NEVERENDING ♾️ The NEVERENDING Political Discussion Thread

[kjel]

Georgia's voter ID requirements: http://sos.ga.gov/admin/files/GAIDreqbrochure.pdf

Any problem with those?

Because the voter registration office issues a voter ID card free of charge upon registration and there doesn't appear to be a significant bar to getting one, I think that is reasonable.

NJ doesn't has a soft requirement for ID. Upon registration you are asked to provide your license or ID # issued by the DMV or the last 4 of your SSN, the county registration office will attempt to verify your registration based on either of those. There is a box to tick off if you have neither an ID or an SSN (probably a rarity these days to be a citizen without one) but you will be asked to present ID the first time you vote at your polling place. Incidentally when we go to the poll, there are tables with bound books that have registered voters' names, addresses, and signatures printed in them. You sign your name in the book and the poll worker checks to see if the signature is similar, then you go vote.

 

[Suburb Repairman]

I wish we all used the Oregon vote-by-mail model. They have some of the highest voter turnouts, they have published voter guides that are sent with your ballot where each candidate gets a half page to say their piece, you don't have to wait in any lines, the costs to administer the election are fixed & simple, election officials don't have to assemble an army of volunteer poll workers to man the precincts, there is nothing more convenient than getting a ballot mailed to where it is that you stream Netflix while sitting on your couch, there's an audit-able paper trail, and you don't have to worry about octogenarian poll workers that don't know what the hell they're doing. Where implemented, it has received broad bipartisan support. Oh, and voter fraud is non-existent in the states that have done it because, frankly, it is such a pain in the ass to accomplish and has multiple ways for it to get caught.

 

[DVD]

Arizona has something similar. I always got my ballot by mail. Voted, signed, and done. You can go to the polling place if you want, but I hate lines. They also send out the voter information guide. Very helpful in explaining all the propositions and it gives the actual language for those of us that can read. Kansas only allowed mail ballots for specific reasons. It was easy for me working for the county, I just walked to the office next door.

 

[Bubba]

Georgia Governor

Abrams (D), on the other hand, is refusing to concede, despite the fact that if every single outstanding absentee/provisional ballot was cast for her she still won't force a runoff. Her camp is talking about demanding a recount and then taking it to the courts. Grow. The. Hell. Up.

Ms. Abrams did take it to the courts...which has resulted in her not cutting into Kemp's lead at all. The election should be certified for Kemp by 5 pm today, with Abrams still ~17,000 votes short of forcing a runoff (and 55,000 votes in the hole in general)...and her camp is still talking about another lawsuit to try and force a complete re-vote. As one pol put it, "To call Abrams' move childish would be insulting to children."

Abrams is rumored to be eyeing a Senate bid in 2020 (to try and unseat David Perdue (R)) - her petulant antics in the wake of the gubernatorial election probably aren't a good start to that...

 

[DVD]

Ms. Abrams did take it to the courts...which has resulted in her not cutting into Kemp's lead at all. The election should be certified for Kemp by 5 pm today, with Abrams still ~17,000 votes short of forcing a runoff (and 55,000 votes in the hole in general)...and her camp is still talking about another lawsuit to try and force a complete re-vote. As one pol put it, “To call Abrams’ move childish would be insulting to children.”

Abrams is rumored to be eyeing a Senate bid in 2020 (to try and unseat David Perdue (R)) - her petulant antics in the wake of the gubernatorial election probably aren't a good start to that...

Whatever happened to the days of yep, I lost. Here's my concession speech. I hope the other guy does a good job and works across the aisle.

 

[Bubba]

Whatever happened to the days of yep, I lost. Here's my concession speech. I hope the other guy does a good job and works across the aisle.

If she actually sues to try and force a re-vote, it could cost the Dems 10 years worth of gains in the Atlanta suburbs.

 

[michaelskis]

If she actually sues to try and force a re-vote, it could cost the Dems 10 years worth of gains in the Atlanta suburbs.

This is yet another reason that I am not a fan of the two party system. There are good people that could be hurt because of her actions only because they are a member of that party.

 

[Hink]

If she actually sues to try and force a re-vote, it could cost the Dems 10 years worth of gains in the Atlanta suburbs.

