Trump's Tax Plans: Good, Bad, Ugly?

Plus: Trump endorses Larry Hogan, violent crime decreases, and more...

Donald Trump wants to cut taxes if he gets a second term. On Thursday, the former president told a group of influential business leaders—Apple's Tim Cook and JPMorgan Chase's Jamie Dimon among them—that he supports reducing the corporate income tax from 21 percent to 20 percent. He prefers a "round number," according to The New York Times.

While that may not seem like a massive difference, it is quite a contrast with President Joe Biden's tax policy. The 2017 tax reform bill that Trump signed permanently cut the corporate income tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent.* Biden has proposed a corporate tax rate of 28 percent.

Trump's relationship with business leaders has not always been positive. Many of the gathered CEOs—who met with Trump during a meeting of the Business Roundtable in Washington, D.C., on Thursday—had denounced him in the wake of the Capitol riot. But according to the Times, Trump largely succeeded in reassuring them that he would pursue pro-growth policies.

And while Trump savaged illegal immigration and complained that millions of illegal border crossers would wreck the country, he did express support for high-skilled legal immigration, saying it was a profound mistake to send such people back to their home countries after they are educated in the U.S. These remarks also seemed to please the businessmen. (It should be noted, of course, that low-skilled immigrants are no less vital to the American economy.)

Now for the bad: During a meeting with GOP lawmakers, Trump also floated replacing the income tax with an "all tariff policy"—that is, with taxes on imports. Tariffs that high would be disastrous. According to the National Taxpayers Union (NTU), it would theoretically take a tariff rate of 71 percent to replace the revenue from the income tax. Such a punitively high trade barrier would wreak havoc on the economy—and would dramatically reduce imports, meaning the actual revenue raised would not be sufficient.

The "revenue hit would be worsened by the massive economic disruption a 71 percent tariff would inflict on the economy, the resulting lost exports and global trade war, and the indirect impact of transitioning from a progressive individual income tax system to a regressive import tax system," writes NTU's Bryan Riley.

Other economists have reached similar conclusions.

Notes:
1) US imports of goods/services in 2023: $3.8T
2) Federal spending in 2023: $6.1T
3) Imports wld decline in response to high tariffs (likely far below 100%)
4) Tariffs on services wld be difficult, & evasion would be rampant
5) Trump won't touch entitlements

Tough math! https://t.co/N4eTssIGoH

— Scott Lincicome (@scottlincicome) June 13, 2024

Unfortunately, both major presidential candidates are enamored with tariffs. The Biden administration recently announced a 50 percent tariff on Chinese semiconductors, a 50 percent tariff on batteries for electric vehicles, and a 100 percent tariff on electric vehicles built in China. "When voters go to the polls this November, they will face a choice between two men who have used their presidential powers to hike import taxes on American businesses and consumers," notes Reason's Eric Boehm. Some choice.

Speaking of Trump and choices, the former president has endorsed Larry Hogan. Hogan, the former governor of Maryland, is running for that state's Senate seat against Democrat Angela Alsobrooks. If he wins, he would flip the seat—and potentially the U.S. Senate, giving Republicans control of the chamber.

Hogan is a moderate Republican who has frequently criticized Trump. He did not support Trump in 2016 or 2020. With respect to the former president's prosecution in New York, Hogan called on the American people to "respect the verdict."

All of this made Hogan an unlikely endorsement for Trump. Republicans want the seat, but Trump has not been especially kind to fellow party members who decline to show him support. Maybe that's changing.

"I'm about the party, and I'm about the country," said Trump. "And I would like to see him win."

Violent crime declined precipitously in the past year. According to the latest report from the FBI, violent crime and property crime are down significantly for the first several months of 2024.

"A comparison of data from agencies that voluntarily submitted at least two or more common months of data for January through March 2023 and 2024 indicates reported violent crime decreased by 15.2 percent," says the report. "Murder decreased by 26.4 percent, rape decreased by 25.7 percent, robbery decreased by 17.8 percent, and aggravated assault decreased by 12.5 percent. Reported property crime also decreased by 15.1 percent." These numbers are preliminary and are likely to change. But as Reason's C.J. Ciaramella recently noted, the picture they paint "tracks with other early data from 2024"; he suggests that "the general trend would likely hold" even if these figures turn out to be exaggerated.

This is good news, of course, and it shows that violence—which spiked during the pandemic—is falling. Experts caution, however, that the summer months are often the most violent.

Crime is also declining in the nation's capital, which saw a massive spike in homicides last year. For an explanation of what went wrong, read Joe Bishop-Henchman's story in the July 2024 issue of Reason.

---

Scenes from Washington, D.C.

Climate activists stormed the field during this week's annual congressional baseball game. They were swiftly arrested.

UPDATE: Eight of us have been arrested for shutting down the Congressional Baseball Game.

They are behind bars right now.

Make no mistake: It's the Members of Congress who should be locked up. pic.twitter.com/tNoB4jh0xp

— Climate Defiance (@ClimateDefiance) June 13, 2024

---

QUICK HITS

• In other Trump news, the former president made some bizarre comments about former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
• Trump also made an appearance with Logan Paul.
• Sen. John Fetterman (D–Penn.) and his wife were recently in a car accident—and it was apparently his fault.

Sen. John Fetterman was at fault in car accident and seen going 'high rate of speed,' police say https://t.co/CMZf0WEAWX

— The Associated Press (@AP) June 13, 2024

• Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s presidential campaign has a filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission alleging that excluding him from the CNN debate violates election law. We discussed this on Rising:

• "Far-right" parties are winning elections in Europe.
• Russia plans to bring espionage charges against Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich.
• The Supreme Court rejected an effort to restrict access to the abortion pill.*

---

* CORRECTIONS: These sentences have been changed to more accurately describe the 2017 tax cuts and the Supreme Court's abortion-pill decision.

Comments

[Chumby]

Russia is making another real peace proposal today — President Putin

Conditions for a peaceful resolution to the conflict include:

- A neutral, non-aligned, demilitarized, and denazified Ukraine

- Rights and freedoms of Russian-speaking citizens

- The new territories of the Russian Federation must be recognized

The denazified part may be the dealbreaker for the unipolar globalists.

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

Maybe we can compromise on the shirt color and arm band design.

[Chinny Chin Chin]

History shows Government has a miserable track record of changing "hearts and minds". The denazification part is a pipe dream that only a Statist could love, and ought to be a dealbreaker because it is idiotic.

[Chumby]

Am guessing on the 5th of November, you’ll again cast your ballot for the potus candidate currently arming the Azov nazis.

[R Mac (5-30-24, sarc’s too drunk to remember what he thinks about it)]

Germany is still controlled by NAZIS!

[JesseAz (5-30 Banana Republic Day)]

US dems still fund Nazis!

Through Ukraine this time.

