Reports from the heartland
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We were given an awful choice this time around. I do not believe people (you and others here, my brother included) who came to a different conclusion are stupid. They just see the world differently.
But it is not hard to see that under the Biden Harris administration the world has moved much, much closer to a world war and continues to march in that direction. I think that had a lot to do with it. Whether he can turn it around or not is yet to be seen, but it was clear the current administration could not. They tried to hamstring our greatest ally in the Middle East when we should have been firmly supporting them rather than try to ride the fence. It is an awful situation, but at what point does the world stop letting terrorist militants hide among the people they claim to support? The Gazans were merely pawns in Hamas' power play. Displaying weakness and lack of resolve is dangerous and we see the result of that.
My hope is that the GOP will allow a reasonable immigration reform bill to get through, but that didn't happen last time they had the WH, House and Senate. We shall see.
I also hope they can get a handle on government spending. The Dems hurt themselves badly by floating trial balloons about taxing unrealized capital gains.
So we had a poor choice, whichever way one went. I just saw no reason to believe Harris was capable of handling the job. Trump already has and with better results than Biden Harris.
“I refuse to answer that question on the grounds that I don't know the answer”
― Douglas Adams -
The Republican party has been successful in the past "blaming and claiming"... Any problems moving forward will be because of Democrats/the media/immigrants/??? and any successes will be claimed as their own.
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@pique said in Reports from the heartland:
When I look at who bankrolled Trump I have to wonder if we aren't actually seeing some form of election interference we aren't familiar with.
I do find it astounding that there were something like 18 million fewer votes cast this election than in 2020 -- 3 mill fewer for the Rs, and 15 mill fewer for the Dems. This does not jibe with reports I've been hearing about lines at polling places nor with my own experience yesterday, where I was voter #401 at 9:30 am at a polling place that is lucky to see 400 voters for an entire election day.
You cannot tell me that, knowing what was at stake, 15 million Dems just decided they were going to sit this one out. No freaking way. I would not be suprirsed if Russia or some other power is manipulating the totals somehow. I think that's the reason Elon was so very positively sure that Trump was going to win that he swore he would give away his entire fortune if he lost. And if that's the case, our elections are well and truly screwed forever.
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What I find interesting is that our beloved system of checks and balances is gone. Congress = Trump. Supreme Court = Trump. Trump = Trump. Even the media is Trump (see “Post, Washington”)
They can do anything they want and there will be no one to say they can’t. I don’t think that’s ever happened before.
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@Lisa said in Reports from the heartland:
And if that's the case, our elections are well and truly screwed forever.
This is my fear.
Also, remember this, from summer?
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@Steve-Miller said in Reports from the heartland:
What I find
interestingterrifying is that our beloved system of checks and balances is gone. Congress = Trump. Supreme Court = Trump. Trump = Trump. Even the media is Trump (see “Post, Washington”)FIFY.
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This post is deleted! -
Prepare for chaos.... creating that is his 'happy place'.
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When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn't become a king. The palace becomes a circus - Turkish proverb.
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Venus Williams reportedly wrote this:
You are awakening to the
same country you fell asleep to.
The very same country.
Pull yourself together.
And,
when you see me,
do not ask me
"What do we do now?
How do we get through the next four years?"
Some of my Ancestors dealt with
at least 400 years of this
under worse conditions.
Continue to do the good work.
Continue to build bridges not walls.
Continue to lead with compassion.
Continue the demanding work
of liberation for all.
Continue to dismantle broken systems,
large and small.
Continue to set the best example
for the children.
Continue to be a vessel of nourishing joy.
Continue right where you are.
Right where you live into your days.
Do so in the name of
The Creator who expects
nothing less from each of us.
And if you are not "continuing"
ALL of the above,
in community, partnership, collaboration?
What is it you have been doing?
What is it you are waiting for? -
Yup, that was the theme of Harris' concession speech.
Someone named Venice Williams posted the verse you quoted. I think it was written by a Rev. Rose H. McCall, Kingdom Woman Ministries of Montgomery (AL)
And he's still a clown.
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Some questions about a Trump administration. I'm wondering what you think.
What do you think Trump will do about Ukraine?
What effect will increasing tariffs on imported goods have on prices paid by consumers in the US? What do you think the effect might be on the world economy?
What do you think he will do with respect to Gaza and Israel? If it's different from what's being done now, how will it change what's happening in the Middle East?
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Ukraine - continue economic and military pressure on Russia and try for a negotiated settlement
Tariffs - continue the tariffs that Biden did not remove and apply new ones as needed
Israel - quit trying to handcuff Israel. let them finish the job with our blessing. -
Wait, is that what you think should be done, or what he has said he would do?
Re Ukraine...sounds like what we're doing now. The only thing I've heard Trump say about Ukraine was that he could settle the dispute in 24 hours. I've heard no other details. My own take is that settling the dispute means giving Putin whatever he wants.
Tariffs... He has some specific proposals for increasing them. I thought they were day 1 issues for him, at least regarding China. That is, "as needed" is "now".
I guess my question is, how much did the tariffs, imposed by Trump and kept by Biden, impact prices/inflation? And if the tariffs are increased in a second Trump administration, will prices go up further and faster than if we stayed at the same level or backed off of them?
The economy/prices seemed to be part of Trump's appeal to the average voter. Will they get what they were looking for if his policies are implemented?
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-suppliers-importers-prepare-promised-trump-tariffs-2024-11-06/
And about Israel...yea, he and Bibi have had some blips but he'll do whatever Bibi wants. Unless the Saudis don't like it...
The ME quagmire isn't going away soon.
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“Some of my Ancestors dealt with at least 400 years of this under worse conditions.”
Seems like an odd comparison.
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"And if the tariffs are increased, will prices go up further, and faster than if we stayed at the same level or backed off of them?"
That's what happened the last time he imposed tariffs. I don't expect this time to be any different.
If you're considering buying a new appliance, electronic gear, or anything else made in China you may want to buy it before the end of the year. The same is true for American made products that compete with Chinese products, as the price of the American product will go up to match the price of the Chinese made product.
Items that come from Mexico are a bit more problematic. One tariff rate that he's proposed is 100% but you can only store so many avocados for so long.
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Prepare for higher interest rates as well:
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@Steve-Miller said in Reports from the heartland:
If you're considering buying an new appliance...made in China
Mr wtg and I were just talking about this. Our washer and dryer are getting up there in years...
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One of my daughters is holidaying in Japan, happily reporting that Trump winning has improved her Sterling-Yen exchange rate.
I do wonder if, 30-40 years from now, people will be writing half hour sitcoms with amusing songs about our times.
For WW2 we made Dad's Army, It Ain't Half Hot Mum, and Allo Allo. -
@Mik Yup. They are stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. If that makes you want to call me an "elitist" go right ahead. Trump is a dumpster fire. To vote for him because you disagree with Biden's policies is the height of idiocy. We can ride out another four years of Biden=style policies. With Trump in the office, there may never be another election. Our country may never survive a second Trump term. Basically what Trump voters did is hand the USA over to the oligarchs. They own us now. We are fvcked. It was stupid to think we wouldn't be.
fear is the thief of dreams
