Prelude to the Apocalypse

[Rob]

Trump, GOP senators introduce bill to slash legal immigration levels

Now we're getting somewhere.

[BryanM]

An effective way to finally kill off those little towns in places like Oklahoma if you can make it stick for a few decades, I guess.. if it's a meaningful change that actually ends up happening in the real world, and not just empty posturing to make the racist retards feel like they're being listened to.

[Mischief Maker]

This story reminded me of Rob in this thread.

[Rob]

That is pretty funny.

and not just empty posturing to make the racist retards feel like they're being listened to.

Trump is trying to end racism.

Justice Dept. to Take On Affirmative Action in College Admissions

The document, an internal announcement to the civil rights division, seeks current lawyers interested in working for a new project on “investigations and possible litigation related to intentional race-based discrimination in college and university admissions.”

We hear you, Asians.

[ED-057]

Congress says that national scapegoats Iran, North Korea, and Russia have been naughty and need to be punished.

EU says, and I quote: "Errr... uhh... *cough*"

[Zen]

This story reminded me of Rob in this thread.

Allahu Akbus?
All fun and games, until one gets behind the wheel and plays street-bowling.

Congress says that national scapegoats Iran, North Korea, and Russia have been naughty and need to be punished.

EU says, and I quote: "Errr... uhh... *cough*"

The whole comic production has lost its flavour. The farce has become an Absurdist nightmare.

[CIT]

How did Rob suddenly go from blasé hipster kid to identitarian defender of the occident??

Must be all the refugees streaming into Alaska...

[Rob]

How did Rob suddenly go from blasé hipster kid to identitarian defender of the occident??

Not sure how I acquired the first label, but I'd say the growing chasm between reality and liberal reality did the trick.

[CIT]

I see, you don't like immigrants cuz some fat lady lost her shit over a YouTube douchebag.

[Mischief Maker]

Exactly. There are no crazy fat ladies losing their shit in right-wing reality.

[Rob]

.

[Specineff]

I break my self-imposed exile to bring you this entirely fake, false, and completely fabricated piece of slander by the Enemy Of The American People, against Great Negotiatior Leader, in which he begs Pena Nieto to stop saying that Mexico won't pay for the wall, as it makes him look bad, especially since obviously everybody over there is just ready, happy and willing to hand out money for it:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/03/us/p ... ralia.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics ... 977c3c5488

My people stand up and say, “Mexico will pay for the wall” and your people probably say something in a similar but slightly different language. But the fact is we are both in a little bit of a political bind because I have to have Mexico pay for the wall – I have to. I have been talking about it for a two year period, and the reason I say they are going to pay for the wall is because Mexico has made a fortune out of the stupidity of U.S. trade representatives.

So what I would like to recommend is – if we are going to have continued dialogue – we will work out the wall. They are going to say, “who is going to pay for the wall, Mr. President?” to both of us, and we should both say, “we will work it out.” It will work out in the formula somehow. As opposed to you saying, “we will not pay” and me saying, “we will not pay.”

Because you and I are both at a point now where we are both saying we are not to pay for the wall. From a political standpoint, that is what we will say. We cannot say that anymore because if you are going to say that Mexico is not going to pay for the wall, then I do not want to meet with you guys anymore because I cannot live with that. I am willing to say that we will work it out, but that means it will come out in the wash and that is okay. But you cannot say anymore that the United States is going to pay for the wall. I am just going to say that we are working it out.

You have a very big mark on our back, Mr. President, regarding who pays for the wall. This is what I suggest, Mr. President – let us stop talking about the wall. I have recognized the right of any government to protect its borders as it deems necessary and convenient. But my position has been and will continue to be very firm saying that Mexico cannot pay for that wall.

But you cannot say that to the press. The press is going to go with that and I cannot live with that. You cannot say that to the press because I cannot negotiate under those circumstances.

It's endearingly cute how he assumes that another government just automatically will agree and cater to his every whim. Comedy gold.

[BryanM]

For some reason this old Alabama song popped into my head this morning. Really haven't thought about it in decades. It's interesting that there was a popular country song celebrating communism.

(Please enjoy the youtube comments against a $15 minimum wage on the music video celebrating an infinity% increase in the minimum wage. Some people really wanna be paid in Disney Fun Bucks, life's just more fun that way.)

Mexico has made a fortune out of the stupidity of U.S. trade representatives

US. agriculture conglomerates destroyed the small Mexican farmer, made an absolute fortune off of it on the top and bottom end, but somehow the victim is the perpetrator.

Strength is righteousness, to be weak is to be a criminal. Devour the weak and make weapons from their bones.

Disney Fun Bucks

Also known as Itchy and Scratchy Money to the well-informed.

[Elephants]

How did Rob suddenly go from blasé hipster kid to identitarian defender of the occident??