But the people told her she deserved to win, so she is "going to fight". Well actually people didn't, because you lost. Move along. Geez.

 

[DVD]

Our senate race is ended with the Dem winning. Now the big debate is if the governor should appoint the other candidate to fill the empty spot that is supposed to be coming up. The only reason I would say no is that she was a horrible candidate and lied non stop, but she did get a lot of votes. That R after the name does a lot around here.

 

[Suburb Repairman]

Ms. Abrams did take it to the courts...which has resulted in her not cutting into Kemp's lead at all. The election should be certified for Kemp by 5 pm today, with Abrams still ~17,000 votes short of forcing a runoff (and 55,000 votes in the hole in general)...and her camp is still talking about another lawsuit to try and force a complete re-vote. As one pol put it, “To call Abrams’ move childish would be insulting to children.”

Abrams is rumored to be eyeing a Senate bid in 2020 (to try and unseat David Perdue (R)) - her petulant antics in the wake of the gubernatorial election probably aren't a good start to that...

I really don't get this, and I'm super disappointed by her approach. The fact that she got this close to winning in Georgia is a huge accomplishment, and I think she had pretty good coattails that led to other down ballot members of her party to experience success. Kemp doesn't really walk away with a true mandate, as it has to be clear even to him that he got lucky and needs to adapt. She should've taken a page out of Beto O'Rourke's playbook, as he gave one of the best concessions I've seen in quite some time in Texas.

 

[JNA]

Worst County Commissioner Ever -

Leavenworth County (Kansas) Commissioner

for what he said.

 

[JNA]

Have you eaten or want to eat a "Trump Sandwich" ?

“white bread, full of baloney, with Russian dressing, and a small pickle.”

https://www.atlasobscura.com/foods/...hyK-2y8OaNaw7Ye_mzmu0ripnKXkH2NsF34qpXe6cxdhc

 

[JNA]

New phrase - "Rake News" :lmao:

 

[Bubba]

I really don't get this, and I'm super disappointed by her approach. The fact that she got this close to winning in Georgia is a huge accomplishment, and I think she had pretty good coattails that led to other down ballot members of her party to experience success. Kemp doesn't really walk away with a true mandate, as it has to be clear even to him that he got lucky and needs to adapt. She should've taken a page out of Beto O'Rourke's playbook, as he gave one of the best concessions I've seen in quite some time in Texas.

Abrams "bowed out" of the race late Friday afternoon with the worst concession speeches I've ever had the displeasure of hearing. You lost. Get over it. And,.grow the f*ck up. The damage she's done (and will continue to do) to the Dems in Georgia is reprehensible. I'm no fan of Kemp, but at least he's an adult.

Fonk term limits. I'd have been good with Deal as Governor for Life.

 

[arcplans]

 

[JNA]

HE called for a "Space Force"

now how about a "Rake Force"

 

[Planit]

Ivanka has now been found to use her private email account for government business. The White House has no comment about it.

Huh? Imagine that? What's tRump's favorite saying?

"LOCK HER UP!"

So HC can't do it, but it's all good if his little girl does. Got it.

 

[AG74683]

Ivanka has now been found to use her private email account for government business. The White House has no comment about it.

Huh? Imagine that? What's tRump's favorite saying?

"LOCK HER UP!"

So HC can't do it, but it's all good if his little girl does. Got it.

I can see exactly how this will go down. "Well Ivanka isn't ACTUALLY a member of this administration, she is an outside consultant. It is unfortunate that she has breached our trust like this". The main takeaway here is that HRC was acting Secretary of State and thus a member of the Obama Administration.

 

[Super Amputee Cat]

... but it's all good if his little girl does. Got it.

The Devil's Spawn....

 

[michaelskis]

So to limit WH access to an arrogant reporter is a violation of the 1st Amendment but limiting semi automatic rifles "Assault Weapons" from law abiding citizens who have undergone a background check is not a violation of the 2nd Amendment.

I guess the pen is not mightier than the sword or the gun.

On a related note, I think that it was ridiculous that Trump banished him. Arrogant yes, but the guy from CNN was not out of line. Trump was.

