Moderators: LyricalRico, nate33, montestewart
dckingsfan wrote:
She rightly merrits (IMO) a viceral reaction from both the Right and Center. Part of what brought us Trump was the Ds bringing us Hillary - the two actions can't be divorced from each other.
dobrojim wrote:dckingsfan wrote:
She rightly merrits (IMO) a viceral reaction from both the Right and Center. Part of what brought us Trump was the Ds bringing us Hillary - the two actions can't be divorced from each other.
One reason I'm hopeful that Trump won't be reelected. He presumably won't be running against HRC.
He can’t get rid of any of this’: Trump’s wall of secrecy erodes amid growing legal challenges
For his years as a businessman and as a candidate, Trump’s system was effective — though not perfect — at repelling inquiries from reporters. But once he became president, Trump began to face a new kind of inquiry, from people with lawsuits and subpoenas.
Now, there are at least seven of those inquiries, all asking for some kind of information about Trump or his company.
popper wrote:Just finished a 4 mile hike in the dark in Breckenridge CO. Elevation 9600 feet and current temp is 42 degrees. I’m still thinking that a gas tax (or VMT tax) is ripe for consideration. Chamber of Commerce wants .05 increase per year up to max of .25 total. I think that’s a bit high but a good starting point for discussion. I also want to revisit a Bernie Sanders proposal to tax wealth which I endorsed here some time ago. Not sure exactly how it would work but what about 1% per year on certain classes of assets over some threshold (say 10 or 20 million). Applied to individuals, foundations, endowments (not sure exactly).
2 thumbs up buddy verbal8 wrote:nate33 wrote:verbal8 wrote:
I saw a panelist on CNN mention what the conservative/Trump concept of order is all about.
It has nothing to do with order in the legal or moral sense. It has everything to do with the traditional hierarchies such as:
Male over Female
White over non-White
Christian over other Religions
Rich over Poor
According to this hierarchy, basically Trump is always in the right. Other than avoiding blame, the lies that Trump tells are to maintain this order.
Obama was a wake-up call to those who thought the hierarchy was safe. Clinton was another threat, who in some ways it may have been easier to subtly undermine.
No. It's Americans over non-Americans. That's the only hierarchy that Trumpism explicitly promotes. The rest of the stuff is nonsense. There is no evidence whatsoever to back any of it up. It's a CNN fever dream in which they're on the side of morality and every Republican is a Nazi.
What does having Stephen Miller and Bannon in the White House implicitly promote?
How is Melania's parents using what Trump calls "chain migration" in other cases ok?Spoiler:
Grab them by the p**&^y and the other trash on the Billy Bush tape is an explicit expression of male over female.
He is clearly anti-Muslim - the list is long, but the Muslim travel ban, 9-11 cheering in NJ lie and no even platitudes about Muslim holidays sum it up pretty well.
Rich over poor is the most overt. There is no other explanation for the tax bill.
Wizardspride wrote:Rich over poor is the most overt. There is no other explanation for the tax bill.
stilldropin20 wrote:Wizardspride wrote:Rich over poor is the most overt. There is no other explanation for the tax bill.
I would love for Nate to respond to this post.
Particularly, the part about Stephen Miller.
stilldropin20 wrote:popper wrote:Just finished a 4 mile hike in the dark in Breckenridge CO. Elevation 9600 feet and current temp is 42 degrees. I’m still thinking that a gas tax (or VMT tax) is ripe for consideration. Chamber of Commerce wants .05 increase per year up to max of .25 total. I think that’s a bit high but a good starting point for discussion. I also want to revisit a Bernie Sanders proposal to tax wealth which I endorsed here some time ago. Not sure exactly how it would work but what about 1% per year on certain classes of assets over some threshold (say 10 or 20 million). Applied to individuals, foundations, endowments (not sure exactly).
we gotta tax the uber wealthy. assets over 10-20 million is a great start. and 1% gradual annual increases seems smart.
but the wealthy are smarter than us and move faster than congress. And their bought and paid for politicians will leak to them before anything gets passed. They will use that info and those leaks to move their wealth into different national banks to avoid the taxes.
So while I agree with taxing wealth<--we MUST BE STEALTH about it!!!
perfect campaign slogan. To tax the wealth you must be stealth!
