Trump lashes out against cross border shopping

The question is what constitutes "overwhelming majority". What ever number we choose, it must be higher than 50+1 - simple majority mandate.

In the senate 60 out of 100 votes are required. For constitutional amendments 75% of States must agree. 2/3rds or 2 out of 3 people is fairly standard .. although perhaps we should be going with 75% since this is a constitutional issue. Don't want to make the bar too high but definitely it should be a fair bit more than 50% - simple majority mandate - as this would constitute "Tyranny of the Majority".

If simple majority mandate (something often claimed by politicians these days .... I have a mandate) was enough then there would be no point in putting essential liberty "Above" the legitimate authority of Gov't. ... all elected officials have a simple majority mandate.

This - as we can see by looking at the present state of affairs - does little to protect individual liberty. Every sitting member of SCOTUS should be dismissed for dereliction of duty IMO - failure to interpret laws and the constitution on the basis of the founding principles.

We have fallen so far down the slippery slope we can not longer see the mountain top. Bad precedent leads to bad law and there are too many to count. When you get stopped for a DUI checkstop ... this is a violation of arbitrary detainment. This is justified (and I have read the judges opinions) on the basis that drunk driving is a serious danger to society.... OK got it.

Why then am I asked for my drivers license and insurance - how is it that I can get a ticket for a "broken tail light" ? The abridgment of liberty was not justified on the basis of checking peoples insurance or for to check for broken tail lights. Classic fruit of the poisoned tree.

The officer should administer the breathalyser ... if negative .. apologize for detaining you (to remind the officer that he is violating that persons rights) and let the person on their way. That's it. No license, no insurance or registration ... nothing else.

Mueller is guilty of the same misuse of power - fruit of the poisoned tree. If it has nothing to do with Russian's meddling in the election .. sorry .. you were allowed huge amounts of power on that and that alone. Not for other acts - regardless of whether or not they are criminal. This is an anathema to the our justice system and it is awfully close to kangaroo land.

This is just a small example of the slippery slope but it illustrates how such things happen. The legal system works largely on the basis of precedent.

One of the biggest threats to liberty is utilitarian justification for law. This justification looks only at "what will increase happiness for the collective" .. it completely ignores individual liberty. The other problem is "who gets to decide" .. one mans poison is another mans pleasure.

This justification has reached plague proportions. For example "if it saves one life" or "harm reduction" as justification for law.

The problem is that it sounds good on the surface "who does not want to save one life" ?

Underneath it is evil. If "if it saves one life" is valid justification for law .. should we not ban skiing tomorrow ? would that not save one life.
What about boating ? that is really dangerous .. one could drown. Driving a car ? forget it.

In fact one should probably not rise from bed in the morning as one might fall and break neck. This is a horrible justification for law - in of itself.

The thing about a free society is that one has the right to risk a reasonable amount of harm. Sky diving and deep sea diving are legal.

So who decides what is a "serious risk of harm" ... so serious that we need to give the Gov't the power to use physical violence (Law) against people who do these terrible things ?

The people .. that's who. If something so such a serious danger to society that we need to give some authority that much power - then an overwhelming majority will agree.

That is the bar. If you can't hit that bar .. then the danger of that activity is probably not so serious.

"The Health board says" - who cares. If we made illegal everything some heath board said was dangerous we would all starve. Meat - forget it .. veggies - oh there are pesticides used.

"Police say" ... who cares .. talk about "conflict of interest". If we legalize pot and prostitution what will the vice squad do for a living ?

 

So a law with 2/3rs majority support is legitmate but a law with 51% majority support is the illegitimate tyranny of the majority?

btw, trump is the farthest thing you can get from a wonk. jus' sayin'

 

Yep... at least according to the classical liberalism, republicanism and the founding fathers.

Trump is an Establishment puppet (note - I changed the word for you )

 

I'd agree that trump is a puppet of special interests many of whom would be considered "the establishment".

 

It is a pay to play system. Special interest "is" the establishment. Establishment politicians and elite establishment bureaucrats are what they are because they are beholden to, or significantly influenced by special interest.

It is not like there is some "Cabal" or "Star Chamber" that makes every decision. Not that this does not exist in one form or another - in fact it has to - someone has to run things. It is the natural outcropping of self interest and greed.

