1. No, not "fewer than half", at least not by the measure of lawfully determining the winner of a Presidential election and if you disagree with that, then you are uninformed, misinformed or both.
He did win the majority of the popular vote. To proclaim otherwise is an out and out lie.
Electoral college votes:
Donald Trump 58%, Kamala Harris 42%. Not even close.
2. You said he's not looking out for the little guy, yet his tax cuts from his first term benefited lower income citizens more than upper income citizens and that is fact.
He has also suggested eliminating income tax on those who earn $150,000 annually or less.
That does not sound like someone who is not looking out for the little guy and more beholden to his billionaire buddies.
Once again, you are incorrect and perpetuating a dishonest narrative.
3. The people you spoke of who have to work three part-time jobs did not just start working three part-time jobs after January 20th, so they should blame the previous administration for foolish economic policies and foolish social policies that got them into this position. You don't correct mistakes by working harder and longer at repeating them; you correct mistakes by doing something different.
I'm a MAGA supporter, trump voter, and strong conservative. But I was somewhat surprised to learn a while back that President Trump didn't win a majority of the popular vote. He did win the popular vote by a substantial margin, but enough squirrel party candidates got enough votes to deny Trump an overall majority. Trump won 77,284,118 votes, or 49.8 percent of the votes cast for president. That is the second highest vote total in U.S. history.
True, but it's still only a plurality. I say this not to be a hair-splitter but because "majority" is factually inaccurate, and you know how that works...the Other Side will leap on that minor and irrelevant issue to discredit anything else you say.
I actually made the argument in reverse after the 2000 election, in which Gore narrowly edged W while (obviously) losing the electoral college.
A friend tried to argue that Gore had been "robbed" because he'd gotten "a majority of the popular vote." Rather than trying to educate him on the Electoral College--which I knew would have had no effect--I asked, "Neither Bush nor Gore won a majority of the popular vote. But you're saying the guy who won 0.2 percent more of the popular vote should get the win, even though he, too, 'lost' by your argument?"
Didn't you write this same comment in a previous thread? I neglected to compliment you then, but I'll do it now. Along with all the other fine comments below. Bravo!
My brother in Michigan started a podcast because he felt the news was biased and he wanted to tell it like it is. The one segment I listened to before I couldn't listen any longer was about how the country is regretting its decision to elect Trump and getting what it deserves for being so stupid. (Paraphrased.) He could have written any of these letters to the editor you've referenced.
I never would have described my college- educated, professionally successful brother as unintelligent.
I recently faced a tragedy and because I voted for Trump my brother didn't reach out to express his condolences. He thinks this is warranted because I helped place his trans son's life in danger. This is not for sympathy but rather to give anecdotal illustration of the poisoned thinking infecting society.
Due to life events I've not followed media closely and have been scarce on social media in recent months. Poking my head back in, I am incredulous at this new low in human comprehension and the clearly observable lunacy-at-large.
I'm really sorry for your tragedy, Donna. As a Christian and just as a person, I can definitely feel for what you're dealing with. We’ve had our own family issues because of my wife and I voting for Trump (aka common sense), too. It’s tough how it feels like so many people on the left have lost touch with decency and common sense these days. Trying to reason with them is almost laughable and it seems a waste of time...
I hear a lot of whining about people losing jobs, homes, cars, etc. because they are being let go by government agencies. I didn't hear much about mom and pop stores and restaurants closing because of the idiotic machinations of the previous administration, or people affected by major layoffs or business closings in the private sector. Those people were providing the tax dollars that were being consumed by the government employees who are now the objects of pity by those with no pity for the working class people outside the government.
I hear complaints about losing insurance. There was little pity for the millions who lost theirs each year (In 2024, roughly 20.2 million people experienced layoffs and discharges in the U.S., which is about 1.8 million per month). I heard little about the plight of people who were cut off from personal contact with their nearest and dearest by government employees during the covid scam. Grandma and Aunt Penny died alone. Their closest relatives might have been able to stand teary eyed outside the window, but couldn't come inside to hold hands one last time.
