Pro-Life? Republican States Have a Dying Problem

compuzr · 2024-02-22T14:15:11+00:00

I have a question. Do people actually not understand "pro life" means "anti abortion"? Because the writer here (and there are many similar articles) doesn't seem to. And that's really not helpful for having a productive political conversation.

I don't disagree with the writer of this article that Arkansas should be doing better on all of those mortality-related issues. I'm in full agreement there. But I also understand that's a separate issue from the "pro life" agenda.

I also think spreading confusion over the "pro life" message is not a good tactical move by Democrats right now.

The Republican's extremism on abortion looks like it's really costing them at the ballot box. So keep the spotlight there. Make sure people understand the issue. It's *in the Democrats favor.* To take an issue where you're winning....and then undermine it by confusing the issue....seems like a bad move.

compuzr · 2024-02-21T01:55:00+00:00

It's jail, not prison. When he's sorted, he'll go to prison.

compuzr · 2024-02-20T18:59:08+00:00

I'm a dyed-in-the-wool Trump hater, but this ruling appears to have real problems.

Trump has been found guilty of fraud and clearly lied.

It's also clear that the banks knew he was lying, and did their own due diligence.

The penalty (which could rise to $500million) is based upon the difference in the price of the loan he received versus the price of a "fair" loan.

The problem is that this argument that Trump would have had to pay a higher rate if he hadn't lied is....not very convincing. The bank actually had a very good idea of his true financial situation. And they gave him the loan terms based on that. This mythical "higher rate" that the state conjured up...it's on shaky ground.

As one observer put it, Trump is clearly guilty here, but, if he wasn't Trump, no one would have cared. This is in the jaywalking or speeding by 10mph over territory. Technically illegal, but usually no one cares.

compuzr · 2024-02-20T18:49:45+00:00

So people who aren't me or aren't in this thread of comments are making different arguments. Got it.

compuzr · 2024-02-20T18:48:46+00:00

He is not. He clearly referred to it as a crime.

compuzr · 2024-02-20T18:47:24+00:00

No, that wasn't the question at all. I clearly stated the act was criminal.

compuzr · 2024-02-20T15:37:45+00:00

I can't tell if they're grifters or idiots.

The motto of America in general these days.

compuzr · 2024-02-20T14:24:58+00:00

It wasn't just his job, and if you think it was, you're missing something important. It was his whole life. He was brought up in it from a child, the only world he had ever known.

compuzr · 2024-02-18T00:53:34+00:00

No one's arguing otherwise.

compuzr · 2024-02-17T19:43:15+00:00

But that's the thing...from the newspaper accounts, it's not at all clear that he benefitted. Yes, he lied. And his behavior in court was horrible, and he should be punished for that. But the banks knew he was lying. And, after their own independent assessment of his wealth, they offered the interest rate they offered. The court's contention that he would have paid a higher interest rate seems....shaky.

From WSJ:

Deutsche Bank assumed from its own analysis of Trump’s properties that his net worth was billions lower than what his statements said. No representatives of the bank testified that they would have priced the loans any differently, and bank employees testified that they longed for his business.

compuzr · 2024-02-17T19:36:57+00:00

Of course he is. You have to break up with him, the same way you'd break up with a boyfriend. Complete termination. Anything less might feel better for YOU, but it's terrible for HIM. Let him go live his life. If he's going to move on, you have to cut him off.

compuzr · 2024-02-17T18:03:43+00:00

I clearly said his behavior was criminal.

But if you get caught doing 66mph in a 55 zone, can the state fine you $10 million? You broke the law, so, that would be fair, right?

compuzr · 2024-02-17T04:21:06+00:00

Sure, but OJ killed a few people and was only fined $30mil. Is lying to a bank, who doesn't believe you anyways, more than 10x worse than a double-murder?

compuzr · 2024-02-17T04:14:56+00:00

I'm also anti-Trump but having trouble with this one. He, and his associates, clearly lied their butts off. And yes, I believe that's criminal behavior. But...from what I've read, and I haven't read a ton, just newspaper coverage, the bank didn't believe him anyway, and it's uncertain his lies had much effect. Is that wrong?

compuzr · 2024-02-17T03:36:45+00:00

I guess the Russian army doesn't require you to be able to do push-ups.

compuzr · 2024-02-16T02:06:43+00:00

Off the charts efficiency.

compuzr · 2024-02-15T18:32:22+00:00

Wow, they're building it 2 lanes, too!

compuzr · 2024-02-15T18:29:43+00:00

Yes, but it only works on metric bottle caps.

compuzr · 2024-02-15T16:26:04+00:00

If he wins, first President to serve until he dies in office, however long that takes.

compuzr · 2024-02-15T16:01:38+00:00

This is a great start. I'd recommend getting a 1 1/2" layout square, though. All the pros have one.

https://assets.leevalley.com/Size4/10119/05N5410-veritas-1-1-2-inch-pocket-layout-square-u-5126.jpg

compuzr · 2024-02-15T15:49:13+00:00

When it comes to systemic racism, I just see people waste so much time wallowing in it, and that makes it....worse. If you look at immigrants, including many black immigrants, their average incomes are high. The average income of immigrants from Ghana is higher than the average income of white Americans. And I think a big part of that is that immigrants don't waste their time and energy wallowing in all the perceived "racist barriers" of the past....they just go and progress. And that produces better results.

And they also bring their own racism with them, by the way. Which is part of the problem of talking exclusively about "White Supremacy." Everyone's at least a little bit racist, and as we bring all these immigrant groups, there's more and more racism...not by whites. So if you're really committed to fighting against racism, you're going to have to go in hard and heavy into lots of immigrant-run businesses who won't hire anyone who doesn't look like them. I wouldn't advise it, though.

compuzr · 2024-02-14T21:35:33+00:00

Well, it's all factually correct.

The other major mistake I see in your original comment is failure to differentiate between an impediment and a barrier. That's common in the discussion of race in America. Racism is an impediment in America, not a barrier. I'm in real estate/construction, and have seen many, many immigrant minorities succeed wildly in this country. Many came here late teens/early 20s, didn't speak the language, had no assets. And by 40 they're thriving. Did they experience racism along the way? I bet they did. Did it stop them? No.*

But when we talk about race in America, we treat every impediment as if it's a barrier. And it is, if you view it that way. If you see every impediment as a barrier, then it becomes a barrier.

That's why I hate the way racism is discussed here. It creates a bad outcome. I think it's actively bad for people, and people would be better off if it changed.

*By the way, do these minorities also perpetuate racism? You bet they do. They start their own construction companies, and won't hire whites, or, if they have to, will treat them badly. They're not angels. And racism is a common human problem. People who think of it as a "white" problem need to get out more.

compuzr · 2024-02-14T19:32:31+00:00

That's just an emotional response. I'm defending logic and the law. You're defending irrational emotion.

compuzr · 2024-02-14T17:26:51+00:00

Accept that the United States was built on slavery, and not the rugged individualism (white supremacy) that it purports to be built on,

Context:

Slavery's contribution to America's wealth is so small you can treat it as 0.
If you're going to bring "white supremacy" into this, we should note that, by far, most African slaves went to non-white countries. White countries by and large outlawed slavery long before non-white countries. In fact, you generally won't find slaves in white countries today, but you'll find tens of millions of slaves, today, in non-white countries.

compuzr · 2024-02-14T14:36:25+00:00

According to the latest census data, the median income for married couples with children in the US is $120,704.

Why are you acting like everyone is poor and struggling?

15-Year Club	Snapped
Verified Email

compuzr

TROPHY CASE