Comments by "whyamimrpink78" (@whyamimrpink78) on "The Young Turks" channel.

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  451. "All I see is them Condemning both in a half-assed insincere way" What do you want them to do? At this point I just see hate from you as nothing the right does will satisfy you. " I could also Straw man NRA for not calling Philando Castile's death a tragedy," That has nothing to do with the NRA. ", or saying "Guns aren't weapons" " When did they say that? Also, they are a tool in many ways. "We both know that not everyone on either side is like that. For someone who tried to be Nonpartisan and say both sides suck, you don't do very well at hiding your conservative edge." What conservative edge? " BLM doesn't want Cops to stop defending themselves, they want justice for the deaths of people who don't deserve to be killed-" We have a justice system for that. Michael Brown was killed in self defense. Private autopsy showed that. There was another black individual that the cop did not shoot. Alton Sterling had a gun, was resisting arrest, and was reaching for it. BLM marched for these people. I am all for keeping the cops in check. I would support BLM hiring private investigators and lawyers to look into these cases. However, when you still cry and march over cases like the Alton Sterling one that is cut and dry, I cannot take your ideas serious. " they are trying to point out the injustices that occur when people like you believe the cops' word without question," I question the cops. I want every killing by a cop to be fully investigated. We have to do that on keeping the government in check. And if BLM wants to do it for any time a black person is kill than fine. But accept the results. Most of those killings are justified. Also, BLM needs to realize that blacks commit a disproportional amount of violent crime. Blacks have lower high school graduate rates and higher rates of single mothers. Solve some of their own problems.
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  535. Science education should focus on teaching things as the scientific method, communications in science, what theories and supporting evidence are and so on.  The biggest problem with science is that people don't know what it is.  This lady said evolution was proved.  Nothing in science is proven.  To prove something means without a doubt.  Science isn't a religion so there is always doubt.  "I can live with doubt, and uncertainty, and not knowing. I think it's much more interesting to live not knowing than to have answers which might be wrong. I have approximate answers, and possible beliefs, and different degrees of certainty about different things, but I'm not absolutely sure of anything, and in many things I don't know anything about, such as whether it means anything to ask why we're here, and what the question might mean. I might think about a little, but if I can't figure it out, then I go to something else. But I don't have to know an answer. I don't feel frightened by not knowing things, by being lost in a mysterious universe without having any purpose, which is the way it really is, as far as I can tell, possibly. It doesn't frighten me." —The Pleasure of Finding Things Out: The Best Short Works of Richard P. Feynman Science is about innovations and advancement.  It is about searching for explanations and new findings.  People seem to lack this.  It always annoyed me when Richard Dawkins seemed to replace religion with science.  To me he isn't a scientist which is why he has never done anything in the past 30 years except promote atheism.  Science is theories to give predictions of the physical world and the theory with the strongest supporting evidence we use.  It isn't facts or proofs.  I am no so much disturbed by the fact that this law is being proposed, I am more disturbed that people don't understand science.  Those students should learn evolution but should learn it as a theory.  They don't have to believe it.  I don't believe it, but it is a theory I strongly support and reference a lot.
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  659. Typical Lib You need to understand about rights.  How far are you willing to go on background checks.  In the US you are innocent until proven guilty.  With background checks you can deny people their second amendment right before they even commit a crime.  That is what you can potentially do. The rights given to us by the founding fathers were put in place to give the US citizens power over the government.  The idea was to control the government and if you look at them it didn't give the government to potentially have power over the people.  Why would the government have to gain by allowing the population to own guns and have free speech as opposed to decided who gets to own a gun? You talk about nuclear warhead, well that isn't an arm.   People also mention how in the 1700s they only had muzzle loaders.  Well the founding fathers were very intelligent and probably knew technology would get better.  We have the internet now so should we change free speech?  No, if you also look at those rights they are very broad because they are designed to cover everyone and to never have an expiration date.  That was how this country was set up, the federal government dealt with foreign affairs and protected the rights of US citizens they had to control the governments, meaning the states and local governments. It was a checks and balances of powers. We do have a violence problem in the US, and we should fix it.  But the solution isn't taking away our rights.  Our solution isn't making people guilty for not doing anything and our solution definitely isn't creating a government that can repress.  I mean, I know you have no problem doing whatever the government tells you what to do but I rather have my rights to not be repressed.   
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  666. tetsubo57 You have to learn about the structure of the government to support state rights.   The federal government is there for two things, deal with foreign affairs and give US citizens the ability to control governments with broad entitled rights protected by the federal government.  Those rights doesn't give the federal government the potential to gain power over the people and they are broad in that the cover everyone. Everything else is to be left up to the states.  The idea was that you have government but the people have control over it. It was to establish a checks and balance system of powers.  An issue like marriage is a state issue.  The federal government can't involved in marriage for three, reasons.  One, it give the federal government the potential to gain power over the people, two, it isn't a broad right that covers everyone fairly, and three, it doesn't give the people the ability to control the government.  Unfortunately the fed. have become involved in marriage and look at the mess.  People cry marriage equality and I feel that why should married people get certain benefits over single people?  Issues like that need to be left up to the states. So while you feel a state may be full of bigots you can't remove the checks and balances of powers that we have just because of a state that may be on the other side of the country treats it's people unfairly according to you.  As long as they are not losing their federal protected rights then they are fine.
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  728. +Probus Excogitatoris It seems that politics are not your strong suit. Hence, I have to take this discussion down to a really basic level. Yes all citizens can run for office, the voters decide which ones they support. To assure that those elected govern in accordance to what the voters support you have to keep government as local as possible. You say that the voters want their politicians to act on their behalf, we have that. Look at congress. Congress has a low approval rating but a high retention rate. The reason why is that people don't like other people's representatives, but they like their own. They like the ones they can vote for. How things use to be in the US was a very limited federal government and stronger local government. The more local government is the more control people have over it. You can vote for almost all of your state and local representatives. You know what goes on in your own hometown. You have no clue what goes on in the state next to you, so why should you have any influence on what goes on there? What you want is a strong, centralized government. With that you lose control of the government. You can't vote for the vast majority of the representatives. You can only vote for 2 senators and, at best, a handful of representative. While they may do what you support what makes you think other politicians at other states will? You may complain when a Mitch McConnell does something, well guess what, you didn't vote for him (assuming you are not from KY). The founding fathers set up the country on the basis of a limited federal government and more state rights. With our large diversity a one size fits all policy simply does not work, and at the local level people have more control of the government. I met both candidates for mayor, I met the governor, I met a lot of our elected officials. I have never met the president or any cabinet members and only 1 member of congress out of the 535. Giving more power to the federal government gives them the ability to be bought out. You may say vote them out but guess what, you can only vote for a few. You may say create a law to make it illegal to have money in politics, now how is going to enforce it? The politicians you elected. Now you may say vote them out and vote in ones that will obey and enforce the law but guess what, you can only vote for a view.......you see the cycle being created here? You want to create a law that prevents politicians from doing something, but the only people that enforcing it will be politicians. You say vote them out but you can't when you only vote for a few of them. You have no control of the federal government but you want to give it ability to create more laws and give them the power to enforce them........that is like letting the prisoners control the prison. The country was designed to have the federal government deal with foreign affairs and enforce the constitution on the states. States were to deal with domestic policies and enforce the constitution on the fed. It was a checks and balance system. The people had government but at the state level. They had control of the government. What you want to do is take away the checks and balance part and give all the power to the fed. And when it becomes corrupt you want to create a law to stop it, basically all you are doing is wagging your finger at them saying "no no no" without any consequences. They are not going to stop? They will only stop if you limit their power and give powers back to the states.
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  729. +Probus Excogitatoris Obamacare is unconstitutional because it violates the 10th amendment. The federal government is to have no involvement in healthcare. What are "right" common rules? That can be debated and is the exact same problem the founding fathers ran in to in the past. Every state is different. We can't have a one size fits all policy. Yes there is the commerce clause but that is there to only allow freedom of trade between states. If I were to go to a neighboring state I won't get taxed a lot just because I am from another state. That is it. Tax laws, domestic spending, business regulations and so on are purely state laws. As is states act independently for the most part. Any state that decides to to run itself correctly will suffer without bringing down the entire country. And at the state level they can change policy and politicians faster. On the environment, you have the commerce clause again. Individual states can set their own environmental regulations, but states have to respect neighboring states' environment. If, say Oregon were to have relaxed regulations and they allowed a company to be built that polluted water that ran into CA and it exceeded CA's regulations, the federal government will put a stop to that. Oregon will have to change something as in filer the water or have the company stop. That is dealing with commerce between states. It is the same as in how I won't be taxed different if I were to shop at a store in a neighboring state. There are ways to solve these problems without creating a one size fits all policy that simply won't work. We have that organization and oversight, it is all in the constitution.
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  791. MUTT1126 When you said Obamacare lowers the deficit I just had to stop.  You are so clueless. Obamacare is going to raise prices and raise the debt and deficit.  How is the healthcare industry going to account for 30 million new patients?  Insurance companies are already raising prices for it.  People are not signing up for healthcare because they simply can't afford it.  The website is a joke.  Three years to make and it is terrible. You will never see this in the private sector and if you did they will fix it because they know that there is another company right down the street.  Obamacare is already funded and like any government program when it sucks instead of fixing it they repress you some more.   In countries with socialize care we see problems all the time but yet nothing gets fixed.  You know why?  Because you can't sue the government.  You can't go to the next business down the street.  Your teenage daughter dies like in the following story  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2486789/Natasha-16-complained-headaches-She-died-13-doctors-failed-diagnose-brain-tumour.html You can't just sue the government.  They will just repress you some more.  In the US the biggest problem is cost.  It isn't rationing of care to where you have to wait months to get it.  It isn't that they can't get care all together, it is cost.  So even if you socialize system might save money (it won't by the way) the quality of our care will fall apart.  Have fun not getting knee surgery or if you can waiting months to get it.  Remember, you get what you pay for.
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  961. Because the reality is that when the truth is exposed the left ends up looking like radicals. Start with guns We already have many gun laws on the books and background checks already. The number of guns in this country is increasing while the number of murders are decreasing. Most gun deaths are suicides. Taking away guns, which is basically the next step at this point for the left, is not going to cure the person. We have to find a way to lower crime overall without removing rights. I always find it ironic how the left wants take away guns for "safety" but then when I suggest that we remove the 4th amendment and allow the government to randomly search people's homes they freak out. On healthcare when you break down the numbers you will see that universal healthcare is no better then what the US has https://www.aei.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/-the-business-of-health_110115929760.pdf Every country faces different issues. We do have problems, but they are not as extreme as the left tries to make it. As you can see in order to try to prove a point Comrade Sanders has to talk about someone with cancer dying which is the extreme. They have to present information they receive in a vague way. Comrade Sanders talks about the Harvard study and called them "scientists" when another Harvard professor gave a counter argument on those 45,000 dying a year. http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2013/sep/06/alan-grayson-claims-45000-people-die-year-because-/ Comrade Sanders and Pocahontas are screaming about blood money and people dying where when you full break down the issue it is not that extreme. And in reality this bill will, at worse, make end up making the healthcare situation no better or worse.
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  970. DjDedan, yes, we could have kept going down if republicans did not stop him from doing another destructive bail out. Also, there is the point of you can only go down so far. We have not recovered from this recession. Last time it took this long to recover from a recession was the recession of 1929. "please show me any data|article|ANYTHING that says we could not have kept on receding into an actual depression and i'll take you as more than just one-dimensional blinded by hatred troll... " What makes a depression is a slow recovery, like what happened in the 30s. Recessions happen, how we recover is key. Recovery has been slow. We had a major recession in the late 70s early 80s and recovered in a few years with a spike in GDP growth. Same as in 1921 and recovered in a year. Here we are over 8 years later and we are still behind. "As for GDP growth, that's one indicator you can't ignore the context of the economy as well as an OBSTRUCTIONIST congress" Yep, keep blaming congress for Obama's failures. He was a poor leader. Also, on Bush's growth, his growth was not following a recession . I am not saying it was great, but steady growth is the norm. After a recession we need a spike to catch us back up which we did not have. Thus we are still behind. On Obama vs Reagan, we were having a massive job lost, so of course a lot of jobs will be created when unemployment spikes. Even at that low paying jobs is not great. Fact is that Obama was a terrible president. Economic growth was poor and the country is more divided now. This is why Trump and republicans are winning, the democrats could not run on Obama's record at all, just like republicans could not run on Bush's record in 2006 and 2008 (Bush was a bad president as well). You can try all you want to make Obama look great, but facts don' t like. That is why you can only point to polls that have been wrong lately. Some examples are 1. Clinton was supposed to win Michigan but lost 2. According to Gallup 87% of people want background checks on guns but such laws failed in Maine and only passed in NV by 0.45% with several county sheriffs saying they won't even enforce it 3. Gallup also said people want universal healthcare but such a law failed in Colorado with around 80% voting against it. These polls are not accurate right now. If Obama was so well liked than why did democrats lose?
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  1010. MomoTheBellyDancer, it is flawed. Here is my short analysis on it. I took the time to read the study. At the start they display their bias with this "Trump’s lack of support among people of color and his popularity among white subgroups with less tolerant attitudes (such as whites without college degrees)" Just because you do not have a college degree does not mean you have a "less tolerant attitude". They make that claim but do not link any psychological or sociological study to it. "Moreover, Trump’s call for law and order in the context of discussing urban unrest" How is this race related? Urban is not a race. "While previous work has shown that racial attitudes predict support for Donald Trump" Again, none listed. As someone who writes peer reviewed work in academics this is a perfect time to list such work. "Given the unusually racialized nature of Trump’s campaign" How was his campaign racialized? "Given his clear racial and ethno-nationalist appeals—for example, about President Obama’s country of origin, his support for a Muslim ban, the state of the African American community, and negative comments about Mexicans" I agree, Trump pushing the birther idea was asinine, but not racist. There wasn't a Muslim ban. The "state of the African American community" is nothing on him. And his "negative comments about Mexicans" were towards illegal immigrants. The fact they used only 764 people makes for a small sample size. They failed to include the ages, income level, education attainment (even though they mentioned it as a variable in the introduction), geographical location, etc. of the people sampled. This is coming from mainly the first half of the "study". I find this to be bias and poorly done.
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  1021. I took the time to read the study. At the start they display their bias with this "Trump’s lack of support among people of color and his popularity among white subgroups with less tolerant attitudes (such as whites without college degrees)" Just because you do not have a college degree does not mean you have a "less tolerant attitude". They make that claim but do not link any psychological or sociological study to it. "Moreover, Trump’s call for law and order in the context of discussing urban unrest" How is this race related? Urban is not a race. "While previous work has shown that racial attitudes predict support for Donald Trump" Again, none listed. As someone who writes peer reviewed work in academics this is a perfect time to list such work. "Given the unusually racialized nature of Trump’s campaign" How was his campaign racialized? "Given his clear racial and ethno-nationalist appeals—for example, about President Obama’s country of origin, his support for a Muslim ban, the state of the African American community, and negative comments about Mexicans" I agree, Trump pushing the birther idea was asinine, but not racist. There wasn't a Muslim ban. The "state of the African American community" is nothing on him. And his "negative comments about Mexicans" were towards illegal immigrants. The fact they used only 764 people makes for a small sample size. They failed to include the ages, income level, education attainment (even though they mentioned it as a variable in the introduction), geographical location, etc. of the people sampled. This is coming from mainly the first half of the "study". I find this to be bias and poorly done.
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  1032. Car insurance mandate is a state law. Nothing in the Constitution prevents states from establishing it. The Constitution gives direct powers to the federal government, no where does it say forcing citizens to participate in healthcare. Healthcare insurance mandates would be Constitutional at the state level. Also, it is a balance between allowing you to travel freely and creating order in this nation. You can travel freely by walking, but driving is much easier and more efficient. That comes with responsibilities when you do it in public which is why we have laws. A part of that is having liability insurance in case you cause damage to other property or people. You can drive to your heart's content with no license and no insurance if you stay in private land, but in public there is a desire to have order and that is what insurance does. This is also part of the reason why DUI checkpoints do not violate the 4th amendment. Read the Sitz v Michigan Department of State Police, they say similar things. In comparison we have a right to bear arms. We can own guns, keep them concealed in our homes, shoot them in private land to our heart't content. In public, however, many states have CCW and open carry laws. That does not violate the 2nd amendment as we can still own a gun, but in public there are restrictions to maintain order. It is all about you interacting in public. Now with healthcare insurance mandate the argument is this, in the ER you cannot be denied care. The problem that creates is that many without insurance go to the ER, receive care, and cannot pay. Thus by forcing people to have insurance means that they are no longer a liability to the public. Much like you are not a liability to the public if you have car insurance and you accidentally cause an accident. There are arguments on both sides on these issues, but that is the idea behind them.
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  1338. "Pal, I had to explain to you the very function of money." Which you failed miserably at. But at the same time you feel that a company without a manager or boss can have workers work at it and they will still somehow get paid even though no one will sign their checks. "You just tried to argue earlier in this thread that money has no value," In the end it doesn't. Goods and services are what people value. "You are the one who doesn't understand economics." Again, this is coming from a guy who feels that a company doesn't need a boss who signs checks. "Sales go up but worker productivity is at a threshold. What would the company be forced to do? Lay people off? No, so the unemployment argument doesn't hold." A company will lay off people. A company that is 24 hours can instead be open from 6 AM to 10 PM which are peak hours. A franchise with 10 stores can downsize to 8 stores. These things happen as they do not have the money to afford higher wages. Increasing prices will lower demand for that business as well. So they simply can't raise prices. " Hire more workers to meet the demand! " It doesn't work that way as they do not have the money to begin with. Also, demand for them might not necessarily go up. What makes you think that people will spend all of that new income on every company equally? They won't. On top of that, what if unemployment is zero? You can't hire more at that point. "And if sales go up, you ignore the fact that would mean the company is bringing more money" If they are not producing enough they won't be. Also, they are paying a higher wage and also a higher payroll tax which means they are losing money. You are literally saying you pay someone $20 and you make $30 in the end. That does not make sense.
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  1339. "I never said what the minimum wage level should be. Nor did I ever say "everything inflates."" You did say that everything inflates when you said the min. wage should be indexed to inflation. You are saying that even the lowest skilled worker's labor value increases even though in the market some thing inflate, some things deflate, and some things remain stagnate. The min. wage is what it is, the lowest skilled workers who are valued the least. Just like there are certain goods who are valued at a low price and some that are essentially worth $0 as they have deflated in value by so much. The same happens with labor. What makes someone who flips burgers work more today then 20 years ago? Nothing. But what makes college tuition so high? Two things. One, increase demand because of the changing economy and next, the federal loan program. "And the worker's value is not tied to the profit the company earns from them. That's a misunderstanding you have about how to understand the contributions of an employee. It's more to it than that. And honestly, workers produce MULTIPLES more than they are paid. That's how corporations profit. You tell me how can Wal-Mart be a multibillion dollar corporation that pays less than $10 per hour, PART TIME!" You keep picking on Walmart because you are myopic. You are ignoring smaller companies like Hy Vee and Raley's that pay similar wages. Why don't you complain about them? The reason why Walmart is a large as they are is because of shareholders. Their profits increase the value of those shares which is where people invest money and want to see it grow. If Walmart were to cut profits to overpay workers then the shareholders will sell them back causing Walmart to downsize and thus lay off people. You lack understanding of economics and business. But you also feel that a company doesn't need a person to sign checks and the workers will still work there and somehow magically get compensated.
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  1411. scruffthemagicdragon They were never legally forced to begin with.  Now it is cheaper and the reason why is because of the payroll tax.  The payroll tax meant that if an employer paid a higher wage they will pay a higher tax. To avoid that they paid through benefits as benefits are not considered payroll, such as healthcare insurance.   So it is cheaper. To me that has led to problems we have now.  Instead of an employer paying  a higher wage they pay with a generic plan to their employees. If employees had a higher wage instead they could buy insurance that they need.  They can get insurance at a young age when they are healthy to avoid pre-existing conditions.  They can stick with that insurance so they can change jobs without fear of losing insurance.  They can get care for them so you don't have men paying for contraceptives or women paying for Viagra. And they can get insurance companies to compete to lower prices.  Do all of these issues sound familiar? Insurance can be used for emergency care such as an accident like car insurance is for car accidents but not oil changes. But for basic things like a pregnancy or a routine checkup people can pay for that with cash forcing healthcare providers to compete.  Much like LASIK is not covered by insurance, is elective, an has improved and has become cheaper throughout the years. The problem all comes back to, at least to me, the fact the federal government had to get involved in people's lives.  In this case it is with the payroll tax. Now with rationing, that is a problem of not enough workers in the healthcare industry.  We lack skilled workers in healthcare, but that is a different topic in itself.
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  1443.   Having read this article, and the report, I call BS. There are some important facts that need to be made. 1: The repeal of the law was the repeal of the states LTC law only.  It means you no longer need a license to Purchase, it doesn't override the Federal NICS check that still has to be carried out when a handgun is purchased. In other words there is still a background check when a firearm is purchased new or used from a FFL dealer, only private sellers had no way to verify the background of a prospective buyer. 2: This law had no impact on straw purchases at all, and never would have. A person selling a gun to a criminal knowingly wouldn't have been deterred by the LTC requirement in place, and would pass the NICS check for the original purchase. 3: The report claims a 16% increase in gun murders, the real number is 12% However; the total number of murders didn't change, though a larger percentage were committed with firearms over the past few years as compared to 2006 and 2007 (last points for which such data is easily obtainable). Is the objective to reduce murder? Or to reduce guns? In over 120 studies more than 90 of them determined a negative correlation (less guns = more murder) between firearm reduction and murder rates. 17 Found no relation. This is a comment from another channel from another profile on this story.  I copied and pasted it because I couldn't have said it better myself.  Growing up in MO there were no background checks in private sales, just through license dealers.  Another problem with this story is that it is signaling out one state and one law.  Illinois has very strict gun laws and look at that state.  East St. Louis (right across the river of St. Louis , MO) is incredibly dangerous.  A lot of times the crime drifts over into St. Louis and it is a problem, much like Jaurez, Mexico is to El Paso.  In all this really doesn't support anything.
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  1458. Jeffrey Crenshaw A little government lesson for you.  This country was set up to where the federal government had two main jobs, deal with foreign affairs and give US citizens the ability to control governments.  Rights as in free speech, right to bear arms, fair trial, etc. were rights protected by the federal government and the federal government can't use to discriminate or gain in power over the people.  Everything else was left up to the states.  It was set up so people have government involvement but control over it. It was the check and balance of powers so no one entity can ever get too powerful. With that said marriage isn't a federal issue because as we see it does lead to discrimination and power of the federal government over the people.  Marriage should be left up to the states.  I personally find it wrong that married people get tax breaks where people who chose to be single don't.  That is a form of discrimination.  But in short marriage is a state issue and it isn't a right protected by the federal government. The economy has down well under republican presidents.  It was strong during Reagan when he had a democrat congress because he worked well with the other side.  It was strong under Clinton when he had a republican congress because he worked well with the other side.  Bush Jr. worked well with the other side as well.  Granted we did have a republican congress so we didn't progress as well as we should of but we still did well, even after 9/11 and mini recessions that always happen. Under Obama the recession stopped but we haven't progressed.  Unemployment is still high, stocks are high only because the federal government is pumping money in it and keeping stocks low, jobs are not being created and now we have a healthcare bill that is making our system worse.  Here we are 5 years later and we have gotten nowhere.  We are not better off because of Obama because he simply refuses to work with the other side. FDR wasn't great either.  Learn your history and you will see that he did what Hoover was doing.  He prolonged the recession.  What made him better than Obama was that he was at least willing to listen to others and get people to band together to meet a common goal.  That is why when the war started we got out of the recession.  We were not separated in groups like Obama has done to us.  He didn't separate us into blacks or women or rich or poor.  His policies weren't not good but he was great and keeping a positive attitude and not make everyone so angry. Your assumption that democrat presidents lead to strong economies isn't true.  Great leaders do and it is funny how under our sluggish economic times have all been under democrat presidents.  Obama, Carter and FDR.  The thing about Obama is that he is making everyone angry against everyone else.  People are viewing businesses as evil.  He is calling women and minorities inferior to make them angry to buy votes.  We no longer live in the 50s.  Racism is no longer an issue.  Sexism is no longer an issue and people have no problems with gays.  It becomes an issue when people play the victim card and democrats, especially Obama, allows it to happen.  You want to me outline why none of those issue exist?  I will next time.  Right now I have to get to work. But remember, Obama is a poor leader.
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  1504. Stan Taylor That is the issue, do they really have better outcomes?  Also, you have to consider the economic impact.  With universal healthcare they will cater to someone who has a "life threatening" issue over someone who doesn't. But say that person who has a "life threatening" issue is not that productive in society, but they get care over someone who is.  That hinders economic growth.  For example, say I need knee surgery that is not life threatening.  I will have to wait a long time while those who have life threatening issues will get treated.  I am productive in society and having a bad knee hurts my productivity.  That means my research and teaching will be hindered. I have insurance because I am productive along with anyone else who have it.  But with universal healthcare that does not matter.  That does hinder economic growth which is one factor (of many) of why the US is more productive than a lot of countries with universal healthcare. Now it is not that simple as the issue is complicated.  But that book outlines how other countries face just as many, if not more problems than the US. On that ranking, here is what Professor Oshfeldt said " Prof. Ohsfeldt acknowledges that regression was chosen for its relative simplicity for what he called his “little book project.” And he agrees that some deaths that his book attempted to remove from the life-expectancy tables might be dependent on health-care systems. “We’re not trying to say that these are the precisely correct life-expectancy estimates,” he told me. “We’re just trying to show that there are other factors that affect life-expectancy-at-birth estimates that people quote all the time.” These factors (which could also include rates obesity and smoking, also arguably the result of lifestyle choices rather than health care) call into question the value of country rankings, especially where the difference between the leading countries is often less than a year. Prof. Ohsfeldt compared the situation to college rankings where two schools with minute differences are ranked, somewhat arbitrarily." http://blogs.wsj.com/numbers/does-the-us-lead-in-life-expectancy-223/ Which I agree.  I see all of these rankings and question them as their methods are not really clear.  The Commonweatlhfund you pointed me to is just like that.  And as professor Oshfeldt showed, when you change minor things you get different rankings in life expectancy showing how minute the differences are.  You can't say that the US has a system that is inferior to other countries when they face many problems as well.  I am not in the top 5%.  I know several people who aren't, including one who just got heart surgery.  They have never had a problem with healthcare in the US. They are all productive in society.  Now does that mean the US system is great?  No.  I feel it has flaws and stem from the federal government. Allowing the federal government to get involved more is not the answer. People need to realize that just because we have a for profit system does not mean we have a free market system.  In reality we don't, we have a for profit system with government involvement.
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  1516. "Yes, DETAILS are always up for debate, but when someone pretend there is a debate about whether global warming is happening, or evolutionary theory, then they aren't interested in debating details" Except almost everyone is saying the earth is warming. That is the problem. When someone comes up as a skeptic people immediately label them as a climate change denier when they aren't. " but whether evolution happened is not of debate." I agree. But that is not my point. Same with climate change. The climate has been changing for over 4 billion years. What is happening right now we do not fully understand. And is it even bad? "The right has made science as much a religion as the left. " Uh, no. The right wants to keep science out of DC and leave it in the hands of the scientists. ". It's the reporting of science being turned into the science, " You can report things incorrectly. Science is a complex field that few understand. It seems like you are one of those few. That is not to be rude by you are presenting yourself like that. I get angry when I hear politicians like Obama and Bernie make claims in the name of science. I can see why Bernie struggled in science " The ones pretending there is some sort of broad "debate" are the same type of people that think creation science and spirit science are science" Again, not true. Look up Dover vs Penn and remember, that was a Bush appointed judge. "but if you are pretending there is a debate about whether AGW is happening," It is happening. But to what degree is man playing and is it even bad? "There is nothing wrong with more government in science, " Yes there is. It creates bureaucracy and special interest groups and hinders progress. "This particular government is supposed to ve a democracy, and people based, but it's led by corporations " Obama has received donor money from "green" energy companies. "By the way, science happens to have a left leaning," Not true at all. "because reality has a left leaning liberal bias." Yeah, like there are more than two genders. Or there is not a consensus on climate change. Or how Oregon, a liberal state, has anti-vaxxers. That is just on science, do not let me get to economics as you will look foolish on that statement.