Our Constitution never envisioned the kind of government we currently have, with just over 3 million non-military government employees last year. Nor does it actually allow that. The intentional misinterpretation of the Commerce Clause, and the lack of will to enforce the 9th and 10th Amendments, have turned the federal government from servant into Leviathan master.
Sure, I feel sorry for those who are losing their jobs. That's a tough thing that they have never really had to face before as civil service employees. Various charities can help them (I contribute to several) but it's never really been the job of the federal government to do so. If the states want to continue welfare, there is nothing preventing them from doing that (except lack of funds, due to profligate spending elsewhere). Let them survive in the same way that we in the private sector always have. Get a different job or start a new business. But don't bother learning to code. AI has moved in to that arena too.
I'm in a government funded position and fully expect to feel the effects of DOGE eventually. That's okay. I'll do what I can for as long as I can, but recognize that I'm only helping - I'm not a government employee or uniformed military. In the meantime, I'm canvassing the market looking for options and applying where I see interesting ones. Might have to move, might even have to retire for a while. There's always another adventure to be had.
1. When I started trading at the CBOT at age 22 I knew that it wouldn’t last. It was too lucrative and had to be arbed away so for the next 30 years I lived accordingly and saved my money. In a free society, no one should assume their position will last forever.
2. The nature of civil service public sector employment used to be acceptance of a lower but stable income than one would find in the private sector, in exchange for lifetime employment and a comfortable retirement for a decade or so.
Today we see governmental pay often outstripping the private sector with copious benefits and an early retirement that extends well beyond what pension systems were designed to cover. While private sector employees and small business owners adjust by working into their 60’s and 70’s, government retirees have already been drawing from exhausted pension wells.
The writing has been on the wall for many years. Should have expected cuts or systemic collapse.
Cook county got $2 million from the feds between 2022-2024. The article linked gives examples of how that money could be used. I'd like to see a list of 5 achievements against those funds.
In addition, a quick data search on Cook county's economic situation shows the majority of jobs are in the private sector. I'd like to see data on the specifics of those being laid off/losing their jobs (per the letter writer's assertion).
“No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth!” Ronald Reagan. Times change and so do budgets and needs. I worked as a intelligence contractor for the Joint IED Defeat Organization (JIEDDO). In 2014 as the Global War on Terror wound down, out intelligence unit was downsized from about 1200 to 385 contractors. What seemed funny to me is we had more civil service and military supervisors when we were at 385 contractors, than when we were at 1200 contractors.
In my last days working as a Fed, I saw a chart showing the results of the "peace dividend" <eyeroll> This would have been in the early to mid 1990s.
I don't remember the exact figures, but the biggest cuts were...uniformed military personnel. Then contractors, with somewhat smaller cuts, and finally, the civil servants, who experienced the smallest cuts of all.
The figures--again, I'm doing this from memory, but I'm not doing violence to the overall picture--were something like: military, 30 percent; contractors, 20 percent; civilians, 10 percent.
Yeah, and these fellow Minnesotan idiots will not acknowledge that they had the highest purchasing power of their lives in 2019... We had universal DEFLATION back then...
I am really pissed by Trump’s policies that benefit only billionaires:
1. No taxes on tips
2. No taxes on overtime
3. No taxes on social security
Guy only cares about his billionaire buddies.
JLM
www.themusingsofthebigredcar.com
1. No, not "fewer than half", at least not by the measure of lawfully determining the winner of a Presidential election and if you disagree with that, then you are uninformed, misinformed or both.
He did win the majority of the popular vote. To proclaim otherwise is an out and out lie.
Electoral college votes:
Donald Trump 58%, Kamala Harris 42%. Not even close.
2. You said he's not looking out for the little guy, yet his tax cuts from his first term benefited lower income citizens more than upper income citizens and that is fact.
