RC K9 Posted March 12, 2019 Report Share Posted March 12, 2019 The problem with the big tech companies is that they are big companies, and therefore enjoy all the same tax dodges and loopholes that other big companies, like GE in the past, take advantage of to avoid paying their fair share. I don't think we need to "single out" the tech industry to tax when what really needs to happen is to close some of those exemptions, dodges, and loopholes, and have the entire large corporate sector actually start paying into the system. But I don't know that any politician in any party is going to say or do that since they all accept donations from the very companies that lobbied for those exemptions in the first place. We don't need NEW taxes singling out a specific group, just fix the old tax system that allows Amazon, Priceline, International Paper, General Electric, Ryder, and pretty much the entire energy sector (including AEP) to avoid paying into the tax system. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/09/business/economy/corporate-tax-report.html BTW, we could have a whole conversation about the energy sector alone that is granted an exclusive monopoly by the gov't, allowed to operate as a for profit, and gets a tax exemption on top of it. If they are going to operate as a monopoly, then convert the companies to not for profit entities and then continue to avoid the tax structure while putting the power needs of the customer's first. Public utility and monopolistic for profit company aren't compatible concepts. I don't disagree with you. I just like the fact that he talking about something I haven't heard other candidates seriously address. I spend a good amount of time hunting in the middle of nowhere Texas. On my last trip to the panhandle, I spent an afternoon with some of the land owners/farmers up there. Trump country. They grow a lot of cotton, wheat, millet, etc. I got a tour of the cotton gin (neat stuff) and another walk through of the company that builds the SCARAB composter. (Yup that thing was invented and still built in White Deer, TX, a town of 1,000 people). And what was pointed out to me was some of the automated technology being implemented. "See that machine right there. That eliminated the need for 3 people." "See auto-welder, that eliminated 2.5 people." Me-"Doesn't that hurt the job market here though?" Farmer-"Yeah, but the thing is, people are unreliable. Don't show up when you need them to, do the work you need done when it needs done, etc. With this machine, you don't have that problem." I know for a fact because of the industry i'm in, working for a family owned company...labor continues to go up. It has for years and continues to do so, but the end customer doesn't want to pay more. I'm having to pay people $12/hr for jobs I could pay $8-$8.50/hr for 5yrs ago. With profit margins so small, labor costs continuing to rise, automation within our organization is inevitable if we are going to stay in business. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRed05 Posted March 21, 2019 Report Share Posted March 21, 2019 Poor New Zealand. Another reason to be thankful we have the 2nd amendment here. The gun reform proposal will be introduced to Parliament in the first week of April. For it to come into effect, lawmakers need to vote on amending the existing legislation, the Arms Act 1983. In the interim, New Zealand Governor General Patsy Reddy has signed an order to reclassify some semi-automatic weapons as "military-style". As a result, many people who legally owned certain firearms will no longer be able to possess them on their existing license conditions. https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/20/asia/new-zealand-christchurch-gun-ban-intl/index.html But... Gun licensing procedures not followed for Christchurch mosques attack accused https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/gun-licensing-procedures-not-followed-christchurch-mosques-attack-accused-ex-arms-control-officer?variant=tb_v_3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geeto67 Posted March 21, 2019 Report Share Posted March 21, 2019 Poor New Zealand. Another reason to be thankful we have the 2nd amendment here. You do understand that the 2nd amendment doesn't prevent lawmakers from making similar legislation here in the states, right? We have similar restrictions for automatic firearms in the US already and wen through something similar in 1986 with the Firearm Owners Protection Act, it wouldn't be hard to extend those restrictions to semi-automatic weapons as well. We don't see legislation like that because it would be unpopular, even among moderates who generally support gun control, and therefore no politician would stake their career on a loser of a bill that would tank their re-election. But don't think for a second the 2nd amendment is the thing keeping this at bay, it's just not how it works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRed05 Posted March 21, 2019 Report Share Posted March 21, 2019 You do understand that the 2nd amendment doesn't prevent lawmakers from making similar legislation here in the states, right? We have similar restrictions for automatic firearms in the US already and wen through something similar in 1986 with the Firearm Owners Protection Act, it wouldn't be hard to extend those restrictions to