Selena
Admin
Odinsdottir
Posts: 318
Original Join Date: February 13, 2003
|
Post by Selena on Jan 25, 2017 1:32:19 GMT
Because a lot is changing in a short span of time, multiple threads would never be able to keep up. Here's a place to compile and discuss all of the policies being introduced by the Trump administration. ....Along with any other "things" that happen.
--------------------
* EPA officials are now banned from using the internet / social media to share research information or state their opinions on environmental issues.
* Completion of the Dakota Access Pipeline -- and the reintroduction of the KeystoneXL pipeline -- will now be pushed forward and given priority. For the sake of "building new American infrastructure."
* Bill written that proposes leaving the United Nations. Mostly a symbolic gesture, but one that could have diplomatic fallout.
* Shuts down National Parks twitter feeds over a inauguration photo comparison made by a lower-level employee on one account; re-allows access after higher ranking members of the service profusely apologize to The Orange One.
* Press secretary keeps presenting "alternative facts" while constantly belittling news networks who have insulted The Orange One in the past, which takes up a good part of news conferences.
* Mexico City Policy reinstated, which cuts fund to foreign family health services which mention abortion (not necessarily perform it). A mixed issue. It's draconian regarding female health services, but you can also argue that we shouldn't be investing money in non-US citizens. It has ties to some good services, but also ties to some bad services. Many are worried that it's merely "step 1," though.
* There will be no release of tax returns. A president is not actually required to do this, but with his global business ties in play, it also means we won't see his potential conflicts of interest. His company hasn't been placed in a blind trust, so he still could have indirect access to it through family members. Not necessarily to utilize his wealth, but to guide the company from the sidelines and create policies that will indirectly benefit it.
* Various little bitch fits about "I have the biggest inauguration" or "I've been on the cover of Time the most amount of times, or "I have the biggest amount of votes and Hillary cheated to get that extra 3 million." How many times are we going to have him throwing a fit over the size of his.... success..... throughout this administration?
* Attempted to, but largely failed, to make amends with the CIA by making a rambling speech in front of their memorial wall that focused more on his media portrayals and inauguration crowd sizes than it did on healing perceived rifts.
* Freeze on federal hiring.
So much has happened, so I'm sure I missed something. And I'm sure I'll be making regular updates all through this month (though other people can feel free to add as things happen).
The administrations behavior has done nothing but increase my concerns so far.
|
|
Masamune
Member
Posts: 113
Original Join Date: January, 2002
|
Post by Masamune on Jan 25, 2017 1:43:25 GMT
There was also reversing Obama's executive action that had made FHA loans more affordable, which has sparked a lot of Trumpgrets from people who just saw their mortgage bill go up.
|
|
|
Post by SteveT on Jan 25, 2017 3:07:30 GMT
* Executive order to proceed with Keystone XL and Dakota Access
* Freeze on EPA grants for research
It's disgusting so far. But hey, at least he's keeping his campaign promises.
|
|
JRPomazon
Member
Posts: 162
Original Join Date: 14 Jul 2003
|
Post by JRPomazon on Jan 25, 2017 6:10:58 GMT
There's also been some news of him beginning to push for less restrictions on gun ownership, aiming for federal laws rather than it being a state by state issue. Mostly abolishing clip size laws, investment in mental health services to prevent more unhinged shooters and a new application for gun owners that would be like a country wide license. The NRA must be screaming with joy right now.
|
|
Jinn
Member
Posts: 73
Original Join Date: April 4th, 1984
|
Post by Jinn on Jan 25, 2017 17:18:49 GMT
The Dow Jones Index has been trading (as of this weds) at over 20,000 for the first time. Ever. Like ever, ever. As a business man, I think this is gonna go down as a milestone historic moment, whatever may follow. Guess some of them executive orders did good on the agenda to bring strength to a collapsing economy
|
|
Egann
Member
Posts: 124
Original Join Date: Sometime in 2008
|
Post by Egann on Jan 25, 2017 21:26:05 GMT
Yes, god forbid a candidate follow campaign promises in his first week in office! Trump was always going to have an interesting first few weeks. He's an executive and a proprietor, and those people come in and enact sweeping changes in a hurry because time is money. This is in contrast with politicians, who don't want to rock the boat. I'm also surprised stocks are up; typically there's a fall before the market rebounds. In other news, Trump is investigating the "5 million illegal votes." If you haven't gathered, Trump is more than prone to exaggeration, but there is evidence there was voter fraud in the election, like over a third of Detroit's districts recording more voters than people who actually walked into the precinct. The difference there won't tabulate to 5 million votes, of course, and that, in and of itself doesn't indicate fraud. But consider that most of these precincts could not recount their votes because of a state law forbidding recounts in precincts with unbalanced books. If I'm reading that correctly, that means the people running the precincts could not run a double-check before submitting the results, even though they would know the precinct's numbers were wrong because the totals don't match. This is not about a few extra votes being thrown in; it's about sealing the votes to prevent a double-check. ...Yeah, Trump will definitely discover voter fraud if he looks. Add up to 5 million? I seriously doubt it.
