patrick.net

mell says

I'm a libertarian

every political test I take I always end up at Libertarian, who knows what is what these days... politics has became what the word means in hiding

POLY
TICKS

Many blood sucking parasites

I will give Trump this, very clever, the whole birther thing gave him street cred with the Tea Party more than what Ted Cruz ever got. He knows how to work the media system... more like a WWF wrestler character than anything else.

Isn't Harkin a criminal of hillaric proportion?
Logan Mohtashami says

Or a Tom Harkin fan

Logan Mohtashami says

mell says

I'm a libertarian

every political test I take I always end up at Libertarian, who knows what is what these days... politics has became what the word means in hiding

POLY

TICKS

Many blood sucking parasites

I will give Trump this, very clever, the whole birther thing gave him street cred with the Tea Party more than what Ted Cruz ever got. He knows how to work the media system... more like a WWF wrestler character than anything else.

Definitely full of blood-sucking parasites (not just in the US, world-wide). To illustrate the problem, when Ron Paul ran there was a big bruhaha for weeks because somebody "loosely" affiliated with RP released a newsletter back in the what 80s or 90s that was supposedly "racist". Nobody ever debated him on his stances, it wasn't necessary, the left and the establishment took him out with one punch and the help of political correctness, he never had a chance. I'm also a raw milk fan, so I have to be libertarian in my own self-interest before the FDA goons completely shut down the supply.

You did good Logan, you did good.

Best election ever. The country club republicans and neoliberal democrats are finally getting some serious headwinds.

Tenpoundbass says

You did good Logan, you did good.

Instead of Red Rum Red Rum

We might have to say Orange Rum and Cuban Rum

Logan Mohtashami says

I will give Trump this, very clever, the whole birther thing gave him street cred with the Tea Party more than what Ted Cruz ever got. He knows how to work the media system... more like a WWF wrestler character than anything else.

I still think he is a much better candidate than the rest of the guys. Insiders can't fix problems, they are the problem since they are the status quo. Only an outsider can fix this crap system. Hence I like Trump.

This all started when Insider Cantor lost in a shock to Brat. Many GOP Congressmen and Senators panicked and bailed on the Amnesty ("Comprehensive Immigration Reform") Bill. Since then, terrified Country Club GOP Establishment that was supposed to deliver Amnesty for the US Chamber of Commerce in 2013 has been making sure true "Movement" (Anti-Unlimited Immigration) candidates don't win.

The GOPe brought all guns to bear in Mississippi to defeat a popular insurgent Republican Senate Candidate Christ McDaniels, and kept Establishment Loyalist 7th Term Senator Thad Cochran in. They are now trying to do the same thing to Trump.

As Thomas Frank mentioned, there are now two ruling class parties: The Republicans for Big Business and Low Wage Agra/Extraction Industries; and Democrats for the Globalization-insulated Professionals like the Lawyers and Teachers as well as Silly Con Valley. Both parties are utterly in bed with the Financial Sector to the last feather in the Pillow.

My wife and I were talking tonight about how we made $9, $10, $12 an hour in our late teens, 20 years ago in various menial/low-skill jobs. Back when ground beef and gasoline was 99 cents in expensive North Jersey and in the Miami Area. Not the cheapest parts of the country.

It's amazing that these very same jobs - cold calling, convenience store, warehouse, etc. jobs - pay the same or less than they did 20 years ago, but prices for non-voluntary shit that doesn't beep or buzz like food, medical care, education, rents, etc. are much higher.

And most of our coworkers were white and black native-born Americans.

thunderlips11 says

Cantor lost

Logan Mohtashami says

A place in my heart for Bernie and I have had many talks with his economic and finance people. He means well, but I could never vote for him. I can't vote democrat, just the nature of the beast.

Trump, lord no....

Cruz... on my worst day maybe to stay with political lines

John K.... I can't vote for John ever because he is a balance budget amendment and anyone who believes in math knows that is the single worst idea ever with our demographics nor can it be possible

Paul Ryan gets into I will vote for him

I could NEVER vote for Bernie, his grasp of economics doesn't even reach the height of what 6 year olds understand.
Hillary - uh, no, no a thousand times no.

Trump - served a purpose by getting things into the discussion that most politicians shy away from, but has shown himself to be a 5 year old acting out on the playground.
Cruz - will get my vote only because he's the best of this horrible lot.
John K - the republican version of Hillary, whatever way the wind is blowing - a worse candidate than McCain or Romney.

Paul Ryan - I don't see him getting into the mix. It will be Cruz unless Trump wins it outright going into the convention.

Logan Mohtashami says

Tom Harkin fan

Oh, ugh, just gag me with a spoon. No respect for the man, in ways he's worse (and in a few ways better) than Trump. Not a fan, not a fan, not a fan.

mmmarvel says

I could NEVER vote for Bernie

What is interesting is seeing the left vs really left with Bernie's economic

MMT people went ballistic that Bernie wanted to raise taxes to pay for his spending plan

Cruz is only there to take delegates as many delegates from Trump for Round One, so they can Inside Party wheel and deal to get a Ryan, Romney, Rubio, Jeb, or Kasich candidate.