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  1604. smarhaus Boo hoo.  It is a competitive world out there.  I personally hate it knowing that I don't have the option of working more hours.  Picking up a second job isn't that easy (even though I have two, and sometimes three myself).  A reason why your company laid you off is because one, you simply weren't that good of a worker, or two due to regulations it was too expensive to keep you.  The company my dad worked at closed, he picked up a job that pays $26/hr starting off, he is getting paid more now.  He had a lot of experience and they went after him.  This idea of "worker's rights" and "redistribution of the wealth" is what is killing jobs.  It makes it too hard to hire people. Plus, as I mentioned before, redistribution of the wealth is impossible.  You have to create wealth.  I showed that with my house example.  61% of an average family's net worth is in their home.  A homeowner has 30 times more wealth than a renter. Is it because a homeowner is oppressive to renters?  No, because beyond owning a home people don't have much wealth, but they can still have a nice income.  In order to have wealth redistribution you will have to start giving people Walmarts.  And considering how around 50% of small businesses fail within the first 5 years it is safe to say that in 5 years some Walmarts will do well and others will fail leading to more wealth redistribution.  You have to create wealth somewhere, and in order for wealth redistribution to take place the government has to "trickle down" that wealth to people who didn't create that wealth, and they have to do it constantly.   
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  1622. realCevra Obesity has nothing to do with healthcare programs.  It is simply someone eating healthy and staying fit.  I know obese people who keep going to the doctor and even at that still are obese.  They have access to healthcare but remain obese.  The problem in the US is cost, but we do have amazing quality.  We don't have wait times, we don't have to ration out our care like  what happen to the 16 year old girl in the story I linked.  If socialize care is so great then how come people leave their country to get care in the US.  My colleague, who is Canadian, put it honestly.  Socialize care is great if you need basic care as in a check up or are pregnant.  Every doctor can care for that and it isn't a rush issue.  But if you need surgery or that major MRI you either have to wait or not get it at all.  That is why he got his knee surgery done in the US.  He had to pay a lot (his insurance covered most of it) but he got it quickly.  Same when his cousin needed heart surgery, his family took him out of Canada to get quick high quality care in the US.  He comment overall was that when you experience both you realize the flaws of both and the US system is way better, especially for those that actually care. Another big comparison he made of the two system is that in Canada you get care and then leave.  In the US you are more aggressive.  You ask the doctor and nurse what is happening to you.  What can you do to get better, how much will it cost,  what is being done and what will happen from then on.  You become more involved with healthcare and take personal responsibility.  You don't do that as much with socialize care.  I rather take my advice from Canadians who experience both systems then some "fact sheet" that totally removes human thought from their analysis.
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  1623. ***** Krugman is a fool.  We have been using his ideas for the economy for almost half a century now and we are still a mess.  He only solution now is more government. Overall, if you look at the WHO ranking, the 3rd, 4th, and 5th ranked countries have a combined population that is less than every US state.  Never mind the point where that list considers access to care to be way more important then quality making that list frivolous.  Just that every country faces different issues. The system in the US has flaws.  I don't agree with replacing it with a system that has different flaws.  Instead I want to work and become creative to develop the best system possible because that is what we do in the US.  We, right away, deal with many different issues compared to other countries, especially smaller ones, so it is hard to compare us with them.  Also, in all, why can't we be different?  We need to work and develop a great system.  To me the only thing holding us back from doing that is liberals since they seem to never want to work.  Cost is an issue in the US, but our quality is amazing and anyone who says otherwise is a fraud.  So now that we have great quality we need to find a way to keep cost down but at the same time keep improving our quality.  Unlike some people out there I don't want a good system but I want the best and improve on that.  Socialize care isn't it.  The US system isn't that either but compared to every other system out there it is the best.  
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  1752. "These things WORK. They EMPRICALLY WORK as GOVERNMENT PROVIDED services/industries in other rich countries with huge robust economies such as Germany. " They work in countries of much smaller populations and completely different societies than the US. It really isn't comparable. That book I linked you pretty much makes that conclusion and Robert Oshfeldt emphasized it later in an interview. If you would have finished your PhD you would have learned how to do actual research and think critically as opposed to make vague conclusions and give out insults. On top of all that what program do you want to copy? Norway funds their programs from their oil, but Bernie wants to get off of fossil fuels. Denmark has mandatory military, but Bernie is opposed to military actions. Germany, as I already said, prevent people from going to college. But Bernie feels that anyone who is able should be allowed to go. So why are you even looking at those other countries when they don't even do what Bernie wants to do? "The current public school system/health care system/prison system/etc. ARE NOT WORKING" 2 out of those 3 programs you listed are government ran, so you want more government? And the problems with healthcare stem from the federal government. Adding more is not the solution. "They work much better in other countries" That is debatable. I already told you about healthcare. In education what is your standard? The US is in the top 5 in productivity. Do you want knowledgeable workers or productive workers? This issue is not as black and white as you make it out to be. I am not surprise you could not finish your PhD.
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  1835. +Gamesman01 It is one thing for the government to allow people to do something, it is another to force people to do something. What is wrong with the government, where at the local level is elected by the people, allowing the citizens to act how they want? As long as the constitution is not violated it is fine. In this case the constitution is not violated. What is evil? I view shutting down a private company for not wanting to back a cake for a gay wedding as evil. The owners of that company are minding their own business and a butt hurt couple decided to use government force to shut them down. That is evil. How would you feel if you lost your career because someone disagreed with you? i am not making an strawman, I am showing the hypocrisy of the regressive left by them using slippery slope arguments but criticizing others in using them. Let me change it? Allowing gay marriage will allow NAMBLA to marry little boys. There, better? Little boys can give consent. So what is your argument now? I don't care who is the minority, I just want everyone to be treated as equals under the law and not create a government that is overpowering. Also marriage is not a right, you need to learn and understand what rights our in this country. What you are doing is no different than what people did with Jim Crow laws. They hated a certain group of people so they oppressed them. You hate a certain group of people so you want to oppress them. If they do something you don't agree with than you will arrest them like Rosa Parks was arrested.
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  1836. +Martine Jim Crow laws were laws that forced discrimination. It was the government discriminating. This allow allows people to discriminate but they don't have to, and the government does not discriminate because that violates the 14th amendment. Everyone discriminates in some way shape or form. If a business discriminates than you can discriminate against that business by not going. "Most enlightened people think that Jim Crow was wrong" I 100% agree that Jim Crow laws were wrong, that is why I don't support any type of Jim Crow like laws like forced integration. This law passed by Mississippi is nothing like Jim Crow laws though. "Discriminating against LGBT is just as wrong." In what way? "This goes beyond a stupid cake.  You are going to get over not being able to buy a cake.  But then what's the next thing.  Renting an apartment ? Getting a job ? Getting service in a small town where there is little option to go elsewhere ?  Where does it stop?  " This is slippery slope now. I have no problem with slippery slope but you can't criticize others for using it. Plus those situations are rare an unlikely to happen. We have already see what happens when we have forced integration laws around, businesses that are not harming anyone get shut down by government force. "Basically with this hateful law, someone  gay in a small conservative town would be all but run out of town, with the full blessing of the law.  Do you consider that fair?" If someone is ran out of town it is for a lot more than them just being gay. Being raised in a small town I have seen several gay people get treated fine, and this is the same town that was against gay marriage. They were not ran out of town and if they are than the gay community can go create their own community, you are not going to be liked by everyone. "And then you claim you don't want to use straw man arguments and then you bring up NAMBLA (which I had to look up).  WTF??.  There are laws that prevent underage marriage." Just like there use to be laws against gay marriage that are no longer enforced.........you see my point? I bring up a slippery slope argument and you scream "there are laws against that". But when this law is created you are bringing up scenarios of gays being ran out of town. So slippery slope is ok for you to use but not others? "Why do you conservatives always bring up absurd arguments like that." Talk about the pot calling the kettle black (I am not conservative BTW, or libertarian). "Laws aren't a slippery slope." Says the person creating slippery slope arguments.
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  1837. +Martine It is not completely different. People can deny those things to others for lots of reasons. You can be denied housing if you have too many people living with you, that means families can be kicked out of their home. You can be denied a job simply for not getting along with a boss. At least with this law bigots will be exposed. Gay marriage use to be illegal, it is not anymore. Same with how discrimination use to be illegal, it is not anymore. Laws can change. " I'm sorry but if you can't see the difference between gay marriage and underage marriage there is something wrong with you. " I see the difference, I am wondering why you don't see the difference in how your slippery slope argument is just as dumb. If a business refuses service to someone just because they are gay then they can go public with it and expose them for what they are. You are making it seem like the LGBTXYZ community has no fighting chance unless they have threat from the government. The reality is that they do have a fighting chance, and a high one at that. "The majority of the population of the USA most definitively does NOT support underage marriage and would never stand for it." And the majority of MS support this law or they will vote out the politicians. So what's your point? " I was creating a potential scenario of a very conservative small town who could decide to deny housing and services to a gay person or gay couple, until they had no choice but to leave." That is a slippery slope. Also that sounds familiar. That sounds like a company being forced by the government to pay a heavy fine just because they did not agree with gay marriage. That is forcing them out of a business and potentially out of town. The only difference is that you have the government pointing a gun at someone's head to do it.
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  2015. First fact: Premium increase slowed down under Obama because of a recession. But, Obamacare was supposed to lower premiums meaning that Obamacare was a failure at the get go. Second fact: The loopholes favor the major corporations because they have the resources to manipulate them. We have a complex tax code that only the really well off who can afford accountants or the intelligent can figure out. Simplify the tax code means small businesses can succeed easier and big businesses don't have the advantage. Also, working with those loopholes adds to waste. As opposed to investing to grow a business a business will buy something meaningless in order to create a tax write off. You also have the mundane task of added paper work which wastes man hours. So just because the rate they pay is lower does not mean there isn't waste or money being spent by them. Third fact: A lot of those first generation immigrants cost money and pay very little in taxes, if any. Who cares about 2nd and 3rd generation immigrants. You create a hole with no guarantee to get out of Forth fact: They have a tax break, I don't see anything wrong here. The rich pay the most taxes to begin with and earn a lot of money. So the numbers TYT give are deceptive. Also, higher taxes does not necessarily mean more revenue. And no, they are not going to take away your healthcare Fifth fact: What makes you think they are not looking for jobs? How many of those college students stay on school due to a weak economy? Sixth fact: He could have changed this deal much like he change a lot of things already. Fact: TYT is full of idiots.
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  2025. Speedy, Carlo did not give me stats. He pointed to the WHO which refuses to do another ranking due to how much it was criticized. You can read what I wrote to him about how asinine it is to compare the US to Andorra. https://www.aei.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/-the-business-of-health_110115929760.pdf There are the stats with everything cited. So 1. Universal healthcare has problems and just as many as the US system has. People are not dying on the streets nor is our country being extremely held back by our system. If it was than I would agree, go with what other countries are doing. But the fact is that the US is on par with other countries 2. So what do you do with those insurance workers? Let them go unemployed? Also, our economy is based on a lot, but changing just one sector of it has a large impact. Look what happened with the housing market crashing. 3. The US has been using basically the same system for decades. The vast majority are fine with it as the vast majority are fine with their system in other countries. The reason why is because, as a whole, it works. When you run through the stats you see that. For example, the life expectancy of the US is around 79 years and for Australia it is 82 years. Now former MIT professor Walter Lewin said any number without error is meaningless. A couple of years ago I found the average life expectancy of the world and standard deviation to be 71±7 years. So one, the US is one standard deviation above the average. Two, that 3 year difference between the US and Australia is purely noise. So, to answer your question. The people are not stupid. What we have works just fine compared to other countries. This is why healthcare reform is so hard to begin with.
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  2076. Why are you talking about kings? A king is centralized government where the vast majority of the power is in one entity. Libertarians, at the very least, support limited federal government and more state rights. Now some support no government which I don't agree with. But to say that libertarians support isolating the power in one entity is 100% wrong. The US has the best university system in the world. Your comparison of education rankings is comparing k-12 rankings. That is flawed in several ways. One is that other countries only test their best and brightest and only allow those to go to college. Another is that is not necessarily the best way to determine educational rankings. The US is top 5 in productivity and number one in research and innovation of science and technology. College was only free in select areas in the US, mainly CA. The CA school system is broke because of it. College is expensive only because of the student loan program created by the federal government which increased demand but not supply of college. We are limited in supply, we can't just give it away. Even at that there are still affordable colleges to attend. So your argument of "free college" is was great and is better in other countries falls apart. The hard part is that other countries university systems are completely different to begin with. In healthcare other countries have problems as well. The US has arguably the best healthcare system in the world. Read the book "The Business of Health" by professor John Schneider and Professor Oshfeldt. Before you vote you should read up on the topic a little more and be more aware of what is really going on.
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  2201. Economically they become more conservative. Socially maybe, depends. They don't fall for the bullcrap as easily, but they do become more conservative economically. What I mean by bullcrap is when a gay couple uses the government to shut down a cake shop. That is not a favorable position and it is reason like that people were so resistant to gay marriage. Gay people were doing the exact same thing they were fighting against. They were using the government to oppress people they did not agree with. "look at opinion polls on religion, everyone is becoming less religious as they get older, including older generations" Eh, somewhat. "democratic voters are better educated." Depends on what you mean by "educated". Are they more intelligent? To me they aren't. They appeal to emotions constantly and as a moderate I realized that when you break down their arguments on the issue they always resort to emotions there on the right they have more facts and logic behind their argument. "being gay is a shallow group? you're the ignorant one." When you shut down a private business because they refuse to serve you that is being shallow. That couple could have went to another cake shop. Instead they went SJW on that company and use government force to shut them down. That was just as bad as Jim Crow Laws where people used government force to forced black people to move to the back of the bus or not be allowed in the white school. Now you are being the oppressor using government as your weapon. "they get pissed off and don't vote, and yet they still won the presidency by millions of votes" You have outliers. The two most populist cities are NYC and LA where people in cities typically vote democrat. Now the reason why is another discussion we can have if you want, but that is why they gained so many votes. Rural areas typically vote republican which is why all the flyover states voted for Trump. So the number of votes does not matter. It is similar to a NFL team winning all 16 games in the regular season and losing the Super Bowl. In the end they did not win the whole thing. Republicans also control Congress and several local offices as well.
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  2202. I am not wrong. Who controls congress and most state and local offices? Fact is democrat supporters stayed home. " It would be interesting to see some stats on that" Look at the age groups each party attracts. Republicans always attract the older crowd. The older you get you start paying taxes, have to manage a budget, you probably own a home and have a job. You realize the financial side of things and become economically conservative, especially when you deal with the government. 1. Yes, they are being oppressive. People, as a whole don't care if you are gay. Just like people, as whole, don't care about your political party and religion. We just don't want to hear about it or have you use it to gain an advantage. 2. Not really. People do support the traditional value of marriage just like they support a lot of tradition. Why people think like that I can't say. I can't think for others. Why do some people like to wear hats? Again, I don't know. To me my main issue is how marriage, as a whole, should remain a state law and how it is not a right. I personally don't care if it is recognized by government or not (it has always been legal), I just care about the standards of how we create laws 3. Yes. Yes. It is their business that they run from their own money. No one is entitled to their services. What you are doing by forcing them to serve in a way they don't want is being an oppressor. No different than when people used laws to make black people drink at a different drinking fountain. You are being the oppressor now. That is their private business. They don't have to exist at all. " It's not as fast as the changes in opinion on gay marriage, but at this rate if the trend continues Christians would become be a minority in america in about 15-16 years." Maybe. "you said they 'lack education'. with that phrasing it's fair to assume you meant school, college, etc. now you're just making generalizations about them being emotional, people on both sides are emotional, but about different values." Being educated, to me, is knowing how to handle emotions and use logic to dictate actions. Also being educated is having problem solving skills and being able to properly analyze facts and data.
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  2263. " they have to for everyone once they recognize it for anyone," No they do not if there is not benefit to that local community according to the government. "that's what the fourteenth amendment is about." " Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. Section 2. Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the Executive and Judicial officers of a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State. Section 3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may, by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability. Section 4. The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void. Section 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article" The ruling on the 14th amendment is that marriage was between a man and a women, thus it can't discriminate base on race. But in terms of gender one can argue that there is no benefit in recognizing marriage between people of equal sex. If you are going to allow marriage between a man and a woman than race should not matter. But in terms of gender you can make an argument that a marriage should be between a man and a woman as the reason why the government was involved in marriage to begin with was only for that purpose. With your argument you start down the path of incest and polygamy. All or nothing according to you.
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  2269. "if that action is only distinguished by race, sexual preference, gender, religion etc. from an action that is recognized, the non-recognition is unconstitutional, because it's an unconstitutional discrimination. polygamy is not recognized from anyone, there is no discrimination." Polygamy is a religious practice, so according to you it is discrimination. " discrimination. look, there is a marriage licence waiting to be signed saying, you are married to john doe. who is able to get that licence? according to you only a female, not a male. that is discrimination," No that is not discrimination. What would be discrimination is only allowing men to get marriage licenses. But as is both men and women can get marriage licenses. "no male can get that marriage licence, " They can get another one and receive the same benefits. "you are married to african american john doe, and only african american people can get this licence, just because of their race." I told you how race is different. You do not act black. You are genetically born that way. You do act gay. While you may be born to be attractive to the same sex, you still have to commit an action. If the government does not recognize gay marriage they are not recognizing the action. They are not discriminating because everyone can get married that is recognized by the government, it just has to be between a man and a woman. No different than not recognizing the action and practice of polygamy. " the amount of people who have to agree is irrelevant in this context, the amount of people is not a protected group." It does matter as I can get a driver's license on my own terms. Plus, if the amount of people does not matter, why is polygamy not recognized? You are contradicting yourself. "... have the wrong race (you need to have the same race) ... have the wrong color of skin (you are not white)" You do not act white or black. You are genetically born that way. Your race is something that is always you no matter how you act or what you practice. That is why the government can't discriminate base on race. "... believe in the wrong religion (you are not christian)" The 1st amendment prevents that. "... are not from america or europe (you are from africa) ... are older than 40 (you are 56)" Same with race, you do not act a certain age, you are 56 no matter what you practice. You are from Africa no matter what you practice. "... have the wrong sex (you need to have the opposite sex)" One gay marriage you are practicing something. The government is not recognizing the practice of gay marriage. While you may be attractive to the same sex, being gay is something that involves an action. You can be a black man walking down the street and in the end you are a black man walking down the street. Now if you are black having gay sex, you are still black but now you are performing a gay act. If you decide to skateboard you are still black, but now you are skateboarding. If you get married to a guy you are still black, but now you have performed the act of a gay marriage. You see the trend? In every instance you are black, but the action you are performing defines who you are. Someone can be a pedophile and be attract to kids. Do we arrest them based only on that? No. We arrest them if they perform the act of having sex with a child. An action has to occur. With gay marriage, no one is discriminating against gays, they are not recognizing the action. "... you are not a perfect human (you have a genetic irregularity)" People with mental retardation are not allowed to reproduce. So based on that they are discriminated as well. But let me add another one to you list --you are already married (polygamy)
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  2284. "i said they are not reviewed by peer reviewed scientific journals, which is true." No you did not. " you were arguing from your textbook, while i was arguing from facts out of scientific papers, so i told you the difference" They are both peer reviewed. And textbooks are written based on those papers. Arguing from a textbook is no different than arguing from a paper. " i cited an author of standard economic theory " No you did not. If so than please list it again. " but because of your lack of knowledge you could not recognize him in my comment" You did not list a name, period. " which was enough to demonstrate your shortcomings" Enough to demonstrate your shortcomings is showing that you feel that textbooks are unreliable even though they are written based on the papers that are published. And textbooks, especially the introductory ones, are peer reviewed. Introductory ones are done by many professionals in their field where papers in journals may be done by three (and they are, at times, picked by the authors of that paper). Plus, you were talking about basic economics thus you should have been able to find support from any introductory textbook. The fact you did not shows your shortcomings. "what on earth is wrong with you? the fourteenth amendment guarantees equal rights, " What on earth is wrong with you? You have no right in getting your marriage or marriages (polygamy) to be recognized, period. "so if jane doe gets the right to get her marriage recognized with john smith, then joe doe needs to get the same right, to get a marriage with john smith recognized" And based on that than Joe Smith has the right to have his marriage with Jane Doe, Joe Buck, Mary Sue be recognized even if he is married to them simultaneously (polygamy). If not than it is discrimination. "is that so hard to understand?" I fully understand, you are just wrong and you are contradicting yourself. "neither joe doe, nor jane doe, nor john smith nor anyone else has the right to get a polygamy recognized by law" Why not? Why do you discriminate? "they only get the right to live in polygamy when it's their religious practice. " And you have the right to live with someone of the same sex. You can also live with many partners and have that right (beyond zoning laws) and not be religious. You do not want to recognize polygamy which contradicts your discrimination stance. Gay people can always live with each other, same with those practicing polygamy. Thing was the government did not recognize their marriage. "they won't get any licence, but are free to live as they please." Same with gay marriage. "no discrimination at all, no one gets different rights than others" Uh, yes they do. They are still married. "states have to follow the constitution" I agree. " if states don't offer equal rights, then they act against the constitution and such laws are struck down" I know, but you have no right to have your marriage recognized by the government. ". distinction upon sex is discrimination" It is distinction upon the action, not sex.
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  2339. realCerva, you are the same person who said that authors do not use peer reviewed sources for textbooks. My point on them citing peer reviewed sources is that they are credible. You can read them and they are not hiding thing. They give all their methods and all their sources for you to read. "i can quickly write you an article with 2+2=5 and cite one of your beloved allegedly peer reviewed math textbooks, " Except no textbook will ever support that. Any source you give will show how you are wrong because the reader can read the source you cited. That's the point. "also the time you're a phd candidate is enough for other people to complete two masters" Earning a PhD takes various years. Usually around 5. It takes 2 to 3 years to earn a masters. It all depends. For me, I changed programs a couple times from physics to another program and then to physical chemistry. So I delayed me in some ways. Not completely as I entered the P-chem program with all my courses done. I took my tests. Now I am extending it for a year for three reasons 1. To take MBA courses to work on an MBA 2. Study up on pharmacology so I can hopefully enter the medical field 3. To help my advisor build a lab. On the last part my advisor is new. I am his most productive student. In his 4 years as a professor he just submitted his fourth paper. We are working on a review and three papers for me this summer. Out of all that (one review, seven papers), I contributed to six of those papers. I plan on taking a year to help him get the lab completely organize and write a thesis that is detailed so he can give it to future students so they can learn the theory of the research he does. So you can criticize me all you want. What you have just showed is that you, once again, have no clue how academic works and how peer reviewed works or how books are written. But again, you are the one that can't cite a general econ book.
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  2458. Roberto Blake Him being a college dropout doesn't man anything.  He grew up during a time where computer technology was taking off, he was just a tech nerd that you see all over the place.  There are several individuals in high school students that can code very well. Others just decided to use it for something useful as in science research or entertainment or making apps and so on. Zuckerburg copied a myspace.  Myspace was the communication tool before facebook and before myspace there was Friendster.  What made Facebook so popular in the beginning was that it targeted just one group, college students in the beginning.  Thus it became a way for a group of people with one interest to join.  Facebook was a myspace for just college students.  After expanding to high school students and on it took off and became a myspace now.  So in the end Facebook is a myspace, nothing really special.  Due to how it was first designed for just college kids and it being simple and the rapid expansion of the internet it became popular but really it isn't anything special.  We have seen this a while now. http://www2.uncp.edu/home/acurtis/NewMedia/SocialMedia/SocialMediaHistory.html Twitter is actually more innovated.  While everyone was going bigger and better (Facebook started small and kept expanding) Twitter kept it simple to where people enjoy seeing rapid news feed in a simple way.  Zuckerburg's failure is that he allowed Facebook to get too big.  While it is still popular it isn't as big as it once was.
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  2466. "Now though, if one of your paid checkups returns with a need for a CTscan to 'check' for something that may or may not be a problem.. is this covered? or at your own expense? " That can depend on the plan you buy. At that point you are getting into the area of what type of healthcare plans do you want to buy. Can you afford catastrophic care only or can you afford anything extra. Maybe your plan will lower your rate if you get routine checkups. Maybe your plan will pay for a CT scan every other year. You are getting into the area of what the consumer wants to buy themselves. But in the end people should have that option. "I'm happy knowing, if anything happens to me anywhere in this country. I will be picked up and transported by ambulance to a hospital and treated for whatever i need for $0 out of pocket. I pay, as we all do, 2% income tax to fund public health, and I'm covered literally for anything, anywhere. GP's are free, basic medicines are heavily subsidised." I am happy knowing that the US leads the world in research and innovation in healthcare and technology and we can treat rare cases like what was mentioned in this video. I am happy knowing I am not at the mercy of the government like Charlie Gard was. I am happy knowing that I don't have to wait on a waiting list to receive care. Every system has flaws. To feel that the system you live in does not have flaws is ignorance. I don't say that to be rude, I say that because people need to understand that. There is no such thing as an ideal system. I feel they system I want is better as it leads to lower prices, better quality, and freedom for the consumers giving them the power as opposed to giving power to the government and/or insurance companies.
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  2491. Ok, I want a job at TYT and I want to be paid a "living wage."  That is common sense, right?  I bet they won't even consider it.  Many things wrong with this discussion.  First, this drive was set up to help associates who went through hardships like a death in the family or a home burning down or a medical condition.  Those are things that unfortunately happen and even if best planned still hold people back.  This is just pathetic that these two will rip on a business trying to help people who face hard times.  When one of my co-worker's dad died (when he was 17) us as a company donated food and money to help with the funeral.  That is what helpful societies do where crazy asinine liberal like these two idiots just rip on it.  Sorry your life is so great with no problems.  If someone happens to one of you don't accept any help from you business you work for. Next, you can't define a living wage.  Too many variables.  So raising the wage to a living wage makes no sense since it can't be defined.  Also, when people face hard times their living wage goes up.  So that means if someone's house burned down they all of a sudden deserve more money.  That is what they are saying. As a whole business want to pay employees more.  It increases productivity of workers, has them stay and improves business.  At the same time they have to sell an affordable product.  That is the challenge of running a business.  Walmart is a 24 hour store that has to please stock holders as well as pay workers.  As a whole they simply can't afford to pay higher wages.  They would love too but can't.  And if they were so set on paying every worker dirt they would pay everyone the min. wage but they actually pay more. If these workers want more money they should develop a skill and move up.  In our society they are actually not very productive and can easily be replaced thus they are not worth much.  Walmart already has self checkouts.  If needed too they can fine other automatize ways to do business if you force them to pay employees more then what they are worth. 
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  2511. "why is driving a privilege but owning a gun is a right? " Because owning a gun is a killing machine that can be used to fight against a tyrannical government. You are talking about this situation " Look at every regime that resorted to killing it's own citizens as a means of repression. Tsarist Russia, Britain, Revolutionary France, various regimes in Africa and South America, and even China. Rarely are the regimes able to continue repressing their people after resorting to slayings. The regime always caves to pressure and makes concessions sooner or later. In this situation it is better for the health of society to have controls on civilian firearm ownership so as to prevent the facilitatation of crime. It's not like people in other countries don't own guns or that gun control means they are totally banned anyway." But the key thing is that you are saying they don't have the rights to begin with. We do. We have a standard that ends up leading to civil ways to discuss laws and how the are created. With gun ownership the standard is there to give citizens the ability to control government, and any discussion of gun control only happens because of the 2nd amendment. It has prevented the government from disarming the citizens. "Driving allows for greater freedom than not, and driving would also be valuable in a revolution. " Not really. Government controls the roads. Also you do have freedom to move all over the country no matter what means that may be. So you have freedom to travel which is covered in the constitution as well. "If gun ownership is a right, why shouldn't we have the right to own anything we want?" For the most part you. Gun ownership set a hard line because it is a tool to fight with. Owning a car isn't, same with a house. But you have the right to pursue happiness like owning a car and home. "If the reason the state can regulate cars is in the name of safety, then why should they not do the same for guns?" In the public sector they do such as having a CCW or not having a loaded gun in your car (like in CA). You can own the gun, but in public there are restrictions. Much like DUI checkpoints don't violate the 4th amendment. You can own a car without registering it and you can drive it without having a license, as long as you stay on private property. Just like my gun is concealed in my home. "Do you understand now why making gun ownership a guaranteed right not make perfect sense?" You don't fully understand the constitution. Gun ownership was the hard line set in the constitution. If contested it will lead to a civil debate as opposed to the government just marching into your harm and taking your guns away like the British did. On car ownership that falls under state rights and the right to pursue happiness. You are given the right to own a gun, but you are not given a gun. Just like have the right to pursue happiness, but you are not guaranteed it. If a state were to ban driving that is their right as a state, but their economy will suffer as people are free to move.
