Well... it's Trump... again. #47, here we go.

[bilby]

In the 1990's WIRED mag said cash was dead. I responded "Hell No, I'm not giving up cash. Cash can't be traced."
In 2020 I finally broke down and got my first and only debit card. I still carry bills for vending and bus fare.
2 months ago bus fare went to an even dollar amount, so I stopped carrying change.
The only coin in my pocket now is a "bitcoin" token. (the one pictured in every article) Just for fun.

Our bus fares are even. Unless you're buying a time pass (2-hr or 24-hr) on a reduced fare.

All fares in South East Queensland are 50¢

Not multiples of 50¢; It's 50¢ to go anywhere, by bus, train, ferry, or any combination of modes. 50¢ Australian is almost exactly a third of a US dollar.

 

[Derec]

I am both a UK citizen, and a citizen and resident of a sovereign nation who pays no UK taxes, is not subject to UK laws, and whose country enters into treaties with the UK on a regular basis.

Do you pay UK taxes and have to follow UK laws when you are on UK territory?
In US right now, Indians have a special standing. All the rights of US citizens, but not all the obligations.

 

[bilby]

I am both a UK citizen, and a citizen and resident of a sovereign nation who pays no UK taxes, is not subject to UK laws, and whose country enters into treaties with the UK on a regular basis.

Do you pay UK taxes and have to follow UK laws when you are on UK territory?

I pay sales tax (VAT) on purchases made in the UK, as do non-citizens who buy stuff. I don't pay income tax when I am in the UK, because my job is outside the UK's tax jurisdiction.

I will be in the UK next week and the week after, during which time I will be paid twice. I will not pay a cent in UK tax on that income.

In US right now, Indians have a special standing. All the rights of US citizens, but not all the obligations.

Are they exempt from sales taxes when they buy stuff in stores where other customers pay sales taxes?

Are Native Americans exempt from the law, when visiting places with laws that differ from those in their homes? As far as I am aware, anyone who moves from one legal jurisdiction to another is expected to obey the laws of the jurisdiction in which they are currently present, and is exempt from the laws of the jurisdiction they just left. Unless they have diplomatic immunity.

 

[southernhybrid]

I am both a UK citizen, and a citizen and resident of a sovereign nation who pays no UK taxes, is not subject to UK laws, and whose country enters into treaties with the UK on a regular basis.

Do you pay UK taxes and have to follow UK laws when you are on UK territory?
In US right now, Indians have a special standing. All the rights of US citizens, but not all the obligations.

It's bullshit that Native Americans don't pay taxes!

https://www.thebalancemoney.com/do-native-americans-pay-taxes-4174095

Native American tribes do get some tax breaks, but individual members of a tribe do pay taxes on their personal income. Americans get all kinds of tax breaks. Why are you so concerned about Native Americans getting some breaks but you haven't mentioned the breaks that billionaires get?

SSI is such a pittance of an entitlement, I don't think anyone pays taxes on that. Considering the brutality that this country has done to these tribal folks, perhaps they deserve some type of reparations. Your comment wreaks of racism from my perspective. Are we surprised?

Native American tribe members have been granted U.S. citizenship since 1924, and as citizens, these individuals must pay taxes on their incomes.3 There are some exceptions, just as there are for any type of citizen.


For example, Native Americans don’t pay taxes on sources of income that derive from government benefits. This income must represent “general welfare” payments provided for by a governmental program, such as Supplemental Security Income.4


However, when payments are made in exchange for services of any kind, they become taxable forms of earned income. Native Americans who have earned income must pay federal income tax.1

Note​

Native Americans do not receive financial assistance from the federal government based solely on the fact that they are Native Americans. As with any citizen, these individuals receive assistance based on need, such as in instances of physical disability.

How State Sales Taxes Apply​

As sovereign nations, tribes have certain protections from state governments, including the imposition of sales taxes. States can't force tribes to collect sales taxes, and tribes can choose to impose their own sales tax (though not all tribes do).5 As a result, If you purchase goods or services on tribal land, there may or may not be a sales tax.


