Ukraine, specifically, would have no trouble feeding itself. As for defending itself, it gave up the greatest deterrent it had in 1994 in exchange for what turned out to be a bunch of empty promises from Russia and the United States.
On its face, yes. Wait until we get some anti-vax nutjob squawking about vaccine research they know absolute nothing about except for what they saw on Facebook.
It sucks getting old, doesn't it? I was pumping up my bike tires a couple weeks ago and moved the wrong way which resulting in some pretty bad back pain for a few days. Hope yours passes soon!
According to this page: https://www.cbpp.org/research/federal-budget/where-do-our-federal-tax-dollars-go they're 45% of federal spending. I think my nibbling at the edges comment stands. What DOGE is doing now is opiate for the masses.
Why though? I realize I'm asking a lot of voters who live in the most prosperous nation in the world, with a standard of living that's the envy of the world, but requiring them to articulate why they're ready to trash their own country doesn't seem like too big an ask.
What if instead of corruption we read it as doing the art of the possible? Congressional horse trading has generally worked pretty well for this country.
You know, you'd think one wouldn't have to spell it out as explicitly as this, but then we're living in an age where "We're sick of it" counts as cogent political analysis.
This article encapsulates much of the point I've been trying to make in the comment threads of various posts over the last several days: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-losing-court-boring-reason-adminitrative-procedure-act-rcna191113
There are lawful ways for the DJT administration to do what it wants to do. He's just to lazy to do it. That we probably all expected. What should shock Americans is we have half the country ready to skirt the law right along with him.
The author fails to mention a couple of really easy methods to shore up the Social Security trust fund: remove the wage limit on the tax, and means testing benefits. Heritage ran some numbers here: https://www.heritage.org/budget-and-spending/report/saving-the-american-dream-the-heritage-plan-fix-the-debt-cut-spending
It's only 3 weeks into the Trump administration's efforts to curb spending, but they're just nibbling at the edges.
Missed that one. Good or bad people can be in charge of government, and both can make either good or bad decisions regarding change. Whichever way the decisions go, they must be lawful.
I went back and reread Chris' comment and he made no mention of bad or good people. In fact, the 2 things he mentioned were war and cancer research. Let's stay on point.
*Comment archive for non-registered commenters assembled by email address as provided.
On “Beware: Promises Being Kept”
Yep. I stand corrected.
https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-book/russia-programs/2024-01-25/clinton-yeltsin-moscow-summit-january-1994
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Ukraine, specifically, would have no trouble feeding itself. As for defending itself, it gave up the greatest deterrent it had in 1994 in exchange for what turned out to be a bunch of empty promises from Russia and the United States.
https://web.archive.org/web/20170312052208/http://www.cfr.org/nonproliferation-arms-control-and-disarmament/budapest-memorandums-security-assurances-1994/p32484
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Give them some nukes. Problem solved.
On “Thursday Throughput: Doomsday Rock Edition”
Heh. I'm more worried about what kind of influence they now have, to be honest. Believe me, I'm all for transparency.
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On its face, yes. Wait until we get some anti-vax nutjob squawking about vaccine research they know absolute nothing about except for what they saw on Facebook.
On “Weekend Plans Post: The Tootsie Roll Pop Indian”
It sucks getting old, doesn't it? I was pumping up my bike tires a couple weeks ago and moved the wrong way which resulting in some pretty bad back pain for a few days. Hope yours passes soon!
On “Open Mic for the week of 2/10/2025”
https://www.npr.org/2025/02/14/nx-s1-5294328/israel-raid-bookstore-east-jerusalem
Beacon of democracy in the Middle East.
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There's probably already enough scammers in that godforsaken corner of the world without subjecting them to that.
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Heh. Good point.
On “Deficits, Debt, and DOGE”
Russell’s point seemed a lot more ominous, and you’re citing the same view you held 30 years ago. Perhaps it’s not as dire as is being portrayed.
Besides, we haven’t heard word one about paying down the debt (most of which we owe to ourselves).
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According to this page: https://www.cbpp.org/research/federal-budget/where-do-our-federal-tax-dollars-go they're 45% of federal spending. I think my nibbling at the edges comment stands. What DOGE is doing now is opiate for the masses.
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Why not?
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The arsonist is burning his own house down.
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Why though? I realize I'm asking a lot of voters who live in the most prosperous nation in the world, with a standard of living that's the envy of the world, but requiring them to articulate why they're ready to trash their own country doesn't seem like too big an ask.
"
What if instead of corruption we read it as doing the art of the possible? Congressional horse trading has generally worked pretty well for this country.
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Governing is hard and sometimes unpopular. Republic, democracy, etc.
I'm sure there's a trade to be had there somewhere.
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It'll just switch sides.
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You know, you'd think one wouldn't have to spell it out as explicitly as this, but then we're living in an age where "We're sick of it" counts as cogent political analysis.
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Torture is definitely where America sold its soul. A huge reason why I didn't vote for BHO in 2012 was the fact that Guantanamo remained open.
"
This article encapsulates much of the point I've been trying to make in the comment threads of various posts over the last several days: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-losing-court-boring-reason-adminitrative-procedure-act-rcna191113
There are lawful ways for the DJT administration to do what it wants to do. He's just to lazy to do it. That we probably all expected. What should shock Americans is we have half the country ready to skirt the law right along with him.
"
I'd go further back to St. Ronny with his "I'm from the Government, and I'm here to help." comment.
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Means testing will take care of that.
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The author fails to mention a couple of really easy methods to shore up the Social Security trust fund: remove the wage limit on the tax, and means testing benefits. Heritage ran some numbers here: https://www.heritage.org/budget-and-spending/report/saving-the-american-dream-the-heritage-plan-fix-the-debt-cut-spending
It's only 3 weeks into the Trump administration's efforts to curb spending, but they're just nibbling at the edges.
"
Missed that one. Good or bad people can be in charge of government, and both can make either good or bad decisions regarding change. Whichever way the decisions go, they must be lawful.
"
I went back and reread Chris' comment and he made no mention of bad or good people. In fact, the 2 things he mentioned were war and cancer research. Let's stay on point.
*Comment archive for non-registered commenters assembled by email address as provided.