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

archonspeaks Since: Jun, 2013
#251351: Aug 7th 2018 at 12:28:22 PM

I’m just going to point out that the “we invaded countries for resources/oil” meme is pretty much nonsense, particularly when talking about the Middle East.

They should have sent a poet.
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#251352: Aug 7th 2018 at 12:32:59 PM

Yeah, we don't need to invade countries "for the resources". That's absolute nonsense. During the Cold War, we used our military and intelligence assets to fight for geopolitical dominance against the Soviet Union. In the post-Cold War period, it was to defeat or unseat the dictators that we installed during the Cold War (Desert Storm), for peacekeeping missions (Bosnia), or for war profiteering (Iraq). We can buy the damn resources.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#251353: Aug 7th 2018 at 12:33:24 PM

[up][up],[up]Well said.

There's a lot to criticize the Iraq War over and the focus on oil has always missed the point.

Edited by Fourthspartan56 on Aug 7th 2018 at 3:33:12 PM

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#251354: Aug 7th 2018 at 12:35:41 PM

Really just betrays that whoever the criticism is coming from didn't study the conflict at all to be honest.

Oh really when?
Swanpride Since: Jun, 2013
#251355: Aug 7th 2018 at 12:45:29 PM

Did I say that the US send the CIA to replace the democratically elected government with a dictator for oil? No, I didn't, I just pointed out that the Iran itself owns oil, which is an important resource to have if you want to make the live of other nations difficult.

I frankly don't really understand why the US thought intervening against the Iranian interests was a good idea other than a "how dare those savages to throw out our British friends" mind-set.

Mario1995 The Dishonorable from Atlanta Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
The Dishonorable
#251356: Aug 7th 2018 at 12:47:39 PM

Forgive me for being late but isn't it rather alarming that the most consequential decisions made by President Trump are the ones where he doesn't need congressional approval?

It seems to me he's starting to realize that he doesn't need Congress to get his agenda off the ground, and thus becoming more and more authoritarian. Immigration is a case in point. Democrats thought that the stalemate in Congress would mean Trump's immigration agenda would be stalled and no drastic changes to immigration policies would be made despite Trump's blathering. Well, this morning's news proves they were dead wrong about that, and it turns out Trump's immigration restriction powers are practically unlimited, and he's now doing what his base elected him to do, without Congress or anyone else able to stop him.

That should give pause to Democrats who think that electing a Democratic House or Senate will deter Trump from carrying out further unilateral actions (they won't, especially if all Republicans do nothing or egg him on or if SCOTUS continues to defer to the executive with topics like this).

Edited by Mario1995 on Aug 7th 2018 at 3:47:48 PM

"The devil's got all the good gear. What's God got? The Inspiral Carpets and nuns. Fuck that." - Liam Gallagher
DrunkenNordmann from Exile Since: May, 2015
#251357: Aug 7th 2018 at 12:48:12 PM

I frankly don't really understand why the US thought intervening against the Iranian interests was a good idea other than a "how dare those savages to throw out our British friends" mind-set.
Because Mossadegh was a socialist and the US government was completely unable to distinguish between different types of socialists and communists.

Edited by DrunkenNordmann on Aug 7th 2018 at 9:50:12 PM

We learn from history that we do not learn from history
Mario1995 The Dishonorable from Atlanta Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
The Dishonorable
#251358: Aug 7th 2018 at 12:51:05 PM

The shadow of the Cold War has never left us.

"The devil's got all the good gear. What's God got? The Inspiral Carpets and nuns. Fuck that." - Liam Gallagher
wisewillow She/her Since: May, 2011
She/her
#251359: Aug 7th 2018 at 12:55:23 PM

Re: the federal courts on the previous page:

That's because the Republicans kept cheating and the Democrats kept botching up their own nominations.

Could you please clarify?

BlueNinja0 The Mod with the Migraine from Taking a left at Albuquerque Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
The Mod with the Migraine
#251360: Aug 7th 2018 at 12:57:29 PM

Rubio has introduced a bill which would allow parents to spend their social security to have parental leave.
I've seen explanations about just how awful this idea is; it's an extension of the Republican dream to destroy Social Security entirely.
I’m not sure if Rubio’s bill should taken as a woefully misguided/stupid attempt to actually help people, or as a genuinely insidious attempt to make Social Security more insolvent and easier to get rid of.
Be sure, it's the second one.
The question of whether a sitting President can be subject to a direct criminal indictment has never been answered by the courts, and the Supreme Court would have to rule in such a case. That said, Capsase is correct that a Republican-leaning SCOTUS might well rule in his favor regardless of the merits.
If it comes down to a SCOTUS vote, I firmly believe that they will vote for party over country.

That’s the epitome of privilege right there, not considering armed nazis a threat to your life. - Silasw
wisewillow She/her Since: May, 2011
She/her
#251361: Aug 7th 2018 at 12:59:38 PM

See: Bush v. Gore, which is an abomination.

speedyboris Since: Feb, 2010
#251362: Aug 7th 2018 at 1:37:57 PM

Forgive me for being late but isn't it rather alarming that the most consequential decisions made by President Trump are the ones where he doesn't need congressional approval?
...Yes? I've been concerned about that pretty much since the start of his presidency, when he made a bunch of executive orders in short order. He probably sees Congress as a giant nuisance standing in the way and looks for any way to bypass them.

