The Goat Pen

Professor Tiger wrote:I liked the Democrats as they were - the party of the common person and those in need.

I don't like the Democrats as they are now - the party of identity politics/victimology; triggers and safe spaces; media celebrities, Silicon Valley and Wall Street; open borders; anti-1st amendment, anti-2nd amendment, anti-10th amendment, and now, anti-4th amendment; appeasement; disarmament, and AGW.

If they ever go back to being the party of the common person and those in need, then I'll like them again. I like that much better than the GOP - the party of making millionaires into billionaires, fiscal irresponsibility, and neo-connery.

I miss those days too when the DNC represented the people. I think after Reagan won twice and then HW Bush, they realized they needed to sell out and become the party of the rich lite. Sadly, we have a two party system and both parties now mostly represent the rich. No one is looking out for the little guy any more which is why so many Americans are hurting and half our jobs are being done in China for half the price.

Tree wrote:

Professor Tiger wrote:I liked the Democrats as they were - the party of the common person and those in need.

I don't like the Democrats as they are now - the party of identity politics/victimology; triggers and safe spaces; media celebrities, Silicon Valley and Wall Street; open borders; anti-1st amendment, anti-2nd amendment, anti-10th amendment, and now, anti-4th amendment; appeasement; disarmament, and AGW.

If they ever go back to being the party of the common person and those in need, then I'll like them again. I like that much better than the GOP - the party of making millionaires into billionaires, fiscal irresponsibility, and neo-connery.

I miss those days too when the DNC represented the people. I think after Reagan won twice and then HW Bush, they realized they needed to sell out and become the party of the rich lite. Sadly, we have a two party system and both parties now mostly represent the rich. No one is looking out for the little guy any more

Only Trump. That is why the GOP dislikes him and why the dems fucking HATE him....

Tree wrote:which is why so many Americans are hurting and half our jobs are being done in China for half the price.

A lot less than half the price unfortunately.

There is a significant percentage of US citizens, where they simply must have a well formed job. They can not do "project" based work where they are always forced to "think." Not every citizen has the capacity to do that (not for compensation anyway.) The information age has been great (outstanding really) for about 60-65% of this country. The rest of it? It's been an economic nightmare from which they can't wake.

There is a significant percentage of US citizens, where they simply must have a well formed job.

I'm going to channel Bernie here and say that all Americans must have a well formed job. I've come to the conclusion that the whole capitalism thing is just an excuse to pay a hundred million people at the bottom a garbage poverty wage. Is there any capitalism for the few at the top? Nope. They get bailed out as soon as needed. Can't have the guys at the top losing their wallets, now can we.

No

" I've come to the conclusion that the whole capitalism thing is just an excuse to pay a hundred million people at the bottom a garbage poverty wage."

Karl Marx beat you to that conclusion by about 150 years...

Tree wrote:
I miss those days too when the DNC represented the people. I think after Reagan won twice and then HW Bush, they realized they needed to sell out and become the party of the rich lite. Sadly, we have a two party system and both parties now mostly represent the rich. No one is looking out for the little guy any more which is why so many Americans are hurting and half our jobs are being done in China for half the price.

In 2015 the SEC started implementing the part of Dodd-Frank that made corporations publish figures regarding the pay gap between CEOs/upper management versus median workers. Seems investors took notice and started making moves to reduce that gap, and big business went into apoplexy. Trump's new SEC guy has suspended that rule, citing an 'undue burden placed on the companies/compliance difficulties etc'. It's clear that Trump and the GOP congress want to eliminate this rule as well as all of Dodd-Frank, just like they've killed key consumer protection legislation.

Yeah, there's still differences between the parties. Economic-wise, in education, the environment, women's reproductive rights, immigration, new energy, science, religion
etc blah blah. Stuff that even some little guys care about.

IB, you asked what a "back channel" is. It is a common tool used in diplomacy, where two governments' representatives talk to each other unofficially because to talk overly is impossible or undesirable. It happens all the time. Most recently, Obama had a back channel with the Iranians during the negotiations over the nuke deal. Obama didn't want his appeasements, capitulations and surrenders to go public.

bluetick wrote:

Tree wrote:
I miss those days too when the DNC represented the people. I think after Reagan won twice and then HW Bush, they realized they needed to sell out and become the party of the rich lite. Sadly, we have a two party system and both parties now mostly represent the rich. No one is looking out for the little guy any more which is why so many Americans are hurting and half our jobs are being done in China for half the price.

In 2015 the SEC started implementing the part of Dodd-Frank that made corporations publish figures regarding the pay gap between CEOs/upper management versus median workers. Seems investors took notice and started making moves to reduce that gap, and big business went into apoplexy. Trump's new SEC guy has suspended that rule, citing an 'undue burden placed on the companies/compliance difficulties etc'. It's clear that Trump and the GOP congress want to eliminate this rule as well as all of Dodd-Frank, just like they've killed key consumer protection legislation.

Yeah, there's still differences between the parties. Economic-wise, in education, the environment, women's reproductive rights, immigration, new energy, science, religion
etc blah blah. Stuff that even some little guys care about.

