Credit Where Credit is Due: a shout out thread for Things Trump Did Right

[RVonse]

I'm not sure they're the same 14 words KCFlyer refers to.

The 14 words I am referring to are only words in the constitution that MAGA Constitution lovers give a shit about...."the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed"

I did not know this about MAGA. That being said they have certainly understood and chosen a most extraordinarily powerful message from our Constitution.

"Where the people fear the government you have tyranny. Where the government fears the people you have liberty" Thomas Jefferson

He was indeed a wise man. And I (and most of teh others here you are responding to) fear the government.

With that in mind how would you fix our present state so that our government feared you (no matter who got elected) instead of the other way around? Would you think a bigger more powerful structure of government would do the trick? Or would a smaller more inexpensive government with strict limits to power and censorship would work better? Or would you just rather enjoy living in tyranny?

Anyone would voted for Trump enjoys living in tyranny until they realize it is adversely affecting them.

That completely fails to answer your tyranny though. Sooner or later the guy you hate will get elected by the mob democracy. And when that happens what will prevent your fear of that government?

It does not benefit you in the least to complain about who other people voted for, when your candidate did not win.

So the frame of your government must be structured protect you in some fashion or you will be living in tyranny. Even our Constitution got corrupted over time especially with Citizens United.

So what else other than a smaller federal government with limited powers will protect you from suffering from Hitler Trump?

 

[Elixir]

"Authorized by the National Cultural Center Act of 1958, which requires that its programming be sustained through private funds ..."

Ah, private funds - the apricot's favorite kind to co-opt, because private parties can be destroyed by his awesome federal power if they put up a fuss about it.

 

[Politesse]

In 1825 the USA was an agrarian backwater that nobody outside America really cared about, or had much reason to care about, other than as a source of cotton and tobacco, and as a market for African slaves.

We were a tertiary slave market at best, direct importation having been outlawed nearly twenty years before and little guarantee of profit to counterbalance the legal risk and longer transport. The real money was always in Brasil, Cuba, and St Domingue, but by then the entire industry was beginning to falter for lack of buyers; St Domingue had become Haiti and similarly outlawed the practice, industrialization and inexpensive wage labor was taking the place of captive bodies across many industries, and household slaves usually produced their own replacements before becoming aging out of utlility, via reproduction, or if not, they could be got for cheap or free by trafficking through trade or bequests between the old guard families. But those slaves then needed to be fed and housed. Maintaining a slave household was beginning to cost more than it produced, everywhere in the world.

It is a grim and unpleasant subject, but I think it is important to dispel the notion that restoring the antebellum South and its social system would somehow restore the economic condition of poor Whites in the region, as some transparently imagine. They blame the War of Northern Aggression for their downtrodden condition, and not entirely without reason - postwar recriminations were tough. But bringing back the human trafficking industry will not do anything to help, it was already falling the fuck apart long before the War.

 

[RVonse]

I would call the Kennedy Center the perfect example of the federal government being involved with something it shouldn't. As a tax payer living in the mid west, why do I want my federal government involved in an Arts center that I will never get to go to much less enjoy?

You clearly know how to type, otherwise your lengthy screeds would not be so numerous nor so frequent.

Try "wiki kennedy center" and see if you can read to the second paragraph. In case you cannot, I will quote it here:

"Authorized by the National Cultural Center Act of 1958, which requires that its programming be sustained through private funds ..."

If its financed through private funds why is the federal government even involved at all?

 

[Swammerdami]

I would call the Kennedy Center the perfect example of the federal government being involved with something it shouldn't. As a tax payer living in the mid west, why do I want my federal government involved in an Arts center that I will never get to go to much less enjoy?

You clearly know how to type, otherwise your lengthy screeds would not be so numerous nor so frequent.

Try "wiki kennedy center" and see if you can read to the second paragraph. In case you cannot, I will quote it here:

"Authorized by the National Cultural Center Act of 1958, which requires that its programming be sustained through private funds ..."

In the very same post, RVonse seemed to think that denying Dr. Fauci security after Trump had willfully made him a target of MAGA goons was a legitimate and worthwhile way to save U.S. Treasury funds! That Trump implied he didn't care if anything happened to Fauci didn't faze RVonse!

RVonse thought -- or pretended to think -- that these three examples were just pulled from a large pool of protectees draining the Treasury. In his information bubble he didn't even know that Mark Milley was Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff -- highest military officer in the land -- and once Trump's darling but was eventually accused by the Orange Psychopath of a “treasonous act” that was “so egregious that, in times gone by, the punishment would have been DEATH!”

So I'm afraid you're wasting your time if you think RVonse is sincere and rational about actually saving government money.

