All Forum Posts by: Bruce Woodruff

As an active trader, this is all but zero impact on mag-7 or market itself. We have a global tariff war that kicked off, and got put on hold. Hold is not done. So we exist in uncertainty. 

The market does not like uncertainty. It prices for downside risk in such. 

Honestly the market should be 20% lower right now, it's literally being held up by retail. I see it every day in trading data, that is legit that it's retail holding things up. Funds are still actively selling off too retail. 

We have 3 major things going on hitting the market; Tariff situation, inflation concerns, recession/stagflation concerns. 

There will not be any sustained "recovery" and ride up until these 3 are resolved. 

And now we have indicators of a 4th issue arising in bond side of things. Nothing is known as of yet other than there is some wonky stuff that started and if continues, that's gonna be an issue. 

It's really the theory of America that people love. And unfortunately, the actual practice or actions that have made unnecessary enemies and disdain. 

Iraq is a good example of what I am trying to say. 

When we first rolled in there, in was nothing but cheer's, flowers, hug's n love. It was amazing. Next thing, the local military/police just wanted a chance to do normal things of running and helping there country, under USA control etc.. There big-wig general was all set. It was a slam dunk. 

Than these D.C. morons took over and acted as if we were still in active combat. Demanded us control thru n thru, that nope all the soldiers, Generals, all of em were out and we'd instill something else. Complete idiocy. 48hrs later things started exploding. 

And the rest is history. 

Nothing was gained by any of it, and a hell of a lot was lost, all for the sake of power/money grab to funnel everything through big-corp.. 

That's the kind of stuff that the rest of the world leaders have seen and why none of em truly trust us. And USA earned that distrust. 

And across Africa, yes, they do prefer to work with China or Russia vs USA in many ways because there is fear that USA will change there mind mid-stream, maybe decide there government needs to be changed, overthrown, or whatever. Because we've done that, a lot. 

I don't think they necessarily "like" Russia or China, but they don't fear the partnership with them like they do USA. And that cost's the USA opportunaties. 

Our meddling to "make things better" almost never works out. Afghanistan (twice now), iraq (3 times now), Syria, Iran, Libya, Ukraine, Vietnam, Korea...... Our list of fails is long. Try to name some "nation building" we got right...... 

USA has gotta change the way we try to influence things or were just gonna keep building that list of distrust. And work on understanding we don't really always know what's best in foreign nations and foreign cultures. 

We started getting things right in Iraq when we started focusing on taking a back-seat and assisting vs being the "nation builder" and that only happened because of ISIS, yet another line on USA's "whopsies" list. 

Korea was the same, we had it done and in the can until McArthur wanted to really make sure he was set for a POTUS run and pressed the Chinease into getting into it. And all the way back to the 38th and where we sit today. There would be no "Rocket-Man" if he hadn't done that stupidity. And he was warned, i know because I knew the Lt Col who warned him personally and got it straight from the horses mouth himself. 

The first step in solving a problem is first admitting you got one. 

The USA is not loved, cherished and trusted in the world. We need to do something about that. 

America is FAR from being the "trusted" person on the international stage. At least, not trusted in a good way. 

Yes, I would say China and even Rusia are far more "trusted" internationally than USA. 

The USA has a long history of stabbing people in the back. Or meddling in foreign nations affairs and only ever making things far worse. 

Example, Iran. The Iran we have today, that USA hates, that so many hate, is all thanks to USA. Many are probably just a bit too young to remember it all. We really f'd that country up. 

There is a long list of countries the USA has used, abused, and the people don't forget. 

China does not have that history. Nor even Russia. USA is king-Con on the international stage. 

This is why our allies don't ever even fully trust us, because they've seen us F so many others and we just say "yeah, but, were like buddies n all, we wouldn't do that to you...." until we do. 

Afghanistan is another. In 80's we made so many great promises, and Osama was our operative. We trained and funded them. And then when they did the job we gave them, when they achieved all the goals, we f'd em hard. So hard, that they never forgot it. And what happened, something far worse came in and took over and there we are back again many years later to deal with a mess we could have avoided if we had just honored our promises. 

And than we did it AGAIN...... 

If you think the world is in some love-fest with USA, that's because you havn't been out around the world. Most places in the world have a very negative perception of USA and Americans. 

And fact is USA earned that. Only way to change it is to hold self accountable and stop the BS. Stop "nation building" which is code word for nation imploding given its trackrecord. 

China is HUGE in Africa. There taking over and Africa is THE resources powerhouse. What's USA doing, saber rattling about making Gaza a damn resort..... wtf..... 

China builds roads, hospitals, infrastructure, is taking over a continent with there smiles and gifts. USA could learn a thing or 12 from them. 

We can't even keep Russia in check who is a laughing stock compared to China. 

The world does not need the USA, they simply are happy to use the USA if and when it suits them. NATO, China, all great examples of this. USA is #1 at being used, because we like the ego-stroke. Europe giggles and says they'll happily let USA enjoy the ego and let them enjoy the wealth. There not dumb. 

Get out there, travel the world, find out for yourself. The reality is far different than the domestic propaganda.