quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
https://x.com/ChiefEngineerCE/.../2003683902204875202

Hallelujah!

Merry Christmas SIGforum!

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
https://x.com/ChiefEngineerCE/.../2003683902204875202

Hallelujah!

Phenomenal.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by nhracecraft:
Wow! Beautiful!

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
A federal judge just upheld Trump's authority to impose a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas.

Unfortunately, that fee does not apply to the visa holders who are already in the country, so the improvement on the situation for displaced American workers is not anywhere near what is nee.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
A federal judge just upheld Trump's authority to impose a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas.

Unfortunately, that fee does not apply to the visa holders who are already in the country, so the improvement on the situation for displaced American workers is not anywhere near what is nee.

Now that it's been upheld, speak up loudly and let's see if they can add the fee to renewals as well.

Personally I am tired of listening to Indian accents all day at work, putting up with their arrogance, falsified qualifications, political bullshit, and fixing the problems created by their incompetence. Sure there are some good ones, but the rest just scam their way through everything.

quote:

Originally posted by Lefty Sig:

let's see if they can add the fee to renewals as well.

The original intent was to allow workers if an American worker can not be found to do the job. Body shops, contracting companies, etc. have abused these visas to increase profits while, as you wrote, quality of product suffers. I too, have seen it first hand, in fact, a few hundred software developers, including me, were terminated when Anderson Consulting took over contract software development for BellSouth in 1999 and did a wholesale replacement of American programmers with these H-1B imports, for the sole purpose of increasing Anderson's already obscene profits.

What I would love to see, is something more or less on the lines of DOGE to examine the placement of these visa holders and deny their use if there is an American worker available for the job, along with a substantial fine for each instance of abuse of the system, and deportation of the visa holder. Not gonna happen, but I can dream, can't I?

^^^ This is like the US version of the Tet Offensive.

https://www.newsmax.com/politi...dkt_nbr=0101024sew6e

Trump's 79 Percent Increase in GDP Growth Rate — 5 Ways He Did It

In the final weeks of the 2025 calendar year, President Donald Trump and his allies are touting what they call a historic economic achievement: a 79% increase in the rate of U.S. GDP growth since the fourth quarter of 2024, the final full quarter of the Biden administration.

The most recent government estimates point to strong quarterly expansion, with Biden ending his term with an anemic GDP growth rate of just 2.4% — barely above recessionary levels.

With less than a year in office, Trump's economic policies are causing the economy to boom with an annualized rate of 4.3% in the third quarter of 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

In social media posts, Trump has framed the economy as entering a "Golden Age," with aides crediting a suite of policy moves — tax cuts, tariffs, deregulation, and energy strategy — for driving what they characterize as a dramatic expansion.

"[The] 4.3% GDP growth is happening because of Trump's policies, but Biden's policies did things like reduce real incomes by $3,000," National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said this week.

An internal White House memo circulated last week argued that the Trump agenda has unleashed growth by:

1. Enacting a sweeping tax and budget bill, dubbed the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," which proponents say has boosted business investment and disposable income.

2. Raising tariffs on imported goods, an effort the administration says has helped narrow the trade deficit and stimulate domestic manufacturing.

3. Rolling back regulations across energy, banking, and environmental sectors to reduce compliance burdens and spur corporate activity.

4. Lowering energy prices, particularly oil and gas, as part of a broader "energy independence" push, which the administration says has lowered business costs and spurred consumption.

5. Reducing interest rates, a goal the administration has publicly advocated for, arguing that lower borrowing costs will further stimulate investment and consumer spending.

In a Truth Social post after the latest GDP report, the president celebrated the data and reiterated his belief that his policies are fueling economic momentum, saying "the numbers will only get better."

Trump's tariff policies have been central to his economic message.

According to government tariff trackers, the administration's tariff rates on imports rose sharply in 2025, with revenue from customs and excise taxes climbing.

Supporters argue that higher tariffs are helping U.S. producers by creating a more protected domestic market and reducing trade deficits, including a notable narrowing of the current-account deficit.

Critics and independent analysts caution that tariffs can raise consumer prices, lead to retaliation from trading partners, and ultimately slow long-term economic growth.

But so far, those predictions have not materialized.

Oil prices have also been falling, with consumers seeing the effects at the pump.

In 2024, Brent crude averaged about $81 per barrel, but this year crude has averaged $69 a barrel, with prices expected to fall further next year as a result of the Trump administration's "drill, baby, drill" policies.

And nothing impacts the consumer economy like interest rates and the cost of debt.

When Trump took office in January of this year, the Federal Reserve had short-term rates as high as 4.5%. Today, the rate range goes as low as 3.5% — a 100-basis-point drop in less than a year.

Financial markets have been buoyed by economic surprises, with major indexes like the S&P 500 reaching record highs in late 2025 on optimism about growth prospects.

The so-called "wealth effect" is helping to drive the consumer economy as Americans see their portfolios and 401(k)s grow by double digits.

The S&P 500 has risen sharply in 2025, as have the Nasdaq Composite and the Dow Jones Industrial Average, with all three indexes up between 14% and 18% this year alone.

As the 2026 election year approaches, economic performance will remain a central talking point.

Trump allies are expected to continue arguing that policy actions are transforming the economy, while critics will press for a more nuanced interpretation of the data.