Not sure how I acquired the first label, but I'd say the growing chasm between reality and liberal reality did the trick.

oh look, an annoying shithead, run to your fucking backyard bunkers and eat your hulk hogan vitamins. meanwhile, you're rubbing cocktips with actual, confirmed white nationalists who pronounce white with a hard 'h'. fuck, you actually ARE scared of people like her, aren't you? smh. imagine being such a paranoid wreck that dowdy neurotic catladies are what awaken you cold-sweating and screaming every night.

[BulletMagnet]

Watch the tone here.

[Elephants]

who are you talking to

[Mischief Maker]

Trump, GOP senators introduce bill to slash legal immigration levels

Now we're getting somewhere.

(Can't believe I missed this post earlier)

And by getting somewhere you mean "getting nowhere." It's a bill that was originally introduced months ago and still has practically zero chance of being passed.

The reason they're putting it center stage now is Trump's numbers have been dropping with his white supremacist base ever since he turned on Jeff Sessions, so they need to throw them a racist bone or two. That's also why they put slimy little Stephen Miller in front of the cameras.

Salivate, Pavlov's dogs! Ding-a-ling-a-ling!

[CIT]

Exactly. There are no crazy fat ladies losing their shit in right-wing reality.

Liberal reality: diversity is our strength. Reality is what was demonstrated in your video.

Should've known it's all about the feels. OK let's stop immigration because it hurts the delicate temper of the dumb and bigoted.

As for the crime in your neighbourhood: correlation ≠ causation

US. agriculture conglomerates destroyed the small Mexican farmer, made an absolute fortune off of it on the top and bottom end, but somehow the victim is the perpetrator.

The "exploited Mexican farmer" is my favorite piece of hypocrisy from the anti free trade nationalist and leftist shit-for-brains. As if any of these scum gave two fucks about Mexican farmers when they were still toiling at subsistence level in Oaxaca.

Obviously free trade will cause structural shifts in the economy producing winners and losers, but it also creates new opportunities. By far Mexico has benefitted the most from NAFTA, and many of the farmers are better off now working in the country's industrial North.

What our president Chump doesn't realize is that these gains aren't at the expense of the US and the US has also experienced a consumer surplus through NAFTA. It's because of efficiency through specialization — a concept called comparative advantage familiar to anyone who ever took a basic economics class.

Which is why anti free trade conservatives are so funny: it's the very people complaining most about entitled moochers that are now asking society as whole to subsidize areas of the US economy that have zero reason for existence.

Great Negotiatior Leader, in which he begs Pena Nieto to stop saying that Mexico won't pay for the wall, as it makes him look bad

Probably my favorite Chump moment so far. But I shouldn't laugh, his ineptitude and ignorance will inevitably lead to crisis.

[Rob]

That's also why they put slimy little Stephen Miller in front of the cameras.

Stephen Miller did a fine job explaining the need for the bill.

What is the intelligent opposition to reducing the ridiculous 1 million immigrants per year to a slightly less ridiculous 500 thousand, doing away with the Diversity Visa Lottery, etc.? Have we really reached a point where it is considered racist to halve the flood of low skill labor and to not be entirely indiscriminate about who we let in?

Should've known it's all about the feels.

No, it's perfectly rational. Basic political ideals (smaller vs. bigger government), culture, property and violent crime rates, etc. differ significantly. Extreme ethnic diversity doesn't work - the history of poor race relations in this country is perfect evidence of that. People will self-segregate, and racial hostilities will only increase as the government continues its agenda of force-feeding third world "diversity".

As for the crime in your neighbourhood: correlation ≠ causation

My 70% Trump neighborhood is serene. That crime-wracked 65% Hillary neighborhood is 20 miles away.

[ED-057]

How come nobody told me that Repubs are going to solve climate change and institute UBI at the same time?

[ED-057]

The "exploited Mexican farmer" is my favorite piece of hypocrisy from the anti free trade nationalist and leftist shit-for-brains. As if any of these scum gave two fucks about Mexican farmers when they were still toiling at subsistence level in Oaxaca.

Obviously they were not subsistence farmers. If they weren't selling what they produced then market changes would not affect them.

Obviously free trade will cause structural shifts in the economy producing winners and losers, but it also creates new opportunities.

We already know ahead of time who the winners (the investor/oligarch class) and losers (the peons) are going to be in your scenario, and we don't consider having to compete with a larger labor surplus to be an "opportunity."

It's because of efficiency through specialization

Peons haven't been accruing the benefits of increased efficiency.

[CIT]

What is the intelligent opposition to reducing the ridiculous 1 million immigrants per year to a slightly less ridiculous 500 thousand

Here's a perfectly rational and scientifically grounded (as opposed to the Youtube conspiracy clowns you post) reason the US needs immigration:



And no, it has nothing to do with diversity, but everything to do with the continued welfare of society. Continued growth of the labor force (incl. unskilled workers) accounting for around 50% of overall economic growth. Many Republican lawmakers are aware of this fact, so it's very likely the Cotton-Purdue bill won't pass.

Obviously they were not subsistence farmers. If they weren't selling what they produced then market changes would not affect them.

Except that changes in the Mexican labor market made it possible for them to move on to something more worthwhile.

