The Trump Presidency

[michigancat]

I am observing that he makes a decision or engages in a policy where I have common cause.

name some examples

[cfbandyman]

It's been said ad nauseum but tariffs are just plain stupid bass policy unless there is some real politik he's trying to do "his deal". All they do is hurt the consumer and agitate inflation that has been more or less arrested. It's bad policy no matter which way you do it, even if you get a "deal" out of it.

[BIG APPLE CAT]

I am really trying to spend a lot more energy, trying to identify things that I have in common with others of different ideologies, and trying to avoid my mind, closing shut to an idea merely because of where it came from.

Hate is a very strong word, and that is why I use it to describe my feelings about Donald Trump. I hate him as a person.  I also DISAGREE with the majority of his policies. However, from time to time, I am observing that he makes a decision or engages in a policy where I have common cause. most of the time when this happens I know that his motivation and my own motivation are starkly different. I have made the decision that good acts are not determined by good intentions, and instead are determined by good outcomes. That’s my personal choice. John Stuart Mill’s philosophies and “rules based utilitarianism” is what I favor.

I myself am actively trying to engage in political communications irl that are centered around our shared agreements

the really sad thing about all of it is that like, if Dax and i sat down and just went line by line through the things that are important to us from a policy and governing standpoint, he would realize that despite our (incredibly vast) differences, we still have far more in common than dax does with the leadership of the republican party. but he will find a way to cheer the loudest when his neck is getting stomped on.

[michigancat]

It's been said ad nauseum but tariffs are just plain stupid bass policy unless there is some real politik he's trying to do "his deal". All they do is hurt the consumer and agitate inflation that has been more or less arrested. It's bad policy no matter which way you do it, even if you get a "deal" out of it.

In my opinion, these tariffs are bad for both national defense and reducing the national debt. If those are things you happen to care about.

[sonofdaxjones]

I am really trying to spend a lot more energy, trying to identify things that I have in common with others of different ideologies, and trying to avoid my mind, closing shut to an idea merely because of where it came from.

Hate is a very strong word, and that is why I use it to describe my feelings about Donald Trump. I hate him as a person.  I also DISAGREE with the majority of his policies. However, from time to time, I am observing that he makes a decision or engages in a policy where I have common cause. most of the time when this happens I know that his motivation and my own motivation are starkly different. I have made the decision that good acts are not determined by good intentions, and instead are determined by good outcomes. That’s my personal choice. John Stuart Mill’s philosophies and “rules based utilitarianism” is what I favor.

I myself am actively trying to engage in political communications irl that are centered around our shared agreements

the really sad thing about all of it is that like, if Dax and i sat down and just went line by line through the things that are important to us from a policy and governing standpoint, he would realize that despite our (incredibly vast) differences, we still have far more in common than dax does with the leadership of the republican party. but he will find a way to cheer the loudest when his neck is getting stomped on.

You are all up in your feels and being super weird . . .

[Pete]

I am observing that he makes a decision or engages in a policy where I have common cause.

name some examples

Tariffs on China

Pull back on Biden administration strategy of limiting AI firms to just a handful that they can control the regulatory capture

The overall goal of drastically cutting federal spending

Restricting border access while maintaining access to H1B and other highly skilled resources for national security

[Pete]

It's been said ad nauseum but tariffs are just plain stupid bass policy unless there is some real politik he's trying to do "his deal". All they do is hurt the consumer and agitate inflation that has been more or less arrested. It's bad policy no matter which way you do it, even if you get a "deal" out of it.

In my opinion, these tariffs are bad for both national defense and reducing the national debt. If those are things you happen to care about.

I encourage you guys to spend 11 minutes watching this. I previously felt similar to you, but this (and other similar conversations) changed my mind.

https://youtu.be/5LJi6iFHqDc?si=nXr7yW1QWJAzq5kd

[Brock Landers]

I would not be surprised at all if Trump walked back his tariffs because of how dumb and unpopular they are but at the same time he'll still claim victory because of some massive concessions from Canada and Mexico which are really just pud and minor.  his braindead supporters will lap it up too.

[sonofdaxjones]

Mexico agreed to rush 10,000 national guard troops to the border to strengthen efforts to block the flow of drugs, especially fentanyl, coming into the United States. WaPo

The Mexican military is joined at the hip with the cartels . . . so I don't know what this is going to accomplish, but Trump has them jumping through hoops

#bigmadblueanongE

[Pete]

I read this book in 1999 when I was getting a masters in business administration. 

Choice, The: A Fable of Free Trade and Protection
https://a.co/d/6Q5yBY1

It absolutely convinced me of the need for free trade. I was steadfastly against tariffs ever since.

