The U.S Subsidizes Chinese E-Commerce Postage So They Can Ship For Free

So I've started trying to divest myself of stuff. We have a slew of very cool vintage, antique, and ethnic clothing, knickknacks etc that we accumulated over the years during all our travels abroad.  At one point in time, eBay was a great option for selling. Actually, up until Barack Obama became President, a cool vintage item could start a bidding war that netted some very hefty prices. Then the economy tanked and no-one was spending much money on those kinds of things, so I stopped selling. Now I'm back at it and was gob-smacked to discover that people were selling goods like vintage ethnic hand fans for under a dollar with free shipping to boot. I couldn't figure out how they could make any profit with 10% eBay fees deducted plus the cost of postage until a friend asked if they were being shipped from China, and indeed the bulk of the listings for "vintage fans" were being sent from China. It made even less sense considering how much it costs to post something overseas. Then she sent me the link to a 2017 Forbes article regarding shipping from China, and suddenly it all made sickening sense.

Did you know that the Chinese receive subsidized postage?? Courtesy of the good old U.S.A?? I didn't.

According to the Forbes article:

These super low shipping rates are being subsidized by the U.S. Postal Service. Yes, the United States and, in a roundabout way, the U.S. taxpayer is footing the bill so that Chinese merchants can ship their products to the USA for dirt cheap, essentially losing millions to support a dynamic where domestic American businesses are being undercut by foreign merchants who are immune to any and all intellectual property and consumer safety laws.

And when did this happen? Under Obama's watch!

In 2011, the U.S. Postal Service made special agreements with the national postal carriers of China and Hong Kong (and subsequently South Korea and Singapore) to allow tracking-enabled packages not exceeding 36” or weighing over 4.4 pounds to be sent to the U.S. for extremely low rates. They called this shipping option the ePacket, and the rates are so low that it's cheaper to ship small parcels from China to an American city than it is to send that same parcel domestically.

So basically, shipping a 1 pound package from New York to Beijing cost around $50 back in 2017, whereas the cost for a Chinese merchant to ship that same 1 pound package to NYC was a mere $3.66! No doubt, the U.S. postage rates are more now, and the Chinese are still offering free shipping.

Thank you Obama.

The shipping inequality has created a huge trade imbalance especially for those international e-Commerce businesses operating in this country. There's no way to compete.  And it costs our country money:

The impact of this international postal rate imbalance for the USPS is dire. As pointed out in an article on the Washington Post, the USPS loses around a dollar on each ePacket coming in from China. The USPS Inspector General admitted that his agency lost $75 million handling mail from foreign shippers in 2014 alone.

Who knows how much more we have lost in the four years since.

And did you know that international postal rates are set by the United Nations?? I didn't.

International postage rates for incoming packages are set by a U.N. agency called the United Postal Union (UPU). This is a body that was established in 1874 -- subsequently being absorbed into the U.N. -- that is currently made up of 192 countries which meets every four years to revise its policy and set new terminal fees, with each country getting one vote a piece. While the voting system of the UPU is egalitarian, the shipping rates that it sets are not.

This is crazy. Thank God Trump is trying to do something about trade imbalance. Not that there is much we can do about the shipping travesty, since apparently we could do away with the ePackets, but then China would revert back to the UPU fees, which are even less.

Read the Forbes article for all the details re how unfair this all is. It will make your blood boil.

The Unhinged Left In Their Own Words- Latest RNC GOP Ad Video

The RNC's latest ad demonstrates just how "unhinged" the left has become, and it's getting  progressively worse with each Trump win. Unhingedness can eventually lead to violence- we're seeing it now in the anti-Kavanaugh protests. And remember what happened last year to Congressman Steve Scalise and several others, when an unhinged left-wing activist opened fire  on bunch of Republicans at baseball practice? They survived, but one day someone is going to get killed, and I will hold responsible every celeb, journalist and politician who encouraged others to violence.

Even California Rep Maxine Waters urged her supporters to harass Trump officials wherever they might happen to be. (See video below) That kind of encouragement is irresponsible and extremely dangerous, especially coming from a politician. Shame on her!

We've already seen Trump officials being harassed, demeaned, chased out of restaurants. I didn't realize there were so many, but here's a list that doesn't even include the latest on Ted Cruz.

What is happening to this country? I don't recall the right ever being as hateful as this during the 8 years of Obama.

