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Poll Results and Comments : China’s Mineral Chokehold, Thrift Renaissance and Yogurt as Tissue Repair Gel

Author

Anna Eisenberg
August 04, 2025

Anna's Daybreak News

Just facts, you think for yourself

How serious do you believe the U.S. defense sector’s dependence on Chinese rare earth minerals is for national security?


  • 86% Extremely serious, immediate action needed
  • 10% Manageable with current strategies
  • 4% Not sure

EmailComments
nanc...Another “unintended consequence” caused by the buffoon in the White House! He is so quick to announce huge tariffs without thinking of what negative effects they might have. Total idiots, tRump and his minions.
ceal...We have too strict environmental regulations in the USA and now we are reaping what we sowed. The Obama Administration should have done a better job on this.
kvas...Xi Jinping hasn't taken his shoe off, pounded it on the table, and shouted "We will bury you" to the U.S., yet, but it's clear, isn't it, that we are in an undeclared, cold war with China. They have even greater potential to do what Khrushchev threatened than did Khrushchev himself.
csbr...It seems like China pretty much owns the USA. Mineral rights, debt, manufacturing. The willful ignorance of MAGA and its “communists” comments when they actively support economic communism.
rich...US defense is asleep allowing China to control these vital materials
rsko...The simple answer is: Once a drug dealer gets you addicted to something, it is very hard to get un-addicted. USA is addicted to cheap easy to obtain stuff from China. Now they got us! It’s going to be painful to get un-addicted.
davi...We must expand our domestic supply asap
chri...China has us beat with steady leadership and solid strategic planning. Rare minerals issue is just one of many consequences of that.
atli...Simple solution. Cut the defense budget in half and negotiate with China to reduce nuclear weapons world wide. Shouldn't be a problem for US with their 2000+ war heads vs China's comparatively small supply.
imar...The erosion of American manufacturing over the years has left us vulnerable. We need to be a nation of manufacturers and suppliers, not just consumers.
crai...This is one of the major reasons why tariffs and bringing key supply chain elements back to the USA is so critical to national and economic security.
jtay...Alaska, Canada, Wyoming
chri...Rapid permitting is needed for the facilities.
suns...Why inflict additional constraints with tariffs? Dearth of minerals is not a new issue why are we being reactive at the last minute again? What happened to being proactive and forwarding thinking?
remy...Maybe if the US didn't go to war with everything to dominate the world it wouldn't be a problem!
doug...Weren't we supposed to lessen our reliance after the problems faced post pandemic?
krip...China has the power, we do not.
dmfl...We need to simultaneously do three things to ensure we have the rare earth minerals to carry our technologies forward: 1) find a way to coexist with the PRC with trade that enhances both economies and dampens tension in Asia 2). strengthen domestic production of rare earth minerals. We need to develop the entire supply chain from mining through processing. 3). Improve relationships with countries who have large quantities of these domestic minerals. Currently, it appears as though we’re ceding our soft power to China and forgoing efforts to improve relations
arth...Extremely poor foresight on the part of past administrations to allow this to happen.
kand...This crisis has existed for years with little progress on alternative sourcing. Developing US supply chain will require dramatic easing of environmental regulations. A difficult situation.

When shopping for clothing, which factor influences you more?


  • 71% Price/deal regardless of new or used
  • 17% Brand new, latest styles
  • 12% Secondhand or resale for sustainability

EmailComments
mary...My whole wardrobe is thrift shop clothes, but I notice lately prices at thrift stores have gone up quite a bit!
atli...As second hand becomes more available I will buy more to help save the planet from over-production.
nanc...I’m amazed at how many clothes I wear regularly that are over 10 years old. I don’t need many new clothes, but tend to buy new classic styles that will last for years. Also starting to experiment with composting my spent clothes (mostly jeans) after seeing the huge mountains of clothing growing in the desert. It’s a huge waste and pollutant!
cica...And Quality!
kvas...None of the above. I buy what I like.

How effective is OPEC+’s strategy of gradual monthly production increases in managing global oil market stability?


  • 63% Effective, it allows balancing supply and demand smoothly
  • 37% Ineffective, it creates uncertainty and risks oversupply

EmailComments
crai...This will help keep the supply high and the price low especially in light of pending reductions from Iran and Russia.
atli...More importantly it will harm the environment by adding to carbon in the atmosphere
brad...Trump thinking that America will somehow build all these new oil plants is pretty laughable. OPEC will always be able to increase production to make new plants financially infeasible.
arth...Should help put economic pressure on the Russian economy along with increasing world sanctions on Russian oil.
jame...Oil needs to be priced at or over $100 / bbl.

Is a 40% wage increase over four years a fair offer for defense manufacturing workers in today’s economy?


  • 87% Yes, it is a substantial and reasonable raise
  • 13% No, it does not fully address worker demands or cost of living

EmailComments
sher...Seems like too much, frankly.
jame...No - it's NOT FAIR on the business owners and shareholders. Unions are destroying the economy.
cica...It’s high, frankly. But that would also depend on their wage appreciation over the decade prior
rott...3% per year is about what working folk have seen lately. 8%+ compounded annually over 4 years seems much higher than typical.
mary...It is a starting point for negotiations, not necessarily what the union will end up with. The bargaining process needs to start high-they rarely, if ever, get that starting point figured out and they know it!
crai...Both of your “answer” options were on the positive side of the question. I think the Boeing offer of about 10% per year is more than fair. Inflation is no where near that and the average American worker would be thrilled with these increases.
atli...What defense contractors are paid is irrelevant since taxpayers will pay regardless of defense department waste and irrelevance
mr.h...Boeing gross profit for the quarter ending June 30, 2025 was $2.435B, a 98.13% increase year-over-year. Boeing gross profit for the twelve months ending June 30, 2025 was $-0.244B, a 103.5% decline year-over-year. Boeing annual gross profit for 2024 was $-1.991B, a 125.78% decline from 2023. Boeing annual gross profit for 2023 was $7.724B, a 118.81% increase from 2022. Boeing annual gross profit for 2022 was $3.53B, a 15.78% increase from 2021.
jmbe...GREED (no matter who pays or how much), as modeled best by our "America First" Bully-in-Chief, is in fashion these days.
nanc...40% seems adequate, but not knowing what their baseline earnings are or benefits, I’m not sure.
mjjm...Wage is only part of a contract. Language is also important. What language are they giving up for the increase?

Do you believe that a healing gel derived from everyday food products, like yogurt, could be as effective as those made from synthetic or purely lab-grown materials?


  • 84% Yes, natural sources can match or exceed lab materials
  • 13% Unsure
  • 2% No, lab-grown materials are inherently more reliable

EmailComments
atli...Scientific theories are always worth pursuing despite the administration 's attack on truth seeking science.

How confident are you that bacteria-produced bioplastics like BCBN can realistically replace traditional plastics in everyday products?


  • 60% Skeptical but hopeful
  • 29% Very confident
  • 10% Doubtful it will replace plastics soon

EmailComments
lisa...Petroleum industry is historically ruthless in its successful efforts to quash promising new alternatives to the industry’s entire line of products
nanc...It sounds promising 🤞
cica...We’ve got to do something
csbr...Big oil will fight it as it cuts into their profit margin.
atli...Continue all realistic research. And fund it with a wealth tax on billionaires.