He has also suggested eliminating income tax on those who earn $150,000 annually or less.
That does not sound like someone who is not looking out for the little guy and more beholden to his billionaire buddies.
Once again, you are incorrect and perpetuating a dishonest narrative.
3. The people you spoke of who have to work three part-time jobs did not just start working three part-time jobs after January 20th, so they should blame the previous administration for foolish economic policies and foolish social policies that got them into this position. You don't correct mistakes by working harder and longer at repeating them; you correct mistakes by doing something different.
I'm a MAGA supporter, trump voter, and strong conservative. But I was somewhat surprised to learn a while back that President Trump didn't win a majority of the popular vote. He did win the popular vote by a substantial margin, but enough squirrel party candidates got enough votes to deny Trump an overall majority. Trump won 77,284,118 votes, or 49.8 percent of the votes cast for president. That is the second highest vote total in U.S. history.
Splitting hairs. Did he get more than the Democrat? Yes.
True, but it's still only a plurality. I say this not to be a hair-splitter but because "majority" is factually inaccurate, and you know how that works...the Other Side will leap on that minor and irrelevant issue to discredit anything else you say.
I actually made the argument in reverse after the 2000 election, in which Gore narrowly edged W while (obviously) losing the electoral college.
A friend tried to argue that Gore had been "robbed" because he'd gotten "a majority of the popular vote." Rather than trying to educate him on the Electoral College--which I knew would have had no effect--I asked, "Neither Bush nor Gore won a majority of the popular vote. But you're saying the guy who won 0.2 percent more of the popular vote should get the win, even though he, too, 'lost' by your argument?"
My point exactly. Not splitting hairs, just removing a leftist gotcha point. No, he didn't win a majority, but yes, he certainly won the popular vote.
Didn't you write this same comment in a previous thread? I neglected to compliment you then, but I'll do it now. Along with all the other fine comments below. Bravo!
My brother in Michigan started a podcast because he felt the news was biased and he wanted to tell it like it is. The one segment I listened to before I couldn't listen any longer was about how the country is regretting its decision to elect Trump and getting what it deserves for being so stupid. (Paraphrased.) He could have written any of these letters to the editor you've referenced.
I never would have described my college- educated, professionally successful brother as unintelligent.
I recently faced a tragedy and because I voted for Trump my brother didn't reach out to express his condolences. He thinks this is warranted because I helped place his trans son's life in danger. This is not for sympathy but rather to give anecdotal illustration of the poisoned thinking infecting society.
Due to life events I've not followed media closely and have been scarce on social media in recent months. Poking my head back in, I am incredulous at this new low in human comprehension and the clearly observable lunacy-at-large.
I'm really sorry for your tragedy, Donna. As a Christian and just as a person, I can definitely feel for what you're dealing with. We’ve had our own family issues because of my wife and I voting for Trump (aka common sense), too. It’s tough how it feels like so many people on the left have lost touch with decency and common sense these days. Trying to reason with them is almost laughable and it seems a waste of time...
Here is my advice to the govt workers who were laid off...
Get a real job in the private sector where you will be judged on your performance,not on you DEI privelege
And if you are unhappy about that .. cry me a river.
I hear a lot of whining about people losing jobs, homes, cars, etc. because they are being let go by government agencies. I didn't hear much about mom and pop stores and restaurants closing because of the idiotic machinations of the previous administration, or people affected by major layoffs or business closings in the private sector. Those people were providing the tax dollars that were being consumed by the government employees who are now the objects of pity by those with no pity for the working class people outside the government.
I hear complaints about losing insurance. There was little pity for the millions who lost theirs each year (In 2024, roughly 20.2 million people experienced layoffs and discharges in the U.S., which is about 1.8 million per month). I heard little about the plight of people who were cut off from personal contact with their nearest and dearest by government employees during the covid scam. Grandma and Aunt Penny died alone. Their closest relatives might have been able to stand teary eyed outside the window, but couldn't come inside to hold hands one last time.