 

[Swammerdami]

In 1825 the USA was an agrarian backwater that nobody outside America really cared about, or had much reason to care about, other than as a source of cotton and tobacco, and as a market for African slaves.

We were a tertiary slave market at best, direct importation having been outlawed nearly twenty years before and little guarantee of profit to counterbalance the legal risk and longer transport. The real money was always in Brasil, Cuba, and St Domingue, but by then the entire industry was beginning to falter for lack of buyers; St Domingue had become Haiti and similarly outlawed the practice, industrialization was taking the place of warm bodies across many industries, and household slaves usually produced their own replacements before becoming aging out of utlility, via reproduction, or if not, they could be got for cheap or free by trafficking through trade or bequests between the old guard families.

Figure 4.10 (citing 'capital21c' at his website) in Thomas Piketty's Capital shows the value of slaves compared with income and other capital in the U.S. in 1770, 1810 and 1850. Whatever Piketty's faults he does devote considerable effort to data gathering.

His graph shows that slaves were 32% (147/460) of ALL U.S. capital in 1770! His associated webpage shows an even higher number in the South -- 263/580. Or 147/460 for ALL the states, declining to 108/448 by 1850.

 

[jonatha]

I would call the Kennedy Center the perfect example of the federal government being involved with something it shouldn't. As a tax payer living in the mid west, why do I want my federal government involved in an Arts center that I will never get to go to much less enjoy?

You clearly know how to type, otherwise your lengthy screeds would not be so numerous nor so frequent.

Try "wiki kennedy center" and see if you can read to the second paragraph. In case you cannot, I will quote it here:

"Authorized by the National Cultural Center Act of 1958, which requires that its programming be sustained through private funds ..."

If its financed through private funds why is the federal government even involved at all?

Stretch goal for you: read the 4th through 9th paragraphs of the wikipedia article...

 

[Politesse]

Oh, there were a lot of slaves, that's no lie. If never anything close to the horrific numbers one sees in the Caribbean nations. But we weren't importing them in large numbers by the 1820s, and our internal market was glutted and uncertain. Bringing back either enslaved or very poorly paid workers always strikes someone of a certain mindset as a get rich quick venture par excellence, but the reality of the slave trade was that it only ever made a handful of people wealthy, and even they were wondering about the future of the trafficking market. The slaves they were viciously fighting to maintain a right to were those already in their households, not slaves they were planning to import. Trying to effectively bring back feudalism was a bad idea, out of step with the new economic realities of the 19th century. Likewise, this Apartheid redux fantasy entertained by Musk, Thiel, Yarvin etc is just that -- a fantasy. If legal slave labor was truly profitable, those who govern global human affairs would never have allowed it to be driven underground in the first place.

 

[Shadowy Man]

I would call the Kennedy Center the perfect example of the federal government being involved with something it shouldn't. As a tax payer living in the mid west, why do I want my federal government involved in an Arts center that I will never get to go to much less enjoy?

You clearly know how to type, otherwise your lengthy screeds would not be so numerous nor so frequent.

Try "wiki kennedy center" and see if you can read to the second paragraph. In case you cannot, I will quote it here:

"Authorized by the National Cultural Center Act of 1958, which requires that its programming be sustained through private funds ..."

If its financed through private funds why is the federal government even involved at all?

The part after the ellipsis that Jonatha left out is:

"the center represents a public–private partnership. Its activities include educational and outreach initiatives, almost entirely funded through ticket sales and gifts from individuals, corporations, and private foundations. However, the center receives annual federal funding to pay for building maintenance and operation."

So, there is indeed federal funding of the center. I do not know the relative fractions of the public v private funding, or whether the center could sustain itself on purely private funding, but it seems incorrect to say that it is not at least partially supported with tax payer monies. Maybe I'm missing something, as I've only just looked at the wikipedia article that jonatha said to look for.

 

[Shadowy Man]

I would call the Kennedy Center the perfect example of the federal government being involved with something it shouldn't. As a tax payer living in the mid west, why do I want my federal government involved in an Arts center that I will never get to go to much less enjoy?

You clearly know how to type, otherwise your lengthy screeds would not be so numerous nor so frequent.

Try "wiki kennedy center" and see if you can read to the second paragraph. In case you cannot, I will quote it here:

"Authorized by the National Cultural Center Act of 1958, which requires that its programming be sustained through private funds ..."

If its financed through private funds why is the federal government even involved at all?

Stretch goal for you: read the 4th through 9th paragraphs of the wikipedia article...

those paragraphs include statements like:

"This was the first time that the federal government helped finance a structure dedicated to the performing arts."