[VULGAR MADMAN]

Now do the “food pyramid “.

[Nardz]

Other than the demilitarized and denazified part, this is what they've been offering from the beginning 10 years ago

[Well Adjusted Biden Guy 6/11 Banana Republic]

ACCEPT OUR ARMED CONQUEST OR ELSE!!

[Red Rocks White Privilege]

So, like all of human history?

[Well Adjusted Biden Guy 6/11 Banana Republic]

Are libertarians applauding this now? I support home ownership of weapons so one can protect themselves from a tyrannical government or an imperialist intruder. You?

[MT-Man]

How do homes own weapons? people yes

[Zeb]

No one is applauding it, retard. Acknowledging reality isn't an endorsement of everything that happens. Ukraine should do it's best to defend itself if that's what the people there want. Or it should make a deal with Russia if that's what people there want. Unfortunately, the people of Ukraine don't seem to have much of a say in the matter at this point. The US should stay out of it in any case.

[Well Adjusted Biden Guy 6/11 Banana Republic]

Let’s put that to bed then. In poll after poll Ukranians favor continuing the war against Russia. By large pluralities. It’s not being foisted on them by the globo-home woke Nazi alliance (see below), it’s because a bunch of militarists invaded their country, FFS.

[InsaneTrollLogic (Banana Republic Day 5/30/24)]

Where’s your citation and link, troll?

[R Mac (5-30-24, sarc’s too drunk to remember what he thinks about it)]

I don’t care about polls when people are being forced to fight in a war.

[TrickyVic (old school)]

Setting aside the amount of propaganda in war. Let's assume the poll is true. Now if we stop funding their war how long do you think it will take for the polls to flip?

[Zeb]

Fine (though I have some doubts about the quality of polls conducted during a war). The US should stay out of it in any case.

Ukraine is unlikely to win this war with or without US support. All we are really doing is enabling the continued destruction of their country and male population.

Also, conscription is slavery. You support the US continuing to enable the enslavement of the male population of Ukraine.

[Ersatz]

just means more Ukranine hotties for us to import as mail order brides

[Red Rocks White Privilege]

Liberating tolerance consists of intoleration of movements from the left and toleration of movements from the right. As to the scope of this tolerance and intolerance: ... it would extend to the stage of action as well as of discussion and propaganda, of deed as well as of word.

[Well Adjusted Biden Guy 6/11 Banana Republic]

What?!? This sounds like GOP Bolshevik nonsense.

[Red Rocks White Privilege]

Yes, your side hates it when your own dialectic is inverted against you, you hicklib pederast.

[Well Adjusted Biden Guy 6/11 Banana Republic]

Drop those Leftists from helicopters in Libertopia, right?

[Truthfulness]

Objections?

[VULGAR MADMAN]

Woodchippers are probably better for the environment.

[R Mac (5-30-24, sarc’s too drunk to remember what he thinks about it)]

Leftists that have violated NAP by advocating violence by the state against their political enemies? Which is most of them.

Yep.

[Red Rocks White Privilege]

Insh'Allah.

[R Mac (5-30-24, sarc’s too drunk to remember what he thinks about it)]

“GOP Bolshevik”

You’re an ignorant mother fucker.

[Chumby]

There was the globohomo color revolution known as Maidan where western backed banderas unconstitutionally took over Kiev. There have been multiple NAFO expansions eastward after there was the commitment by them to not go beyond the DDR. There have been other color revolutions in the region and attempts to do so (Belarus and Chechnya, for example and potentially Armenia coming soon). The seven plus years of genocide in Donbas conducted by the nazi sympathizers in Kiev against the eastward looking citizens there. The breaking of Minsk agreements to allow the eastern citizens more autonomy was the red line that was crossed.
Casualties include many eastern citizens, hundreds of thousands of young men, loss of unipolar (a good thing) that may have contributed to the sunsetting of the petrodollar, possible loss of SWIFT monopoly, and a right shift in the EU.
Maybe another round of sanctions by the pants shitting, kiddie groping, own goal scoring, dementia patient may make you feel better.

[A Thinking Mind]

So this is Russia trying to acquire the Donbas, as opposed to setting up the Donbas Republic as a client/buffer state?

[Red Rocks White Privilege]

The Donbas was never going to be it’s own independent state. It would always be either a part of Ukraine or Russia, and they’d rather throw in their lot with the Russians.

The big question the west seems to be avoiding is why large tracts of Ukraine seem to be so eager to break off from it and be absorbed back into the Russian empire.

[Chumby]

If they don’t negotiate, then a land bridge to Transnistria including Odessa returning home are on the menu.

[Red Rocks White Privilege]

Even in a negotiated peace scenario, I suspect that region will look to break off as well within the next 5-10 years. They'll take Russia's relatively predictable authoritarian corruption for now over Ukraine's western, Calvinball-inspired version.

[A Thinking Mind]

The big question the west seems to be avoiding is why large tracts of Ukraine seem to be so eager to break off from it and be absorbed back into the Russian empire.

There's not too much need to overthink it, it's just recognizing that national borders actually work differently in the Old World than the New World. The borders of the continental United States haven't really changed much since the Civil War. Every part of the country, including California, Texas, and Oregon (the most recent acquisitions) might as well have always been American properties.

There's no people living there now who have a lineage tied to -some other organized nation-though there are some native American tribes who may have some weak territorial claims.

But contrast that with Ukraine. It was conquered by the Mongols, then taken by the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the 1400s, then united with Poland in the Poland-Lithunia Commonwealth, then partially taken by Russia in 1686, and completely ruled by the Russian Empire from the 1700s. There was never a Duchy of Ukraine, or anything, and it only became an organized territory for the first time during the Russian Civil War. It was quickly incorporated into the USSR as a joint Soviet.

So a lot of people living there have been Russians going back 250 years or more without ever moving, even though the region is now called Ukraine. Others would have moved there during the people of the Soviet Union. It's not that they think anything particularly nasty about Ukraine, they just view themselves as Russians because they've been Russians for a long time.

[Chumby]

You win a pony.

[soldiermedic76]

I'll quibble that there are no areas with ties to other organized nations. The entire Southwest was part of Spain and then Mexico and quite a few Hispanics in those areas descended from Spanish colonists who settled the area. In fact, several of the largest cities were founded by Spain. To a lesser extent this applies to Florida as well. Louisiana also has people tied to French and Spanish colonial days (and to a lesser extent East Texas and Mississippi contain some of these peoples as well). The old Northwest also has some strong historical ties to England and France.

[Red Rocks White Privilege]

Sure, but to the extent that the comparison can be made, the southwest is really the only region that really applies in that instance. That's why I've said that in a national divorce, it's highly likely that a lot of the borderlands would just petition to join back up with Mexico.

