Hey Donald: You Can Be a Citizen of America *and* a Citizen of the World!

Trump's CPAC speech married the worst tendencies of Republicans and Democrats to tell us all where we can live and what we can buy.

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Hey Donald: You Can Be a Citizen of America *and* a Citizen of the World!

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Donald Trump has promised to "Make America Great Again" by putting "America First."

Though he was speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), it must be said that he is no small-government conservative. In fact, his speech made clear that he represents the worst tendencies of conservative Republicans and liberal Democrats to limit our freedoms in the name of supposedly serving the greater good.

Trump is an economic protectionist and interventionist who wants to promote what he perceives are "our values" by building a wall to keep out immigrants, charging tariffs on imports, badgering U.S. companies to stay here, and making pipelines with only American steel. But all of that will only make everything cost more while reducing employment. He talks about bringing back manufacturing jobs, but they peaked as a percentage of the workforce in 1943 and are never coming back for a very good reason. Thanks to technological innovation, manufacturing output has doubled since the 1980s but with one-third fewer workers. Shutting down free trade or playing "CEO in chief" isn't going to change that.

At the heart of Trump's confusion is his belief that putting America First means keeping the world at a distance.

But you can be a citizen of America and a citizen of the world. In fact, if you believe in political, economic, and cultural freedom, you must always hold such dual citizenship. There's no more basic freedom than the right to live where you want and buy what you want. That's not anti-America. That is America.

In different ways over the years, Republicans and Democrats have tried to control where we can live, who we can marry, what we can eat, drink, and smoke, and so much more. Trump represents not a release from such thinking but a shotgun marriage of that worst impulse in each party.

"Where liberty dwells, there is my country," Ben Franklin is said to have written. In putting America First, Donald Trump will succeed only in leaving even more of us truly homeless.

Written by Nick Gillespie. Produced and edited by Meredith Bragg and Joshua Swain.

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Comments

[Half-Virtue, Half-Vice]

"Where liberty dwells, there is my country," Ben Franklin is said to have written.

That's a badass line.

I truly fear for Liberty's sake, cause to my eye it would seem that major forces and political leaders that commanded great respect and wielded great power once upon a time truly heralded for liberty. And yet the dream was never truly realized. If ever there was a Libertarian moment it was the founding of the nation, no? Yet, here in modern times we hold on to hope but where is our Achilles and Hector of old to champion our cause? We have no Ben Franklin, we have no Thomas Jefferson, John Locke, or James Madison.

[MWG]

i hope Franklin really did write that because it is, "badass".

[Fascist loofa-faced shitgibbon]

And an easily understood corollary should read:

"Denying liberty is un-American".

[Half-Virtue, Half-Vice]

You think those lines are truly parallel? I kind of get the feeling Franklin's contains the meaning that if America lost its liberty than he would move on to a place where liberty still meant something, i.e., where there is liberty, there is a good country to live in.

I might be reading to much into it buuuuut that'd still be my interpretation.

[Fascist loofa-faced shitgibbon]

"America" is first and foremost an idea or a collection of ideas/principles.
I believe Franklin was stating that liberty is the fundamental defining principle of America.
So, yes, I think the corollary follows.

[AlexInCT]

Where would he move to find that liberty, I ask? Based on my understanding of history, I think his point was precisely that America stood out for that liberty in a world that sorely lacked any of that. When that liberty is gone it is gone. Historically the world has been, and always strives to return to, darkness. As Heinlein pointed out, that happens because people actually have a tendency to turn on those that bring them the conditions that result in prosperity and freedom. Kind of like the people that tell us such idiotic things as for example that it was a bunch of white slave owners that created this country, and hence it is a bad country, are hard at work doing.

[Stormy Dragon]

where is our Achilles and Hector of old to champion our cause

It may be that the gulfs will wash us down;
It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles,
And see the great Achilles, whom we knew.
Though much is taken, much abides; and though
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are,
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

[SQRLSY One]

Trumpty Dumpty, He's quite off-the-wall,
Trumpty Dumpty won't stay in His toilet stall
He just goes ahead and takes His shits,
Totally regardless of whereever He sits
Whenever He simply, no way, can sleep,
He Twits us His thoughts, they're all SOOO deep!
He simply must, He MUST, Twit us His bird,
No matter the words, however absurd!
He sits and snorts His coke with a spoon,
Then He brazenly shoots us His moon!
They say He'll be impeached by June,
Man, oh man, June cannot come too soon!
So He sits and jiggles His balls,
Then He Twitters upon the walls
"Some come here to sit and think,
Some come here to shit and stink
But I come here to scratch my balls,
And read the writings on the walls
Here I sit, My cheeks a-flexin'
Giving birth to another Texan!
He who writes these lines of wit,
Wraps His Trump in little balls,
He who reads these lines of wit,
Eats those loser's balls of shit!"

[Rufus T. Firefly.]

It wasn't funny the first time you posted that.

[Half-Virtue, Half-Vice]

@ Stormy, speak poetry to me and my soul will listen. Thank you for a simple but beautiful response.

