This is what America First looks like

MORE WINNING: Germans Fear Huge Loss of Jobs from U.S. Tax Cuts

John Carney21 Dec 2017  BREITBART

JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP/Getty Images

German economists are warning that the tax overhaul bill that now awaits the signature of President Donald Trump will mean  “significant amounts of new investment and jobs will shift from Europe to the United States,” according to the German business news publication Handelsblatt.

The United States has had a much higher tax rate for businesses than Germany and most of Europe. Under the tax reform bill, the corporate rate in the U.S. will fall to 21 percent, lower than the estimated 28.2 percent effective rate in Germany and close to the European average of 20.9 percent.

Handelsblatt reports:

“The tax competition will have a new dimension,” said Christoph Spengel, chairman of the corporate tax department at the University of Mannheim. Mr. Spengel, who is also a research associate at the Center for European Economic Research, and a group of tax experts at the university have done a detailed comparison of the two countries’ tax systems and published a report under the heading, “Germany loses out in US tax reform.” 

Clemens Fuest, who heads the Ifo economic think tank, also said he believed German business would suffer. “Investments and jobs will migrate to the US,” he said.

The potential capital influx could be as high as $42.29 billion, or 39 billion euros, according to Handlesblatt.

Gavin Ekins, a research economist at the Tax Foundation in Washington, argued that it is not only the tax rate that will make the US more attractive. He told Handelsblatt Global that in figuring out their “service cost,” a metric that measures the cost of capital, companies also have to consider local labor costs, regulatory burdens, and things like energy prices and the cost of land.The US has the advantage in almost every category, he noted, but until now firms were deterred by the high corporate tax. 

“Now you get a windfall for having capital in the US, so that causes investors to invest,” Mr. Ekins says. The change in the capital investment rules gives US firms “a tremendous advantage,” he said. “It’s a pro-capital formation tax bill and this is why other countries are so wary about what the investment landscape will look like.” 

Using direct investment figures from the period 2008-2012, the German specialists calculated that the value of German foreign direct investment in the US could rise by €39 billion with the tax reform. It said US direct investment in Germany would also rise, but by a much smaller amount: €6.3 billion.

Handlesblatt’s reporting highlights the shallowness of much of the U.S. media’s coverage of the tax bill, which has focused on claims that U.S. corporations are likely to use much of the windfall from tax cuts to pay dividends and buy back shares.

The EU, controlled by Germany, takes aggressive action against Poland, again

Brussels bullying of Poland could lead to the break up of the EU – EXPRESS COMMENT

HAVE the bureaucrats in charge of the EU learned nothing from Brexit? Britain voted to leave the EU because we were tired of an unelected assembly controlling our country.

Express PUBLISHED: 07:32, Thu, Dec 21, 2017 | UPDATED: 07:56, Thu, Dec 21, 2017

The European Union has learned nothing from Brexit

Rather than taking note of this and allowing remaining members a little more leeway, the EU is going further still. It has threatened to strip Poland of voting rights if the country goes ahead with new laws that allow more governmental say in the judiciary. How can this possibly be justified?

In fact this punishment of Poland is almost certainly not going to happen because the EU would need a unanimous vote among members to implement such a move, which it is unlikely to get. But the point is that this is a domestic matter for Poland.

If the Poles don't want their government to act in such a way, then they can vote them out. However, not for the first time the EU is taking the kind of attitude that suggests Poland is acting like a naughty child and will have to do as it is told.

The EU is coming apart at the seams because it is trying to impose the same conformity on every country in the bloc, despite our very different histories. Brexit is what happens when you push this too far.

Poland 

There are no signs yet that Poland will want to do likewise, not least as it has done very well out of EU membership. But they took us for granted and look what happened. The Poles may well yet do the same.

If Illegal Immigrants want to rejoin their families, let them - Give them an exit visa.

Chain Migration Triggered by DACA Amnesty Could Outpace NYC Population

John Binder20 Dec 2017

PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Image

Washington, DC320

An amnesty for nearly 800,000 to 3.5 million illegal aliens shielded from deportation by the President Obama-created Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program could rapidly boom the United States’ already record-high foreign-born population.

In September, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that DACA would officially end in March 2018. Since then, the Republicans and Democrats have been plotting to negotiate an amnesty plan for January 2018 where up to 3.5 million illegal aliens could be granted a pathway to U.S. citizenship.