 

[Hink]

So to limit WH access to an arrogant reporter is a violation of the 1st Amendment

Yep. The President doesn't have to call on him, and CNN doesn't have to provide fair journalism, but the reporter has a right to say whatever the hell he wants at our President (obviously with the limitations on threats, etc.).

but limiting semi automatic rifles "Assault Weapons" from law abiding citizens who have undergone a background check is not a violation of the 2nd Amendment.

Yep. The second amendment doesn't guarantee you the right to any gun. It guarantees you a right to protect yourself. Scalia even said that this right is not unlimited. I mean this is really simple honestly. People seem to take the second amendment WAY too far, pretty often, if you weren't aware..... 8-!


Very different things.

 

[michaelskis]

Yep. The President doesn't have to call on him, and CNN doesn't have to provide fair journalism, but the reporter has a right to say whatever the hell he wants at our President (obviously with the limitations on threats, etc.).



Yep. The second amendment doesn't guarantee you the right to any gun. It guarantees you a right to protect yourself. Scalia even said that this right is not unlimited. I mean this is really simple honestly. People seem to take the second amendment WAY too far, pretty often, if you weren't aware..... 8-!


Very different things.

I think that people underestimate the 2nd Amendment. I was significant enough that it was second only to freedom of speech and freedom of religion. Furthermore, it states:
“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.“

It bluntly says we “the people” have the right to arm ourselves and that it shall not be infringed.

 

[Hink]

I think that people underestimate the 2nd Amendment. I was significant enough that it was second only to freedom of speech and freedom of religion. Furthermore, it states:
“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.“

It bluntly says we “the people” have the right to arm ourselves and that it shall not be infringed.

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/03/second-amendment-text-context/555101/

 

[michaelskis]

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/03/second-amendment-text-context/555101/

I agree that it does not transcend other rights, nor should other rights transcend this one. The act of using a weapon in a manner inconsistent with applicable laws is illegal as they infringe on the rights of others. In a similar context, if a person claims to have a religion that requires honor killing of another person is also illegal. However the belief in that religion in of itself, nore the practice of elements that are not consistent with applicable laws are illegal. Same goes with the right to free speech. If you scream fire in a movie theater when there is no real threat, you are using that right in a way that is consistent with applicable laws related to the safety of persons and can be convicted.

Ultimately we have all of these rights that have an applicable time and place for context. We have laws saying that you can or can't do something during a particular time or place and it is not the possession of many of these semi automatic firearms that is illegal but the use of them in an illegal manner. I agree that there are some weapons that citizens should not have accessible such as fully automatic weapons. But the controversy require making "AR" style weapons is just stupid.

 

[Planit]

This article demonstrates how the courts, even with tRump appointed judges, have repeatedly struck down his "laws" -

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/11/donald-trump-losing-courts-jurisprudence.html

Here's a small sampling of efforts he's lost lately:

• barred asylum seekers
• CNN press pass
• KeystoneXL pipeline
• executive orders against unions
• ban transgenders in military
• kill DACA
• voter fraud commission
• defund sanctuary cities
• Mueller's appointment

...and you know we keep paying for this (on both sides really) through taxes.

 

[DVD]

I agree that it does not transcend other rights, nor should other rights transcend this one. The act of using a weapon in a manner inconsistent with applicable laws is illegal as they infringe on the rights of others. In a similar context, if a person claims to have a religion that requires honor killing of another person is also illegal. However the belief in that religion in of itself, nore the practice of elements that are not consistent with applicable laws are illegal. Same goes with the right to free speech. If you scream fire in a movie theater when there is no real threat, you are using that right in a way that is consistent with applicable laws related to the safety of persons and can be convicted.

Ultimately we have all of these rights that have an applicable time and place for context. We have laws saying that you can or can't do something during a particular time or place and it is not the possession of many of these semi automatic firearms that is illegal but the use of them in an illegal manner. I agree that there are some weapons that citizens should not have accessible such as fully automatic weapons. But the controversy require making "AR" style weapons is just stupid.

