Phil1111

Over the years I have given hints to help clarify my posts. You need to develop an empathic understanding of anger, depression, fear, and guilt. Empathy is not synonymous with sympathy. Oh, I understand those things quite well. And perhaps I misstated it. I understand what your positions are. Those are pretty clear to anyone who reads your stuff. Even the positions you refuse to admit. What I don't understand is why you take those positions. Ron has a dogmatic view of Christian values. Limited state involvement of the economy and anit-abortion are core. Together with support of the state when it favors them over other religions. This may help: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/out-the-darkness/201412/dogmatic-and-spiritual-religion Dogmatically religious people are those who think that they’re right and everyone else is wrong. For them, religion isn’t about self-development or experiencing the transcendent, but about adhering to a set of rigid beliefs and following the rules laid down by religious authorities. It’s about defending their beliefs against anyone who questions them, asserting their "truth" over other people’s, and spreading those beliefs to others. For them, the fact that other people have different beliefs is an affront, since it implies the possibility that their own beliefs may not be true. They need to convince other people that they’re wrong to prove to themselves that they’re right. Dogmatic religion stems from a psychological need for group identity and belonging, together with a need for certainty and meaning. There is a strong impulse in human beings to define ourselves, whether it’s as a Christian, a Muslim, a socialist, an American, a Republican, or as a fan of a sports club. This urge is closely connected to the impulse to be part of a group, to feel that you belong, and share the same beliefs and principles as others. And these impulses work together with the need for certainty—the feeling that you "know," that you possess the truth, that you are right and others are wrong. You missed me by a long way with that one. You lost me in the second sentence. I am disappointed. You are usually more accurate. Feel free to steer me right. Nobody here receives more abuse than you. Nobody is more prepared to turn the other cheek without any flush of anger. Nobody is more steadfast in the course and truth of their beliefs.

Over the years I have given hints to help clarify my posts. You need to develop an empathic understanding of anger, depression, fear, and guilt. Empathy is not synonymous with sympathy. Oh, I understand those things quite well. And perhaps I misstated it. I understand what your positions are. Those are pretty clear to anyone who reads your stuff. Even the positions you refuse to admit. What I don't understand is why you take those positions. Ron has a dogmatic view of Christian values. Limited state involvement of the economy and anit-abortion are core. Together with support of the state when it favors them over other religions. This may help: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/out-the-darkness/201412/dogmatic-and-spiritual-religion Dogmatically religious people are those who think that they’re right and everyone else is wrong. For them, religion isn’t about self-development or experiencing the transcendent, but about adhering to a set of rigid beliefs and following the rules laid down by religious authorities. It’s about defending their beliefs against anyone who questions them, asserting their "truth" over other people’s, and spreading those beliefs to others. For them, the fact that other people have different beliefs is an affront, since it implies the possibility that their own beliefs may not be true. They need to convince other people that they’re wrong to prove to themselves that they’re right. Dogmatic religion stems from a psychological need for group identity and belonging, together with a need for certainty and meaning. There is a strong impulse in human beings to define ourselves, whether it’s as a Christian, a Muslim, a socialist, an American, a Republican, or as a fan of a sports club. This urge is closely connected to the impulse to be part of a group, to feel that you belong, and share the same beliefs and principles as others. And these impulses work together with the need for certainty—the feeling that you "know," that you possess the truth, that you are right and others are wrong.

Bad on SNL,... Good on SNL. This republican seems like he has leadership potential. Too bad his party has been captured and held prisoner.

Continuous education and a curious mind is necessary to ascertain what is true. What are the facts. GOP Presidents Have Been the Worst Contributors to the Federal Debt https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/10/gop-presidents-have-been-the-worst-contributors-to-the-federal-debt/264193/ The Republican Party Is A Deficit Fraud https://www.forbes.com/sites/stancollender/2017/10/08/the-gop-is-a-deficit-fraud/#5d82e933263d U.S. Federal Deficits, Presidents, and Congress http://goliards.us/adelphi/deficits/index.html This is interesting because it also shows how republican tax cuts to the top marginal rats relate to net deficits. Important to note that debt is indexed to inflation.

