US Politics

[sunrise]

You only have to go back to the beginning of our great republic to see why things are the way they are today... George Washington hated the two party system, and actually said that it would be the demise of our nation. People are more divided today than I have ever seen them. It was very sad that Trump and Clinton were the best we could do, with 330,000,000 Americans... If I was given the chance to write just a single law for the good old USA, it would be that it's against the law for anyone to belong to a political party, or for one to even exist...

I think that would be an awesome idea. What would the political landscape look like if there wasn't a party system? But there would also have to be other changes, such as campaign financing and reversing Citizens United.

[Ironman]

Obama couldn't do everything he wanted because of the obstructionist actions of Republicans. They openly declared they would automatically fight any policies he put forward. Even at the end. He had a right to pick a Supreme Court Justice - they had no defensible right to block this.

Trump on the other hand is already signaling he'll be breaking BIG promises. Promises that got him votes. And it's nothing to do with Democrats. He's going back on his promise to reduce prescription drug prices. And the people he hired clearly want to gut Social Security and MediCare.

I'd have to wait and comment on that, but I have not heard him say anything about Medicare. He knows that it is people HIS AGE are affected by this, so it doesn't make any sense other than to try and reset how the money is being used. I don't think "gutting" is the right term to use on this. Other than that, it's fear news and as anxiety sufferers, we should know better.

Actually, yes they did have a right to block it and Congress has done it before - multiple times. It was Obama they blocked....and they did it he put in two Justices already. With everything that happened in his eight years, the people did NOT want to see his stuff continue.

I can't believe the outright hatred for the Republican Party - the Democratic Party is fractured because they still can't figure out what they did wrong. They went too far with this President and then thought their poo didn't stink. They went into areas of our lives that they should not have done. He did it to make a name for himself and to try and destroy the Democratic Party.....but it backfired because they don't realize how out of touch they really are with the people.

Now, Iran is testing missiles. Cuba's leaders can now say "sanctions?! We can still be Communist and sell our cigars to America!" What would John Kennedy say?
Syria is a mess because Obama let Putin in. It's all a mess.

Hillary Clinton had the "let them eat cake" aura about her, not to mention "the server".

[Ironman]

That, and him not making good on some of his election promises is why his supporters are disappointed. They were promised big change, but got only small change. Nothing to do with Obamacare though.



Like Hillary, Romey had only himself to blame, can't run a bad campaign and expect to win.



Except for the Republicans who tried to block every move he made from the start.



I don't blame him for doing that, in fact I supported him at the time, because IS were Iraq government's problem to deal with, not America's. No-one expected the Iraqi forces would run away from their posts like that and by time Obama could act and get the military in there the damage was already done. It is unfair to blame Obama, he didn't start the Iraq war which created IS in the first place and he couldn't foresee the forces running away.



Netanyahu is trying to improve his low approval ratings while trying to survive an criminal investigation, he is trying to make it seems like the world is against Israel and he is their great defender.



This is what I have a problem with politics today, it is not about policies any more, it is only about attacking people personally. To say Obama is an evil guy that wanted to destroy America allows people on the left to call Trump Hitler. Just like Trump, Obama isn't a bad guy, he had good intentions and genuinely wanted to improve America. You may disagree with his policies and actions, but to claim that he wanted to lower America's life is completely unfair. Obama did good things and deserves credit for it and I'm willing to bet he had a positive effect on your life too.

Well, in that respect it was Obama's Presidency that started the dirty tactics. He did it to McCain, H. Clinton, and Romney. The focus wasn't on the issues; it was on the person. Note how Hillary kept saying he was "not qualified" and Obama joined her?

Iraq wasn't stable enough, for one thing, and I don't think they trusted Obama the way they did Bush.

Obama's acts were questionable. His actions emboldened the enemies who should still have been sanctioned. Iran has not been nicer and neither has Cuba. We should have waited until both Castro brothers were dead to reopen relations - we will never get through to the current regime, as they are showing that now. Everything was politically correct and personally uplifting to him. He could not take responsibility for anything under his watch.

