The USA Political Thread

[lennco]

Here you can spout your USA political views.

Rules:
1. Keep it clean
2. No fighting
3. Respect the views of others.
4. US Political views, No Religious views
5. Have fun

:wave:

 

[JB Lions]

Tell it to snoops. I quoted your defacto fact checker.

"The $100 million grant was funded by the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act of 2016, or WIIN, which was signed by President Obama in December 2016:"

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/epa-grant-flint-water/

Started under Obama, money released when Trump was President.

Still waiting on that list of lies.

 

[mr-x]

"The $100 million grant was funded by the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act of 2016, or WIIN, which was signed by President Obama in December 2016:"

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/epa-grant-flint-water/

That's what I said Sherlock. Then Pruitt took the money and used it for Flint.

 

[JB Lions]

That's what I said Sherlock. Then Pruitt took the money and used it for Flint.

That's what it was for - "President Barack Obama signed a bill Friday authorizing water projects across the country, including $170 million to address lead in the drinking water in Flint, Michigan,"

List of lies?

 

[mr-x]

"The descendant of a long line of bankers and Republicans, Kelly had worked at his family’s bank for the previous 33 years."

This plus The knowledge he could start up the law business again at any time and be making six figs a year

But still not cool

Love that description... Decedent of bankers and republicans... *gasp*.

 

[mr-x]

That's what it was for - "President Barack Obama signed a bill Friday authorizing water projects across the country, including $170 million to address lead in the drinking water in Flint, Michigan,"

List of lies?

Start there..

 

[JB Lions]

Start there..

What is the lies the media is saying about Pruitt? What do you mean start there? All articles say the same things, facts. It started under Obama, then Trump became President and the money was released. The article I just linked too, went thru it.

 

[JB Lions]

We've watched Media Matters lie and coordinate attacks against conservatives for years. I say we buy more republicans just like we buy more guns every time liberals start this jackassery.

In regards to Pruitt.

Waiting.

 

[mr-x]

triggered

 

[JB Lions]

triggered

Folded, as usual. Post things you can't back up. You say the media is just lying about Pruitt, I asked for a list, nothing. They just report on the reality of what a mess and Swamp creature he is. I posted an article earlier going thru some of it, you didn't touch one point. Even your "Start there" comment made no sense. Nobody said the money wasn't released under Trump/Pruitt, it was just pointed out this all started under Obama, fact. A fact that the Trump apologist article you linked too didn't mention.

 

[offthehandle]

https://nypost.com/2018/04/07/the-worlds-hottest-shopping-city-is-becoming-a-ghost-town/

Ok, @JB Lions here is another tie in to my ongoing questions about cultural change and Amazon. I have no answer, just questions looking outside in on the issues. Maybe they (Amazon) should seize the opportunity and rent the empty space for whole foods express grocery, amazon express markets and food, amazon clinics, amazon gyms, amazon postal service, etc.

You live in suburbia (I believe) as most do, not jammed in an inner city, so it makes perfect sense to click-buy. Some things are too much hassle to find, or drive miles to specialty stores. It’s bad for wasting time in traffic and gasoline, pollution too. Online convenience is great.

But just imagine what happens when retail rents are too high, in sububia too because taxes are too high and retailers can’t justify or afford to rent. They leave, vacant streets, no pedestrians. I guess that’s ok, since property tax increases should cover vacant commercial space, that and driving in cars is safer.

Should be interesting to see how street level businesses are transformed. Might not be safe to walk even during the day.

But of course, Here’s the “solution”, courtesy of NYC Government. Vacancy fines and taxes. Bureaucrats managing watch dog vacancy databases, yep create more gov’t employment. lol. Greedy landlords? Or overtaxed? I have no idea. Probably some are family owned multi generational landlords, with low cost basis in ownership but overtaxation causes them to have to charge higher rent. In CA, sometimes they will simply bulldoze, then taxes drop. Can’t do that easily with mixed retail and residential.

https://nypost.com/2018/03/30/de-blasio-eyes-vacancy-tax-for-greedy-landlords-seeking-top-dollar/

Just a friendly Sunday afternoon story.

