COLLEGE GRADUATION

We were invited to a graduation party this evening, a really nice affair for the daughter of our friends who happened to be from Nebraska!

A young person, starting out with an education from a stellar school, the University of Virginia. Surrounded by friends and family.

I remember the hot day in August, 1968, fifty-one years ago when we were invited to stand up; sit down; now you're a graduate. No parading across the stage for us.

The people who attended my graduation ceremony at Pershing Auditorium in Lincoln, Nebraska were few, and it dawned on me this evening that I am the only survivor of that bunch--my ex-wife and my parents are gone. My brother might have been there, too, but he's gone, too. I doubt that he was there, nor his wife, Carol, who is also gone, because it was August and farming needed to be done.

Things change over more than half a century. Here's to the next half century and a flourishing life for Allie, the young lady who just graduated.

CHINA

Last Friday, May 5, China sent a cable to Washington responding to a draft agreement between the two economic superpowers. That cable contained several key changes from earlier positions by the Chinese. The key change involves China's refusal to pass laws that enforce the provisions of the Agreement that would have put teeth into what has been weak promises over the last many years.

The changes required by the U.S.:

• Stop the theft of U.S. intellectual property and trade secrets
• Stop requiring forced technology transfers
• Change Chinese policy that essentially prohibits competition
• Provide access to financial services
• Stop currency manipulation

President Trump speculates that the Chinese are backtracking in hopes of negotiating with Joe Biden or one of the weak Democratic candidates. He, therefore, is instituting an increase in the tariffs from 10% to 25% on Chinese goods in the near future.

The trade war hurts our farmers, especially those hit hard by flooding. Congress must do something to assist those small businesses besides giving them loans that must be repaid with interest (don't get me started on what the government provides to illegal aliens). These boosts also hurt some U.S. companies, like Caterpillar, which in turn is a kick in the pants to Linda's retirement plan.

The estimates of what the Chinese have stolen from the U.S. on an annual basis is in the billions of dollars. Even Trump's provisions do not expect that anything will be "fair" or "even." But what the Chinese have done with alacrity over a long time is ridiculous.

Consider that any tough negotiations will be curtailed if any of the Democratic candidates are elected. The Chinese will be home free.

Oh, and BTW--if the Chinese find the F-35 that the Japanese crashed into the Sea of Japan a couple of weeks ago, they will not get the technology harvest that the press has anticipated. The military did not sell the highest level tech to the Japanese because they are not as stupid as...well, some others.