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Nov 2023 Mod notice:


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In line with the general forum rules, 'gravedancing' is prohibited here. If you're celebrating someone's death or hoping that they die, your post will get thumped. This rule applies regardless of what the person you're discussing has said or done.

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

DeathorCake Since: Mar, 2016
#272601: Feb 22nd 2019 at 2:13:38 PM

[up][up][up]

Well, it deprives its own citizens of their funds so it can then spend more money into the economy without creating inflation, the US government doesn't tax anyone because it needs the money per se. Important distinction for many long complicated reasons, but in this case it would mean you could just pay "reparations", whatever we decide that to mean, and then not levy any more taxes.

As long as there's slack in the economy that's a Pareto improvement, but there really shouldn't be anyway. If you can use money creation to get a free lunch here it means you were starving yourself needlessly before, and you would need to argue the merits of allocating resources to reparations rather than any other program that might need them.

Edited by DeathorCake on Feb 22nd 2019 at 10:14:54 AM

Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#272602: Feb 22nd 2019 at 2:17:35 PM

I still like my joke idea of a special tax on all confederate related things (so flags, bumper stickers, reinactment uniforms, statues, attendance at schools names after confederate generals, tickets to stadiums named after confederate generals, property taxes in towns named after confederate generals, ect...).

Slavery can’t be undone, but there’s something dam poetic about making anyone who wants to celebrate the confederacy pay money towards trying to undo some of the damage that it did.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#272603: Feb 22nd 2019 at 2:19:21 PM

It was only last year that people were barred from selling Neo-Confederate and Nazi memorabilia at the Kentucky State Fair.

https://www.bizjournals.com/louisville/news/2018/11/15/fair-board-bans-sale-and-giveaway-of-racist-hate.html

God my state.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
Oruka Since: Dec, 2018
#272604: Feb 22nd 2019 at 2:23:37 PM

[up][up]That is clever and good: doubleplusgood.

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#272605: Feb 22nd 2019 at 2:25:40 PM

Were I possessed of a willingness to do a Heroic Sacrifice, I admit I'd love to go to Stone mountain and chip away the monument to the Confederacy there.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
Oruka Since: Dec, 2018
#272606: Feb 22nd 2019 at 3:19:40 PM

Chip away?

At Confederate monuments?

No.

Bring dynamite.

I'd like to see the DA who'd prosecute someone on destroying traitor-glorifying memorabilia.

Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#272607: Feb 22nd 2019 at 3:22:16 PM

Are you from the South?

There are many (white) DA's who would.

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
PhysicalStamina i'm tired, my friend (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Coming soon to theaters
i'm tired, my friend
#272608: Feb 22nd 2019 at 3:24:01 PM

I'd like to see one that wouldn't, especially from the south.

Edited by PhysicalStamina on Feb 22nd 2019 at 6:24:29 AM

i'm tired, my friend
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#272609: Feb 22nd 2019 at 3:25:59 PM

Oh yeah, I'd totally be prosecuted.

However, being a white man, I'll get the minimum unlike a black or female saboteur.

Edited by CharlesPhipps on Feb 22nd 2019 at 3:26:43 AM

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#272611: Feb 22nd 2019 at 3:30:26 PM

Maybe just hang "Participant" medals around the statues?tongue

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
Oruka Since: Dec, 2018
#272612: Feb 22nd 2019 at 3:47:57 PM

[lol][lol]

That's hilarious, but it still plays into the lost cause narrative. "We tried, ghough we were doomed from the start. What brave underdogs we were!"

There's simpler ways to undermine it.

Edited by Oruka on Feb 22nd 2019 at 3:49:42 AM

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#272613: Feb 22nd 2019 at 3:50:26 PM

I generally appreciate reminding people that Lee claimed he'd never raise his hand against Virginia but he did since 1/4th of the state didn't prove to be traitors.

So screw him. :)

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#272614: Feb 22nd 2019 at 4:11:57 PM

Even better, Stonewall Jackson was from what would be West Virginia.

And there was that Confederate admiral who left the US Navy at the starts of the war because he thought his home state of Maryland would secede. It didn't, so he asked for his job back. The navy naturally told him to take a hike since they didn't want any "fair weather patriots".

So he went and joined the Confederacy anyway.

State loyalty was surprisingly shallow.

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#272615: Feb 22nd 2019 at 4:14:54 PM

I have a copy of the Confederate Constitution downloaded on my computer so I can point to the parts saying it exists for the purposes of the preservation of slavery and white supremacy.