|
|
Selena
Admin
Odinsdottir
Posts: 318
Original Join Date: February 13, 2003
|
Post by Selena on Jan 25, 2017 21:59:16 GMT
ha_HAHA. Just keeping everyone informed about changes as they happen. Things are moving fast. I am not expressing surprise at his actions. I wish leaders were fully on board with having regular vote audits for the sake of accuracy, but alas, reigning politicians only care about potential fraud if it impacts their party -- the other side can get bent. Clinton would've investigated Russian interference but not internal shenanigans, and Trump is naturally doing the opposite. The latest: * The Great Wall of America was authorized today, but with fairly minimal details. Construction is beginning before funding is guaranteed, though Trump promises that Mexico will be still be reimbursing the US through unconventional payments of some type. Mexico's government says that if the US demands some form of payment, they will withdraw from NAFTA talks. Cost estimates for the Wall are anywhere between $8 and $25 billion. * Funds cut for sanctuary cities, and the policy of quickly dumping border-hoppers back on the Mexico side of the border is over. They'll be processed and go through conventional deportation methods now. Which isn't a big deal, since Obama was mostly doing that anyway in the later stages of his presidency. * Immigration/admittance from predominantly Muslim countries strictly limited, as expected. Not called a "Muslim ban," but essentially does what was promised on campaign trail. (I think this technically happened last night) * According to NPR, sounds like EPA scientists will have to go through extra checks from the government before it can be distributed to the public. Obviously drawing some concerns about political censorship in science. BONUS * Possibly not real, but amusing if so: environmental scientists and rangers working for the National Parks Service seem to be going rogue on twitter. One of them being this one twitter.com/AltNatParkSer. But it could also be a bunch of punks on the internet.... because that's how the internet works. Still kinda funny.
|
|
|
Post by SteveT on Jan 25, 2017 23:46:10 GMT
Trump is living up to his campaign promises*, but he's also living up to liberal fears. We're even getting bonus nightmares like gagging the EPA and otherwise abusing science, BS voter fraud claims that will get used as an excuse to strip away voting rights (apparently the 2nd amendment is the only important one), and choosing Cabinet members based on donations and/or a desire to undermine said Cabinet.
Between the election and the inauguration, I saw a lot of comments to the effect of:
- Give Trump a chance - He doesn't have a voting record, so you can't be sure what he'll do - He didn't mean it that way - He never said that - The media is just twisting his words - He'll be great. The greatest. Believe me. You'll love him and you'll be voting for him in 2020.
Well, big surprise, all those statements were B.S.
*To the extent that he can with the power of his office. A lot of these executive orders are just "I'MMA DO!" statements.
|
|
|
Post by SteveT on Jan 26, 2017 16:02:48 GMT
Also, this 5 million illegal votes thing is so insane. If there was a conspiracy on that scale, why would it only happen in blue states? Why not flood Florida or Pennsylvania? You know, states that would have made a difference.
|
|
Egann
Member
Posts: 124
Original Join Date: Sometime in 2008
|
Post by Egann on Jan 27, 2017 0:30:10 GMT
So the news everywhere is now talking about the wall, which is moving forward at blistering speed because he's proposing to pay for it with a tariff on Mexican goods.
A word about illegal immigration; Mexico and most of Central America are genuinely god-awful places, with wealthy people living like kings and many of the poor literally living in cardboard shacks, sometimes over refuse heaps. And crime rules over all; in 2014 organized crime abducted--and probably murdered--over 40 college students. Because of the corruption and class structure, it is more or less impossible to climb the social ladder by staying. In part because if you come into any means whatsoever you have to pay protection money.
