The Real timschochet

It doesn’t suppress US wages. It actually increases them. And it increases employment and prosperity because when consumers have more money due to what they’ve saved, they spend it elsewhere. Your other two points are correct: it’s illegal and it can often lead to exploitation. The obvious way to solve both issues is to make these folks legal. Allow exceptions to the minimum wage system, and regulate all undocumented immigrants and provide them legal protections. This has been obvious for years but our collective xenophobia, much worse now in the era of Trump, will not allow common sense to prevail.

Not too many. And if we impose the all powerful state you apparently desire here not too many will want to come here either. Congrats!

Whether it’s “on me” or not, what difference? It’s capitalism. Lay it on me if you want. Or lay it on consumers who naturally want to pay less.

Not politics. Common sense. If a contractor is paying some undocumented laborers a little under the minimum wage, leave them alone. If they’re paying them pennies, the equivalent of slave labor, prosecute. Same logic as with the Trump fraud. If it’s blatant and excessive that’s when the law should step in. This isn’t difficult.

Well I guess this all depends on what you’re trying to achieve. I imagine you would have been very comfortable living in the old East Berlin.

No offense but I think you’re pretty naive if you think the contractors you’re hiring aren’t using undocumented laborers. The vast majority do. That’s the only way they can keep their prices competitive.

Look there are laws on the books which say you can’t lie to banks. I think these laws are good for us and within reason they should be prosecuted. If you tell a bank that a 5 million dollar property is worth 6 million, that should (and is) let go. If you tell a bank that a 5 million dollar property is worth 30 million then I think you should be prosecuted. Even if there are no victims.

Well the problem with that, in a capitalist system, is when you attempt it you get a black market. And so here we are. Ever since Karl Marx socialists have struggled attempting to force human beings to pay more in order to to create what they think will be a fairer system for all. But it can’t be done. This incidentally is the same problem with the Green New Deal. You can’t punish people and try to force them into good behavior.

You didn’t answer the question. I will accept the ruling of the appeals court. If they agree with your assessment they will toss the case out and I will agree that you were correct. If they do not will you concede that this was a legitimate case? As far as what I know personally: yes I have seen real estate developers and landlords inflate values. Yes it’s a common practice. But I’ve never seen someone do it to the extent that Trump reportedly did. That’s why I don’t just dismiss it.

I’m not afraid to see what I see. I’m afraid to see what YOU see.

Lol if I had to pay what you call “real wages” (I would call them government regulated wages) it would cost me personally a few hundred more a year. When I employ day laborers, rarely, it’s out of expediency, not cost. It wouldn’t cost me much personally but it would cost all Americans plenty if we somehow removed undocumented immigrants. The most hurt would likely be restaurants, small businesses and agriculture. Prices would soar. The economy would be severely hurt.

It should be no surprise to you that I strongly disagree with Trump’s political ideas and his presence in our current politics. I believe he spreads division, hatred, xenophobia and bigotry. I also think he’s a criminal who belongs in prison. I think he’s poison to our country and that every victory for him, as a general rule, is a defeat for the USA.

I agree with you about black men and weed obviously. Unfortunately it’s not just Biden. It’s a long list of politicians and Presidents in both parties going back decades. I also agree that Democrats hadn’t been much better on this issue than Republicans. To Trump’s credit he actually instituted some prison reform. It was, other than Operation Warp Speed, perhaps the only good accomplishment to come out of his Presidency. It’s very telling that he regrets both actions and won’t ever talk about them, not even to brag.

Damn you should be. It’s terrible. You can read about it here: https://eji.org/issues/prison-conditions/ This is one area where the Soros folks are really fighting the good fight. We have got to have major prison and judicial reform in this country.

I didn’t hear Dana Bash. I don’t see how it contradicts anything if she said that though. I heard several CNN people assert that this was a great victory for Trump. If Bash called it a dark day for America I disagree (though I do agree in general with the notion that most victories for Trump are dark days for America.)

What you really mean is “here lawyers have some money to win judgments that will secure our freedoms for future generations,” I give money to the ACLU every year along with Planned Parenthood. Neither costs me any tax dollars at all. Why should they? After all they’re not Republicans.

What’s happening in Haiti is sad and tragic. What a long, terrible history that country has had. I’ve been there and it’s a beautiful place; like nearby Jamaica the beaches are gorgeous and it should be a prime tourist attraction. But they’ve never been able to escape corruption and violence. Under different circumstances I wish we could take in some of these poor people. Most Haitians that want to come here would be a boon to us. But given our current numbers at the border and the unfortunate hostility these days towards immigrants of all stripes it probably won’t happen.

For a long time? lol. For a couple of days. I haven’t even followed this case until recently. Unlike some of you I don’t spend my time obsessing over every legal action taken against Donald Trump: Fock I wouldn’t have time for anything else.

I already made my prediction: the appeal court will reduce the fine to around 100-200 million. Whixh means that the case is not total BS and there is some legitimacy. If that happens will you acknowledge this?

Well first off I don’t expect Trump to win the election despite recent polling. My view of this remains unchanged- the public has not yet fully realized that they are being confronted with a binary choice between Trump and Biden. Once they do the numbers will change. I also expect young people will return to the fold along with Muslims in Michigan in the fall. Biden will win Michigan and Pennsylvania and that’s the ballgame. But even if Trump wins, the Georgia case is not over- it’s simply delayed- probably- until 2028. At some point there will be a trial. And despite your claim that it’s pathetic it really isn’t. Trump is in major trouble here and very likely facing prison.

You know I was kind of kidding about this but I looked it up on Goodreads and now I’m interested. I’m a huge fan of graphic novels and this looks like a good an important one. It’s so important right now to fight back against the anti-trans bigotry- too many kids continue to kill themselves because of the bullying and lack of acceptance. Based on the description this book should be required reading in our public schools. So I’m looking forward to it. Thanks for the recommendation!

I’ve never read Gender Queer. You guys have me curious though.

Nope. I’ve read about all of it. A lot is speculation and I doubt anything will come of it. But the part that you failed to mention is that even if it’s all true and Fani Willis is disqualified or even in trouble with the law, the case against Trump isn’t dismissed, it’s simply given to another prosecutor. Which will entail more delays. But the prosecution continues. That’s why when you wrote “kiss the Georgia case goodbye” I responded with “that’s not what I’m reading.” And I’m pretty sure that if YOU’RE reading that any of this will ultimately lead to a dismissal of all charges, you’re being lied to.

Not what I’m reading.

Only if he wins.