The proof will be found in the symbolic cash in voters' "pocketbooks," which will shape how they vote in next year's midterms.

quote:

Originally posted by lkdr1989:
…

https://townhall.com/tipsheet/...734408&lctg=26773771

Arizona Lawmaker Pushes State-Funded Study of ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome’

Arizona state Senator Janae Shamp is advancing legislation that would require Arizona to commission a formal study of “Trump Derangement Syndrome,” arguing that the phenomenon constitutes a legitimate mental health condition.

Senate Bill 1070, if passed, would direct the Arizona Department of Health Services to conduct or support research to “advance the understanding of Trump Derangement Syndrome, including its origins, manifestations and long-term effects on individuals, communities and public discourse.”

The text of the bill reads, the Arizona state "legislature finds that: The United States thrives on liberty, opportunity and civil discourse, yet extreme political polarization has fractured national unity, threatening the democratic values cherished by Arizonans."

"Despite these contributions to America's prosperity, security and values, "Trump Derangement Syndrome" (TDS) has emerged since his 2016 campaign and has been proposed for study in the federal TDS Research Act of 2025.

Selective media reporting and amplification of unverified claims about President Trump's conduct have fueled TDS, intensifying polarized public reactions and deepening societal division.

TDS has led to significant social harm, with Americans who support President Trump or his policies reporting discrimination, intimidation or ostracism in professional, academic and social settings, further eroding community cohesion.

TDS has contributed to psychological harm, with studies from the American Psychological Association documenting surges in political anxiety and bias during Trump's tenure, undermining civil discourse in39 Arizona and beyond."

Warren Davidson, a Republican congressman from Ohio, wants a similar study to be conducted at the federal by the director of the National Institutes of Health. He cited the two assassination attempts on President Trump, as a direct result of TDS, warranting a study.

"TDS has divided families, the country, and led to nationwide violence,'' the Ohio Republican said in a statement. He argued his own measure would require the federal agency to "study this toxic state of mind, so we can understand the root causes and identify solutions.''

Editor's Note: President Trump is leading America into the "Golden Age" as Democrats try desperately to stop it.

quote:

Originally posted by 6guns:
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/...734408&lctg=26773771

Arizona Lawmaker Pushes State-Funded Study of ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome’

There's a book written by two Ph.D. Psychologists about TDS. It is interesting and worth the read, especially if your local library has it for free.

https://www.amazon.com/Trump-D...r%2Caps%2C905&sr=8-3

They clarify that a Syndrome is not itself a mental illness, but a group of symptoms. Each symptom could itself be due to a diagnosable mental illness, such as paranoia or personality disorders. TDS is a clear indication of faulty thought processes and emotional disturbance.

One thing that was interesting to me to learn was the idea of "Locus of Control". Conservatives tend to have an internal locus of control, meaning we tend to believe that we have a lot of control over our lives. Leftists, and especially TDS sufferers, tend to believe they are controlled by outside powers. This is the explanation for constant victimhood mentality.

It seems to me that the government should tread very lightly on forcing the creation of a new mental health diagnosis tied to a political party.

“FBI Director Kash Patel announced the permanent shutdown of the bureau's iconic Washington D.C. headquarters on Friday.

Patel declared the end of the J. Edgar Hoover Building, fulfilling a once-provocative pledge to strip the FBI of what he had called its 'deep state' nerve center.

In a sweeping statement posted to X, Patel said the decades-old building would be closed for good, marking a dramatic physical and symbolic break from the FBI's past.

The closure of the famed building will also present a major logistical overhaul for one of the federal government's most powerful agencies.

'After more than 20 years of failed attempts, we finalized a plan to permanently close the FBI's Hoover headquarters and move the workforce into a safe, modern facility,' Patel wrote.

'Working directly with President Trump and Congress, we accomplished what no one else could.'

The announcement immediately reignited controversy around Patel whose rise to the FBI's top job has been defined by his aggressive attacks on the bureau's culture, scale, and leadership - and by his vow to dismantle what he has described as entrenched bureaucracy in Washington. …”

DailyMail article:
https://mol.im/a/15415265

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
What I would love to see, is something more or less on the lines of DOGE to examine the placement of these visa holders and deny their use if there is an American worker available for the job, along with a substantial fine for each instance of abuse of the system, and deportation of the visa holder. Not gonna happen, but I can dream, can't I?

Maybe make the assertion of a false statement to the USG (i.e. stating 'we couldn't find an American worker' on the form requesting the visa, when there were ) a criminal offense? A couple hundred fraudster HR dweebs doing time might chill things out a bit.

quote:

Originally posted by Fly-Sig:
It seems to me that the government should tread very lightly ....

How many (literally countless) complaints have we seen about governmental overreach?
But as always, it depends on whose ox is being gored.

quote:

Originally posted by Pipe Smoker:
“FBI Director Kash Patel announced the permanent shutdown of the bureau's iconic Washington D.C. headquarters on Friday.

https://mol.im/a/15415265

"Patel said the FBI will relocate most of its headquarters workforce to the existing Ronald Reagan Building, allowing the transition to begin immediately while avoiding years of construction delays and ballooning costs."

I don't understand. Is the move just physical? Same traitorous workers, different location? Or is the move both physical and logical - traitors gone, Americans employed?

What is the intent and objective of the move? Not opposed, just don't understand it.