"Congress allocated $43 million for construction costs, including $23 million as an outright grant..."

what is the takeaway you are stating for this? it seemed you were implying that the Kennedy Center is a private institution, which it appears to not be wholly.

 

[jonatha]

No, I was implying it wasn't a federal agency.

 

[Swammerdami]

"Congress allocated $43 million for construction costs [of the Kennedy Center], including $23 million as an outright grant..."

Twenty-three MILLION dollars. With an M. That ain't "chicken-feed". If we amortize this over the past and present Americans who may have benefited from this celebration of the performing arts that works out to almost 4¢ per citizen if my arithmetic is correct. (Of course I do not include any benefit to FUTURE citizens since we must all hope that this contemptible tribute to socialism and wokeism will be demolished soon.) Four cents. Almost a nickel. To quote the late Senator Everett Dirksen, "a nickel here, a nickel there, and before long we're talking real money -- even enough to super-size an order of McDonald's French Fries."

Kudos to @RVonse , ever alert to wastage of the taxpayer dollar.

Trump and Musk are working overtime to save money to help finance a tax cut for needy billionaires. Here's yet another of many many examples where useless Fed employees are locked out and sent home. Bravo for reducing government waste. @RVonse -- I hope you watch the video and celebrate the savings gained by firing non-essential personnel. If you can't watch the brief video in its entirety, click forward to 4:00, and get a good glimpse of the breath-taking competence with which DOGE is operating! Even Rachel Maddow mentions their "expertise and efficiency." Please let us know, via your gushing praise, after you've watched this video of DOGE in action!

 

[Swammerdami]

"Congress allocated $43 million for construction costs [of the Kennedy Center], including $23 million as an outright grant..."

Twenty-three MILLION dollars. With an M. That ain't "chicken-feed". If we amortize this over the past and present Americans who may have benefited from this celebration of the performing arts that works out to almost 4¢ per citizen if my arithmetic is correct. (Of course I do not include any benefit to FUTURE citizens since we must all hope that this contemptible tribute to socialism and wokeism will be demolished soon.) Four cents. Almost a nickel. To quote the late Senator Everett Dirksen, "a nickel here, a nickel there, and before long we're talking real money -- even enough to super-size an order of McDonald's French Fries."

Kudos to @RVonse , ever alert to wastage of the taxpayer dollar.

Trump and Musk are working overtime to save money to help finance a tax cut for needy billionaires. Here's yet another of many many examples where useless Fed employees are locked out and sent home. Bravo for reducing government waste. @RVonse -- I hope you watch the video and celebrate the savings gained by firing non-essential personnel. If you can't watch the brief video in its entirety, click forward to 4:00, and get a good glimpse of the breath-taking competence with which DOGE is operating! Even Rachel Maddow mentions their "expertise and efficiency." Please let us know, via your gushing praise, after you've watched this video of DOGE in action!

@RVonse -- Here's another YouTube discussing the same firing of 300+ employees of the National Nuclear Security Administration by Elon Musk's teenage henchman. Still looking for your comments. (Do I need to find a video by Sean Hannity or Tucker Carlson before you will watch it?)

And thanks again for answering our questions! This makes you unusual among MAGA fans.

 

[RVonse]

"Congress allocated $43 million for construction costs [of the Kennedy Center], including $23 million as an outright grant..."

Twenty-three MILLION dollars. With an M. That ain't "chicken-feed". If we amortize this over the past and present Americans who may have benefited from this celebration of the performing arts that works out to almost 4¢ per citizen if my arithmetic is correct. (Of course I do not include any benefit to FUTURE citizens since we must all hope that this contemptible tribute to socialism and wokeism will be demolished soon.) Four cents. Almost a nickel. To quote the late Senator Everett Dirksen, "a nickel here, a nickel there, and before long we're talking real money -- even enough to super-size an order of McDonald's French Fries."

Kudos to @RVonse , ever alert to wastage of the taxpayer dollar.

Trump and Musk are working overtime to save money to help finance a tax cut for needy billionaires. Here's yet another of many many examples where useless Fed employees are locked out and sent home. Bravo for reducing government waste. @RVonse -- I hope you watch the video and celebrate the savings gained by firing non-essential personnel. If you can't watch the brief video in its entirety, click forward to 4:00, and get a good glimpse of the breath-taking competence with which DOGE is operating! Even Rachel Maddow mentions their "expertise and efficiency." Please let us know, via your gushing praise, after you've watched this video of DOGE in action!

He made a mistake and will probably make a few more. Overall Musk and his team have been finding significant fraud and waste though. The video you posted makes a big deal out of finding layed off to rehire again. Big deal, it would be very easy to find them again with just an employee ad or media attention. Or maybe someone else on the street who is better qualified. People who just lost their job are always interested in working again, they would be delighted to do so. Yes laying people off and closing plants always cost money. That's why most companies show a loss statement when they shut down a plant. But CEO's still do it because labor is the biggest expense and they have to or they will go bankrupt. Just as our government must do this too despite all of Rachals crow squawking.

