Politics 2017 part 4

[Hurlshort]

I posted this earlier, but it probably bears repeating.

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/pentagon-buries-evidence-of-125-billion-in-bureaucratic-waste/2016/12/05/e0668c76-9af6-11e6-a0ed-ab0774c1eaa5_story.html?utm_term=.f5c75f8dfea4

 

My confidence wasn't super high in this administration, but it's pretty much below sea level at this point. Wasteful spending, baseless fearmongering, and bad tweets seem to be the trend for the next 4 years.

Edited March 16, 2017 by Hurlshot

[Wrath of Dagon]

I posted this earlier, but it probably bears repeating.

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/pentagon-buries-evidence-of-125-billion-in-bureaucratic-waste/2016/12/05/e0668c76-9af6-11e6-a0ed-ab0774c1eaa5_story.html?utm_term=.f5c75f8dfea4

 

My confidence wasn't super high in this administration, but it's pretty much below sea level at this point. Wasteful spending, baseless fearmongering, and bad tweets seem to be the trend for the next 4 years.

The study came out in 2015 and the article was published before Trump even took office, so why are you blaming him for that? Also the $125 billion is over 5 years, so not quite as much as might seem at first blush. Hopefully Mattis and Trump do act on those recommendations, the procurement process and probably everything else over there is a complete mess. Edited March 16, 2017 by Wrath of Dagon

[Hurlshort]

You really think they will act on it? I am blaming him because he is in a position to act on it, and yet only seems to be throwing more money at the problem instead of actual reform. Those are taxpayer dollars being wasted. You seem mighty quick to assume they will do the right thing.

[PK htiw klaw eriF]

I can honestly say I didn't expect Trump to win the election but always thought, in the off chance that he did, that by virtue of the sheer destructiveness of his policies the left would be dragged kicking and screaming leftward and actually begin to organise around issues pertaining to class.And that still may be true however it certainly won't be done with Democrat support. Were they smart they'd have attempted to court the left back to the centre/right with some basic class rhetoric/handouts but instead they seem to be going this route:

Basically adhering to what is quite honestly a very disturbing political narrative of supposedly unified "race interests". This will of course only continue to empower the rising racist far-right.

This is good. The Democratic Party would never move beyond milquetoast liberalism and driving off anyone remotely class consiouss in the US still holding on will hopefully make a split happen. The issue is where those people go, a socdem party like the recent Green Party or a more radical organization. At this point I'm willing to bet on the former in the short-term, with a Trump victory in 2020 and maybe an economic downturn that wounds the right.

[Wrath of Dagon]

You really think they will act on it? I am blaming him because he is in a position to act on it, and yet only seems to be throwing more money at the problem instead of actual reform. Those are taxpayer dollars being wasted. You seem mighty quick to assume they will do the right thing.

I'm not assuming, I said "hopefully". Even if they do, it'll take a long time and will run into furious bureaucratic resistance. Meanwhile the military is in a shocking state of readiness. Also the spending increase isn't as much as it seems, as it's only from the very severe budge sequestration level, which hasn't actually been triggered since 2013.

[Hurlshort]

It is hard to take the readiness argument at face value when we are cutting the State department budgets. If we are really worried about going to war with China and Russia, that would seem to be as important as military readiness.

[Wrath of Dagon]

I'm sure the State Department blowhards really put the fear of God in those Ruskies!

[Hurlshort]

I'm sure the State Department blowhards really put the fear of God in those Ruskies!

 

I take it you trust the military generals to keep us out of war, instead?

[Wrath of Dagon]

si vis pacem, para bellum

[aluminiumtrioxid]

 

I can honestly say I didn't expect Trump to win the election but always thought, in the off chance that he did, that by virtue of the sheer destructiveness of his policies the left would be dragged kicking and screaming leftward and actually begin to organise around issues pertaining to class.And that still may be true however it certainly won't be done with Democrat support. Were they smart they'd have attempted to court the left back to the centre/right with some basic class rhetoric/handouts but instead they seem to be going this route:

Basically adhering to what is quite honestly a very disturbing political narrative of supposedly unified "race interests". This will of course only continue to empower the rising racist far-right.

This is good. The Democratic Party would never move beyond milquetoast liberalism and driving off anyone remotely class consiouss in the US still holding on will hopefully make a split happen. The issue is where those people go, a socdem party like the recent Green Party or a more radical organization. At this point I'm willing to bet on the former in the short-term, with a Trump victory in 2020 and maybe an economic downturn that wounds the right.