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  2514. " It would be great if we could have things like more robust welfare, universal healthcare (including mental health), free college (or at least more subsidies and forgiveness of student loans), more infrastructure spending, paid family leave, and policies to promote higher wages, but Republican politicians are opposed to all of those things as well. " It is more of the fact that they are unconstitutional. Also, I assume you are a person who feels that money in politics is a problem and politicians are corrupt, do you want to give those same federal politicians that kind of power to run all of those services? "For example, they always love to say "we have a mental health problem" and then turn around and try to repeal the largest healthcare reform the country has seen in decades." Obamacare made healthcare worse. Just because the government provides something doesn't mean it is the best we can have. "Weak government is exactly what the corporations that buy our government want! " Nope. If the federal government has no power than it can't be bought. A limited federal government means that corporations can give as much money as they want to federal politicians but nothing will happen as the powers are limited. "How can you be so blind!? Why do you think all that the Corporatist politicians want to do is de-regulate business and defund regulatory agencies?" They have the power to regulate to begin with. Democrats make "regulations" that favor certain companies. "When the government is weak, no one is there to stop corporate entities from doing whatever they want" And the federal government has no power, so there is no need to buy it. "Local and state governments are even easier to buy than the Federal Government " Not true. If you are involved in your community you can see first hand how government is working for you and control it. Also you can move and remain a US citizen if it continues to fail. "The only way to end corruption is to cut it out like the cancer it is. " The cancer is the federal government have growing power. The symptom is money in politics. Money in politics is just a symptom, you need to kill the disease. If you allowed the federal government to run healthcare you have just given it the power to pick and choose which provider we have to get our care from.
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  2556. Erik Dumas A right in the US is protected by the constitution.  You don't have a right to drive.  The government can deny you of that and the SC does not even have to get involved.  Now if the state government tried to deny you a right, say the 2nd amendment, they have to have a great reason such as you committed murder.  But with that you also have other rights taken away and it is done on an equal level and with extreme cases. But state governments can ban driving easily and with no action by the SC. "But that's my point, the government would first have to change the law. They cannot simply revoke my ability to drive on a whim." To amend the constitution it takes a lot of actions and when it is done it covers the entire country.  That is the difference. "But that doesn't eliminate my right to drive, it simply eliminates my right to drive on that particular road. And once again, the judicial branch could very well determine that the state (or local government) did not actually have the power to eliminate my right by closing the road, and force them to reopen it." The SC will never do that as that is strictly a state issue. "You are entitled to that opinion, however your opinion has absolutely no bearing on what the law actually says." Which is a problem because we need to follow the constitution.  Nothing in the constitution says abortion is a right. That is why is should remain a state law like murder is a state law. ". Legal does not equal correct." I agree with that and see that as a problem. To me it is scary how the fate of our country comes down to a simple majority of 9 people. "Just ask any legal expert. They'll tell you that that is absolutely not the way rights work." I have and they have worded it differently. 
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  2557. Erik Dumas Yes, due process is a right.  But the government can take actions to prevent you from driving such as closing down roads or even creating a high tax on gas. They have round about ways. That is the difference.  A federal government can't block a sign as that will go against the 1st amendment. They can close down roads. It is similar to search and seizure and DUI checkpoints.  They are allowed because you are on public roads.  That is your privilege.  They can stop you in that case. You don't have a right to drive, you have a privilege. Just like education, you have no right to it and no state has to offer you it.  Roe vs Wade should have been left up to the states.  Nothing in the Constitution is about abortion.    On murder with the exception of number 6 the others deal a lot with constitutional rights and foreign affairs, similar to treason.  For example, killing an elected official can be seen as treason.  Killing on a ship deals with that as in water what state has jurisdiction is fuzzy. Murder by mail is there because the federal government controls the post office.  That is where the difference lies.  I feel that rulings done by the SC should be altered. Now I could be wrong here and I could look it up (I have a copy of the constitution in my desk next to me), but no where does it say the SC ruling has to be a majority.  To me is should be unanimous. In that case Roe vs Wade would not have passed. The fact that the fate of the country comes down to 9 people is a problem. But in the end driving is a privilege, not a right.  The DUI checkpoint is what I discussed about with a lawyer.  You have a right to privacy but on public roads you have the privilege of driving on there thus certain actions can be done to ensure safety.  Because that goes to the next point of if people are so concerned about safety, why not ban driving or put breathalyzers in people's cars?   A constitutional right is a hard standard, laws are flexible in that sense.  
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  2558. Erik Dumas" Just as long as those actions do not in any way infringe on constitutional rights" I agree, I have been saying that the entire time.  You have no right to drive, that is a privilege.  ". For instance, they can't stop individuals based purely on their race, and they cannot search your vehicle without probable cause or a warrant." I agree on race, that is the 14th amendment.  On searching the car not so much.  Again, you are on public roads so they can search your vehicle with limits.  In my state it was within arm's reach of the driver.  So front and back seat but not a third row of seats. Not the trunk or glove compartment. "Are you just going to ignore the fact that the Supreme Court ruled the way they did precisely because they felt that outlawing abortion would go against the privacy rights outlined in the 14th Amendment?" And they misinterpreted the 14th amendment.  You have a right to privacy, but not a right to an abortion.  I have no clue how you can read the 14th amendment and say abortion has to be legal based on how it is written.  "You're fine with the federal government setting legal precedent due to fuzzy wording of the Constitution when it comes to murder" It is not fuzzy wording, Some of those forms of murder dealt treason. Killing an elected official is just that. Others deal with international situations.  I don't agree with all of them, but killing on a ship in water where no state has jurisdictions is a federal issue at that point. "You are free to disagree with that law, but don't go making absurd claims that the Roe v. Wade decision was in any way illegal. You disagreeing with something doesn't make it illegal" Based on what was written in the constitution it was an incorrect ruling.  How can one make a conclusion the SC did by the wording of the 14th amendment is beyond me. "If that were the case, a hell of a lot of Supreme Court decisions would not have passed." Which is not a bad thing. "   How much do you want to bet that there are quite a few in that list you agree with?" Doubtful, I am really strict when it comes to the constitution.  Also, with a unanimous decision it will be partisan. Right now SC justices vote on party lines. " A privilege is a type of right " Not really.  Rights in this country are listed in the constitution. They are protected and can only be changed by amendment the constitution which takes a federal effort.   
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  2559. Erik Dumas Actually I am very knowledgeable on constitutional law since I have to pass a test on it for my job.  Yes, your definition of a "right" is very broad.  We have protected rights that are listed in the constitution. You are pointing at laws.  Now yes, due process is a right, but you don't have a right to drive.  Your privilege to drive is protected by due process. Big difference.    "The 14th Amendment requires that laws be reasonably justifiable." Define "reasonable".  That is a very broad word which is why that word is not in the 14th amendment.  The constitution is the standard, it is not meant to be broad. "Correct. Adults between the ages of 18 and 21 no longer have the right to smoke tobacco in California. I didn't say that no laws could ever be passed that restrict rights. What I said was that such laws need to justify themselves by demonstrating that they protect more important rights" But where is the due process?  Now you are running away from that.  A state just took rights away from citizens according to you without due process.  Or, maybe the reality is that they changed a law. Those individuals no longer have the privilege to smoke.  "That's weird, because I'm pretty sure lots of people (most people, in fact) already did." And they are incorrect.  "Why not indeed! I think they should be (at least most recreational drugs). That would be consistent with the privacy rights established in the 14th Amendment." The reason why is because the 14th amendment does not cover abortion like it does not cover drugs. The 14th amendment, by how section 1 is written, prevents states from treating US citizens differently in any way.  That is how I interpret it.  For example, in Brown vs Board a state could not deny a certain race education but offer it to others. You want to talk about privacy I agree that is covered in the 14th amendment under " No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States" But that's it.  There is nothing about making abortion illegal or legal.  You want to extend on privacy, if I were to kill my wife in the privacy of my own home, what isn't that legal? I have a right to privacy.  But yet murder is illegal.  Honestly, as a lawyer told me you can have sex with little boys if you want as long as you don't get caught.  That is privacy.  You an have an abortion and as long as you don't get caught you are fine.  But whether or not it is illegal is a state issue. Just like having sex with little boys is.  I can do it, without proper cause the government can't search my home.  But if I get caught it is illegal.  The act of having an abortion would be determined to be illegal or legal as you don't have a right to that.  You have a right to privacy. 
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  2560. Erik Dumas Actually I passed with a 93%.   You have a privilege to drive and as I showed you the government can find a way to prevent that even without due process much like they change smoking laws.  Your interpretation of the 14th amendment is incorrect. When the 14th amendment says privileges they mean what is protected for them in the constitution, like privacy.  Again, abortion being illegal or legal can not be interpret from that, period.  "Because you would be, by definition, depriving your wife of her right to life" And you are depriving those cells from living.  By definition they are a living thing.  Also, you have a right to life, you are not guaranteed it.  Just like you have a right to free speech but not guaranteed it if a radio station does not allow you to play an ad. Or you have a right to bear arms but you are not given one. " What? That same logic could be applied to any crime. Just because you haven't been caught yet doesn't make the act you committed legal. It just means you haven't been caught yet. That lawyer is an idiot and should frankly be disbarred for giving out that kind of "legal advice."" Well, just like you enjoy making up definitions for what a right is and is wrong you are also wrong here.  He is a very successful lawyer and is correct here. Having sex with little boys is illegal, but as long as you don't get caught you can do it.  That is the key point there.  You have privacy in your own home and the government can't spy on your or invade your privacy without probably cause.  So someone can do that as long as they want as long as they caught.  When they do they were caught committing a crime and will be arrested. The same is for abortion.  You have a right to privacy, a state can't deny that via the 14th amendment since you are a US citizen.  If you get caught doing an abortion and it is illegal according to that state then you will be arrested.  But you have to be caught. " Yes, everyone automatically has a right to privacy (though, that does not mean they are incapable of forfeiting that right through their actions in instances where protecting that right to privacy would necessitate not protecting someone else's fundamental rights), which is why making abortions (prior to viability) illegal is unconstitutional" Ok, and having sex with little boys is legal than along with killing dogs, doing drugs, beating your wife and other things as long as it is private. That is your entire argument.  My argument is that you have a right to privacy in that the government can't get into doctor's records.  So if you have an abortion the doctor does not have to say.  That is privacy.  Abortion can still be illegal, but if you don't get caught then so be it.  Same with killing your wife.  "Since no one else's right are being threatened, the State has no authority to interfere" What about the father? Why does he have to pay for child support?  He has a right to his property and a right to privacy.  Why does he not get a say considering how half of that child is his.  Seems like again the law is not consistent. " Like I said earlier, rights are worthless if the government isn't given the power to protect those rights" They do, abortion is not one of those rights. " The Constitutional interpretation you suggest would essentially gut the federal government's ability to protect rights listed in the Constitution" Nope, because they are clearly listed.  You do not have a right to an abortion.  That will have to be written in the constitution to make it a right. It is clear you don't study constitutional law.
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  2561. Erik Dumas I understand the constitution.  I am question if you do.  "If knowledge of constitutional law and legal precedent is a requirement, then you have demonstrated that you are woefully inadequate." I find a lot of irony in that statement. "They can, but they can't just do it for whatever reason they want. The Supreme Court reserves the right to overturn any state or federal laws they deem to be unconstitutional." A state can change a law if they want as long as it does not violate the constitution.  You have to understand if state banned driving they will piss off a lot of voters.  They do not need a reason. " Obviously it can. I'm doing that right now. The Supreme Court did that back in 1973, and they have continued to interpret it that way." Then why have states, let the federal government set all the laws. "And how much privacy can you truly say a person has if the government is able to arbitrarily stick it's nose in their personal medical business? Seriously, if the state has the authority to outlaw this medical procedure (which harms no one), what other medical procedures can they outlaw? How is that not an egregious infringement of personal liberties?" A state can outlaw medical procedures like it can outlaw certain drugs.  It does not mean you can't do them.  All it means is you have privacy and the state cannot access your medical records without a warrant.  Just like I can shoot up a bunch of heroin tonight.  As long as I do not get caught I am fine.  The government cannot invade my private life.  If abortion is illegal in a state you can still perform it, just do not get caught like that lawyer told me.  But according to you he should be disbarred.  This relates to if evidence is obtained without a warrant it cannot be used in court because that person's private life was violated.  "And living thing does not equal person. If it did, we would have to give plants and animals the same fundamental rights human beings get. Are you advocating for that?" And that is one of the issues of abortion.  Personally I do not care.  I care about the standard in how laws are set. Whether or not abortion is illegal or not does not matter to me.  But it is a legit argument that fetus is potentially a living human being so killing it is murder.  I am not saying I agree, I am saying that is a legit argument. "As far as the government is concerned, I am. That's why it's illegal for someone to come along and murder me." Then why isn't all murder federal law?  Why do we not give homeless people homes to lower the chance of them dying?  Why do we not give out food to everyone?  How far are you going to take this "right to life"?  "Let's not muddy the waters with yet another constitutional topic you don't fully understand." Again, an ironic statement.  Forget a private company, why not a government radio company? We do have PBS. Why do we not have those so I am guaranteed my right to speech? Why am I not given a gun?  "In short, the situation you describe is not an example of the government limiting free speech. At all." I agree, but why don't we have public stations that allows everyone to have free speech? "How does any of what you've said justify making the invasion of privacy by the state necessary inherently necessary in making abortions illegal?" In this entire argument you are talking about privacy.  Do you even know what privacy means?  Privacy does not mean having an abortion.  You an make abortion illegal and still have privacy.  For some reason you are equating privacy to abortion which makes zero sense.  A state can make abortion illegal and still respect your privacy.  You do not have a right to an abortion, you have a right to privacy. "You idiot, if abortions were made illegal, doctors wouldn't be legally able to perform an abortion." I know.  But you have the right to privacy. Just like I can do drugs in my apartment and the government can't just invade my apartment. That is the point.  Privacy does not equal abortion. I find it ironic you call me an idiot when you do not know the definition of basic words. "What about the father? What does the father have to do with the discussion of abortion? Unless this is a very special father, the fetus will not be residing in his body." Biologically, half of that child is his.  So the father should play a role.  Seems like science is also not a strong point for you. "It's very consistent in this matter. A fetus is not a person." But potentially could be.  "Privacy is a fundamental right protected by the federal constitution." I agree. Abortion isn't though. "This horseshit again? Abortion is a private medical procedure, which does not effect any person but the person choosing to get an abortion." The father loses a child.  So I disagree.  But I agree, it is a private medical procedures and the government does not have the right to access it. You brought up someone ratting on the doctor.  They can arrest that doctor, but can't get into the medical history of his patients.  That is the key there.  "If you're arguments so far are any indication, all you are is some idiot with a copy of the Constitution in his desk and a tendency to completely ignore the bits of it you don't like." And this is ironic because according to you privacy=abortion.  Think about that before you talk about definitions. But oh, I forgot.  You seem to think a certain lawyer should be disbarred.  I feel you are no more than some fool who thinks they know everything but don't.  You only cited one court case, Roe vs Wade so you are no better off.  Open a dictionary and look up the definitions of Privacy and Abortion
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  2611. +Mathew Carley 1. The productivity increase of min. wage worker has been basically stagnate for years. In some cases they have been replaced all together due to technology. We have seen an increase in productivity due to improvements in technology. Look up Skilled Biased Technological Change. 2. It is comparable. Businesses don't pay more for one simple reason.....they can't afford it. Same as in how some people down own homes or nicer cars. Businesses manage their money and if someone makes a low wage then they should manage their money as well. Businesses would love to pay more and offer more to both their workers and customers but simply can't. 3. What doesn't make sense? Over 80% of McDonalds are franchised, so no, McDonalds corporate headquarters simply can't raise wages because they have zero control over it. You seem to not understand how corporations work as well. Corporations have to keep shareholders happy. McDonalds has over 900 million shares oustanding. Shareholders want to see their investment grow for whatever reason (mostly retirement). If you cut profits you cut the value of shares thus you have now made investing in McDonalds a greater risk. Due to that people will pull out their money causing McDonalds to having to shrink in size and thus less jobs. It isn't as easy as they make X thus they can pay Y. As far as price increases are concerned, as I said, if all it took was that much of an increase with no lost in customers then businesses will raise prices already to collect more profits. But in the competitive market it isn't that easy. Herman Cain had a great discussion with Bill Clinton running through the numbers how forcing his business to pay for healthcare insurance will lead to employees being fired. Clinton said that they can just raise the price of pizza. Cain said that in reality you can't do that because larger companies can do with less resources (employees for example) until the market stabilizes. This is why Walmart supported a min. wage increase in the past, they knew it would hurt smaller competitors. So like with profits, simply saying it will raise the price of X a certain amount is over simplifying the situation. As far as other price increases are concerned? They are due to other factors involved in business related expenses which is another topic in itself. But usually can be pointed towards other government regulations (for example gas prices and the fact that regulations have not allowed for a refinery to be open in 40 years). If you look at PPP you will see that the US is high on the list of GDP per capita. The reason why is because of our low prices. What you also have to realize is that in all these min. wage studies the min. wage has be risen at small amounts, at around 30%. That is small compared to the US economy. Christina Romer said that if the min. wage were to go up to $9.50/hr, and assuming that all the money is transferred from the top (which isn't the case ever), the economy will grow 0.02%. That is it. So here you are jumping up and down about a min. wage increase and giving me numbers when you have to realize that overall we are currently talking about a small part of the economy. And comparing the overall economy to the min. wage and the price of the Big Mac is quite pathetic really. And I also love how you pick on a major corporation without realizing all the other companies that exist out there with much smaller numbers in profits and businesses. If you want me to provide data I easily can. Right now I feel the best route is to correct your misunderstanding of the current numbers you are looking at. You have to understand economics, business and marketing before we can go farther. Compare it to you have to understand general physics before we can go on to Quantum Mechanics, or Optics and so on.
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  2619. Spencer, your numbers are deceptive. Of course no one in Canada dies due to lack of healthcare insurance because they have a difference system. Everyone, by definition, have access in Canada to healthcare. But that does not mean the quality is high. In my state we lowered the standard for graduating high school and changed the definition of what a drop out is and the next year our graduate rate increased by a lot. Does that mean people in my state are more educated? No. So simply saying "no one dies in Canada due to lack of access of healthcare" is deceptive. How many die because the quality is low? Next, 45,000 is only 0.01% of the population in the US. In statistics that is noise. If you have an error of 0.01% in any statistical data set that is great. I have published data with 10% error before in my work. You cannot say, with high certainty, that the reason why those 45,000 people died is because of lack of healthcare access. Most are poor to begin with where poor people are generally less healthy and less responsible. For example, everyone has access to K-12 education but around 10% of the US natural born population do not have a high school diploma. It is offered to them for free, they choose not to pursue it despite data showing that having a degree increases the probability of your life being better off. Just because those 45,000 have access to healthcare does not mean they will pursue it or properly use it. In all they will still die but at that point you can't say they died because of lack of access, they died because they were not responsible. The exact same thing is with bankruptcies. In Canada you just wait a long time and possibly die. In the US you may go bankrupt (643,000 is still 0.02% of the country) but in other countries you die. Also, the fact that other countries do it (in reality they all have their own systems) is not an excuse for the US to regress to the norm. Also, many of those countries are tiny. Iceland had 300,000 people. But as a whole, when you run through the numbers nothing suggests that single payer is better than what the US has.
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  2622. Hermes, where is that book incorrect? They list all their references and their methods. Now point to me where they are wrong. You just saying it is is not an argument. I am sorry. " As others have previously explained, they cherry-pick data (as most "conservative" publications) and exclude key pieces of the overall healthcare picture to make it seem like single-payer is only equivalent to the current American system" Ok, how? What was wrong with their methods? "The VAST majority of healthcare workers are on the side of single-payer" Eh, not really. Nothing suggests that is the case. " because it's the objectively better option, based on studies that evaluate outcomes and cost for overall cost-efficiency" Ok, I will look at them. "Providing universal coverage lowers costs dramatically" But at what quality? I always hear two things from the left on this issue 1. low cost 2. everyone is covered But they never mention quality. Even Bernie Sanders admits there will be rationing. "I could go on and on about the benefits, but you clearly are either too stupid or too arrogant and self-deluded to be convinced by objective truths, just like the "conservatives" (true conservatives believe in CONSERVATION) that believe climate change is a hoax..." Insults displays your lack of intelligence meaning almost anything you say is purely opinion at that point. Also, climate change has nothing to do with this, but if you want to discuss that we can as I am a scientist myself. Ok, now to your sources. Your first one is giving opinions and her is why. Their references are for data for the ACA, but they they give this " A single-payer NHP, in contrast, would provide comprehensive coverage without copayments or deductibles to everyone in the country, replacing our current complex and wasteful patchwork of coverage.All medically necessary services would be covered, including inpatient, outpatient, and dental care, as well as prescription drugs. The NHP would also cover long-term care, a benefit that few Americans currently enjoy." No references at all. So what do they base that off of? Simply opinion. Same here "Significant sums would also be saved by allowing the NHP to negotiate with drug companies over prices, as do universal health programs in other advanced nations. The greater efficiency and simplicity of the NHP would curb inflation in health costs, so that cost savings would grow with time." No references. And the whole section under payment had.....you guessed it, zero references to support their claim. So that source is done. The next one That book has cited that paper already, so I will leave it at that. Goes to show that book does not "cherry pick" data as they cite sources you are citing right now. On source three Your third source simply outlines what should be the goal in healthcare and how the US is trying it. It does not praise single payer. It does point to the NHS but also pointed towards the employer offering care with the help of the union. Or states offering it. But again, this source does not indicate single payer is superior. Now the last one The problem with pointing to administration cost is this, with a government program they can hide the cost in other agencies. For example, with insurance, they pay for disease awareness to lower costs for customers where with medicare they have the CDC pay for that. That is why medicare has lower overhead cost than insurance. That same is with healthcare. Also, single payer does have less efficiency and with the private option you can sue them, you really can't sue the government so much. But I will say this, this is the one source that looks the most promising and I will read it closer later. So one out of four is your result. You need to try harder.
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  2637. Conor Young Philosopher The US was set up to where the federal government dealt with foreign policies, any commerce between states and enforced the constitution on state and local governments.  The states were to manage themselves by taking care of domestic policies and enforce the constitution on the federal government.  This is state rights.  The idea was to have checks and balances of powers to where no one entity were to gain too much power.  State and local governments were easier to keep in check by the local citizens and people can always move.  States were to keep the federal government in check.  The problem is that we gave the federal government too much control over domestic policies.  We can't keep it in check now.  We try to but they just oppress us even more.  The states don't care and pass and the responsibilities to the fed. and local citizens get screwed over it even though they allowed it to happen in the first place.  We had this recent recession and the federal government gave money to companies that paid to get those politicians elected.  Who is going to stop the fed?  We have created this mentality that we need the fed. to have all this power because if we don't than chaos will ensue.  During the sequester Obama talked about an economy that will crash due to budget cuts and people losing their jobs.  He is basically saying we need to fund the federal government with a blank check or the country will rot.  After the sequester things got better. I bet you want more regulations on the federal government to stop corporate corruption.  I bet you want to create federal law to prevent it.  Now who is going to enforce it?  The fed?  So you really think that the fed. is going to police itself?  That is the problem.  We have given the federal government all this power without checking on it and now it is a mess.  And now people want to give it even more power in that somehow the fed. will discipline themselves.  Think about all of this for a minute and think of really who is to blame, the corporations or the federal government for stepping out of bounds on it's powers.  
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  2647. Badass Atheist, it isn't just my school. Around 2% of the population has a doctorate, and unemployment amongst them is less than 2%. These people have jobs. If you make college "free" you will increase enrollment. Now who is going to educate them? And how do you know if the person you hire is able to teach? You have to consider that a lot of professors are not great at teaching to begin with. At that point you will be just herding students in classrooms at 500+ a class like cattle, having them doing generic online assignments, getting little interaction with TAs, tutors and professors, and receiving a letter grade in the end. Is that really and education? Sure, universities can take on more students by doing all of that, but what do students gain? " Almost 50% of americans make below $30k a year." Which is highly deceptive. I am a part of that 50% that earn below that. I earn $23,000 a year, but I have my own car, my own apartment, and I am a doctorate candidate. You are leaving out several variables. 1. What is the cost of living where they live? 2. Do they receive benefits (I do as a grad student)? 3. Do they have a spouse that earns more? 4. How old are they and are they close to finishing college so they can earn a higher income? 5. How many live with parents as in they are teens? You can go on but just throwing a number out there means nothing. You have to put it in the correct perspective. It is similar with education. Just herding students in a large classroom, having them do generic assignments, and giving them a grade and later a diploma is not an education.
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  2654. " are you arguing against preliminary injunctions in general or just against the federal government? The state of Hawaii didn't make any decision, it was a federal judge from the district of Hawaii. " I am arguing against the fact that the SC should be making this decision because this is a federal law that deals with an international affair. If a federal judge in some other state makes a decision then why not get all of the opinions of all of the federal judges? What is the point of the SC? Why did that one federal judge have a say? It all seems vague and arbitrary to me. "The State of Hawaii brought a civil action to the district court (the first level in the appeals process) against the federal government over the ban, " Which should go directly to the SC. Again, why just stick to Hawaii? What if TX, or OK, or FL, or NV or some other state disagreed and the federal judges there disagreed with Judge Watson? Whose opinion do we go with? That is why the SC should deal with this action. "Regarding the Kevin thing, you seem to be saying that only SCOTUS should be able to issue an injunction halting the pursuit of a policy. Why? This is impossible, since any case must be ruled on by a lower court before SCOTUS can even see it. " The issue is that this isn't "any case". This is a federal law dealing with immigration which is a foreign affairs. States should not be deciding these laws, the federal government should. There is a reason why states cannot build a military to attack a foreign country and why states cannot develop import and export taxes. Allowing this type of action to happen opens the doorway to allowing states such as TX and AZ in controlling immigration. TX can just stop immigration from Mexico. This is giving control of immigration to states when immigration is a federal issue. You are muddying the waters in who has control in this instance. This as not an emergency situation thus it could have waited until the SC made its decision. A federal judge in Hawaii, or any state should not be making this decision since it is a federal law dealing with foreign affairs. I understand that the law is written the way it is to allow for that process to happen. I am just saying that with the design of the country this should not be happening.
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  2655. Seljuck, you bring an intelligent point and I learned a few things. To cover a few points. "Well, there's no legal basis for this, nor is there a clear definition of "international affair," let alone a coherent set of cases considered "international" for which we should disregard injunctions from lower courts (which means all preliminary injunctions). None of this has a constitutional basis and I don't see any imperative to completely reconstruct the federal judiciary." International is just that, international. It involves other countries. As I said before, individuals states cannot develop their own military and start a war with other countries. States cannot develop immigration laws. Now I will have to go back and look but if I recall there isn't anything in the Constitution dealing with immigration as "immigration" is not in the text. But in Article I Section 8 you have "To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes" and "To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization" Now this deals with congress, but reading the Constitution it is in my opinion that anything involving a foreign country in anyway is strictly a federal issue. "Because there are thousands of cases to deal with each term. It would be absurdly inefficient to have all ~700 judges hear and rule on hundreds of cases every week. Further, matters local to Iowa are better left to a judge in the corresponding part of the country. These are just a couple of the myriad reasons for the structure of the judiciary." I agree with this. That is why we have local courts so they can deal with local issues. Just like we have local governments. I am not asking for every judge to look at every case. I am simply saying that this particular case was a federal law involving foreign nations and thus should be handled by the SC. "Who decides that? If I pull a case that's completely nonsensical out of my ass, the Supreme Court should waste their time hearing my case?" This wasn't some random case. This was a federal law involving immigration which is a situation dealing with foreign countries and foreign citizens. You are making it sound like this was some random case when it wasn't. It is a matter of foreign affairs. This was not a case like DUI laws which the SC left completely to the states as states were creating the law. This is a federal law dealing with immigration. "SCOTUS is composed of nine people, they don't have time to hear every case." I know, and I never suggested that they should. When did I ever said they should? " what makes it distinct from me suing the US government under the eighth amendment for not deporting Miley Cyrus?" Miley Cyrus involves one person, not a specific country. That is what makes it distinct. "There's no reliable way to identify a legitimate lawsuit without first having a judge hear it;" Again, this was a federal law. The SC should have looked at it and determined if it was OK or not before it was enforced. Their failure to do so opened this situation up. "Again I ask how this is supposed to work. It would make no sense for the Supreme Court itself to take a case, then issue an injunction that the executive branch wait until the Supreme Court hears the case. Once it reaches the Supreme Court, the injunction has already fulfilled its purpose of delaying action until the Supreme Court rules." And I reply by saying this was a federal law. And thus the SC has should have the call in that case as this is a law coming from the federal level. If this was a state or local law then yes, start with the state courts. But this was a federal law. "Who defines the parameters of "foreign affairs" and why are they special?" Foreign is anything outside of US territory. And it is a special case because the Constitution gives Congress the authority to naturalize citizens from foreign countries and deal with commerce between foreign nations. Nowhere does the Constitution give that power to the states. As you dig farther into the Constitution it is my opinion that anything that deals with foreign relations is left strictly to the federal government and not the states. "There sure is. Now why does that matter?" It matters because that deals with foreign relations, just like this travel ban. "I agree, which is why it is deciding it. Beyond initiating the lawsuit, the state of Hawaii had no role in the judge's decision. Judge Watson is a part of the District Court of Hawaii, which is a part of the federal government. The issuing of an injunction is part of the process by which the federal government enacts policy." The federal court is the SC. Watson represents the federal courts in Hawaii. So yes, it is a part of the federal government, but it does not have the final say. The SC does. So this judge should not be having a say in deciding if federal law should be enforced, that is the SC's job. "How so? Give me a scenario in which Arizona could control immigration that is analogous to this." They can build their own wall or do what they did with Arizona SB 1070. There was a lot of controversy with that and I remember people on the left crying foul with AZ passed that law. However these same people on the left were jumping for joy when a Hawaii judge stopped the travel ban. I see some inconsistencies there. "No they can't. If a judge in a Federal District Court in Texas issued an injunction ordering a change in policy, the injunction would be ignored and immediately shot down. There's a difference between delaying the implementation of a new policy, and demanding a specific policy be enacted." Why? I see no difference because in both cases you are refusing to enforce a federal law.