*drinks burbon*

@ SQRLSY one, your comment below (or above idk) is shit. I see the effort I guess, but the content is.... forgettable and mundane.

[Stormy Dragon]

Don't thank me, thank Tennyson.

[Not a True MJG]

You have me!

There are always a few, better endowed than others, who feel the weight of the yoke and cannot restrain themselves from attempting to shake it off: these are the men who never become tamed under subjection and who always, like Ulysses on land and sea constantly seeking the smoke of his chimney, cannot prevent themselves from peering about for their natural privileges and from remembering their ancestors and their former ways. These are in fact the men who, possessed of clear minds and far-sighted spirit, are not satisfied, like the brutish mass, to see only what is at their feet, but rather look about them, behind and before, and even recall the things of the past in order to judge those of the future, and compare both with their present condition. These are the ones who, having good minds of their own, have further trained them by study and learning. Even if liberty had entirely perished from the earth, such men would invent it. For them slavery has no satisfactions, no matter how well disguised.

?tienne de la Bo?tie. I leave you with this optimistic, if perhaps fatalist, quote to end the week. Night, all!

[GILMORE?]

MJG -

you left a question lying around back in a previous thread. I made an attempt to answer it as best i could.

[buybuydandavis]

Fun facts about Ben below. He would have been the extreme Alt-Right.

Reason really needs to get some game if they want to oppose the Alt-Right.

Benjamin Franklin, Observations Concerning the Increase of Mankind, 1751

Fascinating stuff. Starts from a populist, nationalist premise and argues for trade protectionism, antislavery, anti immigration.

Details how the Lockean Proviso (availability of cheap land) differentiated the US from Europe, keeping wages high, enabling younger marriages and greater fertility.

IMO, the failure to account for the Lockean Proviso is the major theoretical failure of mainstream conservative political theory.

[buybuydandavis]

The final section is explicitly *White* Nationalist, though interestingly excluding Europeans of "swarthy Complexion" in favor of "the Saxons only excepted, who with the English, make the principal Body of White People on the Face of the Earth".

Which leads me to add one Remark: That the Number of purely white People in the World is proportionably very small. All Africa is black or tawny. Asia chiefly tawny. America (exclusive of the new Comers) wholly so. And in Europe, the Spaniards, Italians, French, Russians and Swedes, are generally of what we call a swarthy Complexion; as are the Germans also, the Saxons only excepted, who with the English, make the principal Body of White People on the Face of the Earth. I could wish their Numbers were increased. And while we are, as I may call it, Scouring our Planet, by clearing America of Woods, and so making this Side of our Globe reflect a brighter Light to the Eyes of Inhabitants in Mars or Venus, why should we in the Sight of Superior Beings, darken its People? why increase the Sons of Africa, by Planting them in America, where we have so fair an Opportunity, by excluding all Blacks and Tawneys, of increasing the lovely White and Red? But perhaps I am partial to the Complexion of my Country, for such Kind of Partiality is natural to Mankind.

[Fist of Etiquette]

While I don't agree with they way Trump is doing it, he's right about putting America first. There's no reason for the President of the United States to place the interests of anywhere but his country front and center. I'm all for globalism, so far as that globalism is in the nation's interest (as much that the nation has a single interest).

[american socialist]

This.

[wareagle]

There's no reason for the President of the United States to place the interests of anywhere but his country front and center.

For the life of me, why this is even close to controversial is inexplicable. Anyone elected to be the head of that nation's govt is elected to be head of that nation's govt, even if the place is the US with a unique position in the world.

[american socialist]

Yea. Cant this logic (not yours) be used to justify foreign interventions like oh say nam and iraq and a host of other places? Since those folks are pretty ruthless to their citizens.

If you put the worlds interests first...then u are signing up to be the world policemen

[wareagle]

isn't putting world interests antithetical to what Trump is talking about? A more peaceful world would be nice, but putting American lives and treasure at risk runs counter to the national interest in my mind. Maybe I just need another drink.

[american socialist]

I said not yours because i was talking about nick who takes issue with america first.

If u focus on world then you will be world policeman since obviously other places have no concept of people having rights

[wareagle]

ah; okay. Thanks for the explanation.

[american socialist]

Sorry i am not great at explaining things that isn't done in a confusing way

[Fascist loofa-faced shitgibbon]

Even that was a bit confusing.

/just joking

[DarrenM]

If you can't have freedom in America, how can you have it in the world? I think Gillespie is getting to the point where he's just mailing it in anymore.

[Half-Virtue, Half-Vice]

*nods thoughtfully and begins to clap*

[MWG]

I would say the libertarian argument might be it's not the job of poiitcial leaders to put "Americans First(tm)" Governments jobs is to protect the individual rights of those within its borders, full stop.

Putting Americans first sounds dangerously broad and collectivist. I doubt most of us libertarians share the same "interests" particularly as individuals. Based on how he talks about trade, for example, I doubt very much that Trump knows what my individual interests are, let alone those of 300MM other red blooded Amerikans.

[MWG]

Also, fuck writing in grammatically correct English, amiright?

[american socialist]

Ok but he or whoever is elected to represent america domestically and abroad.