It is not for her good looks and charming personality that Hillary gets paid 250K a pop for a 15 min speech at a banker luncheon. It is for a job well done. If you play, you get paid and everyone knows it.

Every time a regulation or tax law is made the Oligopolies are sitting at the table - and perhaps they have a right to be there. The problem is that the person who is supposed to be representing our interests is either in the pocket of, or influenced by, the Oligopoly (special interest, international financiers or some combination of these).

It is not like the Oligopoly wins ever table but, over time, table after table, the rules of the game get skewed in favor of the Oligopoly.
It is the natural outcropping of self interest and greed.

Make it to congress and insider trading becomes quazi legal (it used to be fully legal). You (or better yet your buddy) can sit on some committee giving contract to ABC company and you can invest in that company prior to the news hitting the street. This is a license to print money... "I want in on that game" !!

Would you be the one to shoot the golden egg laying goose ? - to run against of herd of stampeding bulls ? Sure there are those that stand up and speak out against such practice. Everyone then says "LOOK LOOK - we have freedom of speech in this nation - what a good system we have". That lone voice is then quickly drowned out by the cacophony on the take. It is the natural outcropping of self interest and greed.

How many times have you heard people in power rail against drug pricing ? Nothing ever changes regardless of whether it is red or blue in power. The drug companies would write the legislation - give it to a person in congress - who would then submit the legislation that the drug companies had written. The fellow that Trump wanted as Drug Czar was actually one of the people that worked with the drug companies to do this... this is why he had to withdraw. Don't worry - the next fellow is going to be the same - it will just be someone whose misdeeds are better hidden.

I call it the Oligopoly Bureaucracy Fusion Monster. Extreme Capitalism and extreme socialism (totalitarian communism for example) both end up at the same end of the spectrum. In both cases you end up with a few elite owning most resources and means of production.

We have somehow managed to combine the worst of both into an ugly beast. Healthcare is a prime example. Ugly and horribly inefficient bureaucracy combined with all the bad things (stuff that there are laws on the books to prevent) of Monopolism/oligopolism - Price fixing, anti competitive practices, collusion and so on.

Our foreign policy is conducted on the basis of the economic interests of the international financiers. How else do you think - a short 10 years after 911- that we would be arming and supporting Al Qaeda (in Syria) and fighting on the same side as Al Qaeda in Yemen ? The ends justify the means.

The Establishment does not care about "hot button issues" Abortion, Guns, Gay marriage and so on. These serve to keep the people divided.

Both Red and Blue Establishment love Big Gov't, Big Deficit and debt (to the tune of 450 Billion/year in interest payments to the same international financiers that own the Fed/Banks - Military Industrial complex, Transnational food companies, Energy, Drug companies/healthcare oligopoly, insurance and so on)

In addition - these same "special interests" own the MSM. Talk about election meddling by foreign actors.

Both Red and Blue hate individual liberty - the principles on which this nation was founded, and love increasing Gov't/Police power towards a state of indentured servitude.

Trump is like a Bull in the China shop and this is what the Establishment doesn't like. He is however, fully on board with most of the Establishment agenda - whether or not he realizes it. Trump is an elitist who is an adherent of Eugenics ideology (not to be confused with Adolf) - an ideology which serves to justify and maintain hierarchy in society.

 

I get it the system is completely rigged. Might as well pack up the toys and go home.

I agree that Trump isn't an "everyman" out for the working people of America. He's the best kind of puppet. Easily manipulated by blowing smoke, obsequious deference and money .

 

He is very useful to the Establishment. As long as people keep voting red or blue the Establishment wins. The effect of Trumps divisiveness is to maintain the status quo.

 

Given what's happening on the world stage, that status quo looks to be teetering.

 

I see it as strengthening. What is the "Status Quo" in your opinion. What is the agenda of the Establishment ?

 

Trump is an idiot

 

America as the beacon of democracy, rule of law, freedom and human rights.

America as the leader of the "free world" and the bedrock of so many international institutions.

America the nation whose integrity was unquestioned and whose oath was sacrosanct.

America as the bulwark against fascism, communism and autocracy and all things antithetical to America constitutional values.