We already know ahead of time who the winners (the investor/oligarch class) and losers (the peons) are going to be in your scenario, and we don't consider having to compete with a larger labor surplus to be an "opportunity."

Peons haven't been accruing the benefits of increased efficiency.

The net benefits are a fact. Consumer prices are much lower than they'd be without NAFTA.
https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/jep.15.1.125

But, I'm pretty sure if we'd be paying $40 for made in America t-shirts you still be whining.

Also, the question of the extreme (in the US) differences in wealth distribution has nothing to do with trade practices.

[BryanM]

A much better version of reality than the one we occupy.

Except that changes in the Mexican labor market made it possible for them to move on to something more worthwhile.

Yes yes, just like the 48 year old coal miner and native american, they all learned how to program computers and made billions of dollars by moving to Bel-Air.

it's the very people complaining most about entitled moochers that are now asking society as whole to subsidize areas of the US economy that have zero reason for existence.

Indeed, none of the country has any economic reason to exist. Financial instruments and stock pumping aren't a product - we should nuke ourselves to save ourselves from the delusion of a failed wage and fraud economy.

It's a bit awe inspiring when you consider that welfare (job welfare with the government, and direct cash transfers) are the backbone of our economy. Or of any prosperous first world country. A transitional phase to full automation and basic income/national dividends, indeed.

A real ouroboros, this imaginary construct they call money.

[ED-057]

Here's a perfectly rational and scientifically grounded (as opposed to the Youtube conspiracy clowns you post) reason the US needs immigration:

For the fantasy of infinite growth and keeping the Ponzi scheme going a bit longer? "Rational and scientific?" LOL

Also, the question of the extreme (in the US) differences in wealth distribution has nothing to do with trade practices.

Oh, please. Movement of labor is constrained by different rules than movement of capital. And I suppose you've heard of things like outsourcing, tax havens, arbitrage, etc.

[Rob]

the Youtube conspiracy clowns you post

I don't recall ever doing this. Please name one.

And no, it has nothing to do with diversity,

Then I don't suppose you would object to something similar to pre-1965 immigration policy?

[Rob]

A much better version of reality than the one we occupy.

I want the government to be my everything.



"Almost half of all jobs could be lost to automation", as we're constantly warned, but we need more and more and more low skill worker units from every country not European - so we can provide them with UBI when there aren't any jobs left. And we can even pay people to get a college education for the job they can't find afterwards.

[Mischief Maker]

And here I was hoping that Trump going on vacation would somehow minimize the damage for at least a week.

Now he's going to blunder into nuclear war with North Korea.

This is why I held my nose and voted Hillary.

[CIT]

Yes yes, just like the 48 year old coal miner and native american, they all learned how to program computers and made billions of dollars by moving to Bel-Air.

Never said there wouldn't be losers. The question is what produces the lowest amount of losers.

For the fantasy of infinite growth and keeping the Ponzi scheme going a bit longer? "Rational and scientific?" LOL

I'm not under the illusion of infinite growth, we live on a ball after all, so there's only so far we can grow. But growth is one of (but not the only) key factor to reducing poverty and income inequality. The challenge is to find ways in which as many people as possible can share in the growth. Just pouting and complaining is not constructive criticism.

Oh, please. Movement of labor is constrained by different rules than movement of capital. And I suppose you've heard of things like outsourcing, tax havens, arbitrage, etc.

The vast majority of outsourcing and tax haven destinations for American companies don't even have FTAs with the US...

I don't recall ever doing this. Please name one.

Stefan Molyneux

Then I don't suppose you would object to something similar to pre-1965 immigration policy?

I would object to it, because pre-1965 immigration laws were specifically designed to keep Asians and Africans out and keep the ethnic distribution of Europeans at the same ratios as the 1890 census.

Things have changed in the meantime. Today we value equality before the law, regardless of race or gender — and that's a good thing, despite what you presumably believe.

Furthermore, you're going to have a pretty interesting time now trying to convince enough Germans and Irish to emigrate to the US to offset labor shortages. Although guaranteeing universal healthcare, unemployment benefits, and 30 days paid vacation may do the trick.

[Rob]

Stefan Molyneux

He was discussing polling data from Pew Research.

http://www.pewhispanic.org/2012/04/04/v ... prc-number

and keep the ethnic distribution of Europeans at the same ratios as the 1890 census.

Why shouldn't a country preserve its ethnic identity?

to offset labor shortages.

What labor shortages? Have we been running out of unemployed people?

[BryanM]

Now he's going to blunder into nuclear war with North Korea.

For the record, NK probably isn't gonna be nuking Guam because of Trump's hate rants. Just as the nuclear and ballistic prowess of Russia and Iraq were inflated in our propaganda back in the day, so, too, we have again here with NK. If we even consider the notion that the leaders of NK, who are living a great life for themselves as the top beneficiaries of their society, are insane and want to commit suicide because their feelings were hurt.

There is no "blundering" or "accidents" when it comes to war. If it happens, it's because the neocons want it to happen.