Such a plan would likely increase current legal immigration levels to the U.S. More than one million immigrants enter the country every year, leaving Americans forced to compete with an evergrowing number of low-skilled foreign workers for stagnant, blue-collar wages.

The legal immigration system is made up of more than 70 percent of what is known as “chain migration,” which means newly naturalized immigrants can bring an unlimited number of foreign relatives to the U.S. with them. For example, as Breitbart News reported, five years of chain migration to the U.S. has added more foreign-born individuals to the American population than one year of American births.

A DACA amnesty where newly amnestied illegal aliens are able to bring their foreign relatives to the U.S. could potentially trigger a chain migration reaching between 9.9 million to 19.8 million foreign nationals over a period of decades.

Chain migration importing the foreign relatives of DACA illegal aliens would potentially outpace the entire population of New York City, New York, where more than 8.5 million residents live. Likewise, the number of foreign nationals arriving in the U.S. as foreign relatives of DACA illegal aliens could also more than quadruple the population of Los Angeles, California.

For years, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Colorado State University Philip Cafaro has pleaded with Democrats and the Republican establishment to stop supporting massive increases in the U.S. population through immigration.

Cafaro wrote in 2009:

Like immigration policy for the past 50 years, immigration policy for the next 50 looks likely to be set with no regard for its environmental consequences. We believe this is a bad thing. As committed environmentalists, we would like to see our government set immigration policy (and all government policy) within the context of a commitment to sustainability. We don’t believe that the goals we share with our fellow environmentalists and with a large majority of our fellow citizens — clean air and clean water; livable, uncrowded cities; sharing the land with the full complement of its native flora and fauna — are compatible with continued population growth. It is time to rein in this growth — or forthrightly renounce the hope of living sustainably here in the United States.

President Donald Trump’s administration and pro-American immigration lawmakers such as Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) and Sen. David Perdue (R-GA) have advocated for reducing legal immigration levels to raise the wages of American workers. This initiative would see the end of chain migration and cut legal immigration down to 500,000 immigrants arriving in the U.S. a year to stabilize the American population.

As Breitbart News reported, nearly two out of five swing voters have said that giving amnesty to DACA illegal aliens should not be a priority for Congress.

In contrast, 25 percent of swing voters want the federal government to prioritize reducing prescription drug prices and reducing the number of Americans dying from opioid abuse — two issues Trump promised to his supporters that he would tackle under his populist administration.

John Binder is a reporter for Breitbart News. Follow him on Twitter at @JxhnBinder. 

Two More Islamic Pieces of Shit in Melbourne - Get Them Out!

'It was a deliberate act': Police arrest two men after they 'drove a car into Christmas rush hour crowds' outside Melbourne's Flinders Street Station - injuring 14 people and 'sending bodies flying'

More than a dozen pedestrians, including a toddler, have been injured after a car 'deliberately' ploughed into rush hour crowds amid chaotic scenes in the heart of Melbourne.

The drama unfolded as the white Suzuki SUV crashed into the group of panicked commuters and shoppers at the corner of Melbourne's busy Elizabeth Street and Flinders Street at 4.41pm on Thursday.

 14 people, one in a serious condition, were taken to hospital including a pre-school aged child with serious head injuries where several are critical.

It is unknown if this is a terror related incident although police believe it was a deliberate act.

Two men in the vehicle, who were driving the car with green P plates displayed, have been arrested and are in police custody.

'At this stage we believe it is a deliberate act, however we do not know the motivation,' Victoria Police said.

More than a dozen pedestrians, including a toddler, have been injured after a car ploughed into rush hour crowds (pictured)

Video playing bottom right...

Chaotic scenes unfolded during peak-hour as the white SUV crashed into the group of panicked pedestrians (pictured)

Footage shows one of the men in a white shirt with a beard (pictured) being pulled to the gutter away from the vehicle 

Police say SUV that ploughed into pedestrians a 'deliberate act'

Two men were arrested at the scene after the white SUV (pictured) crashed into a bollard at Flinders Street Station

Footage shows one of the men in a white shirt with a beard being pulled to the gutter away from the vehicle.

The second man in a red checked shirt, also with a beard, was arrested a short time later.

