The Next President is...

[kaputt]

Predictable 

[DosXX]

On 3/20/2021 at 11:16 PM, ViperMan said:

Riddle me this then: why doesn't the government just "move enough around" (likewise) to make it work out in their favor? They're bigger than any one company and can afford more accountants, right?

Better yet, ask yourself why do we need taxes at all if the government can just run the money printer and just make themselves however much money they need...

Great question, it's explained briefly in this video at 10:40. Put (very) simply, it is in fact true the government doesn't need taxes to fund anything within the modern system of centralized banking and money printing; taxes are a means to end. Taxes give the dollar stability and value because it creates demand for it as the primary currency. 

https://youtu.be/N8HOWh8HPTo

 

On 3/20/2021 at 8:47 PM, Lord Ratner said:

Ah yes, economics. Incredibly complex and counterintuitive answers to simple questions, requiring even more complicated explanations when the aforementioned answers prove incorrect.

Do you think all 'simple' questions should have simple answers? 

Why do things fall? A simple question. You can start with newtonian theory gravity and get as complicated as Relativistic theory and spacetime curvature.  Newtonian gravity was also proved incorrect outside regimes common to our experience, I don't see what's wrong with furthering our understanding of reality with more data and theory, even if it is more complicated in the end. Relativity is far more unintuitive and complicated, but that is no reason to reject it when it is undeniably a more accurate theory.

Economics has had and continues to have its own set of issues, but data based empirical research is becoming a bigger part of the field every year. Not that that's relevant for the original point anyways, elastic demand is econ101. 

 

[brickhistory]

Gonna go put a tank of gas in the truck:

[DosXX]

On 3/20/2021 at 6:40 PM, brabus said:

Well yeah, it was a basic scenario for a 9 yr old. Doesn’t change the fact it’s an incredibly stupid/naive statement to say raising taxes on businesses, raw materials, etc. won’t affect things like consumer prices, employee benefits, employee hours, or even job availability

Yeah I know but you seem to imply there will obviously be negative effects with tax raising and that policy makers could be oblivious to this basic fact. It's not as simple as raising taxes -> higher prices, less jobs, less benefits -> bad for economy. Depending on the tax rate and other factors (like elastic demand for the industry being taxed), it can be a net positive on the economy, and there may be a negligible effect on prices.

[DosXX]

On 3/20/2021 at 4:51 PM, brickhistory said:

same crew that says white extremism is the #1 threat for the Defense Department?

Source? Can't find anyone who has said this. I'm pretty sure defense policy writers in the admin would not agree with this even if some clueless figurehead like the press secretary said it lol. 

[Guardian]

FBI director said it a year or two back. Not sure about DOD

[N730]

Riddle me this then: why doesn't the government just "move enough around" (likewise) to make it work out in their favor? They're bigger than any one company and can afford more accountants, right?

Better yet, ask yourself why do we need taxes at all if the government can just run the money printer and just make themselves however much money they need...

What? The government doesn't pay taxes to itself.

I'm saying the gigantic companies (Amazon, Walmart, etc.) "move enough around" to minimize how much they pay in taxes.

I'm not saying they create money that isn't there.

Sent from my SM-N975U using Baseops Network mobile app

[ViperMan]

2 hours ago, DosXX said:

Great question, it's explained briefly in this video at 10:40. Put (very) simply, it is in fact true the government doesn't need taxes to fund anything within the modern system of centralized banking and money printing; taxes are a means to end. Taxes give the dollar stability and value because it creates demand for it as the primary currency. 

https://youtu.be/N8HOWh8HPTo

Nicely put explanation that jives with my instinctual view that it is 'part of the system.' The US government requires payment in dollars and thereby implements taxation as a means to ensure that there is demand for their currency. This 'demand' is where its (the dollar's) legitimacy is derived.

One of my biggest personal lamentations is that the your average American has no idea why dollars are so important to the world, and also that there are enormous powers that want to usurp it (China, Russia, Iran). We have immense privilege being host to the world's reserve currency and if that status changed, I think people would lose their minds overnight with how rapidly the status quo in this country changed.

In other news, bitcoin has been bouncing around $60K for at least a few weeks now. Disintermediated transfer and store of value is a massive threat to the "system", and I would be shocked if it wasn't the soup of the day in board rooms around the world - which likely smell of rich mahogany. Personally, I spend a decent amount of time considering why such an asset could be considered so valuable. My conclusion is that it is because it's finite - which is in direct opposition to the central themes of MMT.

[ViperMan]

4 minutes ago, N730 said:

What? The government doesn't pay taxes to itself.

I'm saying the gigantic companies (Amazon, Walmart, etc.) "move enough around" to minimize how they pay in taxes.

I'm not saying they create money that isn't there.

Better yet, ask yourself why do we need taxes at all if the government can just run the money printer and just make themselves however much money they need...

[Pooter]

Some pretty funny stuff coming out about Sidney Powell's defamation lawsuit right now. Apparently the only strategy left for her is to intentionally dumpster her own lawyer credentials in the hopes a judge will deem her election fraud claims too far fetched to be believed by any reasonable person. 
 

