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The Community Blog (An Invitation)
New Community Blog (The Unintentional Gatekeeping of Video Games)

Politics XXXV (Life in the Vault is about to change)

Amentep
in Way Off-Topic

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Previous thread

 

I cannot - yet I must. How do you calculate that? At what point on the graph do "must" and "cannot" meet? Yet I must - but I cannot! ~ Ro-Man

8 minutes ago, BruceVC said:

Last question, if  most of these jobs lost would be informal sector like restaurants would informal sector people normally pay for additional healthcare and would a restaurant even offer medical aid ?

I dont know the answer to this. Restaurants in the US are strange beasts, they dont even have to pay the servers the normal Federal minimum wage as they make it up in tips. I would be shocked if they offered any insurance, but maybe? 

4 minutes ago, Gfted1 said:

I dont know the answer to this. Restaurants in the US are strange beasts, they dont even have to pay the servers the normal Federal minimum wage as they make it up in tips. I would be shocked if they offered any insurance, but maybe? 

Yes I would assume that as well, you guys are talking about normal formal jobs and informal  jobs would offer little healthcare options 

"Abashed the devil stood and felt how awful goodness is and saw Virtue in her shape how lovely: and pined his loss”

John Milton 

"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” -  George Bernard Shaw

"What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead" - Nelson Mandela

 

 

Acting Navy Secretary that called Captain Crozier stupid resigns.

Sometimes, given the insane amount of turnover in the Trump administration, I feel like some of these guys deliberately do or say stupid stuff to have any reason to resign.

Edited by Bartimaeus

Quote

Against stupidity we have no defense. Neither protests nor force can touch it. Reasoning is of no use. Facts that contradict personal prejudices can simply be disbelieved - indeed, the fool can counter by criticizing them, and if they are undeniable, they can just be pushed aside as trivial exceptions. So the fool, as distinct from the scoundrel, is completely self-satisfied. In fact, they can easily become dangerous, as it does not take much to make them aggressive. For that reason, greater caution is called for than with a malicious one. Never again will we try to persuade the stupid person with reasons, for it is senseless and dangerous.

    • Like 1

    Trump immediately removes oversight keeping track of where trillions of the coronavirus stimulus funds go.

    Wow, coincidentally, Trump has very suddenly became the world's first trillionaire! Good for him, :).

    Quote

    Against stupidity we have no defense. Neither protests nor force can touch it. Reasoning is of no use. Facts that contradict personal prejudices can simply be disbelieved - indeed, the fool can counter by criticizing them, and if they are undeniable, they can just be pushed aside as trivial exceptions. So the fool, as distinct from the scoundrel, is completely self-satisfied. In fact, they can easily become dangerous, as it does not take much to make them aggressive. For that reason, greater caution is called for than with a malicious one. Never again will we try to persuade the stupid person with reasons, for it is senseless and dangerous.

    • Thanks 1

    the small business admin, which is overseeing $350 billion in loans made available by recent stimulus, informed congressional leaders they will not be enforcing limits on tax dollars going to organizations sole involved in religion.

    these administration goons ain't even pretending to follow the Constitution.

    HA! Good Good Fun!

    Edited by Gromnir

    "If there be time to expose through discussion the falsehood and fallacies, to avert the evil by the processes of education, the remedy to be applied is more speech, not enforced silence."Justice Louis Brandeis, Concurring, Whitney v. California, 274 U.S. 357 (1927)

    "Im indifferent to almost any murder as long as it doesn't affect me or mine."--Gfted1 (September 30, 2019)

    • Sad 1
    1 hour ago, Bartimaeus said:

    Trump immediately removes oversight keeping track of where trillions of the coronavirus stimulus funds go.

    Wow, coincidentally, Trump has very suddenly became the world's first trillionaire! Good for him, :).

    Hey, everyone knows Corona comes from Mexico, right? Money for that wall has to come from somewhere!