Mass immigration in the late 1800s-early 1900s, the lockdown on such in the 1920s-40s, and then the in-migrations of the post-World War II era, served to kill off a lot of those Old World identifications in the other areas of the country, even in places dominated by Creole culture like Louisiana. The most you could probably say that there are still ties to outside places would be New York City, Hawaii, and the California Bay area, which still have people with ties back home to Italy, Israel and the Arabic Middle East, eastern Europe, Africa, and the Pacific Rim nations. Everywhere else, these populations tend to get Americanized by the third generation and often don't even speak the same language as their grandparents.

[Chipper Chunked Chile Con Congress (ex NCW)]

And even for the French oriented people in Louisiana, that chunk of territory was never really a different country even if it had been settled by different people. Mexico, admittedly, is a different story. But even there, a lot of the Spanish here in NM don't particularly identify with the Mexicans.

[Red Rocks White Privilege]

I can't remember which Spanish official said it, if it was Onate, De Vargas, or someone else, that New Mexico was the kind of land that would never really be economically viable, and that Spain would have to constantly sink a bunch of money into the place just to maintain it as part of the empire. 400 years later, not much has changed.

[Chumby]

President Biden wandered off during the G7 meeting, Italy’s PM graciously reels him back in

[video available everywhere that MSM isn’t]

Weekend at Bernie’s the realty tv show

[Mike Parsons]

remember the daily calls for the 25th under T?

What happened to those...

[Idaho-Bob]

(D)ifferent

[Mother's Lament (Banana Republic Day - May 30, 2024)]

Definitely (D)ifferent.

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

Demonstrably Decidedly Desperately Definitely (D)ifferent.

[Spiritus Mundi]

(D)odge (D)uck (D)ive (D)ip (D)ash and (D)odge

[Jerry B.]

Subpoena those tapes!!!

[Nardz]

Ask Reason, they were on that bandwagon

[Spiritus Mundi]

*reluctantly

[InsaneTrollLogic (Banana Republic Day 5/30/24)]

And strategically.

[Chumby]

Some may have felt a little queasy about it, but still participated.

[R Mac (5-30-24, sarc’s too drunk to remember what he thinks about it)]

Cry more bitches.

LPNH believes that the only feasible path for libertarianism is one in which libertarians refuse to apologize for their beliefs and instead stand up and fight for them.

Many of us believe this so strongly that we moved to New Hampshire from other states as part of the Free State movement. We believe our strategy for concentrating libertarians in New Hampshire to be the course most likely to achieve liberty in our lifetime and that, given the present disposition of the Nation, a national strategy is wholly inadequate to that task.

The nominee has taken many actions which prove that we cannot ultimately endorse him. Whether he is foolish, lacking in courage, or intentionally subversive, it is clear that he does not possess the necessary traits for libertarian victory.

While the nominee was having a masked and distanced Thanksgiving dinner in 2020, Free Staters in New Hampshire hosted PorcFest with thousands of attendees.

While the nominee defends the chemical castration of children and drag shows for kids, we are teaching our children the values of reason, freedom, and family.

While the nominee refuses to debate or engage with anyone who disagrees with his progressive ideology and instead just calls them racists or bigots, New Hampshire libertarians will engage with anyone, anytime, anywhere.

While the nominee cheers on critical race theory and other divisive ideologies, libertarians in New Hampshire have removed such topics from government schools and implemented the most radical school choice program in the country.

While the nominee supported restrictions on speech, our party and our members have faced job losses, harassment, and deplatforming for advancing the values of liberty.

While the nominee states that the thousands of libertarians who go to PorcFest are “not his people,” his running mate, Mike ter Maat, is eager to attend.

The nominee is not someone we would want as a neighbor, and as such, we cannot support him for President.

Although New Hampshire ballot laws do not allow our party to prevent the nominee from appearing on the ballot - indeed, he received an entirely incidental benefit from being part of the same ballot-access petition drive as our chosen and endorsed gubernatorial candidate - we will offer him no formal support as a party, nor will the vast majority of our members.

We would like to thank the nominee for one thing: helping more Libertarians wake up to the reality that the battle for liberty nationally is utterly hopeless absent a great awakening among the electorate. When you recognize that, New Hampshire is here for you.

Live free or die.

https://x.com/LPNH/status/1801596698956857767

[Chumby]

Would an edgelord mask at a Thanksgiving feast then smugly post a selfie and narrative-compliant message about it on social media?

[Jerry B.]

A schism in the Libertarian ranks? Unpossible!!

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

Hey LPNH, why can't you accept the ethics of New Woke Libertarianism, built around the core values of reasonable limits on freedom, promotion of marginalized people, and group solidarity?

[Chumby]

Their porcupine has been culturally appropriated and made rainbow by a former Obama supporter. Can understand why they might bristle.

[Its_Not_Inevitable]

It's a prickly situation.

[Chumby]

What is the difference between a porcupine and the LP candidate?

With a porcupine, the pricks only go on the outside.

[Chumby]

Republicans introduce measure banning DEI in federal government

Congressional Republicans, lead by US Senator J.D. Vance have introduced a bill to ban diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs and funding in the federal government. Overall, legislation in a dozen states aimed at cutting DEI spending and rewriting hiring guidelines at colleges and universities will be abolished.

The Dismantle DEI Act, would eliminate all federal DEI programs and end DEI-related funding for agencies, contractors, organizations and educational accreditation agencies that receive federal funding.

The DEIty no longer welcome?

[Social Justice is neither]

So congress needs to pass an law to enforce existing equal opportunity laws until a new discriminatory law is passed? Is that the state of clownworld?

[Chipper Chunked Chile Con Congress (ex NCW)]

Given the presence of such nonsense even at federal nuclear weapons labs, I'm gonna say "Yes".

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

It might be more fun to demand actual Diversity (ideas, not appearance) and make sure all federal agencies and institutions with federal support (universities, looking at you), have a equal distribution of political and philosophical opinions.

[R Mac (5-30-24, sarc’s too drunk to remember what he thinks about it)]

Eh, the leftists will eventually determine *certain* political opinions are outside acceptable norms, and the moderate right will accept it.

[Medulla Oblongata]

Two years ago...on CNN

New British Prime Minister Liz Truss has assembled the most ethnically diverse Cabinet in the United Kingdom’s history, with several top jobs given to Black and other minority ethnic lawmakers.

For the first time ever, none of the holders of the country’s four so-called “Great Offices of State” – the prime minister, the chancellor and the home and foreign secretaries – is a White man.

Yet critics note that the greater ethnic and gender diversity has not changed the policies of successive Conservative governments, which have grown increasingly hard-line on immigration and often embraced tax cuts and other economic policies that tend to favor wealthy people.

Professor Andrews, from Birmingham City University, said the Conservatives were practicing a particularly cynical form of identity politics by promoting the diversity among its senior leaders, while also advancing retrograde policies.