Problem:
At this point there is still a lot of American wealth oversees.
Objective:
That American (global) wealth must first be repatriating with compelling tax reform that lures it into the united states banking system and our American markets
Technique:
Once we reach a critical mass of removing wealth from foreign markets those foreign markets will crumble. Not unlike our markets crumbling in 2008. Once those foreign markets crumble even more wealth will removed from those crumbling markets and make its way into American markets. As all of that money makes its way into American markets our markets will surge. <--which will grow and create even more american wealth relative to the rest of the world's markets. As our markets surge and foreigners invest in our markets we must make them become american citizens in order to invest in our markets and we must make them pay taxes on their income from our markets to the United States.
^^^this is our pathway to increasing federal revenue. This is our pathway to balanced budgets. This is our continued pathway to repatriating wealth. We can easily pull this off with good tax reform and good trade reform. The united states is far and away the greatest consumer of goods. We buy everything and by large margin. All we need is competitive corporate tax rates and stable markets and a surging economy. All of which is in our control. This is the time to be a nationalist. this is the time to bring jobs and manufacturing back to the united states. As we bring more and more money into our US banking system and bring manufacturing back and keep our technology here in the united states, and make foreigners pay when the use or steal our technology...do all that...and our markets will grow exponentially.
It really is that easy. We've been "global" for decades. 4 decades!! We've grown foreign markets. Enriched them and built them up. But now its time to focus on the home front. We need this revenue to pay down our debt.
Once the wealth is here...once foreign markets are crushed...once we force those foreign investors to become american citizens(making them subject to our tax laws and all of our laws) in order to keep their wealth safe in out markets...once all of that is accomplished...then we tax them!! we punish them for removing their wealth from our markets...no different than early withdraw penalties from retirement accounts. all of this must become part of future tax reform.
Once the wealth is here...once federal revenue is significantly increased and balancing our budget...as our debt is being paid down. Then tax the uber wealthy estates. massive farms, massive estates, foundations, massive real estate portfolios. tax it all. tax it hard. tax it often. redistribute that wealth. level the playing field.
This will take decades. But we can do it. we are still in the driver's seat. For now. But we wont be for long. Now, trump has no desire to redistribute wealth. Another administration will have to carry that water down the road. Right now trump is beginning the process of repatriating wealth and building our market back up and renegotiating our trade deals and bringing back manufacturing.
popper wrote:stilldropin20 wrote:popper wrote:Just finished a 4 mile hike in the dark in Breckenridge CO. Elevation 9600 feet and current temp is 42 degrees. I’m still thinking that a gas tax (or VMT tax) is ripe for consideration. Chamber of Commerce wants .05 increase per year up to max of .25 total. I think that’s a bit high but a good starting point for discussion. I also want to revisit a Bernie Sanders proposal to tax wealth which I endorsed here some time ago. Not sure exactly how it would work but what about 1% per year on certain classes of assets over some threshold (say 10 or 20 million). Applied to individuals, foundations, endowments (not sure exactly).
we gotta tax the uber wealthy. assets over 10-20 million is a great start. and 1% gradual annual increases seems smart.
but the wealthy are smarter than us and move faster than congress. And their bought and paid for politicians will leak to them before anything gets passed. They will use that info and those leaks to move their wealth into different national banks to avoid the taxes.
So while I agree with taxing wealth<--we MUST BE STEALTH about it!!!
perfect campaign slogan. To tax the wealth you must be stealth!
Problem:
At this point there is still a lot of American wealth oversees.
Objective:
That American (global) wealth must first be repatriating with compelling tax reform that lures it into the united states banking system and our American markets
Technique:
Once we reach a critical mass of removing wealth from foreign markets those foreign markets will crumble. Not unlike our markets crumbling in 2008. Once those foreign markets crumble even more wealth will removed from those crumbling markets and make its way into American markets. As all of that money makes its way into American markets our markets will surge. <--which will grow and create even more american wealth relative to the rest of the world's markets. As our markets surge and foreigners invest in our markets we must make them become american citizens in order to invest in our markets and we must make them pay taxes on their income from our markets to the United States.