    “He who joyfully marches to music in rank and file has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would surely suffice.” - Albert Einstein
     

    • Like 2
    2 hours ago, Bartimaeus said:

    Acting Navy Secretary that called Captain Crozier stupid resigns.

    Sometimes, given the insane amount of turnover in the Trump administration, I feel like some of these guys deliberately do or say stupid stuff to have any reason to resign.

    2 quick observations:

    1) sympathy for the devil

    modly and a few other former trump guys must needs be a bit confused. no doubt must come as a surprise when they get pilloried after saying and doing stuff which is identical to what their boss is doing and saying. 

    2) is this a nightmare for mattis and kelly?

    yeah, am willing to bet those guys heaved a great sigh o' relief when they were no longer forced to perform daily in the trump circus. nevertheless, they gotta wonder how things might be different today if they had managed to hold out and endure the constant indignities. is impossible to predict alternate realities, though is curiously lucrative for scifi authors to do so nowadays. am not suggesting we avoid current crisis if mattis and kelly is still part o' the trump administration, but is hard to imagine situation plays out same.

    is curious dante didn't mention pride when describing punishments in hell.   

    HA! Good Fun!

    "If there be time to expose through discussion the falsehood and fallacies, to avert the evil by the processes of education, the remedy to be applied is more speech, not enforced silence."Justice Louis Brandeis, Concurring, Whitney v. California, 274 U.S. 357 (1927)

    "Im indifferent to almost any murder as long as it doesn't affect me or mine."--Gfted1 (September 30, 2019)

    22 minutes ago, Gromnir said:

     

    is curious dante didn't mention pride when describing punishments in hell.   

    HA! Good Fun!

    IIRC Pride, Greed & Envy are all biblical sins that got a pass. Of course all three end up punishing the sinner all by themselves.

    I'd really like to go back in time and have a couple of drinks with Madison and give him a few ideas to add into the Constitution. I'd suggest a clause in Article II that makes military service a requirement for the Executive. Three of the last four President's have had no military experience  and have misused and mishandled the military. It's only logical to expect someone that is placed in charge of something know a little about it. 

    Edit: Allow me to beat Gromnir to the punch! Madison would not doubt be confused by my suggestion. A military career was not a profession in his day. And the notion that the US had a standing military would have upset him I don't doubt. 

    He probably would have asked "But Mr. Dog are you suggesting the United States will be enough wars to provide a pool of qualified candidates for the Presidency.?"

    To which I say "Starting in 1846 and going forward, yes. But that is beside the point. Just bear with me James, my next three suggestions won't make any sense to you either... but they are important!"

    Actually he would probably more curious where I got that wonderfully sweet brown whiskey. Charcoal barrel stave aging would not be invented for another five years in 1787.

    Edited by Guard Dog

    "While it is true you learn with age, the down side is what you often learn is what a damn fool you were before"

    Thomas Sowell

    4 minutes ago, Guard Dog said:

    IIRC Pride, Greed & Envy are all biblical sins that got a pass. Of course all three end up punishing the sinner all by themselves.

    avarice is 4th hell, but no specific envy.

    HA! Good Fun!

    "If there be time to expose through discussion the falsehood and fallacies, to avert the evil by the processes of education, the remedy to be applied is more speech, not enforced silence."Justice Louis Brandeis, Concurring, Whitney v. California, 274 U.S. 357 (1927)

    "Im indifferent to almost any murder as long as it doesn't affect me or mine."--Gfted1 (September 30, 2019)

    A self-proclaimed progressive and socialist here, a supporter of Tulsi/Yang/Bernie.  I will be voting for Trump this November -- and all Republicans on the down ballot.  Here is why.