Our Constitution never envisioned the kind of government we currently have, with just over 3 million non-military government employees last year. Nor does it actually allow that. The intentional misinterpretation of the Commerce Clause, and the lack of will to enforce the 9th and 10th Amendments, have turned the federal government from servant into Leviathan master.
Sure, I feel sorry for those who are losing their jobs. That's a tough thing that they have never really had to face before as civil service employees. Various charities can help them (I contribute to several) but it's never really been the job of the federal government to do so. If the states want to continue welfare, there is nothing preventing them from doing that (except lack of funds, due to profligate spending elsewhere). Let them survive in the same way that we in the private sector always have. Get a different job or start a new business. But don't bother learning to code. AI has moved in to that arena too.
I'm in a government funded position and fully expect to feel the effects of DOGE eventually. That's okay. I'll do what I can for as long as I can, but recognize that I'm only helping - I'm not a government employee or uniformed military. In the meantime, I'm canvassing the market looking for options and applying where I see interesting ones. Might have to move, might even have to retire for a while. There's always another adventure to be had.
1. When I started trading at the CBOT at age 22 I knew that it wouldn’t last. It was too lucrative and had to be arbed away so for the next 30 years I lived accordingly and saved my money. In a free society, no one should assume their position will last forever.
2. The nature of civil service public sector employment used to be acceptance of a lower but stable income than one would find in the private sector, in exchange for lifetime employment and a comfortable retirement for a decade or so.
Today we see governmental pay often outstripping the private sector with copious benefits and an early retirement that extends well beyond what pension systems were designed to cover. While private sector employees and small business owners adjust by working into their 60’s and 70’s, government retirees have already been drawing from exhausted pension wells.
The writing has been on the wall for many years. Should have expected cuts or systemic collapse.
I am a MAGA guy
However I disagree with no tax on tips
Unfair to all those who do not get tips
Why should salaried and hourly workers get taxed more
Also who should overtime not be taxed
Income is income
My solution is to lower Everyone's taxes
Fairtax.org
Cook county got $2 million from the feds between 2022-2024. The article linked gives examples of how that money could be used. I'd like to see a list of 5 achievements against those funds.
In addition, a quick data search on Cook county's economic situation shows the majority of jobs are in the private sector. I'd like to see data on the specifics of those being laid off/losing their jobs (per the letter writer's assertion).
https://wtip.org/cook-county-to-receive-more-than-2-million-for-housing-roads-or-other-community-needs/
Love your commenters Mr Carter!
“No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth!” Ronald Reagan. Times change and so do budgets and needs. I worked as a intelligence contractor for the Joint IED Defeat Organization (JIEDDO). In 2014 as the Global War on Terror wound down, out intelligence unit was downsized from about 1200 to 385 contractors. What seemed funny to me is we had more civil service and military supervisors when we were at 385 contractors, than when we were at 1200 contractors.
In my last days working as a Fed, I saw a chart showing the results of the "peace dividend" <eyeroll> This would have been in the early to mid 1990s.
I don't remember the exact figures, but the biggest cuts were...uniformed military personnel. Then contractors, with somewhat smaller cuts, and finally, the civil servants, who experienced the smallest cuts of all.
The figures--again, I'm doing this from memory, but I'm not doing violence to the overall picture--were something like: military, 30 percent; contractors, 20 percent; civilians, 10 percent.
FWIW I took my lump-sum retirement in 1996.
Yeah, and these fellow Minnesotan idiots will not acknowledge that they had the highest purchasing power of their lives in 2019... We had universal DEFLATION back then...
Makes me sick.
https://open.substack.com/pub/donsurber/p/they-forgot-the-forgotten-man-trump?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
I did add my bit in the comments - to the origin a; post.
To exist is to resist - J Ellul.
I've seen extreme opinions before, but these are at the top of the list, with very little fact to back up the opinions.