^^^this is our pathway to increasing federal revenue. This is our pathway to balanced budgets. This is our continued pathway to repatriating wealth. We can easily pull this off with good tax reform and good trade reform. The united states is far and away the greatest consumer of goods. We buy everything and by large margin. All we need is competitive corporate tax rates and stable markets and a surging economy. All of which is in our control. This is the time to be a nationalist. this is the time to bring jobs and manufacturing back to the united states. As we bring more and more money into our US banking system and bring manufacturing back and keep our technology here in the united states, and make foreigners pay when the use or steal our technology...do all that...and our markets will grow exponentially.
It really is that easy. We've been "global" for decades. 4 decades!! We've grown foreign markets. Enriched them and built them up. But now its time to focus on the home front. We need this revenue to pay down our debt.
Once the wealth is here...once foreign markets are crushed...once we force those foreign investors to become american citizens(making them subject to our tax laws and all of our laws) in order to keep their wealth safe in out markets...once all of that is accomplished...then we tax them!! we punish them for removing their wealth from our markets...no different than early withdraw penalties from retirement accounts. all of this must become part of future tax reform.
Once the wealth is here...once federal revenue is significantly increased and balancing our budget...as our debt is being paid down. Then tax the uber wealthy estates. massive farms, massive estates, foundations, massive real estate portfolios. tax it all. tax it hard. tax it often. redistribute that wealth. level the playing field.
This will take decades. But we can do it. we are still in the driver's seat. For now. But we wont be for long. Now, trump has no desire to redistribute wealth. Another administration will have to carry that water down the road. Right now trump is beginning the process of repatriating wealth and building our market back up and renegotiating our trade deals and bringing back manufacturing.
My view would be a bit different and I wouldn’t use stealth to pursue it. I’d want it done in a public bipartisan way ensuring a tax level low enough so that the taxable assets remain in the US. That’s why I suggested 1%. I also wouldn’t want it to be a nose-under-the-tent policy that would allow easy rate escalation (maybe future proposed increases would have to pass with a two thirds majority - not really sure how to do that). Also, I think it would be wise to earmark the proceeds to shore up SS, Medicare and Medicaid if possible.
Politico‘Sleeper’ case could torpedo Mueller report
It might even keep the special counsel from sending a report to Congress, shaking Democrats’ hopes that such a document could provide the impetus for impeachment proceedings.
A little-noticed court case stemming from the apparent murder of a Columbia University professor six decades ago could keep special counsel Robert Mueller from publishing any information about the Trump campaign and Russia that he obtains through a Washington grand jury.
The substance of the case is entirely unrelated to Mueller’s investigation into whether any of President Donald Trump’s associates aided Russia’s efforts to intervene in the 2016 election.
But if a Washington appeals court set to hear the murder-related case next month sides with the Justice Department and rules that judges don’t have the freedom to release grand jury information that is usually kept secret, it could throw a monkey wrench into any plans Mueller has to issue a public report on his probe’s findings, lawyers following the issue said.
If Democrats win control of the House in November, the whole debate is likely academic. In that scenario, the House Judiciary Committee could subpoena any report as part of an impeachment inquiry.
It’s if Republicans keep the House — and there’s no such subpoena — [then] the McKeever decision could take on added importance.
Trump reportedly rejected a proposal for an official White House statement that recognized McCain’s long history of public service. On Monday, he refused to answer shouted questions on McCain’s legacy. He sat silent with his arms crossed.
...Trump’s response to the senator’s passing is telling of a much more personal feud between the two men.
VOXWhile the flags at the nation’s monuments and Capitol building remained at half-staff, the one on top of the president’s residence was raised to full-staff by Monday morning, days before McCain’s funeral.
popper wrote:payitforward wrote:popper wrote:
Bravo PIF. Thank you for accurately characterizing “conservative.” Maybe others here will read Edmund Burke (if they haven’t already) now that you’ve mentioned him. He’s a true intellectual giant IMO.
Edit : on the flip side of Burke, I’d also recommend The Prison Papers by Gramsci. Although brilliant, his writings have done more damage to this country than any other IMO
Huh! If there's more than 1 or 2 other posters here who have heard of Antonio Gramsci it'll be a pleasant surprise. What you're referring to are the Prison Notebooks -- which Gramsci composed while imprisoned from 1929-35 (when he was was released b/c of ill health: he died 2 years later, aged 46).