It isnt like the federal government is going away anytime soon. They arent running a top down centrally planned economy yet with nationalized industries

[MWG]

I don't disagree with this, I guess. I think from from a libertarian perspective there's ultimately nothing wrong with the IDEA of a politician saying they're going to "put America first". In practice, however, and in the particular case of Trump, behind that idea is a lot of potentially shitty ideas (35% tariff anyone?) and libertarians should be highly skeptical.

[american socialist]

Yea see i saw 35 percent then heard 20.
I suspect it may be a 5 or something more symbolic

[wareagle]

Ironically, the same guy talking about tariffs - and I agree on their shittiness - is the same guy talking about scaling back the regulatory state. I'm less inclined to take Trump literally on tariffs than to see it as a negotiating tactic. I could be wrong here; we'll see. But he's more CEO-like than the previous cavalcade of professional politicians.

[american socialist]

Yea. He also doesn't appear to have an ideology which is nice

[MWG]

Yeah, but I'd make the point that based on my experience in Brazil, Trump is going to have to do a helluva lot of tax and reg cutting to offset the damage he's going to do if he's serious about his views on trade.

[Viking1865]

Well if you take the Trump tax plan from his campaign website as his ideal tax plan, then you end up with a taxation policy that's closer to Calvin Coolidge then anything else. I personally would rather have that then the current situation.

The fear I have is that there's going to be a tariff in addition to the current corporate and income taxes, not in replacement of same.

[american socialist]

Good point

[DarrenM]

Any change in tariffs would have to get past both House and Senate. I doubt any 35% tariffs are getting passed.

[Johnniest Doe]

Are tariffs shitty when you impose them on shitty assholes like the Chinese, who tend to only permit business with China when it's good for China? Isn't America First a fair response to what has always been China First, Mexico First, etc?

Based on what I've been hearing, Trump is against collective trade agreements and prefers individual ones with countries. As he said today, you make a deal with one, and if they break the deal then it's off and you renegotiate an even better one in your favor.

[MWG]

The Chinese have quite literally been subsidizing our consumption. Cheap iPhones? Yes please.

[Virginian1969]

Making way too much sense there, mate. I would include that trade policies in a fiat money world are substantively different than those under a fixed standard - like gold. Currency manipulation by both sides makes murky the waters of truly free trade.

[Half-Virtue, Half-Vice]

Putting Americans first

Not Americans, America.

I doubt very much that Trump knows what my individual interests are, let alone those of 300MM other red blooded Amerikans.

This bar is too high for anyone, anywhere, regardless of position.

[MWG]

"This bar is too high for anyone, anywhere, regardless of position."

That's sorta my point. No leader can determine my interests. Protect my individual rights, and I'll take care of the rest thankyouverymuch.

[american socialist]

Agreed. So it is even more bizarre to want him to focus on 7 billion people

[MWG]

I'd agree with this, though I'm not sure who among us is making that argument.

[american socialist]

Sorry didnt mean to imply it to you. I was just stating more

[MWG]

Ah gotcha. Well, this citizen of the world is about to hop a flight back to the US where I'll be greeted by friendly government employees defending freedum. From a guy about to spend his Friday night sleeping upright, enjoy your Friday night.

[american socialist]

you too. Do you at least get a tv?

[MWG]

What good is a tv if it's loaded with shit. Luckily my relatively cheap Chinese-made iPad is loaded with only the finest Netflix originals... also Alan Partridge.

[MarkLastname]

"as much that the nation has a single interest"
It doesn't. The state doesn't get to screw over some of its citizens ostensibly for the benefit of the majority. If those douche bags in Dearborn can't make a better, cheaper car than Honda, they deserve to lose their jobs. End of story.

[Fist of Etiquette]

There are some rights you could consider a common interest. Even if some don't know they should want to protect them.

[Liberty Lover]

I have to agree with you. We need trade, fair trade, not free trade. While you can be a citizen of both the USA and the world, your first loyalty should rest with your country. The President should exemplify this trait. Free trade has robbed this country of more jobs than tariffs ever had. Just look at our trade deficit with China. How can any country compete with a country where there are either no environmental laws or they are broken with impunity? Where the state subsidizes every industry even when losing money just to kill other countries industry? Where employees are treated like slaves and commit suicide by jumping of building? Where most mines are illegal? We have been fools since Nixon.

[american socialist]

Can ya please stop with the he is against immigration strawman?

[GLEEMORE?]

You know who else put the country first and was a socialist?

[Half-Virtue, Half-Vice]

Bernie! Bernie! Bernie!

[american socialist]

Thee American Socialist

[american socialist]

Castro
Mao
Stalin
Pol Pot
Un
Maduro

Leaders among men

[Vaelyn]

Woody Guthrie?

[SIV]

Reason: MAKE AMERIKKKA LAST !

[Charles Easterly]

Trump at CPAC Married the Worst of the Republicans and Democrats.

I read Nick's article (and watched the linked video as well), yet I failed in my attempts to determine which of the "Worst" Republicans and Democrats President Trump had pronounced/decreed married.

Being unfamiliar with the laws in this regard, I need another clarification. Did President Trump afterward (or concurrently) marry the "Worst two" Republicans and Democrats?

