The Political Discussion Thread

[Annoyed]

ED at least pays you just compensation based on fair market value.

I wouldn't bet the farm on that. I've read about situations where the govt. entity (town, county, whatever) enacted changes to zoning or other similar use restriction laws that rendered an asset almost worthless before they tried to grab it via ED. They destroyed the value of the property in order to pay as little as possible for it.

[SoulReaver]

ED at least pays you just compensation based on fair market value.

was gonna respond but Annoyed beat me to it

They are.. BUT stone still can burn.

nope

[aretood2]

what about Eminent Domain?

or even better yet - next time you build a prison, use stone instead of wood :|

Donald Trump is a huge fan of Eminent Domain. He tried to bully a lady, for example, out of her house at one point so he could build one of his casinos and has advocated for a more liberal version of Eminent Domain (Ignoring that it's pretty bad as it is right now).

ED at least pays you just compensation based on fair market value.

Fair market value? You're kidding, right? The government and their corporate masters (like Trump) hardly bother giving actual market value. And not to mention, when you're being forced off your property, it should require more compensation...and a better reason than "Rich dude wants to build money making thing."

In other news.. Who heard of the bus crash in Louisiana over the weekend. An ILLEGAL immigrant driving a bus load of OTHER illegals, supposedly on the way to volunteer to help flood victims in Baton Rouge.. NO license, hand has been PRIOR cited for driving with no license back in early August..

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/08/29...-cops-say.html

http://www.wwltv.com/news/local/ille...rash/311482385

The worst part.. The company which supposedly hired him to DO said driving duties is OWNED by a St Tammany parrish Constable AND an Arkansas politician!??!?!?!?!

http://www.thepoliticalinsider.com/o...ana-bus-crash/

beat him and burn him alive!!!

I wouldn't bet the farm on that. I've read about situations where the govt. entity (town, county, whatever) enacted changes to zoning or other similar use restriction laws that rendered an asset almost worthless before they tried to grab it via ED. They destroyed the value of the property in order to pay as little as possible for it.

Exactly.

[SoulReaver]

Donald Trump is a huge fan of Eminent Domain.

I hope none of the Trumpeters here learn about this lest their heads short-circuit
(no I don't)

[Coco Pops]

Taxes are a drag on the economy, they do not build it. A government does not produce any marketable product, so they can't "build" the economy. It can affect the economy, play favorites, giving one company or type of company advantages, but by itself, government produces nothing.

Wages are paid by the employer.

SO................

What is the purpose of tax?

If you get rid of tax you don't have things like pensions.... That is not good. That's just one example.

[garhkal]

I wouldn't bet the farm on that. I've read about situations where the govt. entity (town, county, whatever) enacted changes to zoning or other similar use restriction laws that rendered an asset almost worthless before they tried to grab it via ED. They destroyed the value of the property in order to pay as little as possible for it.

I have heard of horror stories like that too, but in general you DO get paid something.. even if it is at a loss from what its worth.. Compared to what the swiz seem to want to do where you have to hand it OVER..

[Gatefan1976]

SO................

What is the purpose of tax?

If you get rid of tax you don't have things like pensions.... That is not good. That's just one example.

Don't waste your time Coco.

[thekillman]

SO................

What is the purpose of tax?

The purpose of tax is to fund things that businesses have no interest in yet are needed. There are plenty of things in life that are needed yet aren't profitable, and if not taken care of, you're left in the dust. A water supply? sorry you're 4km from the town, that's too far. Electricity? Internet? Sewers? If you aren't part of that low-hanging fruit you've got nothing.

People in this thread seem to think businesses are some benevolent white knight entity but forget that when given free reign, businesses do plenty of shady ****. Like donald trump building a huge billboard in front of a hotel to buy it at a minimal price. A business has no regard for citizens or their rights and desires. Look at the Industrial Age: it's what free business reign looks like. Overworked, underpaid slaves, i mean employees.

That's not to say government can't do shady ****, but right now it seems we're pretending the government has a monopoly on evil.

[Falcon Horus]

Compared to what the swiz seem to want to do where you have to hand it OVER..

Not handing it over, lending it in a situation of crisis.
They made a law about it.

Or if you like this one better:

Swedish private housing sector accused of profiting from refugees

"“We are living hand to mouth,” said Tolle Furegård, head of refugee accommodation at Sweden’s migration board, who said the service relies a heavily on the private sector in this situation. “They are not doing this to be nice to us… It is a big sector, a chance to earn lot of money quickly, and it’s safe, because the government pays its bills.”"

So, any complaints now?