I have oft repeated this as well. Democrats need to understand the motivations of republican voters better. Winning this election dosn't help that. The day before the election a news crew was interviewing a elderly republican voter in a Florida nursing home. Questioned about why she voted for trump. She responded "because he will protect us from the caravan". Ron, Marc, et al , illustrate in a valuable way the thinking and reasoning of trump supporters. The sooner they can be understood. The sooner the republican party can be rebuilt. The sooner the democrats can advance their agenda. No offense to Marc and Ron intended. Progressive liberals advance very sound intellectual arguments. The problem is that they do not address the core issues, the anger, and fear of the voter. No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care. I agree. But trump doesn't care. Republicans and democrats need to address immigration. Now in fact would be the best time. With the US at full employment. The deterioration of wages since the last recession is a major driver of trump support. A national infrastructure plan would be the logical solution. But the trump round of tax cuts will preclude agreement in congress over the next two years. Because tax increases are necessary in order to pay for a infrastructure plan. Otherwise inflation would skyrocket and so would the deficit.

I have oft repeated this as well. Democrats need to understand the motivations of republican voters better. Winning this election dosn't help that. The day before the election a news crew was interviewing a elderly republican voter in a Florida nursing home. Questioned about why she voted for trump. She responded "because he will protect us from the caravan". Ron, Marc, et al , illustrate in a valuable way the thinking and reasoning of trump supporters. The sooner they can be understood. The sooner the republican party can be rebuilt. The sooner the democrats can advance their agenda. No offense to Marc and Ron intended.

The Memo: Five lessons for 2020 from the 2018 exit polls https://thehill.com/homenews/the-memo/416027-the-memo-five-lessons-for-2020-from-the-2018-exit-polls Here Are 9 Lessons From the 2018 Midterm Elections http://time.com/5447861/9-lessons-2018-midterm-elections/ and not all related but a very good read: https://www.newyorker.com/news/current/four-lessons-from-the-2018-midterm-election-season

And if they don't, will you blame Trump? No. He’ll blame illegal immigrants voting in their millions, hacked voting machines, DNC interference with republican voters, a shadow conspiracy to hide ‘true’ results or Obama. Says the party that's running around going Russia Russia Russia Russia Oh thanks for the irony in the laugh. You can't make this shit up you said? 40% of Republicans say Russia is an ally or friendly, up from 22% in 2014 https://news.gallup.com/poll/237137/republicans-positive-relations-russia.aspx When they deliver stolen e-mails when requested.... Some business can't pass on wage and cost increases. The counter argument is that these business should be allowed to fail. trump was on the right track to engage in What you should know about apprenticeships, Trump’s answer to the skills gap https://qz.com/1005062/trumps-plan-for-job-training-involves-apprenticeships-heres-what-you-should-know/ But as the article states his imitative was merely and extension of Obama's program. Germany uses such programs to enormous success. It should be a $billion dollar program, not $90 million. Minimum wages should be designed for entry level food service jobs. Beyond that wages should be pulled up by expanding labor demands. Which arise from increased worker skills, expanding productivity, expanding labor demands.

I actually have a hard time finding radicalism on the left. Are there radical policy proposals coming from the left that I don't know about? 1. College should be free, He has introduced a plan to make tuition at public universities and colleges free by taxing Wall Street speculators. 2. The minimum wage should be $15, Sanders argues that no one who works 40 hours a week should be impoverished, https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-35364868 Rep. Barbara Lee (Calif.): Called for a $26 minimum wage so that “people . . . could afford to live in areas now where they cannot afford to live” and “you would increase diversity in certain communities where you don’t have diversity anymore'

The most hopeful thing I saw in the results was a swing away from the right, probably because of objections to Trumpism, in the suburban areas around the cities. The left/right split between the rural areas and the inner cities did not budge. But some of the middle class, especially women, seem to have had enough. Gerrymandering involves spreading your dependable support around so that you have just enough in each district. It can backfire on you if you drive that support away from you and you find yourself coming up a little short. Or republicans who strayed away from the polling booths because they no longer have a party to vote for. When new republican leaders emerge. Like Montana's governor Steve Bullock. Who believes in compassionate conservatism, a middle ground, a government for all. The radicals on the left will have to match their sense of meeting of the minds. trump cultists will have to return to their racist white enclaves.

Did he bleed much? Is his family in mourning? Do you have a clue what the word terrorist means? You don't think having people storm your property would be terrifying? You have a very narrow view of what can be defined as terrorism. Please provide the evidence of "storming" as your post doesn't reference such. Tucker Carson is not a journalist. He is a Murdoch hack, an extension of Robert Murdoch's assistance for his friend, trump.Just as Fox is not an objective news based media organization. "Tucker Carlson, we will fight! We know where you sleep at night!" They called him a "racist scumbag" and hurled epithets. Is not a threat. We know where you live and we are going to make you pay, kill you, hurt you're family, etc. is. "We know where you live", "racist scumbag" and hurled epithets" is going nowhere at any prosecutors office. Sorry to ruin your sense of righteous outrage. Head on back to Hannity and twitter. Perhaps they have fabricated something new. Valium and Xanax may help. They work for trump when he hears the word "Mueller".