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  2679. ""I support gays...I just don't want them to have 100% of the same rights as me and they should appeal the ruling and not be recognized as legally married."" No, I never said that. As I said, you are an embarrassment for the gay community and it is people like you why progress takes so long to get. You literally make up what people say. No where did I say I oppose gay marriage. No where did I say I have any values in this at all. My values or morals mean thing when it comes to standards. Let me give an example. I hate what people on TYT, or people like Pat Robertson, Alex Jones, Piers Morgan, Bernie Sanders etc. have to say. I feel the spread a lot of ignorance to society and is against my values as I am a man who feel intelligence is important. At the same time I will support their freedom of speech and will stand by the standard that they have the right to say the ignorant things they do. The same falls for the issue of gay marriage. My values or morals mean nothing. We have standards in place and I will follow those. Here are the facts 1. Marriage is not a right 2. the right to pursue happiness is, thus you can get married in your eyes without fear of persecution 3. marriage, in the eyes of the law is a state an local government issue 4. via the 14th amendment no government can discriminate Those are the standards. Use that to formulate an argument for or against gay marriage. For me I used it to formulate an argument for gay marriage based mainly on the 14th amendment. In the end it is clear that marriage is not a right. Develop some intelligence and you will get more progress done.
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  2824. +w9j15g Walmart pays above the min. wage already. And they have pushed for a higher min. wage in the past knowing it would hurt smaller competitors. Walmart pays the market rate for retail workers. I find it funny that you rip on Walmart but not Target, Hy Vee, Safeway, Raley's and so on for their comparable wages (and they also hire less people). You are wanting to make a policy that effects everyone just because you hate one company. That is now how we should be approaching economic policies. "The data show that raising the minimum wage has only a minor, short-term, adverse effect on employment when it is done reasonably." Not really. It has a long term effect on those at a disadvantage such as teenagers from communities that suffer through poverty. Instead of getting a job, developing skills and connections and getting out of poverty, they get stuck. Before the min. wage black and white teenage unemployment was comparable. Since then black teenage unemployment has gone up drastically. There is a reason why the black community continues to suffer and be in poverty. There are other factors as well but the inability to get a job at a young age plays a role. "By putting more money in the hands of low-wage earners, it actually boosts economic growth leading to increases in employment down the line." Again, false. If it were that easy then why not a $100/hr? Or why not just mail people checks for $20,000? What boosts an economy is producing, not spending. "The FHA did NOT cause the housing bubble. You are parroting misinformation from the Republican Party." Actually I never heard of the republican party mentioning the FHA. My own intelligence has me realizing the FHA caused a housing bubble just like the student loan program is going to cause a student loan bubble. "Why should a degree be as expensive as a house?" Because for the four years of work you do you can get a lot of value back from that, such as buying a house. "Why should a degree PREVENT you from buying a house? " It doesn't. "The average student graduated in 2015 with $35,000 in student loan debt." I agree, that is a slight problem. The federal government artificially increased demand with their student loan program and supply did not keep up with demand causing an increase in prices. That is basic econ. 101. The federal government again caused a problem here. It increased spending without increasing production and prices went up......hmmmm......this sounds familiar. "The economy is helped much more when people have disposable income" I agree. With increased production goods and services get better and there are more of them which drives prices down. "Do you know who benefits from student loan debt? The banks! And you have been fooled into supporting their policies!" I really don't support the federal student loan program.
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  2826. +porculizador Ok, what formula? That is completely new to me. "from 1790s to 1930s banks and financial institutions went thru 15 year boom-and-bust cycles that hurt our economy" That is not true. It had recessions but that is simply due to the growth of the economy. After Glass-Steagall we still had recessions. Recessions happen, it is how we recover is key. Those boom and bust cycles you are talking about had fast recovery due to the federal government doing nothing to true to "fix" the situation. In the 30s the federal government tried to "fix" the economy and we saw the slowest recovery of all time. After that during following recessions the federal government did nothing to try to "fix" the recessions and we were fine until 2007 when guess what? The fed. felt it was necessary to "fix" the situation again and it hindered the recovery. Glass-Steagall was pretty much pointless after the 50s. . Pointing to it as the reasons for what has occurred is displaying a high level of ignorance. " let me tell you that a mcdonald's cashier or cook in denmark makes $20 per hour and they pay less for big macs over there." You just literally took a situation involving a complex economy and reduced it down to the big mac and the min. wage. It isn't that easy. "that makes their people the happiest people on earth" What do you mean "happiest"? "if other countries can do it, why can't we? " They are countries with different societies and less diversity. Denmark also has mandatory military, do you want that as well? "there are no libertarian governments in existence anywhere in the world for a reason: it doesn't work" That depends. But anyway, the US is a country of 320+ million people. The issue is more complicated then what you are making it out to be.
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  2828. +w9j15g I think you are completely wrong in what you think I am. I am not a libertarian, I am a moderate. You paint me as one because I oppose federal government action thus you think I am anti-government. In other comments I have said that too much government is just as bad as no government. I oppose Bernie Sanders and policies such as Glass-Steagall because it creates too much government. There is a desire to have government granted you make sure that government remains the servants and not the masters. There is a desire to have money spent by government granted that you get your money's worth. You do that with keeping government as local as possible. With smaller, more local government you have more control of government to where it actually works for the people the way the people want. While studying the constitution it is clear to me that was the exact line of thinking of the founding fathers. The constitution laid out the role of the federal government, the limitations of all governments, and gave more power to the states. The primary role of the fed. was deal with foreign affairs and make sure that citizens have rights. Those rights in no way gave the potential of the federal government the ability to have power the people. It gave power to the people to control government. You want to expand the federal government feeling it can be beneficial in that it can prevent X, Y and Z and offer A, B and C. You feel it can prevent recessions with regulations. It may can. But what it can also do it work with special interest groups that hurts others to benefit the few, such as the bail outs. You may not like the bail outs but that is the power you gave that government. I am the one that want to take it away. You want that government to have more power and then you get confused when they abuse it for their benefits like the government is moral and just. Let me give some reason why I feel that way. Growing up in a small town there was no need to have much of a government. There were streets without stop signs. Most fire fighters were volunteer (around 70% are in the US). Healthcare was not an issue. One doctor was a sports fanatic and donated money to create clinic to give care to anyone with a sports related injury. There were times the local hospital simply picked up the rest of the tab if insurance did not cover it all. This is typical of rural areas. That is why they typically vote republican and support small government. Now I live in a city. There is now way that we can go without stop signs. I like having government oversight to ensure that mechanic who works on my car is held accountable ( I knew 4 in my hometown). Same with doctors, stores and other businesses. In a city it is less personal thus there is a need for more government. That isn't bad. What is bad is when people from the city translate it to the federal level and want to force their will on everyone. That is not the right approach. You fall in the latter category. You feel the government needs to enforce regulations and thus want to enforce them at the federal level. You are creating problems, not helping them. History has shown this never works. And when I come up and suggest you are wrong in that we should not be giving the fed more power you claim I am some anti-government fool. That right there shows you how myopic you are. But considering how you feel that the Glass-Steagall repeal caused the housing bubble (even though facts say otherwise) it doesn't surprise me. I suggest you do more research on the issue before you jump to conclusion. It is clear that you lack knowledge on the topic and don't possess an open mind on the issue. You are a person wanting another Glass-Steagall but then will complain when the bailouts happen. That is like wanting a drunk driver to drive you home but complaining when they wreck your car.
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  2832. +porculizador I read your comment. 1. Even under Glass-Steagall we still had boom and bust cycles. We had at least 3 I can think off. The issue is that the federal government did little to nothing to try to "fix' the economy and recovery was quick. Just like what happened in 1921. It is clear that the Glass-Steagall repeal did not cause the recession. 2. What is happiness? That is a subjective idea. You also have to consider that Denmark is a country of 5 million people with a completely different society compared to the US and far less diversity. You can't compare. Doing so is displaying a high level of ignorance. Great, so Denmark, a country that contributes little to the world, has mandatory military, basically no diversity, and has around 5 million people is happy. Who cares? 3. Where in all of my comments have I said I was a libertarian? Read one of my earlier comments and I said I am a moderate that supports following the constitution and establishing state rights. I understand that too much government is just as bad as no government. Just because I want to limit the fed doesn't mean I am a libertarian. It means I want smaller, more local government that the people can control more and see if it actually works for them. You have such a radical idea of wanting to expand the powers of the federal government but I bet you would be the first to complain when they abuse that power. What is even more crazy is that you feel it is "simple" which displays even more ignorance. But nowhere have I shown that I oppose abolishing government. If you really want to succeed in life and learn more you can't be so radical.
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  2834. +porculizador We have had boom and bust cycles under Glass Steagall. We had a bust under Carter, under Reagan we improved. "i have the most credible source for this," but have yet to provide it. Look at GDP growth throughout the year. You see recessions. You never hear of them because we recovered quickly due to little to no federal government action, just like what happened in 1921. The happiness index is subjective. Also it still doesn't change the fact that you are comparing the US to Denmark, two countries with vastly different societies. Really, what is happiness? Settling for mediocrity is happiness? Being forced to join the military is happiness? If you did that in the US then people would be very pissed off. Saying "they are happier in Denmark" is not an argument. They have 5 million people, little diversity, and accomplish almost nothing compare to the US. How many times have they landed on the moon? How many major companies do they have? "is a tenet for the first stages of libertarianism, which is a conservative movement btw. are you for a small military? " It is not a tenet for libertarianism, but if you want to think that then fine. I see what you are trying to do with the military question. You do know that when compared in percent of GDP we are number 4 in the world in military spending. We are a military that is comparable in size to other countries, and people on their own free will sign up for it. The military we have now is fine. " and small police force?" Whatever that local government wants. Police are ran and funded locally. "and small firemen force?" Considering how around 70% of firefighters are volunteered it is safe to say it is pretty small. But again, it all depends on what that local government wants. "and small infrastructure?" What is infrastructure? Really, I hear this a lot. Maybe if we built something correctly the first time it wouldn't be falling apart. But again, it comes down to what the state and local governments want. You are trying to say "you want small this and small that". I can't define what "small" is. How ever much of those programs you want is up to the state and local government (with the exception of the military since that is ran by the fed and is constitutional in doing so). If a state wants a large police force and their citizens vote on it then why not? That is their choice. If they don't want it then they can rally to vote against it or move to another state and remain a US citizen. You see the balance of that? "let's also get rid of unemployment and disability and social security and medicare." Considering they are programs that are inefficient an running out of money, plus are unconstitutional and has created more problems, why not? Here is the problem, you want your idea of government to be instituted at the federal level. I am not saying your idea of government is 100% wrong, it is just that not everyone wants it. People wanted healthcare reform in 2008 but we could not get 60 senate democrats go agree on one bill. The reason why is because while people wanted healthcare reform they all wanted something different. This is the exact same problem the founding fathers ran into thus they created state rights. You want your government to be established at the fed. But when a group of republicans come in push to establish theirs then you complain. You action causes that to happen. Mine is saying you can push to establish your idea of what government should do at the state and local level. If you like it then great, if not then rally to change it or move to another state that fits your ideas. I live in a state that is right to work, has no income tax, is right leaning. I moved here. I will not live in CA that is very liberal. I will also not push to change what CA is doing because that is what those citizens want, but you will. You can call me a libertarian all you want but at least I am not a fascist like you.
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  2892. +XamicutOAC It isn't a "fair assumption" but instead a fact. Think of this, too much government is just as bad as no government. We need that balance and the constitution lays that balance out. "However, the US economy is crumbling with student debt and ever-increasing healthcare costs" Both problems caused by the federal government like the federal payroll tax and federal college loans. Adding more federal government is just going to make it worse. "but it is taking away our fundamental rights to LIVE" You don't have the right take from others to "live". "we all want to be able to seek medical attention when our environment and natural resources are polluted/contaminated (i.e. Flint, MI)" Flint, MI is a great example of a problem government can create. Imagine if we had politicians like Flint has in DC, now the problem is national, we are all screwed. "Such fundamental rights are covered under the 9th amendment." No they are not. "Unfortunately, the cost of education nullifies a person's ability to afford healthcare." Again, thanks to the federal government. Also, you don't need to go to college or have the government to be educated. If you feel that way then you are in trouble. "When State governments fail to supply educators enough income or healthcare coverage, it only makes sense that federal action be taken to ensure that these fundamental rights to life be protected on a greater scale" It doesn't make sense. Where are your bounds? How far do you want the federal government to go? Bernie may be working for the people, but what about future politicians? What is going to stop them from being corrupt? Berni is not going to be around forever.
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  2959. I agree that you should be aware of your youtube videos. Stefan Molyneux himself said you should question even what he presents. He does cite where he gets his info on his website. With Australia and the 1 mass shooting, it depends on what you define to be a mass shooting. People love to point to the definition listed in Gun Violence Archive which arbitrarily defines a mass shooting as 4 or more people killed or injured. On cite says that is FBI standard (not true, the FBI does not have one) and the same people who point towards that typically say Australia has not had a mass shooting since 1996. That is not true as in December 2014, based off of that definition there was one. Even at that I hate comparing countries to one another. You can't just do a side by side comparison like that and come to the conclusion that it is just one variable responsible for the difference, in this case guns. So when gun control advocates yell "AUSTRALIA" I tend to write them off pretty quickly. With stabbings he is showing that people will use other methods to murder people, same when he compared methods of suicides between the US and the UK. With that the issue is not guns but other factors. Just removing the instrument is not going to help the person which is what we really should be doing. So many people want to take away the guns when we should be helping the person, for example find ways to lower poverty. I liked how Stefan compared states in the US because that is what we should be doing, looking at the US alone and not other countries.
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  3027. " Point out anywhere in our constitution that says government can't take taxpayers money and provide a service to the taxpayers" The 10th amendment is one. If the constitution does not directly state something then it falls to the responsibility of the states. Also Article I Section 9 "No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in Proportion to the Census or Enumeration herein before directed to be taken." Now the 16th amendment changed that (and since then we have seen two depressions). So the taxes they created were constitutional, but the programs they fund aren't. "it is our government responsibility to protect the general health and well being of it's citizens. " Protect but not guarantee. Just like you have the right to pursue happiness, you are not guaranteed it. You have the right to free speech, but if a newspaper company refuses to publish your opinion then your ideas are not heard by others. Also the government has nothing to begin with. In order to have something it has to take, in this case the people. With healthcare they will have to force doctors to offer their services to others which violates the 13th amendment. " You are aware we have less people living in poverty now, than before food stamps was first introduced, right? " That is not true. Food stamps became a permanent thing in the 60s, around the time the war on poverty was enacted. Before the war on poverty was enacted poverty rates were dropping perceptibly. Since then poverty rates have been stagnate. So with food stamps poverty rates have not been improving. So apparently food stamps don't work. Social Security is a pay as you go program. It is running out of money because when it was enacted the retirement age was higher than the average life expectancy. Now life expectancy is almost 20 years higher than the retirement age. People try to push for raising the age bu that has been met with a roadblock.
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  3032. "sorry but reducing the federal income tax won't have much of an impact in sales tax funded state like florida." Yes it would. More money in the hands of consumers to spend locally. They will have more money due to zero federal income taxes. "Why cause food prices would rise if you reduced federal income tax." How would food prices rise? Food prices have been dropping due to technology. That has nothing to do with taxes. " Its the federal governments money, " No, it's our money. You (assuming you work) and I earned it. The federal government took it. That is our money, period. "they have the authority to use the budget how they wish." No they don't, there are restrictions in the constitution. That is why they can't expand medicaid without state's consent. "The federal government is backed by the Constitution " Which has the 10th amendment. "and the Supreme Court" Which has made incorrect rulings in the past, see Kelo vs City of New London and how the states reacted after that. " Congress their current powers over commerce, " Which has been misinterpreted. " the Supreme Court fought over the agencies for over 4 decades starting when FDR " FDR threaten to stack the courts with his judges to get his polices of pass. Some of his polices were ruled unconstitutional in the past, such as the min. wage. But after FDR abused his power things changed. That is corruption. It isn't surprising that under FDR we also had a depression. " Now we have an FDA that is funded by the Congress and by extensions the taxpayers. " The FDA is listed as "other" in the budget. That is how insignificant it is. "does not conflict with the Bill of Rights" It does because it violates the 10th amendment. "Its not a violation of the 10th Amendment because it is not taking a State's ability to form their own health agencies " And nowhere in the constitution does it say that the federal government is supposed to run health agencies, thus only the states run it. " The Supreme court debated the powers of administrative agencies in a variety of cases throughout fdr's presidency. " And they ruled in favor of FDR due to FDR threatening the courts with his judges. "You can't call the 16th Amendment Unconstitutional." I never did. "Also it isn't unconstitutional to make a person buy a product or service, so long as it is a police power" It is unconstitutional. Say that the federal government forced you to buy guns? Would you agree? Or forced you to buy a car or a home? "Hence why states can force everyone to have car insurance " That falls within their 10th amendment right. If states force citizens to buy healthcare insurance then fine, but the federal government can't. The powers of the fed are clearly listed in the constitution. What isn't listed means it falls to the states. "Which is also legal for the government to do so long as the compensate the original owner. Why? Because if the government properly compensates you for your property," The compensation wasn't just though. They ruled in favor of a business owner. The government ruled in favor of a business. The business could have offered more money but instead used government force to get what they want. This sounds familiar. Almost every state changed their law after that ruling. "You didn't read Kelo at all." I did, it is clear you didn't.
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  3034. "You are ignorant about how law is interpreted and applied." I can start with that because clearly you are ignorant in how the law is interpreted and applied. The constitution sets a standard in what laws governments can create and what actions governments can and cannot do. In Kelo vs New City of London the 5th amendment was clearly violated. You clearly don't understand that and feel that the ruling of 5 justices is all we need despite 4 feeling that the 5th amendment is being violated. You clearly have no problem removing standards set by the constitution. I suggest you read some more on the history of the constitution and its design beyond the lesson I am giving you now. Now that we are done with correcting an error you said about me trying to be condescending, I will break down how you are incorrect. "echnology has only done so much too food. At the moment, the amount of resources needed to produce plant food is very high, particularly water costs. In the case of meat its even higher and has higher food cost because an animal has to eat to grow large enough for us too eat it. You are greatly underestimating the cost of growing the amount of food necessary to feed the U.S. We subsidize farms to cover portions of their operational costs so they can sell the food cheaper." States can run subsidizes if needed. There is no reason for the fed to run it. States can run it by collecting taxes and at the local level they can run it more efficiently. Even at that we are a nation that produces too much food. We throw a lot of it away (at work we just threw away 5 sandwiches). We produce so much food because we advanced so much in technology. I know the cost of producing food growing up in a farming community. Subsidizes are not necessary at the federal level. I find it ironic, though, that you are pushing subsidizes while supporting FDR. FDR literally killed off crops and livestock during the great depression. "More money in hands of people locally. Again, my argument holds weight because the basic need of food is greatly subsidized by the federal government." Food is produces in mass quantities. There are no reasons for subsidizes. There are other basic needs as well such as shelter that is harder to obtain. "Yes it is your money, mine too, but we elect people to decide what to do with our money in the federal government just like we do with the state governments. Presuming you are okay with a republic, then this shouldn't be an issue and is once again constitutional." We the people only have 2 senators and a handful of representatives from our state. I can't vote for Nancy Pelosi or Bernie Sanders, so why should they pass policies that effect the economy domestically? The answer is that they can't. The federal government represents us to other foreign nations, they are not supposed to be involved in domestic policies outside the bounds of the constitution. I don't like it if a politician like Nancy Pelosi passes a law, takes my tax dollars, and spends it on the other side of the country. That is literally stealing from me. At the state level the state takes my money and invests it in my state when I can benefit from it more. I can also see if I am getting my money's worth or if my money is being wasted and vote out the politicians that spent my money. I can't vote out the federal politicians that I felt wasted my money. "Their current powers over commerce are not minterpreted" Yes they are "FDR threatened to expand the size of the Supreme Court,'" Which is corruption in itself. He used it to convince judges to change their ruling on things they already deemed to be unconstitutional. That is a problem. "The Congress is allowed to make any law that does not violate the constitution." I agree "Creating and running a health agency is within their power " No it isn't. That is not listed anywhere in the constitution. There is an entire section listed in the constitution on what Congress can do for your information. "Why? Because once again, the Health agency does not deprive states the rights to run their own health agencies. " Yes it does because it takes more tax dollars meaning less at the state and local level. "The FDA created basic protocols and standards that are set in stone. " Which shouldn't be the case. Why do we need an FDA? The answer is that we don't. Take the department of education for example. While we have one all 50 states set their own standards. As is 4 states don't follow CCSS and NGSS and several states are starting to reconsider using CCSS. That makes the department of ed a waste of money just like the FDA. "You are calling Federal Income Tax unconstitutional.." I am not. I am saying it is not the best approach and used to be unconstitutional for a reason. "The courts have interpreted car insurance as something that state government can force all their citizens to have or face hefty fines and even prison. Why? Because for the welfare of people in accident they need those who caused the accident to have insurance so their property isn't destroyed with no compensation. Again, Constitutional." I agree, because it is a state law. It follows the 10th amendment. Obamacare is a federal law thus it violates the 10th amendment. I am not arguing that state and local governments can't force people to buy something. I am arguing that the federal government can't. It is clear that you did not read what I wrote. You clearly need to study the constitution more. Your problem is that you don't question anything. You just assume that what the government does is constitutional an twist words around until you can justify government's actions. Kelo vs New City of London clearly violated the 5th amendment, but you twisted words around until you can justify it. The Patriot Act violates the 4th amendment but the SC ruled it didn't. The constitution is pretty clear, all you have to do is read it.
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  3035. "Their view that it was a 5th amendment violation" And they were wrong, end of story. "The Constitution sys the majority of the court will make the rulings" Actually no it doesn't but thanks for showing again you don't know what the constitution says. I can easily end there, and should, but I will continue. "The federal government subsidizes american farms because Congress decided too" Which is not covered anywhere in Article I, thus it violates the constitution. "Once again, its not a 10th amendment violation " Yes it is because this is not a federal government issue. "I understand the historical framework of the Constitution and agree with your argument that the Constiution sets the standard.." No you don't. "Hence why amendments have been passed and expanded the powers" Which is one thing. If they want to pass amendments saying that the US government can subsidizes farms then fine. They never did though. "You need 2/3rds of the House and Senate to agree and then 3/4's of the states to agree to it" I agree, which was never done in farm subsidizes. "BECAUSE BEFORE YOU WERE BORN AND WHEN THIS COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED YOUR STATE AGREED TO MAKE A COMPACT WITH THE OTHER STATES IN THE FORM OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT! FIRST THROUGH THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION AND FINALLY THROUGH THE CONSTITUTION WHICH EVERY STATE IS BOUND TOO TODAY BECAUSE EVERY SINGLE ONE HAD ITS CITIZENS CHOOSE TO JOIN THE COMPACT AND BECOME SUBJECT TO THE CONSTITUTION IN THE PAST." I agree, what are you getting at here? "IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT YOU LIKE AND DO NOT LIKE MATE. YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT PART. YOUR STATE MADE A COMPACT WITH EVERY OTHER STATE TO BE SUBSERVIENT TO THE CONSTITUTION. THE CONSTITUTION ALLOWS CONGRESS TO ALLOCATE WHATEVER MONEY THEY HAVE TO WHATEVER THEY WANT. YOU AS A CITIZEN OF YOUR STATE GET A PIECE OF THAT REPRESENTATION AND BY DEFINITION HAVE A SAY IN WHERE THAT MONEY GOES. LETS SAY YOU ARE FROM FLORIDA. YOU WOULD BE A FLORIDIAN, YOU HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM FLORIDA THAT ARE IN CONGRESS THAT FIGHT FOR YOUR INTERESTS, BUT YOU ARE STILL AN AMERICAN. A GEORGIAN IS AMERICAN. A NEW YORKER IS AMERICAN. WE ARE PART OF A COMPACT THAT MAKES US AMERICAN. GET THAT THROUGH YOUR HEAD." What I don't like is the constitution being violated. I was showing to you why the federal government was not supposed to get involved in domestic policies such as farm subsidizes. Money from one citizen, say Maryland, has money going to CA in farm subsidizes. That person in Maryland now doesn't see if their money is being spent well or in a a way they like. The representatives in CA will love it, but that person in Maryland can't vote for any of them. That is why the constitution was designed to have strict limitations on government and more powers to the states. The more local the government is the more one can see if their money is spent well and if their government is working for them. Also, they have more control of the government. The founding fathers ran into the same problem on what the federal government should and shouldn't do. Policies were proposed that would benefit one state at the expense of the other. That is why they came up with the 10th amendment. Every state get representation his the 2 senators and whatever representatives. But the powers of the federal government and congress were limited. Basically limited down to foreign affairs and seeing that every state gets along. Not take money and spend it to benefit other states. ""You can't claim the commerce clause has been misinterpreted. " Yes I can. " You don't have that authority," So I should just bow down and not question? You do know how this country was developed? " ITS CONSTITUTIONAL DEAL WITH IT." Wow, that is a pretty sad way to think about. Yep, don't question. Just bow down and deal with it. "To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes; Clearly you didn't read this part if you think the fed only manages affairs with foreign nations. You can't give me a lesson on this I study this. To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;" Yes, there are some domestic policies they deal with that are clearly listed in the constitution. And you can't give me a lesson on this, I study this and take a test on it to ensure I know what is in the constitution. You may study it, I actually get tested on it. "To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof. NECESSARY AND PROPER CLAUSE (If Congress deems it necessary to have a Department of Health, they can make it mate. Its existence does not conflict with the state governments ability to have its own Department of Health, CONSTITUTIONAL)" So if congress deemed it necessary to ban all cars, or create a nation wide curfew, would you agree? If congress felt like it was necessary to run all K-12 schools, would you agree? That is federal overreach at it's finest, and violates the constitution. They make create departments to ensure one state does not hurt another state in anyway, but that is it. "It doesn't matter that Obamacare is federal law.. it doesn't force every citizen to get insurance." If you don't buy insurance you get fined. That is forcing them to buy something. "Have you even read the Affordabel Care Act?" I have, clearly you haven't. You are clearly a sad individual. You will excuse the government on anything. If the government spied on you or took your property away without just compensation, you would just say "well, they were allowed to". You really need to learn how to question the government and what the constitution says.
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  3036. " You are a moron and have no clue how the constitution allows itself to be interpreted. Everything is not enumerated in the Constitution because the Constitution does not require every law to be attached to the Constitution as an amendment. Do you not understand this?" I understand you have no clue what you are talking about. The constitution is the standard. We have to stick to the standard. If we don't then it allows for the development of a government that is tyrannical. "That any federal government power must be enumerated through amendments. " Any power must be distinctly listed in the constitution. If not then it becomes a state issue, period. "The necessary and proper clause for example. Or the Commerce Clause." Both which have been misinterpreted. "You argue that your money has the potential to be misused in the federal government. You take the same risk by paying taxes to you state when they spend part of your money in other districts. You make a fair and reasonable point, but it is a systemic trait of how we run our governments from the local, state, and then federal level." At the state and local level I have a greater ability to see if I am getting my money's worth. I also have the greater ability to control the government at the state and local level. I can vote for all of the representatives in my city. I have met the governor of my state. I personally knew both candidates for sheriff. At the local level you have more control of the government to ensure that it remains the servants as opposed to the masters. You can also see if you are getting your money's worth in government spending. "If you are being tested on this and giving these answers you are either a shit law student or an even shittier law school. " If you can justify your opinion then you will do well. "This entire time you have been misinterpreting how the Constitution and Congress have gotten their powers" No I haven't. "The first rule of being a lawyer, don't argue what the law should be, " Not really. " It does not matter if they should or should not, they have the Constitutional power to do so " No they don't. Point to me where in the constitution it says they can. That is my point. You are saying they can just because some SC justices say so. I want you to point to me in the constitution they can. "So if congress deemed it necessary to ban all cars, or create a nation wide curfew, would you agree? If congress felt like it was necessary to run all K-12 schools, would you agree? " No, and no. " Yes the government can spy on you. Why can they? Because you don't have explicit privacy rights to begin with and only have Prenumbra Privacy rights through the 9th Amendment. If they took your property without Just compensation its the fault of your state for not requiring just compensation. Based on the Kelo decision it is possible for government to do so. The state governments passed laws following Kelo requiring themselve to pay you justly for your property... so no I am not worried in the slightest. " The government can't spy on your because it violates the 4th amendment. The government can't take your property without just compensation because that violates the 5th amendment. I have a question for you, why don't you ever question any of these laws? And why don't you point to where in the constitution these laws are justified? Your only response is "the SC ruled it that way". And you move one without any questions. Why? Why don't you question it or read the constitution to see if those powers even exist? "Once again. The Affordable Care Act does not require you to have insurance." Yes it does, or you have to pay a fine. I will link the law to you. It is in sec. 1501.
