patrick.net

Just showing you that I'm judging his actions, not reacting viscerally to the whole of what he represents.

In case you think I'm getting soft, I also noticed that He and his daughter have gotten a lot of trademarks approved in China recently. I wonder why that is. My guess is that falsely labeling China a manipulator in the campaign was a win win for Trump. He won some votes by duping some rubes and won the ability to give China something without really giving them anything.

YesYNot says

Just showing you that I'm judging his actions, not reacting viscerally to the whole of what he represents.

Thanks YYN!

I will be critical on Trump as well. It's easy to get swept up into the media rehtoric about the War of words that they are having with Trump, then base rush judgement on that.
Trump is an agent of change, of course the media isn't going to be happy with him. I'm waiting to Judge Trump on the way he handles the Shitpile Legislation that Congress has put on every President's desk for the last 50 years, and they most always either sign it, or make it even shittier and send it back.

It is my FULL expectation that unless Congress knocks the ball out of the Park and Trump likes it(as we should as well at that point), which I doubt will happen. I expect Trump to already have an outline of a better plan or at least have possitive input on what's crappy about the one they gave, and a strong argument on his amendments to thier legislation.
I'm Ulitimately reserving my opinion on Trump on which legislation he Ultimately signs or doesn't sign.

YesYNot says

increase user fees like tolls to pay for transportation (this is a shift from a progressive to a regressive tax).

You mean like gas tax increase just passed by CA legislature? Didn't notice you critisizing them.

Straw Man says

Didn't notice you critisizing them.

I like the gas tax despite the regressive nature of the beast, because of the huge hidden costs of importing and burning gasoline, especially in CA. Users can also more easily adjust their gas use than they can adjust use of roads. I do have a problem if there are a bunch of tax changes and they all shift from progressive to regressive. That would only aggravate the wealth gap that is holding our economy back (IMO).

YesYNot says

Users can also more easily adjust their gas use than they can adjust use of roads.

"Easily" meaning what? By selling their paid-off sorted-out "gas guzzler" cheaply and buying more economical (but more expensive) car and paying another 10% in tax and registration? Yeah, that's easy allright. Are we still talking about low-income people?

getting rid of mortgage deduction would be great. That's one of the ideas he is throwing around.

Straw Man says

By selling their paid-off sorted-out "gas guzzler" cheaply and buying more economical (but more expensive) car and paying another 10% in tax and registration?

They could sell the guzzler and buy an econobox with similar mileage. They would save enough in gas and maintenance in a year to pay for sales tax/registration. If they are low income they shouldn't have bought the gas guzzler in the first place.

YesYNot says

They could sell the guzzler and buy an econobox with similar mileage. They would save enough in gas and maintenance in a year to pay for sales tax/registration. If they are low income they shouldn't have bought the gas guzzler in the first place.

Wrong on all counts: when gas prices rise trade-in value of "guzzlers" drop and selling price of "econoboxes" raise. So trading in decent "guzzler" will give you money for a shitty "econobox" or you'll have to pay something out-of-pocket. Not to mention that buying unknown used car increase your chances to be hit with unexpected maintenance costs, so here goes your "saving on maintenance" argument.

And then there is issue of whether every "guzzler" can be replaced by an "econobox". Not every minivan or pickup can be replaced by Corolla, so people who actually need them to haul kids/stuff will be hit the hardest.

CA tax was local. Used car market is national. Guzzler prices should not have tanked. Care to provide an example of you think I'm wrong? Trade in an suv for a corolla of equal vintage and mileage and see how you do. Maintenance on econo boxes is cheap. Cheaper tires, struts, brake pads, rotors, etc. They often have timing chains, instead of belts, too. People don't need an suv to haul a medium family around. The average family of four can do fine with a small or mid size car. The suv is a luxury. It's a want, not a need, so it can be taxed accordingly.