To serve his country, Donald Trump should leave the race

[eclipsenow]

A draft deferment American male is criticizing a POW who was imprisoned for years behind enemy lines.

And republicans want to vote for this guy? This is why the republican Mayor in Mesa AZ said he was voting for a democrat over Trump.

A guy that gave tax cuts to billionaires while gutting government services - especially the pandemic response team just before the pandemic hit.
What a genius!

 

[Postvieww]

gave tax cuts to Billionaires and Corporations

In 2021, the latest year with available data, the top 1 percent of income earners earned 26 percent of all income and paid 46 percent of all federal income taxes – more than the bottom 95 percent combined (33 percent).

 

[Postvieww]

It's not about whether I can forgive or not - but whether I think the world needs Trump in charge of the world's largest military. Consider - he's been diagnosed with Malignant Narcissistic Personality Disorder, threatened to do nothing to defend countries who 'didn't pay - you delinquent', threatened to pull out of NATO, actually pulled out of the Paris agreement on climate change, gave tax cuts to Billionaires and Corporations while cutting government services - especially the pandemic response team just before the pandemic, etc.

He made your country weaker.
Even the abortion stats show that!

Did you know abortion increases when people are feeling economically insecure?
EG: There are countries where abortion is ILLEGAL but has 4 times the abortions of the USA due to poverty.
In Europe - which has universal public healthcare and a stronger welfare state - abortion rates are half what they are in the USA.

But thankfully, the historical trend over the last few decades has been abortion rates coming down - at least in the USA which has got wealthier over that time. However, it comes down faster under Democrats.

In other word, abortion is about the economy - not legality. Conservatives rant about changing words on a bit of paper (legal to illegal) - but the reality is they'll just drive it down - and due to all the stress around it - maybe even increase abortion rates! This is what the global data shows.

All of that to get to this: Trump so mismanaged Covid and blamed the states and hospitals and nurses for using too much PPE - when it was HIS fault for cutting the staff of the pandemic response team - that America's abortion rates went up for the first time in decades!

View attachment 352699


View attachment 352700

Even murder rates went up under Trump!​

Do you think it is his hateful, blaming, incendiary speech?

View attachment 352701

Liberal propaganda. The video link below explains what is happening in this election cycle .

 

[Postvieww]

exaggerating the threat from immigrants

Is this a serious statement? Murder, rape, human trafficking, drugs just to get started. Which of these is an exaggerated threat? You failed to mention “illegal immigrants” . This is a major threat and not an exaggerated threat.

 

[eclipsenow]

In 2021, the latest year with available data, the top 1 percent of income earners earned 26 percent of all income and paid 46 percent of all federal income taxes – more than the bottom 95 percent combined (33 percent).

It's complicated - and I'm no expert - but what I can grasp at the moment is there's the tax laws on paper. EG: There's this (from wikipedia)

But in effect those higher rates from the 1950's that economically progressive sorts like myself like to talk about were rarely paid.

As Slate says:
---

There are a few obvious reasons why the taxes the rich actually paid in the 1950s were so much lower than the confiscatory top rates that sat on the books. For one, the max tax rates on investment income were far lower than on wages and salaries, which gave a lot of wealthy individuals some relief. Tax avoidance may have also been a big problem. Moreover, there simply weren’t that many extraordinarily rich households. Those fabled 90 percent tax rates only bit at incomes over $200,000, the equivalent of more than $2 million in today’s dollars. As Greenberg notes, the tax may have only applied to 10,000 families.

To Greenberg, the takeaway from this is simple: Progressives should stop fixating on the tax rates from 60 years ago. “All in all, the idea that high-income Americans in the 1950s paid much more of their income in taxes should be abandoned. The top 1 percent of Americans today do not face an unusually low tax burden, by historical standards.”

I’m not convinced. Effective tax rates on 1 percenters may not have fallen by half, as some on the left might be tempted to imagine. But they are down by about 6 percentage points1 at a time when the wealthy earn a vastly larger share of the national income. That drop represents a lot of money. Moreover, as Greenberg admits, tax rates on top 0.1 percent have fallen by about one-fifth since their 1950s heights. That rather severely undercuts the idea that taxes on the wealthy haven’t fallen “much.”

