Impeaching Donald Trump

[RSL]

. . .should be publicly or privately funded.

There's that term, "funded" again. That term always is used to steer attention away from the fact that everything -- everything -- is privately "funded." The difference is that when taxes are involved, the people "funding" an enterprise with their hard-earned money often aren't the people who'll benefit from that enterprise. But the politicians "funding" the project always will benefit.

The term, "funded," always tells me there's a government scam involved.

[Alan Goldhammer]

At the first campaign rally following the House of Representatives vote of Impeachment, President Trump manages to insult both living and deceased Democratic lawmakers.  John Dingell, a beloved Congressman who represented Michigan for many years and was not in office when the President was elected was singled out for some obscure reason known on to the Leader in Chief.  President Trump said his spirit may very well be living in hell.  Dante had special levels in his Inferno but likely would have to create a new one were he still alive.

[Peter McLennan]

There's that term, "funded" again...The term, "funded," always tells me there's a government scam involved.

What term would you prefer?

[Jeremy Roussak]

Sadly, your link(ed picture) came without introduction or comment to discuss. I thought that was not allowed by the moderator ...

No, linked pictures, which show up inline, are perfectly permissible. Links to external sites, which can be viewed only by clicking on them, must have a description of what is at the other end of the link and an explanation of why it is of interest.

There's no, or minimal, danger in displaying an image. There are potentially great dangers in following links.

Jermey

[RSL]

What term would you prefer?

Actually, "funded" is okay as long as you precede it with "taxpayer." The problem is that government agencies want you to believe that they are doing the "funding." An awful lot of people out there are dumb enough actually to believe that.

[Peter McLennan]

An awful lot of people out there are dumb enough actually to believe that.

I disagree.  Hence my earlier comment asking you to quit ringing that bell.

[BernardLanguillier]

Actually, "funded" is okay as long as you precede it with "taxpayer." The problem is that government agencies want you to believe that they are doing the "funding." An awful lot of people out there are dumb enough actually to believe that.

If there are some people dumb enough to believe that, that can only be the result of a lack of properly funded public school ensuring that all citizens have the required knowledge and skills to live together as grown ups.

There is nothing secret about my taxes being used to that end in Japan. And I would hate the country to leave the top 10 of world's best educated countries because I know that it is thanks to this that living in Japan is such a pleasant experience. Safe, inhabited by well behaved people who have an understanding of the cost of living together in peace.

A society is not a collection of people living next to one another without rules. That's anarchy. And an essential rule at the core of developed societies is the understanding that there is global value - cascading down to individuals - about devoting some of one's money to the good of the collectivity. This is the same reason why all developed countries but the US forbid weapons. Because they have understood that the private right to defend oneself has overall negative impacts on society. It takes education to understand that. The mental models that shape these behavious require a certain level of acquired intelligence.

Note that it's a natural extension of the concept of nation by which you get to feel a sense of belonging with people with whom you factually have nothing in common with. There is a fundamental incoherence between feeling American (which derives from the recognition that the man made object called nation exists and is important enough to shape your life) and not acknowledging the fact that you are bound by a tight set of rules that include the redistribution of money through taxes. You cannot both be American and refuse the reality that America exists thanks to its taxation system. That's like living with dad and refusing to follow the rules of the house.

Cheers,
Bernard

[Bart_van_der_Wolf]

There's no, or minimal, danger in displaying an image.

Even if the "picture" is just an image with a text overlay, only meant to provoke and stir up trouble?
Good to know, because one can then just post comments as pictures ...

[RSL]

If there are some people dumb enough to believe that, that can only be the result of a lack of properly funded public school ensuring that all citizens have the required knowledge and skills to live together as grown ups.

There is nothing secret about my taxes being used to that end in Japan. And I would hate the country to leave the top 10 of world's best educated countries because I know that it is thanks to this that living in Japan is such a pleasant experience. Safe, inhabited by well behaved people who have an understanding of the cost of living together in peace.

A society is not a collection of people living next to one another without rules. That's anarchy. And an essential rule at the core of developed societies is the understanding that there is global value - cascading down to individuals - about devoting some of one's money to the good of the collectivity. This is the same reason why all developed countries but the US forbid weapons. Because they have understood that the private right to defend oneself has overall negative impacts on society. It takes education to understand that. The mental models that shape these behavious require a certain level of acquired intelligence.

Note that it's a natural extension of the concept of nation by which you get to feel a sense of belonging with people with whom you factually have nothing in common with. There is a fundamental incoherence between feeling American (which derives from the recognition that the man made object called nation exists and is important enough to shape your life) and not acknowledging the fact that you are bound by a tight set of rules that include the redistribution of money through taxes. You cannot both be American and refuse the reality that America exists thanks to its taxation system. That's like living with dad and refusing to follow the rules of the house.

Cheers,
Bernard

In other words, politicians give you a "feeling of belonging." Right, Bernard?

