The 45th POTUS - Donald J. Trump

[Bi_3]

We’ve reached the point where friends who are federal employees are starting to feel it. None are trumpsters, but I’m starting to hear “just give him the wall and defund it in next cycle”

Isn't that worse, strategically speaking?

When an unruly child says “give me what I want or I’ll burn the house down,” everyone knows that if you give them what they want you’ll never have another problem.

Totally agree, I think people are just getting scared they won’t make next months bills.

[McParadigm]

We’ve reached the point where friends who are federal employees are starting to feel it. None are trumpsters, but I’m starting to hear “just give him the wall and defund it in next cycle”

Isn't that worse, strategically speaking?

When an unruly child says “give me what I want or I’ll burn the house down,” everyone knows that if you give them what they want you’ll never have another problem.

Totally agree, I think people are just getting scared they won’t make next months bills.

Very hard to blame them for embracing any path that doesn’t end with that.

[Norah]

of course the hostages want the ransom paid

[96583UP]

pretty wild when you think about it

working for the federal government means your boss is guaranteed to change at least every 8 years, but sometimes 4; and depending on who that is at the time they may have a stated goal of firing you

i guess a corporation isn’t much different but at least they would never furlough every employee just to prove an ideological point

markets would tank the company and shareholders would throw out management and the Board

here you have to wait at least 2 more years to throw out the CEO

not a great employment situation

[bune]

Used to be the stable choice, not so much right now.

I worry from time to time about what my retirement will look like. I mean, I get that my 401k should be OK from gov't mishaps but the pension itself? Who pays me if the gov't is radically changed by events between now and then?

[Norah]

who cares they're all part of the deep state

[Strat]

My brother in law is a bomb tech and went from private sector to the TSA in hopes for stability.

He's had two presidents who have both frozen wages and had government shutdowns. Trump's is the longest. He also voted for him.

He's regretting his employment choices at least....

[Bi_3]

Used to be the stable choice, not so much right now.

I worry from time to time about what my retirement will look like. I mean, I get that my 401k should be OK from gov't mishaps but the pension itself? Who pays me if the gov't is radically changed by events between now and then?

Your 401k can be seize at any time, don’t kid yourself.


“Brothers and sisters, there’s plenty of money in the world. There’s plenty of money in this city. It’s just in the wrong hands.” - Bill de Blasio

[Strat]

Nothing is safe for us working bums.

I was all excited about some tax deductions and benefits from buying a home this year. 0. Nadda. Nothing. ZIlch.

My dad told me that once upon a time you could deduct credit card % too? I assume the government has been slowly taking away that which helps regular people for quite some time.

I trust noone.

[Bi_3]

401ks are particularly vulnerable. There are trillions in defined contribution plans and the inequality gap between intersections is larger there than in income or other savings rates. IIRC during the last election Sanders (or was the green candidate?) proposed eliminating many of the tax advantages of them in favor of some government run plan as well. Just understand what you are supporting when you vote progressive.

[96583UP]

well if they intend to properly replicate the CPPIB then we won't need DIY equity cock-rocket shithole 401(k)s anymore now would we

they were designed to be a compliment to a traditional defined benefit pension plan

but because corporations no longer offer defined benefit pension plans, all we are left with is his spritzy teenage sidekick

that said I do not favor a U.S. CPPIB-style plan because every 4-8 years some alternate governing party will de-fund it and after not long it will resemble the state of illinois / new jersey pension plans (totally unsalvageable)

so you know what?

fuck bernie sanders

[Norah]

[dimejinky99]

He backed down quite quickly. Within 24 hours.

He’s all outta moves. He’ll cave on the shutdown next.

[McParadigm]

He’s basically stopped negotiating the shutdown at all, though, which is worrisome. He’s only meeting with Republicans, and Republicans are not coming out of those meetings with any sort of toolkit for forward momentum.

Meanwhile, the administration is making inquiries into the effects of a shutdown that runs as long as May.

[McParadigm]

lol this is a party that farmers and coal miners think has their back

[Fuzzy_Dunlop]

Does Mitch McConnell get to be the hero at some point? I mean congress could end the shut down at any time right? Right now nobody seems to be blaming him but, is there some point in time where the political calculation is such that he's better off going against Trump?

[McParadigm]

So long as the shutdown has the support of >50% of Republicans, the senate will be a non-starter. Too many primary fears.

What they (or a third of them, anyway) gain out of surviving primaries for races they will then definitely lose, I’m unclear.

[dimejinky99]

[McParadigm]

Breaking: yarn has cat right where it wants it

The presidential son-in-law is “repeatedly assuring Trump that he can personally strike a deal with Democrats,” reports the Post. Kushner, fired up by faith in his deal-making prowess, believes he is on the cusp of breaking apart the Democratic caucus and delivering a ransom to Trump. “A person familiar with Kushner’s strategy” — i.e., Kushner himself — tells the Post “he has been focused on targeting Democrats who may want to break from leadership and has had positive conversations with many of them.”

[Citizen Dick]

Breaking: yarn has cat right where it wants it

I chuckled and then remembered that it still involves the party whose slogan is 'Defeat from the jaws of victory'