This enables tribes to sell things like tobacco and gasoline much cheaper than competitors across the tribal territorial line, particularly in states that have significant gasoline and tobacco taxes.


At least one state—New York—has revised its tax code to allow it to levy sales taxes on tobacco products sold on tribal lands.6 The state can’t impose the tax on tribe members who purchase these products on their own tribal lands, but it takes the position that it can tax non-tribal members who buy tobacco products on these reservations.

 

[Elixir]

Brandon was yanked because his senility appearance was a problem for voters.

FIFY. Conservotards are so superficial..

 

[Derec]

I'm pretty sure you gleefully click Report on me every chance you get, but I'll just gently remind you that calling me a liar, is against ToU.

I rarely use the report button, but if me calling out your lie (I called the statement a lie, not you as a person a liar) is a problem, then surely so is you calling my posts "idiotic".

whether with face BOLD or BALD -- are you sure you're a native speaker?

I am pretty sure I am not a native speaker. That said, I think both versions would fit your statement.

I disagree with Trump on most of his positions.

REALLY? Irrational hatred of "DEI"

Rational opposition to DEI, you mean?
DEI is about treating individuals differently based on group membership in order to enforce a collectivist idea of "equity". It is basically a rebranding of "affirmative action". And you don't have to be a Trumpsucker to oppose that. In 2020 in California an attempt to reimpose race-based admissions to universities lost with 57% of the vote. On the same ballot, Trump managed to get 34%.
Uncheck!

Irrational hatred of foreigners

No such thing! Another uncheck!
I do not oppose foreigners or foreign things. I do not oppose immigration.
I just think immigration should be legal, selective and limited to a number our society can meaningfully absorb. People should not be let into the country just because they show up at the border.

Defend cops who kill innocents

Uncheck!
Defend cops unfairly maligned for killing criminals who attack them or otherwise pose a threat to them or others.
Michael Brown was no innocent. Neither was Keith Lamont Scott. Or Jacob Blake. Or Rayshard Brooks. Or Winston Boogie Smith. All of them led to violent riots though, Jacob Blake even without dying.

Blame victims

This is too vague to even warrant a response. Uncheck!

Misogyny

Bullshit and uncheck. Opposition to radical feminism is not "misogyny".
You are batting 0 for 5 so far.

Obviously. Your views are mostly right-wing

They are not though. Just because I oppose excesses on the Left, does not make me right-wing.
I generally support abortion rights and the "right to choose". In fact, I would love if Dems/Left would support "right to choose" and right to privacy for things other than abortion.
I generally support LGBTQABCXYZ (I was for gay marriage before the likes of Hillary, Obama and Biden got around to it!), but oppose some of the excesses that the activists demand, such as biological men in women's sports or demanding everybody has to declare "preferred pronouns" when the issue really affects a tiny fraction of people.
I support progressive taxation and higher taxes on the rich with closing of loopholes, but oppose Bernie/Warren style schemes like wealth tax or taxing unrealized capital gains.
I support a form of universal healthcare with a public option, but
I support reducing CO₂ emissions and other efforts to help the environment, but realize that decarbonization will take decades at best and that we will still need oil and gas in the interim. "You can't drink oil, keep it in the soil" is an idiotic and unworkable proposition.
Et cetera.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

I am both a UK citizen, and a citizen and resident of a sovereign nation who pays no UK taxes, is not subject to UK laws, and whose country enters into treaties with the UK on a regular basis.

Do you pay UK taxes and have to follow UK laws when you are on UK territory?
In US right now, Indians have a special standing. All the rights of US citizens, but not all the obligations.

Indians don't have any special standing. Are you talking about Native Americans (or First Nations)?

 

[Derec]

https://www.thebalancemoney.com/do-native-americans-pay-taxes-4174095

Your link shows that Amerindians get a lot of tax breaks not open to other Americans.
For example monopoly casinos operate tax-free and can distribute these tax-free profits to their members.

Why are you so concerned about Native Americans getting some breaks but you haven't mentioned the breaks that billionaires get?