Moreover, there may be reasons to support higher taxes beyond their ability to raise revenue. One popular theory among left-leaning intellectuals right now—advanced by Piketty, Saez, and their protegée Stefanie Stantcheva—is that high tax rates actually ease income inequality by discouraging CEOs and professionals from demanding exorbitantly high pay for their services.* In other words, thanks to high tax rates, people didn’t bother trying to get as rich. After all, there’s no point in bargaining for a giant bonus if the government is going to clip off most of it. I wouldn’t say the theory has been accepted as a consensus fact at this point, but it’s certainly alive and being taken seriously.

So the real tax rates rich Americans paid in the 1950s may not have been so stratospherically high as some progressives assume. But they also may have helped create a more egalitarian society. That seems worth considering.

1 Or more, depending on how you pick your frame of comparison. If you average the rates 1 percenters paid between 2010 and 2014, their effective average rate comes out to about 33.6 percent.

Did the Rich Really Pay Much Higher Taxes in the 1950s? The Answer Is a Little Complicated.

American progressives like to remember the mid–20th century as a time when the only thing higher than a Cadillac’s tail fin was the top marginal tax rate.

slate.com

 

[IceJad]

By Westminster system of government I meant that I get to vote for my party. But unless I am REALLY high up in the party apparatus - I don't get to choose who stands on behalf of my party. The average Australian does NOT get to select who represents Labor or Liberal at the next election. Got it? Because you shifted the subject to who can volunteer to serve in a party - which is an entirely different subject.

I was just pointing out that the whole notion of "Kamala held a coup" as some might accuse the current Democrat situation just sounds silly to us in the Westminster system - as our parties vet the candidates. They'll even hold a leadership ballot themselves while in government if the opinion polls are bad enough! It represents the people in the sense that if Boris Johnstone or Australia's Julia Gillard are 'bad enough' - the party will replace them.

We've had some arrogant and unpopular politicians in our time. We've had some really weird and rather uneducated people get elected to the Senate to represent their strange little minority group. Our Pauline Hanson is probably the closest thing to an "Aussie Trump" that we could point at.

But the idea that our main parties would ever select Donald Trump to lead them to the polls is just funny. Even Pauline Hanson doesn't have Trump's various convictions or allegations of inciting an insurrection on Jan 6! She's racist, nasty, and full of wild conspiracies. Which pretty much represents her weird little area of rural Queensland. But convicted of fraud and sexual assault? No! Not even Pauline Hanson has those against her name. And again - a small weird vastly unpopular little party - except for some small weird little areas of the Aussie bush.
But the main parties? They would never have someone like Pauline lead them. Let alone TRUMP! The parties would vet them! They want to win the election! Someone like Trump would be a sure fail given EVERY Australian must vote. It's compulsory - and so the politicians must appeal to the bored middle.
I think that's why Trump gets to be leader. In a voluntary voting system the politicians must appeal to the frenzied edges of society - those people revved up enough about stuff that they'll actually go out and vote! And now with social media - the whole thing feeds off itself and becomes madder and madder.

It's really sad that America has got this bad. This vulnerable!

That is by your assessment. We already had 4 years of Trump and in my personal assessment it is not as bad as people paint it to be. This is coming from a guy who don't have high opinions of Trump. The world was more peaceful and the general world economy was better. The only thing he screwed up was the COVID and he is still defending his position (which I don't agree with). He may be boorish but that is not any indicator he is unsuited to run for president.

Are you sure you're not painting him according to what the media tells you. Like the Jan 6 insurrection where I read his tweets asking for calm and respect for law enforcement. Or are you still in the believe that he is the mastermind. You hinted that he is racist by drawing comparison to your Pauline. If so give proof. As far as I have read up upon the labels people gave him, a lot of them are far reaching. As followers of Christ we are not to make up lies even for people we don't like. If Trump did it he did it if not then not. Let's your yes be yes and no be no. I have seen enough MSM slandering their partisan opposite be it the left or right. CNN or Fox.