Gramsci is one of the key thinkers of XXth Century Marxism &, many people would say, of XXth Century political philosophy altogether. It's been many decades since I've read anything by him, & I wasn't anything like an expert on him back when I did (the first selections from the 3000 pages of these notebooks appeared in English in the 1970s). But, there is no question that he was, as you say, "brilliant."
Probably his most famous saying -- one which I've had reason to recall many times & very usefully -- is this:
"Pessimism of the intellect; optimism of the will."
The right attitude in many situations (including that of the Wizards fan, come to think of it!).
TBH, Popper, it's hard for me to see how Gramsci or his writings have done any damage whatever to this country. There isn't enough Marxism in the US to fill a thimble (outside of the "theory of a theory of a theory" academic kind -- which has had zero impact), & even if there were, Gramsci's densely theoretical/historical essays aren't the kind of thing to return any significant practical effect. Especially compared to something like, say, Mao's Little Red Book.
Edmund Burke -- yes, an exceptional writer, thinker -- & statesman. But, you do understand what was at stake for Burke & those who reacted to him, right? Edmund Burke denied the entire idea of "the rights of man" (or as we now call them more often: "human rights"). For him, all "rights" come to a person by way of the traditions of his country.
Tom Paine's The Rights of Man, usually regarded as a fundamental work in establishing the American character & political system, was written as a riposte to Burke.
I’m a believer in aspects of both Burke and Paine’s seemingly opposing philosophies regarding the origins of the “rights”of man. Its clear the French Revolution catalyzed deep thought on the subject. I’m traveling full time until mid October but will try to explain further as time permits (if you’re interested). Gramsci’s a different animal and I disagree with you regarding his influence on our politics and govt. IMO, he invented the blue print of progressive strategy for influence and power and it’s working as intended. He’s succeeded where Marx and Lenin failed (insofar as the USA is concerned). That’s why I have so much respect for his intellect. Unfortunately for our country, it’s destined to lead to misery and perhaps even revolution.
Zonkerbl wrote:I wouldn't say socialism is a theory of a theory of a theory....
Zonkerbl wrote:...Socialism manifests differently in the United States than in Europe - ...an economic thing, represented by unions. Unions were very strong in the United States until they were wiped out by advancing technology and increased international trade. I would argue that the catastrophe we are in right now is because of the collapse of socialism in the United States. Those uneducated white deplorables who voted for Trump in Ohio, Michigan, and Pennsylvania used to be union members.
Zonkerbl wrote:Unions are just a way for poor people to grab some of the economic rents being generated by capitalists who otherwise would hoard all the wealth to themselves. They are neither good nor evil but a manifestation of the evils underlying the Capitalist system. There is no "invisible hand" ensuring the wealthy will share with the poor - that *has* to take place by force. Or you end up with what we have now in the United States - a "middle class" whose income hasn't risen in real terms since the 1980s, and a larger and larger chunk of the nation's wealth in the hands of a smaller and smaller ruling Mafia oligarchy. It's why Trump loves Russia so much - that is his vision for America.
And an extremely well-funded propaganda campaign aimed at keeping the poor fighting among themselves instead of realizing who the real enemy is.
What we need is an organizational tool like unions to counteract the Mafia propaganda campaign, force the Mafia to share their wealth, and use those resources to provide services to the middle class. Nobody's bootstrapping the poor out of this otherwise - we'll just have more shootings and more homelessness and more violence until the whole country goes up in flames. We are *this close* to a civil war right now. Socialism will either prevent it, or be the outcome of that war. Like Marx said, socialism is inevitable. We can embrace it and facilitate the change rationally, or let it happen chaotically.
Wizardspride wrote:?s=19
Michael Hayden, the former director of the C.I.A. and the N.S.A., has written that debating him was like looking “the devil in the eye.”
Some random troll wrote:Not to sound negative, but this team is owned by an arrogant cheapskate, managed by a moron and coached by an idiot. Recipe for disaster.
Some random troll wrote:Not to sound negative, but this team is owned by an arrogant cheapskate, managed by a moron and coached by an idiot. Recipe for disaster.