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  3056. Courtney, TYT will find anything to rip on Trump, they are bias. In fact the media is not reliable right now as it is mainly stationed in LA and NYC, very liberal leaning areas of the country. The media has become myopic to the rest of the country and was shocked when Trump won simply because the media as a whole is in a bubble. These polls are a part of that. "Cenk actually predicted Trump would win way back in an appearance on MSNBC (or CNN) -- I forget which one. There were conservatives who predicted Trump would not win." I know, but Cenk also did the whole loser Donald segment. But, I have to give credit where credit is due, Cenk was right when everyone else on that segment said Clinton would win. "No, you're lying once more. And you have not clarified what you mean by "the polls are not doing well." You gave a few examples. That is not enough to say all polls are not doing well. And I am not "holding on" to polls. I am saying I trust them more than you and Trump and that is the logical thing to do." Trump won, he won by saying what he is saying right now about the polls. It seems like he know something and is doing something right. The polls keep ripping on him all throughout the election and he won. "Wait. So is this an admission that you wish to throw out the scientific method?" Nope, just saying the polls are wrong. Even at that most polls are done through landlines and cell phone which is highly unreliable which is something you learn in statistics. And the questions are typically very vague. As a whole the situation is vague. TYT and other sources keep saying "the polls" but never get into details. If you read the methodology of these polls they hardly ever mention the age, location, occupation, income level and so on of those being polled. They simply list them as "adults". With that they are not reliable. When I write a paper to be published I have to give out all details on my experiments. "You're being purposely vague here. They were pointing to polls that indicated that Trump would lose" And the polls are vague. " You're spitting on experts right now saying that they don't understand their own polls." What "experts"? I am calling them out on vague polls that deceive people.
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  3077. Nicola Margelisch  "Physics tells us that greenhouse gases are responsable for traping heat in our atmosphere. There are ways of measuring that. This is accepted throughout the entire scientific community." You are right about greenhouse gases, but how much of a role are they playing?  We don't know due to our poor models and lack of a control in our experiments. "In terms of predicting the future: Models are they only way to do that. There is no other way. And we have models, which got better and better over the last years." In some ways yes, but they are still highly inaccurate. For example it is very hard to model water.  There are several types of water models and right now our models are not accurate. "but the overall notion that humans are responsible for our warming climate is not really in debate anymore" It is highly debatable.  Do humans play a role?  Yes.  But how much? We don't have a model to explain that. "As to why governments should take action against climate change: Because many people are idiots with no understanding of science" I agree, including politicians who use this issue for political gains and more tax dollars. "have no compassion for others, don't care about ecosystems and most importantly: Completely lack the ability to think ahead into the future for more than 50 years." But yet politicians do? "And to the best of our current knowledge, climate change may have dire consequences on our environment," Not really.  The earth has gone through 4 billion years of climate change and the environment has evolved just fine.  We have nothing that shows what is happening now is any different than what happened 5000 years ago or whatever time period you want to choose.  "Do you want famine" Considering how we produce too much food it is safe to say that won't happen anytime soon.  The fact is that climate change is still a very gray issue.  We should continue researching it and progressing in technology.  But we can't make radical decisions that will destroy our economy off of something with so much doubt.  What I also find to be funny (and kind of sad) is that liberals want government to do something because they don't do anything themselves.  Do you study science?  If you do than you are a rarity of the political left.  I study science and actually put in the work to progress our society.  How about you start taking actions instead of spewing propaganda.
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  3079. "The scientific consensus is clear though. It's not as if half of all climate change scientists don't share the view of human caused climate change. More like 5-3%." There is no scientific consensus. If you read peer reviewed publications you will see they give very vague descriptions. No credible scientist is going to make the claim our politicians and members of the media are, on both sides. " And more than 95% percent of all climate scientists tell us that we have to act. " Not true. " Nature can adapt, but only over long periods of time and not a few generations. The rate of change is the real problem." With our technology we are fine. "I wasn't talking about western society but people who are already starving and live in areas that are very dry." Which has been an ongoing problem for years. "I'm gonna study Biology at a university in about a years time." Great, go in with an open mind. ". The government can do a lot more by investing in alternative energy production and abandoning coal as an energy source. " We can't abandon fossil fuels because right now that is the best source we have. Other forms of energy are inefficient to the point they are not usable at the industrial level, that includes scientific research. I use a lot of energy in my research. You will be hindering my work which is used to find cure for diabetes, cancer and so on. I also do work in alternative forms of energy as well. But that work requires a reliable source of energy which only comes from fossil fuels. And my energy need is low compared to other research. You will be hindering progress in science by getting off of fossil fuels right now. I agree, we need to progress, but we can't force anything.
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  3114. " It didn't really matter whether Jim Crow laws were unconstitutional or not" It does because that is the standard. If we followed the standard than we wouldn't be having these problems. The one president who violated the Constitution the most was FDR with his many social programs he created. Now you may feel he was right in doing so, but that tore apart the standards to where Jim Crow Laws could last as long as they did. "Right from Johnson sending the national guard to Ole Miss i think it was or Brown v Board of Education" That was not federal power but instead enforcing the Constitution, in this case the 14th amendment. " or ofcourse the Civil Rights Acts of 63 and 64." Which were a mixture of unconstitutional and unnecessary due to the 14th amendment. "Yes if you dig hard enough you can justify anything via the constitution just like you can justify anything via the bible." Not comparable as the Constitution is law, the Bible is ideology. "Without the power of the executive, it really doesn't mean much and that executive power has to be exercised by yes trampling over states rights when the states don't want to act properly. " Define acting properly? By what standard do you base that off of? Say a state does something you don't like but it is within the bounds of the Constitution and the citizens voted for it. Why do you feel the need to enforce you ideas on them? You don't live there nor do you pay taxes there. Acting properly is subjective and is the exact reason why the founding fathers created state rights. They could not agree on what the federal government should run in terms of domestic issues. "It's not very likely that you will take away people's healthcare without severe political backlash. If the GOP takes away the ACA and leaves millions uncovered, they will pay in the midterms." How so? The Democrats have been paying since they created the ACA. But the ACA is a great example of why we should leave these issues to the states. 60 senate democrats could not agree on one bill for the longest time. I remember when 59 did but one from Nebraska didn't as it will cost his state too much money. That is why healthcare reform was so challenging to being with, not every state agrees with it. But now we passed the ACA and it is a mess. Now look at how hard it is to change. At the state level these laws are much easier to change. So the ACA is a great example of why the states should control this. " For the record, by supremacy, I dont mean the federal govt completely bosses the states around with no retort whatsoever. I mean just altering the balance of power. " Altering it to what? What is your standard? Mine is the Constitution and everything is clearly written in the Constitution. We have to have standards to create laws. I go back to FDR. He broke those standards and it created the mess we have now.
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  3116. "A bit revisionist history. Jim Crow laws lasted as long as they did because of inaction, not because of action." All the Supreme Court had to do was rule them unconstitutional. To me this is another example of why we need state rights. If we need education reform we will be sitting around for years waiting for the federal government to take action when the states can do it quickly. "Johnson sending the national guard to Ole Miss and Brown v Board of Education was federal power at its rawest form. " No, it is enforcing the Constitution. Both the federal government and the states can enforce the Constitution if they need to. "Again you can justify anything by the constitution just as you can justify anything by the bible." Again, not comparable. The Constitution is the standard when it comes to law. The Bible is ideology for religious people and is not used at all in creating laws in this country. "The Brown v Board deciision relied on the Equal Protection Clause" Which is the 14th amendment. " but again the actual execution of the law has to come from the federal government if the states are unwilling to." Ok, now say the president abuses their power. The states, through Congress, can impeach him and remove him from office if they feel it is necessary. That is the states using the Constitution to control the federal government. It goes both ways. "By making comments like this, I think you're speaking based off of libertarian theory and not based off of the reality in the pre-civil rights South. " No, I am basing it off of reality. "The passage of the civil rights acts specifically and directly put into motion the end of unequal application of voter registration requirements and de jure racial segregation." Voting laws are created mainly by the states. If they create a law they can't discriminate based off of race via the 14th amendment. Thus the Civil Rights Act was unnecessary in that regards because a standard was already on the books. All the SC had to do was enforce it to see that voting laws were equal across all races. " I think you need to study this a bit more and the surrounding circumstances. " I have studied it. The standard was already on the book in the Constitution, all we had to do was enforce that. "When you don't allow all your citizens living in your state basic political rights, then that is not acting properly. I hardly think this is a radical standard. " If a state is denying Constitutional rights than that government is not working within the bounds of the Constitution. The only rights you have are listed in the Constitution. The standard you defined is not radical, I would agree. But in other comments you want the federal government to enforce educational standards and marriage laws both of which are 1. not rights 2. not listed in the constitution as the responsibility of the federal government "And regarding the ACA, I guarantee you if the GOP repeal that thing and leave people uncovered, they will pay politically next year." Doubtful as most who will be uncover are poor to begin with and don't vote. Also, the Republicans are not defending many seats this upcoming mid term. If the economy is booming and if they do the repeal gradually they will be fine.
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  3133. Kevin Montrond It is not true. I heard of that story and know that there are several variables involved.  Here it is 1. That company has over 300 locations, they have an advantage over a company that has a select few 2. With that, they have resources to cut before they start raising prices 3. With that what happens is that smaller competitors have no choice but to raise prices and cut hours lowering demand meaning customers will go to Wetzel's Pretzel instead 4. Or, ultimately, a rival company has to close down all together limited consumer choices. To give an example on point 4, we have a Wetzel's Pretzel in the mall in my city.  If the min. wage increase causes two nearby food places to close down, consumers will go to Wetzel's Pretzel instead due to limited choices.  So just because one company does well does not mean others will.  In fact, just seeing one company do well raises suspicion.  Walmart supported a min. wage increase knowing it will hurt smaller competitors.  You also have this http://www.facesof15.com/ " Your argument fails mathematically Because the rich pay a lower percentage of what they earn than the rest of America " Not necessarily. Even at that you are being deceptive. The rich just don't sit on their money.  Even in banks that money is used for loans to invest into buying homes and businesses.  What do the poor spend it on?  Another pretzel?  Great, that really grew the economy. I bought a Pepsi today, I imagine that really grew the economy big time.
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  3152. realCevra"  nope, that's only your idea. in the real world people work to get money, and they work more if they get more money, that's how capitalism works." They work to get money because if they did not work they won't have money.  If you just give them money they will not work as hard.  That is why socialism never works. "just imagine someone asking for a raise, do you expect an answer like "i can't pay you more, because then you'd work less", ridiculous" That is different.  There you are proving to an employer you are worth more so they give you more.  You worked hard to earn that money.  What you support is just giving money away. If an employer just gave someone a raise without them earning they won't be working harder.  So your comparison is 100% completely incorrect. " if you make it illegal for businesses to expand and multiply, yes. but you're not living in a command economy, do you?" How can you expand as a business if people won't work?  People won't be working as much because guess what? They have money now. People work to earn money.  If you give them money they won't have a reason to work as much.  If they are one  of those that want to work to earn more than they are someone who is already working their way up to begin with.  But in the end if you just give people money they will work less since they don't have a need to work. That is what you are failing to understand. " are you implying that there was a market with exploding profit but without competition? do you think that is common for products that satisfy one's basic needs? and do you think that is a typical capitalistic market? " First off, a universal basic income is not capitalism.  That is your major flaw.  You are saying "under capitalism you will have this", and I agree, under capitalism people will work for one major reason, TO EARN MONEY.  But if you are giving them money than guess what, THEY IS NO LONGER AN INCENTIVE TO WORK.  So you will have less workers. On colleges, there is plenty of competition. Issue is that the federal government artificially increased demand for colleges so they all had to raise prices.  But again, what you support is not capitalism. And yes, the same will happen with a universal basic income. Let me ask you again, if the government is giving you money already, why work? 
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  3157. realCevra " you do realize that the economy would stay the same, companies would hire people to work and workers would get salaries on top of the basic income, right? you did get that, did you?" Again, wrong.  One of two things will happen. 1. People will work less, a portion of them at the very least meaning less productivity.  They will work less because they don't have a reason to work because they are earning money. People work to earn money, but if they are already getting money they won't work as hard. Thus productivity will go down meaning prices will go up due to lack of supply. OR 2. The least someone can earn in a year is $0.  They simply just don't work.  Now people will be earning $1000 a month (say that was the basic income).  That means the price of everything will go up accordingly.  If cost of living in an area was averaged out to be, say $1000 a month, it will now be $2000.  Here is a reason why.  Rent in my city is around $650 for a one bedroom.  If people were given $1000 than the demand for one bedroom apartments will go up causing rent prices to go up. In the end we will be back to square one where rent will be approaching $1650 a month.  The reason why is because everyone has an extra $1000 a month, not just those who earned it by creating wealth. In both cases you have gained nothing which goes back to my original post of that this is dumb.  In the end the economy will not be staying the same. Also, you were talking about price.  Why are those people worth that much?  For just being alive? That is now how the economy works. It goes back to what you have been saying the entire time, wealth is subjective.  Something is only worth something if someone is willing to pay the price.  A car is worth $10,000 if someone is willing to pay it.  Someone gets paid money because they produce something that someone else values. But if we just give money away that will lower the value of the dollar, thus higher prices.
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  3248. realCevra You are not getting it.  If someone gives you $200 billion on their own free will then they valued whatever they gave you.  Such as when I bought lunch for my friends, I valued them in that way I was willing to spend my own money on them.  Money obtains value in that case. If someone were to steal your money than you have less of it making your life more expensive because you will have to collect that money back somehow either by working more or cutting expenses.  You did not gain anything when your money was stolen because you did not voluntarily give it away yourself. Now with government spending.  Us, as a society promotes a government and pay taxes in hope that the government offers society something they value. Say, to go easy, roads.  Say we need $100,000,000 for roads.  Society pays that much in taxes but instead of the government spending that money on roads they just give it away to people to do nothing.  That money loses value because it does not produce anything.  In order for society to have roads they have to either 1. pay out of pocket 2. pay more in taxes. In both cases that makes their lives more expenses. That means business owners will have to raise prices or cut workers to generate more money to pay for the higher taxes or tolls for roads. People will have to cut expenses in order to pay for the higher taxes or tolls for the roads.  That means life is more expensive because money, as a whole, lost value. Your example is very poor because your example is of someone voluntarily giving away their money.  I can pay $200 to have a stripper grind on my dick.  That gives money value because I felt that was worth it.  But if someone stole that $200 than I gained nothing thus I have to find a way to get that money back since I wanted it for other things.  I felt I triggered you when I showed you how you are wrong on your definition of fiat money.   
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  3267. " i must've hit my head and forgot my graduations." You mean forgot all of your classes or schooling? What do you mean by "graduations"? ". and you were the one who was trying to become a circus clown, right? " Nope, you brought up clowns. But I can see character attacks are your motive. You bringing up clowns does show you lack of intelligence in economics. Anyway, you never gave me a source showing how much clowns make and what the job outlook is for them. " a society with 2 people, later 3. whenever trades have to be conducted over long distances of time, people have to use money. barter doesn't work, because with barter you'd have to exchange on the spot. how do you exchange 100 meals with 1 hut on the spot?" Yes, as the economy expands to multiple people and multiple places than money is necessary. But you are talking about just two people on an island, that's it. No one else. "i very well do" Apparently you don't, I had to give it to you. "textbook? this isn't school, you do know there's something called scientific papers and articles," Textbooks are written referencing scientific papers. So a textbook is sufficient. Or cite me a paper instead. "but it does, the value of fiat money is set when it enters the money base. fiat money has almost no intrinsical value, but that only denoted the value of the material it uses to represent its value, usually dyed paper" It has value when it is invested. "nope, you don't increase the money base by giving tax money to students, the money base is the same, it just has different holders, didn't i tell you that already?" Increase the demand for college without increasing the supply. That money given to the students is used, for the most part, only on college which also limits its value. " you did notice that your sentence make absolutely no sense? you're basically saying that instead of being productive you're being productive. hilarious" No, I am not being productive because I have to do unnecessary work to get the same amount. But of course it makes no sense to you, you have no idea how textbooks are written.
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  3340. "That's thinking with old school economics, if you look at countries that have government provided health insurance, people save money and health is generally better." As is the US has arguably the best healthcare system in the world as is. Other countries have problems as well such as rationing and lack of resources. They just make people wait. Also it is very hard, to almost impossible to compare countries to one another. The variables are too great. Those countries you are comparing us to typically have much smaller populations than the US. That plays a role. compare it like this, say you were to buy Subway sandwiches for 5 people. You can specialize all of them. Now say you were to do it for 200 people. You will just get a bunch of generic sandwiches and tell them to put their own mayo on. Same applies in a country like the US compare to Denmark. The US has 320+ million people, Denmark has a population smaller than most of our states. That is not a valid comparison. And population is just one of many variables. "And yes I know that free public college wouldn't pay for med school, but it would set people on the right track to head there." There are affordable 2 year and 4 year colleges that people can take their pre-med courses at. Money isn't the issue. It is the inability to do the job, or lack of desire to put in the work and take on the stress. "Also, many people actually want to become doctors but can't do it because the education required is too expensive" Or more likely can't handle it or refuse to put in the work needed. I, as a TA, see several pre-med students fail yearly. They are able to afford college and can't pass.
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  3341. "How is that enslaving doctors? That is rhetoric not argument, a single payer system is just the government providing healthcare to citizens," The government has nothing to begin with. In order for it to have something it has to take from the citizens. The government does not have healthcare. Doctor provide it and if doctors won't then the government will force them too. " And even with that argument you're basically saying teachers and every other government worker are slaves." In some ways they are. Teachers are asked to take on more students when we lack substitutes. For example if a 2nd grade class does not get a sub those students are spread to the other 2nd grade teachers. A teacher will be responsible for 5 or 6 extra students that day. "What is better, letting people who are poor just die because they can't afford health insurance and let people who are more economically stable get treated? Yes, there are problems with letting a lot more people into the healthcare market due to waiting lines, although they are not unsolvable problems. Your argument about a poor person with a life threatening illness and a person with a knee injury is heartless and shortsighted. Without health insurance, that person would be reluctant to go to the hospital and would probably die." People who typically have the most health problems are those in poverty mainly due to poor decisions. Catering to the least productive in our society is not a solution. While I support trying to help everyone it isn't possible, especially when everyone is not willing to pull their own weight. "Also, a single payer healthcare system payed for by a payroll tax (Probably about 3%) with no cap would save people on average about $5000 a year since they no longer have to pay for private insurance" That is not true.
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  3423. 1. Yes it does. A law cannot be bias towards anyone. " And by the way, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlaws discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin in BOTH the private and the public sector. " And that is a wrong ruling as that should be a state issue involving private companies. But the SC has made incorrect rulings in the past. Look up Kelo vs City of New London. 2. They discussed science in the past and they are discussing funding in science. They are not economists either, so they should not be discussing that as well. Ana has a degree in journalism for example. Cenk has one in management. 3. In the constitution. It lists the role of congress and the presidency. So Article I and Article II. 4. "By that logic, the federal government is not allowed to fund the National Weather Service, the FDC or the CDC. " National Weather Service can fall in line with the commerce clause as there is an interest in having weather across the country being known due to trade over state lines.. The FDC, to a degree can fall in line with the commerce clause to prevent certain food and drugs from going from one state to another that does not meet a standard. Same with the CDC to a degree. 5. " In other words, you can’t name any on the political left who have “poisoned science.”" Bernie Sanders and Barrack Obama. Remember. Sanders even admitted that he struggled in science classes. " And by the way, how many on the left can be described as anti-evolution, antivaxx, anti man-made global warming and anti stem cell research?  " You keep pointing to the same things. One, evolution is what it is, a theory. Also, a Bush appointed judge in the Dover vs Penn trial ruled in favor of science over creationism. Very few are anti-vaxx and they are the radicals of the group (also, Bill Maher has been criticized for being anti-vaxx). They are not anti-man made global warming. They disagree to what degree man is playing a role in climate change. Scott Pruit even said that man is influencing climate. Also, Bush had a more environmental friendly home compared to Gore. And stem cell research was never banned. They did not want federal funds going to it. Meanwhile the left is using science as an excuse to raise taxes and regulations and give money to special interest groups.
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  3473. Terri, I have several friends who are doctorate in the science field who lean right. As a whole, in academics they do lean left, but it also more or less depends on the department and where the university is at. In the midwest you will find more conservative professors, especially in the STEM fields and business fields, fields that do require more critical thinking and problem solving. To answer you questions Climate change: I despise the political left's stance on it. They misrepresent science to create more excuses to expand the government and create more taxes and regulations. We should continue doing research in it and progressing in technology, but we should get politics out of the issue. This is why I side with republicans. Under Bush funding for science research went up. The republican's stance is clear, they support science, they just want to leave it to the scientist. As Neil deGrasse Tyson said, no republican wants to die poor. In order to generate wealth we need technology to advance, thus they support science. EPA: Before the EPA air quality was improving The EPA is nothing more than added layers of bureaucracy and federal government overreach. We should really dismantle it. Abortion: This is not really an issue involving science. If you want to go that route than once can say that life starts at conception. By definition a sack of cells are living. As a whole I don't have a stance abortion besides it should be a state law Stem cell research: I support it and it is legal. All Bush said was that federal funds won't fund it. I support that as well but that is more of me supporting state rights. If you really understood republicans you will see that they support science. If there really is an anti-science party it is the democrats for them politicizing it. Republicans say what they do to appeal to the religious fundamentalists that vote for them, just like Obama, in facing a tough re-election in 2008 said he supported gay marriage (even though he has never done anything for the gay community). He said that to appeal to the gay vote. That's politics. Navigate that and you will see many different things.
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  3476. +LTrotsky 21st Century I am not dodging anything. I can go through almost any Bernie Sanders' policies and break them down to where it won't work. Here, I will pick one myself, the $15/hr min. wage. The problem with that is businesses simply can't afford that high of a wage. The money is not there, especially when you consider rural areas where there are jobs that simply don't produce much wealth in those communities. A $15/hr min. wage will destroy those small towns, never mind businesses. When Bernie talks about the $15/hr min. wage he talks about Walmart. He was having a discussion about it with Douglas Holtz-Eakin and Douglas asked what about other businesses besides Walmart? Bernie was all over Walmart so Douglas decided to get Bernie to talk about other businesses and Bernie just avoided it by going to his typical talking points and sticking on Walmart. It is another example of when people ask Bernie for details he avoids them. He complained about CEOs earning a lot, but cutting CEO pay won't even come close to paying for the $15/hr min. wage. If you were to take the top 6 CEO so Walmart they earn $77 million a year. You take all that money and spread it evenly to the 525,000 workers who earn less than $25,000 a year that will be an extra $148 a year. That is it. That comes from 4th grade level math. Bernie complains about youth unemployment with high youth unemployment comes from the higher min. wage. I can really break it down even farther in how Bernie misunderstands the value of money and what not but at this point it shows that Bernie is completely off on the $15/hr min. wage. Businesses simply can't afford it. You can do the same for all of his economic policies in how they simply won't work. This is why when people ask for his plan, even Bill Maher asked Bernie about his plan, and Bernie could not come up with an answer. Bernie is an old fool.
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  3477. +LTrotsky 21st Century A few things here: 1. The study says "What they found was that it did not have a big negative impact on those cities" There was a negative impact though. That is the point, they admitted to the negative effect but never mentioned any positive effect. You have to realized that in the economy as large as the US is that $10 is small. That is why you can raise the min. wage and not see many negative effects because it all gets lost in the statistical noise. But if you were to raise it to $50/hr then it will have a larger role which is why no politician wants that. When you look at groups effected by the min. wage the most, such as low skilled workers (teenagers for example) and businesses who pay low wages, you see higher prices and less hours. That is why teenage unemployment is going along with the min. wage. 2. You are looking at cities that already have a higher cost of living. The city with the highest min. wage is Emeryville, CA. It is home to Pixar, their largest employer. They have a lot of workers who earn at least $80,000/yr. They have a median income of $45,000 per household. Now compare that to my hometown which is mainly a rural area with a median household income of $29,000. Those cities possess tech jobs that generate more wealth where rural areas don't. Just because is supposedly works in certain cities (which is debatable, San Fran. has extreme high cost of living) doesn't mean it will work elsewhere. I can go on with the high cost of living. San Fran. has a home ownership rate of 36%, far below CA average of 55%, or the US rate of 63%. The cost of living is high there. A $10/hr wage is low compared to other areas of the country. It is like an obese person eating 10 pounds of candy a day and then eating 12 pounds a day a year later and seeing no weight gain. The situation was bleak to begin with. Study more economics there. I will start with you own source you cited, they even admit there were negative results.
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  3560. "If you would have bothered to read the study, it says several times that they adjusted for demographic characteristics." I have read the study and the study said itself, in the discussion section that there are a number of limitations such as the neighborhood a person is living in and that more research is needed. The strongest correlation is with suicides. Gun control advocates want to prevent gun murder and gun related crime which is not suicides. Suicides are a completely different issue that is not gun related. And suicides is self inflicted harm. I suggest you read your studies you cite more carefully. "Yes, so can we assume that you don't feel that it's necessary for Americans to have their guns to be able to end their lives? That we could possibly take away guns from people who are sucidal and maybe return them if and when they have gotten the help they deserve? So that while they're contemplating suicide they'd have to plan for it to take minutes and maybe cause much more pain instead of what time it takes to pull a trigger and what they might feel when a bullet goes through their brain?" Suicide is a non-gun related issue. If you are wanting to ban guns to prevent suicides then why not push to put nets around bridges, or ban alcohol (been tried) or drugs (which is illegal) considering how that is the 2nd method for suicides. At this point it is clear to me that you are more scared of the gun and want to flat out ban it. I have four guns as is. Three are rifles that sit in a stand and are completely harmless. One is a pistol that sits in my drawer by my bed loaded for in home protection. Now to you seems to be the scariest thing in the world. To me that is perfectly safe considering how guns just don't accidentally fire, it is in a holster, and tucked away. Any accidents happening with guns is pure negligence and is not gun related at all. "There are areas in the country that have a very high amount of pollution, they throw the stats off for the entire country. There are areas in the country that have a very high amount of wealth, they throw the stats off for the entire country. There are areas in the country that have a very high amount of car accidents, they throw the stats off for the entire country." I fully agree with what you said.....so whats your point? "When were talking about the gun violence statistics of United States, it means ALL THE GUN VIOLENCE in United States is taken into account. You can't just decide to drop areas out to get a more favourable result." In statistics you can. Let me throw an example here. Say a classroom with student takes a tests and 5 score 70 and 5 score 80. Now say you have another class that take the same test and 5 score 50 and 5 score 100. Both classes average out to be a 75. Does that mean both classes are equal? No. On class is more uniform where another class has students holding back the average. Let us say instead of 5 scoring 50 and 5 scoring 100 you have 7 scoring 90 and 3 scoring 40. What is the average? 75. Are the two classes equal? Based off of that stat yes. But in reality one class is more uniformed where the other has 3 weak students holding back the entire class. You can drop outliers. "But i can't say it to the millions of people in the country who happen to live in places of high gang activity and lack the means to move. And i can't say that either of you are the standard of measurement. No, that would be those statistics you want to fudge to your benefit so much..." People who live in those area have a right to defend themselves. Your source you cited even mentioned about people using guns for protection from home break ins. There are law abiding citizens who live in poor neighborhoods that have a gun for protection. What is wrong with that?