[american socialist]

It is hyperbole and i am tired of it. They act like it is nazi germany, the ussr, castro hell even fdr and putin and current china.

Need some goddman perspective here. The us has flaws but this notion that is drastically different from before or that it was that bad in first place is absurd

Whining about the us is really a first world problem. Sure there are not good things and bad...but it is still cream of the crop in standard of living, entertainment, largely a freemarket, one of the best on guns and speech and press and religion.

Is it perfect hell no. But dear god dont take for granted what we currently have.

[wareagle]

Whining about the usmost things people whine about is really a first world problem.

and we appear to lack the collective self-awareness to realize what a luxury that is.

[american socialist]

Lol ya

[The Last American Hero]

Nick being Nick, I'm sure it basically marrying all the terrible things about Republicans with like that one bad thing that some Democrat did that one time. After all, Team Red is anti-pot, anti-ass sex, and not fond of unrestricted Mexican immigration.

See what they did? They keep making me have to defend or appear to defend these assholes.

[Charles Easterly]

I would like to thank you, amerso, wareagle, and TLA Hero, for your good faith responses.

I was attempting to be pedantic with regards to Nick's choice of phrasing whilst simultaneous being facetious.

Nick being Nick, I'm sure it basically marrying all the terrible things about Republicans with like that one bad thing that some Democrat did that one time.

Thank you, Hero, his is an apt version of part of what I failed to convey.

[american socialist]

Married the worst of dems and republicans is pure hyperbole

This would entail:
gay marriage bans
Constant war
Going after medical mj as well (im not sure he is going to do recreational yet)
Jacked up min wage
Singlepayer healthcare
Carbon taxes
More regs
Citizens united
Make uber hire employees
Income taxes
Gun ban run around
Free college

Obviously some of his are not good like waste of wall, tariffs and infra boondoggle,
Miltary spending (maybe mj)

[american socialist]

The problem is the population does not want a libertarian.

[JeremyR]

The problem with globalism is that much of the rest of the world is batshit insane.

Communists/socialists, Islamists, and then the out and out crooks

[Fatty Bolger]

This is just stupid. Gorsuch alone is better than anybody the Dems would have nominated (and quite possibly a different Rep), so right there we have proof that he's not the worst of each party.

[GLEEMORE?]

I agree with AMSOC above. I'm for putting America first and I'm not really worried about immigrant and marijuana and shit. Trump is just spitballing to piss off the lobs. No one should pay any attention to anything basically that he says.

[american socialist]

here will give up your name just a sec

[american socialist]

Tell ya what if we could meet for butt sex than it is yours

[GLEEMORE?]

No, I don't suck dick with people who suck Trump's dick. That's nasty, commie dirtbag

[american socialist]

I didnt say suck dick. Just let me pitch and you catch savvy?

[GLEEMORE?]

Mmmm... it's tempting, but I'd wonder while we were in the act if you weren't thinking about all the times you came here and jerked off all over Trump. Sorry... I'm looking for devotion.

[american socialist]

Then no name comrade

Why dont ya go to California socialist?

Have a coke and smile

[DarrenM]

There's no more basic freedom than the right to live where you want and buy what you want.

You really have a strange idea of what a "basic freedom" is. Some might say the "right to live" all by itself was a tad more basic.

[creech]

"There's no more basic freedom than the right to live where you want and buy what you want."
You obviously need to add "if you can afford it and there's a willing seller."

[AlmightyJB]

No doubt his economic policies on trade are terrible. I don't think he'll be that successful with them. It's like trying to stop a locomotive. They'll probably be a handful of things he'll be able to temporarily screw up but dispite what everyone seems to think including perhaps even himself, he is not king. One thing is for sure, this administration will be a windfall for corporate lobbyist.

[Sevo]

"One thing is for sure, this administration will be a windfall for corporate lobbyist."

Not sure that he'll be worse than Obo (or the hag); I'd hope at least that bond-holders won't take it in the shorts to keep UAW bosses farting through silk.

[AlmightyJB]

Yeah, the more money and power that goes to Washington, the bigger the lobbyist paychecks. So goes without saying that the big government progs are horrible in that regard. Haven't seen much in the way of limited government indications from the new boss yet though. I was really more specifically talking of those industries that will actively lobby for additional rent seeking which is what protectionism is. Then you'll have the lobbying against the protectionism by companies benefiting from competitive markets for goods and labor.

[Sevo]

The guy's a loose cannon and a blowhard, but broken clocks and blind squirrels:

"Trump today: Executive order takes aim at "excessive" regulations"
[...]
"Every regulation should have to pass a simple test: Does it make life better or safer for American workers or consumers? If the answer is no, we will be getting rid of it," Trump said at an Oval Office signing ceremony Friday."
http://www.sfgate.com/business.....957189.php

The comments are amusing; lefty whining and total misunderstanding of the regulatory state (It IS an executive function, you ninny!).
DeVos, the court candidates, Pruitt, this; all good. Far better than we could have possibly hoped for from the hag.
I'll let commie kid suck his cock; he seems rather obsessed with Trump. Daddy issues?