Consider that may be the truth. Don't fear me. I am an old man living out the remainder of my life in Christian sanctity in the mountains. However... WWG1WGA Ron, America will turn the ship to the centrist ideologies that made it great before. Not the hodgepodge populist ideas of a self serving criminal. Instead one that believes leadership for all, benefits all. You're like the Boer's in SA that fought in their rural enclaves the right of all to achieve freedom.Blacks included. "The Boers were hostile toward indigenous African peoples, with whom they fought frequent range wars, and toward the government of the Cape, which was attempting to control Boer movements and commerce. They overtly compared their way of life to that of the Hebrew patriarchs of the Bible, developing independent patriarchal communities based upon a mobile pastoralist economy. Staunch Calvinists, they saw themselves as the children of God in the wilderness, a Christian elect divinely ordained to rule the land and the backward natives therein" https://www.britannica.com/topic/Boer-people Joe, America has professional LE, the FBI. A free press. A independent judiciary. All of these were bought by the blood of the war of independence and the civil war. Someone of trump's caliber will not destroy those ideals. Whitaker alone cannot corrupt the department of justice. Leaks, a free press, States courts, etc. will crush him. trump's actions are the acts of desperation. Pushing the women and children aside to reach the lifeboats on the titanic. From 08.23.18; "The Fox News host and his team put together a segment Wednesday night in which he bemoaned that a land-reform policy proposal in South Africa was sparking the murdering of white farmers in that country. It was a dubious claim at best (the so-called white land grab would also apply to black farmers, among other things). But it hit all the right notes for President Donald Trump. Later that evening, Trump proclaimed, via Twitter, that he had asked his secretary of state to check in on the matter of “farm seizures and expropriations and the large scale killing of farmers.” The “South African Government,” he added, “is now seizing land from white farmers.’” In case there was any confusion where he got the idea, Trump helpfully tagged his tweet with the verified handles “@TuckerCarlson” and “@FoxNews.” To say this is not how foreign policy is traditionally made is a tremendous understatement. Trump’s missive drew the ire of not just the Anti-Defamation League but also senior South African government officials. And he did it all, it appears, without bothering to dive much further into the topic than watching that single cable-news segment that evening on TV. " https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-has-found-a-voice-to-love-in-tucker-carlson-that-love-isnt-always-returned

The global eradication of smallpox was certified, based on intense verification activities in countries, by a commission of eminent scientists on 9 December 1979 and subsequently endorsed by the World Health Assembly on 8 May 1980. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smallpox#Eradication Yeah but he is a Fox news expert: David P. Ward Subject Matter Expert Border Security/Immigration Enforcement; Guest Commentator FOX News, FOX Business Mount Dora, Florida Security and Investigations Current National Association of Former Border Patrol Officers, US Coast Guard Auxiliary Previous Bonner County Coroner Office, US Department of Homeland Security, National Ski Patrol Education US Border Patrol Academy

That is very politically incorrect. How will crazy white guys going on shooting sprees help to manipulate voters? Now, a bunch of unarmed migrants, on the other hand . . . . Yeah but ‘They’re coming in with diseases such as smallpox and leprosy and TB [tuberculosis] that are going to infect our people in the United States.’, said David Ward, also appearing on Fox, Now if these diseases get into the Florida nursing homes that are filled with trump supporters.

Mods should move this to the Banana Republic thread where it belongs.

I have faith in America but the crossing of the Delaware is causing the skiff to take aboard water https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2018/11/jeff-sessions-resignation-donald-trump/575305/ and more dangerous waters are ahead.