[BernardLanguillier]

In other words, politicians give you a "feeling of belonging." Right, Bernard?

Euh... no. The nation isn't politicians. The nation is citizens having internalized the concept of nation. This internalization is the result of education.

Politicians are just a tool deployed to connect citizens to some mechanisms required for the nation to be embodied in a physical form and to execute its purpose. In the case of democracies, this purpose is supposed to represent the willingness of the majority of citizens.

Cheers,
Bernard

[Peter McLennan]

Anybody watch tonight's Democratic debate?

[BernardLanguillier]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QunK-36aELw

Does anyone really think that the US is better off with Trump when you watch the linked interview?

Aren't you guys concerned about the emotional reaction we would have gotten from him had he been attacked this way by a reporter? He would have started by calling them corrupt...

Cheers,
Bernard

[Alan Klein]

If there are some people dumb enough to believe that, that can only be the result of a lack of properly funded public school ensuring that all citizens have the required knowledge and skills to live together as grown ups.

There is nothing secret about my taxes being used to that end in Japan. And I would hate the country to leave the top 10 of world's best educated countries because I know that it is thanks to this that living in Japan is such a pleasant experience. Safe, inhabited by well behaved people who have an understanding of the cost of living together in peace.

A society is not a collection of people living next to one another without rules. That's anarchy. And an essential rule at the core of developed societies is the understanding that there is global value - cascading down to individuals - about devoting some of one's money to the good of the collectivity. This is the same reason why all developed countries but the US forbid weapons. Because they have understood that the private right to defend oneself has overall negative impacts on society. It takes education to understand that. The mental models that shape these behavious require a certain level of acquired intelligence.

Note that it's a natural extension of the concept of nation by which you get to feel a sense of belonging with people with whom you factually have nothing in common with. There is a fundamental incoherence between feeling American (which derives from the recognition that the man made object called nation exists and is important enough to shape your life) and not acknowledging the fact that you are bound by a tight set of rules that include the redistribution of money through taxes. You cannot both be American and refuse the reality that America exists thanks to its taxation system. That's like living with dad and refusing to follow the rules of the house.

Cheers,
Bernard

America is a great nation in spite of taxation not because of it.  It's private capital that's made us powerful and rich.

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

... Does anyone really think that the US is better off with Trump...

Millions of people think so.

According to you, they are just uneducated and with lower intelligence. The deplorables, in other words.

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

Anybody watch tonight's Democratic debate?

Those commies are still at it? Blabbering about the future without billionaires, planes, and kids?

[BernardLanguillier]

Millions of people think so.

According to you, they are just uneducated and with lower intelligence. The deplorables, in other words.

Your words, not mine. My view is that they are mostly very poorly informed by the media outlet they are following.

They are kept in the dark.

Cheers,
Bernard

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

Your words, not mine...

Nope. I was paraphrasing you.

... It takes education to understand that. The mental models that shape these behavious require a certain level of acquired intelligence...

By inference, those who do not agree with your views on society are uneducated and have not reached the “certain level of intelligence.”

[BernardLanguillier]

Nope. I was paraphrasing you.

By inference, those who do not agree with your views on society are uneducated and have not reached the “certain level of intelligence.”

“Acquired intelligence”, gained through education and maintained through objective information collected from plural sources.

I am familiar with the usual Trump camp tactics which consists in painting adversaries as condescending snobs. Thank you.

Cheers,
Bernard

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

“Acquired intelligence”, gained through education and maintained through objective information collected from plural sources..l

And again you imply that only you et al are educated enough and read plural sources, and Trump supporters are not.

When are you going to accept that we read the same info, have the same intelligence, and surely my education is not inferior to yours, never mind that I have much broader life experience, and yet we draw vastly different conclusions. People think differently and have different world views, you know. And yours is not superior to mine. You lot at least should appreciate diversity,  not just in skin color, or which entrance your prefer, back or front.

[Rob C]

And again you imply that only you et al are educated enough and read plural sources, and Trump supporters are not.

When are you going to accept that we read the same info, have the same intelligence, and surely my education is not inferior to yours, never mind that I have much broader life experience, and yet we draw vastly different conclusions. People think differently and have different world views, you know. And yours is not superior to mine. You lot at least should appreciate diversity,  not just in skin color, or which entrance your prefer, back or front.

Are we talking sex here? ;-)

Thing is, Slobodan, our different countries still have massive quantities of rednecks. It's an unavoidable fact of life, and one exploited in turn by all of the parties because like stock photography, politics is a numbers racket game.

So, whilst you have very highly educated politicians calling the shots in most parties, they all tailor the message and pander to the lowest common denominator because they understand that without prole power they can achieve nothing. The proles always outnumber the rest. That's why all politicians eventually become revealed as liars: one side or the other of voters discovers they didn't mean what they were saying.