 

[JB Lions]

"You live in suburbia (I believe) as most do"

I guess the neighborhood but it's Orlando, I live near everything. Next street over goes to the airport. Restaurants, grocery stores, all kinds of stores galore very close. Another street less than a mile away is known for crime/heroin etc.

Some of the stores in the article have nothing to do with Amazon. Amazon isn't cut and styling hair, they're not a restaurant etc.

"Amazon and other online-buying services now account for 9.1 percent of all national retail sales"

So it can't be entirely on Amazon. And goes back to previous posts, things change.

In your posts, it doesn't seem like you consider the consumer at all, just local businesses who don't step up and compete. What about the consumer? They're choosing online shopping or Amazon for a reason. Are you/Trump wanting to hurt an American success story, go against what consumers want?

Really, at the end of the day, it's about the consumer and they are speaking with where they're spending their money. You don't compete, meet their wants and needs, you deserve to fail.

 

[offthehandle]

Amazon isn't cut and styling hair, they're not a restaurant etc.

Coming soon: Amazon hair, amazon bistro, amazon pizza, amazon taco’s, etc.
I predict.

Consumers ultimately choose who runs the show (shopping habits) and who governs and no doubt, no argument. Amazon and other mega ecommerce will eventually take it all. Consumers stop buying at retail in suburbia, then bulldozers arrive. Consumers stop walking in the neighborhoods to local stores, vacancies occur and government of course has to find someone to lay blame on other than their own taxes and minimum wage regulations, so they blame landlords and small business.

Change? That’s constant. Yeah, the ecommerce thing is great, except I just don’t see small retail businesses surviving 5-15 years from now. Same with shopping malls.

In CA suburbia that I left, family owned restaurants disappeared starting in the 70’s. Corner lots were bulldozed and dinky spaces stuffing into corner mini malls implanted with a 7-11 as the anchor store. And businesses came and went as rents were too high. A few Taco shops started emerging, but chain restaurants took over most of the market. Personally, I hate meat distributed precut, frozen and marinated from plastic bags, shipped from some midwest warehouse central distribution. Thats the normal in the highly populated states, right? Chains. Bland, cookie cutter foods and menu’s copying the McDonalds formula. Or maybe Chili’s is a good example of what is good about a chain.

Zoning laws were always pretty strict anyway, so someone could not have a neighborhood restaurant like the NYC experience. So fast forward to today.

I live in a place that has McDonalds, etc. people do use amazon too, btw.
But, neighborhood restaurants started popping up (no mixed use zoning interference laws, haha) and within 5 years we went from existing 5-6 gourmet ethnic restaurants in one suburban like neighborhood- to now about 50-60 different ones counting kiosks. It’s really cool. None are chains. Not one. Personal service, small family operations. Unique food. Only drawbacks are parking so taxi needed on weekends, some high pricing and small portions on some, but it’s like a 50’s revitalization in a way. Not sure how many will last 5 years from now, but it’s unique and crazy. All the recent traveling I have done, small non chain restaurant businesses still exist everywhere else, but places like LA? Mostly gone except for chains.

Have not been to Orlando in years, recall there used to have some family owned restaurants, outside the Disney property, not all chains, lots of open real estate too unlike LA.

 

[Domainace]

But, neighborhood restaurants started popping up (no mixed use zoning interference laws, haha) and within 5 years we went from existing 5-6 gourmet ethnic restaurants in one suburban like neighborhood- to now about 50-60 different ones counting kiosks. It’s really cool. None are chains. Not one.

This is the nice thing about Japan, too. Shops and restaurants everywhere, in every nook and cranny. Several with only 6 or 7 seats and started on a shoestring budget. Regulations in the US and Canada make it so expensive to open any restaurant, this just isn't possible. It makes for a nice street environment to walk around in. There are some great little restaurants offering fresh ingredients and organic dishes for barely more than McDonald's. They can do that because they have small spaces in old buildings, and are staffed by the owner (and maybe a friend or family member). Over the years some of these grow into significant businesses. It's what can happen when people are allowed to engage freely in commerce.