Why not both? I think loopholes used by billionaires - like using loans as income - should be closed. Note that even with that billionaires in the US still pay billions in taxes.
Not having special billionaire taxes like wealth tax or tax on unrealized capital gains is not a "tax break". I think those proposals go too far.

perhaps they deserve some type of reparations.

For how many generations more? Do you think they should be "more equal" in perpetuity?

Your comment wreaks of racism from my perspective. Are we surprised?

No. Saying that some people should not get special privileges because of their race is not "racism". To even suggest it is is an example of leftist Newspeak. War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Treating people as individuals is racism.

As sovereign nations, tribes have certain protections from state governments, including the imposition of sales taxes.

And yet they expect states to fund their schools and other public services. It's basically sovereignty when it suits them, and being part of the US and the state when that suits them.

 

[Derec]

Indians don't have any special standing. Are you talking about Native Americans (or First Nations)?

American Indians. They definitely have special standing.

 

[Derec]

Are Native Americans exempt from the law, when visiting places with laws that differ from those in their homes? As far as I am aware, anyone who moves from one legal jurisdiction to another is expected to obey the laws of the jurisdiction in which they are currently present, and is exempt from the laws of the jurisdiction they just left. Unless they have diplomatic immunity.

An Indian is allowed to possess an eagle feather. For everybody else, it's a crime.
An Indian is allowed to use certain illicit drugs. For everybody else, it's a crime.

 

[bilby]

Are Native Americans exempt from the law, when visiting places with laws that differ from those in their homes? As far as I am aware, anyone who moves from one legal jurisdiction to another is expected to obey the laws of the jurisdiction in which they are currently present, and is exempt from the laws of the jurisdiction they just left. Unless they have diplomatic immunity.

An Indian is allowed to possess an eagle feather. For everybody else, it's a crime.
An Indian is allowed to use certain illicit drugs. For everybody else, it's a crime.

That's it?

That's the entire basis of your daft tirade against Native Americans? That you can't own an eagle feather??

Oh, you poor oppressed victim you. My very heart bleeds for your woes.

 

[Derec]

That's the entire basis of your daft tirade against Native Americans? That you can't own an eagle feather??

It's called an example.

 

[bilby]

That's the entire basis of your daft tirade against Native Americans? That you can't own an eagle feather??

It's called an example.

When selecting an example of why something is bad, it is wise to select the most egregious possible example, so that people nod, and murmur "Oh, yes, that truly is awful". It is most unwise to pick an example so trivial as to cause hilarity and mirth.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

That's the entire basis of your daft tirade against Native Americans? That you can't own an eagle feather??

It's called an example.

When selecting an example of why something is bad, it is wise to select the most egregious possible example, so that people nod, and murmur "Oh, yes, that truly is awful". It is most unwise to pick an example so trivial as to cause hilarity and mirth.

First and second wise men: We said myrhh!
Third wise man (dressed up as clown): Ohh... yeah, that makes more sense.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

Indians don't have any special standing. Are you talking about Native Americans (or First Nations)?

American Indians. They definitely have special standing.

To the cricket pitch? Around here, it is more Nepalese.

Or are you talking about the Native Americans and the treaties and agreements in place that existed hundreds of years before you moved here to complain about prostitution laws?

 

[robnisch]

Indians don't have any special standing. Are you talking about Native Americans (or First Nations)?

American Indians. They definitely have special standing.

To the cricket pitch? Around here, it is more Nepalese.

Or are you talking about the Native Americans and the treaties and agreements in place that existed hundreds of years before you moved here to complain about prostitution laws?

Of which very few have been honored.
Just sayin'

 

[Loren Pechtel]

It remains a riveting question: WHY did so many American voters choose fascism and a psychopath?

A riveting question? lol, not at all.

The interesting question is, why did the democrats lie that Brandon was not senile and then when that lie could not be sustained, why did the democrats foist a lame duck candidate that had no chance of winning on the electorate.

What did Trump win? People that thought the economy was bad. No one voted for Trump because Biden was "senile" that weren't always going to vote for Trump.

Brandon was yanked because his senility was a problem for voters.