..which is true. No one with half a brain should have believed her.  
 

But she was serious at the time and that's what matters. Trump seems to have this weird effect on people where they, like him, think they could get away with saying anything they want.  Here's to hoping trump and his merry band of idiots get absolutely cleaned out through these embarrassing lawsuits. Republicans need that if they want to take back control of their party. 
 

 

[Waingro]

20 minutes ago, Pooter said:

Some pretty funny stuff coming out about Sidney Powell's defamation lawsuit right now. Apparently the only strategy left for her is to intentionally dumpster her own lawyer credentials in the hopes a judge will deem her election fraud claims too far fetched to be believed by any reasonable person. 
 

..which is true. No one with half a brain should have believed her.  
 

But she was serious at the time and that's what matters. Trump seems to have this weird effect on people where they, like him, think they could get away with saying anything they want.  Here's to hoping trump and his merry band of idiots get absolutely cleaned out through these embarrassing lawsuits. Republicans need that if they want to take back control of their party. 
 

 

It's the same legal defense that Fox News used, that no reasonable person should have considered them anything more than entertainment. 

Sadly I work with more than one person, all college educated and literate, that still believe the election was stolen. You're right, the party needs to alienate and shun these people if they want to stay relevant and viable. 

[AirGuardianC141747]

Country really going down the tubes amongst other things. At least nearly 50% of the country disagrees with the other so we have reached middle ground on a playing field which is not ideal. Now a *$4 Trillion package in the works. We get what we get and it’s the whole lot of them that aren’t relevant or viable and not just the one who got lucky he fell on the way up the stairs. Things keep printing under this admin and it will be like falling down the stairs = Nothing stops you all the way down right down to the bottom and as seen no one moves a muscle to help the Leader of the free world supposedly which was sad... as human nature should not be this way. Not the only President who battled the stairs repeatedly, but I do believe the only one to do it all at once. 45 more months left = We can afford to put in an escalator type air stairs in the next “rescue package.”
Most recent 1.9T Package - Saving crippled criminal states with your tax money since they are not fiscally responsible and other undeserving sectors. You might not pay for it, your kids and theirs will or most likely we won’t get out of it as some of mentioned before and yes this currency must remain relevant, but that’s not what the rest world or let’s just say China wants. Especially as China has now obtained full control of their money laundering system known as Hong Kong. Thank God for Brexit, that put a huge glitch in the one currency to rule them all mission as well as the politics that goes with it. Reset is another story. There will be consequences and that’s the greatest issue of a lot of attitudes now as they have not felt any. Granted, some never will as they have never lost anything they have earned thru hard work, it’s always been someone else’s effort. Interestingly enough, “Riots” continue with a bit more resistance than last year, sounds like their needs aren’t being met; therefore, like their sponsors the tantrum continues. Thankful our state did/does not succumb to weakness such as lack of intestinal fortitude and stamps that crap down. For those who fall back to 6 Jan as a distraction which wasn’t right by any means (small percentage actually crossing the line/barriers=stupid). If just half of the entire crowd participated and really had destruction on their minds, it would have been far greater of a loss of life/property than the unforgettable/unfortunate/unforgivable loss of 5. Truth be told, the entire Capital would have fallen and there were no true weapons of significance. Not good, but it’s telling on the overall intent despite a strategic mistake during such a critical time. At least the flag of Virginia says it all if this country goes full retro, but maybe that’s what the future holds by purity of the vote so be it.

There should never be a get out of jail free pass. But that really doesn’t matter anymore now does it as we all just have to “circle back to that” and never really do. That in a nutshell is what we have. We can do better on every front which is sad.

 

Edited March 24, 2021 by AirGuardianC141747

[HeloDude]

So for the progressives on here who labeled Trump as a fascist...what say you about Biden and the Dems wanting to ban certain kinds of popular firearms?  You know...the same type of firearms that are only used in a small percentage of all murders.  Also, Biden supports (see link below), the police being able to go into your house and seize weapons without a warrant...also sounds a bit like what a fascist would want to do.

”But in its first amicus brief before the High Court, the Biden Administration glossed over these concerns and called on the justices to uphold the First Circuit’s ruling. Noting that “the ultimate touchstone of the Fourth Amendment is ‘reasonableness,’” the Justice Department argued that warrants should not be “presumptively required when a government official’s action is objectively grounded in a non-investigatory public interest, such as health or safety.”

https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicksibilla/2021/03/23/biden-administration-urges-supreme-court-to-let-cops-enter-homes-and-seize-guns-without-a-warrant/?sh=7f258e082829

[Pooter]

2 hours ago, HeloDude said:

So for the progressives on here who labeled Trump as a fascist...what say you about Biden and the Dems wanting to ban certain kinds of popular firearms?  You know...the same type of firearms that are only used in a small percentage of all murders.  Also, Biden supports (see link below), the police being able to go into your house and seize weapons without a warrant...also sounds a bit like what a fascist would want to do.