Let me speak as someone who has known a few illegal immigrants--I volunteered at a hispanic summer camp at my local church during highschool because a girl I crushed on also volunteered there. Most illegal immigrants continue to live in abject poverty even after moving to the US. Many have no intention of ever trying to live in anything but poverty because they intend to save money and return to their families as people of means. Many have no intention to learn English or to assimilate.
I'm not saying people who come with the intention to stay don't exist, or that people don't decide to simply remain here. I certainly would stay in the US. I'm saying that the people I personally met viewed their time in the US as finding fortune abroad because that's just not possible south of the Rio Grande. These are all things I have mentioned before.
The unspoken problem, however, is that this is a subset of the population already here illegally--meaning they feel like they have no legal recourse when wronged--who work for and save in cash. Theft, drugs, prostitution, rape...practically every crime you can think of is extremely high in these communities because the incentives are higher and many feel there is no reason not to. Because, again, they're not trying to assimilate; they're trying to make money, and if stealing three years wages from your bunkmate means you go back to take care of your sick grandmother three years earlier--because who isn't sick if you're living over landfill--so be it.
The other thing? The people who would stay and lead revolutions are hopping the fence. When the 2012 surge of illegal immigrants happened, I immediately asked where the rumor of the provisos came from. I now have a theory; from 2000 to 2012 the PAN party in Mexico--the same party which disrupted over 70 years of PRI majority--went from controlling the majority to controlling about a quarter, most of those losses coming in 2012. It is my supposition that the PAN party--which has extensive organized crime connections because who doesn't after 70 years in power in Mexico--spread the provisos rumor to remove the voter-base of their opposition and regain control. The rumor was about getting revolutionaries out of the country before they created problems. It's likely the Iguala mass kidnapping I mentioned earlier had a similar motive because the students went to a college for teachers. Teachers in Mexico have a reputation of being revolutionaries.
So think of illegal immigration as a way for Mexican crime lords to vent potentially dangerous revolutionaries into the United States.
I am all for the wall, not for practical reasons, but for symbolic ones. Mexico is in desperate need of a revolution, and I suspect it will be quite violent. That revolution cannot happen without a symbol like a wall on the Southern border paid for by tariffs. The longer we put this off, the more we passively accept Mexican workers living on slave wages in absolute squalor.
|
|
|
Post by SteveT on Jan 27, 2017 2:09:17 GMT
Surely we can do something equally symbolic, but without pretending a tarriff isn't a new tax on the middle class to pay for a pointless wall. Like crack down on employers who hire illegal labor.
|
|
tydaze
Member
Posts: 72
Original Join Date: 2004
|
Post by tydaze on Jan 27, 2017 5:59:52 GMT
I lost all hope when he won, and I expected all of this, but somehow everything he does still makes me hate him more and more. He's everything our President should not be. Wake me up when this nightmare is over...
|
|
Egann
Member
Posts: 124
Original Join Date: Sometime in 2008
|
Post by Egann on Jan 28, 2017 0:41:58 GMT
Surely we can do something equally symbolic, but without pretending a tarriff isn't a new tax on the middle class to pay for a pointless wall. Like crack down on employers who hire illegal labor. I wish it were that simple, but 90% of illegal immigration is people not enforcing laws on the books because they don't want to. In this case, Hispanic workers selling their labor at indentured servitude rates forces the working class to do the same to compete, which is why they don't get along. At the same time, the wealthy political donor class likes the idea of being on top of the class structure, so they convince politicians to either actively oppose (democrat) or to give lip service, but never enforce anything. If you have any ideas I'm all ears.
|
|
|
Post by Jasi on Jan 28, 2017 2:21:23 GMT
|
|
|
Post by SteveT on Jan 28, 2017 16:36:47 GMT
Yeah, illegal immigration is down and deportations were up under Obama.
Really, it call comes down to how much local governments care. Illegal immigration is one of those things that's illegal on paper, but has some benefits and therefore often gets ignored. Like you say, they're working for shit wages. Businesses love that. They're also taking jobs that Americans don't want. Who grew up dreaming of becoming a migrant vegetable harvester? Quite the opposite: that's the kind of job parents use as a scare tactic to get their kids to do their homework.
So I maintain that if we really want to get rid of the underclass who undercut minimum wage, then the first step is to target the people paying them to be here.
|
|