It helps avoid any states rights arguments.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#272616: Feb 22nd 2019 at 4:25:58 PM

The erasure of the Southern loyalists is another shitty result of Lost Cause propaganda. Lee and friends had a choice, and plenty of their peers took the other option.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#272617: Feb 22nd 2019 at 4:28:02 PM

Lincoln, of course, being a Kentucky boy.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#272618: Feb 22nd 2019 at 4:32:34 PM

Which is such a sad statement because Kentucky was ultimately a Union state.

Kentucky retroactively joined the Confederacy after they lost the war because of racist sentiment.

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#272619: Feb 22nd 2019 at 4:33:13 PM

And the guys who made up ~20% of the Union's manpower.

My favorite ones being the Alabama cavalry unit that escorted Sherman on his March.

Edited by Rationalinsanity on Feb 22nd 2019 at 8:35:50 AM

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#272620: Feb 22nd 2019 at 4:33:13 PM

It was a brother vs. brother state.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#272621: Feb 22nd 2019 at 6:23:14 PM

https://whatthefuckjusthappenedtoday.com/2019/02/22/day-764/

    Day 764: Infinitely better 
1/ Robert Mueller's sentencing memorandum is due to today before midnight in the prosecution of Paul Manafort. In filings like these, prosecutors typically outline all of the defendant's crimes, convictions, and their cooperation, which could also shed more light on how Manafort fits into Mueller's larger Russian investigation. [Editor's note: I've basically been waiting all day for this to drop. I'll update the blog when this is filed to reflect the latest.] (CNN / Associated Press)

https://www.apnews.com/284652f3b06d478bb16b90d1f957e29c

2/ Mueller is not expected deliver a final report to the attorney general next week after all. It was previously reported that William Barr was preparing to announce the completion of the investigation into any links between Trump and Russia as soon as next week. Separately, the chairs of six House committees wrote Barr a letter suggesting that withholding evidence uncovered by Mueller could be the means for a "cover-up." 34 individuals and three companies so far have pleaded guilty, been indicted or been swept up in the inquiry. (CNBC / CNN / Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-russia-report-official-idUSKCN1QB2GR

Sarah Sanders is confident that Mueller's report will not show collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign, claiming that Trump had no reason to collude because he was an "infinitely better" candidate. (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/sarah-sanders-says-white-house-confident-about-mueller-report-that-trump-had-no-reason-to-collude-with-russia/2019/02/22/9dc5e6a4-36a9-11e9-af5b-b51b7ff322e9_story.html

Michael Cohen provided federal prosecutors in Manhattan with information about possible irregularities within the Trump Organization, as well as about donations to the Trump inaugural committee. Prosecutors questioned Cohen about Imaad Zuberi, a California venture capitalist and political fund-raiser, who contributed $900,000 to Trump's committee. (New York Times)

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/22/us/politics/michael-cohen-prosecutors-trump-organization.html

3/ New York state prosecutors are prepared to charge Paul Manafort if Trump issues a presidential pardon for his federal crimes. Manafort could be charged with state offenses without triggering double jeopardy protections, including evasion of New York taxes and violations of state laws requiring companies to keep accurate books and records. Manafort was convicted of eight felonies and pleaded guilty to two more. He is scheduled to be sentenced next month for those federal crimes. Robert Mueller recommended that Manafort serve up to 24 years – essentially a life sentence for the 69-year-old. (Bloomberg / New York Times)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-02-22/new-york-is-said-to-prep-manafort-charges-if-trump-pardons-him

4/ The Trump administration issued a new rule blocking taxpayer-funded family planning clinics from referring women for abortions. The rule prohibits organizations like Planned Parenthood that provide abortions or abortion referrals from participating in the $286 million federal family planning program. Some of that funding will redirected toward religiously-based, anti-abortion groups. (Politico / NBC News / New York Times / Washington Post)

https://www.politico.com/story/2019/02/22/planned-parenthood-funding-trump-1164038

    Notables 
The U.S. will leave 200 troops in Syria even after the so-called pullout announced by Trump in December. Trump has reportedly backed away from a complete U.S withdrawal from Syria, and will instead leave the "small peacekeeping force" in place for a period of time after the majority of forces have left the country. The decision to leave 200 troops in place came after Trump spoke with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, who convinced Trump to "continue coordinating on the creation of a potential safe zone" in Syria. (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-usa-idUSKCN1QA2Z6