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  3561. Now let me revisit your earlier comment and what you said. 1. "Oh look, how nice. There's been 5 mass shooting since Orlando..." When you water down the standard of a mass shooting then of course the number will be high. This comes down to when you remove the areas of high crime in the US then the number drops a lot. Out of those 5 three are in places notorious for crime, Brooklyn, Oakland and Chicago. One is in Fresno thus 4 of the 5 are in states with very strict gun laws to begin with. And before you cry about how I just can't drop areas to get favorable results, consider the example I gave about the two classrooms. "the presence of a gun in the home was associated with a nearly fivefold risk of suicide (adjusted odds ratio = 4.8)..." I addressed how you can't even read your own sources. ".an almost threefold risk of homicide (adjusted odds ratio = 2.7)..." Again, your source stated several limitations such as the neighborhood where one lives. This goes with how you can remove areas of very high crime in the US and crime is very low. Remove the outliers and you get a more accurate representation of what is really going on. "You do know that some people live and work in the "hood" and don't have the financial means to move?" I agree, and they should have a gun to protect themselves. I don't live in the hood and even I have a gun for in home protection. Why do you want to take away their only form of protection? Do you want to take away the locks on their door as well? "You do know that many, if not most of the guns in the hands of criminals are from gun owners that kept them in their cars or unsecured in their houses where they were then stolen from? That the large amount of guns in civilian hands is the reason for large amount of guns in criminal hands?" That is negligence. You can't blame the gun for that. "United States is 18th worse country in the world, when looking at homicides done by firearms. There it is, in the middle of developing- and third world countries." Just don't single out gun homicides, look at overall homicide. I know guns are scary to you, but just because you are scared of them doesn't mean you have to strip rights from others. I feel the ignorance you just spewed is scary but I will never push to have your freedom of speech taken away.
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  3583. A few of his policies 1. College: How will he make up for the fact that we lack college professors? How will he make up for the fact that we lack TAs, dorms, classrooms, janitors, facilities, etc.? In my university we are not allowing any non-freshman to live in the dorms due to our enrollment increasing and us lacking dorms. Some freshman will have to triple up in a dorm room designed for two. 2. Healthcare: How will he make up for the lack of doctors and healthcare workers we currently have? How about the lack of hospital beds? How about the lack of resources? We have a waiting list for organs for example. 3. On both of the above: How will he prevent both of those institutions from just raising prices due to increase demand? All of his numbers I assume are based off of current costs. What will he do when colleges increase prices along with healthcare companies? 4. Jobs for teenagers: What type of jobs? What will they work? When? Where? What wealth will be created if any? 5. By guaranteeing everyone is going to earn a "living wage", healthcare and retirement, why should people have the desire to push themselves to work in a high skill job such as healthcare? How will new wealth be created if no one has the desire to better themselves? 6. Minimum wage: What is going to prevent businesses from just laying people off and raising prices? 7. Infrastructure: Where is this crumbling infrastructure he keeps talking about? And where does he get his numbers? In infrastructure it is hard to predict the cost of concrete and steel. The Bay Bridge in CA was project to cost around $1 billion in 7 years. In the end it cost over $6 billion. What will Bernie do if infrastructure spending ends up costing 6 times as much? There are seven to start. It would be great if you can address all with words from Bernie. As of now with all of the research I have done I have yet to see any of these issues being covered.
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  3693. Growing up and seeing your parents going from being able to find a job to not being able to find one, and seeing older siblings struggle to find a job leaving college shows that you can't rely on many people. You become more independent. You can't rely on the fact that you can just get a degree, get a job, start a family and own a home. You realize that it requires work. It isn't growing up poor, it is growing up in an environment where you have to work for what you want and opposed to just having it given to you. You have the poor that are lazy, and do not work hard, and make excuses. They will support more socialist policies. They will always exist. But during the poor economy under Obama you had families that worked hard and remained frugal where that same family would have spoiled their kids in the 90s because of a stronger economy. The Trump years will be successful. Economic growth will be strong and people will realize that massive federal government intrusion and socialist policies are not the answer. It will remain that way until you have the another generation growing up in a strong economy, getting whatever they want and becoming entitled. It is nothing new. It happened where people in the late 60s and 70s were entitled because they grew up with a strong economy in the 50s. That led to a poor economy in the late 70s leading to the election of Reagan. Now success under him and in the 90s under Clinton led to entitle millennials. Don't worry, socialists will get their chance again to reign. You had your chance by electing Obama but couldn't pass any policies besides Obamacare. Now you have Trump.
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  3697. ***** 1. People with mental health problems can't get guns to begin with depending on what the health problem was.  But that is after they have been diagnosed.  2. Technology have been known to fail 3. None of these proposed laws would have stopped any of these "mass shootings" (which is not a legally defined term by the way). 4. Owning and driving a car is not a right.  Owning a gun is.  Also, you can own a drive a car without registering it and without a license if you do it on private property 5. The proposed laws have not been shown to lower shootings 6. The 2nd amendment is there to prevent tyranny, it shouldn't matter what type of fire power you want to own.  Also, people like high capacity magazines. And look up the VA Tech shooter.  You don't need high capacity magazines to kill a lot of people 7. If you are going to stop a tyrannical government it will be the state or local government.  That is because of state rights.  The federal government can't just use the military to enforce state law without the consent of the state's legislature.  Thus if the federal government were to become tyrannical  to a certain state than it will essentially create a civil war of states against states.  So in reality citizens will actually be fighting local government officials like police and sheriffs.   Also, in the 1770s a bunch of farmers with pitchforks fought the strongest army in the world at the time. 8. A gun registry will do nothing to stop shootings and will only create a pathway to gun confiscation.  And training?  So you want to make gun owners more efficient killers? Alternative?  How about we push policies that lower crime instead of attacking our rights.  If you want to attack rights to lower crime I suggest you start with the 4th amendment and allow cops to randomly search people's homes. 
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  3700. ***** A nuclear bomb is not an arm, that is the difference and the line.  "And I'm not for attacking the fourth amendment simply because you have nothing to hide doesn't mean that you don't want anything to be kept private" But allowing the government to randomly search people's homes and property will lower crime.  That is your main goal.  You are attacking a right, the 2nd amendment in this case, for "safety".  I am simply saying that attacking the 4th amendment will achieve your goal better.  I personally want to lower crime without stripping away our rights.  You want to strip away rights, so why not the 4th amendment? "Maybe you have a medical history you don't want people to know about." Like a mental health problem? ". Maybe you had an affair and don't want people to know." Don't commit an affair. "Maybe you like drinking your own pee." Which isn't illegal so why should you care?  We are trying to catch criminals. "None of these things are a crime, but can all be used against you." And owning a machine gun isn't a crime, but you feel that it should be illegal. "Why are you for taking away one amendment to save another?" You tell me?  You are doing just that.  You are arbitrarily picking the 2nd amendment when the 4th will be better in lowering crime.  I personally don't want to attack any amendments.  "You say owning a gun is a right," It is.  So is privacy.  But you are arbitrarily attacking one right.  You are saying privacy is a right but owning a gun is "meh".  I am not being a hypocrite here, you are. 
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  3701. ***** You are attacking the 2nd amendment because you are making it more challenging for law abiding citizens to obtain guns.  You are also placing restriction on what guns to own in that you feel that people should not be allowed to own automatic weapons (even though most gun deaths involve hand guns).  A grenade launcher is an arm because it can be transported simply by carrying where a nuke can't. Drones have been around for a while now.  They too can be transported by simply carrying. "Let people purchase firearms, that aren't fully automtic and designed for military use" You clearly have no idea what "military use" means.  The M1 Garand was used in the military when fully autos were around.  The fact is that just because a gun is an automatic doesn't make it immediately more deadly than one that isn't.  The M1 Garand is 1. quick to reload 2. uses a round that is more powerful than a lot of automatics you are thinking of "Make sure that person is trained on how to use the gun" So make them or efficient killers? "and is registered" So the government can trace it if they do want to confiscate guns? "How is that attacking the 2nd amendment?" You are opening the doorway to gun confiscation with a gun registry.  ""A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State"." http://www.constitution.org/cons/wellregu.htm Read that on the definition of "well regulated". You clearly know very little about guns and the english language and how it is used in the past. This is the exact reason why the founding fathers put in place the 2nd amendment, so people who lack knowledge don't make asinine decisions.
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  3713. Jonathon, what popular vote? People have been voting for republicans the last three election cycles. Face it, people don't like Obamacare. Yes, the polls have been wrong. One poll had Clinton winning Michigan by almost 8%. Also, many polls such as on the issues of healthcare and gun control have been wrong when compared to election results. Gallup said that 87% of people want background checks on guns. Meanwhile such laws failed in Maine and passed in NV by only 0.45% with many sheriff departments in NV saying they won't enforce it. Also, what polls are you citing with your numbers? Here is Pennsylvania http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/pa/pennsylvania_trump_vs_clinton-5633.html#polls Almost all of them had Clinton winning, some by large margins. "I know exactly how the electoral college works" You clearly don't and you clearly don't understand the history of this country and why the electoral college exists. It was to give power to the states because the federal government is made up of the states. The states and the federal government keep each other in check. That is why besides treason and the draft the federal government basically has no power over individual citizens according to the constitution. That is why there was no federal individual income taxes. "Do you understand what this means? I'm going to bet, you don't even understand the mathematical difference. " I have a math minor, I worked as a math tutor, I am a doctorate candidate in physical chemistry. But you are the ones that are making up polling data. Look at the numbers for the states. Clinton got over 60% of CA's votes which is over 8.7 million. Trump got over 67% of Wyoming's vote which is only 174,000. You see the difference?
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  3795. "he's not a hypocrite because he wants to close the gap in income inequality, and he happens to be wealthy. His plight is more valid because he is wealthy actually. If he were broke, people would call him a bum." There are a few issues here. One, people defend him saying he earned his money and thus can enjoy it. Well, why can't you say that with other rich people such as the millionaires and billionaires? Bernie complains about how wealthy the Walton family when in reality they earned their money and wealth as well. They just decided to run a business with it. How they conduct it should not be Bernie's business just like no one should care about him owning three homes. But Bernie wants to tell the Walton family how to run their wealth. So that makes him a hypocrite. Another issue is he is not leading by example. Why did he buy a third home? Why didn't he donate that money? What is he doing to help society? He preaches about everyone working together, but what work does he do? He could have donated that money to a university for new lab equipment or something. Instead he is saying to society "you do all the work and I just sit here and talk". A third issue is that he does an a lot to gain with the federal government gaining more power. That puts him in charge. If he is going to be in charge he needs to have limits. I have suggested in the past that politicians are paid the same as the median yearly earnings of US citizens, that way they push for a stronger economy and not a system that benefits just themselves.
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  3798. Bart, there are a lot of things people don't care about now. That is why we need government. At the same time we have to be able to control government which is why we have a Constitution. It placed limitations on all governments. Changes in domestic issues were to be done at the state and local level. Now issue by issue Protecting the environment.: Prior to the EPA air quality was improving. This can be handled at the state level. Also, I have been given many charts that showed as productivity went up wages remained stagnate. That trend started in the early 70s. While there are several factors there the EPA was created around that time (along with OSHA). Voting rights for women.: Which was changed via the Constitution because women pay taxes as well and are affected by the government thus they too should have a say Healthcare.: This is also an issue, but if the government were to have a say or be involved it would be at the state level. Other social insurance: Same with healthcare Universal education: Public education has been ran and funded at the state level for centuries. The Department of Ed was not created until the late 1970s. Did education cease to exist before that? No. Also, the federal government did not get deeply involved until 1965 when it started to give out loan. After that college tuition went up. On Bernie's own cite he said "In 1965, average tuition at a four-year public university was just $243 and many of the best colleges" Kind of ironic he picked 1965.....or is it considering that was the year the federal government decided to get involved in financing college education as much as it does. Also, with government education that can lead to indoctrination when you don't control government. There is that fear as well which is why it was left up to the states. Illegal immigration: Was already considered Votings rights for Blacks. Citizenship for Blacks. Not being property All were changed in the Constitution sticking to the idea of having people have the rights to control government, same as with women voting. "None of these things were even considered by anyone back in the late 18th century." Some were. "The Founding Fathers knew that new issues would arise in the future (which is now the present and the past). That is why they introduced Amendments." But are cumbersome to pass. " The fact they did not mention any of the things that I listed above is meaningless - they simply did not know about them. " I am sure they did in a lot of ways. It came down to which level of government should be running it, if at all. As with education, if we were to have it than the states should manage it. It comes back to the states provided for the citizens and the citizens ran the states. Where the federal government provided for the states and the states ran the federal government. The federal government wasn't supposed to be involved with providing education to the citizens. As I said, if they did there will be fear of indoctrination or control. The more local government is the more control you have over it. Before the Revolution the colonies were paying less taxes than the British. The fact was that they wanted control. Not a centralized government but a government they can control, thus more local government. "BTW - "General Welfare" is in the Constitution. " Yes, general welfare. They were to promote it, not promise or guarantee it. I can encourage my students to study physics and do well. I can't take the tests for them. The federal government can encourage states to offer education to their citizens, they can't offer it to them though. That is what is meant by "promote general welfare". You have to read the whole thing. "The Constitution is a living, breathing thing. It is quite different from, say, the Ten Comandments." What does the ten commandments have to do with anything?
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  3816. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jan/30/the-gun-show-loophole-myth/ There is one on the gun show loophole myth. Most gun transfer that don't involve background checks are private sales. http://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/facts-about-gun-shows It is from the CATO institute which is bias to the right, but it says were it gets their numbers from. While it doesn't cite them it does say which source, so it does require more digging. The issue is that so many people scream "gun show loophole!" without knowing what really goes on in gun shows. They are also the same people who give zero numbers or facts but then demand them when someone makes a rebuttal. You have to also realize that typically they are people who are so anti-gun that they have never been around guns at all. Most criminals obtained their guns illegally. "You're assuming gun buyers operate with zero information, and that word of mouth is not a thing that exists. Those would be bad assumptions to make." As I said around 40% of criminals got their guns illegally. This "word of mouth" is a stretch. At that case you have something gang related and illegal activities is going on to begin with. "The 2nd Amendment has not prevented tyranny." 100% not true. There is a reason why it was placed 2nd in all of the amendments, even before property rights (5th amendment). During the time it was written the colonies were at war with the government. " But, the sensible restriction for that purpose is for gun ranges to rent out such weapons so people can shoot for fun on the range, and then lock them up in a secure vault afterwards." Who runs the secure vaults? Also you have to consider that in places like Nevada where there is so much open ground it is more fun to shoot out there then in a range. Also, it is really hard to own a fully auto with restrictions anyway, and it still won't solve the problem with murders being done mainly by handguns.
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  3818. "Where?" I gave you data to show that criminals, as in those with records, are not buying guns at gun shows. "When I make quantifiable claims, you could and should ask for quantifiable evidence. I am not exempt." I agree, how will background checks lower gun crime? That requires numbers. As of right now you are simply giving talking points. Background checks exist so it shouldn't be too hard. Or it could be that you are just making things up. "I have to ask again: define background checks as used these 95% you claimed." Let us start with you, what background checks do you want? Background checks from that number are FBI background checks. Ever been through an FBI check? It brings up something as small as a DUI. But what are you looking for? "It can be reduced by making gun registration mandatory, and the private sale of guns illegal. Again, only licensed sellers should be able to sell weapons. So that they can do background checks. Because not all who buy guns should be able to easily do so." A gun register means the government can track guns easier, something you don't want. Before you think that is not going to happen SB 5737 was passed in Washington in 2013 which allowed just that. I was later retracted and changed. But the idea of the government randomly searching people's homes who own guns is not out of the norm. But I bet you will support that considering it could lower crime. You know what else will lower crime? Allowing the government to randomly search people's homes. Doing so would have stopped Holmes from shooting up that theater and almost blowing up his apartment. Jaycee Lee Dugard would have been found earlier and not 18 years later. Do you support that? Do you support the government randomly searching people's homes? Please answer that question. Also, background checks still exist. If you are a felon you can't own a gun. Beyond that who else should not own guns in your opinion? "Still irrelevant." No it isn't. Lack of experience will make people scared of guns despite how safe they are. "So, anything short of systematic mass murder carried out by the government against its own populace, guns are useless against tyranny. Agreed. When do you expect that to happen?" Guns are not useless in tyranny. What happened after the Boston Massacre? A war. The colonies won. We try to take peaceful routes to settle disputes, but violence should be an option, a last resort but an option. "Nope. It's pretty relevant considering the power and capacity of modern arms, and the modern political environment we live in." I will link you to a video on that. There were 'assault weapons" during that time. Also, do you support changing freedom of speech because of the internet? Please answer that as well. "It's something that is fun and that people would like to do, which has no practical purpose, and is potentially incredibly dangerous to yourself and others. Very comparable." There are a lot of things that are impractical. Having sex with numerous people is impractical and can lead to STDs, do you want to regulate that as well? Make this country safe by banning anything that you deem to be unsafe? We can all just live in a rubber room. In the end gun ownership is a right, so it isn't comparable. 1. Banning full autos and rifles won't lower gun crimes, that is the point. 2. 100 round drums are notorious for jamming up, that is why the military does not use it. In the movie theater shooting it jammed up on him actually leading to potentially less deaths. Magazines are quick and easy to reload which is why magazine limits don't work. This is especially true if the shooter is the only one with a gun. Ex: VaTech shooter. 3. Ok, what? The US does not have a mass shooting everyday. If you remove gangs and drug related shootings, which are isolated, then it comes down to 4. Even with those shootings it still isn't everyday. Other countries do have light gun laws and other countries do have crime. This is not a gun problem but a crime problem. Even at that the US crime problem exists in isolated areas such as the inner city.
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  3828. +Jack Albrecht A recession is a recession, it happens naturally in an evolving economy. How we recover is key. Under FDR recovery was slow. This whole "there is no demand" is completely false, there is always demand. The pure fact is that you can't consume what you don't produce. People demand better goods and services and businesses push to produce it at an affordable price when there is competition. But in the end if there is no production, or if the supply of money becomes greater than the supply of goods and services than prices go up which hurts the economy. "There is also a lack of demand because there are fewer good paying jobs because the US has been massively outsourcing for 20+ years, as well as automation issues." Automation drives up productivity which drives down prices. That is why disposable income has been growing for decades now. This whole "fewer good paying jobs" is a foolish thought. Jobs are easy to create, wealth isn't. Plus, what is a "good paying job"? Where does Bernie expect to get that 300 billion? And plus, how will the states raise the money to pay for the 1/3 of it? And how does he plan on fixing the issue of us lacking classroom sizes and professors along with other resources? Other countries don't have a good as a university system as the US does. While I hate comparing countries it is really clear the US has the best university system in the world. "Towns are already paying the $15 dollars and hour, they just aren't paying it in wages. We're paying for it in food stamps, CHIP and subsidies to help someone making a non-living wage survive. " Not true. Small towns have lower prices due to lack of resources and people working jobs there such as agriculture, a job that does not produce that much money as opposed to Pixar (which is located in Emeryville, CA, city with the highest min. wage). Consider how rent is around $200, gas is around $2.20/gal, food is cheap, utilities are cheap, doctors are cheap, etc. in small towns the cost of living is low. And if there are people living off of those welfare programs it is because the federal min. wage has contributed to the rising cost and less jobs in those areas. The simple fact is that they can't afford higher wages. The min. wage kills small towns. I have witnessed it personally. There are other factors as well but the min. wage does not help. You have not been in very many small towns have you?
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  3831. +Jack Albrecht 1. Where do I lack understanding of economics? A recession is a recession, period. 2. Ok, how do you increase demand? Explain? I told you that it always exist. But to you it doesn't. So how do you increase it? 3. I read what you said Sanders' proposed. Sanders' proposed the states pay for 1/3 of college. Where is the state going to get the money? I understand that Sanders wants to tax wallstreet, but who is the state going to tax? 4. While excellent universities exist in other countries, in the US we have the best system in the world. We push for more professor/student relation, smaller classes and more activities. Universities in other countries are actually better suited for those doing graduate studies where the US has far more universities that are better suited for undergrad studies. 5. I grew up in a small town as well. Neighboring towns of around 520 and at times smaller. Seems like you lack understanding of small towns. 6. There is not one single good reason to even have a min. wage. It raises prices and kills jobs. Even Paul Krugman in his own textbook states the flaws of price floors such as the min. wage. "It is a fair but debatable statement that a full time job that doesn't pay a living (poverty or above) wage shouldn't exist." One, the term "living wage" is subjective and thus means nothing. Two, it is fair to say that if a person can't develop skills to earn enough then they shouldn't be around. The pure fact is that there are jobs that simply don't produce much. So if that job goes away then what? A person goes from having a job to nothing, thus they are now earning $0. " Such jobs implicitly put the remaining costs onto society, through increased health costs, increased public assistance, increased crime, etc. " Nope, those problems can be tied to the federal government. "I've seen your other comments as well. I don't see this conversation going anywhere but in circles until you come out of your bubble." What bubble? You have a mindset that we can simply raise the min. wage and that somehow businesses are not going to counter? Businesses will cut hours and raise prices, that is a fact, it happens. When NY raised the min. wage McDonalds fired several employees. Seattle averages 14 employees per restaurant with their high min. wage, the national average is 17. People simply hire less. It seems like you need to get out of your bubble. One last question. So when the $15/hr min. wage kills jobs, that in your mind are not worthy of being around because they can't pay a "living wage", what do you now do to those unemployed individuals? Those jobs don't exist? Do they go off of welfare? Or does another company, as in a corporation (considering they will be the only ones who can afford the higher wage, Walmart pushed for a min. wage increase).comes in and hires them?
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  3867. "First of all, the cutting hours thing is an imaginary problem. You can't possibly believe people will start working way less than 40 hours across the board." Yes they will because their employers will cut those hours. Also only around 2 percent of workers work full time and are on min. wage. "Secondly, you can still get another part time job and make a living" How, if hours are cut? Plus I don't know if you worked more than one job but scheduling is a nightmare. "If someone wants to work two part time jobs, and two business wants to hire them, why should we stand in the way of that? " I agree, but it isn't that easy. "You're a conservative" Nope, I am a moderate. "The problem is that currently people are working full time jobs and still not making a living" Yeah, but they are not the ones earning the min. wage. " The 15 dollars minimum wage solves that problem" No it doesn't. "What you are suggesting, making it so that someone working 4 hours per week has to be payed just as much as someone working 40, all that does is effectively ban part time jobs." No it doesn't. It removes the ability of employers of hurting worker's weekly pay by cutting hours. If you raise the min. wage to $15/hr and someone is now only working 10 hours a week, what have you accomplished? Nothing. You said so yourself that there are workers working full time that are poor. Now there will be even less workers working full time. Sure they will be making more per hour, but they will be making the same per week. So what have you accomplished?
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  3911. Jonathan, the reason why you did not go is because you are a fake. You told you about the video and there were plenty there that would have disagreed with you and called you a fake like you did me. Instead you stayed in an echo chamber. "If you want a actual debate with people who understand science, may want to pick a channel that actually deals with science, such as potholer. " Then why do you go to TYT or Secular Talk? They do not deal with science? Also, potholer, while respectable in some ways is a fake himself. There is a reason why he only attacks people like Steven Crowder and young earth theorist. They are easy targets. He studied a little geology and feels he has an in depth understanding of science. But he was challenged on his channel. Someone asked him about the video entitled "Nobel Laureate Smashes the Global Warming Hoax" Here as potholer's response "I'm interested to know why you are confused. This guy is an expert in electron tunneling in semiconductors, he has never published or even studied climatology in his life. If he said you can catch herpes from eating margarine would you believe him, simply because he's a Nobel laureate? People seem to have this belief that as soon as someone wins a Nobel prize he must be an expert in every branch of science he's never studied, and I don't know where they get that idea." He does not address the content of the video to the person asking about it. Instead he 1. Pulled a logical fallacy saying that Ivar Giaever does not study climatology (neither does potholer has he does not hold a graduate degree in it nor has any published research, irony) even though he does study science 2. He deflected by pulling out some radical, meaning example of "If he said you can catch herpes from eating margarine would you believe him, simply because he's a Nobel laureate?" Well, why should we trust potholer? What makes him the expert? Ivar has a track record of studying science for a living. Climate science is a broad field that involves all fields of science. I have not seen potholer show that understands advanced quantum mechanics which is relevant in how the ecosystem works. But I digress. What you have just shown is that 1. You refuse to leave your echo chamber 2. You contradicted yourself. You said one should have a debate about science with people who understand science that actually deals with science. Then why do you go to Secular Talk and discuss science? "You can, especially if its due to conditions that are treatable with medication or through treatment but were not given" You can't because the 40,000 are 1. generally poor 2. less healthy (poor people have higher rates of obesity and diabetes) 3. less responsible (poor people have higher rates of unwanted pregnancies and are less educated) And nothing indicates that they will seek out healthcare even if they had access to it. K-12 education is free for everyone and it is shown that with a high school diploma you have a higher probability of earning more. But around 12% of the natural born country lack a high school diploma. "That doesn't really make any difference, the HIV pandemic was a massive issue with healthcare and it only hit a few million in the US. Again, you aren't going to have issues that are usually affecting 50-70% of the population, if you need a number like that." 0.01% was noise. The HIV epidemic was such because HIV is such a deadly virus and it was new at the time. There were myths going around such as it can be spread by kissing. Now that we know there is a very low chance of it being spread as in around 1% by a sexual encounter (depending on many factors, even if they are infected it is still around 1%), and more is known about it makes it no longer an epidemic. You have to put it in perspective. But again, 0.01% is noise and as I shown you with another source it is impossible to cover everyone. Other countries with single payer do not cover everyone. People still die due to shortcomings in their healthcare systems. No system is ideal. http://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1034&context=jbel "Don't use terms you don't understand" I fully understand what noise is. If you think 0.01% is not noise than you need to take a statistic course. "How so? It covered more people, we dropped to a record low in uninsured, how is that a bad thing? Is it bad just because it was done federally? " Saying it covered more people is deceptive. With what quality? That is something you have to consider. Like single payer. You may say that it gives everyone healthcare, but you never say the quality. You are leaving out very important details. We can put all homeless people in a home. But if means you have 10 people living in a studio, is that a success? "we dropped to a record low in uninsured," You force people to buy it. That is how it was done. That is a very low bar for success. Obamacare was passed on the idea of lowering healthcare cost. But under it healthcare premiums went up. Now before you say "well they went up slower" you have to remember that we were in a recession. Nothing went up in price. In reality healthcare premiums should have remained stagnate in a recession like almost everything else, but it still went up. "It compounded our problems? What does that even mean? Are you saying healthcare got worse? Is that why more people received treatment and far less people were uninsured?" Again with the insured. People were dropped from their insurance and others saw their premiums go up higher than ever. There is a reason why people voted against democrats.
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  3937. "These studies are on global warming as a general subject, so it's normal that a large part of them would not draw a conclusion on the CAUSE." As someone who reads and publishes papers myself I will say that the vast majority of scientists do not come up with a conclusion, and those that do do so in a vague manner. The reason why is because nothing is science is certain, and science is driven off of doubt an skepticism. Anyone who drifts from that is no longer doing science but instead is doing doctrine. "As a scientist working in chemistry in europe, I "BELIEVE" that we can asses that most of us will still agree on man-made climate change, as when it comes to CAUSE, studies go overwhelmingly in it's favor (97% compared to 3% from the statistics above) after peer-review" As someone who studies physical chemistry I will say that man is having an influence on the climate. The issue is to what degree? We cannot say. And is it even bad? We cannot accurately measure the influence the climate change will have on the environment. Consider this, we do not even know the physics behind photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is taught in grade school, but the actual physics of it, at the quantum level, is still in debate. The other issue with climate change is that it is a vague issue. It involves many fields in science. A biologist has their viewpoints and their research, but lacks understanding of physics. Using the photosynthesis example, a biologist understands that to a point, but they do not understand the quantum mechanical side of it. It is safe to say that almost every biologist in my university does not even know what a quantum coherence is. But a physicists is not out in the field studying patterns in plants and living organism for example. Climate change is a very vague and complex issue. Anyone who starts to give high certainty on the issue is either ignorant on the topic or bias. We do not know how the environment is going to react. We can make predictions but we do not know. Evolution itself is a complex topic (and is why it is a grad level course). So, as a scientist myself, I will say that the issue on climate change is not settled, and anyone who says it is is bias.