Netanyahu's wife was the one in trouble - that's on her to defend.

To be President of the United States, all you have to do is (1) be at least 35 years of age, (2) be a natural-born citizen, and (3) to have been a resident in the United States for 14 years. It doesn't say anything about being in Congress or a Governor. So, yes, Trump is qualified.

[Member11]

Well, in that respect it was Obama's Presidency that started the dirty tactics. He did it to McCain, H. Clinton, and Romney. The focus wasn't on the issues; it was on the person. Note how Hillary kept saying he was "not qualified" and Obama joined her?

So you fully support the guy who only does personal attacks?

Iraq wasn't stable enough, for one thing, and I don't think they trusted Obama the way they did Bush.

The war started by Blush on a lie might have something to do with Iraq being unstable.

Obama's acts were questionable. His actions emboldened the enemies who should still have been sanctioned. Iran has not been nicer and neither has Cuba. We should have waited until both Castro brothers were dead to reopen relations - we will never get through to the current regime, as they are showing that now. Everything was politically correct and personally uplifting to him. He could not take responsibility for anything under his watch.

You say that but you don't provide any examples, especially anything that effected you personally. Your hate of him seems to be from people telling you that you should hate him rather than anything he did.

Netanyahu's wife was the one in trouble - that's on her to defend.

Come on, dude. You really think his wife did corruption without him knowing? If it was Obama's wife, would you still think Obama didn't know anything about it?

To be President of the United States, all you have to do is (1) be at least 35 years of age, (2) be a natural-born citizen, and (3) to have been a resident in the United States for 14 years. It doesn't say anything about being in Congress or a Governor. So, yes, Trump is qualified.

What does that have to do with anything I said?

[Ironman]

So you fully support the guy who only does personal attacks?
It depends on the attacks. During the campaign, his attacks were kind of petty. He was more focused on delivering his message and what he wanted to do.


The war started by Blush on a lie might have something to do with Iraq being unstable.
.....partly. Iraq also refused to continue with sanctions imposed on them for the Gulf War - 1991. That was part of it that led to the WDM business, things Hussein could have done under the table. He was keeping aid for himself and not giving it to the people. There was more to the story than the WMD stuff in the beginning. Iraq was still to pay for the Gulf War.


You say that but you don't provide any examples, especially anything that effected you personally. Your hate of him seems to be from people telling you that you should hate him rather than anything he did.
Directly, it affected me in the workplace. I work for a global company that is seemingly anti-American. They will hire people from other countries before they hire Americans. We were told by my boss that "we cost too much". A lot of that is the regulations and insurance costs that were added during the Obama Presidency. The rules and regulations were brought on right when we were at our weakest point after layoffs. It's like we are being punished for fighting for our jobs. I have also noticed that we are forced to pay an extra $400 on our taxes for not having health insurance (which I do have, obviously), but I found it disturbing that it was a consistent $400 "penalty". That's against our way of life. We still have too many people out of work and not looking. That's a failure.


Come on, dude. You really think his wife did corruption without him knowing? If it was Obama's wife, would you still think Obama didn't know anything about it?
She was mistreating her staff. I don't think there was corruption. When it comes to the corruption, we have a slogan: "innocent until proven guilty." It depends - one spouse can do things without the other knowing.


What does that have to do with anything I said?
It is the "qualification" issue - people trashing Trump because he has never held public office. His election was basically a shakeup of our entire Government, Republican and Democrat. Our Congress has been dreadfully deadlocked with political bickering and it was driving people bananas.
[/QUOTE]

[Member11]

...partly. Iraq also refused to continue with sanctions imposed on them for the Gulf War - 1991. That was part of it that led to the WDM business, things Hussein could have done under the table. He was keeping aid for himself and not giving it to the people. There was more to the story than the WMD stuff in the beginning. Iraq was still to pay for the Gulf War.

The WMD stuff was a lie, made up by the Bush administration, on the other hand, Saudi Arabia continuously goes against the USA despite the USA handing over billions in taxpayers' funds, gave comfort and funding to the 9/11 attackers and is funding IS and other terrorists in the middle east to this day. I don't see how what happened in the Gulf War back 26 years ago is more important than what Saudi Arabia is doing.

