The continuous republican attack on programs that help people

[b.c.]

WAIT... there's MORE:

• Reverse Administrative Actions Undermining Life and Religious Liberty. [see: WEDDING CAKE]
• Even prior to taking office, the President-elect should outline the objectionable actions taken by the Obama Administration to weaken protections for conscience, religious liberty, and life. [file under: load of horseshit]
• Cease Implementation of the Affordable Care Act... undoing the following:

The requirements for plans to maintain pre-ACA “grandfather” status
The essential benefits requirements
The regulations barring discrimination in federal health programs
The preventive services requirements ​

• Propose Reforms to Medicare and Medicaid. [yeah... they plan on fkn with that too]
• Reverse the Obama Administration’s Directive [that allows for the] Waiving Work Requirements in TANF.
• End the Head Start Program.
• End Women’s Health Funding of Abortion.
• Reverse Executive Actions on Immigration. [by rounding up even legal immigrants and separating children from families... APPARENTLY]
• Strengthen Border Security... provide Customs and Border Protection with the infrastructure... border fencing, facilities for housing illegal immigrants, and facilities that provide... immigration agencies with space to operate [See: Walmart detention centers]
• Improve Government Cybersecurity.
• Reform the FEMA Disaster Declaration Process... that limit the situations in which FEMA can issue declarations... to raise the minimum-dollar threshold for requesting disaster declarations.
• Phase Out Federal Housing Subsidies.
• Wind Down the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and Ginnie Mae.
• End All Federal Involvement in Housing Finance.
• End the “Sustainable Communities” Partnership Between HUD, the DOT, and the DOE... "an ideologically driven approach to housing with the goal of dictating where people live and the types of homes and communities in which they live. Ending this initiative will help ensure that government is not incentivizing denser living conditions, curtailing freedom of choice in housing...." [riiiiiiight]
• Make No Additions to Federal Lands.
• Eliminate America’s Great Outdoors Initiative.
• Review the U.S. Relationship with the Territories.
• Identify the legal obligations of the U.S. to the territories.
• Calculating the costs incurred by the U.S. government with respect to each territory.
• Revoke Hydraulic Fracturing Regulations.
• Open Access to Energy Exploration in the Outer Continental Shelf. [except anywhere NEAR Mar-a-lago, of course]
• Open Access to Energy Exploration on Federal Lands.
• Streamline Endangered Species Act Regulations. Construing more narrow terms in the statutory definition of “take” that do not involve possession of or physical harm to a species (e.g., “harass” or “pursue”... Taking maximum permissible account of the "needs of man as a species, including the economic benefit of man... [now get THIS bullshit;] "1. Nature is resilient and dynamic. 2. Liberty is the key to effective environmental stewardship. 3. Human beings are the most important species of all when considering environmental regulations."
• Limit the Use of ... federal prohibitions against discrimination on the basis of sex, race, religion, and other characteristics... Federal anti-discrimination laws should apply when there is intentional discrimination and not when public or private actions are non-discriminatory in intent but happen to produce a result that disproportionately affects members of protected classes. [file under: more racist bullshit]
• Rescind the Joint Guidance with the Department of Education Equating “Gender Identity” with Sex... Clarify that “Sex” in All Federal Civil Rights Statutes... means “Biological Sex.”
• Review U.S. Participation in All International Organizations.
• Overturn Major Regulations Undertaken by the Previous Administration: Positive Train Control (PTC) Mandate... Recreational Drone Registration Mandate... Airline Price Regulation.
• Reverse the Obama Administration’s “Livability” Agenda.
• Overhaul the Federal Role in Transportation... minimize the DOT’s involvement to the National Highway System. ['cause why should our nation's highways be governed by one cohesive set of standards??? duohhhh]
• End Cost-Sharing Payments for Obamacare.
• Protect and Improve Pensions. [and how do they want to protect and improve you ask??] The Secretary should protect pensioners and taxpayers by approving proposals from multiemployer pension plans to reduce benefits.
• Cut Spending for All Greenhouse Gas Regulations... Pass Legislation Clarifying that the Clean Air Act Does Not Provide Authority to Regulate Greenhouse Gasses.
• Eliminate "Obsolete and Unwarranted Programs." [in GOP lingo that means;] funds that provide communities with subsidized financing for a range of water quality infrastructure projects... Sustainable and livable communities programs... Indoor air quality programs and environmental education.
• Withdraw Global Warming Regulations on Vehicles, Power Plants’ Oil and Gas Activities, and Airline Emissions.
• Set an Agenda to Reform Social Security.
  The National Security Council (NSC) is best staffed by a small group of disciplined, loyal experts. Hire Team Players. [Gotcha!]
• Eliminate Non-Medical Factors in the Disability Determination Process.
• Eliminate Direct Payment of SSDI Attorney Fees.
• Close the Evidentiary Record AT LEAST five days before individuals appealing their Social Security disability insurance benefit denials have their scheduled hearings.

source​

"Making America GREAT.......... again."

 

[b.c.]

[grammatical corrections to post no. 20: ...... ahhh.... never mind. Who gives a flying?]