First I've heard of this, but googling turns up multiple articles, e.g. https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-inc-podcast-rudy-giuliani-mystery-trips-to-russia-armenia-and-ukraine That is just to bizarre. It sees like something that only Breitbart could come up with.

pretty much a victory for the president. He lost the house as was predicted and as is normal with midterms. But the games in the Senate are nearly unprecedented. one thing's for sure you won't hear all the gnashing of teeth and whining that the Democrats would have done had they not won the house As usual you're wrong. 1. As trump stated correctly the US economy was the strongest since WW 2. Actually, as usual he lied and stated it was the strongest in history. "Electoral models predict that a strong economy favors the party in power, and that a weak economy dooms it to crushing losses." https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/us-economy-midterm-congressional-elections-by-michael-boskin-2018-08 Yet as "HE" correctly stated. This was a referendum on him. 2. The Mueller report will be released with democrats in charge of the house. Democrats can now investigate and begin to expose the corruption of the trump regime.Which republicans have up till now acted to conceal. 3. AP analysis shows how gerrymandering benefited GOP in 2016 https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/ap-analysis-shows-gerrymandering-benefited-gop-2016 Despite a 20% advantage that gerrymandering gave to GOP house members they still lost. Now the shoe is on the other foot so to speak. 4. Two wars started by trump will now start to bite the US economy and its political objectives. The trade war with China and its blockade of the Iranian economy. Re Sanctions. A. A long trade war would hurt the U.S. more than China https://www.cbsnews.com/news/a-long-trade-war-would-hurt-the-u-s-more-than-china/ B. Iran increases missile spending to counter US sanctions https://www.dw.com/en/iran-increases-missile-spending-to-counter-us-sanctions/a-40071867 - Global powers condemn US sanctions against Iran and encourage businesses to ignore the Trump administration https://www.cnbc.com/2018/08/10/global-powers-condemn-us-sanctions-against-iran-and-encourage-business.html -Iran sanctions: Trump administration exempts eight countries, including China, from new penalties https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2018/11/05/donald-trump-iran-sanctions-exemptions-oil-mike-pompeo-japan-china-india/1885801002/ "The Trump administration will allow Japan, China, India and five other countries to escape U.S. sanctions against Iran, even as those nations continue to buy oil from Iran in defiance of the White House’s push to block all such sales. The decision to grant eight exemptions – including to six of Iran's biggest oil-buying customers – sparked some criticism among hardline conservatives who are normally aligned with the White House."... "The Ayatollahs will use such access to simply wait out the Trump administration, in the hopes that a future administration will be more appeasing," Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said in a statement Friday. A New York-based advocacy group, United Against Nuclear Iran, said the administration "caved" in its decision to grant waivers. "Whatever happened to maximum pressure," the group tweeted. "They caved. Big time." As usual the Us has gone to war with its hands tied behind its back because of political stupidity. Remember Vietnam Marc? China will be patient and will wait out trump. China gets US news and contrary to what Fox, Hannity, Marc, etc. say. They know US law and time will put trump in his proper place.

WTF? Is this code for the Apocalypse of St. John (16:16), for SHTF? English translation please.

This, like trump's statement is not believed, or accepted by the propagators of the lies Its merely pablum to be spoon-fed to the masses, the other cult members.So they can all cheer, bob their heads, shuckling, so to speak. To show their worship, their acceptance of the image of trump.His message that only we count, we matter. That the constitution is just a group of ideas. To be accepted or discarded, whichever is convenient to our current message. Like the truth.

I believe it's closer to $1 TRILLION, and forecast by the nonpartisan CBO to continue rising after a decline during the Obama years: www.cnbc.com/2018/10/15/us-budget-deficit-expands-to-779-billion-in-fiscal-2018-as-spending-surges.html Quite right, In addition unfunded corporate pension liabilities are not included in the national debt. S&P 500’s Biggest Pension Plans Face $382 Billion Funding Gap https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2017-corporate-pensions/ Your Pension Is a Lie: There's $210 Trillion Of Liabilities Our Government Can't Fulfill https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnmauldin/2017/10/10/your-pension-is-a-lie-theres-210-trillion-of-liabilities-our-government-cant-fulfill/#1dead00c65b1 Instead of closing the gap US companies are buying back stock and issuing dividends Nor, US state unfunded pension liabilities. How Big Is Your State’s Share of $6 Trillion in Unfunded Pension Liabilities? https://www.heritage.org/budget-and-spending/commentary/how-big-your-states-share-6-trillion-unfunded-pension-liabilities Debt Myths, Debunked The "government" is composed of federal, state and local governments, government agencies and government-sponsored enterprises. Ultimately, taxpayers are responsible for all these bodies' debts. The federal government's financial obligations total about $120 trillion. U.S. state and local governments officially owe $3 trillion and have another $5 trillion in unfunded liabilities themselves. Federal agencies and government sponsored enterprises owe another $8 trillion, which is not included in the federal government's numbers. This brings total U.S. government obligations to over $135 trillion, conservatively estimated. https://www.usnews.com/opinion/economic-intelligence/articles/2016-12-01/myths-and-facts-about-the-us-federal-debt .