 

[offthehandle]

This is the nice thing about Japan, too. Shops and restaurants everywhere, in every nook and cranny. Several with only 6 or 7 seats and started on a shoestring budget. Regulations in the US and Canada make it so expensive to open any restaurant, this just isn't possible. It makes for a nice street environment to walk around in. There are some great little restaurants offering fresh ingredients and organic dishes for barely more than McDonald's. They can do that because they have small spaces in old buildings, and are staffed by the owner (and maybe a friend or family member). Over the years some of these grow into significant businesses. It's what can happen when people are allowed to engage freely in commerce.

I am a big proponent of the "old school" ideas of small businesses, pre corporations. Personal responsibility too for your service or product. You were successful based on honor and producing something of value for others. The pre industrial- agricultural roots, everybody was self employed, you auctioned cows based on how well you did with raising them, or your corn, or name the crop. Your word was your bond, or else. All this growth thing, the stockmarket dictated short term profit is crap to me, and the advent of large corporations is good producing complex products or those where barrier to entry is huge. Nice to see a reverse in some areas- like Craft beers, instead of Anheiser Busch controlling it all. Hersey's is lousy chocolate, they extract and sell the butter fat to Sun Tan lotion corps, so small chocolate boutique businesses can thrive. Certainly true.

And of course, Japan does not have vacancies like NYC article above, but I image the rent is high unless family owned, at least in major centers. it's safe unlike most other places around the globe. The seafood in the mini markets really amazed me to see everything you would normally in a sushi restaurant- right there in a styrofoam tray with cellophane. Tako to Toro.... The only thing I never understood was why everything has an egg on top of it. You walk by those restaurants and in the window outside rows and rows of displays of the plastic food replicas and seemed like eggs were on top of everything. Including Big Mac's. Not the only country though I have seen that though, seen it also in Europe and other parts of asia. I really liked watching this, you have probably seen it, it's famous:

 

[Domainace]

Rents are not too bad these days. Dirt cheap in some case. Younger people are taking over dilapidated apartment blocks and renting out each little room to be used as a gallery, bagel shop or whatever. Down the hill from us were some depressing little apartments that were done up that way, with a bakery, wine bar, cafe, etc.

It's nice to see what happens when a business can be started so cheaply. All kinds of creative ideas. And, like you said, the owner and chef are usually the same person, and right in front of you. There are chain restaurants, of course, but they have the same issues as any chain. It's sometimes surprising what ends up making money. If a massive investment were required, many of these things would never be tried.

 

[enlytend]

Oopsie - not the poll results Fox intended to show. Awkward!

There was no sprinkler system on TT 50th floor. It was not legally required to be installed because of when it was built, but ...
http://www.newsweek.com/trump-tower-fire-no-sprinklers-lobbied-against-bill-876537

Had there been one it very likely would have saved the life of the tenant and spared the 6 firefighters a trip to the hospital.
Maybe it’s me, but under the circumstances I wouldn’t be bragging about how “well built” the building was.

 

[mr-x]

So gullible..

 

[mr-x]

NY City Mayor's aid caught with a hand gun that has had the serial number removed.

https://twitchy.com/dougp-3137/2018...trol-cheerleader-bill-de-blasio-got-arrested/

That would be a prison term for a pleb.

 

[JB Lions]

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office on Monday released its 10-year budget and economic outlook, and the news isn't good.
The report shows a notable deterioration in the country's debt outlook, thanks largely to the trillions in tax cuts passed by Republicans and a pricey two-year budget deal recently passed by both parties.
http://money.cnn.com/2018/04/09/news/economy/deficits/index.html?sr=fbmoney040918economy1140AMStory

Trump Trillion-Dollar Budget Deficits Officially Begin This Week
https://www.forbes.com/sites/stanco...cits-officially-begin-this-week/#6a2e2a303365

New analysis shows return of trillion-dollar budget deficits
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/201...s-return-trillion-dollar-budget-deficits.html

Thanks Donnie.

Also, thanks for telling terrorists you're leaving early, good job.

 

[johname]

The bigger oopps was that it was falsely reported that the Fox Anchor had asked that the graphic be taken down because he didnt like the results of the graphic. The writer of the story had to correct it. Which then takes away the whole reason for the story.


A great example of today's one-sided America. Find the thing the helps your side first, make it into news second.