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  3939. "Theories and the consensus behind them form from the collection of the vague conclusions when the evidence from enough published studies point into a direction (to take the photoshyntesis exemple, studies pointed to a global understanding that it exist and globally how it works and is thus taught in schools). That's how we have a base for further studies, but of course the science behind it is not settled. And it is when enough studies find that previous ones where lacking that the theory and thus the consensus behind it is debated or approved further with modifications according to the studies following the baseline found." I agree, when it comes to climate change we are lacking a lot as the environment is complex. Sticking to photosynthesis (I pick this because my friend gave a talk on this and this is his research project that is very interesting) we do not understand the quantum nature of it and as we look deeper in it is it unclear how energy can reach a reaction center at a high probability in a short time scale (femtosecond) with so much noise involved. If we expand that to all of nature than the evolution process is complex. What makes people think the environment cannot involve? "The effect climate change will have on the environment: here I find you overly skeptical, we do have temperature trend data, true alarmistic go too far with the effects it could have in the future, but we can still corelate that to what we have nowadays (warmer sea, level rising for exemple) " I do not deny the data, and very few do. The questions remain. How much is man playing a role, and is it even bad? But few are denying the data as the data is there. What it all means is the question. "The effect climate change will have on the environment: here I find you overly skeptical, we do have temperature trend data, true alarmistic go too far with the effects it could have in the future, but we can still corelate that to what we have nowadays (warmer sea, level rising for exemple) " I agree 100% to that. I am not suggesting that it is a non-issue. It is, and we should keep looking into it. But we have to stop the fear mongering. In reality climate change has been discussed for decades. Simply looking at movies like Waterworld and Mad Max, the issue existed. In the early 90s there was a kid show called Dinosaurs that talked about the issue of pollution and climate change and how evil businesses were doing it, it was the episode called "Changing Nature". That was 23 years ago. That is a problem I have, the constant fear mongering which stirs up emotions and does away with logic and reasoning. " And is it even bad? Economicaly, yes" In some ways. Forcing people to lose their jobs is also bad economically. That is why this is such a touchy subject as taxes are going to up and jobs will be lost. "That's trust between scientists of different fields" Eh, I beg to differ at times. For the most part yes. But I will admit there has been some disagreement with biologist and o-chemists vs the physical scientists. Rutherford is science is either physics or stamp collecting.
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  3949. Gamer Brony The thing is that there are too many variables to determine a "livable wage."  I am healthy, so my healthcare cost are currently zero.  Thus my livable wage is lower then someone who is diabetic.  I have a car and need it since my job requires me to go a lot of places.  My livable wage is higher then someone who doesn't own a car and can walk to work. Also, an important part of economics is determining what you need and what not.  One simple fact is that if something is more expensive it is usually safer.  Take a car for example,  a more expensive care is usually safer.  So how far are you willing to go on determining how safe someone is?  Someone driving a safer car has a better chance of living longer.  Thus I can determine that part of a "livable wage" would be that people should be able to afford really nice and safe cars.  Well, now the used car market is out because they won't sell because they are not as safe as new cars. The other problem is that you now raised prices on almost everything since you raised demand.  For example, heat.  You feel that everyone should be able to heat their place.  I don't because I like to save money but if I am guaranteed enough money to heat my place then I will run my heater.  But what is going to prevent the energy company from raising the price of gas?  Everyone is going to be using it because they now make a wage where they can afford it. And if they raise the price of gas then everyone will just get a raise since the "livable wage" is now higher.  Same is with rent.  Everyone now has the ability to afford rent so as a landlord I would raise my rent since demand is high. The term "livable wage" doesn't exist for several reason.  It is just a slogan to grab people's attention and for politicians to get votes from the ignorant.  
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  3961. Avalon Run No we don't have a control to compare to because we don't have another earth to compare to with different variables.  I agree that CO2 is a greenhouse gas, but there are other factors involved in global temperatures that have changed for over 4 billion years. Where do electromagnetic fields come from? That is why we can conclude what the core is made of.  I was asked in my inorganic chemistry class why the earth has a magnetic field.  I simply said "because the core is a big piece of metal" which is correct.  Cotton candy does not generate an electromagnetic field.  So your argument will be poor. I understand basic scientific reasoning and understand that no credible scientist in the field is making the claim that you, and politicians are making that the world is in serious danger. That is because they are more advanced than an 8th grade science text book.  They understand the complexity of science. I am not trying to weasel my way out of anything.  Your childish rants shows you lack the intelligence and maturity to have an actual discussion.  As far as winning here, I am dominating this conversation.  I can read peer reviewed publications and understand how scientists present their data and findings.  No credible scientist is saying the world is in "serious danger" because no scientist will make such a definitive claim.  Doing so will risk their scientific career. Read peer review publications, any of them and see how they present their findings.  You won't find that in an 8th grade textbook. 
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  3978. +Kalmon salmon Europe is not a federal union. They do have the EU but all the countries set their own taxes, regulations and overall rules. The US was designed like this, the federal government dealt with foreign affairs and enforced the constitution on the states. The states dealt with domestic policies and enforced the constitution on the fed. It is not that we will be 50 separate countries. We can move from state to state freely and have rights listed in the constitution. In Europe you have to deal with immigration laws going from one country to another. What Bernie wants is too much government. When he gives that much power to the fed. what is going to prevent future federal politicians from abusing it? At the state level you can move and you have more control of the government at the state and local level. You have little to almost no control of the government at the federal level. Plus a one size fits all policy won't work. Take the min. wage for example. A $15/hr min. wage will destroy small towns in midwestern states with large agriculture. The $7.25/hr min. wage does it already. The entire town simply can't afford it, let alone businesses. Why do you support Bernie who is pushing for policy that destroys small towns? We need government, but we need to be able to control it. Too much government is just as bad as no government. What Bernie wants is too much government. He is going to compound our problems. And when he is gone future politicians will take advantage of the new power they now have. The pure fact is that Bernie's ideas won't work at the federal level and will just compound our problems.
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  4002. "it seems beyond obvious that liberal states and people fare better in life across numerous statistical categories." No data shows that as that is a very vague conclusion. " States that vote Democratic are empirically more well-off than Republican states in terms of their GDP, per-capita income, even disease rates and domestic violence rates.." Again, nothing says that is true. "most of the nation's scientists live or work in blue states, damn near every highly creative musician or artist or filmmaker or novelist does as well(or do you think art is for queers?), and finally...the most successful and cutting-edge businesses in this nation, the ones that will be what allows America to thrive in the future, are overwhelmingly located in blue states." For several reasons beyond politics. Also, they are mainly the only ones that can afford to live there. Look at CA, they have the highest Gini coefficient in the US. The second highest is NY. "And...when you look at demographic trends, young people are leaving red states by droves." Again, nothing shows that is the case. "If this nation was split in two today...one side conservative the other liberal, it is simply an objective empirical fact that on day one...the liberal side would be a potent world-power with an emphasis on culture, creativity, human rights for all, secularism, technological progress, the importance of education and critical thinking skills, laws based on empathy and ethics...and would be on par with many Nordic countries. " Not really. Nothing points to that being true. "So....can we stop with the nonsense about how blue states are "running into the ground" or whatever meme people use?" "Blue states" have major problems. " Do you care at all what objective statistical evidence, both sociological and economic, show empirically to be the case? " Many do. But in reality liberals tend not to. They tend to go off of emotions.
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  4032. "Plus countries that are more socialistic are doing much better in any way then the united states." Not really. " Better education better health care " Not true. Their education is not better than ours, especially at the university level. And nothing indicates that their healthcare systems are better. " more vacation less hours worked per week maternity leave for men and women. " Less productivity and less wealth as a result as well. " so why should they run from his ideas. " Because they are radical. Despite the fact what you said about other countries is not completely true, what he is proposing is not done in any of those countries at all. Denmark had mandatory military service for years. Do you want that? Germany restricts who can go to college. Do you want that? Norway taps into their oil to fund their programs. Do you want that? Just saying other countries do it better with no specifics or details is being either dishonest or ignorant. " Like how the united states gdp only rose 1.6% and sweden in the same year rose 3.1% in 2016. " We just got out of a poor presidency. Under Obama we never had a year of GDP growth of over 3%. Also, citing 2016 is flawed. Expand the graph. Around 3% has been Sweden's norm usually. In 1984 following Reagan's first term we were over 7% GDP growth. And with the exception of a dip in 1991 we were around 3% until about 2006. Sweden's GDP growth is usually around 3-4%. You ignored the dip in 2012 I see. " so it looks like the ideas that sanders would have would help out the country. " Or maybe Reagan's idea. 7%>3%. Even at that Sweden is not implementing what Bernie wants. Sweden does not have a min. wage for example. "so i can afford my college and healthcare and have better roads " 3/4 of funding for roads is at the state and local level. Also, you are comparing roads to healthcare and college. Both healthcare and college are expensive because of the federal government (payroll tax and student loan program respectively). Adding more federal government is not the solution. Fact is that Bernie is not you savior. He is one guy. He may mean well but our problems in this country stem from the federal government for the most part. Do you want those corrupt politicians at the federal level to run your healthcare and college education? So you want to give the federal government all that power so a future Trump gets into power and now controls it? Think about it. Remember, Bernie is one guy. You have 535 members in congress, many you can't vote for. What makes you think Bernie's ideas will actually work with that being the case? Also, stop blaming your problems on the rich.
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  4033. Michael Freer, 1. He is communist. Look at his policies and how they align with communist countries. Listen to his talking points of "we must all work together". And his ideas are not implemented in the UK. You want some more insight on Bernie, read 1984. 2. Bernie has nothing but talking points. He does not point out any ideas. He says his talking points to stir up emotions (like they did in 1984) to get people on his side to grow in power. When asked fro specifics in his plans and details he diverts the discussion to either 1. the rich 2. big corporations 3. free shit 4. there are poor people 5. race 6. climate change That's it. You can watch his speeches and debates and he will push to stick to those talking points. Luckily enough people were smart enough not to fall for his BS. 3. If you really are from Germany then you will see Bernie as radical. If you can't then I am sorry but you are not too bright. In all, how can you fall for a guy who constantly diverts every debate he has to his talking points? He was having a debate with Douglas Holtz-Eakin on the min. wage. Bernie immediately starting talking about Walmart and the Walton family (points 1 and 2) and how Walmart employees are supposedly poor (point 4). Douglas pushed Bernie to talk about other businesses so Bernie brought up BK and McDonalds (point 2). Douglas pushed the point even more Bernie went to raising taxes on the rich (point 1) and jobs for more people (point 3). He is predictable and it fascinates me how people fall for this guy.
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  4050. Carl Smith On question 1: The reason why is because of the payroll tax.  Paying with benefits such as stock options, a company car, and healthcare insurance is tax free.  With a payroll tax if a business wants to give a higher wage they will have to pay a higher tax.  So what you get is people getting a generic plan that they don't need, like women getting  a plan that pays for viagra. Or a business refusing to pay for contraceptives.....sound familiar?  Also, people have a harder time switching jobs because that will mean switching plans and they might not get it due to pre-existing conditions.....again, sound familiar? A better option would be for people to get a higher wage and buy a plan they want.  Making insurance companies compete which will lower the price and have it so they develop plans that cater to their consumers.  That will make insurance better. Question 2: Healthcare costs are high because of lack of competition.  If insurance companies had to compete they will lower prices causing doctors to lower prices.   Also, some forms of care don't need insurance.  I get physicals and STD check up yearly because it is, in my mind, the right thing to do.  My insurance pays for it.  I could, instead have healthcare providers compete to where they will provide a better service at a lower price.  There is a place for insurance, as in expensive surgery or emergencies.  Just like car insurance covers an accident.  But it doesn't cover an oil change.  LASIK is not tied to insurance at all.  It has become better and cheaper throughout the years.  We have to bring back competition in healthcare.  The payroll tax killed it. Once again showing how the federal government breaks everything it touches.
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  4077. +Michael P You didn't explain how Social Security works because the fact is that it doesn't. It is running out of money. If college education is "free" is will be worse off for several reasons. As is we are short handed professors, we have large classroom sizes and lack resources for all students. If you make it "free" you will increase enrollment. So how you are going to make up for the fact that we lack professors, classrooms, resources etc. already? I work for a university and I see it first had that we have too many students and not enough resources. This is why when college loans came tuition went up, it made up the difference for lack of resources. Demand for college went up but supply stayed the same. People right now are fine on social security, but in the future it will go bankrupt. This is predictable under major socialist programs, the resources run out. I don't care about now, I care about the future. On poverty-poverty as a whole was dropping, as I said social security had nothing to do with it. I have researched Sanders' plans, they are not specific. Give me any one of his economic policies and I will actually break them down and how who they simply won't work. The best was when he was debating Douglas Holtz-Eakin on the min. wage and Bernie was harping on Walmart and nothing but Walmart. But when Douglas start getting into more specifics and tried to steer Bernie away from Walmart he refused to acknowledge the question and went back to Walmart. He had zero specifics. If you break down his arguments you see that he has no clue what he is talking about. Give me any economic policy of Bernie Sanders and I will break it down showing how ignorant he is. And I read your comment on Social Security, you simply said "it works" without specifics. It is running out of money, that is not a sign of it working.
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  4085. +Michael P It doesn't matter what the majority of the people want. We are not ran by the majority at the federal level. I bet the majority of the people want their own home, so should we raise taxes and give them that as well? My alternative is to stop it as the federal level and if SS were to exist it would exist at the state and local level. SS was started as part of the New Deal that prolonged the recession making it the slowest recovery ever. Recovery only happen due to the war. If the federal government were to not regulate those things then yes, prices will go down and the product/service will get better. Look at LASIK for example. Look at the internet, computers, cars (before cash for clunkers). They are better at a low price. It isn't out of the goodness of their hearts, it is out of competition for resources. In a competitive market businesses will drop prices and improve product to attract customers. Due to the federal government they dismantle the buyer/seller negotiation and thus prices went up. This is due to college loans and price control from higher taxes in the 40s. We have a lot of spending and regulation as is in those areas, but yet prices go up. So your solution is even more? Employers wanted to give raises in the 40s. Due to higher taxes companies couldn't. If a business were to pay an employee more they would have to had pay more in taxes. So instead they paid in healthcare benefits and retirement benefits that were 100% tax free. That contributed to the "stagnate" wages and the higher healthcare cost. With the min. wage less than 5% earn at or below the min. wage. Businesses already pay more than the min. wage due to competition. There is not one single good reason to even have a min. wage when broken down. And even if you force how much should be paid per hour, you can't per week. So if you increase the min. wage and hours get cut, then what? We saw that in New York where the min. wage increase led to employees being fired.
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  4088. +Michael P There was no redistribution of the wealth during the war. Every other country was at war thus we had a reason to create labor to develop trade with foreign countries. Redistribution of the wealth is impossible anyway, you can't have it. You only have destruction of wealth. This country has faced several recessions during it's history. Every one of them, except for 2 were recovered from in around 5 years. The two that took the longest was the great depression and now. They were both times where we saw massive federal government involvement to "fix" the economy as in massive spending and regulations and taxes. Every other recession did not see that and saw fast recovery. The New Deal prolong the recession and led to a slow recovery. "Economies thrive when people have more money to spend in it, and when more middle class and working class people have more money to spend. " You can't consume what you don't produce. Giving people more money without increasing production leads to higher prices. If it were that simply then why not mail everyone checks for $20,000 during tax time? "Here is a good reason to have a minimum wage: So people can make enough money to support themselves and their families. " Until you lose your job like those in NY have. "Is college too expensive for people right now? Yes." Due to the federal government it is more expensive. Plus, when you factor in the payback if you get a degree that is actually worth something then it isn't expensive, it is an investment. "Are people not making the money they used to? Does peoples money not go as far as it used to? Yes." Disposable income has been growing for decades now. Since 1960 it has gone up from $2000 billions to $12,000 billions now when adjusted for inflation. "Will corporations pay people as little as possible if the government let them? Yes." And workers will demand a higher wage as well. It goes both ways. If a corporation pays too little, or any business at that then nobody will work for them. "If corporations dont pay enough, then make them." They mathematically can't unless they raise prices and cut jobs. All of our problems have been touched by the federal government in some way shape or form. Adding more fuel to the fire is not going to put it out.
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  4089. +Michael P Redistribution of the wealth did not come after the war. Nobody paid those high taxes. In 1967 there were 155 individuals earning over $200,000 that year that paid zero income tax. That is why the Tax Reform Act of 1969 came about which introduced the alternative minimum tax that exists today. What happen after the war is that the entire world was rebuilding except for us. Now decades later the socialist policies put in place along with the progressive federal income tax are all coming back to bite us in the butt. After Glass Steagall we still had recessions. We had at least 7. Recessions happen, you just never notice because when the federal politicians sit back and do nothing we recover fast. When they panic and do what Obama did recently or FDR did in the past and spend like crazy, increase taxes and regulations the recovery is slow. Noticed how when Glass-Steagall was passed we had the slowest recovery ever? "So the possibility of maybe getting laid off from your job is a good enough reason to deny all the other people a livable wage?" It happens. Plus refrain from using the phrase "livable wage" as it is subjective and means nothing. Jobs overseas will happen. Granted the federal government is speeding up the process which is not good, but it will happen. Technology and innovation and progress replaces jobs. The tractor replaced many farm workers. Computers replace many jobs. If you want jobs then remove technology. Wealth is key though, not jobs. Workers always demand a higher wage, but we can't artificially raise them. And no, corporations simply can't afford them. Plus most people are employed by small businesses, so corporations is not the only issue. You need to stop focusing all your attention on them. " But so far there is no evidence suggesting that higher wages creates a worse situation than we are in already." Artificially high wages do, even Paul Krugman admits that. "Nothing about giving people more money makes the country worse." Tell that to the people in Zimbabwe. " If you find excuses to not give people higher minimum wages, free education and affordable or free healthcare, you are basically saying "fuck you im doing fine. " No, I want high quality at an affordable price, you just want an affordable price. "You keep saying "due to the federal government" college is more expensive, but you need to make a correlation other than just saying it." Look at the college loans they give out. That drove up the cost. "And the involvement, until you can prove otherwise, has not cost you more on your tax returns. " Everything the federal government touches break, that is a fact.
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  4092. +Michael P You have to look at how the market evolves. As a healthy market evolves things get better and cheaper. Computers, cell phones, cars (before cash for clunkers), LASIK surgery and so on have all gotten better and gotten cheaper. They are also areas of the market where the federal government has not touched. The federal government touched college tuition with college loans. Tuition is going up despite more colleges and universities being open and more online courses being available. With college loans you remove the buyer/seller negotiation. The student pulls out a loan and the university jacks up the prices. They have no resistance because the buyer is not spending their money directly, they are paying by a guaranteed loan. On healthcare, in the 40s if an employer were to pay an employee higher wages they will have to pay higher taxes. To avoid that they paid by healthcare benefits, 100% tax free. A better option for the employee would be to get a higher wage and buy their own insurance. Buying their own insurance would mean a longer time on one thus removing the part of pre-existing conditions. Also they can negotiate insurance prices and get a plan that works for them, so no more women paying for viagra or men paying for contraceptives.....does some of this sound familiar? Instead the employee has either the choice of paying out of pocket for healthcare and thus earning less or getting it from their job. They get it from their job and as a result they get a generic plan that insurance companies know they have a guaranteed customer, thus prices go up. And when that employee goes to another job they are denied insurance due to being older and a pre-existing condition being present. The federal government removed competition and negotiation which led to price increases. Federal welfare is a disaster. What it does is that it says to one group of people, the rich that they are earning too much based off of nothing. So they tax them more. The poor, according to the government says they are earning too little, once again based off of nothing. So they take from those who actually work and develop wealth and give to those that don't. That devalues money. As a result those who actually work demand more money and get it. That is why we are seeing income inequality grow. The top 10% earned 40% of the income but paid 70% of taxes. They are doing not only work for themselves but work for 30% of people in the US. They will demand more and get it making them richer and the poor worse off.
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  4093. +Michael P Those things are not regulated by the government, not at all. You may split hairs and talk about honest advertising, but that covers everything. But they are not regulated by the government at all and are not subsidized by the government at all. If you can't get the fact right than we can't even get to opinions yet. "People need student loans to get through school" Says who? ". Partly because our wages have stagnated because employers stopped giving raises" I showed you why they don't give many raises, plus with decreasing prices we have more disposable income. You never factor that in. " the wealth gap increased and the top ten percent took more of the wealth, " There is always a wealth gap in a healthy economy. Wealth does not equal income. "I hear your theories on healthcare. Show me an example of this happening and working right now." I showed you. LASIK is not touched by the government at all, or insurance companies. It is strictly buyer/seller negotiation. LASIK has improved and gotten cheaper. Healthcare has gotten more expensive. "My business thrives when middle and working class families make more money and are able to save more money." But if your customers were to get more money you will not have enough supply thus you will have to raise prices. "when they stopped getting wage increases" Stop with the wage increase. I told you how you are wrong on that already. Are you even reading what I write? "It is not "based off nothing"" It is though. The market determines what someone is worth, not some figure head called the government. I agree, the middle class is struggling in some ways, you can blame the federal government for that. It has been getting it's hands in more and more things every year, things are not getting better, but you want more of it? " the ten percent getting richer does not benefit me as much as the bottom 10 percent getting richer, let alone the bottom 90." That is not true. Where do you think all you technology and innovation comes from? That middle to lower class guy in his home or that guy in the 10% (the 10% is over $350,000 a years BTW, not millionaires). "A tax on Wall Street would do this country some good." And what do you do when that runs out of money? "Some more socialism without the excess of greed could do some good." We have socialism, those pushing for more now are refusing to work and demand more which creates income inequality.
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  4199. That link are state and local taxes. So I don't see how that is related here since this will involve federal taxes. As is the top 10% earn 40% of the income but pay around 70% of the federal income taxes. "This is due to most rich people paying through investment of capital gains tax," Which is another discussion in itself. We need to simplify the tax code. I support the pre 1913 standard of 0 federal income taxes and only a tax on the states. Nice and simple and no one can complain because they are not being taxed. But, in the end the rich do pay for most of the taxes. Sorry to break it to you. "If you are arguing quantity, then you must be lying about the University you are attending since you can't seem to understand the difference" You don't have to believe me. My degrees and doctorate candidacy says otherwise. " someone making 1 billion dollars losing .0001 of their salary will be more than someone making 50 thousand dollars donating 100% because of the amount of money the billionaire makes but thats the reason we tax on percentage, because otherwise the person making 50 thousand could never match anyone making more. " And what's your point? Why did that person earn a billion? Maybe they developed a lot of jobs for people who weren't tax payers in the past but are now. Ever consider that? The issue is more complicated than what you are making it sound. This is ultimately why Bernie lost, he tries to make complex things sound so simple. "Well, if we just tax the millionaires and billionaires than everything can be free!" If it were that easy it would have been done by now, but it isn't.
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  4201. You pew research link did not lead me to anything. "pay around 50% of income taxes but again you are attempting to extrapolate quantity for percentage rather than individual taxes which is what everyone is referring too. Is that to hard of a concept for you to understand?" What are you referring to? To be honest I am not understanding what you are saying. The fact is that the rich do pay most of the federal income taxes in the US. Is that "fair"? Why not push for a flat tax? Or what I support, a tax on the states at the federal level? It seems like you want to just raise taxes on the rich because you feel they don't pay enough for some arbitrary reason. "How is that another discussion? That is major issue in taxes and why so many people are able to escape taxes. The reality is, there should be no way for corporations to escape taxes, and that means the rich people running them should not be able to escape either." Pre-1913, minus a few years of a temporary tax, no individual or corporation paid any federal taxes. Why should corporations pay federal taxes to begin with? You seem like you just want to tax them but failed to give a reason why. " If individually every person except for the person making a trillion dollars paid 100% taxes," Who is expecting a 100% tax anyone? " and the person making 1 trillion dollars pays 1% taxes, the 1 person quantity wise has paid more taxes overall however this is where your failure in critical thinking comes in which makes me doubt your "degree" that you claim to have. Each individual in taxes pays far more % wise compared to the person making a trillion dollars." Well you are suggesting that everyone pays a 100% tax rate which no one is suggesting for anyone. Say we have a flat tax of 20%. What percent does everyone pay? 20%. That's it. I really don't know where you are getting at with this 100% tax rate. What I suggested at the federal level was either a tax on the states or a flat tax. But, what we have now is the that top 10% earn 40% of the income but pay 70% of the taxes. If it were really fair the top 10% will pay only 40% of the taxes since they earn only 40% of the income. Also, for that one person to have that $1 trillion they most likely produced something that the vast majority of the 100 wanted and were willing to pay for. That is how they got their money. "It doesn't matter what the person did, the point is taxes are suppose to be fair," I agree. So the top 10% should only be paying for 40% of the federal taxes. " Does a doctor get lower taxes for saving lives?" No, but they shouldn't be taxed more which they are now. "The fact that you keep saying this is so shocking, Bernie isn't saying everything can be free. What he is saying is rich do not pay their fair share," But, in reality the rich pay more than their fair share. " Someone making 50k should not pay more taxes(Percentage wise) than someone making 50 million" Which I agree. In fact the opposite is happening.
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  4261. dnate697 1. Politicians say a lot to become elected, including Bernie. Do you really think Bernie would have passed universal healthcare an tuition free college through congress? As far as Trump saying that things are more complex than what he thought, that is why people like Trump. He is willing to admit why things are going the way they are. Bernie won't. He will deflect over and over again. When pressed with hard questions he deflects and always has. Trump is not perfect, no one is. But he is right now the best man for the job all things considered. 2. The ACA is a failure. It was supposed to lower premiums but instead they went up during a recession. While prices were stagnated or falling (such as rent for example), premiums still went up. Also, it catered to the continuing problem limiting the free market when it comes to insurance. With the payroll tax businesses started to offer insurance as a form of payment as it was a tax free way in paying employees. However, employees were not able to pick their plans. Without that consumers can't force companies to compete and offer a better product for a lower price. Now with Obamacare it forced others to buy insurance making the problem worse. To sum up the problem let me ask you two questions: A. Why do so many employers pay their employees with healthcare insurance as opposed to a higher wage? B. Why does healthcare insurance now equal healthcare? 3. The news has to worry about ratings. Trump brings ratings. Bernie, an old socialist that no one likes and repeats the same things over and over again does not bring ratings. Especially when most of his supporters are millennials who do not have cable to begin with. 4. Same as point three. Milliennials do not have cable. CNN needs ratings for money. Also, people simply did not like Bernie. Most of the candidates and policies he endorsed and supported failed in the past election.
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  4400. Noah McCurry, that is not true. Larger cities are more liberal in policies because in a large city you don't know everyone. I have had so many neighbors since I moved to the city and the trust in others is much lower. In a small town you know everyone. I knew my doctor my entire life in my hometown. He used to volunteer his services at the local high school football games (we had only one high school). I knew my dentist. I personally knew several people who can work on my car, and if they messed up I can hold them accountable. Same with other companies. Also, in small towns you see more people volunteering such as 70% of fire fighters are volunteer. In that small town that doctor donated money to build a facility to take care of sports related injury at a discount. People in small towns take others in consideration as well. In large cities the personal connection with people is much lower. Someone can easily move high schools to another part of town and you may never hear of that person again. Someone can move three blocks away and you may never see them again. In a small town you can't do that, so your actions are scrutinized more. Saying that cities take each other into consideration is false. They push for more government programs because when you don't fully know the person you live next to there is a greater desire to have an arbiter like government control the situation. When I moved to the city I had many mechanics to choose from but did not know any of them. With that I like the idea of government being there to make sure that company does not screw me over. When you been in a town that has no stop signs on their roads but rallies together to help a family whose home burned down you see why they don't rely on government as much. Where in a small town people are not willing to help others as much. I never saw a homeless person in my hometown. I see many in the city I live in now that people just tell to leave. As a whole it isn't to say that either group are bad people. It is just that due to the level of personal connection with people means they either rely on government more or less.
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  4558. Angel Castillo, the military is for the purpose. There is always conflict with other countries. We are in a position where we solve conflict off of the battlefield without violence. Thinking that we just go to war displays ignorance on what is really going on. "second I never said that government should be in charge of our everyday life" I know, but you do want it to be in charge of many components of it. "but they have control over the funding that is necessary to improve programs," If they are going to pick up the tab they are going to control it, period. That means they control you unless you control the government. Also, the federal government has a long history of breaking everything it touches. "Third, Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan are already an embarrassment within their own party" But they keep winning and you can't vote for them. So what's your point? Also, on top of that, you typically can't write other representatives. I was going to write Bernie Sanders an email but I could not because I did not live in his district. So much for controlling the government and government of the people and for the people. "which later somehow they backtrack on because "reasons" even though they have full control of the Senate and House of Representatives as well with the Executive Branch (President)" Remember Obama's first term? "Last, most liberals are progressives so for you to say that in a negative tone is surprising," They are "progressives". "because you sound like a person who does his/her research but somehow it always ends with Democrats are the only ones that have fucked up, how about denounce both the Democratic and Republican parties" I do denounce both, democrats are just more extreme now. They have become irrational and over emotional. They deny facts and act like the over emotional religious right used to act a couple decades ago. It is pathetic. In 1994 Bill Clinton and Herman Cain had a discussion on Bill's healthcare law. Clinton ran through numbers with Cain and has logic behind his argument. While I agreed with Cain in the end, I respected Bill. Now here we are 23 years later and when Bernie Sanders was approached with the same question by a small business owner he said "it is 2017, you should pay for their healthcare". No numbers, no concern for her if she could afford it, nothing. Just do it or fail, that was his mentality. And that is the mentality of the left. Their mentality is they will pass laws and if you can't work with them you will fail and live off of the government. And their only argument against Trump was that he is a racist and sexist with no actual proof. The left has become too radical. They need to act like Bill Clinton acted or they will continue to lose.
