Please be responsible for your own actions and words, and avoid blaming others or making excuses for your behavior. If you make a mistake, apologize and take steps to correct it.
- Manlobbi
Halls of Shrewd'm / US Policy
No. of Recommendations: 1
No I dont mean just the two terms of Presidency they gave him..and everything that has happened to "democracy!" since :)
But as Trump races to try to address affordability..... he might be saved by the thing he has openly called for cancelling: ObamaCare. Yes, Obama. The Liberal President who made it possible for millions of Red State voters to get health insurance - that Obama.
Trump and Republicans ended the "Biden Era" enhanced subsidies.
But now Republicans - some -- are joining Dems to extend the BIDEN subsidies.
That means a few million people - some in swing districts - will get a few bucks a month relief.
Is it enough to retain a GOP Majority? I don't know.
But it helps.
Republicans help Trump do what he wants when he wins.
Democrats - help him win.
BiPartisan after all..... O Say, Can you see?
No. of Recommendations: 3
But now Republicans - some -- are joining Dems to extend the BIDEN subsidies.
Never say never, but the bulk of Reps are against it. Including Johnson, who has to bring it to the floor for a vote. Apparently, there is a work-around for that, but it's not trivial.
I think the GOP are going to lose the majority this fall. People are not seeing their lives getting any better. In the store the other day, I noticed a dozen eggs were $8. A year ago they were maybe $4-5. I realize that this can be affected by many things (e.g. having to kill a bunch of chickens because of infections), but most people don't think about that. They just see $8, and are unhappy. And they see their insurance premiums double, and are not happy. Reps will try to blame the Dems, and some hard-core Rep-voters will believe it. But most won't because Dems have absolutely no power or say in government at this time.
No. of Recommendations: 3
$8 for 12 eggs?
I mean where I am they're like $2.50.
But then I shop at cheap places like Shoprite.
Sounds like you don't just shop at Whole Foods, you must shop at A-Hole Foods.
No. of Recommendations: 0
I feel you are right.
But as someone who doesn't see everything as "Trump" "GOP" "Democrats" I will add.....the problem is less Republicanism - the problem is modern Americanism.
Ask Joe Biden ....economic numbers were awesome. Yet people felt things sucked why? Because outside of the Whole Foods caste - the top 20% ---things SUCK ROYALLY.
Modern family structures, free trade run amok, digital economy that enriches some but displaces many, consumer culture run amok to where people are stretched thin.....of course things FEEL shiity to them all.
And while this happens - Wall Street---squeezes every penny out of everything and everyone. No, it's not just innovation, it's making sure that basic products and services suck more, and cost more.
So I agree - as I've said since last year the GOP will probably lose the mid terms. And Dems will interpret that, or even a slim tiny 2028 win as some big mandate.
When in fact, the structural, some self inflicted things that SUCK for people out there....will suck regardless of what party is in power.
No. of Recommendations: 4
Ask Joe Biden ....economic numbers were awesome. Yet people felt things sucked why? Because outside of the Whole Foods caste - the top 20% ---things SUCK ROYALLY.
The middle class is contracting. There are numerous reasons for this, including enabling the rich to get richer at the expense of the not-rich. Also, the RW media spent most of its time blaring that things were horrible (and then -miracle!- the Felon is elected and everything is A-OK).
Modern family structures,...
Not sure it's governments business to try to dictate that in any way. The Reps are big on trying ("family values!"). I think the Dems have a more realistic grasp (and acceptance) of how that is evolving. And evolve it will, whether we like it or not. Fewer marriages, fewer babies (our birthrate is under replacement levels, last I knew).
When in fact, the structural, some self inflicted things that SUCK for people out there....will suck regardless of what party is in power.
Probably. The self-inflicted thing is hard to resolve. Things suck less when Dems are in control (at least since Reagan), at least domestically. Deficits get reduced, on occasion something good happens (like the ACA...for all its flaws, it's better than what we had; also the CFPB). International is harder because we can't control Putin or Kim or Xi. We just have to deal with them as best we can.
No. of Recommendations: 0
Not sure it's governments business to try to dictate that in any way. The Reps are big on trying ("family values!"). I think the Dems have a more realistic grasp (and acceptance) of how that is evolving. And evolve it will, whether we like it or not. Fewer marriages, fewer babies (our birthrate is under replacement levels, last I knew).
***
While not the sole cause - if you dont like a contracting middle classing, mass anger, depression, mental meds usage, shootings , jail population etc -- this is a key part of it. It's just plain fact.
Gov't can't dictate it.
But government, pop culture, and EVERYONE in the game can encourage good trends and discourage bad trends. We ostracize people who say "dudes in dresses, shouldn't be in dresses"...it could be the same for entertainment venues that glorify "teen mom" and "baby daddy" - just one thought. I won't spend too much time on it because -I've accepted it won't change and hey, it's a pool of people for the rest of us to profit off of ---whih - from the pawn shop to the credit card....we all do :) Should we be more "accepting" of obesity trends too? We're not. Dems did "let's move" under Mrs Obama. Sadly we don't do "Don't get a girl pregnant until you're married and and can support" and "don't spread your legs for losers. " I know it's harsh for today's fragile ears. Hey, like I said - here's to late fees, high rates, private prison profits, My regret is the violence -- should be directed elsewhere. Sistah Souljah whom I used to despise - sounds wise to me now.
All I'm saying - look at the highest incomes and lowest prison population demographics. THEN look at the lowest incomes and highest prison demographics. Then - contrast it with family structure and culture.
Or, better yet, don't. More of the pie for less of us to enjoy.....if that's how we want to play it.
I''ll cooperate either way..... one will make me more happy. The other, is more fun.....
No. of Recommendations: 7
"Don't get a girl pregnant until you're married and and can support" and "don't spread your legs for losers. "
Not opposing birth control, and proper sex education, would help that a lot. One statistic that has always struck me was that teens in developed countries become sexually active at about the same time. But in places like Sweden, teen pregnancy is almost non-existent. Here, it is pretty high. And I heard that Texas (with very puritanical attitudes towards sex) leads in repeat teen pregnancies.
All I'm saying - look at the highest incomes and lowest prison population demographics. THEN look at the lowest incomes and highest prison demographics. Then - contrast it with family structure and culture.
I think the "lowest incomes" has been pretty well established to be the culprit. Lowest incomes makes people more desperate. There's also a lot of legacy racism in that those families got established in poor areas 70 years ago, and haven't been able to get out. Schools are poor, people are poor, so a lot of the males end up in prison where they can't help the wife/kid(s), and the kid(s) grow up to repeat the same pattern.
And that's the simplified version. It's a lot more complex and nuanced than that; probably even more than I know.
No. of Recommendations: 0
I am with you on the birth control and education.
But --- we've had that.
We have generational shit in some communities despite it.
And in other demographics - we see them running the country.
I won't argue further, I know the culture argument is lost.
Hey, I've done well because of it. (CACC in the 2000s....I use to parade it on TMF ...just one example)
Ion the end, this is what will defeat America - even if the dream government occupies all branches of government.
The good part: In racist and oppressive America- those who come to America as 1st generation people - who subscribe to the old American values ---they will continue to rise to levels to where MAGA and even White 401K'ers start racist sentiments and jealousy.
But it won't matter.
The money has already been made.
I cede the culture argument. I know it was lost.
