ldrews

Well, with the experience of Sweden, Germany, and other European nations that have admitted large numbers of "refugees" from the Middle East, and the US experience of illegal immigrants competing for jobs, thereby keeping downward pressure on wages, and drains on public services, a certain amount of "fear" seems to me to be justified. To me the rational solution is obvious: Significantly reduce illegal immigration by whatever means are necessary, and condition legal immigration on merit. One can then establish legal immigration policies and quotas to satisfy/balance social and humanitarian demands. And eliminate the "anchor baby" loophole.

And in the US it has evolved into "lawfare", the weaponizing of the legal system to destroy your opponents by bankrupting them with legal costs.

I think this was one of the main issues that sparked the American Revolution.

I disagree with your statement. Nobody is equal. We are all born into different circumstances with different innate abilities and environments. The best we can do is to provide equality before the law. And even there it is uneven due to differing financial circumstances.

I can only speak for myself. The behavior that you are noting I see on all sides of me, Trumpers, anti-Trumpers, Republicans, Democrats, conservatives, liberals, etc. It seems to be easier to reach for the weapons of government to try to enforce our ideas than to persuade via dialog or negotiate to a mutually beneficial solution.

I share many of your attitudes about trying to change other people's minds. I am happy to accept that other's opinions and ideas do not match mine. Where I have a problem is when anyone, me or others, attempts to use the force of government to impose certain views, opinions, or ideas as laws on the rest of society. You believe in single-payer health care; that is fine, just don't pass laws implementing same and assessing penalties for not participating. You believe that the US should be the world's policeman; find, just don't pass laws implementing same and don't start wars or "police actions" without the declaration of war from Congress. Etc., etc. etc.

So you see Trump as "other" or "enemy". Exactly what Kenberg is talking about.

According to the Israelies Iran has not been abiding by the agreement any way.

Something you could have accomplished easily, right?

Kanye West, Candace Owens, and Chance the Rapper seem to be causing quite a stir in the African/American community. Kanye's support of Trump, Candace and Kanye's views on slavery, victimhood, and the Democratic "plantation" are pushing some people to rethink their assumptions and their political loyalties. If 20% of the African/American community starts voting Republican, Democrats are toast.

Looks like the resolution of the North Korean situation is starting to jell. Apparently North Korea is preparing to release 3 US prisoners. It appears that the "summit" meeting will be held in the Peace House in the DMZ. Kim Jong Un is making all kinds of conciliatory statements. A group of Republican Congressmen are nominating Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. Not too shabby for an idiot, don't you agree?

Do you really expect Congress to let the individual tax cuts expire in 2025? C'mon, be serious. The temporary nature of the individual tax cuts was imposed to satisfy the requirements necessary to avoid 60 votes in the Senate. The current tax cuts were passed under the Budget Reconciliation process. If the Republicans achieve a veto proof majority in the Senate they will make the individual tax cuts permanent. If the Democrats gain power then the individuals are out of luck as long as the Democrats are united in opposition to Trump. In fact, the current Democratic platform for the 2018 elections includes raising taxes, not cutting them.

My understanding is that wages have not reason much at all for the last several years, much less 2%. Please cite your source for many of the new jobs being at the bottom of the income scale. My understanding is that many of the new jobs are major manufacturing plant reopenings, which are not low paid jobs. Auto assembly plants, iron/steel manufacturing plants, several national customer service sites, etc. And even those jobs at the bottom of the income scale are welcome. They haven't been visible for years. Absolutely essential for training inexperienced workers.

If I remember correctly, 85% of all taxpayers received a tax cut, around $2000 a year. Are you excluding these families from your "vast majority"? Over 500 companies have given bonuses, covering several million employees. Are you excluding these people from your "vast majority"? Unemployment is at 45 year lows, black and hispanic unemployment are at record lows. Are you excluding these people from your "vast majority"? Wages are starting to increase, 2+%/year on the average. Are you excluding these people from your "vast majority"? So, who is left in your "vast majority"? Seems like it would be people who do not pay taxes and do not work.

I would think that all of the people getting jobs, getting tax reductions, bonuses, rising wages, etc., would disagree that it is inconsequential.

So you ignore the fact that the last 3 quarters of Obama's administration showed a definite trend downward which abruptly changed direction after Trump's inauguration. Head in the sand much?

Does this look like "just continuing the trend" to you?

OK, an idiot for President and an unqualified Cabinet. And yet, after 16 months of Trump's presidency we have: GDP growing at 3+% Lowest unemployment in years Stock market up 40+% Companies and investment money returning to US Wages starting to rise again ISIS essentially defeated North Korea coming to the negotiating table NATO nations increasing their contributions NAFTA being renegotiated China trade problems being addressed Immigration reform being addressed Isn't it amazing what a little incompetence can accomplish!

To what would you attribute the sudden change in attitude of the North Koreans?

You mean like the real possibility of North Korean denuclearization or reunification?

Well, after 15 months he is still President! And Hillary is not. And Jeb Bush, Ted Cruz, Mark Rubio, Bernie Sanders, etc.

And much like Forrest Gump, for Forrest Trump things just seem to work out well. Who would have thought: robust economy, tax reductions, North Korea joining the rest of the world without nukes, ISIS defeated, withdrawing from Syria, gradually getting our southern border under control, etc. Trump is certainly a lucky boy! And so are we!

Wow! You equate not following a DHS directive with exposing Top Secret info to the world. I guess spitting on the sidewalk is in the same class as homicide to you.

As I understand it, the Posse Comitatus law does not apply to the Marines, Coast Guard, or National Guard, only the Army and Air Force.

I absolutely agree! We have little, if any, direct experience of what is going on. We trust and depend on multitudes of other parties, publications, teachings, etc. A major stream of philosophical thought has to do with what we actually know or do not know. DesCartes reduced it to "I think, therefore I am" as the only thing he knew for sure. Like you, at my ripe age of 77, I depend on a lifetime of experience to assess who and what I believe (trust). Some things just ring true to me, others don't. The actual or implied use of force, direct or indirect, is one of the major warning bells that the other party doesn't really have a constructive argument for their position. So, to quote Ronald Reagan, "Trust, but Verify!"