News Us politics - read first post before comment

[scout86]

But that is a criminal act done by a criminal. What does this have to do with the country at whole?

It might just be a one off & have nothing to do with anything else. But, if the mood of the country drifts to where it seems like that kind thing is ok, I think you'll see more of it. You get a lot more lynchings in a place where it's thought of as 'ok' than you do where it's not. You get a lot more of any kind of behavior where it's perceived as ok. When the president of the country doesn't respect people with opposing views, then he hangs out with those who encourage things like white supremacists, then the type of person who carves swastikas on sidewalks is likely to feel encouraged.

One of my concerns these days is that a lot of what's actually going on in congress seems like it's geared to benefit the very rich. I've never seen any evidence that 'trickle down economics' actually works. At least not for MOST people. It works rather well for those at the top, but not much seems to actually 'trickle down'.

 

[Rumors]

@scout86
Here is proof that trickle down works. The GDP for the past 8 years has been below 2% hanging stagnant at 1.2-1.5%. We aren't making anything, we aren't buying anything, and we certainly are spending less as people but our government is spending more. Keynesian economics at its finest.
Under trickle down, when I make more money, I spend more. I leave bigger tips, I take vacations, I buy new cars, boats, planes, and eat out more. I also invest more into my business. I pay my help better bonuses. It trickles down. AND, I am not the only one who does this bc GDP proves it.
Much like gun laws, the tax laws in this nation are extremely complicated.

 

[Deleted member 41765]

When the president of the country doesn't respect people with opposing views, then he hangs out with those who encourage things like white supremacists, then the type of person who carves swastikas on sidewalks is likely to feel encouraged.

This. Exactly

But, overall, I don't watch a lot of national or even local news. Just what I catch here and there from my dad watching Fox News here (I personally prefer CNN. Its just what he watches. He and I differ greatly in in polical views) so I haven't really had a chance to form an opinion.

And this is problematic when attempting to argue about the political climate and the dramatic uptick of hate crime. This past Sunday, in Fairfax Virginia a muslim teen was murdered walking home from Ramadan prayers. Hate crime.

/www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/intelligence-report/2017/trump-effect

According to The Southern Poverty Law Center, in the first 10 (!) days after the election 867 hate incidents/crimes were reported.

 

[Justmehere]

@anthony I was referencing terrorism/demonstrations within my country, we have very few home grown terrorist attacks within our country, compared to some other countries.

Few, but not non-existent. When a population generally feels they can be heard and counted through non violent means, people will go that route. But add enough oppression and inability to be heard through voting or free speech and etc, people tend to turn to violence more often to be heard. I think this is one of the dangers with all the "fake news" election hacking mess.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

And this is problematic when attempting to argue about the political climate and the dramatic uptick of hate crime

I am not trying to argue about political climate. I am trying to discuss it. Big difference! I, unlike many, take in all opposing views and weigh them to then develop my own opinions about something. I take in all sides equally.

When a population generally feels they can be heard and counted through non violent means, people will go that route. But add enough oppression and inability to be heard through voting or free speech and etc, people tend to turn to violence more often to be heard. I think this is one of the dangers with all the "fake news" election hacking mess.

I fully agree with this and I feel like this is why people are tearing each other apart these days over politics. They felt oppressed and silenced for 8 yrs or however long. They want to be heard and should have that chance to be. Just my opinion.

 

[Deleted member 41765]

@lostforgottensoul I meant the word "argue" within the context of the following definition: to present reasons for or against a thing.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

Well, ok @ShikibuZ, you quoted that I don"t watch news but I do research things I am intrested in individually. This goes for all things. I am a massive researcher.

Also, normally I hear things that are imporant from my dad right now and even things that aren't important.

So, I am not fully ignorant of US and World news. I just cannot handle the fights on the news channels.

 

[LuckiLee]

Want to point me in a starting direction?

Sure...

Rex Tillerson the CEO of Exxon oil is now our Secretary of State appointed by Trump. Tillerson has ties to Russia and the Ukrainian pipeline. It all seems pretty fishy to me.

 

[anthony]

Ok, so this pipeline is a second version, next to an already existing pipeline?

This is a European matter, from reading, so I'm unsure what US politics has to do with it. Isn't one of the biggest issues the US putting their nose into other countries matters? If the US is staying out of other countries matters, making the rest of the world happier, isn't that a good thing?

Russia and Ukraine have a history, as Ukraine separated from Russian ownership, and Ukraine aligning itself more with NATO and the EU. A bit pissy on both sides politics, which may affect the second pipelines operation in Ukraine, them missing out on $$$. But then Washington got involved and slapped sanctions on Eastern Ukraine due to Russian separatist actions in Eastern Ukraine.

It all seems a bit pissy to me because of ties being severed. So sure, political. But what has EU countries business got to do with the USA? US should not be involved. The world hate American politics because they keep interfering in other countries business, especially when it has benefit to the rich and powerful in America.

This seems to be a matter for the EU, and the world court is sorting it out soon between the two, from reading more recent news.

 

[scout86]

Under trickle down, when I make more money, I spend more. I leave bigger tips,

I have no idea what your income level is, so that might be true. But, in general, the way I understand the theory, it gives tax breaks to the wealthy, the so called 'job creaters', and generally makes it possible for them to make more income. The idea being they WILL pay the help better. What seems to happen instead is they feel they must make more money for their stockholders and themselves. The way I understand it, wages, in real terms, haven't increased for regular working people in this country since the mid-70's. The gap between most people and the upper percent continues to widen. The result of tax breaks for the rich is more money for the rich. With the decline of things like unions, there's less and less working people can do to stuck up themselves. And people seem remarkably willing to believe politicians making promises.

It's probably true that the richer the rich are the more they're inclined spend, but that doesn't balance things out.

The GDP isn't a totally meaningless number, but it sure doesn't effect my day to day life much. I actually think we, as a species, are too obsessed with 'growth'. We're going to 'grow' ourselves into extinction. We need to worry more about sustainability. There are already too many humans on this planet and we'rere having an impact the planet can't survive. Instead of a continuing quest for more, we should focus on 'enough'. (JMO, obviously.)

@anthony, from what I took away from the campaign, the world might get to see the US less involved in world affairs. The theme, as I recall, was 'US' first. Not quite sure what that means. I guess we'll see.

 

[Deleted member 41765]

^^^^^ Stands Up. Applauds.

 

[hodge]

Thank you, @scout86. This is absolutely true. Ordinary Americans' income has stagnated and even gone down for the last 30-40 years while CEO salaries have skyrocketed. Trickle down does not work and never has worked for anyone but the rich who can somehow, I guess, appease their consciences by this theory.

Unfortunately, I'm beginning to see some Republicans for who they appear to be: social darwinists. And this also goes for the House health care plan (and what tiny bit we know of the Senate one). If they walk like a duck, etc.

Current example? Karen Handel running for Congress in Georgia tonight who unabashedly told a crowd that she doesn't think everyone deserves a living wage.