• Cyburbia is a friendly big tent, where we share our experiences and thoughts about urban planning practice, the built environment, planning adjacent topics, and anything else that comes to mind. No ads, no spam, and it's free. It's easy to join!

NEVERENDING ♾️ The NEVERENDING Political Discussion Thread

michaelskis said:
There seems to be multiple things that Trump has said only to back off. I am wondering if he actually intended to do any of this stuff and used it as a way to get people to the negotiation table. I don't think it is a good way to lead anything, regardless a global superpower.
Click to expand...

The issue is that no one actually negotiated anything that was unique from what they were already planning on doing. Trump gets to tout a win for those who still believe everything he says, but the reality is that we've proven to be an untrustworthy and fickle ally. Trump is literally complaining about the terms of the trade deal he created in his last term, and then agrees to halt the tariffs with the status quo staying pretty much intact after everyone has already gone crazy. Why?

Perhaps it's to distract from the other things going on. Like a third party company that now has access to the treasury data and social security. And with that third party now having access to the financial data and some control to payments to their direct competitors in the government contracting world. And that they have shut out government staff and congressmembers from seeing what is happening. Or perhaps any of the other things that are also happening concurrently. We're going to be playing whack-a-mole with odd actions that they are doing.
 
A Facebook friend who is a self proclaimed constitutionalist posted a screen shot of a post he had from 15 years where he commented "Federal Government was never designed to run like this, and that with the exception of the powers and duties assigned to them in the Constitution, everything else was subject to the States' permission to do so, including taxes."

What are your thoughts on this.

I see both good and bad in it. But it makes me think that for some of these mandates that he is removing, are there limitations in the States imposing these?
 
What about the summer droughts?


There are two major problems, water experts said: The newly released water will not flow to Los Angeles, and it is being wasted by being released during the wet winter season.

“They were holding extra water in those reservoirs because of the risk that it would be a dry summer,” said Heather Cooley, director of research for California water policy organization the Pacific Institute. “This puts agriculture at risk of insufficient water during the summer months.”
 
Things only get better when you can admit you don't understand things, or are not the smartest person in the room. When you think everything you do is the best way, because you know better than experts, move down the slippery slope.

Google, AI, and "people", are not smarter/better/more efficient than educated and experienced people who have done the work for a long time. The idea that we should just start over with everything we do in government is such terrible leadership. Can we do better? Sure. But scrapping the 200+ years of country building effort seems the antithesis of a party that clearly thumps the constitution on topics they agree with.
 
1738701800280.png
 
michaelskis said:
A Facebook friend who is a self proclaimed constitutionalist posted a screen shot of a post he had from 15 years where he commented "Federal Government was never designed to run like this, and that with the exception of the powers and duties assigned to them in the Constitution, everything else was subject to the States' permission to do so, including taxes."

What are your thoughts on this.

I see both good and bad in it. But it makes me think that for some of these mandates that he is removing, are there limitations in the States imposing these?
Click to expand...
Yes, I agree with it. I believe it's the 10th amendment - I could be wrong. I'm no constitution expert. I just look at it as everything should be done by the states unless it's a federal problem like military, interstate trade, etc. The problem comes with defining what is federal or interstate problems. We could dump everything to the federal gov't.
 
DVD said:
Yes, I agree with it. I believe it's the 10th amendment - I could be wrong. I'm no constitution expert. I just look at it as everything should be done by the states unless it's a federal problem like military, interstate trade, etc. The problem comes with defining what is federal or interstate problems. We could dump everything to the federal gov't.
Click to expand...
The Commerce Clause has basically been interpreted by the Supreme Court to give the federal government the ability to do whatever it wants.
 
Wow. I went on Blue Sky at lunch just to lurk. Apparently there was some march that was to take place in all 50 State Capitals today. Did anyone go?
 
btrage said:
The Commerce Clause has basically been interpreted by the Supreme Court to give the federal government the ability to do whatever it wants.
Click to expand...
So, if we get certified as a banana Republic we can sell bananas?

dw914er said:
I would not be surprised to see some sort of joint partnership between Trump/Israel/UAE/Saudi (one or all of them) resort development take place.
Click to expand...
"...so it goes..."----Kurt Vonnegut
 
I find it frustrating (to say the least) that fuel prices here jumped $0.25-$0.35/gallon even before the now delayed tariffs went into effect. Yet, not a peep from trumpty dumpty or his magaminions.
 
