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CrimsonZephyr Would that it were so simple. from Massachusetts Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
Would that it were so simple.
#246976: Jun 25th 2018 at 10:57:11 AM

The federal government is ruled by reactionaries, and their trade policies are poised to ruin the nation. I want to be able to do business with Canada and Europe, as a New Englander, without some ignoramus in Michigan or Ohio standing in the way. I want to be able to set social policy for the poor, the people of color, LGBT, women, and young people without some Bible thumper or aging Boomer interfering. Honestly, what I really want is the liberation of our cities from the agrarian hellscape that Jefferson built.

"For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#246977: Jun 25th 2018 at 11:00:04 AM

[up]I am aware of who is currently in control thanks, and I'm not saying "lets immediately give all power to the Federal government" in-fact I have not given a timeframe of when we'll become a defacto unitary government, for the simple fact that it will be a gradual process.

That is fully compatible with fighting against the reactionary power in politics and it is ridiculous that you seem to think the state's rights movement's solution is a good answer to that.

edited 25th Jun '18 11:00:27 AM by Fourthspartan56

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
CrimsonZephyr Would that it were so simple. from Massachusetts Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
Would that it were so simple.
#246978: Jun 25th 2018 at 11:03:31 AM

I want a dismantlement of the states as they're currently drawn, actually, so that cities can collaborate with each other more freely and free each other from the agrarian yoke.

edited 25th Jun '18 11:05:16 AM by CrimsonZephyr

"For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."
MorningStar1337 The Encounter that ended the Dogma from 🤔 Since: Nov, 2012
The Encounter that ended the Dogma
#246979: Jun 25th 2018 at 11:03:33 AM

Honestly the more I think about it, the more I'm starting to question if the state's rights is more comparable with Citizens United then I'd though.

edited 25th Jun '18 11:04:27 AM by MorningStar1337

Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#246980: Jun 25th 2018 at 11:05:45 AM

[up]In that it gives bad-intentioned actors the ability to fuck over the common good? Absolutely.

Though to be fair state's rights can help good-intentioned actors which I don't believe the same can be said for Citizen's United. I still consider it a net-negative.

[up][up]Wouldn't electoral reform do the same thing but more effectively? I mean maybe we could re-order the states into stiched-together abominations to give cities more representation but if we have the power to do that then we could just do some heavy-duty electoral reform.

edited 25th Jun '18 11:07:20 AM by Fourthspartan56

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#246981: Jun 25th 2018 at 11:06:45 AM

https://whatthefuckjusthappenedtoday.com/2018/06/25/day-522/

Day 522: Inhumane and unethical.

1/ Trump: "We must immediately" send immigrants who illegally enter the U.S. "back from where they came" with "no Judges or Court Cases." Trump likened immigrants and asylum seekers to intruders trying to "break into" the country, saying "we cannot allow all of these people to invade our Country. When somebody comes in, we must immediately, with no Judges or Court Cases, bring them back from where they came.” (Reuters / Washington Post / New York Times)

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-immigration-trump/trump-calls-for-deporting-illegal-immigrants-with-no-judges-or-court-cases-idUSKBN1JK0OL?feedType=RSS&feedName=politicsNewsFBChatbot

The Department of Homeland Security said its reunited 522 children with parents. 2,053 separated children remain in the care of the Department of Health and Human Services. The government "knows the location of all children in its custody and is working to reunite them with their families," according to a DHS fact sheet. (Reuters / New York Times)

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-immigration/u-s-government-reunites-522-children-removed-under-zero-tolerance-idUSKBN1JK01L

Jeff Sessions warned activists against "obstructing" ICE or Border Patrol, saying "free speech, assembly, and protest are and will be protected," but other crimes will not be tolerated." Activists online have threatened to dox ICE employees and publicly shame those who work for the agency. (Politico)

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/06/24/sessions-border-patrol-safety-667185