    After the $1,000 emergency UBI that was first proposed by Mitt Romney, a REPUBLICAN,  supported by TRUMP and other REPUBLICANS, then OPPOSED by Democrats, (because it REPUBLICANS had proposed and supported it,) but ultimately was enacted by the CARE Stimulus that gives: $1,200 + $500 per child + $600 per week, (in the form of expanded, all-inclusive unemployment benefits that practically cover anyone who is not rich -- including self-employed small business owners, independent contractors and the long-term unemployed,) to all low-income and middle-income Americans...

    What the US media and Reddit have again missed — or deliberately hid: Now Republicans are out-flanking establishment Democrats, AGAIN, from the left.  After Dementia Joe had said he would veto Medicare-for-All if he was the president, and now that the Democratic Party is moving towards the platform of OPPOSING single-payer universal healthcare in order to crush Bernie Sanders...

    Republicans have just taken the experimental steps that move towards SINGLE-PAYER healthcare.

     

     

     

    Surprise, surprise.  

    We are gonna see another big "surprise" coming in November, when Bernie has dropped out of the race and Dementia Joe is the Democratic nominee... Trump takes the opposite position of the senile grandpa: by proposing a single-payer universal healthcare, Trumpcare for all, to replace Obamacare.  

    It will be the ultimate slap in Obama's face, Trump's ultimate insult to Obama.  That is what Trump loves to do, right?

    What will Dementia Joe and the Democratic Party run on?  Their only play is “Orange Man Bad!”   And identity politics and wokeness.  I don't care nor buy into the Trump Derangement Syndrome.   Don't care about identity politics or being woke.   If Trump and Republicans end up being the one to institute a single-payer healthcare... then Democrats can go **** themselves, and I will vote for Trump for a THIRD TERM.

    Not what all the people in here inflicted with Trump Derangement like to hear, but that is how it is.  And I can guarantee you, all the "Bernie Bros" will jump over to vote for Trump for single-payer.  You can despise us as much as you want, but we vote for the policy we want, not for your "Orange Man Bad" derangement, and our votes adding to the Trump base will ultimately help him win the re-election.

     

    Edited by ktchong

    7 hours ago, Malcador said:

    Subtle. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/07/coronavirus-relief-trump-removes-inspector-general-overseeing-2-trillion-package.html

    Ooh, this is a thing that I know things about!  It actually is kinda subtle!

    It's certainly a shot across the bow of the federal oversight community, but the CARES Act has a fair amount of redundancy in oversight organizations built in. 

    First, some background about Inspectors General (IGs).  They are auditors and investigators that are within federal agencies, reporting jointly to both the head of the agency and to Congress.  As such, they have some degree of independence (or at least insulation) from political influence.  IGs at large agencies are presidential appointments, subject to Senate confirmation, but these appointments are required by law to be made without regard for political affiliation, based only on expertise, experience, etc.  Also, by consistent practice since the position was established in 1978, they do not resign when a new administration takes office.  A President can remove an IG, but they have to notify Congress of their intent to do so, with reasons stated, 30 days before the actual removal.  (Notably, Trump recently informed Congress of his intent to remove the IG for the Intelligence Community.)  There is also an organization called the Council of the IGs for Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE)-- a Council of all the federal IGs that provides training for IG staff, sets standards, investigates allegations of wrongdoing against IGs, and other stuff like that. 

    Also, vacancies in government positions that require a presidential appointment and Senate confirmation ("PAS positions") are governed by the Federal Vacancies Reform Act (FVRA).  Under FVRA, the vacant position's "first assistant" takes over, unless the President takes action to appoint someone else as the "Acting" official.  He can appoint either a senior official in the same agency, or an official currently holding (officially) any PAS position in the government, and there are time limits that govern how long most Acting officials can serve.  Presidential action under FVRA regarding IG positions has historically been avoided, for the most part-- IGs typically have a lot of friends in Congress on both sides of the aisle, so past administrations have usually shied away from using FVRA to threaten IG independence.  There have been press reports that the Trump admin have considered using FVRA to replace the Acting IGs at Education and Interior with folks currently serving in political PAS positions, and both attempts have evaporated when the rumors hit Capitol Hill. 