The two men are believed to be close relatives aged between 25 and 35-years-old, according to News Corp.

An eye-witness described seeing the car hurtling towards the crowd.

She told radio station 3AW: 'It just mowed everybody down, people were flying everywhere.

'We heard thump, thump. People are running everywhere.'    

Victoria Police dragged the man in a white shirt (pictured) from the white Suzuki to the gutter shortly after the incident

Footage shows the damaged car surrounded by dozens of injured pedestrians while police arrest one man (pictured)

The second man in a red checked shirt, also with a beard (pictured), was arrested a short time after the 'deliberate' incident

Dozens of people were hit by the car with witnesses saying they saw the car doing burnouts before the incident

A witness told Nine News they thought the car was travelling at about 60km/h as it drove into busy crowds (pictured)

The white Suzuki SUV (pictured) was forced to stop its rampage when it crashed into a bollard near Flinders Street Station

Police speak to man after SUV drives into pedestrians

A car crashed into the crowds at Melbourne 's Flinders Street and Elizabeth Street (pictured) causing dramatic scenes

Ambulance Victoria said paramedics were called to the scene (pictured) at 4.41pm Thursday and several are critical

Onlookers run towards white SUV after it drove into commuters

Dramatic footage shows a number of injured pedestrians being treated by passerbys as they wait for paramedics. 

Vince Harris, the manager of the Freechoice tobacconist at Flinders Street Station, was nearby in the immediate aftermath of the crash.

He was on the scene from about two minutes after the car collided and could see the cracked windscreen and Good Samaritans trying to save injured pedestrians.

'A few ladies were screaming but it was calm - there were no sirens, nothing,' Mr Harris said.

'I was here when the other one (the Bourke Street tragedy) happened …. you get desensitised.'

Vince Harris, the manager of the Freechoice tobacconist at Flinders Street Station, was near the crash aftermath (pictured)

The heart of Melbourne's CBD is in lock down after the car ploughed down a number of shoppers and commuters (pictured)

14 people, one in a serious condition, were taken to hospital including a pre-school aged child with serious head injuries

 Police have locked down vast areas of the city taking in Flinders Street, Flinders Lane and Elizabeth Street (pictured)

One witness's husband told Daily Mail Australia his wife was taken to Melbourne West with other onlookers to be interviewed

Three people were taken to The Alfred Hospital and three people were taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital

One witness's husband told Daily Mail Australia his wife had been taken to Melbourne West with other onlookers to be interviewed.

Police have locked down vast areas of the city taking in Flinders Street, Flinders Lane and Elizabeth Street. 

A child at pre-school suffered head injuries and was taken to the Royal Children's Hospital in a serious condition.

Three people were taken to The Alfred Hospital and three people were taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital but the extent of the injuries are unknown. 

Eye-witnesses told 9 News the saw the white SUV being driven at about 60km/h before it smashed into dozens of pedestrians. 

Another witness told 3AW there were about 'five to seven people laying on the ground'.

More could have been injured if not for the vehicle crashing into a bollard at the tram stop out the front of Flinders Street Station.

Three people were taken to The Alfred Hospital and three people were taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital 

Police said the driver of the car and a second man were arrested after what they believe was a 'deliberate' attack in the CBD

A child at pre-school suffered serious head injuries and was taken to Royal Children's Hospital (white SUV pictured)

More could have been injured if the white Suzuki did not crash into a bollard after about '15 seconds' of trauma

Police in heated confrontations after car plough into pedestrians

Lachlan Read, 20, told The Herald Sun the whole rampage lasted about 15 seconds.

'He has gone straight through the red light at pace and it was bang, bang, bang. It was just one after the other,' Mr Read said.

'There were bodies on the ground and people running up to them - it was mayhem.' 

A childcare centre and other buildings along Flinders Street were evacuated. 

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull wrote on Twitter saying the federal and state security agencies would work together to investigate the 'shocking incident'. 

'Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and the emergency and health workers who are treating them,' Mr Turnbull wrote.

The carnage comes almost a year after six people were killed and 30 injured when a car ploughed through the Bourke Street Mall.

The driver, Dimitrious Gargasoulas, was charged with six counts of murder after he allegedly used a maroon Holden Commodore sedan to run down shoppers during the lunch break.