2/ Trump has sidelined James Mattis, no longer listening or including his defense secretary on several major foreign policy issues. Trump is relying on his own instincts or those of National Security Adviser John Bolton or Secretary of State Mike Pompeo over Mattis' advice. "They don't really see eye to eye," said a former senior White House official. (NBC News)

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/mattis-out-loop-trump-doesn-t-listen-him-say-officials-n885796

3/ Trump ally and Blackwater founder Erik Prince provided Robert Mueller with "total access to his phone and computer." Mueller's team has been scrutinizing allegations that Prince tried to establish a backchannel between the Trump administration and the Kremlin during a January 2017 meeting in the Seychelles. Last week, Prince said he had "spoken voluntarily to Congress" and has "cooperated with the special counsel." In April 2017, it was reported that the United Arab Emirates arranged a meeting the January between Prince and a Russian close to Putin as part of an effort to establish a backchannel between Moscow and President-elect Trump. The meeting took place around January 11th — nine days before Trump's inauguration — in the Seychelles islands and spanned two days. (ABC News)

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/special-counsel-obtains-trump-ally-erik-princes-phones/story?id=56143477

4/ Sarah Huckabee Sanders was kicked out of a Virginia restaurant because she publicly defends the Trump administration's "inhumane and unethical" policies and that the Red Hen believes in upholding "honesty, and compassion, and cooperation." The owner's actions "say far more about her than about me," Sanders tweeted. Trump criticized the restaurant on Twitter, saying "the Red Hen Restaurant should focus more on cleaning its filthy canopies, doors and windows (badly needs a paint job) rather than refusing to serve a fine person." He then offered his personal advice to those dining out: "I always had a rule, if a restaurant is dirty on the outside, it is dirty on the inside!" (The Guardian / New York Times / Washington Post)

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jun/23/trump-press-secretary-sarah-sanders-ejected-virginia-restaurant-red-hen-lexington

5/ Trump plans to block Chinese companies from investing in U.S. technology firms and on the technologies that can be sold to China. The Dow dropped 405 points in response to the aggressive restrictions favored by U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and White House trade adviser Peter Navarro over the more conservative approach favored by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. On Sunday, Trump warned America's trade partners to remove trade barriers and tariffs or face the consequences. (Wall Street Journal / Politico / CNBC / Market Watch)

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/06/24/trump-china-export-controls-647091

Harley-Davidson will shift some production of motorcycles for European customers out of the U.S. to avoid E.U. retaliatory tariffs, saying it stood to lose as much as $100 million a year. (CNN Money) poll/ 51% of Americans approve of Trump's handling of the economy. 54% believe the economy is in good or excellent condition. (CNBC)

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/25/majority-of-americans-approve-of-trumps-handling-of-the-economy.html

The bond market's yield curve is warning of a possible recession. Wall Street is watching the gap between two-year and 10-year interest rates shrink. When long-term interest rates will fall below short-term rates, the yield curve has "inverted" and it's "a powerful signal of recessions." Curve inversions have “correctly signaled all nine recessions since 1955. (New York Times)

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/25/business/what-is-yield-curve-recession-prediction.html

Notables.

Scott Pruitt considered hiring a friend of the lobbyist couple that owned the condominium he was renting in D.C. for $50 a night, according to previously undisclosed emails. The records also show communications about the lobbyist's client's interests, suggesting a closer relationship between Pruitt and the agency than previously acknowledged. (New York Times)

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/24/climate/pruitt-epa-lobbyist-landlord-emails.html

Pruitt is facing another probe from the Office of Special Counsel into claims that he retaliated against a handful of EPA employees who pushed back against his spending and management. At least six current and former agency officials were fired or reassigned for questioning Pruitt's need for 24-hour security protection, as well as questioning Pruitt's spending practices. The OSC probe is the latest in the list of roughly two dozen other inquiries into Pruitt's actions as head of the EPA. (Politico)

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/06/24/pruitt-epa-employee-retaliation-647703