Another thing that I notice is how you painted his supporters, frenzied edges of society. Are you hearing yourself? You mean to tell me he won in 2016 with only the fringe or that America has at least 46.1% people who are fringe? It is people who thinks like you, who actually scares people like me. You truly think deep in your mind that the foundation of a nation is breaking down because it allows people like Trump to participate. That most people can't be trusted to make the right decision by your standards. You're very close to "I must do something to protect the people from themselves" mentality.

In Malaysia we have religious extremist running for parliamentary sits and they usually win in areas where the people are more religious. More often than not these religious representatives make near bigoted remarks in parliament. However bad I personally view them, I would never advocate for barring them from participating in a democratic system. For as long as my country has existed as a parliamentary democracy there has never been a single moment that a dictatorship was formed, even when we have had our fair share of "unsuitable" Prime Ministers. Because the system will also provide us a mechanism to remove said PM.

So to think that a tried and tested republic that is America would be vulnerable is nothing short of misinterpreting the whole situation. There is enough checks and balance to stop anything unconstitutional from taking place. I hear a lot of people talking about nationwide ban on abortion with the overturn of Roe v Wade which is far from the truth. The decision only said it is the individual States that get to decide. Yet I hear politicians saying it's nationwide ban. Or the Project 2025 as the masterplan of Trump yet in his speeches Trump called them radicals. I do really hate it that when I read something thinking it is true but turns out to be false when I research it deeper.

Anyone who builds their case based on truths mixed with lies, all the truths becomes questionable.

 

[eclipsenow]

That is by your assessment. We already had 4 years of Trump and in my personal assessment it is not as bad as people paint it to be. do really hate it that when I read something thinking it is true but turns out to be false when I research it deeper.

NOT BAD?
Highest chaos in any administration, with the highest staff turnover.
He gutted government services - especially the pandemic response unit - just before Covid.
He denied Covid, blamed the doctors and hospitals for using too much PPE, and generally encouraged insane conspiracy theories rather than help people come to terms with the truth.
According to the head of the CIA, he ignored intelligence briefings.
According to the Chief of Staff in homeland security, he asked them to build a moat between Mexico and the USA and fill it with water and snakes and alligators. In the middle of the desert!
"As followers of Christ we are not to make up lies even for people we don't like. If Trump did it he did it if not then not."
So what do you make of his material on Harris? "Is she Indian or Black - someone should look into that?" I mean - why even go there if he isn't dog-whistling to racists. What about all his "othering" of Mexican immigrants? The surveys show them to be law abiding hardworking people - with LESS crime than the average American born citizen. But what did Trump say about them? Whisper it in my ear?
He created so much stress with his poor preparation for the pandemic and handling of the economy that abortion rates went up! The first time in decades. (It comes down as people feel economically secure.)

"Let's your yes be yes and no be no. I have seen enough MSM slandering..."
Ah - the fact that you use the term "Main Stream Media" is a bit of a give away as to what you think about such media. Sure - CNN might blow off some steam a bit now and then and have some fun with the silly things Trump says and does. (Invisible F35's, his 'cure' for Covid ... "the light gets in..." - what a genius!) But they didn't LIE about the facts. They just had fun with them.

But according to Fox - climate change isn't real, Trump is a genius, the economy was terrible under Biden.... etc etc etc. It's SO bad that the Australian ABC just ran a special warning against Fox, and explaining the history of how it got so bad.

Trump says whatever he thinks will help his campaign, and changes his mind and denies stuff outright.
He has also said he didn't know anything about Project 2025 - but here's the video showing him applauding their plans!

“This is a great group, and they’re going to lay the groundwork and detail plans for exactly what our movement will do, and what your movement will do when the American people give us a colossal mandate to save America," Trump told the crowd about the Heritage Foundation.​

​

"And that's coming. That's coming," Trump promised.​

​

Now that the plan is out and drawing more public attention, Trump says he's never heard of it. Video shows Trump cheering on Heritage Foundation 'plans' he claims he didn't know about​

 

[Postvieww]

Highest chaos in any administration, with the highest staff turnover

Kamala may be in the running for that award.