Yep, if you shoot someone you will get arrested and bad things will happen to you. The problem is preventing the shooting to begin with. I can give Mskies a full auto 50 cal and nothing bad will happen. He'll go to the range, have fun shooting it, and go home. No harm done. Give that same weapon (or any other weapon) to an idiot and we have the equation for a mass shooting. So how do we determine who is the idiot and who is decent without infringing on rights? How do we minimize the amount of damage and casualties without infringing on rights? It all comes down to we as a society need to figure out what we want to do with the issue instead of debating or demanding that we can't debate the issue. Personally I think we get rid of all the politicians and have a few sensible people on each side of the issue work it out. That sensible part is the hard part, but I'm sure Mskies and I could figure out a compromise that everyone can live with.

My other problem with the 2nd is more with court interpretation than anything else. It's that whole well regulated militia part. We all know the founders wanted people armed so the government can't use soldiers to just run over your rights, but that implies they wanted you armed as part of a militia. This doesn't exclude the idea of hunting rifles. I'm sure they wanted people to have them, but I don't think they wanted or I should say I don't think they expected it to become the giant mess it is today. To me this could easily equate to having people license guns as part of the well regulated militia.

 

[Super Amputee Cat]

Well, personally I thought tRump was Putin's bitch, but...

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rep-tulsi-gabbard-says-trump-is-saudi-arabias-bitch-in-tweet/

 

[Super Amputee Cat]

 

[Bubba]

Abrams "bowed out" of the race late Friday afternoon with the worst concession speeches I've ever had the displeasure of hearing. You lost. Get over it. And.grow the f*ck up.

Ms. Abrams' epic temper tantrum has now spread to the Lt. Governor's race. Georgia Democrats: "Hey, we straight up lost by over 123k votes. No problem! We'll just file a lawsuit to try and force a new election because we don't like the results."

Unbelievable.

 

[michaelskis]

What are everyones thoughts on the immigration situation at the Mexican border?

Overall, I think we need a far better and simpler path to citizenship than what we have now, but I also think that we should have some level of protection at the border. Most of those heading north are good people, but I imagine that there is also other illegal activity involved too.

 

[Planit]

Ms. Abrams' epic temper tantrum has now spread to the Lt. Governor's race. Georgia Democrats: "Hey, we straight up lost by over 123k votes. No problem! We'll just file a lawsuit to try and force a new election because we don't like the results."

Unbelievable.

Sounds like what republicans would do if they had lost...both in FLA & Ga.

What are everyones thoughts on the immigration situation at the Mexican border?

Overall, I think we need a far better and simpler path to citizenship than what we have now, but I also think that we should have some level of protection at the border. Most of those heading north are good people, but I imagine that there is also other illegal activity involved too.

There is a system for citizenship, but we have been fed so much crap & misinformation that a huge refresher course is needed. Additionally there are a couple different paths, including investment of $500,000 in a new business which has been used by many people (Asian primarily from what I understand, but not completely sure of the numbers). Again, we all need a refresher on this in reality & not from Rs.

I also think its ironic that some die-hard tRumpers with businesses like to hire illegals because they are cheaper and more easily manipulated since if they squeal, they would just be turned over to ICE.

What are your ideas for "better" & "simpler"?

 

[Bubba]

Sounds like what republicans would do if they had lost...both in FLA & Ga.

Hey now, don't go lumping us in with Florida - politicians in that state are their own special kind of crazy.

 

[Super Amputee Cat]

H... special kind of crazy.

"Crazy" vs a Jim Crow ignorant racist like Kemp. The evil of two lessors.

14,000 layoffs at GM and their stock goes up 5%

FUCK GM, FUCK WALL STREET AND FUCK TRUMP

 

[michaelskis]

14,000 layoffs at GM and their stock goes up 5%

FUCK GM, FUCK WALL STREET AND FUCK TRUMP

As a guy who owns two GMC vehicles right now, this infuriates me. I have a buddy who works at the tech center in Detroit and he said that he the anger streams through the entire organization.

 

[Super Amputee Cat]

As a guy who owns two GMC vehicles right now, this infuriates me. I have a buddy who works at the tech center in Detroit and he said that he the anger streams through the entire organization.

'
I can proudly say I have never bought a new GM car. Two fords and one Chrysler but not one GM.

We need to find a way to really hurt the Wall Street shareholders that benefited from this announcement as well as the greedy CEOs and executives who made the decision in the first place, but at the same time not hurting the rank-and-file workers. But there just doesn't seem to be a way to take down Wall Street without hurting the middle class worker too.