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

So, under-handed and evil when conservatives do it, but essential and moral when done by the left. Some things never change.

[Spiritus Mundi]

In the federal government it is DEIAC now. They add a new letter every pride month.

[Medulla Oblongata]

Didn't Earn It.

[EISTAU Gree-Vance]

Why the fuck does DEI need funding?

[Longtobefree]

"Violent crime declined precipitously in the past year."

Fact check:

REPORTED violent crime declined precipitously in the past year.

[Á àß äẞç ãþÇđ âÞ¢Đæ ǎB€Ðëf ảhf]

Important to note that the reported stats are per-capita, not total.

Also important to note that the missing cities are the ones with the most reports of lawlessness and catch and release "reforms", where people have learned there's no point in reporting "low level" crime.

So yes, the reported per-capita stats are lower than reality.

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

"Reality"

[Sevo, 5-30-24, embarrassment]

On the positive side, several cities dumped the Soro's-backed DAs (San Fran among them) in favor of DAs who preferred to prosecute thieves, and that is showing an effect.

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

Does that mean crime will increase?

[Sevo, 5-30-24, embarrassment]

Probably means reported crime will increase, for a while.

[Minadin]

Shit, in St. Louis we had to dump ours to prosecute murders.

[Idaho-Bob]

OT - I just received my county property assessment. They are telling me my property value increased by 33% in one year and they want their cut.

We always bitch about fed elections, but pay attention to your local stuff. These motherfuckers are criminal.

[Longtobefree]

why do you think there was a Prop 13 in California?

[Zeb]

The really annoying thing (where I live at least) is that the towns can reassess any time they want to (it's required at least every 10 years). So they can catch the peak of the market. But property owners can't choose to do it when prices have declined (if that ever happens). And if you own land in multiple municipalities, you still can only vote where your primary residence is.

[Ajsloss]

You know who else wants a cut?

[JesseAz (5-30 Banana Republic Day)]

Depressed pre teens on whatever the new social site for cutters is?

[EISTAU Gree-Vance]

Hunter?

[Chumby]

Property taxes are handled by the town in Chumby’s area. They dropped a few years ago possibly due to the direct relationship property owners have with those deciding on them (as well as the locals voting on the municipal budget). Down to about $1450/year for the house, out building, and 35 hectares of fields and forest. This includes the discount for committing to not develop the land for a ten year period.

Still, about half of that tax goes to the public daycare indoctrination institution.

[Idaho-Bob]

Down to about $1450/year for the house, out building, and 35 hectares of fields and forest. This includes the discount for committing to not develop the land for a ten year period.

Similar to mine. I also get a discount for committing to no logging for profit. I can cut trees, but not sell lumber. This keeps my trees from being assessed as taxable.

[Spiritus Mundi]

So they are taxing unrealized gains on your trees if you plan on logging them at some future date?

[Chumby]

In this area, there is a tree growth program where entering means you won’t log it and your property taxes are lower. This is the most forested state in the union but they offer that carrot. The trick is to log it first then enter the program. The state does tax the revenue a woodlot owner receives from the sale of the logs and chips.

Not sure how/why Idaho does it.

[Idaho-Bob]

Not sure how/why Idaho does it.

The single largest industry in the Idaho panhandle is logging. All of the bribe money is from the logging companies and the lumber mills. They do not want private property owners getting in on the action without paying the wood tax.

[Ajsloss]

If Kamala has to pay the wood tax, so should everyone else.

[Idaho-Bob]

Correct.

No different than taxing unrealized gains on my house. 33% unrealized gains.

[MT-Man]

ID - I would assume more over in your world, I was in the mid 4k range this year for smaller house little land in MT

[Zeb]

"Hectares"? What are you some kind of communist?

[Chumby]

Would you instead like the measurements in rods or furlongs?

[Rev Arthur L kuckland (5-30-24 banana republic day)]

My parents live in cook county, in 2008/2009 the assessor said their property value tripped despite their home being with less due to the market. They are all croiks

[InsaneTrollLogic (Banana Republic Day 5/30/24)]

And this year, it’s much the same across Illinois, especially in Cook County. There’s some serious property tax sticker shock there.

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

Where I live we get hit with assessments and property tax from the county, the school district, and the fire department--all separate entities. And the county also collects property tax on motor vehicles.

Like you, our assessments are way up. But for some mysterious reason, the county services are down.

[R Mac (5-30-24, sarc’s too drunk to remember what he thinks about it)]

Michigan actually has a good system that the taxable value of each property can only go up 5% max if it isn’t sold. Of course if people vote for new goodies that’s not part of the equation, but at least the government can’t just increase property taxes and price people out of their homes.

[Overt]

I have family in Priest River. They are worried their kids can't afford the property taxes in the next few years. Californians have pushed up property values heavily up there.

[Moderation4ever]

A 33% jump? Ouch. You can always challenge the assessment. Its a tough route, but it could help.

BTW - I know you in the logging area of Idaho. Could you tell me why when I buy clear pine for woodworking its coming from New Zealand? Most dimensional pine is local, but it you want clear stock it is imported.

[TrickyVic (old school)]

How many assessments have you challenged?

My dad tried it a couple of times and the answer was basically fuck off and pay me. Why should they agree to your challenge when they can compel you to pay?

[Moderation4ever]

I don't know what your father did so I will not comment on the case. Property tax records are public, and you can see what your neighbor is assessed at and use that as an argument. Problem is if most of your neighbors or most similar properties are assessed close to your property value there is not much to argue against.

[Idaho-Bob]

Challenge - First you get a form from the county assessor's office. It is not available online. Then you must hand deliver before June 24th. This allows for a face-to-face challenge with the county. Pain in the ass, but I'm going for it. I'm also conspiring with the neighbors to challenge their assessments as well.

Clear pine - No idea. I'm not in the logging industry, and everything around here is wholesale. Stimson Lumber primarily.

[Moderation4ever]

Thanks for the answer, or nonanswer, just thought you might know as logging has come up in past comments.

[Mother's Lament (Banana Republic Day - May 30, 2024)]

Fettermen goes off narrative and the very next week he's in trouble for doing the senatorial speed limit and pulling a Ed Kennedy.

[Red Rocks White Privilege]

To be fair, he's not the kind of guy who can rear-end a car after speeding and have it taken care of relatively anonomously. Looking like an extra from 'The Hills Have Eyes" sort of prevents that.

[A Thinking Mind]

To be fair, he's actually been off script for a while.

[Longtobefree]

"According to the National Taxpayers Union (NTU), it would theoretically take a tariff rate of 71 percent to replace the revenue from the income tax."

How much would it take to pay for a federal government without an EPA, an SBA, a department of education, a department of health, a department commerce, a department of labor, a department of the interior, a department of agriculture, a department of transportation, a department of energy, and a department of housing?