 

 

"Yay! A bunch of people will suffer and die as a result of disastrous Republican policies, but there's a tiny chance that a major party will self-detonate and an even tinier chance that one of the offshoots will have policies I like, but hey, totes worth it bro, it isn't ****ing wishful thinking AT ALL"

[Meshugger]

Class-thinking will cause the people of the nation to be at odds with each other on their possessions, race-thinking will cause the people of the nation to be at odds with each others biology, religion-thinking will cause the people of the nation to be at odds with each others souls. The golden mean is just around the corner.

[Hurlshort]

si vis pacem, para bellum

 

It's a good response, but it isn't an either or proposition. We can have diplomacy and military readiness.

[Malcador]

Seems like freezing their budget while they optimize would be a good idea if they are unready with the current huge budget.

[Gfted1]

Spreading freedom aint cheap.

[PK htiw klaw eriF]

 

 

I can honestly say I didn't expect Trump to win the election but always thought, in the off chance that he did, that by virtue of the sheer destructiveness of his policies the left would be dragged kicking and screaming leftward and actually begin to organise around issues pertaining to class.And that still may be true however it certainly won't be done with Democrat support. Were they smart they'd have attempted to court the left back to the centre/right with some basic class rhetoric/handouts but instead they seem to be going this route:

Basically adhering to what is quite honestly a very disturbing political narrative of supposedly unified "race interests". This will of course only continue to empower the rising racist far-right.

 

This is good. The Democratic Party would never move beyond milquetoast liberalism and driving off anyone remotely class consiouss in the US still holding on will hopefully make a split happen. The issue is where those people go, a socdem party like the recent Green Party or a more radical organization. At this point I'm willing to bet on the former in the short-term, with a Trump victory in 2020 and maybe an economic downturn that wounds the right.

 

"Yay! A bunch of people will suffer and die as a result of disastrous Republican policies, but there's a tiny chance that a major party will self-detonate and an even tinier chance that one of the offshoots will have policies I like, but hey, totes worth it bro, it isn't ****ing wishful thinking AT ALL"

As opposed to disatrous Republican policies from 2 decades ago?

[Hurlshort]

So we are cutting meals for the elderly and the free school lunch programs?

 

The school lunch program is quite possibly the most important thing that some schools are doing. I've worked at a number of tough schools, and the fact that these kids can get a warm meal and some time away from tragic situations at home is invaluable. I'm confident that in California the state will pick up the slack, but I imagine all the states who already rely heavily on federal dollars to get by will be in trouble.

[Guard Dog]

 

si vis pacem, para bellum

 

It's a good response, but it isn't an either or proposition. We can have diplomacy and military readiness.

 

 

In fact they depend heavily on one another. The former without the latter is just old powerless men talking and the latter without the former just back opponents into a corner and forces them to fight. Even if they didn't really want to.

[Barothmuk]

So we are cutting meals for the elderly and the free school lunch programs?

Edited March 17, 2017 by Barothmuk

[Malcador]

So we are cutting meals for the elderly and the free school lunch programs?

 

The school lunch program is quite possibly the most important thing that some schools are doing. I've worked at a number of tough schools, and the fact that these kids can get a warm meal and some time away from tragic situations at home is invaluable. I'm confident that in California the state will pick up the slack, but I imagine all the states who already rely heavily on federal dollars to get by will be in trouble.

You're going to get "**** you, I got mine" in fancy dress.

[HoonDing]

Someone just took "no more free lunch" literally.

[Wrath of Dagon]

So we are cutting meals for the elderly and the free school lunch programs?

 

The school lunch program is quite possibly the most important thing that some schools are doing. I've worked at a number of tough schools, and the fact that these kids can get a warm meal and some time away from tragic situations at home is invaluable. I'm confident that in California the state will pick up the slack, but I imagine all the states who already rely heavily on federal dollars to get by will be in trouble.

Don't think they're eliminating the school lunch program. They're eliminating Community Block Development Grant ($3 billion total) to states which is used by states to fund some other social programs, like after school care in some districts. Edited March 17, 2017 by Wrath of Dagon

[Wrath of Dagon]

 

si vis pacem, para bellum

 

It's a good response, but it isn't an either or proposition. We can have diplomacy and military readiness.

 

Yes, but I'm sure the State Department can afford to cut back on champagne, lobster and caviar at their parties, the millions dollar tulip landscaping, and close the embassy in Upper ****landia. It's not that expensive to flap your lips. Meanwhile, Trump is already taking action: http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2017/03/16/trump-puts-business-experience-in-pentagon.html

[Raithe]

Out of curiosity, does anyone know off hand how accurate this one is?

 

[Gfted1]

It doesnt pass the eyball test but I dont know if its legit. It looks like someone took: / .

[Raithe]

It doesnt pass the eyball test but I dont know if its legit. It looks like someone took: <total monies saved by axing these programs> / <number of people in the country>.

 

That makes some sense, it's awkward to try digging into my own countries tax and budget, let alone Americas.