[AlmightyJB]

Yeah, I like the fact that he's addressing the job crushing, resource wasting regulation state. This seems a little too open to interpretation for my liking so hoping there is more specific guidance:

"Does it make life better or safer for American workers or consumers? "

I wish there was more traction on this at state and local levels. Unfortunately, even the local media particularly in large cities are always demanding that "something must be done" about every single goddamn thing.

[Sevo]

"Brown to redirect millions for flood-control measures at dams"
[...]
"Our aging infrastructure is maxed out. We can take some immediate actions ? and we will ? but going forward we'll need billions more in investment."
{I'm sure he finds this surprising; he thought those billions going to the Dills Act parasites were just extra money}
"The state plans to redirect $50 million from the general fund for near-term flood-control efforts, Brown said. Pending approval from the Legislature, an additional $387 million will be appropriated from funds generated by Proposition 1 ? a water bond passed in 2014."
{"A massive hole has formed in the dam's spillway, and experts estimate repair costs could reach $200 million." https://www.benzinga.com/news/17/02/9036306/ how-much-could-it-cost-to-fix-oroville-dam So it might cover the actual costs of one dam}
"While the California Department of Transportation has begun more than $595 million in repairs to the state's roads and bridges this storm season, there is $137 billion in deferred maintenance on California's highways, streets and roads, Brown said."
http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/.....958133.php

But we have a 'balanced budget'!!!

[AlmightyJB]

Seems like California could benefit from a good flood. Would be a nice place without all the people. Yes, that is a joke.

[GLEEMORE?]

It was much better when Conan the Barbarian was in charge-- when the 2007 budget came right on time in 2008.

[Sevo]

GLEEMORE?|2.24.17 @ 10:17PM|#
"It was much better when Conan the Barbarian was in charge-- when the 2007 budget came right on time in 2008."

It would be better if you had a brain.
Fuck off, asswipe.

[AlmightyJB]

Found this little summerized history of US Immigration policies interesting.

http://www.fairus.org/facts/us_laws

[Sevo]

Any guesses how Near- and Mid-East immigrants are 'coded' in that?

[AlmightyJB]

Well if your talking about the bar graph at the top, they should be in the Asia numbers. Of course that covers a lot of territory. I'm sure the are more detailed numbers out there somewhere.

[call your mom]

I'm starting to believe Nick Gillespie has a secret desire to be repeatedly punched in the face.

[Stormy Dragon]

Trump at CPAC Married the Worst of the Republicans and Democrats

Warren and James hereby cordially invite you and guest to the Harding-Buchanan nuptials.

[Sevo]

"Karl Lagerfeld calls Meryl Streep 'cheap' for cancelling Oscars dress"
[...]
""I made a sketch, and we started to make the dress," Chanel's head designer told Women's Wear Daily, adding that days later, he received a phone call from Streep's team. "'Don't continue the dress. We found somebody who will pay us,'" Lagerfeld said he was told."
http://www.sfgate.com/entertai.....956808.php

Meryl Steep: Victim of designer clothing costs!
I hope part of the deal was a requirement for the logo to be tattooed on her ass.

[GLEEMORE?]

You sure do have a problem with anyone who criticizes Dear Leader!

[GLEEMORE?]

Hey Nick, Meredith, Joshua:

The president just locked the NYTimes out of the press room. Have you ever heard of something more fucked up?

[Sevo]

GLEEMORE?|2.24.17 @ 10:15PM|#
"Hey Nick, Meredith, Joshua:
The president just locked the NYTimes out of the press room. Have you ever heard of something more fucked up?"

Hey, commie-kid, "Hillary Clinton Bans Press From San Francisco Events, Making Habit Of Blocking Media"
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/.....15555.html

Not just the slimy excuse for 'press' which is the NYT, but the entire press.
Who knows? maybe one of these days the NYT might quit acting like Pravada and they'll be let back in. Until then, they can copy the info from sources who *might* be more honest than them.
Oh, and fuck off.

[GLEEMORE?]

Rather than focusing on what not-my -President HRC did at a fundraiser in 2016, I choose to focus on what the Trump administration did today at a press briefing. It's a blind spot, I admit.

[Sevo]

GLEEMORE?|2.24.17 @ 10:31PM|#
"Rather than focusing on what not-my -President HRC did at a fundraiser in 2016, I choose to focus on what the Trump administration did today at a press briefing."
Yes and I tossed it back in your face, as you deserve.

"It's a blind spot, I admit."
You are not lacking for blindness; see below, comparing starvation in the USSR with the US today.
Did any one ever suggest you might learn something before running your mouth? Seems if they did, you decided proving your stupidity was preferable.
Oh, and fuck off.

[GLEEMORE?]

"ybe one of these days the NYT might quit acting like Pravada"

You sure do have problems with people who criticize Dear Leader!

[Sevo]

GLEEMORE?|2.24.17 @ 10:39PM|#
"You sure do have problems with people who criticize Dear Leader!"

You sure do have problems reading English.

[Bra Ket]

"Have you ever heard of something more fucked up?"