Will be the biggest GOP defeat in history, even against an easy opponent like Hillary.

However, Trump has yet to open his purse. He's hardly spent any money. The GOP Establishment spent 8:1 against him in many states and lost like the losers they are.

I could NEVER vote for Bernie, his grasp of economics doesn't even reach the height of what 6 year olds understand.
Hillary - uh, no, no a thousand times no.

-----------------

I'd be interested in hearing what you mean about Bernies grasp of economics. I mean, specifically. It's funny, all the people that say like what you say of him; snd people like mell earlier in the thread referred to him as a communist lol, your dislike for the guy seems very shallow.

This Summer, it's time for the GOP to Rinse Pubics. #MAGA

www.kSVd-3SkRUo

Doesn't Reinse Pubis look like Phil Green/Kevin Spacey from "Casino"? Another Front Man.

thunderlips11 says

However, Trump has yet to open his purse. He's hardly spent any money. The GOP Establishment spent 8:1 against him in many states and lost like the losers they are.

That's one of the reasons you really have to question whether he actually wants to win.

Logan Mohtashami says

Paul Ryan gets into I will vote for him

Ryan has proposed noble budget goals remarkably short on unpopular specifics (such as what gets cut). Tump has proposed outrageously optmistic budget goals (pay off the entire national debt in 8 years) with an equal lack of specifics.

If you have to choose between one fantasist (who's maybe just too scared to outline the pain) and another, why notchoose the one with the bigger promises?

HydroCabron says

Tump has proposed outrageously optmistic budget goals (pay off the entire national debt in 8 years) with an equal lack of specifics.

Just that stupid thesis right there should get Trump booted off the planet.

To be honest I could care less about Budgets, everyone budget is going to have deficits for 50 years straight.

In fact I can't vote for anyone who proposes a balance budget amendment, with our demographics that is impossible to have without damaging the economy or turning back on entitlement promises.

Logan Mohtashami says

In fact I can't vote for anyone who proposes a balance budget amendment, with our demographics that is impossible to have without damaging the economy or turning back on entitlement promises.

The damage down the road is far greater than fixing the debt now, because math just is and doesn't lie. The piper will have to be paid and it's gonna be brutal. Entitlements should have been cut long ago, nobody has a right to "guaranteed" appreciation numbers. Lots of these proposals are likely going to fall short, but if we don't try and start going into the right direction, that is paying off the principal (even if it takes 100 years), 2008 will look like poppycock in hindsight. Politicians should be charged with treason and imprisoned if they cause the debt to increase or shortfalls by diverting money or temporarily "borrowing" it from otherwise already allocated funds (AKA stealing) just to pacify their constituents and wallets. We could have avoided many of today's completely destroyed cities and municipalities that way.

mell says

Entitlements should have been cut long ago

You could never ever get this pass in a Democracy, to cut entitlements. Not to mention it's bad economic policy as well.

Logan Mohtashami says

In fact I can't vote for anyone who proposes a balance budget amendment, with our demographics that is impossible to have without damaging the economy or turning back on entitlement promises.

Social security pays for itself. Everything else they can cut away. There is plenty of waste in federal system that needs to be trimmed away.

Logan Mohtashami says

Not to mention it's bad economic policy as well.

It might be bad temporarily, I see it, it's like paying credit card. If we don't pay it, we stick our children with the burden, that's unethical. Our generation should pay off the debt so our children are free.

Logan, I'm curious what your issue with Cruz is. Quigley, go ahead and answer also. I've found that I very frequently agree with your views.

I've stayed a republican even though my overall views drifted into libertarian territory 15 years ago or so. The reason being that it's nearly impossible to legislate social issues at the federal level, certainly so for conservative issues. I imagine that's the biggest objection both of you have with Cruz. But maybe there's something else I'm missing...

dodgerfanjohn says

Cruz

As Donald Trump would say, He is an Obstructionist. Plus he is a hard money freak, chaining Dollar to weighted commodities ??? really...

He is a clever politicians, I thought he ran a good campaign, but he let Trump get ahead of him with the Tea Party Voters... Look how Levin, Beck and that group have no real power with the party anymore

I like John K. A lot as a person and I think he can govern but balance amendment budget is no starter for me. Anyone who believes in math and numbers can't possible vote for anyone that believes in that

FortWayne says

Social security pays for itself.

All Mandatory Payouts will exceed government revenue based on a 3% GDP revenue model come 2024-2027, The Debt Game ended at the start of the 1920's with the population boom....

Nothing we can do about...

A list of countries that would have a debt below up well before us, so I have stopped caring about it. Out of all the math, data and number charts I have the federal debt is the one that has crossed the path of no return ...

