This Seems Like A Pointless Exercise

[Amarok]

Which has fuck all to with Trump poverty in the states has been dropping for years 

[Wyrd of Gawd]

I think Trump hit a  grand slam home run...

Only if the match is being played by two teams of Trump, with Trump as the referee, a crowd made up entirely of Trumps and with Trump operating the scoreboard.

But I still maintain that Trump is the best thing that's happened to US politics in decades.

Have you seen the effects of the tax cut in your take-home pay?  I have.

[Amarok]

Short term gains and narrow interests .

[DLJ]

Only if the match is being played by two teams of Trump, with Trump as the referee, a crowd made up entirely of Trumps and with Trump operating the scoreboard.

But I still maintain that Trump is the best thing that's happened to US politics in decades.

Have you seen the effects of the tax cut in your take-home pay?  I have.

So, you liked the bribe. Fair enough.

It's the "what's in it for me?" argument. And of course, you are entitled to your selfishness-based ethics. I've always been a "what's in it for us?" kinda guy.

I see tax as a contribution to the social fund. I have no problem paying into a social fund when the benefits are shared each according to their needs.

[Fireball]

I think Trump hit a  grand slam home run...

Only if the match is being played by two teams of Trump, with Trump as the referee, a crowd made up entirely of Trumps and with Trump operating the scoreboard.

But I still maintain that Trump is the best thing that's happened to US politics in decades.

Politics, probably yes. For the US as a decent entity, probably no. The shit he's fronting with his lunatic behavior is the covering of the dismantlement of the US government, which isn't really on screen for most people. I do not agree with the policies reducing Federal oversight of our nation's lands, which will eventually be despoiled by big business if not addressed. The allowing of state's rights on all the civil rights issues is also a monumental step backwards. The appointment of judges has been increased, after a lack thereof, and they will be conservative judges. More's the pity for the civil rights of women and minorities.

MAGA? Don't make me laugh. What makes the US great is the multi-ethnic mix we get from immigrants. I could go on, but I think that's enough for now.

[Minimalist]

Only if the match is being played by two teams of Trump, with Trump as the referee, a crowd made up entirely of Trumps and with Trump operating the scoreboard.

But I still maintain that Trump is the best thing that's happened to US politics in decades.

Have you seen the effects of the tax cut in your take-home pay?  I have.

I bet the WLB and his fucking kids did a lot better than you.

[DLJ]

Only if the match is being played by two teams of Trump, with Trump as the referee, a crowd made up entirely of Trumps and with Trump operating the scoreboard.

But I still maintain that Trump is the best thing that's happened to US politics in decades.

Politics, probably yes. For the US as a decent entity, probably no. The shit he's fronting with his lunatic behavior is the covering of the dismantlement of the US government, which isn't really on screen for most people. I do not agree with the policies reducing Federal oversight of our nation's lands, which will eventually be despoiled by big business if not addressed. The allowing of state's rights on all the civil rights issues is also a monumental step backwards. The appointment of judges has been increased, after a lack thereof, and they will be conservative judges. More's the pity for the civil rights of women and minorities.
...

Well of course the policies are abhorrent to anyone who has read any Dickens.

I'm suggesting that it's short term pain for long term gain. The up-side of Trump is that the lid has been lifted on what's been happening since Reagan (perhaps since FDR) of a transition to a plutocratic/oligarchic/kleptocratic monarchy-like system where the donors and their lobby-lackeys are calling the shots.

And the term for a non-hereditary monarchy is of course, tyranny.

...
MAGA? Don't make me laugh. What makes the US great is the multi-ethnic mix we get from immigrants. I could go on, but I think that's enough for now.

Dear oh dear. You are making the school-boy error of thinking The United States of America is a community, a collection of free individuals with compassion and loyalty and mercy and justice.

You obviously have forgotten that Murika™ is a brand, a concept, an ideal, to be defended against all competition and threats from outside.

Silly boy.

[Seraphina]

Only if the match is being played by two teams of Trump, with Trump as the referee, a crowd made up entirely of Trumps and with Trump operating the scoreboard.

But I still maintain that Trump is the best thing that's happened to US politics in decades.

Have you seen the effects of the tax cut in your take-home pay?  I have.

I have too. I get $129/month more in my paychecks.

But so what? This beautiful, bigly tax cut will sunset for me in a few years while the wealthy fat cats get their tax cuts forever.

The government can keep the $129/month if it means I won't have to flip burgers when I'm 80 because Social Security doesn't exist anymore and corporations plundered their employees' private pension funds, we get single payer healthcare, we get bridges and dams that don't collapse and we have clean water and air.

-Teresa

[Wyrd of Gawd]

Have you seen the effects of the tax cut in your take-home pay?  I have.

I bet the WLB and his fucking kids did a lot better than you.

You bet they did.  I didn't say that I got a big increase.  I said that I saw the result and asked if anyone had noticed?  So, since no one has noticed the tax cut must be insignificant.  Mine is just enough to pay my typical water bill.  I didn't think it would kick in so soon.  One thing is for sure and that is I won't be buying a Rolls Royce with it.