I dunno, the wars? the drone assassinations? the reporter arrests? every overt lie they make to abuse and expand the budget and reward cronies in direct violation of written laws that would get any citizen imprisoned?

But yeah, dicking with the NYT at some off camera non-press-conference kind of info session apparently called a "gaggle" that's so wonky and technical no one ever heard of it before, much less cared who attended such things, that's clearly our new winner. Shall we riot now, or perhaps flee to some kind of bunker?

[GLEEMORE?]

I make the same mistake every time. Every time a Democrat is in office I start thinking about what could be done rather than focusing on how crazy shit gets when a Republican is given any power. In California we basically locked these State of Jefferson maniacs out of the state house and enacted balanced budgets and haven't had creationists take books that teach Darwin out of schools.

[Sevo]

GLEEMORE?|2.24.17 @ 10:25PM|#
"I make the same mistake every time."

Yes, you do, asswipe. You assume someone gives a shit about what a lover of mass-murderers "thinks", and that someone presumes you actually "think".
Fuck off.

[GLEEMORE?]

Yeah, I know. I'd take the Soviet Union in 1983 over this banana republic. Both are run by dictators. What's the difference?

[Sevo]

GLEEMORE?|2.24.17 @ 10:33PM|#
"Yeah, I know. I'd take the Soviet Union in 1983 over this banana republic."

Of course you would; you're a fucking lying lefty ignoramus.
Oh, and have I told you to fuck off, recently? Fuck off.

[XM]

"In California we basically locked these State of Jefferson maniacs out of the state house and enacted balanced budgets and haven't had creationists take books that teach Darwin out of schools."

California doesn't have a balanced budget, dude. If you count pension and healthcare obligations for healthcare workers the state is billions of dollars in debt. They still have to find ways for their various infrastructure programs.

The dems got rid the super majority requirement and kicked the can down the road by increasing the tax on the 1% who basically pays for everything the state does. 2/3 of the state population is poor enough to be on medicaid.

[XM]

"state workers"

[Butts Wagner]

Leave for a week or two and the comments drop 60%. Still not sure what the unifying cause of the exodus was. Seemed like there were two sides. Is this what Nixon election felt like? People are people.

[Stormy Dragon]

There was a group of commenters who apparently thought commenting here makes you the Editor of Reason and got pissed when they realized their orders on what to cover were being ignored.

[Butts Wagner]

Wasn't there an anti pro-Trump-commenters commenters group?

[AlmightyJB]

I think the progressive tone of some of the contributors was an issue. There's always been some of that, but frankly some of the articles were starting to sound like hollywood awards political speeches which were made fun of earlier today. "There's a cold wind blowing", "a dark night is upon us", and such apocalyptic claptrap. It wasn't the criticism, it was the lack of, well, reason. Basically, doing the samething everyone accuses the msm, and leftist websites of doing. Hyperbole, pants shitting, and unsubstantiated allegations of racism.

[Sevo]

"...Basically, doing the samething everyone accuses the msm, and leftist websites of doing. Hyperbole, pants shitting, and unsubstantiated allegations of racism."

Old Mexican is dumping on Trump, and it seems for good reason. More power to him.
The Reason staff has taken the 'dead grandma' approach; notice how many articles today are Trump forelock-tugging?
I didn't vote for the man, but given the alternative, we're doing better than we had any hopes to see.
Why the Reason staff hasn't yet figured that out is a mystery to me. I don't buy the 'cocktail invitation' line; given the choice between cupidity and stupidity, take the later always.
My contributions over the last couple of years (even prior to TDS) suggest that stupidity has begun to dominate the editorial policies and I suggest strongly to others to hit 'em in the wallet. They deserve it.

[AlmightyJB]

Yeah, I didn't vote for him either and have never been a fan, but I hate to think about what Hildebeast would be up to right now as president.

[Half-Virtue, Half-Vice]

AlmightyJB is right, I saw the shit in real time.

It wasn't the criticism, it was the lack of, well, reason. Basically, doing the samething everyone accuses the msm, and leftist websites of doing.

(almost wrote some quasi supportive yet dismissive analysis of Reason of late -- fuck that)

*drinks*

I dare anyone to say that Reason simply hasn't started producing material that for all appearances seems like it could have been written by any other news outlet of less intellectual standards and honor.

Many commentators made grand death poems and elegant farewells to the noise of tears and fallen roses (and stormed off in a huff). It was an exit based on principle that cannot be denied -- but I wish it would not have happened.,, My personal stance is Loyalty (in spite of my words)... When I found Reason it shone out to me like a beacon in the dark, I prefer it to all other news outlets -- or I have for the past few years of my life. So I said rather than run, I will die on this hill, still holding the flag of Liberty... Still, the content shift of late is palpable; But I trust in the almighty, all consuming, power of time. Nothing in existence lasts forever, except, maybe, existence itself.

