And so it begins: open Civil War has broken out in the GOP

[goat]

Well good after waging war against Democracy and U.S. Constitutional law and humanity at swallowing up tRump's toxic koolaid, the un American GOP deserves to spontaneously combust.

That may happen if they are left behind from the rapture.

[Micawber]

I think those who have become rich beyond their wildest dreams ought to be told when they retire congratulations, you don't get social security, wasn't designed for people like you.

If you made $7000 per hour 24 hours a day 7 days a week 365 days a year, since the time of Christ, you would not have as much money as Jeff Bezos. If his tax rate were 90% he still could have a dozen mansions with yachts tied up outside each one. This country gave him the people and opportunity to make such a fortune and that country is in debt over 25 trillion dollars. Something is wrong with that picture. I'm not against the rich they should be congratulated and be able to live a life of luxury but there comes a point when they should be paying a higher tax rate than their secretary making hundreds of thousands of times less of a salary.

Sorry but Obama was 100% correct when he said to people like Jeff, "you didn't build that all by yourself". Without what the USA provided for people like Jeff they never would be where they are today.

Well I agree. But if you took all the rich off the SSI payrolls it wouldn't put much of a dent in that budget. The seriously rich are relatively few. One problem is the amount of wealth those few have.
I don't like tax levels at punitive rates, and my arbitrary rate is 50%. The govt should not be taking more than 1/2 from anyone, whether Rockefeller or the secretary. Tax the rich at 49%.

I believe many would be fine with that rate. And sure, take those off SSI. They could care less.

[Micawber]

So now you're telling me what my criteria should be for voting? LOL Typical Democrats. "Vote this way or we'll attack you!"

Well attack is a bit strong. Nothing coercive in my questioning your criteria. It's my opinion. Tell me to shove it. I would.

What if I said I would only vote for burglars and loan sharks and mafia bag men? Am I immune from critique because its my damn vote, you fascist dictator?

Adultery doesn't make my hit parade for disqualification. In fact its right around having smoked weed in college.
What I would do is vote for a satanic serial killer who was honest enough to not take the "god oath" for high office.

Some basic don't insult me level of honesty is the rarest trait now in this post Trump world.
True honesty? I don't expect that. But at least pass the "don't piss down my back and tell me it's raining" test.
For example don't say the lection was stolen when you have NO evidence that it was. That sort of insulting lie.

[Doc Dutch]

Well attack is a bit strong. Nothing coercive in my questioning your criteria. It's my opinion. Tell me to shove it. I would.

What if I said I would only vote for burglars and loan sharks and mafia bag men? Am I immune from critique because its my damn vote, you fascist dictator?

Adultery doesn't make my hit parade for disqualification. In fact its right around having smoked weed in college.
What I would do is vote for a satanic serial killer who was honest enough to not take the "god oath" for high office.

Some basic don't insult me level of honesty is the rarest trait now in this post Trump world.
True honesty? I don't expect that. But at least pass the "don't piss down my back and tell me it's raining" test.
For example don't say the lection was stolen when you have NO evidence that it was. That sort of insulting lie.

Disagreed since that's not what you did. You both put words in my mouth and then you lied about me.

I never said adultery was illegal, just that I don't vote for liars, which is your lie. An adulterer is a liar. You falsely accused me of voting for hypocrites and liars which is exactly the opposite of my post. All of which makes you a liar and a hypocrite.

The fact you don't see an adulterer as being hypocritical or a liar is your problem, not mine.

Admirable resolve. Adulterers? Meh. That's not illegal and not job function. Not admirable but you've just excluded many good candidates and allowed for plenty of hypocrites and liars. Bedroom policeman!

[Into the Night]

That has nothing to do with the Fed being unconstitutional.

Yes it does.

The founders had no problem with creating a national bank (except Jefferson).

The Fed is not a national bank. It is a national clearing house and money printer, and forces all banks to use it's currency.

No state has made anything but gold and silver legal tender and therefore states did not violate that provision in the Constitution. Banks chartered by the state do not have to belong to the Fed.

