How To Build "The Wall" With Mexican Money; US Crude Oil Stocks Still "Off The Chart" And Rising Fast -- November 16, 2016

The Art of Compromise, The Art of Negotiating, The Art of Solving Problems

I've always thought this story was quite amazing, from wiki:

The Compromise of 1790 was a compromise between Alexander Hamilton on the one hand and Thomas Jefferson and James Madison whereby Hamilton won the decision for the national government to take over and pay the state debts, while Jefferson and Madison obtained the national capital (District of Columbia) for the South.

The compromise resolved the deadlock in Congress.

Southerners were blocking the assumption of state debts by the treasury, thereby destroying the Hamiltonian program for building a fiscally strong nation state. Northerners rejected the proposal, much desired by Virginians, to locate the permanent national capital on the Virginia-Maryland border.

The compromise made possible the passage of the Residence and Assumption Acts in July 1790. Historian Jacob Cooke says it is, "generally regarded as one of the most important bargains in American history, ranking just below the better known Missouri Compromise and the Compromise of 1850."

The emphasis on this "deal" was the art of "compromise" and the art of "negotiating."

But there was another aspect of this story: how to solve problems. It has been said that sometimes a problem is solved by turning it into a bigger problem. In this case, Jefferson -- whether he realized it or not -- took two "smaller" problems -- a state-debt problem and a federal capital location problem and combined them into a much bigger problem. Many won't see it that way, but I've often thought about it.

Trump wants to build a wall; many oppose it. Trump wants to charge a 35% tariff on cars coming into the US manufactured in Mexico; many oppose that, especially Ford.

Now wouldn't this be interesting: host a dinner, and invite his #1 strategist Steve Bannon who wants the wall to sit across the table from Ford CEO Mark Fields who doesn't want a 35% tariff on his cars coming up from Mexico.

Taking two problems -- border security and American jobs -- and making a bigger problem: solving the two "smaller" problems simultaneously. Neither Mexico nor Ford Corp shareholders want to see a 35% tariff on imported automobiles. Trump wants border security (as do most Americans, regardless of whom they voted for).

But Trump also wants that border security paid for by private corporations and Mexico. How about this compromise: in exchange for substantial help in border security, which will require some enhanced physical barriers, why not offer to reduce/eliminate the 35% tariff threat that is on the table.

Other corporations that might want to be asked to help Ford and Mexico pay for the enhanced physical barriers:

• MDU (think CEMEX)
• SRE  
• GM 
• Google, Amazon, Yahoo: in return for expedited review of visas for software engineers

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The Glut Grows

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New Williston High School Gymnasium Has A New Name

Named after Jon Cole; the school board unanimously approved the name -- and the great thing -- Jon Cole is still here to accept the honor.

For the past 35 years, student athletes experienced wins and losses, but they could expect one constant — an interview with Jon Cole.

“Williston has an unbelievable sports tradition and to think that they would put your name on a brand new gym, it’s just so surprising,” Cole said, after receiving news that his love for the community would immortalize him on the walls of the new high school.

“This is one of the greatest honors I can ever have in my life.”

The North Dakota Sportscasters and Sportswriters Hall of Fame inductee has been a staple within the community since 1981 and has been almost as prominent as the rule book.

It really is an incredible honor. The "old" Williston High School fieldhouse was named after Phil Jackson, if memory serves me well.