[Butts Wagner]

I was introduced to Reason by a friend many years ago, which introduced me to libertarianism. I thank my friend whose parents woke him up to alternatives like Reason. This election has introduced me to the fact that I am an idiot and will always be an idiot. That's probably more of an age thing than current year thing. It may also be an internet thing. Some of the Reason writers are dying on the hill of perfectionism, which is what made me like libertarianism in the first place. I love to idealize myself as a true anarchist. But, the real world that we currently inhabit isn't going to die in my lifetime. So now I grapple with the reality that I can only make the best of my life within the construct I live under, even though I fantasize about a reality that is purely individualistic.

Also, this needs to be a part of future Reason google searches: #Pizzagate is real.

[Fatty Bolger]

I dare anyone to say that Reason simply hasn't started producing material that for all appearances seems like it could have been written by any other news outlet of less intellectual standards and honor.

This is it. And it's a shame.

[AlmightyJB]

Certainly that's true with the tenor of many of the articles. I also hate when articles seem to apologize to progressives for their libertarian positions. I have my issues with them, but I stay because overall I still think it's way better than most other news/political sites and we get stories you are not going to see anywhere else. I have always been somewhat anti-authoritarian but Reason has opened my eyes to not only how justified that is, but that there are alternatives that make sense. I like most of the contributers and am not going to discount everything they say over a few annoyances.

[Sevo]

"Trump administration is in unending battle for 'deconstruction of the administrative state'"
[...]
"Bannon framed much of Trump's agenda with the phrase, "deconstruction of the administrative state," meaning the system of taxes, regulations and trade pacts that the president says have stymied economic growth and infringed upon U.S. sovereignty. Bannon says that the post-World War II political and economic consensus is failing and should be replaced with a system that empowers ordinary people over coastal elites and international institutions."
http://www.sfgate.com/politics.....956526.php

I'd question the "trade pacts" comment, but other that he seems headed in the right direction.

[Sevo]

"Trump Today: Newsom calls Spicer's marijuana take 'grossly uninformed'"
http://www.sfgate.com/nation/a.....958490.php

Absolutely agree! Why, he should be doing what that enlightened piece of shit Obo did:
"Obama Confused About Power to Reschedule Pot, Advocates Say"
https://www.usnews. com/news/ articles /2014/01/31/ obama-confused-about-power-to-reschedul e-pot-advocates-say

Lie, pet the press doggy on his lap, obfuscate, misdirect, etc.

[Jerryskids]

I was talking to a friend who wondered why Trump only talks about building a wall at the Mexican border and not the Canadian border and I had to explain to him that a Canadian wall is no obstacle to all those Canadian ninjas. He really didn't know Canada is rife with ninjas. I mean, think about it - you ever seen a Japanese ninja, you know what they look like? Of course you know what a Japanese ninja looks like, everybody's seen Japanese ninjas. That's because Japanese ninjas really, really suck at being ninjas. You ever seen a Canadian ninja? No you have not, because Canadian ninjas are really, really damn good at ninja shit. You don't want to piss those people off by building some stupid wall thinking that'll stop them, that's just an insult to their mad ninja skills.

[Fatty Bolger]

I think it's nice that you're friends with somebody suffering from an intellectual disability.

[Last of the Shitlords]

Oh sure, that's just what a Canadian Ninja would say to divert attention.

[SQRLSY One]

I think that the Canadian Ninjas have secretly snuck into our heads in the middle of the night, and they are lurking in the crevasses of our very synapses as we chat so nicely here, and say, "yuck-yuck, pretty funny"!

But they're lurking there RIGHT NOW, and they WILL have the last laugh!!!

(I have special perceptive powers, so I and I alone, know about this being utterly real... BWAH_HA_HA_HA!!!!)

[Jimmy Free Trade Pirate]

I see that the Libertarian Movement has left Reason Magazine in it's dust.

[bisepupi]

??????OWallace: My total earnings for first month was very low... Just little over $250, but it was then when I realized this is the real deal and not yet another scam you see all over the internet! There are no words to describe the feeling you get when your first paycheck arrives and what excitement I felt at that moment realizing that making money from home is in fact very possible. After my first month I dedicated more time and put more effort in working this and my second month was already much more better (2nd paycheck I got was for $990)... Now, 6 months later, I am earning just over $2500 a month . I am a little slow with my work and I am not that good with computers and that's why I think a younger person could be able to earn much much more than this... ....??????? ?????____BIG- EARN .MONEY____???????-

[simplybe]

Nick just give it up. To be elected you need lots of money and to get it you have to sell your soul to those that have it. As long as there is any form of government (except possibly a benevolent dictatorship run by a purely altruistic individual aka fairy tale ) you are going to have corruption. Anyone that thinks he knows what is best for everyone else is a narcissistic pompous ass. You of all people should understand that. It is alright for the government controlled press to spout this stupidity but you are smarter and hopefully better than that. Do you realize that if everyone except those have a vested interest in who won would just stay home one election cycle what it would do. One it would show who is really running the country and two it would scare the hell out of those that do. Guess what I am saying Nick is use your great mind and literary talent on destorying this mess instead of writing fluff. Guns and bombs don't win revolutions knowledge does.

[paris1]

Well said Nick & Co.!

[VG Zaytsev]

BTW what does it mean to be a Citizen of the World?

[call your mom]

Functionally it usually means being the enemy of patriots.