 

[Larniavc]

Trump is now, a born again Christian

Evidence please.

 

[Postvieww]

Evidence please.

And what evidence would be sufficient for an official salvation inspector?

 

[Tropical Wilds]

And what evidence would be sufficient for an official salvation inspector?

He’s a born-again “whatever gets me elected.”

 

[Postvieww]

He’s a born-again “whatever gets me elected.”

We can only hope it works. We actually need him elected the alternative is a disaster.

 

[The Barbarian]

So far, every time Trump has run for office, a majority of Americans voted for others. If you want to vote for a criminal, that's your call, of course. But it doesn't mean he's not a criminal.

So what?

People who don't like criminals won't vote for him. Those who do or don't care, might vote for him.

Being tried in a kangaroo court makes Trump a martyr to the deep state.

If you consider a panel of your fellow Americans to be a "kangaroo court", that's very telling.

Heck, he even took a bullet for this country.

When there were demonstrations in front of the White House, he hid in the basement bunker.


C'mon. If he knew that was coming, he'd have fled the city.

Trump spent nearly an hour in the bunker, which was designed for use in emergencies like terrorist attacks, according to a Republican close to the White House who was not authorized to publicly discuss private matters and spoke on condition of anonymity. The account was confirmed by an administration official who also spoke on condition of anonymity.

Trump took shelter in White House bunker as protests raged

Secret Service agents rushed President Donald Trump to a White House bunker on Friday night as hundreds of protesters gathered outside the executive mansion, some of them throwing rocks and tugging at police barricades. Trump spent nearly an hour in the bunker, which was designed for use in...

www.yahoo.com

This is the guy who veterans refer to as "Cadet Bonespurs" for faking a disability to get out of the draft.

 

[The Barbarian]

A draft deferment American male is criticizing a POW who was imprisoned for years behind enemy lines.

It's why he's the first republican presidential candidate to lose the military vote since Roosevelt was president.

 

[The Barbarian]

Donald Trump, in context, called Captain McCain a loser because he lost his quest to become President. President Trump did not call any Veterans losers, that is a lie promoted here by Barbarian to me

General Kelly confirmed it. And unlike Trump, he's not a habitual liar. Like most veterans, I believe Kelly.

know nothing else of the matter except to say Trump is now, a born again Christian that loves God, country and the military that defend it/

There are Christians who lie constantly, abuse and betray their wives, and so on. But it's easy to love God and country, when one is no longer expected to step up and defend it.

McCain risked his life for America and spent years in hell for it. He never regretted that choice. When America called on Donald Trump, he got a sudden case of "bone spurs." Oh, but he's a patriot...

And a Christian...

And he's got phot ops to prove it.

 

[Larniavc]

And what evidence would be sufficient for an official salvation inspector?

Where and when he had his baptismal regeneration.

 

[Postvieww]

When there were demonstrations in front of the White House, he hid in the basement bunker.

Liberal propaganda. The secret service recommended he go to the bunker. Liberals just cannot help themselves can they.

 

[The Barbarian]

Liberal propaganda. The secret service recommended he go to the bunker.

That was Trump's second story. First he claimed to just be "inspecting" the bunker.

President Donald Trump sought to explain his presence in an underground White House bunker during clashes outside the residence on Friday as an “inspection,” rather than a retreat for his own safety, telling a radio interviewer Wednesday he was only in the safe room for a “tiny” amount of time.
“They said it would be a good time to go down and take a look because maybe sometime you’re going to need it,” Trump said, casting the episode as an appraisal of his security logistics rather than an emergency.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/03/politics/donald-trump-bunker/index.html

When people laughed at that lie, he made up the second one. Trump can't help himself, can he?

 

[Tropical Wilds]

We can only hope it works. We actually need him elected the alternative is a disaster.

Obviously to elect somebody who’d lie about their religion (and everything else for that matter) in order to trick people into voting for them is something that we should “hope works.” I know I think people who lie about such things have the integrity such a job requires.

 

[Postvieww]

Where and when he had his baptismal regeneration.

That won’t work. Many Christians do not believe that baptism is an absolute requirement for salvation.