The FBI turned over classified documents to House Republicans related to the Russia investigation, including the details about the FBI's justification to obtain a court-authorized warrant to spy on a former Trump campaign aide in October 2016. Lawmakers had threatened to hold Justice Department officials in contempt of Congress or impeach them if they didn't comply with the document request. (Politico / Associated Press)

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/06/23/fbi-russia-probe-documents-nunes-gowdy-goodlatte-667181

Robert Mueller wants George Papadopoulos to be sentenced in September on the false-statement felony charge he pleaded guilty to last fall. Papadopoulos could be the second defendant sentenced in the investigation into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. (Politico)

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/06/22/mueller-george-papadopoulos-sentencing-667169

archonspeaks Since: Jun, 2013
#246982: Jun 25th 2018 at 11:07:51 AM

[up]x4 American Feudalism doesn't sound like a very good idea.

They should have sent a poet.
MorningStar1337 The Encounter that ended the Dogma from 🤔 Since: Nov, 2012
The Encounter that ended the Dogma
#246983: Jun 25th 2018 at 11:15:55 AM

[up] x4 That and and the fact that it gives agency to an abstract concept without a will of its own (that isn't the will of her people), which makes it easier for those bad actors to swoop in.

Also, I think the UK could be seen as similar to a US State (in that the EU gave it special treatment, including retention of their national currency.), and the consequences made themselves known quickly.

[up] How about less states then? Transforming the 50 separate administrations into bigger but more manageable regions for the federal goverment to manage. Might not look as good on the flag, but it might be worth it if it means putting a tighter leach on states that think they're above the law.

edited 25th Jun '18 11:18:31 AM by MorningStar1337

Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#246984: Jun 25th 2018 at 11:18:24 AM

How about less states then? Transforming the 50 separate administrations into bigger but more manageable regions for the federal goverment to manage. Might not look as good on the flag, but it might be worth it if it means putting a tighter leach on states that think they're above the law.
This is not going to happen, there's a reason that I said that I wanted defacto unitary government.

Anything more simply is not realistic and is a waste of resources to pursue.

edited 25th Jun '18 11:18:31 AM by Fourthspartan56

"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
#246985: Jun 25th 2018 at 11:35:29 AM

I'd like to see Puerto Rico, Washington D.C. Guam, and other territories made into states.

The territory system is a relic and holdover of a previous time.

edited 25th Jun '18 11:35:43 AM by CharlesPhipps

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#246986: Jun 25th 2018 at 11:51:38 AM

I'd like to see Puerto Rico, Washington D.C. Guam, and other territories made into states.

The territory system is a relic and holdover of a previous time.

I don't have an objection to the territory system but I agree that those territories are rather long overdue for some proper representation.

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#246987: Jun 25th 2018 at 12:13:11 PM

Umm...

The Red Hen Restaurant should focus more on cleaning its filthy canopies, doors and windows (badly needs a paint job) rather than refusing to serve a fine person like Sarah Huckabee Sanders. I always had a rule, if a restaurant is dirty on the outside, it is dirty on the inside!

Such a difference in the media coverage of the same immigration policies between the Obama Administration and ours. Actually, we have done a far better job in that our facilities are cleaner and better run than were the facilities under Obama. Fake News is working overtime!

Hiring manythousands of judges, and going through a long and complicated legal process, is not the way to go - will always be disfunctional. People must simply be stopped at the Border and told they cannot come into the U.S. illegally. Children brought back to their country..........If this is done, illegal immigration will be stopped in it’s tracks - and at very little, by comparison, cost. This is the only real answer - and we must continue to BUILD THE WALL!

Will be heading to one of my favorite places, South Carolina, to fight for one of my original “fighters,” Governor Henry Mc Master. Speaking at 7:00 P.M.

Such a difference in the media coverage of the same immigration policies between the Obama Administration and ours. Actually, we have done a far better job in that our facilities are cleaner and better run than were the facilities under Obama. Fake News is working overtime!

I have tried to stay uninvolved with the Department of Justice and FBI (although I do not legally have to), because of the now totally discredited and very expensive Witch Hunt currently going on. But you do have to ask why the DOJ & FBI aren’t giving over requested documents?