A child and two adults were amoung those who died following the attack as well as a three-month-old baby boy. 

A childcare centre and other buildings along Flinders Street were evacuated shortly after the incident Thursday 

Car ploughs through commuters on Flinders St, Melbourne

A witness told Melbourne's 3AW radio station there were about 'five to seven people laying on the ground' (pictured)

'People were flying everywhere ... people running everywhere' a witness told the 3AW radio station on Thursday (pictured)

Police said Flinders Street and Elizabeth Street have been closed off as a crime scene while investigations continue

Man arrested at the scene after car ploughs through pedestrians

Republicans all but guarantee a 4% economic growth rate - The Democrats offer 0% support

“This is the worst bill to ever come to the floor of the House, with stiff competition for what some of the things they’ve tried to do,” said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. “The worst bill in history.”

Senate Republicans pass $1.5 trillion tax-cut plan on party-line vote

House revote expected Wednesday; reform to be sent to Trump for signature

By David Sherfinski - Washington Times

From left, Senate Majority Whip Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., and Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., arrive to speak to members of the media following a Senate luncheon on Capitol Hill, ... more >

By David Sherfinski - The Washington Times - Wednesday, December 20, 2017

The Senate early Wednesday passed the Republicans’ $1.5 trillion tax-cut plan, putting it closer to President Trump’s desk with an additional House vote expected Wednesday.

Senate Democrats managed to strike several provisions from a House-passed bill on procedural grounds, but Republicans nevertheless expect to send a final measure to Mr. Trump shortly to fulfill his top legislative priority and complete the most significant rewrite of the tax code in three decades.

“Many of us in this body have been waiting years for this opportunity, and millions of Americans outside of this body have been waiting even longer,” said Sen. Orrin G. Hatch, Utah Republican and chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.

The Senate passed the slightly modified plan on a 51-48 vote after the House passed its bill earlier in the day on a 227-203 vote. The procedural hiccup is not expected to significantly delay the proceedings, as the House is expected to take up the Senate-passed version Wednesday.

The action will complete a once-unthinkable timeline to get a tax bill through Congress before Christmas, and comes less than two months after House Republicans released their initial legislative text of the tax bill.

The final package cuts the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent. It trims individual rates and lowers the top rate from 39.6 percent to 37 percent, but makes the individual cuts temporary in order to comply with Senate budget rules that imposed a $1.5 trillion cost limit.

On average, taxpayers across all income levels will see an income tax cut next year, but thanks to the phaseouts would start to see an increase long-term, according to congressional scorekeepers.

Republicans say they anticipate that future Congresses will simply extend the individual cuts.

The plan generally maintains the current progressivity of the tax code, with the top 20 percent of taxpayers paying 65 percent of the taxes next year and the top 5 percent accounting for 50 percent of the taxes.

It winds down various loopholes and exemptions while expanding others, including the child tax credit, which was a change demanded by Republican Sens. Marco Rubio of Florida and Mike Lee of Utah.

The package also repeals Obamacare’s individual mandate — partially making good on the GOP’s repeated pledges to repeal the law — and opens up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) for oil drilling, which is a long-sought goal of Alaska lawmakers and many other Republicans.

Republicans say they’re moving quickly because they want taxpayers to feel the changes in their paychecks as early as February.

But there’s also a numbers issue, as the GOP ranks in the Senate will drop from 52 members to 51 once Sen.-elect Doug Jones of Alabama is sworn in, which would narrow an already tight window for passage there.

Republicans also say they need to deliver something to the voters who gave them full control of Washington, D.C., and do so ahead of the 2018 midterm elections, particularly after they failed to repeal Obamacare in its entirety this year.

Speaker Paul D. Ryan on Tuesday waved aside polling that has shown the plan isn’t all that popular, saying that public distortions might be dragging down the numbers.

“When you have a slingfest, a mudfest on TV, when pundits are slamming each other about this tax bill before it passes, that’s what’s going to happen,” Mr. Ryan said. “Results are going to make this popular.”

Democrats, meanwhile, have cast the plan as a giveaway to the wealthy, and say Republicans are rushing the process because they don’t want Americans to actually know what’s in the bill.

“This is the worst bill to ever come to the floor of the House, with stiff competition for what some of the things they’ve tried to do,” said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. “The worst bill in history.”