Trump, congressional Republicans, the Kochs, and Co. are opposed to increasing the minimum wage to a "liveable" wage. Here is yet another REVEAL of the REALITIES facing people Trump & Co. CLAIM to care for:

A minimum-wage worker can't afford a 2-bedroom apartment anywhere in the U.S., report says | NOLA.com

"A new report by the National Low Income Housing Coalition found minimum-wage workers in most of the country cannot afford a modest, 2-bedroom apartment."

"Some states have raised minimum wages. But even with recent wage growth for the lowest-paid workers, there is still nowhere in the country where someone working a full-time minimum-wage job could afford to rent a modest two-bedroom apartment, according to an annual report released Wednesday by the National Low Income Housing Coalition."

"Meanwhile, the Trump administration has tried cutting federal housing subsidies for the lowest-income Americans. As it stands, only 1 in 4 households eligible for federal rent assistance gets any help, the report said."

"Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson recently proposed tripling rent for the poorest households and making it easier for housing authorities to impose work requirements on those receiving rent subsidies."


"Making America 'great'...................................................................................................................................again."

 

[Jjz1109]

Minimum wage was never intended to be a full time, career path for a worker. Minimum wage jobs typically require no to very-low skills, involve some form of on-the-job training, and is often a means to entering the workforce. After gaining some level of experience and building transferable skills would then enable a worker to move into more challenging, skilled, higher paid roles.

The expectation that a person being paid minimum wage should be able to afford a two bedroom apartment, along with all that goes with running a household, is unrealistic and short sighted for the individual, and to the economy.

 

[b.c.]

Minimum wage was never intended to be a full time, career path for a worker. Minimum wage jobs typically require no to very-low skills, involve some form of on-the-job training, and is often a means to entering the workforce. After gaining some level of experience and building transferable skills would then enable a worker to move into more challenging, skilled, higher paid roles.

The expectation that a person being paid minimum wage should be able to afford a two bedroom apartment, along with all that goes with running a household, is unrealistic and short sighted for the individual, and to the economy.

Not all jobs have upward mobility. Republicans and conservatives CLAIM to value self sufficiency and private enterprise over that of social assistance. Yet they oppose paying American workers on the lower end of the pay scale a liveable wage.

Wouldn't it be better if those who ARE working were earning a wage they can LIVE on, instead of having to rely on government assistance to make ends meet??

 

[Jjz1109]

I think most people, not just Republicans and conservatives, understand that one is compensated in this country for one’s skills and talent. No one is opposed to paying one for their worth and contribution based upon abilities and skill sets. That’s the American way.

I don’t think anyone should be enticed by a minimum wage to avoid government assistance.

 

[malakos]

Using the State to forcibly "redistribute" wealth (services that serve specific external classes of people rather than oneself, one's family, and one's own community) is a form of theft; I'm sure people are aware that that's one of the big no-no's for Christians.

 

[StormfrontFL]

Minimum wage was never intended to be a full time, career path for a worker. Minimum wage jobs typically require no to very-low skills, involve some form of on-the-job training, and is often a means to entering the workforce. After gaining some level of experience and building transferable skills would then enable a worker to move into more challenging, skilled, higher paid roles.

The expectation that a person being paid minimum wage should be able to afford a two bedroom apartment, along with all that goes with running a household, is unrealistic and short sighted for the individual, and to the economy.

A person would have to make $17.90 per hour, 40 hours per week, for 52 weeks a year in order to afford rent on a modest one bedroom apartment. Funny how the ones against raising the wage complain about having tax dollars used to help someone make it. If wages were higher then maybe their money wouldn't be needed but they never consider that.
A minimum-wage worker needs 2.5 full-time jobs to afford a one-bedroom apartment in most of the US

Also something to think about....
Why would someone getting government assistance when they are unemployed be thrilled to work when after they deduct the cost of travel to and from work and child care they make less money. More money to stay home or less money to work? Which would you choose?

 

[Thikn2velvet1]

Highly paid jobs go begging:

Railroad workers are being offered signing bonuses of up to $25,000 to join BNSF Railway and Union Pacific Corp. as the freight railroads struggle to fill jobs in a historically tight labor market. Freight volumes are rising on strong economic growth and industrial expansion, and a shortage of available truck capacity is pushing more shipments onto rails, Paul Ziobro reports. At the same time, the unemployment rate has fallen to 4.1% in the U.S., and as low as 2.8% in some markets where railroads are hiring. In response, the companies are dangling incentives that analysts and union leaders say are the highest they can recall.

————————-

These high school level RR jobs pay over $100000/ year after 2 years with complete union benefits. You will likely need to relocate to North Dakota or Wyoming or Nebraska.

You also need to be drug free and pass a urine test. However these jobs go begging because people cant stay drug free.

No sympathy for minimum wagers at all.

 

[Thikn2velvet1]

35 million Americans use pot more than monthly. That is 35 million people who cannot apply for highly paid high school level jobs. Why should anyone subsidize habits that make peopke unemployable?

 

[Jjz1109]

Lol. As Ordell Robbie (Samuel L Jackson) said in Jackie Brown, “you know, you smoke too much of that shit, that shit is gonna rob you of your ambition.”