It is what it is, I am not concern about it...

In fact I would be more concern on the economic front if we tried to pay the debt with higher taxes and less entitlement payouts, that would actually to do real damage to the economy

Logan Mohtashami says

mell says

Entitlements should have been cut long ago

You could never ever get this pass in a Democracy, to cut entitlements. Not to mention it's bad economic policy as well.

I have not seen an example of where it harmed the economy, in fact front-loading the entitlements has been causing dislocations over and over again and shortfalls and crisis. Whole municipalities or cities went bankrupt and it is one reason for the large inequality in the US. Other countries manage their finances tighter wrt pensions. Nobody says there should be none, but "guaranteed" 8% return rates for years should lead to instant indictment and imprisonment of the signing politician.

dodgerfanjohn says

Cruz

If I had to pick between Cruz or Trump, I would pick Cruz, Trump is just a horrific realty show right in front of our eyes.

Logan Mohtashami says

Nothing we can do about...

But than, wouldn't we just simply run out of credit card at some point? Realistically every credit card sooner or later declines. Tell me if I'm wrong, but doesn't this sound like "we have a train coming at us, and we have no idea how to stop it so we'll just stand and wait till it hits us?"

Logan Mohtashami says

In fact I would be more concern on the economic front if we tried to pay the debt with higher taxes and less entitlement payouts, that would actually to do real damage to the economy

Lower taxes and less entitlement payouts is the solution, adjust for the budget every year. Countries do so successfully on a 1-3 yr review cycle basis, no guarantees of appreciation beyond that.

Ironman says

OK, tell us, beside being real good at campaign promises and selling snake oil

I am not sucker to believe in Trump, just out of that thesis, If I had to pick either of the two, It would be Cruz, I would vote for none of them in real terms, so for the first time in a while, It looks like I am not voting

FortWayne says

But than, wouldn't we just simply run out of credit card at some point?

We can't run out of Dollars, just look at Japan, They can't run out of Yen.

It's a simple computer button we are pushing, It's not like we are actually printing dollars where we would need a ample supply of wood to produce to it. :-)

It's all one giant ponzi scam, live life, don't worry about things that can't be changed with any real mathematical curve

mell says

Lower taxes and less entitlement payouts is the solution, adjust for the budget every year. Countries do so successfully on a 1-3 yr review cycle basis, no guarantees of appreciation beyond that.

It's impossible to pay off the debt and with our demographics, it's impossible to grow our economy out of it nor would we tax high enough to matter.

We have 100 Trillion Dollars in Financial assets in America

We are going to be fine here... Worry about Europe instead of the U.S.

Logan Mohtashami says

It's impossible to pay off the debt and with our demographics, it's impossible to grow our economy out of it nor would we tax high enough to matter.

We have 100 Trillion Dollars in Financial assets in America

You did the math, and read the papers!

Are you sure you're a Republican?

Ironman says

He doesn't want to win because he's spent LESS money??? Really??

The consultants he initially hired a couple of years ago to focus-group this thing, and who came up with the “hate Mexicans less subtly than your opponents and blame outsiders" strategy, reported that Trump wanted a second-place finish, in order to enhance his brand without having to run in the general.

They only forgot one thing: No one ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the average American.

Logan Mohtashami says

It's impossible to pay off the debt

No it's not, but it's pointless since debt is savings in this system.

To pay off the debt means people have to put their savings into other vehicles.

Interest paid is the cost of debt, and look where it is now:

FortWayne says

but doesn't this sound like "we have a train coming at us, and we have no idea how to stop it so we'll just stand and wait till it hits us?"

The only train we have is money being stripped out of the working people of this country by the non-working.

I put the welfare frauds who abuse the aid we give to their kids along with fucksticks like Romney who collect income without producing any actual wealth -- goods and services that satisfy human needs and wants -- in return.

If you put say half of our national security budget in the latter category the latter far, far outweighs the former. Maybe just alone the rent-seekers are a bigger drain on the paycheck economy vs. the layabouts.

People on welfare actually raise wages, LOL, while the Romney fat cats work tirelessly to reduce their workers' wages.

Trump himself:

“Our taxes are too high. Our wages are too high. We have to compete with other countries.”

Bellingham Bill says

No it's not

I have run every single model possible, it's impossible to pay off the debt,

Since so much of it is mandatory, any recession from now on will just expand the total debt profile since so much of is mandatory

Entitlement spending goes right back into the paycheck economy.

Check your models.

Bellingham Bill says

Check your models.

It's not only just impossible you can't even bend the mathematical curve lower after...... In 2057 you could possible see the end of the light come 2076...

That's it

but still 96 years away from paying the debt off at that point

We will be lucky to have any year with a surplus until 2024-2027 time frame, after that .... game is over ....

How many years surpluses we would need to pay off the debt in total ....

Not a workable number