Trust me, I'd be the first in line to help make those 1%er SOBs feel some serious pain. I would take great joy in seeing these Roger Smith type CEO decision makers lose all their money, all their stocks, all their retirement/pension, and go to jail. To see one some bastard CEO die in prison would be icing on the cake.

 

[Bubba]

...a Jim Crow ignorant racist like Kemp.

I tried to warn you a couple of years ago that your hate was going to consume you. :not:

 

[Hink]

14,000 layoffs at GM and their stock goes up 5%

FUCK GM, FUCK WALL STREET AND FUCK TRUMP

I actually understand why GM is doing this. I am not sure why people can argue that companies don't need to downsize ever. They aren't closing today, they are reducing workforce in 2019. They are doing it because they aren't selling those models. Not because they are going broke.... yet. If, following your logic here, they can only do layoffs or stop production if they are losing money, isn't it likely that they will go downhill faster if they are already trending in that direction when they make that choice? I wouldn't start cutting my costs only when I am broke? I would do it before that.

My point here is that it seems like there is a train that a lot of people want to jump on about this. I think there is more nuance than just bashing GM for shutting down facilities, reducing their costs, and shedding a lot of models that just don't sell anymore. I don't like it, but I can see why they might make that decision.

'
I can proudly say I have never bought a new GM car. Two fords and one Chrysler but not one GM.

We need to find a way to really hurt the Wall Street shareholders that benefited from this announcement as well as the greedy CEOs and executives who made the decision in the first place, but at the same time not hurting the rank-and-file workers. But there just doesn't seem to be a way to take down Wall Street without hurting the middle class worker too.

Trust me, I'd be the first in line to help make those 1%er SOBs feel some serious pain. I would take great joy in seeing these Roger Smith type CEO decision makers lose all their money, all their stocks, all their retirement/pension, and go to jail. To see one some bastard CEO die in prison would be icing on the cake.

This is where I just get confused. Why is the assumption that any wall street shareholder caused this decision? They made money, like you said. Wouldn't they just like to keep it like it is, so they keep making money? Or is your argument that they want MORE money, and therefore want to see other people lose their jobs? I'm just not buying that, as GM has invested in their plants, and in many other locations to continue to make other vehicles that are selling.

The hate of the 1% is something I just can't buy into. Why do you want to see them lose their jobs, when you are saying you don't like that these other folks are losing their jobs? Should we want everyone to succeed, not fail? I feel like you are viewing this from a prism of negativity that cannot see the potential positive outcomes. I also would be interested to understand what your position is on the upper middle class, and whether their success is okay or not, and when do we need to start hating them for succeeding?

 

[Suburb Repairman]

GM has struggled massively to create competitive sedans and compacts/hatchbacks for the American market. They just aren't very good at it. That is the underlying cause. Their mistake is in not saying "what next" with this announced change. There was no discussion really about whether they are doing this to leverage the changes occurring in the market and how people own cars in preparation of new product lines. There was no discussion of how they are preparing for the future. It comes across purely as a cost saving measure. What concerns me is that it is reminiscent of the late 2000s when GM was caught flat-footed as fuel prices shot through the roof and the recession hit. They are setting themselves up for that again if they don't start getting really, really serious about their future product lines.

I came away from the whole thing with the feeling that GM has not learned from its past, and doesn't really have a strategic plan for the future. Or it at least doesn't appear to have one that it can execute with any level of efficiency.

I wish Elon Musk wasn't such a nutcase twat of a human, because the automotive industry needs a shock & awe level market disruption.

 

[WSU MUP Student]

I don't know anybody here in Detroit who was surprised by the news about GM, including all the GM senior engineers and program managers that were at our house for Thanksgiving dinner - three of my wife's cousins work for GM at the Tech Center and the Milford Proving Grounds and her uncle is a retired engineer from the Tech Center. One of the cousins told us she had just accepted a buyout (after 32 years so she was planning to retire in the spring anyway) but they were all saying that GM didn't get as many takers on the buyouts as they were hoping so there are likely going to be a few thousand additional layoffs and job cuts in the coming weeks, mainly from the salaried positions. They were all talking about GMs electric vehicles and electric/gas hybrids and they were making extremely educated guesses that production of the Volt was going to end. The Cruze was a dud of a small sedan and never a big seller so I'm not surprised they are ending that now either.