Directly, it affected me in the workplace. I work for a global company that is seemingly anti-American. They will hire people from other countries before they hire Americans. We were told by my boss that "we cost too much". A lot of that is the regulations and insurance costs that were added during the Obama Presidency. The rules and regulations were brought on right when we were at our weakest point after layoffs.

That is the result of corporate greed which started 40 or so years back and is getting worst by the day, and it is happening in every developed country. It is also a major problem here in Australia. To say Obama caused or started it is completely unfair, although Obama didn't do much about it. And the issue isn't caused by rules and regulations, if businesses can run and make huge profits in war zones, some rules and regulations isn't going to hurt.

I have also noticed that we are forced to pay an extra $400 on our taxes for not having health insurance (which I do have, obviously), but I found it disturbing that it was a consistent $400 "penalty". That's against our way of life. We still have too many people out of work and not looking. That's a failure.

The USA doesn't have speeding fines, parking fines, etc? If your employer isn't providing health insurance or at least helping you pay for your own, it is breaking the law and hence the penalty.

I don't think there was corruption. When it comes to the corruption, we have a slogan: "innocent until proven guilty." It depends - one spouse can do things without the other knowing.

It is what the police are saying. I didn't say whether he is guilty or not and I couldn't care less about it, however, it and his low poll numbers is why he is refusing to do a peace deal and trying to make it seem like the world is against Israel.

It is the "qualification" issue - people trashing Trump because he has never held public office.

And I disagree with that argument people are using against Trump. You shouldn't assume my opinion on something.

[Ironman]

Saudi Arabia gave Hillary Clinton millions of dollars, too.
Obama put on tighter regulations - he made it harder to hire and called it "spreading the wealth".
We have speeding fines, but we have to actively do something. We don't have to have insurance; that's our risk we take.
Trump has a stance on Israel. The Palestinian people do not want peace with Israel; they want Israel gone.

About his eligibility - that statement was for just information. There are a lot of people around the Net saying he isn't qualified because he'd never held office.
I am as eligible as he is

[Member11]

Saudi Arabia gave Hillary Clinton millions of dollars, too.

And they gave to Trump's businesses too. And both things makes it okay how?

Obama put on tighter regulations - he made it harder to hire and called it "spreading the wealth".

So you don't want a fair wage and just conditions? Want to work for $2 per day?

We have speeding fines, but we have to actively do something. We don't have to have insurance; that's our risk we take.

Unless you get hurt and end up in the ER where taxpayers usually foot the bill.

The Palestinian people do not want peace with Israel; they want Israel gone.

Of course they do, they have been stuck in a state of war with Israel since forever. Doesn't mean a peace deal can't be made, Netanyahu is the one refusing to make a deal.

[Ironman]

Netanyahu knows more about the Palestinians than we do. There is a reason.

Trump was almost completely self-funded with his campaign.

I want a fair wage, but when they favor cheaper foreign employment, that's what they get. I am having to constantly clean up for the mistakes for my Indian coworker, who has been with the company for over six years. She still does her job like it's her first year. That is extra strain on me.

I went to the ER three times last summer. I know how much it costs. It's steep but not bad unless other tests are done. Again, that's a risk; health insurance shouldn't be forced especially the way it was done in 2010. That was a one-party affair. It was forced through without even reading the law.

[Member11]

Netanyahu knows more about the Palestinians than we do. There is a reason.

I just told you the reason, his low approval numbers and the corruption investigation. It's politics 101.

Trump was almost completely self-funded with his campaign.

He says that, but the written documents he provided says different.

I want a fair wage, but when they favor cheaper foreign employment, that's what they get. I am having to constantly clean up for the mistakes for my Indian coworker, who has been with the company for over six years. She still does her job like it's her first year. That is extra strain on me.

Wouldn't it be good if there was some regulations that stopped corporations from doing that?

