Blodhemn Posted October 12, 2017 Share Posted October 12, 2017 The people who actually want that kind of power are usually the ones you least want to have it.And vice versa. It's no wonder the elections boil down to the lesser of two evils. Can't be above getting dirty just to get a foot in the door. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agiel Posted October 12, 2017 Share Posted October 12, 2017 According to an NBC News report, President Donald Trump said during a meeting at the Pentagon on July 20 that “he wanted what amounted to a nearly tenfold increase in the U.S. nuclear arsenal,” according to three officials who were in the room. OK, either this is treason and US military has a much bigger problem than Trump plans to expand nuclear arsenal or the story is a complete hoax. Have our priorities skewed here, huh? The cabinet undermining a President's nuclear policy is not without precedent (and contrary to what is in the movies, or what may seem logical in the post-Cold War era, there is absolutely no democratic firewall between the President post-inauguration and the men turning keys). If anything it is Trump who has been undermining the long-term strategy laid out by his own generals with his tweets if Dunford's words on North Korea and Iran's compliance with the JCPOA are anything to go by. As for hoax, well, Trump has said himself that he wants to see an expansion of the nuclear arsenal. It matters little whether or not he intends ten times as many the US has now or even a, say, 25% increase. It's a beyond moronic proposition given the extreme cost associated not only building up the necessary infrastructure for building new bombs but also the delivery platforms for them when current forces as noted in the article above more than suffice, especially if it cannibalises funding for other critical programs (Ballistic Missile Defence against a North Korean ICBM, tanks and fighters to defend the Międzymorze portion of NATO, and ships in the South China Sea). 1 Quote “Political philosophers have often pointed out that in wartime, the citizen, the male citizen at least, loses one of his most basic rights, his right to life; and this has been true ever since the French Revolution and the invention of conscription, now an almost universally accepted principle. But these same philosophers have rarely noted that the citizen in question simultaneously loses another right, one just as basic and perhaps even more vital for his conception of himself as a civilized human being: the right not to kill.” -Jonathan Littell <<Les Bienveillantes>> Quote "The chancellor, the late chancellor, was only partly correct. He was obsolete. But so is the State, the entity he worshipped. Any state, entity, or ideology becomes obsolete when it stockpiles the wrong weapons: when it captures territories, but not minds; when it enslaves millions, but convinces nobody. When it is naked, yet puts on armor and calls it faith, while in the Eyes of God it has no faith at all. Any state, any entity, any ideology that fails to recognize the worth, the dignity, the rights of Man...that state is obsolete." -Rod Serling Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hiro Protagonist Posted October 12, 2017 Share Posted October 12, 2017 If Trump is losing support, are the democrats gaining support? If the democrats aren't gaining support, then it should be food for thought in dem circles as to why they aren't gaining support. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redneckdevil Posted October 12, 2017 Share Posted October 12, 2017 I chalk it up to people just not giving a **** anymore. It's been one side having a unhealthy obsession with Trump while accusing anyone of a different opinion as racist/sexist/etc loudly and the other side has Trump and the alt right/etc.. I'm hoping that by now most people have just burnt out and don't like what's going on on either side and just don't give a **** bc if u do, u gotta Wade the ooze and filth of both sides and tbh doesn't seem worth it anymore ATM. Let's see if either side has better candidates AND if they will fall into the circus trap of last election (which I doubt bc more ratings). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben No.3 Posted October 12, 2017 Share Posted October 12, 2017 So what’s up with the UNESCO thing? Feels like Trump is doing yet another irrelevant political move; in a big time way. What a showman. Everybody knows the deal is rotten Old Black Joe's still pickin' cotton For your ribbons and bows And everybody knows Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gfted1 Posted October 12, 2017 Share Posted October 12, 2017 Holy crap, we provided 22% of UNESCO budget?! Glad we stopped that in 2011. Anyhow, since they recognized the PLO, were out! "I'm your biggest fan, Ill follow you until you love me, Papa" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amentep Posted October 12, 2017 Author Share Posted October 12, 2017 We left UNESCO before, in the 1980s, as I recall. In addition to the PLO thing (and referring to Israel as an "occupying force" while not condemning Syria when their civil war broke out), I think there is also the fact that one of the candidates for the new director-general of UNESCO has allegedly made anti-semetic statements and is still in contention. 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gfted1 Posted October 12, 2017 Share Posted October 12, 2017 Yep, Reagan defunded it once and I cant remember the one before him. Aside, why is the US always getting it stuck to us with these budgets! There are 195 member states and we were eating almost a quarter of the bill? Smh. "I'm your biggest fan, Ill follow you until you love me, Papa" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShadySands Posted October 12, 2017 Share Posted October 12, 2017 (edited) We're magnanimous like that Slightly more on topic Donald Trump doesn't seem to understand the stock market. Or the national debt. Is it sad how entertained I am by this presidency? 