America as the champion of family values.

America as the richest most powerful most constructive force humanity has ever seen.

That kind of status quo that trump is pissing down the toilet. and worse, americans are so parochial they can't even be bothered to turn around and look at the world's reaction to what they see.

An american and global tragedy unfolding before our eyes. Bigly sad.

 

The above was once true - now they are just platitudes.

The question is "what is the agenda of the establishment"

The Establishment "Hates" individual rights and freedoms and the principle on which this nation was founded "individual liberty is ABOVE" the legitimate authority of Gov't and the authority of Gov't comes from "we the people/consent of the Governed".

The Establishment loves increasing Gov't power (and police power) towards a quazi totalitarian police state.

The establishment loves Big Gov't, Big Deficit, Big Debt. It loves crony capitalism and the Oligopolies. It hates fair and free markets and driving the worker into a state if indentured servitude through tax law and regulation which bastardizes fair and free markets.

The Establishment "LOVES" wealth redistribution and authoritarianism. The integrity of our nation has never been so bad - and this did not start with Trump. What integrity ?

 

To you it was once true. To the world it is only now becoming apparent.

 

Who gave the US the Statue of Liberty ? And what does this comment have to do with anything in my post ?

I don't live in a world of platitude land. The nation founded on "Give me liberty or give me death" is not full of people on their knees begging to give up essential liberty over a risk of harm that is 400 times less than the risk of harm from walking.

"Land of the Free - Home of the Brave" is now land of the coward hiding in a corner who believes it is their "Patriotic Duty" to give up essential liberty for temporary security.

Happy 4th of July

 

I meant it is only that the rest of the world is just now seeing what you have seen for quite some time.

I have to agree that the historic bumperstickers are well worn out in the hearts of many contemporary americans. They be fat (literally) and sassy and selfish. Can't blame em much, its just so much easier to mouth the words than live them.

 

Disgusting, IMO. My niece, a middle school principal in Oregon, came to visit us while we were spending a few months in Canada. They hassled her--was she intending to move to Canada, etc. etc. What a bunch of dumbasses.

Our side asks some Canadians (who?) if they ever smoked marijuana. "Even as a teeager? You mist have tried it--right?" If the person say they have, even if it was thirty years ago, we deny them entry for life. Pretty chickensh't.

Americans can carry guns through Canada, but they have to follow the rules...

http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=wildlifenews.view_article&articles_id=695​

Canadians can bring firearms into the U.S. if they get a permit. I'm not real "up" on this border stuff because a lot of the questions stop after they determine you're a citizen.

 

You're wrong. Prices in Canada are a little higher on average on the vast majority of U.S. made goods even though there is no tariff. Why? Because there's more retail competition here. There are some products that cost less there.

 

Total Trump bullsh*t.

 

We put a big tariff on lumber. Overall, they have very slightly lower tariffs than we do.

 

Shoe tariffs in this country...

https://hts.usitc.gov/view/Chapter%2064​

The Bloviator-in-Chief is once again playing his supporters for fools. How much longer can he pull it off? How stupid--or desperate for a change in their economic fortunes--are these folks?

 

Put a tariff on autos ans auto parts and ser how many Fords and Chevys are sold in Canada. Say adios to a market the size of California.

 

I can buy New Balance shoes (about one-third made here) for LESS in Canada, so I have them shipped to my Canadian address. Should I ask the Bloviator-in-Chief if I should scuff 'em up before I come back to this country?

 

Trudeau's popularity jumped 15% when Trump started attacking him. Yes, that's right--fifteen percent.

90% of Canadians live within 100 miles of the U.S. border. In recent years, Canadian customs allows people to bring in hundreds of dollars per person on a day trip. I know from personal experience. (Born and raised in California, naturalized in Canada; live part of the year there, part here.)

Canadians know exactly what's going on. When Canadian retailers bellyache about the relaxed rules, the government tells them to sharpen their pricing pencils.

Trudeau must pray every night for Trump to attack him.

 

We put a tarrif on Canadian lumber because it's subsidized and our lumber producers can't compete with it. They have token fee stumpage while in America it goes to the highest bidder.

 

I go to Canada quite a bit and everything is high priced so don't try to BS me on this.