All of the Detroit Three automakers have struggled with small sedans and coupes over the past decade but I think GM's offerings have been particularly crappy. Combine crappy small vehicles with no marketing behind them and an American market that vastly prefers light trucks and small SUVs, smaller profit margins for small cars, and easier and less expensive to manufacture and export them from Mexico to the Asian market than it is from the U.S. market and the writing was on the wall. It's also no secret here that GM is pushing hard to move away from the traditional internal combustion engines and hybrids and towards all electric vehicles, so as much as I think the Volt is a much better (and better looking) vehicle than the Bolt, they are pouring a lot of R&D money into battery technology but they already have a lot of excess capacity (i.e. idle shifts) at the Orion Assembly plant so if things get moving in the electric side they can increase production and jobs there or they could allocate a new line to the Lordstown plant (the one in Ohio that is slated to shut down). One of the good things about the Lordstown plant is that it is already tooled towards small vehicles and GM actually has a metal stamping and forming facility adjacent to it that is currently slated to remain operational. If GM were to produce an EV small SUV or crossover, that plant would be a likely candidate to get production.

U.S. light vehicle sales peaked at 17.3 or 17.4 million a few years ago. Not only was that a recent peak, it was a record high and those sales figures were unsustainable with a population that isn't really growing all that much, isn't forming new households, and isn't driving as many miles. Sales have fallen to about 17.1 million in 2018 and 2018 and are forecast to fall to 16.9 million in both 2019 and 2020. The Detroit Three share of those sales have fallen from about 45% a few years ago to 41.6% this year and are expected to slip a bit more to 41.5% over the next two years. Light trucks and small SUVs made up 64.5% of sales just a couple of years ago and are expected to reach more than 75% of sales by 2020.

In the Great Recession, the Detroit Three faced some particularly dire circumstances (bankruptcy for Chrysler and GM and mortgaged to the hilt for Ford) and extreme legacy costs and contracts and were unable/unwilling to end production of particular vehicles when they should have or to cut jobs when they should have and it ended up exasperating their problems. I know the chief economist at Ford as well as a couple from some of the major Tier 1 suppliers and their bosses have taken their advice a lot more seriously over the past couple of years than they did a decade ago. The stock went up because investors see this as GM cutting expenses and smartly planning for the future.

 

[arcplans]

I actually understand why GM is doing this. I am not sure why people can argue that companies don't need to downsize ever. They aren't closing today, they are reducing workforce in 2019. They are doing it because they aren't selling those models. Not because they are going broke.... yet. If, following your logic here, they can only do layoffs or stop production if they are losing money, isn't it likely that they will go downhill faster if they are already trending in that direction when they make that choice? I wouldn't start cutting my costs only when I am broke? I would do it before that.

This right here. In the past they would just continue a model and massively discount it. Why? I know jobs have a human face towards it, but if the sale numbers just aren't there, then re-tool. Manufacturing just isn't what it used to be, and the US just doesn't have the competitive advantage anymore. I don't understand why we need to hurt the "wall street shareholders". To me, that line shows you have 0 understanding of economics, pensions, and mutual funds. The finance world isn't 1960's or 70's. It is a completely diversified field.

 

[WSU MUP Student]

This right here. In the past they would just continue a model and massively discount it. Why? I know jobs have a human face towards it, but if the sale numbers just aren't there, then re-tool. Manufacturing just isn't what it used to be, and the US just doesn't have the competitive advantage anymore. I don't understand why we need to hurt the "wall street shareholders". To me, that line shows you have 0 understanding of economics, pensions, and mutual funds. The finance world isn't 1960's or 70's. It is a completely diversified field.

^ This too.

I would imagine a lot of those GM workers who are facing plant closures and layoffs are have retirement accounts that are heavily invested in GM stock, probably disproportionately so.