Asking for a friend.

[Eeyore]

100% voluntary workforce and no contractors.

[Rev Arthur L kuckland (5-30-24 banana republic day)]

New tax plan,
No income tax
Balance plan
Agencies to be closed with all the things in those agencies having assets seized
1. Doj
2. Hhs
3. Epa
4. Dol
5. Doe
6cia
7. Nsa
Other agencies to be closed
Fda
Usda
Dep of eneegy
Dhs
Programs to get rid of
All cost plus
Half the dod budjet
Phase out social security
Phase out all federal welfare

[Longtobefree]

Beat me by 15 seconds!

[Á àß äẞç ãþÇđ âÞ¢Đæ ǎB€Ðëf ảhf]

Uhhhh .. don't need to "seize" the assets, they are already government property. Need to be auctioned off.

[Rev Arthur L kuckland (5-30-24 banana republic day)]

There is not a single human that works for doj or hhs. The need to feel the pain of their evil. I would also be good with execution

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

There are also a few bits of federal land lying around that could be auctioned (or awarded in lieu of Social Security payments).

[Zeb]

And none of that could have happened in the first place without federal income tax. I don't like tariffs much, but income tax is the worst.

[Rev Arthur L kuckland (5-30-24 banana republic day)]

Terrifs are mentioned in the constitution as within the powers of congress

[Zeb]

So is income tax.

[Idaho-Bob]

Only in 16A. Section 8 says nothing about income.

[Zeb]

Yes, I am familiar with the US constitution. Amendments are part of the constitution.
I'm not sure how any of this is relevant. The fact that congress can do what they want with tariffs and income tax doesn't mean any use of them is a good idea that we shouldn't criticize or complain about.

[TJJ2000]

By the US Constitution; Congress can't, "do what they want with tax revenue".

[Zeb]

Sorry, I was not clear. I mean implementing the taxes, not what they get spent on.

[TJJ2000]

np.
I'm not very clear most of the time :).
I just wanted to clarify generally with a reply.

[Spiritus Mundi]

You said DOE twice. Kind of like that sceen from blazing saddles were the guy said rape twice.

[Zeb]

Or is the other one education?

[Chipper Chunked Chile Con Congress (ex NCW)]

In the interest of fleshing out the details, would the nuke program go to DoD from DoE?

[Rev Arthur L kuckland (5-30-24 banana republic day)]

Hogan is a straight up uniparty dem

[Longtobefree]

No matter, he still counts for majority control, aka committee chairs.

[Rev Arthur L kuckland (5-30-24 banana republic day)]

He is to the left of Liz cheny. Could there be a real republican instead?

[Moonrocks]

In Maryland? You're better off asking for flying pigs or unicorns.

[Sometimes a Great Notion]

This. Liked the guy Trump pushed for governor but he had no chance and I'd rather the uniparty candidate over Wes Moore anyday of the week.

Doubt it matters though, MD gets a Republican governor due to off year election cycle. Hogan has very little chance of winning.

[Red Rocks White Privilege]

Are the polls for him that bad? He was a very popular governor and he probably would have won the Senate election in 2020 if he had declared for it. I'll concede he may have lost his shot because his people were deluding him into thinking he could get a GOP presidential nomination, but if anyone can win as a Republican in deep blue Maryland, Hogan's already got a track record there.

[Chumby]

Politically, I wonder who are Hogan’s heroes?

[Rev Arthur L kuckland (5-30-24 banana republic day)]

Sgt sholtz

[Á àß äẞç ãþÇđ âÞ¢Đæ ǎB€Ðëf ảhf]

Italians? Jared or whoever the pedo spokesman was?

[soldiermedic76]

I see nothing.

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

I wonder if these periodic Roundup rotations are intended to test-market authors who are not just-too-actually-libertarian, like new Liz. How would Reason management decide who they like best?

[Chumby]

She may have generated too many sternly worded emails when she was being a journalist during the Chase Oliver interview. The food truck, weed, and Mexican ass sex progressives that fawn over the usual offerings from Reason were none too pleased with an actual libertarian being a libertarian. A Wolfe in the flock so to speak.

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

'Donald Trump wants to cut taxes if he gets a second term.'

SEE? MAGA FASCISM OUT IN THE OPEN! TO THE BARRICADES, COMRADES!

[TJJ2000]

LOL... +1000000. I was thinking the same thing.....
Where's that "Authoritarian Trump is cutting taxes and regulation" comment.

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

'(It should be noted, of course, that low-skilled immigrants are no less vital to the American economy.)'

Especially the Koch American economy, amirite?

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

'Unfortunately, both major presidential candidates are enamored with tariffs.'

But only one wants tariffs AND higher individual and corporate income taxes.

[R Mac (5-30-24, sarc’s too drunk to remember what he thinks about it)]

And only one wants it because he’s bad.

— sarcasmic

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

'Climate activists stormed the field during this week's annual congressional baseball game. They were swiftly arrested.'

Did they then demand personal gender-fluid hygiene products and special dietary meals?

[Chipper Chunked Chile Con Congress (ex NCW)]

Should have left them on the field, and used them for batting practice.

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

'Sen. John Fetterman (D–Penn.) and his wife were recently in a car accident—and it was apparently his fault.'

The Munster-mobile can be a handful.

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

'"Far-right" parties are winning elections in Europe.'

Far-right means anyone without purple hair, gender-denial, and/or Crush Capitalism on their new MacBook Air.

[JesseAz (5-30 Banana Republic Day)]

According to data from the Nevada secretary of state, over 95,000 mail ballots were returned as undeliverable, meaning they went to the wrong address and never reached the intended recipient. Another more than 8,000 mail ballots were rejected by election officials. These ballots could have been rejected for many reasons including failing signature matching, a voter failing to sign the ballot, or the ballot arriving too late.
.
To put these figures into perspective, the Nevada U.S. Senate race was decided by 7,928 votes. When you send more ballots to faulty addresses than the difference between a key statewide race, that is a core system failure.
.
Photos from 2020 showed mail ballots blowing in the winds on Nevada roads. Some went to vacant lots and mines. Others ended up in landfills.
.
The Public Interest Legal Foundation identified hundreds of some of the most questionable addresses listed as residences on the voter roll. These commercial addresses where it appears no one could reasonably live include strip clubs, casinos, fast food restaurants, 7-Elevens, the Nevada Gaming Control Board, and even the Las Vegas Airport. This is important because, under Nevada law, people are required to register to vote where they actually live.