 I don't think anyone here views trump as a fascist. He's just an egomaniac who says stupid things and didn't take the office seriously.. which culminated in some pretty damaging stuff happening. 
 

but to answer your question, this is terrible policy from the left. They always try to leverage emotion after shootings to pass stuff like this and it's bullshit. But that's the democrat M.O... trash policies papered over by emotional appeals, media top cover, and coordinated messaging. 

[ClearedHot]

[brickhistory]

Look, those 13,000 illegal immigrant kids aren't being kept in cages.  They're in "pods with bars."

The media doesn't need to be let in to see for themselves, they can take the government PR's words and photos for it.

The rising of gas prices only helps decrease the demand, thus lowering greenhouse gases.  Which is good for the the Paris Climate Accord which is a treaty the Senate never voted on, much less ratified.  But we're back in it, so there.  

Taking those pesky guns you think you have an inherent right to as an American is a small price to pay if it "saves one more life."  Like in Chicago.  Or Baltimore.  Or Oakland.  Or, need I go on?

Questioning shenanigans and the changing/ignoring of state election laws mid-election is simply unpatriotic and a crime.  And deserving even more of taking those pesky guns, so that you can't back up your protests with anything stronger than words.

Which we can charge with hate crimes for using.

All this, and more, in exchange for not being subjected to any mean tweets.

Totally worth it.

I look forward to more gasoline, err, high voltage being applied to the remnants of what once was a really good society that was always trying to get better.  Almost like the words "in order to form a more perfect union" actually meant something and that progress has occurred since the founding and was likely to continue.

Now?  Let's watch the fire.

[AirGuardianC141747]

12 hours ago, Pooter said:

 I don't think anyone here views trump as a fascist. He's just an egomaniac who says stupid things and didn't take the office seriously.. which culminated in some pretty damaging stuff happening. 
 

I’ll bite, ego sure and you don’t get things done without some or a lot your call, but he did get a lot done (needed to finish some several) seriously. So list your “damaging stuff?”

I firmly believe he just brought to the surface a lot of issues that needed to be rectified. It was so fast it made people’s head spin that he could make such headway in sludge. Wrong direction or right, no one cannot deny he moved forward and accomplished more than any 3 prior in charge and with such distraction and hatred against him from day one. I pray it never happens, but in the end many have been awakened (not woke) and what lies ahead will be far from stellar amongst soft hides and lack of determination, gusto and conviction. 

 

Edited March 25, 2021 by AirGuardianC141747

[Sua Sponte]

In bizarre legal strategy news...

“Such characterizations of the allegedly defamatory statements further support Defendants’ position that reasonable people would not accept such statements as fact but view them only as claims that await testing by the courts through the adversary process.”

https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/3-22-21-sidney-powell-defending-the-republic-motion-to-dismiss-dominion.pdf
 

https://www.abajournal.com/news/article/sidney-powell-lawyers-argue-no-reasonable-person-would-have-accepted-her-stolen-election-claims-as-fact

Edited March 25, 2021 by Sua Sponte

[pawnman]

3 hours ago, Sua Sponte said:

In bizarre legal strategy news...

“Such characterizations of the allegedly defamatory statements further support Defendants’ position that reasonable people would not accept such statements as fact but view them only as claims that await testing by the courts through the adversary process.”

https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/3-22-21-sidney-powell-defending-the-republic-motion-to-dismiss-dominion.pdf
 

https://www.abajournal.com/news/article/sidney-powell-lawyers-argue-no-reasonable-person-would-have-accepted-her-stolen-election-claims-as-fact

It's the same defense Fox News used.

[BashiChuni]

This press conference is a big yikes fest 

 

sleepy joe  

[kaputt]

2 hours ago, BashiChuni said:

This press conference is a big yikes fest 

 

sleepy joe  

You mean Biden didn’t actually join the senate 120 years ago? Lol

[arg]

5 hours ago, kaputt said:

You mean Biden didn’t actually join the senate 120 years ago? Lol

Come on man, he stutters, it's been proven.

What I got out of it. Trumps fault, Trumps fault, Trumps fault, it's going to take a long time to fix all the problems he caused. If we can't fix it it's still Trumps fault. And Trump watched children starve to death at the border.

[Lawman]

Come on man, he stutters, it's been proven.
What I got out of it. Trumps fault, Trumps fault, Trumps fault, it's going to take a long time to fix all the problems he caused. If we can't fix it it's still Trumps fault. And Trump watched children starve to death at the border.

Also despite that it is the largest market share of viewers in the room... absolutely no questions from those people of the network starting with F.

Man it’s almost like they are afraid of Fox News.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[pawnman]

https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/boulder-colorado-shooting-3-23-21/h_cfc4e3d3b9871c07dcc8c4d6721e1624

[Pooter]

On 3/24/2021 at 10:43 PM, AirGuardianC141747 said:

So list your “damaging stuff?

Mainly the invasion of the capitol and the complete undermining of our election system. Do you need more than that?

We can go chicken vs egg all day long on whether Democrats or Republicans ruined elections first, but trump certainly didn't help anything. As it became clearer and clearer he was going to lose, trump became more erratic and irresponsible. And it culminated in probably the most shameful moment for America in my lifetime.