4 more years! Edited October 12, 2017 by ShadySands 1 Free games updated 3/4/21 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PK htiw klaw eriF Posted October 12, 2017 Share Posted October 12, 2017 We're magnanimous like that Slightly more on topic Donald Trump doesn't seem to understand the stock market. Or the national debt. Is it sad how entertained I am by this presidency? 4 more years! Just wait until he runs against Zuckerberg/Kanye West. 2 "Akiva Goldsman and Alex Kurtzman run the 21st century version of MK ULTRA." - majestic "I'm gonna hunt you down so that I can slap you square in the mouth." - Bartimaeus "Without individual thinking you can't notice the plot holes." - InsaneCommander "Just feed off the suffering of gamers." - Malcador "You are calling my taste crap." -Hurlshort "thankfully it seems like the creators like Hungary less this time around." - Sarex "Don't forget the wakame, dumbass" -Keyrock "Are you trolling or just being inadvertently nonsensical?' -Pidesco "we have already been forced to admit you are at least human" - uuuhhii "I refuse to buy from non-woke businesses" - HoonDing "feral camels are now considered a pest" - Gorth "Melkathi is known to be an overly critical grumpy person" - Melkathi "Oddly enough Sanderson was a lot more direct despite being a Mormon" - Zoraptor "I found it greatly disturbing to scroll through my cartoon's halfing selection of genitalias." - Wormerine "Am I phrasing in the most negative light for them? Yes, but it's not untrue." - ShadySands Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
injurai Posted October 12, 2017 Share Posted October 12, 2017 The entertainment factor of Trumps presidency has basically vanished for me. Especially after the pettiness towards Puerto Rico. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gfted1 Posted October 12, 2017 Share Posted October 12, 2017 Whats the benefit of having territories like PR and the Virgin Islands? Was it originally set up as a projection of national power? Seems like a one-way relationship. Do "territories" even pay US taxes? "I'm your biggest fan, Ill follow you until you love me, Papa" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hurlshort Posted October 12, 2017 Share Posted October 12, 2017 (edited) Whats the benefit of having territories like PR and the Virgin Islands? Was it originally set up as a projection of national power? Seems like a one-way relationship. Do "territories" even pay US taxes?Yes, of course they do. Edit: they are perpetually costing more than they bring in. But so are states like Mississippi. https://www.economist.com/blogs/dailychart/2011/08/americas-fiscal-union Edited October 12, 2017 by Hurlshot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gfted1 Posted October 12, 2017 Share Posted October 12, 2017 Yes, of course they do. Edit: they are perpetually costing more than they bring in. But so are states like Mississippi. Unless it has changed since 2013, they do not pay Federal Income Tax. Heres an interesting website that talk about the US territories. "I'm your biggest fan, Ill follow you until you love me, Papa" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoonDing Posted October 12, 2017 Share Posted October 12, 2017 "Whats the benefit of having territories like PR and the Virgin Islands? Was it originally set up as a projection of national power? Seems like a one-way relationship. Do "territories" even pay US taxes?" Maybe on the Virgin Islands there are virgins to grab by the ****. The ending of the words is ALMSIVI. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcador Posted October 12, 2017 Share Posted October 12, 2017 (edited) Yes, of course they do. Edit: they are perpetually costing more than they bring in. But so are states like Mississippi. Unless it has changed since 2013, they do not pay Federal Income Tax. Heres an interesting website that talk about the US territories. https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/15db05co.xls In 2015, they contributed $3,524,557,000 to the treasury, so there is that. Surprised the IRS hasn't put up the 2016 numbers. Edited October 12, 2017 by Malcador Why has elegance found so little following? Elegance has the disadvantage that hard work is needed to achieve it and a good education to appreciate it. - Edsger Wybe Dijkstra Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amentep Posted October 12, 2017 Author Share Posted October 12, 2017 My understanding, regarding taxes, is that a citizen in Puerto Rico would pay Puerto Rico's taxes on worldwide income, then US taxes on worldwide income excluding income derived in Puerto Rico. Then there is a tax credit in Puerto Rico for the Puerto Rico income tax based on the US tax, up to a specific limit. Obviously if your sole source of income is within Puerto Rico, you wouldn't pay any US tax. They also end up paying Social Security, Medicare, import, export and commodity taxes. 1 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoraptor Posted October 12, 2017 Share Posted October 12, 2017 In addition to the PLO thing (and referring to Israel as an "occupying force" while not condemning Syria when their civil war broke out), That's two unconnected issues though- not that I'm surprised given the nature of US foreign policy. Most of the people who would be ecstatic about Hebron being labeled as Palestinian would be equally ecstatic about criticism of Syria; and most of those who hated the Hebron decision would be as well yet the US failed to win the vote they tried over Syria even despite that. Which given the nature of the rebels and their attitude to history and culture was completely appropriate. Wahhabi's hate culture, science and education, it's inherent to their philosophy of man's peak being in the 7th century. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amentep Posted October 12, 2017 Author Share Posted October 12, 2017 Well they are unconnected other than being listed as things that the Administration apparently has a beef with UNESCO over (so perhaps that "while" should have been another "and"). 