The Biden Presidency

Even someone purposefully trying to look like an idiot could not succeed so spectacularly.--Percy

Don't you think that I know this? It scares the hell out of me.

You would get more support from fellow church members, if it were a liberal Christian church.The Democrats do try to pass legislation that would be more helpful to you, but it is often blocked or reversed by Republicans. You vote against your own best interests.Your libertarianism is not going to help you.Liberals generally understand that we are all in this together. So we need social support systems. I vote for politicians who understand this. Sometimes their policies will increase my own taxes. But that's okay if they are doing it to better support society as a whole.Just to be clear, I am not a Democrat. I'm an independent. I tend toward being socially liberal and fiscally conservative. I used to think that both parties were similar. But that has changed, particularly with Gingrich. The Republicans today don't seem to care about good policy. They have followed the Gingrich idea of smearing their opponent rather than proposing positivie policies.And yes, Reaganomics has been a disaster. You don't like Biden, but his economic policies have already begun to improve conditions for people like you.

Building on my Message 338, I asked ChatGPT, "Why are the Scandinavian countries described as socialist even though they only have strong social programs, not socialism?" Here's its answer:

ChatGPT:

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The Scandinavian countries are often referred to as socialist because they have implemented extensive social welfare programs, high tax rates, and a strong social safety net. However, it is important to note that the Scandinavian countries are not technically socialist because they are still capitalist economies with a market-based system.

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Instead, the Scandinavian countries are often described as having a "Nordic model" or "welfare state capitalism". This means that they have a mixed economy that combines elements of both capitalism and socialism, with a focus on social welfare and equal distribution of wealth. This system is designed to ensure that everyone has access to essential services such as healthcare, education, and housing.

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The Nordic model is characterized by a high level of government involvement in the economy and a strong commitment to social justice. This includes progressive taxation, where those who earn more pay a higher percentage of their income in taxes, and a focus on providing universal social services such as healthcare, education, and housing.

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Overall, while the Scandinavian countries are not technically socialist, they are often described as such due to their strong social welfare programs and commitment to social justice. The Nordic model has been successful in ensuring a high standard of living and social equality, which is why it is often held up as a model for other countries to follow.

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When you begin seeing Safeways and Exxon stations and Starbucks and banks owned by government, when your paychecks start saying United States Treasury at the top, that's when you'll know you live in a socialist country. Socialism is state ownership of business and industry, not social programs.By the way, ChatGPT is incorrect that the Nordic model combines elements of capitalism and socialism. It is a common misconception plastered all over the Internet, which is why ChatGPT thinks that socialism includes a focus on social welfare and and the equal distribution of wealth. It doesn't. What ChatGPT is describing is much closer to communism.--Percy

It also missed a couple of vital points1. They're full-blooded democracies
2. The the Nordics are happiest people in the worldIf you guys (and us that follow some of your worst traits) want to really 'pursue happiness' forget your American Dreams of religious fundamentalism, right wing politics and unregulated capitalism and get some social justice.

Berner Sanders is the loudest and most prominent advocate in America for social democracy, and he is why Republicans keep accusing Democrats of socialism, unfortunately not entirely inaccurately when it comes to Sanders and a few others.Social democracy has both short and long term goals. In the short term all it advocates is government as an engine for social justice, which means causes like racial and gender equality, LBGTQ rights, a social safety net, and so forth. Who could argue with any of that? And why would anyone call this socialism?lBut the clearly stated long term goal of social democracy is socialism. And that's a big problem. It makes Bernie Sanders, the loudest voice for social justice in this country right now, a socialist.And he's open about it. While he concedes that socialism will not be attained anytime soon, socialism is the direction he wants to go. What do you do about a guy where you agree with everything he says about where he wants to go now but are stricken in your soul about where he wants to go after that. Sanders envisions a utopia, but the reality would be more like where China is right now.Bernie Sanders is the voice of socialism in the Democratic party, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez its most visible icon. As long as they, and a few others, maybe five total between the Senate and House, remain in the Democratic party, the Republicans will be able to successfully brand the Democratic party as socialist.--Percy

It was no secret that the use of Title 42 on the southern border would end when the pandemic emergency ended, so the Biden administration's unpreparedness for the situation is inexcusable. In the months leading up to this day the Biden administration should have been putting in place policies, infrastructure and personnel to handle the expected increase in border crossings.Instead of building more facilities, or at least erecting tent cities, the Biden administration apparently expected that they could release migrants into the country when facilities reached capacity, but U.S. District Judge Kent Wetherell blocked such actions last week. This is no surprise, as he had rejected a similar policy only a couple months ago.That desperation and fear is causing many people to flood our southern border is a very difficult problem. There are no easy solutions and possibly no satisfactory solutions at all, but it isn't possible to refer to the current bungling on the border as the best that we can do. We can and should do better.We already know what Trump would do because he told us at a CNN town hall a couple days ago. His solution is to treat migrants so horribly that they'd cease considering the U.S. as a destination, specifically threatening to break up families if they dare come:

Donald Trump:

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When you say to a family that if you come we’re gong to break you up, they don’t come

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But it remains a simple choice between Biden and whoever the Republicans offer up, likely Trump again. Between adequacy on the one hand and cruelty, delusion, misogyny, racism and sedition on the other, the choice is easy.--Percy

Well, this was unexpected. Title 42 ended and migrant border crossings are down. Administration officials are at a loss for explanations.But I think the reasons are pretty clear. Title 42 allowed border officials to immediately whisk migrants back across the border into Mexico. Migrants could try as often as they liked without penalty.But the expiration of Title 42 brought with it new penalties that aren't really all that new since they're similarly punitive to the Trump-era rules:

• Migrants who cross the border illegally cannot apply for asylum unless they've already applied for asylum in a country they're already passed through, such as Mexico.
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• Such migrants could be subject to a five-year ban from re-entering the U.S.
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• Future attempts to re-enter the country illegally could bring criminal charges.

I think the new rules make it more likely for migrants to wait to see how they actually play out.In related news, on ABC's This Week on Sunday, Republican Representative Michael McCaul, chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, characterized the situation in general and migrants specifically in this way:

Representative Micahel McCaul:

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But, yes, the fact is, the last two and a half years speak for themselves. We’ve had five million people enter this country illegally, 1.5 get-a-ways. It’s unsustainable.
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And when they get into the United States, whether they have legitimate claims or not, they’re released into our society. And then you have 5 million people without any legal status. A lot of them go to stash houses. They’re trafficked. They get into criminal enterprises here in the United States.

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This is just scare-mongering pure and simple. Most migrants come here seeking a better life, but the harder that Republicans like McCaul work at placing them in desperate circumstances the worse things will become. The answer to the border problem is not to turn ourselves into Fortress America. The answer is to welcome migrants to America and help them become productive members of our society as quickly as possible.--Percy

The GQP would rather put children to work.

I get mixed messages in the news. From peanut gallery perspective, what facts were brought forth?Seems to me that a son that struggled with coke addiction said some things he shouldnt have said...which were recorded...and made his old man out to be a bit of a mafia don. If so, I can agree with you that Biden is not as authoritarian as Trump, but I hardly think he is one of our best presidents. He seems a bit senile to me.Comments?

he got a slap on the wrist for crimes that typically get some one a slap on the wrist.

Evidence of this senility? Or just more from the wingnut echo chamber. Since when are parents liable for their adult child's behavior.
How did he make his father out to be a mafia Don? Evidence only please.

You're referring to when Hunter Biden sent this WahtsApp message to Chinese business contact Henry Zhao, director of Harvest Fund Management:

Hunter Biden:

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I am sitting here with my father and we would like to understand why the commitment made has not been fulfilled. Tell the director that I would like to resolve this now before it gets out of hand, and now means tonight. And, Z, if I get a call or text from anyone involved in this other than you, Zhang, or the chairman, I will make certain that between the man sitting next to me and every person he knows and my ability to forever hold a grudge that you will regret not following my direction.
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I am sitting here waiting for the call with my father.

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While I can't seem to run down an article with the details, my recollection is that within days $4.7 million was wired to a Hunter Biden account. The money was a bribe for political favors, but why Zhao was convinced by Hunter Biden's absurd claims makes no sense to me. Apparently there are also audio recordings.The Hunter Biden plea deal involved two crimes. One was for underpayment of taxes by about $1 million, which he repaid several years ago, and the other was for lying on a gun application about his problems with drugs. There's an ongoing debate about whether he got off easy or not, and a couple whistleblowers are accusing the Biden justice department of slow walking the process. To me he seems pretty much like the same gaffe-prone politician he's always been with political views that have been largely stable over the years. On a scale of Trump to Lincoln, where would you put Biden? I'd rate him around a Coolidge, Carter or Ford.--Percy

Essentially yes. So essentially that's all that there is to it? ​I remember both Ford and Carter. They both were president during times of inflation. Nowadays seems so much differnt in regards to what our government does and does not do.I think it is the people who have changed. Americans seem insecure about a lot of things. I know I am, but part of my problem is that I'm in need of more help than I used to be and that things are getting so expensive relative to income. I don't think that the US is in a good position for continuing to print money to cover its obligations. If Trump is our only solution, we ALL are in big trouble. "I AM THE ONLY ONE": TRUMPS MESSIANIC 2024 MESSAGEBut let's discuss THAT in the Fascism thread. Message 359

People are exactly the same way they have always been. What has changed is that we have substantially more access to information and an ongoing 24 hr news cycle. Couple that with social media, and it gives the impression that things are horrible and getting worse. They are not. There are numerous times in history where things were far more dire, not just for the USA, but other countries. The Great Depression. Civil wars. World wars. And so forth.There will always be problems that need to be addressed and disagreements on how to address them. That is just the human condition.The key is to look at the actual statistics, not the hyperbole.