Kavanaugh's "Meany-Face" Means He's Guilty- The Babylon Bee

A friend just turned me on to The Babylon Bee, a conservative version of the on-line satire site The Onion.  He had actually forwarded the article "Trump Supporter Executed Live On Stage At Grammy Awards"- which wouldn't seem that far fetched considering the way things are going these days. There is such palpable hatred toward Donald Trump and his supporters, no doubt the haters would be delighted if they were all executed.

I didn't think it was possible after 8 years under the uber-divisive reign of Barack Obama, but

we have become an even more polarized society since Donald Trump became the POTUS. I blame it on the relentless efforts of the media and everyone on the Left (in concert with some on the Right) to remove Trump from office since his first day as president. Actually it started when he became the Republican presidential nominee and hasn't stopped since. There are things about Trump that bother me, and some things he has done that I take issue with, but for the most part he has done some very good things for this country.

So, I was wondering  how The Babylon Bee would weigh in on the Brett Kavanaugh confirmation, which is just another thing that has severely divided this country. I will share my thoughts on that later, but for the time being The BB is spot on.

"Confirmed: Unpleasant Facial Expressions Now Admissible As Evidence of Guilt".  

WASHINGTON D.C.—The FBI has introduced an advanced new CSI technique for determining whether or not a person is guilty of a crime: pausing a video of the person while making an unpleasant face. “If a person makes a meany-guy-face even for one part of a second, we’ve nailed them,” said FBI director Marlon Quinn. “They are obviously guilty; otherwise, why would they make a meany-face?”

Had to laugh because as I was scrolling through my Facebook feed that's exactly what people were thinking. Hyper critical of his justifiable emotional response and anger. 

Read the rest here.

Why Chris Kyle's Iraqi Translator Supports Muslim Ban

While the liberals are out there comparing the 90 day Muslim ban to the Jews seeking refuge during the rise of  the Nazis, there are anti-extremist Muslims who believe it is necessary for the security of our country.

Johnny Walker was sniper Chris Kyle's interpreter while he was stationed in Iraq during the war.

This is what he told Independent Journal Review:

"I agree 100% with President Trump's decision. The national security of the United States is a paramount issue.

All President Trump is doing is ensuring that people can go about their day without living in so much fear. Women won't have to worry about walking around the mall; kids won't have to worry about going to the school.

Look, these countries don't have a database that keeps track of its citizens. And we can't depend on a government database in countries that do, because if they have one it has a political agenda behind it.

It wouldn't be hard for someone to get into the U.S. whose loyalty lies with ISIS or a militia aligned with Iran. While the militia isn't necessarily our enemy right now, they don't have loyalty to the U.S., they are loyal to the interests of the government that funds them. And that government says “Death to America.”

ISIS's strongholds are in Iraq and Syria. We all know what they want to do to Americans."

He also discussed how there are elements within the Iraqi government who have ties with terrorism.

Like Johnny Walker, whose brother was murdered for helping this country, I do have some reservations. Our government should not be banning those who aided us during the war, including all the translators, since they are being targeted by ISIS for their work with the U.S. government.

Read the whole story here.

My Prayer For President Donald Trump On His Inauguration 2017

While half the country is in hysterics, wailing about how the end of the world is coming, the rest of us are ecstatic-  celebrating the day when a complete outsider will lead a sorely divided nation into a renaissance of sorts. Not that I don't have my worries.  As an artist, and this is where I diverge from my party, I fear that Trump and the Republican majority will do away with the National Endowment for the Arts. It is a well known fact that the arts are transformative- bring the arts into the inner city, to jails, and see how it effects people in a positive way. I also worry about doing away with Medicare and Social Security. The elderly are in no position to lose those benefits, which they paid into their working lives. This is not a handout, they worked for it. And it's not like they can just go out and get a job. This worries me as I approach that age. As for Obamacare, bring it on. Our healthcare system is in desperate need of change, Obamacare was not the solution. I pray that they come up with a plan that will benefit all, including those of us with pre-existing conditions.


I pray that President Donald Trump can unite this country, after 8 years of Barack Obama sowing the seeds of division. I think it's going to take a very long time to heal those wounds.

I pray that President Donald Trump can make this country strong again, and that he leads with a level head.

I pray that President Donald Trump can help grow the economy and bring back jobs for those in desperate need.

I pray that he allows himself to be guided by those who know better, and more importantly by the Almighty.

I pray that he is kept safe from all the haters out there and that he is able to "Make America Great Again."

God Bless you and your family Donald Trump.

And for your enjoyment, author unknown:

Twas the Night Before Inauguration!

Twas the night before Inauguration, and up in the tower,

The Donald reflected on his new found power.