I know I shouldn't be surprised at the hypocrisy but:

Busted: Ivanka Trump Used USAID Money for a WH Event

As he dismantles USAID leaving workers stranded, it's revealed that Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump used USAID money for recording equipment for a White House event. As Donald Trump rapidly dismantles the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), leaving workers in unsafe situations around the world, it’s been revealed that his daughter Ivanka Trump used USAID funds for recording equipment for a White House event in 2019.“ Ivanka Trump used money from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for recording equipment for a White House event, USAID documents show,” Newsweek reported Thursday. According to USAID documents, Ivanka Trump used over $11,000 from the department in 2019 to buy video recording and reproducing equipment for a White House event. The documents show $11,539 was to used by Trump in November 2019 to purchase software, CDs, tapes and records. The purchase was approved by Jenifer Healy, who was serving as USAID deputy chief of staff at the time, and the Administrator's Office. It is not clear which White House event the equipment was used for.​
 
michaelskis said:
apnews.com

Chris Swanson, prominent sheriff and Democrat, announces run for Michigan governor

Genesee County Chris Swanson has told The Associated Press he's launching a Democratic bid to be Michigan's next governor.
apnews.com apnews.com


This makes me wish I lived in Michigan. I have been following this guy for years and have met him a couple of times. I would absolutely vote for him.
Click to expand...
The 2026 Michigan gubernatorial election is going to be hotly contested, especially the Democratic primary. Unless he can bring in some big donors, he's going to have a hard time going up against Jocelyn Benson in the primary. Her name recognition alone is going to make her the frontrunner.
 
Being a federal employee, the last two weeks have been a roller coaster. Everything being reported is largely true.

We’ve been reviving daily offers to resign. Few federal employees have taken the bait. A reduction in force (RIF) is coming. First the will eliminate all first year probationary employees, then they will likely offer voluntary early retirement, then last in first out unless you’re a veteran. Most agencies have had a hiring freeze or limits on hiring since 2024 because of the historic COLA we received. The offer is called Fork in the Road and promises employees can stop working and receive full salary and benefits through September 30th. It is the opinion of many lawyers, some Congress people, and others that it is an illegitimate and possible illegal offer.

This is on top of teleworking employees being forced back into the office 5 days a week despite existing collective bargaining agreements. Never mind that agencies have had telework since 2010 and some employees were hired 100% remote. GSA has also sold or terminated leases over the past decade reducing the amount of federal office space available. Some agencies/duty stations do not have enough office space for every employee and are having to split shifts-4 hours in office and 4 hours home. Employees that work 100% remote have been assigned to their nearest duty station and it’s too bad if it is hundreds of miles away. They will be fired.
 
kjel said:
Being a federal employee, the last two weeks have been a roller coaster. Everything being reported is largely true.

We’ve been reviving daily offers to resign. Few federal employees have taken the bait. A reduction in force (RIF) is coming. First the will eliminate all first year probationary employees, then they will likely offer voluntary early retirement, then last in first out unless you’re a veteran. Most agencies have had a hiring freeze or limits on hiring since 2024 because of the historic COLA we received. The offer is called Fork in the Road and promises employees can stop working and receive full salary and benefits through September 30th. It is the opinion of many lawyers, some Congress people, and others that it is an illegitimate and possible illegal offer.

This is on top of teleworking employees being forced back into the office 5 days a week despite existing collective bargaining agreements. Never mind that agencies have had telework since 2010 and some employees were hired 100% remote. GSA has also sold or terminated leases over the past decade reducing the amount of federal office space available. Some agencies/duty stations do not have enough office space for every employee and are having to split shifts-4 hours in office and 4 hours home. Employees that work 100% remote have been assigned to their nearest duty station and it’s too bad if it is hundreds of miles away. They will be fired.
Click to expand...
:grimace:
 
My niece is a ranger with the forest service. Their "fork" email described them as "low productivity public sector" workers. 'da fudge? :mad:
 
Gedunker said:
My niece is a ranger with the forest service. Their "fork" email described them as "low productivity public sector" workers. 'da fudge? :mad:
Click to expand...
It’s wild. We did a little team exercise at my office this week. We have 15 staff total including the director and two program managers. There are 10 in my position, 1 finance person, and 1 admin.

Combined we manage 800+ grants with a combined value of $1 BILLION. I personally manage 106 grants worth $100M. This is direct federal assistance to local and state government.

I don’t have time to not be productive.
 
Just doing his job ?

Musk suggests federal judges who stymie DOGE should be impeached: ‘A corrupt judge protecting corruption’
 
Gedunker said:
I find it frustrating (to say the least) that fuel prices here jumped $0.25-$0.35/gallon even before the now delayed tariffs went into effect. Yet, not a peep from trumpty dumpty or his magaminions.
Click to expand...

Driving a car that gets 30-40 mpg I guess I don't notice fuel prices much.
 
Doohickie said:
Driving a car that gets 30-40 mpg I guess I don't notice fuel prices much.
Click to expand...
I drive a 2017 Mazda 3 with a 6-speed manual, bought new off the lot with 4 miles on the odo. I still don't have 30,000 miles on it yet. I fill up, maybe once a month.

I notice fuel prices because they impact the price of everything that I shop for that is delivered by truck. Which, is pretty much everything.
 
At Costco yesterday I noticed they were out of eggs. I didn't need eggs but I asked the cashier who told me their supply of eggs is fine; they get them delivered every day, but people are panic buying (even with limits imposed). The other two stores I shop at had them in stock.
 
Back
Top