Banks are not to be charted by governments. Symantics fallacy. Contextomy fallacies.

Nothing says states must use only gold and silver as legal tender. It says states cannot make anything else legal tinder.

Paradox.

[Into the Night]

Well good after waging war against Democracy and U.S. Constitutional law and humanity at swallowing up tRump's toxic koolaid, the un American GOP deserves to spontaneously combust.

Democracies have no constitutions. You are not making sense.

[Into the Night]

And Trump was going to win re-election wasn't he?

He was, which is why the Democrats performed a coup...so far successful.

[Blackwater Lunchbreak]

Not "the end", IMO, but certainly an imbalance that needs to be corrected. It's not like this is the first time. There were the Robber Barons of the late 1800s and the monopolists of the 1900s. It's a tug-o-war or, my favorite, a teeter-totter. Find the balance.

and which way does it need to teeter to right now, in your opinion, mister glittering generality?

getting this right qualifies you to play on the see-saw.

[Into the Night]

Note that both of those followed at least 4 yrs of a republican president.

The S&L crash followed Carter. The dotcom crash followed Clinton. The 2007 crash followed a RINO (Bush Jr), and failed to resolve itself because of Obama. The current 'Covid crisis' was brought about by Democrats shutting businesses.

There are no 'bailouts'. There is only the massive printing of money for the government and various kickback programs. That has occurred EVERY YEAR. Most of these programs were put in place by Democrats.

[Into the Night]

A capitalistic country with a few social programs is not a socialist country, it's a smart country. We have had social security for nearly a century, does that makes us a socialist country?

Capitalism and socialism are not countries.

[Into the Night]

Agreed. The best systems seem to be a Constitutional Republic fueled by regulated capitalism and with a socialist safety net to help the poor, infirm and minors.

Socialism is theft. There is also NOTHING in the Constitution of the United States authorizing socialism.

[Into the Night]

Socialism is theft. There is also NOTHING in the Constitution of the United States authorizing socialism.

A republic IS government by constitution. 'Constitutional republic' is redundant.

[Into the Night]

The Soviets, China, Britain, Germany, France, and Japan all know the US is nothing but a propaganda machine. They also know the 737 Max is a deathtrap but kept their mouth shut in public. It's all politics.

Engineers knew the Challenger was going to explode but had to keep their mouth shut if they wanted their job. You of all people should know how the game is played.

The 737 Max is not a deathtrap. It is airworthy. It is a certified aircraft. The fault in the trim system (a minor system) has been corrected. Both crashes of the 737 Max were pilot error, due to poor training.

You are correct that engineers knew the Challenger was launching outside it's rated limits (they didn't know it was going to explode). The pilot knew it too. The O rings in the solid rocket boosters were not rated for those temperatures. The pilot launched anyway, due to pressure from NASA. The Challenger disaster was caused by pilot error. NASA tried to blame it on 'defective' O rings, and put the blame on Thiokol, the builder of the solid rocket boosters. NASA was trying to cover up for pressuring the pilot to launch anyway. A classic case of 'get there-itis'. It kills many pilots every year.

Yes, other nations know that the federal government puts out propaganda by the shitload. If course, so does Russia, the UK, Germany, France, japan, and practically every government on Earth. Meh. Kettle logic.

[Into the Night]

Absolutely! Every time a capitalistic country starts having the wealth inequality that the USA is having the end is in sight. Usually because so many are being screwed the idea of socialism becomes better and better. The republican and their love for a pure capitalistic society will bring socialism much quicker than a country that does not forget about it's poor.

False dichotomy. Capitalism is the creation of wealth. Anyone can play. It does not cause 'wealth inequality'. It is the varying differences in initiative and drive that people have that causes that. Socialism is theft of wealth. Economic systems are not a form of government.

[Into the Night]

Our entire system is kept buoyant with debt. Is that what you call capitalism?

It is not kept buoyant with debt. Capitalism requires none. Government debt is not capitalism. Government debt is sinking the government.