Yes those future pennies also add up to a lot. If you think saving a small amount of money is no big deal than give that money to me. The interest on our debt is now higher than the military budget. Our government can not sustain this level of debt and Musk is a necessary remedy even if there is temporary pain.

The country should be celebrating Musk and giving him an award for giving his superior expertise and time to help our government become sustainable again!

If you want to complain about the real dumb asses you should direct your attention to our congress who are trying to pass another budget of ridiculous spending that will ensure our country will fail. That is what seems unreal to me. They are trying to do what they know hasn't been working.

 

[laughing dog]

I'm not sure they're the same 14 words KCFlyer refers to.

The 14 words I am referring to are only words in the constitution that MAGA Constitution lovers give a shit about...."the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed"

I did not know this about MAGA. That being said they have certainly understood and chosen a most extraordinarily powerful message from our Constitution.

"Where the people fear the government you have tyranny. Where the government fears the people you have liberty" Thomas Jefferson

He was indeed a wise man. And I (and most of teh others here you are responding to) fear the government.

With that in mind how would you fix our present state so that our government feared you (no matter who got elected) instead of the other way around? Would you think a bigger more powerful structure of government would do the trick? Or would a smaller more inexpensive government with strict limits to power and censorship would work better? Or would you just rather enjoy living in tyranny?

Anyone would voted for Trump enjoys living in tyranny until they realize it is adversely affecting them.

That completely fails to answer your tyranny though. Sooner or later the guy you hate will get elected by the mob democracy. And when that happens what will prevent your fear of that government?

It does not benefit you in the least to complain about who other people voted for, when your candidate did not win.

So the frame of your government must be structured protect you in some fashion or you will be living in tyranny. Even our Constitution got corrupted over time especially with Citizens United.

So what else other than a smaller federal government with limited powers will protect you from suffering from Hitler Trump?

Nothing will prevent anyone from suffering under someone like Trump. There have always been those who suffered under gov't. People suffered under George Washington's presidency. And you cannot get a smaller federal gov't than our first one.

I am only the person who can prevent my fear.

I am not afraid of this government. I am dismayed and sometimes horrified at its inhumanity and idiocy. I despair that so many of my neighbors and fellow citizens would knowingly vote for such a person to lead this nation.

 

[Shadowy Man]

Yes those future pennies also add up to a lot. If you think saving a small amount of money is no big deal than give that money to me. The interest on our debt is now higher than the military budget. Our government can not sustain this level of debt and Musk is a necessary remedy even if there is temporary pain.

The country should be celebrating Musk and giving him an award for giving his superior expertise and time to help our government become sustainable again!

well, I am looking forward to Musk moving on from the Pennies he is saving from the Sub-1% organizations like NASA and others and starts ramping up on the big ticket items, like the military.

 

[TomC]

Yes those future pennies also add up to a lot. If you think saving a small amount of money is no big deal than give that money to me. The interest on our debt is now higher than the military budget. Our government can not sustain this level of debt and Musk is a necessary remedy even if there is temporary pain.

The country should be celebrating Musk and giving him an award for giving his superior expertise and time to help our government become sustainable again!

well, I am looking forward to Musk moving on from the Pennies he is saving from the Sub-1% organizations like NASA and others and starts ramping up on the big ticket items, like the military.

How about elimination of SpaceX? They don't need to suck the taxpayer teat, right,?
Tom

 

[Swammerdami]

Overall Musk and his team have been finding significant fraud and waste though.

Cite?

 

[TomC]

Overall Musk and his team have been finding significant fraud and waste though

What do you mean by "significant", "fraud", and "waste"?
Tom

 

[Elixir]

Overall Musk and his team have been finding significant fraud and waste though

What do you mean by "significant", "fraud", and "waste"?
Tom

Government.
RV probably doesn't know it but he's sanctioning the destruction of the American Government.

Nobody has SEEN ANY of this ALLEGED "fraud and waste".
What few specifics have been put forward involve a few million, not any "massive fraud" by Trump standards (see DJT stock scam).
But gullibles eat up the bloviating buffoons' comedy routine, because they already voted for it. The damage to economies these clowns have already wrought, far far outweighs any legitimate "savings" they might ever find. But they won't find any. They will simply declare that everything is so fraught with fraud that it has to be destroyed and its assets over directly to The Felon, as He Alone Can Fix it.

Welcome to the Shit Circus - we/they bought the ticket, we all go for the ride.