U.S. Politics

[Jsell50]

"The guy who really would upset the establishment is Sanders, but he's considered a communist for suggesting policies that would be considered centre-ground in virtually all developed nations."

That's because most of the "Developed Nations" are now communist or socialist, and many economies are failing because of it. Sanders wouldn't upset anything, only make the socialist policies of the last 7 years even worse. America works just fine as a capitalist society. The only mistake made as a country was to even start the social programs that are bankrupting it today. Many people do not mind giving freely to those truly in need. We balk at giving hard earned money to those who refuse to work!

[ronan01]

Funny that some people think that Trump upsets the 'elite and the establishment'. Trump is the elite and establishment, for goodness sake! Hillary went to his wedding, he gave money to her. He's promising big tax cuts for corporations and the very wealthy. They are both extremely wealthy and live life in a bubble. Two sides of the same coin.
Anyone notice parallels between Trump and Silvio Berlusconi in Italy?
The guy who really would upset the establishment is Sanders, but he's considered a communist for suggesting policies that would be considered centre-ground in virtually all developed nations.

I guess that's why Trump gets so much support and good press from the elite and the establishment.

What is really funny is Clinton pretending not to be part of the elite and the Washington in-crown / establishment.

[MrFixer]

Trump is getting flack from many in the GOP because they don't like his manner and think he'll lose to Hillary in the general election. They need to court minorities and Trump's upset a lot of minorities. I haven't heard them come out to oppose his taxation policies though.
Trump is very much in the style of Berlusconi in Italy. Very rich, flamboyant, right-wing and appealing to voters 'common sense'. Look where that got Italy.

[MrFixer]

"That's because most of the "Developed Nations" are now communist or socialist, and many economies are failing because of it."

Don't talk garbage. Most first-world nations are doing pretty well. The US needs to get its house in order. Massive deficit, a hollowed-out middle class, health care and education ruinously expensive for many ordinary folk. Trump has certainly identified the problems - but is he the solution?

[Jsell50]

More garbage...

What people like you fail to realize is why America is in the toilet. It is because of people like you glamorizing socialism. One of the best and most truthful statements I have ever heard goes like this: "Socialism is wonderful; until you run out of people to take money from!" I have heard all about the great socialist countries and almost all of the people I have talked to from those countries have told me they would be happier living in a democracy. Why would they say this? Almost all of them reflected the same things I have said. They are tired of working harder for people who don't want to contribute.

The only people socialism is truly good for are those who don't want to work, or work less and have the same rewards as those who work more.

Next you will say we need to help those less fortunate. I have no problem with that, unless they are less fortunate because they are lazy or don't want to show any income and contribute to the infrastructure of their country.
P.S. Knowingly having more children than you can afford, or living above your means, does not qualify as unfortunate in my book. Neither does living in a country that does not take care of their own and illegally immigrating to mine!

Talking garbage means not telling the truth. Show me, in black and white, how many country's economies are doing great. Last I heard many are regretting a lot of their policies. England sure doesn't want much to do with the rest of Europe. Why?

http://www.the-american-interest.com/20 ... ing-dream/

http://fortune.com/video/2015/11/04/kar ... g-germany/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_debt_crisis

[ronan01]

Trump attack ad against Clinton

https://youtu.be/gE4h6tOgVgc

[GT93]

I think one reason America is in the toilet is its political elites are too captured by money from vested interests. Trump is on the money in explaining this. The American political and economic systems don't seem to work in main street's interests. I think it's the rentier class rather than the lazy who are the bigger problem. One refreshing feature about the Trump phenomenon is it shows the rentiers' money can't always buy them success at the polls.

We've had some great laughs from Drumpf - the low energy individual, lying Ted, little Marco ... I can't wait for Hillary and Bill to be given some names.

[Jsell50]

If America doesn't have a problem with lazy, why are only 50% of the working age people paying 100% of the bills?
I am sure Trump will have lots of name for the lying B*tch!