The Felon is worse. He has one thing going for him: Charisma. Otherwise, he's inferior in basically every respect.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

A doctor will, and should, change his message when new information invalidates previous knowledge. That;'s science.

But no new information about masks was suddenly discovered.
I think it was more the case that there was a shortage of masks, and they did not want people to panic. It was greater availability of masks that led to change in recommendations, not that Fauci et al suddenly discovered they were effective after all.
In any case, the messaging around this issue was poor and did not inspire confidence.

Agreed. Faced with a limited supply of masks there was more protection from using them for the sick than for the healthy. Once the supply caught up that became irrelevant.

There was also the problem that at first we did not realize the asymptomatic spread. Most diseases you show symptoms before you're contagious.

 

[Swammerdami]

I am both a UK citizen, and a citizen and resident of a sovereign nation who pays no UK taxes, is not subject to UK laws, and whose country enters into treaties with the UK on a regular basis.

Non-resident USians, otoh, pay income taxes on ALL income, except for a portion of "earned" income earned in a foreign country. And social security tax is due on that same exempt foreign earned income. In one of two algorithms used to determine whether the USian is "resident", any day with even a single minute spent over international waters counts as a day resident in the U.S.

The fee to renounce citizenship is something like $5000 iirc. Note that this fee is per person and it is NOT in lieu of paying taxes due. The $5000 fee is to compensate the USG for helping the ex-citizen calculate how much tax he/she STILL owes.

Otoh, I continue (so far) to receive SocSec payments despite non-residency. I've an Australian friend unable to visit his children in Thailand because whenever he leaves Australia the clock resets on the Adequate_In_Country_Time_for_Receiving_Benefits timer. (Can you help, bilby? No I'm not asking you to bribe your high-placed Oz officials; it's just that my friend is ... scatter-brained, and probably doesn't really understand the rules.)

Cutting off SocSec payment to expats like myself is one "easy" step Czar Musk might take to advance his goal of reducing by at least $2 Trillion the funds stolen from billionaires contributed by bond-buyers and given to the undeserving. ("But I don't need less than a deserving man, I need more.")

If you open any bank or brokerage account in the Kingdom -- or in almost ANY country in the world iiuc -- you are asked "Are you a U.S. person?" The bank doesn't care if you're an Australian person, French, German, Russian or even Panamanian or Greenlander. But U.S. might forces the countries to help it determine how much tax such an ex-pat owes. I think that the questioon is about "U.S. person" rather than "U.S. citizen" because even green-card holders have U.S. tax obligations.

I cannot rule out the possibility that Elon Musk will seize some of the foreign bank accounts USG knows about, so I've renounced my former frugality in an effort to reduce what Musk and Trump eventually seize. So come visit Chiang Mai! Drinks are on me!

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Speaking of DSM, this is a publication of the American Psychiatric Association. Has that USian entity imposed its will throughout the world much as the U.S. financial system has?

 

[Swammerdami]

Are Native Americans exempt from the law, when visiting places with laws that differ from those in their homes? As far as I am aware, anyone who moves from one legal jurisdiction to another is expected to obey the laws of the jurisdiction in which they are currently present, and is exempt from the laws of the jurisdiction they just left. Unless they have diplomatic immunity.

An Indian is allowed to possess an eagle feather. For everybody else, it's a crime.
An Indian is allowed to use certain illicit drugs. For everybody else, it's a crime.

That's it?

That's the entire basis of your daft tirade against Native Americans? That you can't own an eagle feather??

Oh, you poor oppressed victim you. My very heart bleeds for your woes.

Don't forget that it was Elizabeth Warren who became a U.S. Senator (absconding with the Senate seat that was Derec's by right) by lying that she was Native American^*.

(* - Contrary to Internet memes, most USians have zero detectable Native American DNA. Warren's test showed 1/64 Native DNA, about what she had claimed!. The message that came out of that "important political question" -- (or at least Derec seemed to think it was a crucial issue) -- was the OPPOSITE of reality simply due to the shrillness of Bullshit Machines like FoxNews.)