The conservative masses had come out in force,

And delivered a victory that would chart a new course.

The snowflakes were shell-shocked with tears in their eyes,

The media lied to them . . . What a surprise.

They had been promised a Hillary win,

But the criminal Clinton took one on the chin.

And though from all corners celebrities flew,

They made no impression, for they hadn’t a clue.

They talked about climate, racism, and such,

And they made up good stories . . . But didn’t know much.

The fake news and ignorance came at a cost,

And they can’t understand all the reasons they lost.

They blame it on Comey and Bernie and Vlad,

But fail to acknowledge the one that was bad.

Yes, Hillary Clinton, in many ways flawed,

Was her own biggest hurdle toward getting the nod.

The campaign exposed her corruptness and greed,

And her speeches were punch-less as ten dollar weed.

So out in the streets there arose such a clatter,

It was Soros-paid protesters and Black Lives Matter.

With cities to pillage and windows to smash,

They knew not the issues, but needed the cash.

Eight years of Obama had given them cause,

To expect a replacement of their Santa Claus.

But soon the protesters will feel the pain,

When the wheels fall off of the old gravy train.

And now all the snowflakes are riddled with fear,

Upset and offended by things that they’ll hear.

The cocoa and crayons will help for a while,

But fact-based opinions will soon cramp their style.

I originally supported, and voted, for Cruz,

In the end, I would vote for whoever they choose.

He wasn’t my first choice, but soon I would cede,

The one they call Trump is the one that we need.

I saw him on TV in front of a crowd,

He spoke about veterans, it made me feel proud.

He spoke about energy, safety, and jobs,

Taking this country back from the Washington snobs.

He was dressed in Armani, all tailored and neat,

And the Brunos he wore made the outfit complete.

For a man of his vintage, he seemed rather fit,

And he looked presidential, I have to admit.

His eyes glowed like embers, his smile was the best,

And his hair was the color of my old hunting vest.

His love for this country was on full display,

And his actions spoke louder than his words could say.

He thanked all his voters, and before he was gone,

Saved thousands of jobs while Obama looked on.

The fate of this country left nothing to chance,

So, he filled out his cabinet weeks in advance.

The men he had chosen were of the same mind,

Let’s set the bar high, and not lead from behind.

He picked up his phone as he rose from his seat,

With a flick of his finger, he sent out this tweet;

“Now Mattis!, now Kelly!’ now Sessions! And Pruitt!

On Perry! On Flynn, You’re the ones who can do it.

Start lifting restrictions and building the wall,

Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”;

The roar of his audience rose from the stands,

He kissed all their babies and shook all their hands.

He answered their questions and calmed all their fears,

They knew it would be a fantastic four years.

Then he jumped in his limo, and off to his jet,

A fellow that Liberals won’t soon forget.

He sent one more tweet as the evening expired;

“Happy Inauguration to all,

AND OBAMA – YOU’RE FIRED!”

Author Unknown!

Trump Inauguration and The Nasty Liberal Bullies

I have never seen such a divided country. Ever. I'm horrified at where we are today. Appalled at how the so-called 'tolerant' left have become so dangerously intolerant. They have become purveyors of hate, in spite of their "Love trumps Hate" mantra during the contentious, divisive presidential election. They have become uber nasty bullies in spite of the fact that they vilify Donald Trump for being one. I witnessed hateful rhetoric on Facebook towards those who had the courage to admit they were voting Trump, yet those brave souls continued to voice their support. But this is why most of us chose not to share where we stood politically; and why so many were shocked when Trump actually won. I wasn't about to subject myself to ridicule and hostile remarks, and I'm sure the majority of Trump voters felt the same way.

Yes, some people are scared, but denying Trump is their legitimate "president", actively attempting to undermine him is very disturbing.  I was very unhappy that Barack Obama won in 2004, and then again in 2008, but I prayed he would do well for this country. The reaction from the right was nothing compared to what the Democrats are doing to Trump and his supporters.

I had thought things might change after the election, but the bullying continues, and it's getting worse. Liberals are hanging on to their rabid hate with even more determination. They refuse to relinquish it. And anyone who tries to reason with them, or reach out for reconciliation, is immediately chastised and even threatened.  And the biggest offenders of all are the Hollywood elite.  Ben Stein discusses Hollywood's attempt to shut down free speech here. He claims people have lost friends, and even agents over politics. It's also happened to ordinary folk who have also lost friends and family.