Congresswoman Maxine Waters, an extraordinarily low IQ person, has become, together with Nancy Pelosi, the Face of the Democrat Party. She has just called for harm to supporters, of which there are many, of the Make America Great Again movement. Be careful what you wish for Max!

edited 25th Jun '18 12:18:31 PM by megaeliz

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#246988: Jun 25th 2018 at 12:16:47 PM

Bigots gonna bigot.

After all the harm is, "protest the awful people."

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#246989: Jun 25th 2018 at 12:20:32 PM

Funny thing is that Pelosi actually denounced Waters remarks.

LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#246990: Jun 25th 2018 at 12:23:01 PM

That usually happens. Dems denounce whatever stupid things someone says, Republican act like because someone said it implies to all Dems. A Republican says something stupid and offensive, most other Republicans beat around the bush if they even acknowledge it, and apparently that's better.

Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#246991: Jun 25th 2018 at 12:24:38 PM

[up][up]I must've missed it but what did Waters say?

"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
#246992: Jun 25th 2018 at 12:28:35 PM

"Let's make sure we show up wherever we have to show up. And if you see anybody from that Cabinet in a restaurant, in a department store, at a gasoline station, you get out and you create a crowd. And you push back on them. And you tell them they're not welcome anymore, anywhere. We've got to get the children connected to their parents."

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#246993: Jun 25th 2018 at 12:31:46 PM

Yeah I can see why Pelosi denounced that, calls for harassment aren't really something public officials should get behind.

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
danime91 Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
#246994: Jun 25th 2018 at 12:32:09 PM

I find myself somewhat in agreement to this article's take on the issue.

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/6/25/17499036/sarah-sanders-red-hen-restaurant-civility

Basically, it is a legitimate and possibly effective form of protest, and in our current political climate, it is more important than ever to speak out against uncivil behavior from members of the administration.

I'm more ambivalent about Waters' statement, though. There's a difference between simply denying service to someone and seeking them out and harassing them everywhere.

edited 25th Jun '18 12:36:00 PM by danime91

Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#246995: Jun 25th 2018 at 12:39:49 PM

[up]I agree, personally I think the line should be drawn between seeking them out and just spontaneous demonstrations of opinion. The former is far too close to harassment for my tastes and the logic of "they offend me" isn't very strong in that it can be easily used against vulnerable or otherwise moral people.

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#246996: Jun 25th 2018 at 12:51:37 PM

We're well beyond the point where civil discourse is going to remedy this problem. Getting in their faces and publicly shaming them is the only way they'll start to feel real consequences for their actions. Violence is still counterproductive, though.

edited 25th Jun '18 12:55:02 PM by Fighteer

"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!
#246997: Jun 25th 2018 at 12:59:08 PM

[up]I know, I'm not arguing against that. I just think that specifically seeking them out is questionable and even if it's not public officials should not be doing anything other then denouncing it.

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
CrimsonZephyr Would that it were so simple. from Massachusetts Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
Would that it were so simple.
#246998: Jun 25th 2018 at 1:26:56 PM

The Trumpists are in dire need of reeducation in the ways of polite society. I really don't see any problem with the backlash against their ideology becoming all-encompassing in their lives. They've gotten used to being able to punch out from their vile jobs and live essentially normal lives.

"For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#246999: Jun 25th 2018 at 1:29:02 PM

The general reaction pleases me whenever they get treated like their attitudes are awful.

So many seemed shocked as if they didn't expect any repercussions for their actions.

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
#247000: Jun 25th 2018 at 1:29:56 PM

[up][up]This is the same reason why I feel zero remorse, or even grim satisfaction, when these people lose their jobs for acting like bigots, or due to Republican policy moves.

Pity about decent people getting caught up in the collateral (I'm sure not every worker at Harley-Davidson is a reactionary enabler) but Culture and Trade War is Hell.

edited 25th Jun '18 1:30:06 PM by Rationalinsanity

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.

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