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elerond Posted October 12, 2017 Share Posted October 12, 2017 Yes, of course they do. Edit: they are perpetually costing more than they bring in. But so are states like Mississippi. Unless it has changed since 2013, they do not pay Federal Income Tax. Heres an interesting website that talk about the US territories. Unincorporated territories of the United States don't pay federal taxes, because congress in past wanted to have ability to impose discriminatory tax regimes with the effect of a protective tariff upon territorial regions which were not domestic states. Unincorporated territories were and are still quite lot effectively same as colonial territories were and are for European countries. They are places that are under government control, but aren't protected by constitutions and regulations of main land. In past citizens of said territories didn't even have citizenship of country that controlled them, and even now there are usually limitations and exceptions in their citizenship. All this means that benefit of said territories for main land isn't that they pay taxes, but that their citizens are seen expendable so they can used as cheap labor to get resources that main land needs, or circumvent regulations allowing tax havens, unsafe medical research and so on. Or they are seen as strategic location for either defensive or offensive purposes. These days it seems that old colonial territories cause often more headache than actual benefits because development of global market and rules have have decreased benefits that countries get from having colonial territories. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoraptor Posted October 13, 2017 Share Posted October 13, 2017 Well they are unconnected other than being listed as things that the Administration apparently has a beef with UNESCO over (so perhaps that "while" should have been another "and"). I don't think the issues themselves are important. Israel will ignore anything from the UN anyway, so long as they can rely on a US veto at the SC, and UNESCO reports are even less important than General Assembly resolutions. For Trump it's a chance to play to two of his bases, anti UN and pro Israel. This week certainly seems to be the week for Trump to try and get some brownie points from his supporters, assuming he doesn't certify Iran to go along with leaving UNESCO and trying an Executive Order approach to do something, anything to obamacare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
213374U Posted October 13, 2017 Share Posted October 13, 2017 What's "woke"? Post-truth era lingo for "someone aware of current social justice issues". Yeah, it's a thing. - When he is best, he is a little worse than a man, and when he is worst, he is little better than a beast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShadySands Posted October 13, 2017 Share Posted October 13, 2017 I don't know if this is the right place for this, maybe the random news thread would be better but I like to live dangerously Family held hostage by Taliban freed after 5 years I guess my biggest question is who goes backpacking in Afghanistan while there's a (never ending) war there? I don't mean to imply they got what they deserved but I have questions about their motivations and judgment. 1 Free games updated 3/4/21 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guard Dog Posted October 13, 2017 Share Posted October 13, 2017 I don't know if this is the right place for this, maybe the random news thread would be better but I like to live dangerously Family held hostage by Taliban freed after 5 years I guess my biggest question is who goes backpacking in Afghanistan while there's a (never ending) war there? I don't mean to imply they got what they deserved but I have questions about their motivations and judgment. I have to agree with you on this. There are 206 sovereign nations on this planet. Around 190 of which can be relatively safely visited and most would be happy to have you. Why in the world do people want to go to Afghanistan, North Korea, Syria, etc for a vacation? There is an old saying: "If you don't want to be snake bit, don't pet snakes." "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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chilloutman Posted October 13, 2017 Share Posted October 13, 2017 I don't know if this is the right place for this, maybe the random news thread would be better but I like to live dangerously Family held hostage by Taliban freed after 5 years I guess my biggest question is who goes backpacking in Afghanistan while there's a (never ending) war there? I don't mean to imply they got what they deserved but I have questions about their motivations and judgment. I have to agree with you on this. There are 206 sovereign nations on this planet. Around 190 of which can be relatively safely visited and most would be happy to have you. Why in the world do people want to go to Afghanistan, North Korea, Syria, etc for a vacation? There is an old saying: "If you don't want to be snake bit, don't pet snakes." I have friend who backpacked whole middle east. But its completely stupid to go there with expecting lady... I'm the enemy, 'cause I like to think, I like to read. I'm into freedom of speech, and freedom of choice. I'm the kinda guy that likes to sit in a greasy spoon and wonder, "Gee, should I have the T-bone steak or the jumbo rack of barbecue ribs with the side-order of gravy fries?" I want high cholesterol! I wanna eat bacon, and butter, and buckets of cheese, okay?! I wanna smoke a Cuban cigar the size of Cincinnati in the non-smoking section! I wanna run naked through the street, with green Jell-O all over my body, reading Playboy magazine. Why? Because I suddenly may feel the need to, okay, pal? I've SEEN the future. Do you know what it is? It's a 47-year-old virgin sitting around in his beige pajamas, drinking a banana-broccoli shake, singing "I'm an Oscar Meyer Wiene" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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