    So, Glenn Fine is the Deputy DOD IG, and has spent the last few years acting as the IG.  Trump used FVRA and appointed the current EPA IG (also a PAS position, but, crucially, within the IG community) as the Acting DOD IG.  Fine goes back to being the Deputy DOD IG. 

    The tricky thing is that the big coronavirus bill-- the CARES Act-- established a Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, made up of IGs from across government.  (In essence, it's a subcommittee of CIGIE with specific funding.)  Mr. Fine had been appointed as the Chair of this new PRAC.  But he can't do that if he's not an IG or Acting IG anymore.  So the CIGIE Chair (the DOJ IG) will have to appoint a different IG to chair the PRAC. 

    The funny thing is that both the EPA IG who replaces Fine at DOD and the DOJ IG who gets to appoint his replacement on the PRAC have been critical of this administration in the past.  The PRAC's work will go on with different leadership.  And the CARES Act has other folks looking after this money, too-- a new Special IG, a Congressional oversight panel, and the Government Accountability Office (which is similar to an OIG, but covers the whole government and reports only to Congress).  So the effect of all this might end up being minuscule.  But, viewed in the context of the administration's other recent actions with regard to the IG community, it definitely contributes to the picture of a president lashing out at anybody who might hold his government's actions to account.

    Edited by Enoch

    • Thanks 2

    4zwqtz1adhr41.png

    Quote

    Against stupidity we have no defense. Neither protests nor force can touch it. Reasoning is of no use. Facts that contradict personal prejudices can simply be disbelieved - indeed, the fool can counter by criticizing them, and if they are undeniable, they can just be pushed aside as trivial exceptions. So the fool, as distinct from the scoundrel, is completely self-satisfied. In fact, they can easily become dangerous, as it does not take much to make them aggressive. For that reason, greater caution is called for than with a malicious one. Never again will we try to persuade the stupid person with reasons, for it is senseless and dangerous.

    • Haha 3

    Bernie Sanders has dropped out. Looks like Crazy Uncle Joe has his nomination.

    "While it is true you learn with age, the down side is what you often learn is what a damn fool you were before"

    Thomas Sowell

    A dark day for all Americans

    Free games updated 3/4/21

    • Like 1

    Wonder if Trump or Biden will change some of their stances now to pick up voters from the Sanders-base.

     

    Bernie live on twitch: https://live.berniesanders.com/

    Edited by Maedhros

    6 minutes ago, ShadySands said:

    A dark day for all Americans

    Hardly. He would have spent his entire term tilting at the windmills on the hill swearing they were giants. Or, he was completely full of s--t about what he wanted to do. I would not discount the latter. When a multi-millionaire is cheered wildly for declaring how immoral it is for there to be millionaires it's pretty hypocritical. Especially since he was never planning of giving up a nickel of his own fortune or any of his three houses.

    Besides after all his years defending Castro, Ortega, Stalin, and saying bread lines were a good thing, f--k him. I hope we've heard the last of him. 

    "While it is true you learn with age, the down side is what you often learn is what a damn fool you were before"

    Thomas Sowell

    Whoever wins the election in 2020, we will have a dementia addled buffon with a questionable history for president while the timers on catastrophe continue to count down.

    "Akiva Goldsman and Alex Kurtzman run the 21st century version of MK ULTRA." - majestic

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    "I love cheese despite the pain and carnage." - ShadySands

    • Like 3

    I think Sanders has more positives than negatives. I think he identifies your problems more clearly than most other politicians over there. Then again, most Western-Europeans are gonna think that as he's pretty the "European-style" candidate.

    18 minutes ago, KaineParker said:

    Whoever wins the election in 2020, we will have a dementia addled buffon with a questionable history for president while the timers on catastrophe continue to count down.

    Sums it up nicely. 

