine of “separation of church and state.” Instead, there are two related clauses, one forbidding “any law respecting an establishment of religion” and the other protecting against any infringements on the “free exercise of religion.”

God bless America!

 
At 7/04/2010 2:12 PM, Blogger Benjamin Cole said...

Fireworks come from China, and US flags. Well, that kind of sums it all up.

If you can, relocate yourself and family to the Far East. The day is done for the USA. We are building aircraft carriers and occupying Afghanistan, while China builds huge infrastructure for future growth.

They are serious about economic development. We are serious about subsidizing rural America and a bloated military.

 
At 7/04/2010 5:59 PM, Blogger PeakTrader said...

HISTORY OF FIREWORKS

"Fireworks originated in China some 2,000 years ago.

To this day the Liu Yang region of Hunan Province remains the main production area in the world for fireworks. It is important to remember the geographic origin of fireworks, because often detractors of the fireworks industry say that fireworks are produced in China to take advantage of cheap labor. But the reality is that the fireworks industry existed in China long before the advent of the modern era and long before the disparity in east-west wage rates.

Bamboo reference:

"...originate in Liuyang, a county nestled into the red hills and bamboo forests of Hunan, China."

History

It is said that one day a chef with the Chinese army mixed three common kitchen ingredients, saltpeter, sulfur and charcoal. He dropped these ingredients inadvertently into fire and this produced a colorful flame. This made him excited and he tried to burn it in a closed bamboo shoot. This resulted in an enormous explosion."

 
At 7/04/2010 6:37 PM, Blogger PeakTrader said...

Unfortunately, the slowdown, this year, has begun, and next year, there may be a Perfect Storm of huge tax hikes, reduced government spending, private debt remaining high, and the U.S. reaching the 90% threshold of government debt-to-GDP, which locks in countries into slow growth and high unemployment economies. It looks like a slow U-shaped recovery at best.

 
At 7/04/2010 7:02 PM, Blogger sethstorm said...


3. Foreigners should be paid premiums for work the domestic population doesn't want.

You incorrectly presume that they really don't want it, at any price. Pay the price and do it in this nation with our own citizens.

 
At 7/04/2010 7:55 PM, Anonymous Mo said...

1. Rather than giving away citizenships, 10-year temporary visas should be available instead.

2. Children of non-citizens shouldn't automatically become citizens.

3. Foreigners should be paid premiums for work the domestic population doesn't want.

4. Citizenship could be granted when foreigners complete two-years of U.S. military service.



Based on what principle? Why do citizens *magically* get their children as citizens, whilst non-citizens do not? You cannot argue that the infants are different ideologically, since they are essentially the same at the time of birth.

Sounds to me like that this inherited citizenship bit is a little bit like aristocracy--- some have it in the blood, but it's denied to others. Is that a solid premise? Furthermore, serving in the Army doesn't do you any bit of good: I've met quite a few servicemen who were immoral wastes of space, and quite a few them weren't exactly friends of the constitution.

All that *should* be required to attain citizenship is a) a clean criminal record b)demonstrable commitment to the country and the principles upon which it was founded. Nowadays, most "born-in" citizens sons of citizens lack both. Point in case, Michael Moore.You're seriously going to tell me that Michael Moore deserves that citizenship more than, say, me? Them'd be fightin' words, laddie.

 
At 7/04/2010 8:11 PM, Blogger PeakTrader said...

Seth, I'm assuming many poor foreigners are underpaid in the U.S., because most poor Americans refuse to do those jobs at market wages. Moreover, in general, foreigners may be harder workers (or more productive).

 
At 7/04/2010 8:32 PM, Blogger PeakTrader said...

Mo, why not make everyone born in the world automatic U.S. citizens, or everyone who aren't criminals, are committed to the U.S., or who aren't like Michael Moore?

If "serving in the Army doesn't do you any bit of good," why do people join? Are you saying military values cause "immoral wastes of space."

If the U.S. opened its borders, I wonder how long it would take for the U.S. population to reach 1 billion.

 
At 7/04/2010 8:37 PM, Blogger sethstorm said...


PeakTrader said...

Hardly the case, they just get pushed harder and are easier to dispose. You're suggesting that the only way a citizen should have that work is if they are in the same situation.

By refusing to extend unemployment or hire them at above-unemployment wages, you want to force their hand. You want to have them suffer enough so that their will is broken, and to take drudgery.

 
At 7/04/2010 11:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Nice post.

 
At 7/05/2010 11:36 AM, Blogger juandos said...

"Based on what principle? Why do citizens *magically* get their children as citizens, whilst non-citizens do not?"...

Ahhh, could it be because the children of citizens are citizens whereas the children spawned by wetbacks are the children of criminals that had no business being here in the first place?

Holders of green cards are also not citizens...

Maybe you should look at the machinations of the 85th Congress when it comes to this bizzare idea of who becomes a citizen...

 
At 7/06/2010 3:40 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Peak Trader:

Since 91 more than 70,000 latinos have become citizens by serving in the us military.

 

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