[GT93]

I think in any economy there will be a large % of people not in the workforce or in it just part-time - the elderly, children, students etc. Most of these people won't be lazy. Lack of opportunities from a lukewarm economy reduces labour market participation. I suspect lack of opportunity rather than laziness is more of the problem. The US is pretty brutal on those living in poverty. Opting out from laziness carries a very big price in the US.

Joe Klein, Time Magazine's political columnist, writes 28 March 2016: : "In the end, I'm not at all certain Clinton can beat Trump. He is free form and anarchic and silly and devastating. She is rote."

Drumpf might go the whole way. He seems to gel with the times.

[Jsell50]

Ronald Reagan said something about this when he was in office that applies very well today too. The newspapers, internet, and employment offices are filled with jobs. Many of them are entry level, and/or manual labor. The opportunities are there, the people are lazy! I grew up dirt poor and had to work for everything I got. There were no silver spoons in my life. I could have given up and lived off the government many times. I was instilled with too much pride to do this. People are encouraged by all the freebies to put forth the effort it takes to care for themselves. As long as this is the case people will continue to do this, and live off those of us who don't!

[Lone Star]

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[parrot]

If America doesn't have a problem with lazy, why are only 50% of the working age people paying 100% of the bills?

When you consider that about 47% of working Americans don't pay any federal income taxes at all, it makes you wonder what was meant by "everyone has to have skin in the game" when Biden said that.

It's been that way for a long time, too.

Food for thought:
"Just because people don’t pay federal income tax doesn’t mean they don’t pay any tax. In fact, nearly everyone pays something. Three-fifths of those who don’t owe income tax work and thus pay Social Security and Medicare payroll taxes. And almost everyone pays state and local sales taxes, excise taxes, or some other levy."
http://www.forbes.com/sites/beltway/201 ... 6faa713cf4

Trump the alchemist. He'll make the US golden....again!

[Jsell50]

So all those that don't pay any income tax should get a pass???? I don't think so!

[BigRick808]

Too bad we can't get enough people to vote for a sensible person, such as Gary Johnson. Under his tax plan citizens wouldn't live under the threat of violence, injury, and being locked in a cage in order to steal their money away.

https://garyjohnson2016.com/

[Jsell50]

He makes too much sense, like Trump, he doesn't stand a chance...

[Lone Star]

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[Jsell50]

And what a lot of people fail to see is that every person off of the dole and paying their own way, including income tax, is a double bonus. Not only don't working Americans have to pay to support them, but they are helping to support the country.

[Jello]

\Not only don't working Americans have to pay to support them, but they are helping to support the country.

Not entirely true Jsnell.

Get a Job? Most Welfare Recipients Already Have One
It’s poor-paying jobs, not unemployment, that strains the welfare system.

That’s one key finding from a study by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, that showed the majority of households receiving government assistance are headed by a working adult.

The study found that 56% of federal and state dollars spent between 2009 and 2011 on welfare programs — including Medicaid, food stamps and the Earned Income Tax Credit — flowed to working families and individuals with jobs. In some industries, about half the workforce relies on welfare.

“When companies pay too little for workers to provide for their families, workers rely on public assistance programs to meet their basic needs,”
http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2015/04/ ... -have-one/

By paying welfare to the individual workers we are subsidizing the company they work for so the company doesn't need to pay their employees a living wage and can put more profit into their pockets.

Back on topic, is Trump in favor of raising the minimum wage?

Donald Trump: Low Minimum Wage ‘Not a Bad Thing for This Country’
Donald Trump said during an interview with MSNBC’s Morning Joe that he believed a low minimum wage was a good thing for America, because it helped the country compete with foreigners.
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/donald-trump ... s-country/

[Lone Star]

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[Jsell50]

It still boils down to personal pride. When I couldn't support myself or my family with 1 job I got another 1. If I had to work 80 hours a week to do it, that's what I did. If I couldn't make it in the field I was in I worked while I went back to school to learn a new trade. I refused to live off someone else work. Anyone without a physical or mental handicap can support themseves. And no, lazy doesn't count as a handicap!