[Last of the Shitlords]

So what the fucj IS a "global citizen" anyway? The term sounds completely meaningless.

[XM]

Building a wall on our own soil - interventionist?

Trump is wrong on the economy, if his "America first" policy includes not sending American troops to defend someone else's interests, then he'll kill many less people than Bush or Obama.

[vejanihiwu]

??????OMy last month paycheck was for 11000 dollars... All i did was simple online work from comfort at home for 3-4 hours/day that I got from this agency I discovered over the internet and they paid me for it 95 bucks every hour... This is what I do...... ....??????? ?????____BIG- EARN.MONEY____???????-

[Rational Exuberance]

At the heart of Trump's confusion is his belief that putting America First means keeping the world at a distance. But you can be a citizen of America and a citizen of the world.

The world consists overwhelmingly of despots, fascists, and socialists.

[zifohusiya]

I looked at the check for $8628 , I didnt believe that...my... father in law was like actualie taking home money in there spare time on there computar. . there sisters roommate haz done this for under 17 months and just cleard the morgage on there apartment and got a gorgeous Chevrolet Corvette . go to websit========= http://www.net.pro70.com

[Intn'l House of Badass]

How fucking stupid do you have to be to write for Reason these days?

When you show me a passport issued by Earth, you can talk about being a "citizen of the world." Until then, try to keep your fucking tongue out of your own ass.

Jesus Christ, Trump wins and everybody becomes retarded.

[nayikapup]

??????ODo You want to get good income at home? do you not know how to start earnings on Internet? there are some popular methods to earn huge income at your home, but when people try that, they bump into a scam so I thought i must share a verified and guaranteed way for free to earn a great sum of money at home. Anyone who is interested should read the given article......... ....??????? ?????____TRUMP.IS.HERE.___???????-

[nayikapup]

??????ODo You want to get good income at home? do you not know how to start earnings on Internet? there are some popular methods to earn huge income at your home, but when people try that, they bump into a scam so I thought i must share a verified and guaranteed way for free to earn a great sum of money at home. Anyone who is interested should read the given article......... ....??????? ?????____TRUMP.IS.HERE.___???????-

[MikeP2]

"In putting America First, Donald Trump will succeed only in leaving even more of us truly homeless."

*sigh* such ignorance of history and human nature. Every successful nation throughout history, maintained a balanced amount of national identity and pride. Nationalism is the only solution to tribalism and forms a necessary societal glue for humans' instinctual need for community. There has never been a successful country devoid of any nationalism. yeh, in the severe, nationalism is a problem, but we are so far from that it can't even be seen on the horizon. The hitler metaphors are particularly ridiculous as the NAZIs were severe tribalists. Nationalists in name only.
Trumps "America First" message is just a pendulum swing away from the severe tribalism of the Dems, particularly Obama and Clinton. We've seen huge upticks in racialism, classism, and sexism all perpetuated by Dem leaders. they actively use Tribalism for political power to the detriment of us all. Nationalism is the tie that binds us and tamps down the far more corrosive tribalism. Maybe there is an alternative, but history seems to be devoid of examples.

[Uncle Jay]

RE: Hey Donald: You Can Be a Citizen of America *and* a Citizen of the World!
Trump's CPAC speech married the worst tendencies of Republicans and Democrats to tell us all where we can live and what we can buy.

But...but...but, isn't that why our ruling elitist turds are in office in the first place?
To tell all us unenlightened little where can live and what we can buy?
After all, we're all too stupid to make decisions by ourselves.
The ruling elitists have said so many times.
They wouldn't lie.

[livamodija]

??????O I saw the receipt that said $6460 , I did not believe ...that...my mother in law woz like they say actualy earning money in their spare time from their computer. . there aunt started doing this for under thirteen months and recently cleard the depts on there mini mansion and bourt a great Aston Martin DB5 . go to this website.... ?.......??????? ?????____BIG.....EARN....MONEY..___???????-

[Curt2004]

No, actually you can't. The definition of citizen is:

"a legally recognized subject or national of a state or commonwealth, either native or naturalized."

Since there is no official world government, you can't be an official world citizen.

If you want to use or make up some other definition, then fine, whatever.

[zopet]

??????O I can see what your saying... Raymond `s article is surprising, last week I bought a top of the range Acura from making $4608 this-past/month and-a little over, $10,000 this past month . with-out any question its the easiest work I've ever had . I began this five months/ago and almost straight away started bringing in minimum $82 per-hr . ?.....??????? ?????____BIG.....EARN....MONEY..___???????-

[moschinoonline]

"First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out / Because I was not a Socialist. / Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out / Because I was not a Trade Unionist. / Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out / Because I was not a Jew. / Then they came for me / and there was no one left to speak for me."

People love to use this poem as a cudgel against anyone who fails to match their own hyperbole on political issues, appropriating the suffering of others for their causes.
The guy who said this, Martin Niem?ller, started off as an arch-conservative monarchist, then became Nazi, and after the war turned into a communist sympathizer (he received the "Lenin Peace Prize"). Niem?ller throughout his life was in love with statism and totalitarianism. Remember that when people cite this as some kind of principled statement of opposition to oppression.
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