semi-automatic weapons as well. We don't see legislation like that because it would be unpopular, even among moderates who generally support gun control, and therefore no politician would stake their career on a loser of a bill that would tank their re-election. But don't think for a second the 2nd amendment is the thing keeping this at bay, it's just not how it works. Specifically to automatic weapons ban or "assault" rifle ban? Of course not, that happened here and look at all of the difference that made. But to quote someone at the NRA (unfortunately) "While they do not have an inalienable right to bear arms and to self defense, we do." The 2nd amendment will protect us from stupid knee-jerk reactions like this. I'm also not sure how popular it is in NZ either from what I've seen from some kiwis, the attacker wasn't even one of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greg1647545532 Posted March 21, 2019 Report Share Posted March 21, 2019 Who gives a shit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geeto67 Posted March 21, 2019 Report Share Posted March 21, 2019 (edited) Specifically to automatic weapons ban or "assault" rifle ban? Of course not, that happened here and look at all of the difference that made. But to quote someone at the NRA (unfortunately) "While they do not have an inalienable right to bear arms and to self defense, we do." The 2nd amendment will protect us from stupid knee-jerk reactions like this. I'm also not sure how popular it is in NZ either from what I've seen from some kiwis, the attacker wasn't even one of them. The second amendment will only prevent any outright ban on firearms (all firearms, not bans on specific types), it doesn't limit gun control beyond that. That was the importance of the supreme court decision in Heller - it recognized the 2nd amendment possession being lawful outside participation in a militia and therefore protects from an outright ban on arms, but it also established that the 2nd amendment is not unlimited and government has a right to create gun control laws as long as those laws are not an outright ban. I have long ago stopped listening to anybody at the NRA as any form of intelligent expert on how gun laws work in this country. The NRA's position is not one based in reality, it's a pornographic fantasy of how they would like it to be and what their overall goal is, but it's not grounded in reality or takes into account how the laws and the constitution in this country actually work. Case in point - the Heller case: the NRA plaintiff shopped for someone with standing, funded the whole case in hopes that it would accomplish their goal of making the 2nd amendment be recognized as absolute, and it backfired in their face because in giving them part of what they wanted it said gun control is not unlawful under then 2nd amendment. the 2nd amendment will not protect you from "stupid knee jerk reactions" like this - it's just not how it works. What does protect you is the that in america, at this particular time, most people won't buy into something that looks extreme in comparison to the existing laws. What protects you are the moderate voters. As to the "assault weapons ban" - well there was some effect on mass shootings, however we don't really know because that occurred during the era when gun violence research was actively suppressed by the NRA. Plus it is pretty universally understood that the language of that law wasn't well written and didn't really target (pun intended) what needed to be addressed to make a difference. It doesn't mean that every gun control law is ineffective. The National Firearms Act of 1934, the Federal Firearm act of 1938, the Gun Control act of 1968, the firearm owners protection act of 1986, and The Brady Handgun Violence protection act all had much greater impact and are considered successful at improving the gun violence situation in the time they were enacted. You can't just point to one failed legislation and say "see it doesn't work in all cases", esp when there is a history of well crafted bills actually working - unless you are a member of the NRA, in which case you might as well talk about how guns are a gift from the unicorns and we shouldn't insult them with our man made restrictions. Edited March 21, 2019 by Geeto67 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BStowers023 Posted March 21, 2019 Report Share Posted March 21, 2019 I'm curious of the what the numbers on semi-automatic *assault style* rifle murders are in this country compared to other classes of guns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geeto67 Posted March 21, 2019 Report Share Posted March 21, 2019 I'm curious of the what the numbers on semi-automatic *assault style* rifle murders are in this country compared to other classes of guns. I don't know that we will ever have conclusive information on that because gun violence research funding continues to be stifled. There are some independent organizations conducting their own studies out there: https://injury.research.chop.edu/violence-prevention-initiative/types-violence-involving-youth/gun-violence/gun-violence-facts-and#.XJPxxtpKi70 where "assualt weapons" are shown to be in the minority in violent crime in general, but in the majority of mass shootings. If you want to make an impact on mass shootings, Assault rifles seem like a good place to start, but it would require a subject matter expert organization to work with legislators and most of those take the NRA position of "not going to help write any gun control law, no way, no how". I could add a "Shall not be infringed" and a couple "'Merica!"s on the end there if it isn't sufficient. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oh8sti Posted March 23, 2019 Report Share Posted March 23, 2019 no one wants to talk about the mueller shit show? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oh8sti Posted March 23, 2019 Report Share Posted March 23, 2019 I see the Dems already trying to move the goal post.... “It was never about collusion.....it was about obstruction” I don’t know if the left can suffer many more losses. This has been a brutal 2 years for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BStowers023 Posted March 23, 2019 Report Share Posted March 23, 2019 I see the Dems already trying to move the goal post.... “It was never about collusion.....it was about obstruction” I don’t know if the left can suffer many more losses. This has been a brutal 2 years for them. That’s what happens when you go all in with a pair of 2s Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oh8sti Posted March 23, 2019 Report Share Posted March 23, 2019 That’s what happens when you go all in with a pair of 2s “It was never about obstruction, it was about the payments to porn stars!!” “It was never about porn payments, it was about nepotism in the WH” For the Dems sake I hope they are able to stick him with something that can be prosecuted otherwise I fear mass suicide on the left. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BStowers023 Posted March 23, 2019 Report Share Posted March 23, 2019 “It was never about obstruction, it was about the payments to porn stars!!” “It was never about porn payments, it was about nepotism in the WH” For the Dems sake I hope they are able to stick him with something that can be prosecuted otherwise I fear mass suicide on the left. Rachel Maddow (MSNBC) was crying on air after the Mueller investigation was released. Can you imagine crying because your President didn’t get indicted. Complete clown show. All they’re doing is pushing anyone not already on the far left away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greg1647545532 Posted March 23, 2019 Report Share Posted March 23, 2019 no one wants to talk about the mueller shit show? I'll talk, what about? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oh8sti Posted March 23, 2019 Report Share Posted March 23, 2019 I'll talk, what about? How far do you think the left will move the goal post if they keep coming up empty handed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greg1647545532 Posted March 23, 2019 Report Share Posted March 23, 2019 How far do you think the left will move the goal post if they keep coming up empty handed? Goal posts for what? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BStowers023 Posted March 23, 2019 Report Share Posted March 23, 2019 Goal posts for what? To justify their agenda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greg1647545532 Posted March 23, 2019 Report Share Posted March 23, 2019 What agenda? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BStowers023 Posted March 23, 2019 Report Share Posted March 23, 2019 What agenda? Ask your comrades Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oh8sti Posted March 23, 2019 Report Share Posted March 23, 2019 What agenda? You are a smart guy - I’m surprised to see you play the stupid card. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greg1647545532 Posted March 23, 2019 Report Share Posted March 23, 2019 Goal posts for what? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greg1647545532 Posted March 23, 2019 Report Share Posted March 23, 2019 Ask your comrades I'm asking you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BStowers023 Posted March 23, 2019 Report Share Posted March 23, 2019 I'm asking you. The agenda to impeach Trump Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greg1647545532 Posted March 24, 2019 Report Share Posted March 24, 2019 The agenda to impeach Trump Thank you for answering. The most powerful Democrat, Nancy Pelosi, has recently said that she is not for impeachment. I’m not for impeachment. This is news. I’m going to give you some news right now because I haven’t said this to any press person before. But since you asked, and I’ve been thinking about this: Impeachment is so divisive to the country that unless there’s something so compelling and overwhelming and bipartisan, I don’t think we should go down that path, because it divides the country. And he’s just not worth it. If you think Pelosi disagrees with Democrats in polls, you're wrong. Support for impeachment is falling. Thoughts on that? Are my facts wrong? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeitgeist57 Posted March 24, 2019 Author Report Share Posted March 24, 2019 It is petty to hear pro-Trump people wanting to talk about Mueller’s investigation, now that its released going “L@@K DUMB LIBERALS! NO INDICTMENTS MEANS EVERYTHING’S FINE!!!1!!” The fact that the investigation legitimately happened is shame enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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