    "While it is true you learn with age, the down side is what you often learn is what a damn fool you were before"

    Thomas Sowell

    1 hour ago, Maedhros said:

    Wonder if Trump or Biden will change some of their stances now to pick up voters from the Sanders-base.

     

    Bernie live on twitch: https://live.berniesanders.com/

    I highly doubt it and even then I think Trump is more likely to try than Biden who has pretty much been the invisible man since all this pandemic stuff started

    25 minutes ago, Guard Dog said:

    Sums it up nicely. 

    At least I can go back to voting 3rd party

    Free games updated 3/4/21

    • Like 1
    40 minutes ago, ShadySands said:

    I highly doubt it and even then I think Trump is more likely to try than Biden who has pretty much been the invisible man since all this pandemic stuff started

    At least I can go back to voting 3rd party

    am noting sanders has been less visible as well. biden and sanders is in a difficult position 'cause at the moment, direct and overt criticism o' trump will be seen by many as petty opportunism. if you don't rally to support AMERICA in a time o' crisis, then you are unAmerican, yes? wisconsin, pennsylvania, north carolina, michigan, florida and a couple others, maybe, is battleground. nightly criticism o' trump, particular during the initial rally to the flag time after trump declares himself a wartime President, might not play well 'mongst moderates and independents in battleground states.

    as of april 8, the only issue which matters is covid-19. is not what should be but rather what is. fox and other conservative media outlets is working overtime in an attempt to gaslight and rewrite history. reason why is covid-19 will determine who is the next President in spite o' all the other issues which deserve considerable attention. like it or not, is nothing biden or sanders can do 'bout covid-19. trump is running 'gainst covid-19 and his own record o' incompetence in the early handling o' the pandemic.

    vaccine won't be distributed 'til after november elections, so covid-19 is gonna continue to be an issue. even if social distancing works and we diminish the impact o' the virus during next couple months, a possible second wave and threats o' a coronavirus resurgence in the fall means covid-19 stays relevant 'til election and beyond. 

    terrible recognition o' a no-win situation. if, in spite o' trump bumbling and mendacity regarding covid-19 'nuff American voters agree trump did a good enough job during the initial crisis, then trump wins reelection. alternative is situation stays dire or gets worse making impossible for undecideds to vote trump. am not seeing a silver lining.

    HA! Good Fun!

    "If there be time to expose through discussion the falsehood and fallacies, to avert the evil by the processes of education, the remedy to be applied is more speech, not enforced silence."Justice Louis Brandeis, Concurring, Whitney v. California, 274 U.S. 357 (1927)

    "Im indifferent to almost any murder as long as it doesn't affect me or mine."--Gfted1 (September 30, 2019)

    I'm not certain that I agree. I mean, I don't think Biden should be in attack mode either but I think from what little I've seen of him has been pretty underwhelming. It's actually a criticism I've seen a lot but then again I guess Biden does better in the background with other people boosting him than he does representing himself so maybe it's all intentional. I dunno.

    Edited by ShadySands
    Me fail English? That's unpossible!

    Free games updated 3/4/21

    The juggle of Covid thread or politics in general..

    Ohio State Lawmaker Wants Trump Sent To The Hague For Crimes Against Humanity For Pushing Untested Drug As Cure For Virus

     

    Practicing medicine without a license is the claim being made regarding Trump's repeated recommendations for people to use an untested, unproven drug therapy to combat the pathogen plaguing the world right now. And with recent revelations that Trump has personal ties to potential profits from that drug, people are even more perturbed.

    Ohio Representative Tavia Galonski of Akron decided the President's potentially deadly uninformed advice to boost sales on a drug that he and a top donor would see profits from constituted a crime against humanity. A lawyer and former magistrate, Galonski concurred with a suggestion that Trump's actions deserved an "invitation to The Hague."

    "Cuius testiculos habeas, habeas cardia et cerebellum."

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