The American Constitution

[JoeKitchen]

As is calling the proposal of the mightiest country in the world "absurd." Which was done publicly. Wasn't the shithole comment made behind closed doors, not publicly, and then leaked to damage Trump?

Calling a spade a spade has its benefits.

Although true, I cant use this as an excuse.  If I did, I would have to excuse HRC use of "deplorables," which was also used in private. 

Like I said, I do not consider it a racist remark, although it was certainly below the office of the presidency. 

And to call the Greenland idea absurd was non-sense too.  Buying Greenland would be a great accomplishment; Chris Cillizza at CNN had a great write up on why this would be the case.  However, the Danes, rightly so, dont want to sell it for the same reasons we want to acquire it. 

[Alan Klein]

One can say the same things about a lot of things manufactured in the US.  A log of computer and computer component manufacturing moved to China over the past 20 years.  IBM sold their PC business to Lenovo who manufacture high quality notebooks, printers and other stuff.  One may not like the Chinese economic system but most of the electronics are excellent products.  I always try to find US manufacturers when making purchase decisions and have owned some US manufacturing company stock from time to time.  It's now very difficult to find US products that meet my quality standards. 

They need good electronics so they can crack into our systems and steal our secrets.

[JoeKitchen]

One can say the same things about a lot of things manufactured in the US.  A log of computer and computer component manufacturing moved to China over the past 20 years.  IBM sold their PC business to Lenovo who manufacture high quality notebooks, printers and other stuff.  One may not like the Chinese economic system but most of the electronics are excellent products.  I always try to find US manufacturers when making purchase decisions and have owned some US manufacturing company stock from time to time.  It's now very difficult to find US products that meet my quality standards.

Alright alright alright, many current products are of below standards as far as I am concerned. 

To be honest, I don't like buying things.  So I tend to spend more the first time around so I don't ever have to buy it again.  I think consumerism is over rated, and my wife and I both hate having stuff.  I think too many people buy too many things for a shallow reason of getting a slight high over the purchase.  Of course to feed this, you need cheap goods, and China does a pretty job at making very cheap goods.  But yes, their are plenty of companies in other countries that make cheap goods a well. 

[Alan Klein]

Alright alright alright, many current products are of below standards as far as I am concerned. 

To be honest, I don't like buying things.  So I tend to spend more the first time around so I don't ever have to buy it again.  I think consumerism is over rated, and my wife and I both hate having stuff.  I think too many people buy too many things for a shallow reason of getting a slight high over the purchase.  Of course to feed this, you need cheap goods, and China does a pretty job at making very cheap goods.  But yes, their are plenty of companies in other countries that make cheap goods a well. 

I've been getting GAS lately and aching to buy something I don't need.  You get the itch hanging around these forums.

[Robert Roaldi]

Re middle class tax cuts, https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/458676-trump-says-gop-will-approve-major-middle-income-tax-cut-if.

If he thinks that these tax cuts are a good idea, shouldn't he implement them regardless of which party wins the house(s)?  Won't voters get their backs up at being bullied in this way?

[Robert Roaldi]

Why does Trump care if France implements new taxes, https://thehill.com/policy/finance/trade/458665-eu-says-it-will-respond-in-kind-if-us-slaps-tariffs-on-france?

[jeremyrh]

My daughter has dual citizenship (US and Serbian). However, she spent only about 2-3 weeks of her life in Serbia, when she was 11. During the visit, she asked me: "Dad, do all Serbs have big noses?" I guess you would say that "racism" runs in the family 

Do I really have to explain why "big-nosed Jew" is not the same as "big-nosed Serb"?

[Jeremy Roussak]

If you have followed British politics (and I don't recommend that you should) you will know that the press have been whining about Labour's "institutional racism" for the last 2 years. Not a peep about Conservative racism, even when they elect a man who talks about "picaninnies" as their leader.

The Labour party's institutional antisemitism, and the quite extraordinary bad luck of its leader in finding himself repeatedly associated with, and supporting, overt antisemites while never actually realising that's what he is doing, are beyond dispute.