The Department of Agriculture has paid $7.7 billion to help farmers impacted by Trump's trade war with China. In total, Trump has pledged a $12 billion relief package to offset the losses from retaliatory tariffs imposed by Beijing in response to Trump's tariffs on Chinese goods. (NBC News)

https://www.nbcnews.com/business/economy/usda-has-paid-out-7-7-billion-help-farmers-hit-n974516

Trump is the only 2020 presidential candidate who won't promise not to knowingly use hacked materials that are published during the election cycle. Every other 2020 candidate who has either announced or is in the exploratory phase has pledged not to knowingly use or reference stolen or hacked material that appears online on the grounds that it may have been obtained illegally. (Daily Beast)

https://www.thedailybeast.com/every-2020-candidate-but-trump-promises-no-stolen-data

The New Jersey state Senate passed a bill that would keep presidential candidates off the state's 2020 ballot unless they release their tax returns. Candidates for president and vice president would be required to publicly release five of their most recent tax returns at least 50 days before the general election in 2020. (The Hill)

https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/431062-new-jersey-senate-passes-bill-that-would-keep-trump-off-2020-ballot

North Carolina's election boards ordered a new election for the state's 9th Congressional District after officials said corruption surrounding absentee ballots tainted the results of the 2018 midterm election. The bipartisan board voted 5-0 to hold a new election after Republican candidate Mark Harris was confronted by days of evidence that one of his campaign's operatives orchestrated a ballot fraud scheme, leading Harris to call for a new vote. The race is the last unsettled 2018 congressional contest in the country. (Reuters)

https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-election-north-carolina-idUSKCN1QA1W3

RainingMetal (Handed A Sword) Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#272622: Feb 22nd 2019 at 6:24:33 PM

All you need to do is blame the Daughters of the Confederacy (not metaphorical, they were a real organization who brought up those Confederate monuments). So the Confederacy was a bit more inclusive than we had assumed.

Edited by RainingMetal on Feb 22nd 2019 at 6:24:46 AM

ASAB: All Sponsors Are Bad.
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#272623: Feb 22nd 2019 at 7:01:53 PM

I support the Trade War with China, ironically. It is nothing to do with the economy and everything to do with weakening a despotic brutal regime.

All you need to do is blame the Daughters of the Confederacy (not metaphorical, they were a real organization who brought up those Confederate monuments). So the Confederacy was a bit more inclusive than we had assumed.

White female racism being organized, dedicated, and brutal is a surprise only to white men according to my old African American Studies professor.

Edited by CharlesPhipps on Feb 22nd 2019 at 7:03:04 AM

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
wisewillow She/her Since: May, 2011
She/her
#272624: Feb 22nd 2019 at 7:10:13 PM

As a white woman myself, hooo boy. Yeah. Even my crappy vague history classes that skimped on racism acknowledged the plantation mistresses and Martha Washington owning slaves. Emmett Till died because of a lying white woman, and she never saw a day in jail.

Edited by wisewillow on Feb 22nd 2019 at 10:12:34 AM

MarqFJA The Cosmopolitan Fictioneer from Deserts of the Middle East (Before Recorded History) Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
The Cosmopolitan Fictioneer
#272625: Feb 22nd 2019 at 7:14:03 PM

Sarah Sanders is confident that Mueller's report will not show collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign, claiming that Trump had no reason to collude because he was an "infinitely better" candidate.
Someone please screenshot/record her original statement so that it can be thrown in her face and maybe even used as evidence of her lying if/when she's proven sorely wrong on Trump having never colluded with Russia.

New York state prosecutors are prepared to charge Paul Manafort if Trump issues a presidential pardon for his federal crimes. Manafort could be charged with state offenses without triggering double jeopardy protections
Man, I hope someone could record Trump's inevitable temper tantrum if he does try to pardon the bastard only to have the NY prosecutors pull this off successfully. I wanna hear him melt down in outrage, dammit!

The U.S. will leave 200 troops in Syria even after the so-called pullout announced by Trump in December.
... So down to 10% of the current official number? That's still really bad, right?

Trump is the only 2020 presidential candidate who won't promise not to knowingly use hacked materials that are published during the election cycle. Every other 2020 candidate who has either announced or is in the exploratory phase has pledged not to knowingly use or reference stolen or hacked material that appears online on the grounds that it may have been obtained illegally.
Gee, I wonder why? /sarcasm

The New Jersey state Senate passed a bill that would keep presidential candidates off the state's 2020 ballot unless they release their tax returns. Candidates for president and vice president would be required to publicly release five of their most recent tax returns at least 50 days before the general election in 2020.
Awesome! Would this affect Trump's 2020 re-election bid?

Fiat iustitia, et pereat mundus.

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