The Dodd-Frank act ended the careers of about 100,000+ people at a now non-existent company formerly called GE Capital. There is no more GE Capital. And (as a result) over 100,000+ people (all of whom were earning 6 figures or more) lost their jobs. Many of them lost their careers. And I don't think you are sophisticated enough to fully understand WHY the Dodd Frank act is to blame. I don't think you are smart enough to fully understand why. I KNOW that Barney Frank and Chris Dodd (both smart enough to know all the lives they have ruined) don't care. Neither does Pocahontas Warren.

Tree wrote:

There is a significant percentage of US citizens, where they simply must have a well formed job.

I'm going to channel Bernie here and say that all Americans must have a well formed job.

No. I haven't had a well-formed-job since 1993. I was born lucky, I was born intelligent. I have problem solving mind so I can earn a very lucrative living doing project based work. But I am painfully aware that many people can not do what I am doing. I am trying to look out for them.

Idiot.

innocentbystander wrote:
No. I haven't had a well-formed-job since 1993. I was born lucky, I was born intelligent. I have problem solving mind so I can earn a very lucrative living doing project based work. But I am painfully aware that many people can not do what I am doing. I am trying to look out for them.

Here's a tip, Gaylord. Use proper grammar when you post fantasies of your greatness.

Dumbass.

Democrat Senator Mark Warner, Senate Intelligence Committee member, admits "no smoking gun at this point" connecting Trump and Russia at 6:00.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/ ... probe.html

Tiger, are you on fbook? I admire your sensibilities and would like to further a relationship with you in other spheres. Some place that isn't always so wrought with spite and condensation. What say you?

More on Kushnergate and his nefarious backchannels with Moscow: On February 10, the New York Times did a surprisingly complimentary story about Kushner establishing a back channel with Mexico, calling him a "shadow diplomat."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics ... e757118b3d

It's only when Kushner did the same thing with -THE RUSSIANS! - that the newspaper of record of Trump Derangement Syndrome decided that it is now treasonous and he is going to jail.

After all the smoke - billowing, seemingly endless smoke.. wouldn't it be an awesome move for Trump to show his taxes?

innocentbystander wrote:Tiger, are you on fbook? I admire your sensibilities and would like to further a relationship with you in other spheres. Some place that isn't always so wrought with spite and condensation. What say you?

Sounds like something might be blossoming b/w these two charmers...

innocentbystander wrote:

bluetick wrote:

Tree wrote:
I miss those days too when the DNC represented the people. I think after Reagan won twice and then HW Bush, they realized they needed to sell out and become the party of the rich lite. Sadly, we have a two party system and both parties now mostly represent the rich. No one is looking out for the little guy any more which is why so many Americans are hurting and half our jobs are being done in China for half the price.

In 2015 the SEC started implementing the part of Dodd-Frank that made corporations publish figures regarding the pay gap between CEOs/upper management versus median workers. Seems investors took notice and started making moves to reduce that gap, and big business went into apoplexy. Trump's new SEC guy has suspended that rule, citing an 'undue burden placed on the companies/compliance difficulties etc'. It's clear that Trump and the GOP congress want to eliminate this rule as well as all of Dodd-Frank, just like they've killed key consumer protection legislation.

Yeah, there's still differences between the parties. Economic-wise, in education, the environment, women's reproductive rights, immigration, new energy, science, religion
etc blah blah. Stuff that even some little guys care about.

The Dodd-Frank act ended the careers of about 100,000+ people at a now non-existent company formerly called GE Capital. There is no more GE Capital. And (as a result) over 100,000+ people (all of whom were earning 6 figures or more) lost their jobs. Many of them lost their careers. And I don't think you are sophisticated enough to fully understand WHY the Dodd Frank act is to blame. I don't think you are smart enough to fully understand why. I KNOW that Barney Frank and Chris Dodd (both smart enough to know all the lives they have ruined) don't care. Neither does Pocahontas Warren.

There are a number of things wrong with this. First, GE Capital still exists. Second, they are spinning off or selling a number of their businesses but that doesn't mean everyone who worked there is out of a job. Third, I'm very skeptical that there are 100,000 people each earning $100K or more out of a job and/or seeking a new career. I can't prove this but this seems like a very unlikely claim.

IB, thanks for the invite, but I don't do Facebook. Never have, and never missed it. When I feel the need to pontificate, I do it around here and TGP.

Dodd Frank has not hurt the big institutions like GE Capital, but have hurt the small and mid size banks. There is a huge amount of consolidation on these sizes of banks because the cost of following Dodd-Frank is too impracticable for them. There are far less of them than in the past. Here in Charlotte 5 bank mergers happened so far this year. The jobs may not be $100K jobs, but they're $80K-$100K corporate jobs at these mid tier banks. My secretary just found out her husband's bank will be bought. He will lose his job.

It is better to bring back Glass Steagle than to have this, but both parties won't go back to it because it hurts the third leg of globalization, Wall Street.

I'd like to hurt your legs...