 

[billybones]

I think it’s fair to say a party that claims a desire to reduce or eliminate tax-based programs being led and funded by people who are wealthy or dishonest enough to find ways to pay comparatively few taxes, is a bit of a canard.

 

[deleted15807]

Using the State to forcibly "redistribute" wealth (services that serve specific external classes of people rather than oneself, one's family, and one's own community) is a form of theft; I'm sure people are aware that that's one of the big no-no's for Christians.

Yet it’s quite alright for a business to charge 100...200% premium for its products to it’s customers simply because it can. No theft there at all.

And as for Christianity? Well there's a "special Jesus" for those phony Christians.

 

[malakos]

Yet it’s quite alright for a business to charge 100...200% premium for its products to it’s customers simply because it can. No theft there at all.

And as for Christianity? Well there's a "special Jesus" for those phony Christians.

View attachment 1147044

Price is determined by what the consumer will agree to pay. There's no other coherent principle for determining it.

You didn't really respond to my contention. It was just a bit of whataboutism.

 

[Thikn2velvet1]

Yet it’s quite alright for a business to charge 100...200% premium for its products to it’s customers simply because it can. No theft there at all.

And as for Christianity? Well there's a "special Jesus" for those phony Christians.

View attachment 1147044

Can you name one business that has a 200% markup?

 

[malakos]

Can you name one business that has a 200% markup?

What is it even supposed to mean anyway? It's not like the standard of cost of a particular commodity stays constant. They're constantly changing by the maneuvering of what businesses think they can get for them and what consumers are willing to pay. Of course part of this process is going to occur by some business increasing the prices beyond the average. In other cases it will involve other business pushing it below the average due to their prediction they can outsell their competitors.

 

[Klingsor]

I think most people, not just Republicans and conservatives, understand that one is compensated in this country for one’s skills and talent. No one is opposed to paying one for their worth and contribution based upon abilities and skill sets. That’s the American way.

People with limited abilities and skill sets need to make a living, like everyone else. That, too, has been part of the American way.

 

[malakos]

People with limited abilities and skill sets need to make a living, like everyone else. That, too, has been part of the American way.

I could take guesses at the possibilities, but it would be more useful if I just had you specify: what precisely do you have in mind by "limited abilities and skill sets"?

 

[b.c.]

Using the State to forcibly "redistribute" wealth (services that serve specific external classes of people rather than oneself, one's family, and one's own community) is a form of theft; I'm sure people are aware that that's one of the big no-no's for Christians.

It comes as no surprise that you, in particular, would consider certain AMERICANS as "external classes of people" rather than of "one's own community"... ahem... but I haven't argued anything akin to the "redistribution of wealth" bub.

Minimum wages have existed by law and all we are arguing is a LIVEABLE wage, paid by private entities, commensurate with the increased COST OF LIVING.

As for as all the other rationales offered herein, including some ridiculous bit about "subsidizing habits" (wholly unworthy of even a response) they are all rather pitiful justifications originating from a rather narrow minded mentality (IMO) that, in essence, holds that some people just aren't worth a decent salary... which is in effect what's been said here.

Not that the complete lack of humanity comes as any startling revelation either.

It's the same kind of mentality that, incidentally, hasn't a problem with corporate welfare, with big tax breaks for corporations (that they put back into their OWN pockets), big tax write offs for the wealthy... and so forth.

The same mentality of Trump & Co. that, as I noted in an above post, also wants cuts to housing subsidies, cuts to welfare, and to triple the rent for the poorest households.

A short sighted, single minded obstinacy of a malevolent nature... hate fueled, self centered and devoid of ANY understanding of the greater good.

How LOW some have come.

 

[b.c.]

For the biggest group of American workers, wages aren’t just flat. They’re falling. - The Washington Post

"The average hourly wage paid to a key group of American workers has fallen from last year when accounting for inflation, as an economy that appears strong by several measures continues to fail to create bigger paychecks, the federal government said Tuesday.

For workers in “production and nonsupervisory” positions, the value of the average paycheck has declined in the past year. For those workers, average “real wages” — a measure of pay that takes inflation into account — fell from $22.62 in May 2017 to $22.59 in May 2018, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said.

This pool of workers includes those in manufacturing and construction jobs, as well as all “nonsupervisory” workers in service industries such health care or fast food. The group accounts for about four-fifths of the privately employed workers in America, according to BLS."

 

[b.c.]

Also something to think about....
Why would someone getting government assistance when they are unemployed be thrilled to work when after they deduct the cost of travel to and from work and child care they make less money. More money to stay home or less money to work? Which would you choose?

They won't be able to answer that question because those utter bs platitudes about "the pride of earning a wage" PROBABLY have never been in the position of having to make that CHOICE.

As I stated on several occasions, As a state worker I've sat across from clients on assistance who'd gotten a job and after transportation, taxes, child care expenses and the like, ended up with LESS for all their troubles. Bottom line, "pride" don't pay the BILLS.

Myths abound about food stamps program and its recipients | Opinion | NOLA.com