The line workers also usually get annual profit sharing checks and the stock price plays a significant role in how big those checks are. Eligible GM employees received $11,750 in 2018. Not only is that a big boon to their household, but in communities like Metro Detroit where GM employs about 38,000 workers, that is a huge impact to the local economy. If even only 50% of the local employees were eligible for the full profit sharing checks, that comes out to more than $220 million (before taxes) injected into our local economy, not to mention similar but smaller checks from Ford ($7,500) and FCA ($5,500). GM's profit sharing checks are forecast to be about $9,500 in 2018, but if the stock takes a substantial hit that will most definitely fall further. Send those smaller checks out to a smaller workforce and not only will those families feel it, but so will the local economies.

 

[AG74683]

I actually understand why GM is doing this. I am not sure why people can argue that companies don't need to downsize ever.

The best part is that Trump gave GM a free ticket to downsize, something I'm sure they've wanted to do for sometime. They couldn't do it without looking awful and getting ALL the blame since they took the tax cuts, but now they can point to the steel tariff and have actual numbers to show that the government was "entirely" responsible for it. They have now have something to actually show to legislators when they inevitably end up in some sort of special hearing about the downsizing.

 

[Super Amputee Cat]

. I don't understand why we need to hurt the "wall street shareholders". To me, that line shows you have 0 understanding of economics, pensions, and mutual funds. The finance world isn't 1960's or 70's. It is a completely diversified field.

Well it's either Wall Street shareholders or huge stock buybacks. Pick your poison.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/gm-bought-back-10-billion-in-stock-since-2015-double-what-job-cuts-will-save/

 

[Planit]

The best part is that Trump gave GM a free ticket to downsize, something I'm sure they've wanted to do for sometime. They couldn't do it without looking awful and getting ALL the blame since they took the tax cuts, but now they can point to the steel tariff and have actual numbers to show that the government was "entirely" responsible for it. They have now have something to actually show to legislators when they inevitably end up in some sort of special hearing about the downsizing.

This kinda sums things up:

https://splinternews.com/man-with-very-high-level-of-intelligence-says-oceans-ar-1830699334

 

[mendelman]

This smells of a new war in Europe with a specific aggressor - Russia invading Ukraine?

 

[WSU MUP Student]

Trump thought the military's top officer made $5 million a year

I know Trump is a special case and is uniquely out of touch, but I think this pretty well sums up how little many people (on both sides) actually know about the military and those who serve... though I don't know many folks who would legitimately guess that the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs makes anywhere near that much.

 

[Bubba]

Eagle’s Landing secession attempt from Stockbridge defeated by voters
https://www.ajc.com/news/local-govt...cede-from-stockbridge/33aUn4Wxo0JxABLqSHuTpM/

Voters reject convoluted plan to draw Cheesecake Factory to Atlanta suburb by stealing property from black city
https://www.rawstory.com/2018/11/vo...-atlanta-suburb-stealing-property-black-city/

No link,. because the story is on the payside of the local fish wrapper, but the city of Stockbridge reportedly spent more than $600k to oppose this ballot initiative. Not a catastrophic expense for that particular city, but hardly an insignificant one either.

Note the difference in the two headlines.

Oh, man, looking back at the two articles - hey, "rawstory", you know you've lost touch with reality when the AJC is the adult in the room.

 

[Planit]

In today's news, Space Force is dead (who didn't see this coming:lmao & tRump will ban Bump Stocks (I believe this when I see it).

https://gizmodo.com/rip-independent...1.1465058587.1543237437-1214320546.1497994800

https://splinternews.com/trump-administration-will-finally-ban-bump-stocks-1830729160

 

[JNA]

Ethics Agency Warns Federal Workers Not To Discuss Impeachment Or 'Resistance'
https://www.npr.org/2018/11/30/6719...ZZbAxDvsKEq1fH0RprJy0kX4GjUdUrrEck85lewxXREQ0

 

[Bubba]

- The lawsuits over the elections in Georgia (the past general election, the upcoming runoff, and the voting process in general) have reached ludicrous levels. Stacey Abrams' federal lawsuit seeking to change a lot of things in the overall process in Georgia includes a challenge to a recent bill than reduced the early voting period - a bill that Ms. Abrams voted for and was a signatory to.

- Speaking of Ms. Abrams, I hope the leadership in the Georgia Dem party can steer her towards running for John Lewis' congressional seat (GA 4) when he retires. She would win easily, probably run unopposed for several election cycles, do a good job representing that district, and rise quickly through the Dem leadership structure in the House of Reps.