Jeremy

[jeremyrh]

The Labour party's institutional antisemitism, and the quite extraordinary bad luck of its leader in finding himself repeatedly associated with, and supporting, overt antisemites while never actually realising that's what he is doing, are beyond dispute.

Jeremy

Simply not true.

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

Do I really have to explain why "big-nosed Jew" is not the same as "big-nosed Serb"?

No, because I will never accept your made-up definition. To me, they are the same and should be the same. Are you saying Jews are "chosen people," therefore not the same as other people? Or are you saying they are superior and thus should be exempt from stereotyping and jokes? Now, that is racist.

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

Before forums are closed for the next 24 hours (to cool off hot heads and overwhelmed servers), an important notification:

Trump was right, this is why we need Space Force:

https://www.foxnews.com/us/nasa-astronaut-identity-theft-bank-account-divorce-wife (a real-life drama queens, literally) 

"NASA astronaut accused of stealing identity, accessing bank account of estranged wife while in space"

[Alan Klein]

Re middle class tax cuts, https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/458676-trump-says-gop-will-approve-major-middle-income-tax-cut-if.

If he thinks that these tax cuts are a good idea, shouldn't he implement them regardless of which party wins the house(s)?  Won't voters get their backs up at being bullied in this way?

He needs the Republicans to win the House to pass new tax legislation.  If the Democrats continue to hold it, they won;t vote a new tax law. 

[Alan Klein]

Why does Trump care if France implements new taxes, https://thehill.com/policy/finance/trade/458665-eu-says-it-will-respond-in-kind-if-us-slaps-tariffs-on-france?

France wants to place a 3% tax on American tech companies.  That will make our firms less competitive and reduce their profits.  So Trump tells France they shouldn't do it or he will retaliate by taxing French wines exported to America. 

[Alan Klein]

No, because I will never accept your made-up definition. To me, they are the same and should be the same. Are you saying Jews are "chosen people," therefore not the same as other people? Or are you saying they are superior and thus should be exempt from stereotyping and jokes? Now, that is racist.

Big nose Jew is considered a slur.  I don't what big nose Serb is considered as I never heard it before now. 

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

Big nose Jew is considered a slur.  I don't what big nose Serb is considered as I never heard it before now. 

Big nose is a big nose. I don’t care if Jew or anyone else. There are plenty of nations in the Middle East with similar facial features.

[Alan Klein]

Big nose is a big nose. I don’t care if Jew or anyone else. There are plenty of nations in the Middle East with similar facial features.

The expression regarding Jews was a stereotype that was a slur of Jews in particular even though others have similar facial features. There are other physical features for other nationalities, races, and ethnic groups that similarly would be considered slurs to them.  I'll pass on giving examples as it's not polite to mention them here.

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

Alan, I am an equal opportunity offender.

[jeremyrh]

France wants to place a 3% tax on American tech companies.  That will make our firms less competitive and reduce their profits.  So Trump tells France they shouldn't do it or he will retaliate by taxing French wines exported to America.

Not quite - he wants to tax companies in the place (France) they are making sales. If they are American or not is irrelevant.

[Alan Klein]

Not quite - he wants to tax companies in the place (France) they are making sales. If they are American or not is irrelevant.

It is relevant.   They're specifically picking on American companies profits to tax extra Who cares where the sales come from? So America will do the same to their companies.  Why is Macron being a bully.?  😉

[Jeremy Roussak]

Simply not true.

Tell that to Luciana Berger MP, hounded out of the party by antisemites while pregnant.

Tell it to Dame Louise Ellman MP or Dame Margaret Hodge MP.

Tell it to Tom Watson MP, deputy leader of the party.

Tell it to Lord Triesman, Lord Darzi and Lord Turnberg.

The only part of my comment that even might be "simply not true" is the suggestion that the leader finds himself in association with unsavoury antisemites by bad luck.

Jeremy