I went to the ER three times last summer. I know how much it costs. It's steep but not bad unless other tests are done. Again, that's a risk; health insurance shouldn't be forced especially the way it was done in 2010. That was a one-party affair. It was forced through without even reading the law.

You paid for the costs of your treatment, not the costs for the ER itself to exist, you are using something that others are paying for through taxes and insurance, you are getting a penalty because you are not putting in your share.

[Ironman]

I just told you the reason, his low approval numbers and the corruption investigation. It's politics 101.



He says that, but the written documents he provided says different.



Wouldn't it be good if there was some regulations that stopped corporations from doing that?

You paid for the costs of your treatment, not the costs for the ER itself to exist, you are using something that others are paying for through taxes and insurance, you are getting a penalty because you are not putting in your share.

Well, it's also politics 101 that investigations have been politically driven. He was questioned twice right after New Year's and says that there is nothing. We still have to call him innocent until proven guilty. It's not denial, but in America we do try to be fair to even the accused.

It will all come out. if there was something shady, it would have come to light.

I do get overtime, but being made to feel like I am compensating for other people's ineptitude or laziness, that's not cool.

No, when it comes to insurance, I pay into the group to get the discount or I pay for everything by myself. No insurance means 100% on the person. That's the risk. I had to do that after being laid off in 2002 with a root canal. With insurance, I would have paid 20% of the full cost. Since I chose not to have insurance, I had to pay the full amount. When the dentist saw that I was doing this, he was nice enough to put a gold crown on my molar instead of a porcelain one. That was out of his goodness (as gold is very expensive).

[Member11]

Well, it's also politics 101 that investigations have been politically driven. He was questioned twice right after New Year's and says that there is nothing. We still have to call him innocent until proven guilty. It's not denial, but in America we do try to be fair to even the accused.

You missed my point, I'm saying Netanyahu, himself, is using the peace process and the UN vote to make himself look like the victim to distract the voters from his low poll numbers and the investigations. The UN vote was on something that isn't enforceable and basically just asks Israel to stop building on Palestinian land, in fact if I got a group of 20 people together and we voted on the same thing, it would be just as enforceable as the UN vote was. Netanyahu is getting upset over a piece of paper.

It will all come out. if there was something shady, it would have come to light.

Here it is. 22.67% of it was from Trump, himself.

I do get overtime, but being made to feel like I am compensating for other people's ineptitude or laziness, that's not cool.

Exactly, do you think it would be fair for the government to come in and stop the company from doing that to you?

No, when it comes to insurance, I pay into the group to get the discount or I pay for everything by myself. No insurance means 100% on the person. That's the risk. I had to do that after being laid off in 2002 with a root canal. With insurance, I would have paid 20% of the full cost. Since I chose not to have insurance, I had to pay the full amount.

Think about it this way, you paid for your car, but you didn't help pay for the road to drive your car. The penalty is to help pay for the road.

[sunrise]

The healthcare individual mandate was originally a REPUBLICAN idea. When Obama adopted as part of his ACA, Republicans predictably pivoted and attacked it. Even the very same Republicans who were proponents of the mandate during Clinton's administration.

Trump may be an unpredictable oddball, but the people he surrounded himself with are dyed-in-the wool conservative Republicans. I might be ok if they reduced entitlements if they weren't hypocritically promoting corporate welfare. He wants to spend big on the military and his wall, and concomitantly giving rich folks and corporations tax breaks. So entitlements are always the main focus when it comes to balancing the budget, putting the burden on the middle class and working poor.

[Ironman]

You missed my point, I'm saying Netanyahu, himself, is using the peace process and the UN vote to make himself look like the victim to distract the voters from his low poll numbers and the investigations. The UN vote was on something that isn't enforceable and basically just asks Israel to stop building on Palestinian land, in fact if I got a group of 20 people together and we voted on the same thing, it would be just as enforceable as the UN vote was. Netanyahu is getting upset over a piece of paper.
His issues with the Palestinians has been that way before any investigation. He emphasized that the settlements being built were for Israelis and Palestinians, yet it was still crossing the line. The last skirmish was the Palestinians digging tunnels into Israel and attacking people. The Palestinians never keep their word to keep peace. They are even given land through UN resolutions, only to lose it as punishment because they try to attack Israel for more land. The UN resolution passed is enforceable and they tried to do something on January 15th with a whole set or countries and failed. There was a BIG uproar about what Obama would do right before leaving office. His abstention basically said "Israel doesn't have US support" when this a minority opinion among the American people. Most of us support Israel because they are our only ally in the Middle East. Americans are different in this respect. Other countries don't have the same dynamic we do.