Or this one - Swedish website in English with information for asylum-seekers:

Housing for asylum-seekers

"If you have money, you must pay for the accommodation yourself, but if the Migration Agency can see that you have no money, you do not have to pay."

And the official refugee law in Sweden:

Refugee Law and Policy: Sweden

[thekillman]

What do people think about Trump's newest plans to promote "Pride and Patriotism" in schools ? https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/...ls-immigration


Also:

“We will stop apologising for America, and we will start celebrating America.”

When did people start apologizing? Like, for nuking another country or starting wars for oil under the pretense of WMD's?

A Trump administration, he said, would consult with the military veterans’ group to promote “pride and patriotism” in schools – “teaching respect” for the US flag and pledge of allegiance.

That's....disturbing.

[Falcon Horus]

What do people think about Trump's newest plans to promote "Pride and Patriotism" in schools ? https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/...ls-immigration

Allegiance to the flag - sure why not. Americans have been doing that for ages.
It's more in recent years, I think, they have been pulling back from that custom in some areas.

But as far as western countries go, IMHO, there's no country already more patriotic than the US.

I found this line particularly fascinating in an odd sort of way:

“We will be united by our common culture, values and principles – becoming one American nation,” said Trump in Cincinnati [...]

It's my understanding that the US is comprised of a variety of cultures, values and maybe the same principles (but I'm not even sure about that one).

Now that's a nazi nationalist in the making.

His immigration-problem will be his downfall. He just doesn't know it yet.

When did people start apologizing? Like, for nuking another country or starting wars for oil under the pretense of WMD's?

Obama uttered his sympathies for what happened in 1945 in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He did not apologize.

There have been apologies for slavery and to the native Americans -- does that count?

[Pharaoh Hamenthotep]

Taxes are a drag on the economy, they do not build it. A government does not produce any marketable product, so they can't "build" the economy. It can affect the economy, play favorites, giving one company or type of company advantages, but by itself, government produces nothing.

Wages are paid by the employer.

So.. how does "The Government" (It's funny the way you talk about it like it's a constant, eternal, never changing thing ) pay for the over-inflated military budget? Or the militarised police force that you're always defending/complaining about? The national parks, the postal service. The roads that you want to keep clear of robot drivers. All the infrastructure that keeps your (currently not) great country limping along (until Trump saves the world's largest economy from the builders of ipads).

The electricity grid, the railways, the nationwide (apart from Flint) plumbing system.

How does the government pay for all that?

Meanwhile, your lord and saviour ( ) is spending his campaign money on "Make Mexico Great Again Also" hats...

I guess there was no money left over for a grammar check

[Annoyed]

So.. how does "The Government" (It's funny the way you talk about it like it's a constant, eternal, never changing thing ) pay for the over-inflated military budget? Or the militarised police force that you're always defending/complaining about? The national parks, the postal service. The roads that you want to keep clear of robot drivers. All the infrastructure that keeps your (currently not) great country limping along (until Trump saves the world's largest economy from the builders of ipads).

The electricity grid, the railways, the nationwide (apart from Flint) plumbing system.

How does the government pay for all that?

Meanwhile, your lord and saviour ( ) is spending his campaign money on "Make Mexico Great Again Also" hats...

I guess there was no money left over for a grammar check

It pays for these things by taxing those who produce new wealth by creating products or services that can be sold.
You will note that none of those items you list create new wealth, so they don't add anything to the economy.

The items you list are essential services, and government has the obligation to collect taxes to provide them. But these items do not add wealth, they simply take wealth that has already been created by others.

Oh, and in most cases, the railways and electric power grids are owned by private enterprise, not the govt.

[Pharaoh Hamenthotep]

Essential services require workers. Workers spend money on goods and services. Goods and services are taxed to pay for essential services.

Your taxes pay for NASA, who are all scientists and engineers. Do you know that when they built the Mars Rover they bought raw materials from suppliers, who used that money to pay their workers. NASA paid the wages of the engineers who built the Rover, who then used that money to pay their mortgages and food at the supermarket. The supermarket then uses the money that the NASA engineers spent (money from taxes) to pay their own workers. So they can buy their own food and pay bills... etc..

They then pay taxes which go back to NASA and the whole cycle can begin again.

These engineers are making breakthrough discoveries in science. Which then filter down to the general population. Your computer, your non-stick frying pans. The velcro on your coat/shoes.

The military has a similar setup. Money going round and round. Research and development costs are mostly used to keep the workers alive and well fed with a roof over their heads..

Taxes do create jobs. Government jobs. Like postal workers, and the military. The money goes back into the economy and is collected again as taxes. It's all going round in a cycle.

[Gatefan1976]

Don't bother, he is an idiot.