However, I have since learned that I was not aware of, and perhaps even ignored, significant changes in how trade works since the US involvement with the WTO and particularly since the year 2000.

I have changed my opinion.

[CNS]

Negotiations made in this manner are affective with parties that are much weaker. They also don’t work forever before you no longer have a partner but an adversary. It’s dumb. Dipshit has always gotten away with it in the private sector because America is full of other small contractors that would love a shot at working on a big development contract.  There is only one Mexico. Bullying is weakness and a tool of morons. It gets you their lunch money today, but everyone thinks you’re an bad person and prays for your downfall.

[cfbandyman]

Negotiations made in this manner are affective with parties that are much weaker. They also don’t work forever before you no longer have a partner but an adversary. It’s dumb. Dipshit has always gotten away with it in the private sector because America is full of other small contractors that would love a shot at working on a big development contract.  There is only one Mexico. Bullying is weakness and a tool of morons. It gets you their lunch money today, but everyone thinks you’re an bad person and prays for your downfall.

Yeah, there is that too. Holding more cards and using that as leverage will only make those who are down or small now really look forward to getting you back later. Especially the ones we share our borders with.

[bucket]

Mexico agreed to rush 10,000 national guard troops to the border to strengthen efforts to block the flow of drugs, especially fentanyl, coming into the United States. WaPo

The Mexican military is joined at the hip with the cartels . . . so I don't know what this is going to accomplish, but Trump has them jumping through hoops

#bigmadblueanongE

Didn't they do this before? I'm not sure tariffs would've been necessary to make this happen.

[Pete]

Negotiations made in this manner are affective with parties that are much weaker. They also don’t work forever before you no longer have a partner but an adversary. It’s dumb. Dipshit has always gotten away with it in the private sector because America is full of other small contractors that would love a shot at working on a big development contract.  There is only one Mexico. Bullying is weakness and a tool of morons. It gets you their lunch money today, but everyone thinks you’re an bad person and prays for your downfall.

I think everybody hates everybody in geopolitics. I’m no fan of ethical relativism, but if there was ever a case for the appropriate application of ethical relativism, geopolitics seems to be the best case.

I wish countries behaved with each other more like how individuals behaved with each other but as best I can tell this has been the story of the history of humanity and civilization itself. I am going to choose to accept it and not fight against it.

[Stupid Fitz]

Mexico agreed to rush 10,000 national guard troops to the border to strengthen efforts to block the flow of drugs, especially fentanyl, coming into the United States. WaPo

The Mexican military is joined at the hip with the cartels . . . so I don't know what this is going to accomplish, but Trump has them jumping through hoops

#bigmadblueanongE

Didn't they do this before? I'm not sure tariffs would've been necessary to make this happen.

pfft. 5k less troops than the last time they did this to pretend they were doing something so Big Boy could feel like he was a really Big Boy.

[sonofdaxjones]

Nothing pisses of #blueanongE more than to see action on stopping the Cartels and their drugs and human trafficking profit centers. Which are fueled partly by China, who also does a large portion of the Cartel's money laundering for them.

#blueanongE: For Fent deaths and human trafficking and helping China 

[Dugout DickStone]

Caves to Mexico

[bucket]

With Mexico, seems like this could have stayed out of the public eye and resolved over the phone. Trump on the other hand has no concept of diplomacy and loves the drama. Worrisome but not a surprise.

[Dugout DickStone]

With Mexico, seems like this could have stayed out of the public eye and resolved over the phone. Trump on the other hand has no concept of diplomacy and loves the drama. Worrisome but not a surprise.

Why? 
Mexico just proved he’s all talk.  They aren’t changing a single thing at the border and laughing about the cave

[Dugout DickStone]

I hereby pledge an additional 11ty trillion stone soldiers to the border.  Gracias

[sonofdaxjones]

sock puppet former president throws the borders open and pumps billions into the cartel Chinese bank accounts . . . but that's not caving to Mexico (#slowduggin and #blueanongE) 

[Sandstone Outcropping]

https://x.com/NickAdamsinUSA/status/1886484870446076348

[Stupid Fitz]

https://x.com/NickAdamsinUSA/status/1886484870446076348

Bootlickers are such weird rough ridin' people. I have no idea who this guy is, but it's so weird to me that they talk about "alpha male" crap all the time and then post crap like this. Fascinating really.

[Dugout DickStone]

to the many who say only a total spineless loser withdraws the tariffs for the fake promise of random soldiers someday I say "oh yeah, what of it?!"

[Pete]

We should just ask ourselves what would Kris Kristofferson do?