The few Hollywood types who dare to say anything are met with disdain. Actress Zoe Saldana, of Avatar and Star Trek fame, and not a Trump supporter, said she believes that Hollywood's "cocky and arrogant"  bullying of Trump led to empathy for the candidate, and his eventual win. Not surprising, she has been criticized for admitting that. Nicole Kidman is also being savaged because of her comment about the need to support the President-elect. She had to then clarify that it was not an implicit endorsement of Trump, but rather support of democracy.

She had told the BBC: "He [Donald Trump] is now elected and we, as a country, need to support whoever is the president, because that's what the country is based on".

And because of bullying, Trump has had a hard time finding people to participate in his inauguration. A few who had planned on performing have said they no longer will.  Opera star Andrea Bocelli backed out because of death threats.  Broadway singer Jennifer Holliday (not a Trump supporter but willing to perform to heal the country) backed out mainly because of  backlash from the LGBQT community and her fans. I'm sure there are those who would have been willing, but were too afraid to commit because of the repercussions.

Shame on the liberals for being such hate-filled bullies.

Mark Dice Debunks Trump Making Fun of Handicapped Reporter

I have to admit when I first saw the news reports of Donald Trump allegedly making fun of a handicapped reporter I was rather horrified. It was one of a few events that made me wonder if I could actually vote for him.  In the end, Trump got my vote because the thought of a Hillary Clinton reign was too hideous to contemplate- and as flawed as he is, he seemed like our only hope for a better future.

Then Meryl Streep takes the Golden Globe stage to vilify Trump for having mocked that reporter. As I was searching YouTube for the video snippet of her speech, since I did not watch the show, I came across this Mark Dice video. Apparently, that 'spastic' movement is something he has been doing for years.

Makes me feel a little better about the whole thing.

Happy 2017- The End of the Obama Era Arrives

It's been a rough year for many. In fact, it's been a rough 8 years, and I'm absolutely delighted that this will be the last New Year's eve with Barack Obama as our president.  Even though his campaign mantra was hope and change, he brought no hope, and the change he created has been abysmal. During his two-term reign, race relations have plummeted to an all-time low. He managed to divide this country on every level possible, and it's going to take a long while to recover. In all my many years, I have never experienced anything like it.

All the things people complain about Donald Trump, Obama also has in spades.  He's arrogant, mean-spirited at times, a mega narcissist (hello, Mr soon-to-be-ex President, there is no way in heck that you would have won against Trump), and yet liberals still love him. They still think he's one of the best presidents we have ever had, though I believe he will go down in history as one of the worst.Actually, he'll have to duke that title out with Jimmy Carter,

Aside from the very sad state of race relations in this country, he brought us the Affordable Care Act, which is far from affordable. Obamacare been a disaster for all but a few fortunate ones. The rest of us have suffered with skyrocketing premiums, huge deductibles, and loss of our preferred doctors. Remember he promised we would not lose them? Well, many did. Remember he said you could keep your plan. Many people lost their plans. Even many of my liberal friends are complaining

And he's doing his damnedest to cause havoc before Trump takes control. He threw our only democratic ally in the Middle East- Israel-  under the bus by abstaining on the U.N. vote condemning Israeli settlements. No-one, including Obama and Kerry, seems to realize that peace between Israel and Palestine will only happen when Palestine chooses to accept Israel's right to exist. That's not going to happen any time soon.

Then there's Russia.  What's that all about?  Yes, I'm sure Russia has been spying, just as we and probably every other nation in the world has, but blaming Trump's win on Russian hacking is ludicrous. Unless Obama has proof that Russia hacked the actual ballots during the election, starting another potential cold war over the fact that Trump beat Hillary Clinton is downright evil.  Especially since it was Hillary's fault she lost.  The presidency was hers for the taking, and she lost. So Obama sanctions Russia, and yet lifts sanctions on Iran, in spite of the fact that they still consider us the Great Satan, are steps away from nuclear weapons (whether he believes it or not), detained and humiliated 10 of our sailors.

He also plans on releasing more Guantanamo detainees before he leaves office, even though the rate of recidivism is as high as 30%.

I tried to like him, I really did, and I prayed he would prove me wrong, but I can't think of anything positive, other than Osama Bin Laden was caught during his presidency.

So, I look forward to a Trump presidency, though it won't be easy for him.  I pray he listens to those who know better, and that he can make America great again.

A blessed and prosperous New Year to you all!

Black Trump Supporter's Video Apology To Clinton Supporters

Henry Davis is a truck driver in St Louis, Mo. He is also a die-hard Donald Trump supporter. Here's his video apology to Hillary Clinton supporters for Trump's resounding win.

Enjoy!