Here it is. 22.67% of it was from Trump, himself.
SuperPACs give money to all candidates. The nominee can reject them. That graph still means he was mostly self-funded. I know that he worked with far less money that what Hillary had. He ran his campaign on a budget.


Exactly, do you think it would be fair for the government to come in and stop the company from doing that to you?
The issue is responsibility for one's job. I can understand "being too busy" and helping them, but "doing their job for them" when they are capable of doing it themselves is the issue. I should not have had to work as hard as I did in 2016, having to constantly feel like I was cleaning up after people - my own job suffers at that point.


Think about it this way, you paid for your car, but you didn't help pay for the road to drive your car. The penalty is to help pay for the road.
We have city, state, and Federal taxes to pay for those. We shouldn't be forced to have health care and then turn around and have people who can't afford it get a free ride. That was a big flaw in Obamacare. They wanted to force everybody to get on it, like socialized medicine (against our nation's framework).....but the healthy people they expected to enroll, didn't, and Obamacare has more dependent people who can't pay than can pay. Therefore, the Government has to spend more money to pay for the sick. In theory, helping the sick is a good idea, but reality - it costs too much.

The healthcare individual mandate was originally a REPUBLICAN idea. When Obama adopted as part of his ACA, Republicans predictably pivoted and attacked it. Even the very same Republicans who were proponents of the mandate during Clinton's administration.

Trump may be an unpredictable oddball, but the people he surrounded himself with are dyed-in-the wool conservative Republicans. I might be ok if they reduced entitlements if they weren't hypocritically promoting corporate welfare. He wants to spend big on the military and his wall, and concomitantly giving rich folks and corporations tax breaks. So entitlements are always the main focus when it comes to balancing the budget, putting the burden on the middle class and working poor.

If you are referring to the Republican idea from RomneyCare, then yes, but keep in mind - that was the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, not the entire nation. There is a diffrenent set of dynamics that the Democratic Party tried to expand with the law.

Who sent it to the Supreme Court? The mandate was the first thing that Trump went after.

[Member11]

The issue is responsibility for one's job. I can understand "being too busy" and helping them, but "doing their job for them" when they are capable of doing it themselves is the issue. I should not have had to work as hard as I did in 2016, having to constantly feel like I was cleaning up after people - my own job suffers at that point.

And if the person doesn't take responsibility, would you be happy with the government not allowing the company to export the job?

We have city, state, and Federal taxes to pay for those. We shouldn't be forced to have health care and then turn around and have people who can't afford it get a free ride.

The individual mandate is basically a tax to help pay for the ER.

That was a big flaw in Obamacare. They wanted to force everybody to get on it, like socialized medicine (against our nation's framework).....but the healthy people they expected to enroll, didn't, and Obamacare has more dependent people who can't pay than can pay. Therefore, the Government has to spend more money to pay for the sick. In theory, helping the sick is a good idea, but reality - it costs too much.

You're wrong about one thing, Obamacare isn't socialised medicine. It is a regulated free market system, it was Republican policy before Obama took it to try to make a deal with Republicans. A real socialised system, like the one in Australia, is free for all Australians to use and is paid for by a 2% levy on income earned after the $21,335 threshold, if you earn $21,335 or less you pay nothing.

Even though Obamacare is better than what was there before, it is still terrible policy. It is why I supported Bernie to win over Trump and Hillary, as Bernie wanted to copy Australia's system. If Bernie won and he put in the new system, all the stuff you are paying now for healthcare would disappear.