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  4682. ZoommaiR, it is a flawed study. Here is a short analysis I wrote on it. I took the time to read the study. At the start they display their bias with this "Trump’s lack of support among people of color and his popularity among white subgroups with less tolerant attitudes (such as whites without college degrees)" Just because you do not have a college degree does not mean you have a "less tolerant attitude". They make that claim but do not link any psychological or sociological study to it. "Moreover, Trump’s call for law and order in the context of discussing urban unrest" How is this race related? Urban is not a race. "While previous work has shown that racial attitudes predict support for Donald Trump" Again, none listed. As someone who writes peer reviewed work in academics this is a perfect time to list such work. "Given the unusually racialized nature of Trump’s campaign" How was his campaign racialized? "Given his clear racial and ethno-nationalist appeals—for example, about President Obama’s country of origin, his support for a Muslim ban, the state of the African American community, and negative comments about Mexicans" I agree, Trump pushing the birther idea was asinine, but not racist. There wasn't a Muslim ban. The "state of the African American community" is nothing on him. And his "negative comments about Mexicans" were towards illegal immigrants. The fact they used only 764 people makes for a small sample size. They failed to include the ages, income level, education attainment (even though they mentioned it as a variable in the introduction), geographical location, etc. of the people sampled. This is coming from mainly the first half of the "study". I find this to be bias and poorly done.
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  4883. SomeRandon Money out of politics: Money in politics is nothing more than a symptom of a disease. That disease is the federal government having too much power that we cannot control. Limit the powers of the federal government, give more powers to the states, and create more checks and balances with that process. Also, if the federal government is so corrupt, why do you want it to run your education and healthcare? Universal health care: This is simply not possible due to our lack of doctors, nurses, surgeons, researchers, etc. If you want more healthcare for people then push for more people to become doctors and nurses. Do not reward failure by increasing the min. wage. People want high quality healthcare to as many people as possible. Understanding reality does not make one stupid. Raise the min. wage: This has never benefited anyone Affordable education: People support this, but we also have to keep the quality high. Placing 500+ students in one room and placing a warm body in front of them to lecture things straight out of a textbook is not an education. But that is what you leftists are pushing for. The big issue, though, is that you are strawmanning. You feel that if we do not support your stance then we are against education and healthcare and hate poor people. That is simply not true. The reality is that we understand that you just can't magically creating these things out of thin air. We have a waiting list for organs for example. Does is that because they are just sitting there in the freezer and the government just needs a law to distribute them? Or maybe we just lack them? Which is it?
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  4901. Pinkies Out, here is the problem. We do not have a free market system. In a free market system people can negotiate prices. Now you may say with healthcare we do not that ability to shop around when something extreme happens, and I will agree. Healthcare is inelastic with demand at times. But that is what insurance is for. With insurance we lack a free market system. Why? Because of the payroll tax. Well over half of the country, as in over 60%, receive their healthcare through their employer. Why? Because paying with benefit is a tax free way to pay employees where a higher wage means a higher tax thanks to the payroll tax. Because of that people rely on their employer for healthcare insurance and since insurance is a form of payment insurance has become healthcare. Instead of allowing people to earn a higher wage, shop for a plan that suits them that only pays for expensive, unplanned events like an accident, healthcare insurance pays for all of healthcare. Certain things should be paid for out of pocket as it can be planned. Eye exams, pregnancies, routine checkups, etc. If insurance did not cover that insurance prices will drop. Also, if people paid for those things out of pocket the price will drop. LASIK is a prime example in that happening. If people bought their own plans then insurance companies will have to compete and people can get plans they want. That will lower prices even more. Fact is we do not have any of that. Insurance is a form of payment at at job, thus it becomes healthcare. The consumer does not see the cost of healthcare, only the insurance companies do. The consumer cannot choose their plans as the employer does. Thus healthcare providers and insurance companies can just jack up the prices as no one is there to stop them. Now those on the left will say government can stop that, but providers will just lower quality as now the people are dependent on the government for healthcare. The dependency goes from business to government. Giving the people negotiating power is key. They don't have it which leads to high cost.
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  5121. fl00fydragon, 1. People like the interpersonal connection. Also, education is expanding. College enrollment is going up. There is an increased demand for tutors, professors, administration, etc. There will always be a need for secretaries. In retail there will always be a need for workers there. If I need my car fix I will go to a mechanic and consult them. In many fields there will always be a need for people. If a computer replaces someone at the checkout aisle in a store than that person who could have worked there will go off to another job. They can stock shelves making the store look more attractive, or work at another company as a secretary. There will always be jobs. 2. I looked at monopolies, they were created by government. If a monopoly is created in the free market and survives then they simply offered great goods/services and jobs. If not people would eventually change the situation either by someone creating another company or by people moving. That has always happened. What goes on in Europe is actually the free market. They have lower corporate taxes and they give more freedom to the businesses. You bring up the outside force. The outside force is another company and the consumers deciding how to change. Again, Amazon challenged Walmart. Netflix challenged Blockbuster. Pepsi challenge Coke. Government creates monopolies, the free market prevents them. 3. What experts? You have not provided any. a) If they are alive they are paid a "living wage". b) I should be using "labor force participation rate" By the definition in FRED "The labor force is the sum of employed and unemployed persons. The labor force participation rate is teh labor force as a percent of the civilian noninstitutional population" Sorry for the confusion. Under Obama it was dropping. Now we are seeing a slight increase. Again, learn basic facts. c) Huh? I answered all your points. You cannot get basic facts correct. To answer your question I will say that there will always be jobs. That is the reality. If we ever get to a system where computers replaced every worker than we are essentially living in a utopia.
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  5328. Drake ICN, ever tried this thing called reading? "In conclusion, our results offer new evidence that the expansion of Medicaid coverage may reduce mortality among adults, particularly those between the ages of 35 and 64 years, minorities, and those living in poorer areas. Ongoing research on the basis of randomized data13,45 will be invaluable in expanding on these findings" Noticed how they said "may". May means inconclusive as nothing is saying that it definitively does improve in those areas. Also I question their methods for control states. Just because a state is neighboring another state does not mean you can do a direct 1:1 comparison. For example, they compared AZ to NV. Being in both states and knowing a lot about them I can tell you they are far from similar. NV has a low educated populous because of the casino atmosphere. In Clark County you can earn a nice living parking cars or serving drinks to where many people do not pursue a high level of education. That does play a role in terms of healthcare result. Also, I don't like how they truncated the data to 2005. They should have went farther as in the 90s or 80s as that would have shown a trend. If the trend was that mortality was improving in those states already than the expanded medicaid did nothing. To me they are hiding data. You are right when you say "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence" Right now you have provided none. Instead you have just cherry picked a source to suit your needs. I am not saying that source you gave me is incorrect or flat out wrong. It has valuable information, I am saying that you are displaying a high level of ignorance by 1. Not realizing they said "may" 2. Now reading the entire source yourself and asking questions like I did
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  5329. To add "Our study has several limitations. We examined three expansion states, and the results are largely driven by the largest (New York), so our results may not be generalizable to other states" "The mortality data set did not allow us to control for individual-level characteristics other than race, sex, and age (e.g., socioeconomic status or health status with respect to specific chronic diseases). We had to impute values for small subsamples after stratification according to county, race, sex, and age, although the results were robust with different imputation approaches." "Most important, our analysis is a nonrandomized design and cannot definitively show causality. " "Alternatively, states may choose to expand Medicaid when their economies are thriving, and economic prosperity broadly improves coverage and access, which could produce a spurious association between eligibility expansions and health" Again, read your own source. They even admit flaws. There are many factors that play a role in life expectancy beyond healthcare. " and it would thus take extraordinary evidence to convince a rational individual of the opposie" And I am waiting for that evidence. Having access to high quality healthcare will mean higher life expectancy, I would agree. But you are leaving out the quality. And also, just because the government offers healthcare coverage does not mean it will be of high quality. Again, think about this. There are many moving parts and anyone who is intelligent, such as the writers of that paper you gave me, understand that. That is why they said "may" and expressed their limitations in their data.
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  5520. "They are "semi-pro" for a reason. If you are familiar with it, then you would know that they are not on the same level" Some players are talented at that level. There are also some D-II athletes who get a chance in training camps who are talented. The point is that there is a lot of talent out there and if the current NFL players want to quit than fine, others will replace them easily. "The stars sell the merch., not simple "players"." And how many stars are there? And how many will be willing to quit? In the Texans incident only one was a pro bowler from what I saw. Only one of the ten, and where does his jersey sell rank? "The owners are NOTHING without the players, that's a fact. " Not true. I listed owners who have investments outside of the NFL. And the fact remains that if those players want to quit they will find new ones. The NFL does not seem to be missing a beat with Kaepernick being gone. "And again, if you're "so familiar" with semi pro ball, of any kind, then you should know that the stadiums never sell out, and the fan base is thin, kind of akin to a handful of locals at the local bar.........." So? The NFL makes money off of TV contracts. Just having that label of NFL increases sales by a lot. "And as long as the owners are making a fortune selling merch," They make the majority of their money off of TV contracts. Fact is the owners will be fine, the players won't. Without the NFL the players will have no where to go. There is not organization as large and organized as the NFL.
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  5630. T.O.N.E., to explain, when Obama was elected many on the left, including TYT, called anyone who opposed Obama a racist. It grew over time as Obama was a bad president to where they called Trump a racist and someone on TYT saying that all racists are Trump supporters. You have the development of BLM and the victim blaming by minority groups to where mentioning the idea that illegals should be kicked out of the country makes you a racist in the eyes of the ultra left like TYT. With the left becoming that radical they refused to listen to the other side. I am all for finding actual racists and condemning them, but when the left calls everyone that disagrees with them a racist than you can't have that conversation. Eventually people just act the same way towards them and it drives some people to the extreme. Ben Shapiro had a great analysis on it. He said in his video on his reaction on Charlottesville that the left has ridiculed those on the right so much by calling them racists and bigots that eventually the only people they can sympathize with are actual racists and bigots. Steven Crowder did in a more humorous way. He made up the story of "The Little Bear Who Cried Nazi". It was about a little bear who cried "Nazi" but when people showed up it was simply people like the Tea Party. But when actual Nazis show up like in Charlottesville no one cared. The point is that the left called many right leaning groups like the Tea Party racist and it driven us to where we are now. We have actual racists in this country, and I condemn them, so do many on the right. But they make up a small portion of the country and are not in power. But with how far the left has become these racists are coming out of the woodwork and are becoming more active. Until the political left can become more moderate this will be a problem.
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  5722. imnodog, shares are worth something only to investors. Shares are worth a lot to me and you and others who can invest. But to someone in Ethiopia they are worthless. It is not food, water, oil, etc. They are nothing more than slips or paper or numbers on a screen. If you sell shares and get the money that does not increase the amount of food, water, oil, homes, etc. in society. So even if you sell your shares and give the money away to feed the hungry you did not solve anything. Someone still has to produce that food. Someone still has to deliver it. And in the long run you really need to educate those people so they can feed themselves. It isn't as easy as "give them the money". The resources and knowledge is not there. What makes these companies valuable is that they provide long term benefits towards society. They give people jobs, they produce goods and services for people to consume. That is why those shares are worth a lot. If you just took all the shares of Amazon and sold it for money you essentially destroy Amazon. That means no more jobs, no more wealth create. If you give that money to someone who is poor they will not invest it. This is why the whole wealth inequality talking point is very deceptive. It isn't that simple. You can't just sell shares, get money and then feed the hungry. You have to understand why those shares are so valuable to begin with. You also have to understand that someone still has to produce the food and you have to look at long term investment.
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  5725. imnodog, no, I am taking conversation down to where it needs to go. You started with a political, appeal to emotion talking point. That talking point is empty as it requires a lot of details which I am providing. Is there wealth inequality? Yes. Now what does it mean. On your first paragraph. The bank will have enough money for me as I don't have much in the bank. However, it won't have enough for everyone as it is required to loan out the money and hold onto only around 10%. This creates what is called the "inverted pyramid". Now a bank can retain more money through other banks or the Fed if needed, but that will only occur during dire economic times. That is where the Fed becomes the lender of last resort. So there is a lot to it. Next, to say that money has no value is true to a degree. But you have to realize where it obtains its value. It obtains it by being invested in the market. When it is invested in a way to generate wealth and value in the market then the money increases in value. A reason why people become rich is because they invest their money wisely to generate wealth. Many don't thus they do not become rich. Investors can take that money and buy shares of a company to have that money grow by shares increasing in value. It is a form of investment where I put my money in a bank to collect interest. In the end, though, it is not food, water, oil, etc. It is just money on a screen. I will agree with you on that. But in our nation and in our monetary system it has value. However, in Ethiopia for one person, or even a group of people it doesn't. And giving money to a homeless person on the US does not increase value of money as they are poor with money. Harsh reality is they are poor for a reason. "no one is saying people should give shares to the poor, you brought it up as an example only. I only made an argument before about selling shares to show you how they have value, no one is making that argument though." Fine, then why complain about wealth inequality? That is where most of their wealth in the 1% comes from. To add in the US a home owner has 30 times more wealth than a renter. A home owner has around 60% of their wealth tied into their home. Beyond owning a home the average person has little to no wealth. Now are they starving to death? Are they in terrible shape? No. They are fine. That is why there is no "revolution" on this wealth inequality issue. The vast majority do not care to be like the Walton family and own half of Walmart. That is why the Walton family is so wealthy. So unless you demand to give up their shares, what is your point in bringing up wealth inequality, especially in relation to hunger? "sure, they pay most of their work force minimum wage and provide people with goods that their workforce probably can't pay to have themselves." This is a different topic but Walmart pays above the min. wage. Many jobs pay the min. wage are small businesses. Why don't you attack them? Why attack Walmart? Why aren't you attacking Hy Vee or Raleys? They are both retail stores as well. Even at that they still gave people jobs and offer a convenient way for others to buy goods. You complaining about them paying a wage you deem to be too low is you literally saying "if they don't pay higher they should not be hiring at all". So if a company does not pay enough, according to you, should they just not hire people? Never mind the fact that they cannot afford higher wages. They offered people a job that could not find work anywhere else. You see that as a problem? "Now I don't know much about shares and investments, but I'm pretty sure people buy/sell stocks all the time. You give monetary value to own a little bit of something, that's how stocks work, correct? So people sell shares all the time, how is Amazon still standing?" That to is a whole different discussion in itself. However, it again comes down to what I mentioned earlier. Shares are not food, oil, homes, etc. They are a form of investment where the market and the people involve value it. "no it ain't" It is. This is why there isn't an uprising on the streets. This is why Bernie's "revolution" never took off. This is why OWS died off. It isn't a big deal. Most people just want to mind their own business. They have their families, homes, cars, careers, etc. Just because Bezos is rich does not mean others are suffering. In fact he became wealthy by making other lives' easier. "no one is arguing to sell shares, they're probably arguing to tax the rich more..." The rich are already paying the vast majority of taxes. And why tax them more? What do you gain?
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  5728. "I make a claim, you should refute my claim, not refute something I am not claiming." I am refuting your claim. The discussion is wealth inequality. I am showing you why wealth inequality exists, why it isn't a major issue, and how you can't compare it to world hunger. "you didn't understand what I said, I don't care how much money you got in the bank, the bank does not have the money to pay everyone because the money isn't real, it's just digits on the screen..." A bank is required to, by law, hold a certain about of currency. It is around 10% of the deposits. This is mandated by the Fed. The idea is what is called the "inverted pyramid" where banks loan out funds to people to invest in the economy and keep it running. But it has funds for those who want cash. "I never said money has no value, I said money isn't real. The value of it is real. you have some reading comprehension issues. My example using money is only to show that something that ins't real can have value, just like stocks..." If you want to say that then fine. But at that point you have to understand what money is and why it exist which is another topic in itself. "such a simple way of looking at things. People who become rich are outliers. in reality if you are born rich chances are you will die rich, if you are born poor chances are you will die poor. there aren't many people who are born poor becoming rich. This is because the capitalist system isn't fair or just. A poor individual has no money to invest, no education to progress..." This is another topic that has a lot to it. For example, you have the nature vs nurture argument. Being born poor or rich can influence your future lifestyle. Being raised a certain way contributes to that, or your genetic makeup. Capitalism has little to do with that. You are, again, taking a complex issue and limiting it down to an appeal to emotion talking point. In this case it is capitalism and how it isn't "fair". "okay, let me try to write this in a simple way; stocks have value, the rich have stocks therefore they have wealth. this doesn't mean I think we should give stocks to the poor.." Ok, than what's your point in complaining about wealth inequality? "homes are tangible things, money and stocks aren't... A very wealthy person does not have 60% of their wealth in their homes, your using a bad example." I agree a wealthy person does not have 60% of their value tied into their home, they have it in stocks. Are you now seeing where wealth inequality comes from? "lol, did you just say the Walton family is so wealthy because the vast majority of people do not care to be like the Walton family?" Do you want to run a major business like Walmart? I sure don't. I know many that don't. "no one is asking people to give up their shares, they're asking to raise taxes." What's the difference? "it seems 42% of workers get paid less than $15.00 US an hour." Ok, and? To start, I do not believe that stat. Next, how many work part time? How many have a spouse who is well off? How many are kids who live with parents? What is the cost of living where they reside? I am technically in that 42%, I am fine. Again, you can't just throw vague statements out there. "no it ain't. you made a claim that Amazon would be worthless if people sell their shares, I'm only pointing out people do that on a daily basis." I was referring to Jeff Bezos giving it to a homeless person who then sells it for pennies on the dollars. There is a difference between free buying and selling and giving it away. You support the latter. You literally said you want to tax them more which is taking their money. This is not an argument against taxes, it is an argument in how you see someone you see as wealthy and wanting to tax them more when they have shares, not income. "most people in the US aren't in their worst of the worst, they can get by on the little they get so they become complacent. This isn't true for the rest of the world though." Globally is a completely different situation that is even more complex. How do you tackle the situation in Chad with multiple religions, languages and cultures? Look the diversity there. Their literacy rate is less than 50%. "proportionally they pay the least." Again, more to it than that. Many of the rich pay 50% of their income in taxes. "lol, you have written way to much to say that is a long answer, I'll take that as a none answer, and this will be my last answer to you. You're not an honest player here for me to continue to waste my time on. " This is a complex issue and you wanted a discussion. I gave you one. To simplify this issue with simple talking points is very dangerous. "that's just your bias showing through. peace out." So poor people all made intelligent decisions with their money but ran into bad luck? That is not true. Why do around 70% of lottery winners go bankrupt?
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  5752. Joshua, using old textbooks is not a problem. Most topics have not change that drastically. As for teachers purchasing supplies, that happens in every job. I have to buy materials for my job. You work at a job you have to buy certain clothes at times. That's life. Buying a car to get to work is arguably buying supplies for work. As for you teaching your kids, great. Do it. Push them to succeed. You point to physics, calculus, etc. Those are advanced courses. They typically have the best students and thus the bests supplies that don't get destroyed. And a lot of schools don't offer those advanced courses where one can take them in college if they want where people are required to buy their own materials. I support teachers, but in the end it is a part time job compared to most jobs on the market. You become a teacher with the desire to teach, not to become rich. Also, a harsh reality people have to understand is that a K-12 education is really not that valuable. You learn the very basics. As I mentioned earlier, topics like physics, calculus, etc. are taught in college. They offer remedial courses. I am a substitute teacher. I studied education in grad school for a year and understand the issue. I inspired to be a teacher at one point but realized my talents are needed elsewhere. I teach at a university and see the product the K-12 education produces. When I left high school I lacked a lot of skills, but I was taught basic things. I had college to help be progress and remedial courses if needed. In my opinion the K-12 education needs to be approached differently, and there is not real clear answer in how though. But in the very end a teacher becomes a teacher for their desire to teach and serve the community. They don't do it for the money. I find this strike to be disturbing.
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  5800. Get Social, 1. We have background checks already. And what type of guns will you ban? People are pushing for the AR 15 when a Ruger mini 14 is essentially the same gun. Also, in VA Tech around 30 people were killed with hand guns in that shooting. As for the UK if you look at the murder rate of the US and the UK the murder rate in the US is 5 times higher. However, if you remove all gun murders from the equation only from the US the US still has a murder rate that is twice as high as the UK. What does that mean? That shows a difference in culture where we have more murders in general for various reasons besides guns. You can't just look at gun laws and murder rates as many factors play in murder rates. 2. I don't blame the kids for being emotional, but they should be seeing a counselor, not the media. As for you saying "tragedies like this happening much too often" what do you base that off of? John Lott did a study where he compared mass shootings in the US to other countries and found that in countries like Norway, Finland and France have more deaths due to mass shootings and a higher rate of mass shootings. He had the US at 12th and 11th in those rankings. How did he come up with that? Well, he factor in population and he looked at mass shootings (that he defined as 4 or more deaths) where the only crime was the shooting. That means if there was a shooting that involved gangs where four people were killed he ruled those out. Why? Because gang activity is illegal and the shooting was targeting people. That is an issue of gangs and comparing a gang shooting, which are isolated and a different topic, to a shooting like what occurred in Florida is not a fair comparison. This shooter was not targeting a particular group but instead was targeting people without discrimination. Does that mean we do not have a problem? No. What it means is that it is not as severe as what others make it out to be. "What I find to be more sickening is how there are people that refuse to see the obvious and are treating the kids like nuisances or enemies to their precious guns." It is not treating them as enemies but instead calling them out for their lack of respect and inability to have an intelligent, and progressive conversation. This is why nothing will get passed. When one side calls you a child murderer for not agreeing with them you cannot take them seriously. I don't support the murder of anyone, Rubio feels the same way as does the NRA. If you want to have an intellectual conversation you have to treat the other side with respect and be willing to talk.
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  5885. Megan, my "hypothetical question" is something that is logical and is connected to the issue at hand as it involves the business that was involved and the employee. You placed my family in that situation which is appealing to emotions. My question is making you look at the perspective of the business looking at that one employee. A hypothetical question would be "Say your dad ran that business and that truck driver, a few weeks later, cost that company millions?". I would not as that as that is a loaded question and unnecessary and deflects. "as you're willing to let a stranger die for the sake of a companies bottom line" People die. Sorry, that happens. If that is surprising to you than you are going to live a hard life. Also, no, I do not support just letting an employee die for a companies bottom line. I want companies to take actions to protect workers. My job does and so do others. The job my dad works at does. They require him to take a shower for one hour before he leaves work due to the lead in the air. They pay for it, but that is what they do to protect him. In the end, though, there lies responsibility on the employee and that is what you have to realize. "It's only what works for you and your emotions, not the companies best interest you claim to care about." What emotions? I am coming at this from a rational view. I am putting emotions aside, looking at both parties involved, and going with experience. "You had no issue if the worker (unknown worker) lost his life, so long as the company didn't lose millions" Again, who is at fault? Businesses take actions to protect workers, but their lies responsibilities on the workers as well. You have no concern about the business and feel they are completely to blame. I am saying that in this case the truck driver was inexperienced. He should have read a weather report and stopped at a truck stop overnight. They give truck drivers reading material on these things. "I asked that question to prove you only cared about the companies bottom line when it's convenient for you. If you truly cared about a companies bottom line like you claimed, your views would be consistent regardless of who had to die if it meant a company saved millions." I told you that if my "love ones" were involved I would want them to do what will keep them alive, but also realize and understand that they will lose their job and they put themselves in that situation. You see the difference? I support the firing of this employee. You don't. I understand how businesses work and why. It is great this man is alive, but he has to realize his actions cost him his job. I work with class 4 lasers. If I did something to put my life or others in danger I will be fired. If I did something to risk my life, and had to do a hard shut down of the laser which will cost the university hundreds of thousands of dollars, I will walk away unharmed but will be fired as well. "Just admit you're fine with sacrificing someone elses loved one, just not someone you care about for the sake of a companies bottom line. " You are making things up. I never said sacrifice. I said that if you are an employee and you put yourself in a position to cost the company millions and/or are a risk, you will be fired. It does not have to be life or death either. Why do you hate businesses so much?
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  5889. Megan, and my family was never part of the story either. But you felt the need to bring them in. Here is the point, that employee put themselves in a situation where they could have died. That is not the business fault but he employee's fault. He did what most would do and that is do what it takes to save himself. I am fin with that. But, in the end he is a risky employee and thus got fired. That's the end of the story. No further argument. If it were the company's fault than the company should pay. Instead it was the truck driver's fault so he got fired. In that case it was either die or get fired. Compare it to this. Say someone steals food in order to live, but they get caught? Should they or should they not go to jail or pay a fine? Or this, consider the story of Aron Ralston. He made a mistake rock climbing and got stuck. He could either 1. die 2. cut off his arm He cut off his arm to live, but lost his arm in the end. The whole point is that the employee made a mistake and deserved to get fired, period. The fact that his mistake placed him in a life or death situation does not change it at all. All it showed was that he made a mistake. "I'll further answer your question, that would mean my 'dad' was working for an irresponsible company and I would be happy he was let go to work somewhere better." And I will agree that business was irresponsible for keeping that employee around. That is my point. Why would that business keep that truck driver knowing they are a risk? That is my next question to you.
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  6018. " The lowest tax bracket right now is 10% the lowest bracket now will be 12% so that is immediately incorrect." They cut taxes for people by raising the lowest tax bracket to 12%. That means the lowest rate now covers more people. Do you even understand what is in the tax code? "There will however be middle class tax cuts, but they are only for a certain amount of time (10 years) then anyone making 75K or less will have higher taxes " And? That is 10 years from now when the economy will be different and we will have new politicians in congress and the white house. What's your point? "Such as a new tax on the stipend college students receive." That is not in this bill. However, I support that on the idea of simplifying the tax code, and it will actually increase my taxes. Amazing I can stick to my ideas and not be a hypocrite. Also, college students make up a small portion of the overall population. "They also plan to cut SS, medicare and medicaid which are incredibly popular programs across party lines. " The fact they are popular means nothing They are losing money. They need to be reform. I personally feel they should not exist as they are unconstitutional and we should work towards eliminating them over the years. "Arguing anything other than this bill being toxic (the only benefit has a built in time limit) is laughable. " That is not an argument. You are brushing aside legit counter points as you can't make one yourself. You say "SS is popular" ignores the fact that is losing money. And saying it is "popular" is a mob mentality. "Aside from that. I saw the debate where Cenk said, "look it up". It was a pathetic argument. However, I think that's more due to Cenk coming in as an unprepared individual and a poor debater. Rather than his arguments being flawed. But that's just my opinion." In that debate Matt Christiansen did "Google it" and posted a youtube video on it. I suggest you watch it. It makes Cenk look like a bigger idiot. His arguments are flawed.
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  6074. Drake, I have been around football for over 15 years from the youth level on to the professional. There are many benefits to football. Simple point, if a person wants to play it and they understand the risk than why stop them? There are many activities that people do that are worse for you, and so what? You only live once. Enjoy life. I enjoyed football and I am still active in it as a non-player. On your points: 1. Many athletes do multiple sports. However, some don't. I did football and track. I was unique as I ran middle distance in track but was a lineman in football. My agility was not great so I did not play basketball. I did not play baseball as I was scared of the ball (baseball is very dangerous as well). Soccer was the same excuse as basketball. So football was my sport. I loved it. 2. We don't need sports for that. Why not just ban sports all together and make everyone exercise for no reason? 3. ". In other words, aside from the quarterbacks, football is about sheer brute strength, weight, and speed" Not true at all, especially with the emphasis on targeting. I officiate football at the HS and NCAA level. With targeting players are being taught to lower their target zone and reposition themselves quickly. There is a lot of mobility involved that is amazing to see first hand. When you see a division one prospect make and amazing, one handed sideline catch you will know. There is a lot of hand eye coordination and agility. 4. There is a lot of things that make people "a man". I never heard a parent bring this up. What is great about football is this 1. Almost anyone can play it. You can be big and large and play line. Small and quick and play tail back. Be slow at foot but have a nice arm and play QB. Or have a strong leg and be a kicker. It requires players of different attributes all playing at once. 2. It is a game of amazing strategy. With basketball you can win with one or two players. Put Lebron James on any team and they are a playoff team. You can't have that in football at the higher levels. You have 22 players on the field and you are looking for a lot. As an official I can read defenses and offenses and understand the concept of the game, how coaches coach, how players play, and why they do what they do. For example, if a corner lines up outside of a receiver what does that mean? He has inside help. You have that other sports as well, but to me football has it more. 3. It is something else that brings diversity to our society. Not everyone wants to play basketball or soccer. Why do you want to take that away from others?
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