Edited by speedyboris on Aug 7th 2018 at 3:40:17 AM

Grafite Since: Apr, 2016 Relationship Status: Less than three
#251363: Aug 7th 2018 at 1:39:04 PM

Iran is nowadays made the enemy when it's really not, and Saudi Arabia, an ally, would fit that definition much better. They were complying partially, if not fully, with the nuclear deal to build a better future until it got pulled from their feet by a thin-skinned man.

Life is unfair...
ironballs16 Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Owner of a lonely heart
#251364: Aug 7th 2018 at 1:40:45 PM

Reading the article about restricting legal immigration got me so pissed off I actually had to punch my own hand to keep from shouting at work.

I would love, love, abso-fucking-lutely love for someone to ask President Trump (or Huckasanders) whether he'd allow in a 16-year-old with no occupation who wants to come to the US to live with his sister. When the invariable answer is "no", the follow-up question becomes "Did you really hate Grampa Frederick that much?"

Ugh, nix that - I just now realized the zinger question would be moot because Frederick was a casualty of the 1918 Flu pandemic, which was well before Donald was born.

Edited by ironballs16 on Aug 7th 2018 at 1:41:35 AM

"Why would I inflict myself on somebody else?"
speedyboris Since: Feb, 2010
#251365: Aug 7th 2018 at 1:43:33 PM

In other words, Trump and co. only want wealthy immigrants. Which begs the question: Why would someone move here from another country if they're already doing well elsewhere?

DrunkenNordmann from Exile Since: May, 2015
#251366: Aug 7th 2018 at 1:47:56 PM

Why would someone move here from another country if they're already doing well elsewhere?
Tax cuts?

We learn from history that we do not learn from history
Grafite Since: Apr, 2016 Relationship Status: Less than three
#251367: Aug 7th 2018 at 2:00:26 PM

[up][up][up] Denying the people who most need to immigrate to get a better life or be stuck in misery and poverty the chance to do so? It really is the republican dream coming true, making the "worthy" rich the only people living in the States.

Life is unfair...
CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#251368: Aug 7th 2018 at 2:04:36 PM

[up][up] Because the US is globally competitive in high-tech industries and has one of the strongest environments for entrepreneurship in those fields? From a purely pragmatic (and US centric) standpoint, there’s no reason for the US to take in any immigrants who aren’t highly skilled and/or moderately wealthy since unlike most of Europe and Asia, the United States has no immediate issues with fertility rates.

For my part, I regard the well being of the United States as secondary to the overall well being of the human species, and the long term goal of global integration, but the people here (and elsewhere) trying to reconcile varying degrees of nationalism permissive the immigration policies of the Democratic Party really need to take a deep look at how some of their deeply held values contradict each other.

Edited by CaptainCapsase on Aug 7th 2018 at 5:08:42 AM

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#251369: Aug 7th 2018 at 2:09:13 PM

Well there's the reason a huge amount of America's industries depend on unskilled labor that work shit jobs, take American currency back home (or send it), and spend it there for much more than its dollar value.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
Larkmarn Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Hello, I love you
#251370: Aug 7th 2018 at 2:55:37 PM

Realistically, it is the legal immigrants that US should cut back on. Illegal immigrants are literally nothing but a boon to the country, but legal immigrants are the one's that could actually "steal our jobs."

Not saying I agree, I'm just saying unlike the "illegals bad" rhetoric, it actually has some logic to it other than just plain racism.

Found a Youtube Channel with political stances you want to share? Hop on over to this page and add them.
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#251371: Aug 7th 2018 at 3:51:06 PM

Forgive me for being late but isn't it rather alarming that the most consequential decisions made by President Trump are the ones where he doesn't need congressional approval?

The opposite, non-Congressional actions can be reversed as easily as they're implemented (with the exception of judicial appointment). Thus the more Trump relies on executive orders or actions the easier it will be for a Democratic President to clean up his mess.

Realistically, it is the legal immigrants that US should cut back on. Illegal immigrants are literally nothing but a boon to the country, but legal immigrants are the one's that could actually "steal our jobs."

Not saying I agree, I'm just saying unlike the "illegals bad" rhetoric, it actually has some logic to it other than just plain racism.

Except no you’ve got it backwards, people who oppose illegal immigration generally use the argument that they violated our laws and that we have the right to maintain our border. Which in isolation has some logic behind it.

That argument completely falls apart when we’re talking about the people who have jumped through the hoops of legal immigration, that is clearly and unambiguously racist.

Edited by Fourthspartan56 on Aug 7th 2018 at 6:53:09 AM

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#251372: Aug 7th 2018 at 4:08:42 PM

Fun but Depressing Fact:

Why is Social Security still working? You know, despite the fact everyone said it would collapse by now?

Because illegal immigrants were paying into it.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
DingoWalley1 Asgore Adopts Noelle Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
Asgore Adopts Noelle
#251373: Aug 7th 2018 at 4:10:48 PM

[up] Also, because a Welfare Program like Social Security and Medicare doesn't actually die when it runs out of money, or doesn't make enough money to fund itself.

Larkmarn Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Hello, I love you
#251374: Aug 7th 2018 at 4:13:11 PM

[up][up][up] No, I've got it frontwards. No one opposes illegal immigrants for moral purposes. That's just a dogwhistle for xenophobia.

Found a Youtube Channel with political stances you want to share? Hop on over to this page and add them.
LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#251375: Aug 7th 2018 at 4:17:51 PM

That becomes very obvious when you remember that the places most opposed to immigrants, are the ones with the fewest immigrants.


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