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/3044209/nevadas-voter-roll-contains-strip-clubs-casinos-bars-and-gas-stations/

[JesseAz (5-30 Banana Republic Day)]

GOP wins lawsuit that tells state AG, a Democrat, that yes state law does require ballot signature verification.

https://x.com/Tori_Sachs/status/1801033991564267536

[R Mac (5-30-24, sarc’s too drunk to remember what he thinks about it)]

After she was already ruled against for doing it in 2020. Laws don’t really apply to democrats anymore.

https://thefederalist.com/2021/03/17/judge-rules-michigan-secretary-of-state-violated-state-law-with-absentee-ballot-order/

[Chipper Chunked Chile Con Congress (ex NCW)]

I bet bullets would still work on them, though.

[Chumby]

Liz taking a siesta -or- is her being more libertarian than Libertarian getting her pulled from the Roundup?

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

See my comment above. After all, it's an election year.

[Zeb]

I'm going to guess vacation.

[JesseAz (5-30 Banana Republic Day)]

But in an era when one side of the political spectrum is not always operating in good faith, and when people in my position are increasingly losing the trust of the audiences we serve, I don’t think neutrality should be the final goal.

Another leftist accusing his enemies of not arguing in good faith while defending his biased "truth telling."

Who uses the same arguments here...

https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/openforum/article/political-journalist-neutral-truth-19460509.php

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

My truth is more true-ier than your truth.

[Spiritus Mundi]

Facts changed!

[Medulla Oblongata]

"increasingly losing the trust of the audiences we serve"

Maybe you shouldn't violate their trust quite so often?!

Maybe if you were objective, fact-based, and dispassionate in your reporting instead of agenda-driven, obviously biased, and overwhelmingly emotionally attached to Marxist ideals, you wouldn't lose (drive off) your audience/customers.

[JesseAz (5-30 Banana Republic Day)]

Tennessee judge threatens contempt against newspaper who published trans shooter manifesto excerpts.

https://justthenews.com/accountability/media/reporter-faces-legal-fight-covenant-killers-journal-asks-judge-halt-show-cause

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

Now even more banana flavor in our Banana Republic!

[Spiritus Mundi]

Banana is the worst laffy taffy.

[JesseAz (5-30 Banana Republic Day)]

Grape is always the worst.

[tracerv]

I normally like your takes. Those are fighting words. 🙂

[DuaneMaxwell-HillWozniel]

No

[damikesc]

Would love to know under what grounds he could do so. Was THAT reporter under some kind of order?

Judges cannot threaten contempt on every single person in a jurisdiction.

[Minadin]

I was wondering the same thing. Apparently, so are the publication's attorneys:

“She is compelling me to be present in court to explain why publication of certain documents does not constitute contempt of court," Leahy told Just the News. "But she doesn’t cite what we violated.”

"The Show Cause Order does not specify or otherwise identify ‘the Orders of this Court’ that it implies may have been violated," the emergency filing reads. “The Show Cause Order does make clear, however, that it is concerned with the acts – specifically, ‘the publication of certain purported documents and information’ – that transpired outside the presence of the Court.” (My emphasis)

"She", in this case, is state court judge I’Ashea L. Myles.

[tracerv]

I live here. I told you guys they are defending that shit like the Bad Boys Pistons.

[Dillinger]

Bill Laimbeer was a wall.

[tracerv]

Saw an article recently that Microwave Johnson got into construction & auto parts after playing. He's worth $500 million now.

Way to go Vinnie. One of my favorite players in the 80's.

[Dillinger]

on pure Celtics hatred alone I loved the Pistons. Dumars was a Tonka truck lol

[tracerv]

This conversation makes me miss my Magic Johnson Converse Weapons.

[EISTAU Gree-Vance]

The Worm.

[JesseAz (5-30 Banana Republic Day)]

How Dems, social media, and government actors tried to censor the Walk Away movement.

https://www.racket.news/cp/145383773

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

Even worse than a non-believing heathen is a traitorous apostate. Ask any religious fundamentalist.

[Truthfulness]

The ex-gays feel it.

[Mother's Lament (Banana Republic Day - May 30, 2024)]

That's the exact same creepy playback that they pulled on Trump.
They aren't exactly inventive, are they?

[JesseAz (5-30 Banana Republic Day)]

In other Trump news, the former president made some bizarre comments about former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Anything else Positive related happen this week? Maybe a video got released.

[JesseAz (5-30 Banana Republic Day)]

Pelosi* not positive.

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

Something with insider trading and/or a hammer?

[MT-Man]

What does this even mean? Made up? Why publish this Robby? - Punchbowl’s Jake Sherman, who noted the comment he posted was “close to an exact quote.”

[Sevo, 5-30-24, embarrassment]

"...Many of the gathered CEOs—who met with Trump during a meeting of the Business Roundtable in Washington, D.C., on Thursday—had denounced him in the wake of the Capitol riot..."

That's spelled "protest", FYI.

[Michael Ejercito]

And Trump had nothing to do with the riot.

[Medulla Oblongata]

Mostly peaceful protest.

[JesseAz (5-30 Banana Republic Day)]

The Supreme Court rejected an effort to restrict access to the abortion pill.*
CORRECTION: This sentence has been changed to better describe the Court's decision.

Actually the case was regarding the FDA following the proper APA process.

[Michael Ejercito]

The case was decided on standing grounds.

[JesseAz (5-30 Banana Republic Day)]

Yeah. But the issue brought to the courts was APA.

[Well Adjusted Biden Guy 6/11 Banana Republic]

Libertarians for the FDA!!! Yay!!

[Sevo, 5-30-24, embarrassment]

turd for dishonesty!!!

[tracerv]

Happy Flag Day

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

Which one?

[tracerv]

Ha. At this point who the fuck knows.

Personally, I'm going American.

[Ajsloss]

Personally, I’m going American.

Making it awfully easy for the FBI to target you.

[tracerv]

I lost all my American flags in a tragic boating accident.

[Chumby]

Wonder of that fitness center still bans them even on Flag Day.

[Well Adjusted Biden Guy 6/11 Banana Republic]

Kate Daniel, state policy director for SBA Pro-Life America: “It is a sad day for all who value women’s health and unborn children’s lives, but the fight to stop dangerous mail-order abortion drugs is not over.”

You know what else is bad for women’s health?

[Mother's Lament (Banana Republic Day - May 30, 2024)]

Not getting to slaughter their offspring for convenience?

[Ajsloss]

Having a pair of testicles where your bonus hole should be?

[Well Adjusted Biden Guy 6/11 Banana Republic]

You guys both got it wrong. What’s dangerous for women’s health is having a botched abortion because some GOP Churchlady doesn’t want you to fuck the pool boy. JFC, libertarians, is there any Team Red horseshit you don’t scoop up with a spoon?

[Mother's Lament (Banana Republic Day - May 30, 2024)]

If you don’t try to kill your kid or fuck the poolboy there’s a remarkably lower chance of a botched abortion. I guess living with the consequences of your choices is a little too libertarian for you, huh?

[Well Adjusted Biden Guy 6/11 Banana Republic]

Isn’t having an abortion taking responsibility for fucking the pool boy?

