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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#163026: Dec 17th 2016 at 7:50:13 AM

That stimulus package is going to make the deficit so much worse since taxes aren't going to be raised to help offset it.

Disgusted, but not surprised
SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#163027: Dec 17th 2016 at 7:53:37 AM

If it was actually a stimulus, then maybe increased economic growth would offset it. But I suspect that Trump's idea of "stimulus" means growing his own bank account.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#163028: Dec 17th 2016 at 7:55:13 AM

It is likely that Trump's tax cuts and increased spending on the military would have a short-term stimulus effect. Trump doesn't think or care about the long term, and neither do his voters, so what happens after his massive planned budget cuts go into effect is still uncertain.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#163029: Dec 17th 2016 at 8:04:42 AM

So if what's going down in North Carolina is anything to go on the Republicans really seem to hate the idea of democracy.
Well, it does have the word "democrat" in it, so is it really that surprising?

Mio Since: Jan, 2001
#163030: Dec 17th 2016 at 8:26:31 AM

An article in the Guardian talks about how the Republican Congress can go about dismantling the ACA without bringing it a formal vote and debate (this is where 60+ votes are required).

It also includes a measure of how popular each of the individual pieces of the ACA is with the public. It's interesting that the only part that is genuinely unpopular is the individual mandate.

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#163031: Dec 17th 2016 at 8:41:03 AM

[up] ...So basically the ACA will only survive if the GOP decides that the lives of millions of people are more important than dismantling Obama's legacy.

...The ACA is doomed.

Disgusted, but not surprised
TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#163032: Dec 17th 2016 at 8:50:23 AM

What is a legacy? It’s planting seeds in a garden you never get to see.

President Trump: "Obama's healthcare system was a work of genius. I couldn't unmake it if I tried. And I tried."

President Pence: "He took our country from bankruptcy to prosperity. I hate to admit it, but he doesn’t get enough credit for all the credit he gave us."

edited 17th Dec '16 8:54:07 AM by TheHandle

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#163033: Dec 17th 2016 at 8:58:33 AM

Unfortunately, Hanlon's Razor doesn't apply to the 2010 and beyond Republican Party. They aren't stupid, just evil.

edited 17th Dec '16 9:36:21 AM by Rationalinsanity

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
Mio Since: Jan, 2001
#163034: Dec 17th 2016 at 8:59:28 AM

I'm curious as to if the Republicans will actually be able to cobble together a "replacement" like they said they would. It may well be that they end up being too busy squabbling and/or don't care enough for them to just dismantle it and leave it at that.

Still if they do come up with something they agree on then this could very easily blow up in the Democrats face as some will want to support the Republican replacement as a "better then nothing" option, while others will want to push for more or simply not want to give the Republicans anything.

kkhohoho (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Shippudentimes Since: Dec, 2012
#163036: Dec 17th 2016 at 9:08:47 AM

[up] Because you'd have Charles Montgomery Burns.

No, wait, scratch that. Even Mr. Burns, as amoral, senile and corrupt as he was, showed SOME humanity, hidden depth, and shrewd cunning every now and then.

edited 17th Dec '16 9:08:59 AM by Shippudentimes

MadSkillz Destroyer of Worlds Since: Mar, 2013 Relationship Status: I only want you gone
Destroyer of Worlds
#163037: Dec 17th 2016 at 10:14:59 AM

Prostitution decriminalization: Sex workers under the age of 18 are victims, not criminals – that mantra guided several criminal justice bills this year. Among those signed into law was Senate Bill 1322, which bars law enforcement from arresting minors for prostitution or loitering with intent.

Rape sentencing: Another bill reflecting headline-grabbing sexual assault cases, Senate Bill 813 brought accusers of disgraced entertainer Bill Cosby to hearings in Sacramento. It eliminates the statute of limitations for rape cases, allowing prosecutors to bring charges no matter how much time has passed since the crime. The bill will cover new offenses but can’t be applied retroactively. That means old rapes still must be prosecuted either within 10 years or, if the victim was a minor, by her 40th birthday, with some exemptions for child sex crimes or DNA evidence.

Mail ballots: Sweeping changes to how Californians vote are coming thanks to Senate Bill 450. Many of the bill’s provisions won’t kick in for a while, but one change that takes effect on Jan. 1 should make casting a ballot easier. Voters can now return mail ballots at any county elections office in the state, not just in the county that issued the ballot.

Felons voting :As Californians convicted of low-level felonies increasingly serve their sentences outside of prison, Assembly Bill 2466 declares that such offenders have a right to vote. How that’s implemented is up to the counties, who are typically responsible for people serving their sentences either in jails or under post-release supervision.

Welfare payments:After years of trying to erase a welfare rule they said punishes poor people, Democrats finally succeeded in repealing a policy known as the “maximum family grant” that bars women who get pregnant while on welfare from drawing additional benefits. As of Jan. 1, women in that situation can apply for benefits to cover the new child. They can also apply to cover children who are still minors and were previously excluded.

Cool new Californian laws.

http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article121358433.html

edited 17th Dec '16 10:17:15 AM by MadSkillz

Swanpride Since: Jun, 2013
#163038: Dec 17th 2016 at 10:21:49 AM

But the people who actually sleep with underage prostitutes are criminals, right? Just to be sure that I understand the law....

Mio Since: Jan, 2001
#163039: Dec 17th 2016 at 10:28:36 AM

[up]Presumably they would be prosecuted under rape and other sexual assault laws.

Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#163040: Dec 17th 2016 at 10:28:57 AM

Just going by the blurb, the law protects prostitutes from arrest. Trying to buy one is still a crime.

Swanpride Since: Jun, 2013
#163041: Dec 17th 2016 at 10:32:35 AM

And they would also have an easier time to go to the police....yeah, sounds good.

SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#163042: Dec 17th 2016 at 10:33:21 AM

I think they ought to fix up their age of consent law, though. The current one is a bad joke.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#163043: Dec 17th 2016 at 11:07:37 AM

Pardon me while I do my happy dance, because that decriminalization law is something I've been pushing for a long time. With luck, other states will see over time how positive this is and pass similar laws, and together we can make a safer environment for women and girls.

My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.
randomdude4 Since: May, 2011
#163044: Dec 17th 2016 at 11:28:29 AM

Ugh. While I get what they are trying to do with legalizing prostitution, I can't say I approve of it.

edited 17th Dec '16 11:41:40 AM by randomdude4

"Can't make an omelette without breaking some children." -Bur
SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#163045: Dec 17th 2016 at 11:40:17 AM

Got through that list:

  • "Redskins" rename: No personal feeling, but then my opinion on it is not really relevant. Approve.
  • Welfare payment: Good.
  • Minimum wage: See, if memory serves the Golden State has such a nuanced economy that making several minimum wages per region may make sense, rather than one across the board.
  • Assault weapons: Not sold on this. I still think it's more symbolism than anything.
  • Park name: Dunno what that means.
  • Contractors: I'd like to see a definition of " that could affect their work".
  • Gun loans: Reserving judgment; not sure if that is an effective measure to avoid "straw purchasing".
  • Prostitution decriminalization: Good. That kind of victim-faulting is unlikely to work, anyhow.
  • Prostitution sentencing: I'd like if they went a bit further with decriminalizing prostitution but that needs a lot of by-work to work. I am also a bit unclear on what "repeat prostitution offenders" is.
  • Sexual assault: While replacing California's age of consent law with a Germany-like one is not likely to be acceptable (but I don't know about practical consequences it would have, and suspect it won't), I'd go even further by picking their definition of "rape of a minor" - any sexual encounter where consent is not given by a free decision should be illegal.
  • Rape sentencing: Good. May be worth going further.
  • Distracted driving: Questionable whether it will work, but good.
  • Car seats: Dunno.
  • Public financing: I wonder what way that spending will be used. Pity that it's got a good chance of being struck down by courts.
  • Mail ballots: Seems like it's not as broad as the Swiss one, but good.
  • Voter registration: Good, although I don't know if one can go even further.
  • Epi-pens: Somehow that sounds more like ad hoc legislation - what specifically are the effects?
  • State travel: "Screw you!" legislation. Not sure about how useful it is but then I am so utterly over the bigots.
  • Asset forfeiture: See, if memory serves, that is a major abusive policing technique and has been discussed as such in the Law Enforcement thread. I'd go even further, but good.
  • Felons voting: What is a "low level felony"? I thought that felon voting is always a "yes-no" matter with a few states in New England allowing it.
  • Hot dogs: I distinctly remember seeing a shield about such animals in soldering cars here in Switzerland a few days ago. Good.
  • Date rape drugs: What I said above about "sexual assault". Good, although I wonder about the listing of drugs.
  • Ballot sharing: That is an odd bird. No opinion.
  • Boycott, divestment and sanctions: Seems like a good way to go about this.
  • Right-to-try: Seems fine. "Must be effective at killing" is not something that the FDA wants from a drug, anyhow.

Seems like it's mostly stuff that I approve. Although the "bad joke" point in my earlier post still stands.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
RedSavant Since: Jan, 2001
#163046: Dec 17th 2016 at 11:41:10 AM

California is the hero we need right now.

It's been fun.
TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#163047: Dec 17th 2016 at 12:16:58 PM

"Ugh. While I get what they are trying to do with legalizing prostitution, I can't say I approve of it."

Legal prostitution can be awesome if done right:

edited 17th Dec '16 12:17:10 PM by TheHandle

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
carbon-mantis Collector Of Fine Oddities from Trumpland Since: Mar, 2010 Relationship Status: Married to my murderer
Collector Of Fine Oddities
#163048: Dec 17th 2016 at 12:21:09 PM

One thing to note about the "right-to-try" provision (heavily pushed and promoted by libertarians as a way to circumvent FDA regulation with hazy wording as to what is considered life threatening) is that patients are held entirely responsible for the cost, which on experimentals can potentially approach millions. So the company gets a lab rat to test that pays them and is completely protected from lawsuit should it go horribly wrong.

randomdude4 Since: May, 2011
#163049: Dec 17th 2016 at 12:21:30 PM

I'm just opposed to prostitution from a moral sense. I don't believe in condemning prostitutes or shaming them for often times being forced into that sort of life, but I still thinks it's wrong.

Also linking a College Humor sketch does not help your point at all.

"Can't make an omelette without breaking some children." -Bur
TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#163050: Dec 17th 2016 at 12:29:58 PM

It's a clip from an Edutainment Show that quotes its sources and features respected experts. The comedic presentation does not detract from the factuality.

The moral reasons for opposing prostitution in principle are highly questionable, as is the assumption that prostitutes are forced into it by circumstance, any more than they would be coerced into taking another service job. How problematic prostitution is depends more on the culture and society surrounding it than on the service itself.

edited 17th Dec '16 12:30:58 PM by TheHandle

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.

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