Based on these numbers, it looks like a continuation of the recovery that has been going on since around 2012/2013: How real is Trump's jobs 'miracle'? - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-46075879 Enlighten us on what Obama did to create this. Why President Trump's Tax Cuts Are Making The U.S. Trade Deficit Bigger https://www.forbes.com/sites/francescoppola/2018/08/31/why-president-trumps-tax-cuts-are-making-the-trade-deficit-bigger/#3d4424d148e3 How Debt Could Blow Up the Trump Economy http://fortune.com/2018/03/15/us-national-debt-trump-tax-cuts/ Companies invest in the "tools of production" i.e. Capex when taxation and economic prospects are favorable for sound returns on investment. None of which is happening. All of which was forecast by economists before the tax cuts were implemented. Unexpected Drop in U.S. Worker Productivity Casts Doubt on Trump’s Economic Target http://dc.medill.northwestern.edu/blog/2018/02/01/unexpected-drop-u-s-worker-productivity-casts-doubt-trumps-economic-target/#sthash.ce2L7V7l.dpbs So How Are Trump’s Tax Cuts Actually Working Out for the Economy? https://observer.com/2018/08/trump-tax-cuts-drive-stock-buybacks/ But new studies show that the extra profits reaped by corporations from the tax cuts are going in a different direction. Instead of the money being spent on workers and job creation, corporations have amped up buybacks—investing in their own stock. Ever since the new tax law was signed on December 22 of last year, announcements of plans to buy back stock have poured out of Wall Street. A newly released report from POLITICO shows that CEOs have overwhelmingly used the extra capital generated from Trump’s reduction of the corporate tax rate for “insider sales.” Read, learn and be "enlightened".

Right, much easier to just fight among each other and lose our lives over some statue rather than attack the source of the problem. At least we'll have some good footage, headlines and facebook stories to broadly damn the conservatives at the expense of the deceased. . . No wonder nobody trusts liberals/democrats to get anything done. . . Like there has been a -"Wall built, paid for by Mexico", -a "infrastructure plan to rebuild America", - "Hillary Clinton locked up" - "a plan to fix immigration" All promised by trump, none of which was forthcoming. How many bills has Trump signed into law in his first 500 days — and how does it compare to past presidents? ...According to GovTrack,... NBC News counted each piece of legislation passed under Trump and the previous four presidents and removed those that simply named, commemorated, awarded or appointed an individual, group or cause. Under that count, Trump is also about on par with his previous two successors. Of the 176 bills he has signed into law, 132 are classified as substantive, compared to 118 for Obama and 133 for George W. Bush. But George H.W. Bush and Clinton are far ahead of all three, clocking in at 170 and 177. https://www.nbcnews.com/card/how-many-bills-has-trump-signed-law-his-first-500-n879886 trump's biggest? The tax cuts to be paid for by increased economic performance. trump Says GDP of '4, 5, and Even 6%' Is possible all paid for by the tax cuts. in fact the growth was paid for by debt placed upon US children who will have to pay for it. A truth!. trump https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HWI4Y6GWNg as long as bankruptcy or someone else pays for his economic missteps. The foundations of sound arguments are facts, documented. Not giberdybabble.

Not so much anger, more despair that humanity keeps repeating the same mistakes agin. I know, what a miserable life Eeyore. What are we ever going to do about all these stupid humans? What would you be doing with your day if you weren't so intent on telling Franco how silly he's being for responding to posts on here that don't materially affect him? You see where I'm going with that... right? Called trolling. Why would he be "angry" when it is merely one of the factors that explains why the US ranks poorly in its democratic institutions performance and transparency. Why the US trails Nordic and other G-7 countries in opportunity for young people. Gerrymandering, the Christian right, the mistaken concepts of social mobility, overindulgence influence of the military, etc. All mix together in US politics outweighing health care, social programs, etc. That other industrialized countries rank higher. Science? Well someone in another thread is currently trolling that science and Christians beliefs operate hand in glove. Yet for US Christian groups abortion is almost the sole political driver of their thinking.

Mostly in Norway where they enjoy one of the highest standards of living in the world.... Funny though...to gain citizenship in Norway you must learn their language. We should do that here! Good idea, you should learn the Caddoan language, Plains Cree, Iroquois, etc.