[Mother's Lament (Banana Republic Day - May 30, 2024)]

You and the poolboy know exactly what rawdogging and blowing a load in the snapper evolved to do, shrike.

Could have put it in the ass, worn a condom or stuck to fingers and tongues, but if you get pregnant it's because you deliberately did the one thing guaranteed to put a baby there. You don't get to murder someone because you're a stupid lazy slut.

[Red Rocks White Privilege]

What’s dangerous for women’s health is having a botched abortion because some GOP Churchlady doesn’t want you to fuck the pool boy.

"Botched abortions" and the "rusty coathanger" meme always complete propaganda by the left.

[mad.casual]

I would love to believe that the pro-abortion crowd isn’t so oblivious as to choose “boffing the pool boy” as their representation of a real oppressed, underclass, blue collar woman; a real salt-of-the-Earth working, single mom forced to make tough life choices like “have an abortion or feed the kids I’ve already got” after her birth control, husband, or both fail unexpectedly.

Unfortunately, reality prevents me from believing that. All of it. And I can only conclude that the pro-abortion crowd are evil morons who, if abortion weren’t an issue, would be cheering child castration and virgin sacrifices or calling for more lead paint in maternity wards or something.

[Red Rocks White Privilege]

These are the same people who say that children should be encouraged to believe they are “born in the wrong body,” given drugs to prevent them from going though the perfectly natural process of puberty, which fucks their bodies up in countless ways, and then given surgery to cut off their breasts and genitals.

They are absolutely a modern day Ba’al/Molech cult that sacrifices kids like the Carthaginians did. They brag about their abortions because they expect to receive supernatural blessings for doing so.

[TrickyVic (old school)]

You know who else values unborn children's lives?

[Well Adjusted Biden Guy 6/11 Banana Republic]

Dear Leader?

[Truthfulness]

Guess again.

[Chumby]

Ted Kennedy (D)?

[VinniUSMC (Banana Republic Day 5/30/24)]

"Libertarian" calls for government to continue being funded at massive levels. Kindly fuck right off, into the woodchipper, Robby.

[Well Adjusted Biden Guy 6/11 Banana Republic]

In other news: the account I kind of forgot about which contained quarters my grandmother gave me for my birthday and the thousand or so dollars my parents gave me during grad school just hit a balance of 400k.

If this Biden economy keeps up I may live out my socialist fantasy of early retirement. Democrats… always supporting socialist pipe dreams,

[Mother's Lament (Banana Republic Day - May 30, 2024)]

You do make up the stupidest shit, Pluggo.

[Well Adjusted Biden Guy 6/11 Banana Republic]

Sorry I forgot… it’s Peanut-Land. SELL… SELL… SELL!!! Invest in nuclear fallout shelters and moats!!

Is that better?

[Mother's Lament (Banana Republic Day - May 30, 2024)]

What would be better is not inventing bullshit fairytales in the first place and expecting us to believe them.

[Chumby]

To him, completing 8th grade was getting a graduate degree.

[Sevo, 5-30-24, embarrassment]

turd, always lying.

[Overt]

Rigggght...An account worth ~$1000 was forgotten and is now worth $400k. Suuuure...We all believe SPB, the pedophile, right guys.

I mean, you don't even try to be credible any more, do you?

[Red Rocks White Privilege]

So you forgot about your finances like you forgot your password for your Reason account?

[VinniUSMC (Banana Republic Day 5/30/24)]

Compounded daily at 8% interest would take (generously starting at 1250 for the quarters) 72 years to become $400,000. So, you're 90+ years old and managed an average of 8% for 72 years?

If you stand in the middle of a fountain, does it turn brown from all the bullshit you spew? The Maladjusted Biden Shitlicker fountain?

[Chumby]

Pluggo is looking for the fountain of youth, believing it to be something other than as advertised.

[Well Adjusted Biden Guy 6/11 Banana Republic]

The formula you’re looking for is this one, right?
A=Aoert
Ao=Ae(-rt)

A=394000
r=0.10
t=30

Solve for Ao=~20000, rounding up.

[VinniUSMC (Banana Republic Day 5/30/24)]

So, your account already had $19,000 in quarters invested in it when you put in $1,000 more (lie 1)? And you just happened to be getting 10% interest (lie 2)?

Again I say, bullshit. Lying sack of garbage.

[The Angry Hippopotamus]

According to the National Taxpayers Union (NTU), it would theoretically take a tariff rate of 71 percent to replace the revenue from the income tax

Or instead of a tariff rate of 71 percent, reduce the size and scope of the Federal Government back to the enumerated powers listed Article I Section 8 of The Constitution of The United States of America, and a lot less tax revenue is needed.

[I, Woodchipper]

Now for the bad: During a meeting with GOP lawmakers, Trump also floated replacing the income tax with an "all tariff policy"—that is, with taxes on imports. Tariffs that high would be disastrous. According to the National Taxpayers Union (NTU), it would theoretically take a tariff rate of 71 percent to replace the revenue from the income tax.

Haha yeah guess you have to cut spending then.

[I, Woodchipper]

Eliminating income tax and replacing it with ANYTHING else is a huge win.

The primary drawback of income tax, besides the obvious, is that it fully enables the complete intrusion of all our privacy due to the government's need to track all our money moves and income.

Border tariffs would be a much better way to raise money, not mention we'd all be so much richer without an income tax.

Even if it reduces that portion of federal revenues by 50% it's absolutely worth it.

[Zeb]

On the other hand, high import taxes would make everyone poorer. Unless you think the US can somehow immediately start manufacturing everything.
As usual, the best answer is to make the federal government much, much smaller so it can be funded by something like a 5% or lower tariff on imports and exports.

[I, Woodchipper]

There is no perfect solution to the mess they have created but given the two options:

Massive intrusion of privacy with income tax
or
expensive imports

I'll take the tariffs. However, they will never, EVER give up income tax precisely because it enables endless of tyranny

[Zeb]

Yeah, this is all pretty masturbatory. But one can dream.

[I, Woodchipper]

another benefit would be the feds might actually start caring about the border. just a thought

[TJJ2000]

I would agree with you but some Domestic manufacturers are getting hit with an 80% tax rate right now (State + Fed). Even at 71% it's still a 9% tax reduction to import.

[Roberta]

Jim Lewis thought tariffs and excises were preferable because they were elective taxes, meaning that if you didn't want to pay the taxes, just don't buy the goods subject to them.

[Dillinger]

you will find true love on Flag Day.

https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/fcf9422f-2a85-41a8-bd16-f5f159f60f02

[Dillinger]

>>Many of the gathered CEOs … denounced him in the wake of the Capitol riot.

many of the gathered CEOs were malinformed. they must have counted on Politico & Reason for their riot information

[Dillinger]

>>All of this made Hogan an unlikely endorsement for Trump.

less unlikely than the obvious choice.

[Incunabulum]

Climate Defiance should know that you're only allowed to shoot Republicans. Once you start messing with the Democrats, no matter how mildly, your arse will feel the full might of the state.

As for Fetterman - if you're not the right type of Democrat (ie, an anti-semite) then you don't get protection.

[Dillinger]

>>Violent crime declined precipitously in the past year.

John MacEnroe on line 2 … but he charges $50,000 for the quote what should I tell him?

[Its_Not_Inevitable]

$50,000? You cannot be serious!

[Chumby]

I am serious. And stop calling me Shirley.

[Dillinger]

>>Sen. John Fetterman (D–Penn.) and his wife were recently in a car accident—and it was apparently his fault.

are US Senators required to carry liability insurance?

[Red Rocks White Privilege]

I believe it's a requirement in order to drive on any public road in the US. Even if it was a staff car he was driving, the government will probably work with his insurance company on the damages. If it was just a private vehicle, normal liability rules would apply.

Seriously, the big goof is lucky no one got hurt too bad.

[Dillinger]

>>no one got hurt too bad

5mph rear-ender can result in six-figure future damages model those lumbar herniations don't fix themselves 🙂

[Its_Not_Inevitable]

"Ow, my neck. Whiplash!"

[Zeb]

NH doesn't require it. You are supposed to be able to demonstrate "financial responsibility" but anyone can get a license and register a car without insurance, so as long as you don't get in an accident that police or courts get involved in anyone can drive without insurance.

[Dillinger]

I would carry a mil in uninsured/underinsured but I see no problem with that in NH. In Texas rumor has always been it's 50/50 whether the guy who hit you is insured even though mandatory

[Dillinger]

>>Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s presidential campaign has a filed a complaint

I know where I've seen that before! It’s a Ziggy!

[Dillinger]

>>The Supreme Court rejected an effort to restrict access to the abortion pill.

not an abortion pill and the rejection was on standing. details.

[Dillinger]

>>"Far-right" parties are winning elections in Europe.

turns out people like natural gas and food whaddyaknow?

[Red Rocks White Privilege]

Wanting to not live a pre-1940s lifestyle is "far right" these days.

These retards actually think they can have their Fully Automated Luxury Gay Space Communist Utopia without fossil fuels or environmental degradation.

[Dillinger]

I'm sure they're secreting the oil just like they eat the steaks at the Eat Ze Bugs! Summit

[Ajsloss]

just like they eat the steaks

If we eliminate meat eating all together, cow populations will explode. They're taking on the burden of preventing that from happening so that you don't have to. Quite generous when you think about it.

[Dillinger]

it's the Penguin Planet episode of Futurama all over again.

[Its_Not_Inevitable]

Who says there wouldn't be a global cattle culling program?

[Ajsloss]

Just as long as the administrators get to eat the beef. I mean, obviously, they are more equal than the rest of us.

[Red Rocks White Privilege]

These idiots don't seem to know that a lot of the population prior to World War II was incredibly malnourished. We see pictures of these skinny-ass guys and think they were in great shape, but that was only typical of middle-class enlistees.

People don't realize how badly the Great Depression fucked up the actual physical health of the population. A big reason programs like the CCC were so popular is because the participants knew they'd be getting three meals a day. the whole operation was run like a military civil engineering detachment.

[Dillinger]

my great-grandma used to tell us about the centipedes on the inside walls of the mud hut that was her home in Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl

[Uncle Jay]

Trump's Tax Plans: Good, Bad, Ugly?Trump's Tax Plans: Good, Bad, Ugly?"

I'm in favor of tax cuts.
But what would be better is the elimination of the onerous and confusing income tax and replace it with a consumption tax.
Additionally, lowering the corporate tax down to about five percent would send the US economy into an upward spiral.
...and although lowering taxes is a good idea, the number one problem in the US right now is finding a way to pay off the debt. Otherwise, the US might go the way of the old USSR sooner than we think.

[TJJ2000]

Killing motivation to work (stealing) for laziness (subsidizing) is definitely a way not to get those debts paid off.

As pointed out by someone else; Trumps last tax-cuts didn't drop tax revenue even $1. That could be due to tariffs or a jump in productivity but either way it was a good move.

[shadydave]

"According to the latest report from the FBI"
I wonder if there are any departments that could be eliminated to help cut spending.

[Moderation4ever]

This country is just going deeper in debt, and this is no time to talk about another tax cut. What I want to know is what a candidate is planning to cut in spending and I want specifics. I sick of hearing about cutting spending in campaigns and nothing after. Here is one suggestion I have for spending cuts, stop tax cuts. And for those who say tax cut are not spending, my answer is simple if you don't have the money for the tax cut it is spending.

[Spiritus Mundi]

Cut every program that contains a vowel in its legislation.

[TrickyVic (old school)]

Where do you think spending should be cut?

[Red Rocks White Privilege]

This whole "I want specifics" crap he's spouting is just a smokescreen, because we all know he and his lefty allies will screech to high heaven about any cuts that will actually get the budget in line, starting with the Centers for Medicare/Medicaid Services. Considering these guys are jonesing for a war with Russia, they can't cut defense, and most everything else is just slices along the margin that won't actually close the gap.

[Mother's Lament (Banana Republic Day - May 30, 2024)]

This whole “I want specifics” crap he’s spouting is just a smokescreen

That's one of Jeffy's favorite tricks too.

[Moderation4ever]

I think there are significant numbers of area where spending could be cut. I think a program like social security should be evaluated and updated so the program is in line with its goals, not making old people richer. I am always POed when the Congress insists the military budget should be greater than what the military actually requests. I like to see less spend on drug enforcement and more spending on reducing demand from addicts. I like to see NASA's budget for manned space flight to the moon or Mars reduced to zero. I like to see programs evaluated not merely on need but on the program's effectiveness at meeting the need.

I am cheap, I have no problem spending money but I want value for my dollar. I like the government to do the same.

[mad.casual]

I like to see less spend on drug enforcement and more spending on reducing demand from addicts.

Either you don't know what you're talking about or you're saying "I appreciate the method by which Fauci tried to make SS/Medicare/Medicaid more solvent and think we should try the same with drug addicts."

[Moderation4ever]

Regarding drugs; First we should think about what drugs we really need to protect people from taking. It is ridiculous that we have not just legalized marijuana. Regarding harder drugs we should try to help the addict. If possible, get them to give up the drug entirely. If they can't give it up entirely get them to level where they can be functional. Hold a job and take care of themselves. We should stop making the illegal drug business more profitable through prohibition.

[Red Rocks White Privilege]

Yeah, because the only thing keeping the opioid epidemic from being "safe and effective" was the prohibitions on it.

[Eeyore]

Cut it all. Fire everybody.