Hanaguma

Very misleading and short sighted. The actual numbers under the current administration dwarf the previous. 2020 crossings- 458,000 2021 crossings- 1,700,000 2022 crossings- 2,350,000 2023 crossings- 1,400,000 year to date only. The VAST majority are single adults, so the meme of 'families and mothers with kids escaping tyranny' is debunked. ...and who was in charge of the border again? https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/southwest-land-border-encounters

Blocking illegal entry into the country seems to me to be the most critical way to ensure the security of the nation. People seeking jobs or asylum can do so at consular posts abroad. The problem with DHS is that it is just another layer of bureaucracy. Its budget has doubled (in real dollars) since its inception just 20 years ago. It controls the TSA, another waste of money and great violator of freedoms.- perhaps my biggest beef with the DHS of all. The dept is infamous for its disregard for basic personal liberties. In general, these kind of umbrella organizations that try to do too many jobs manage only to do ALL of them poorly.

I have no problem with Customs and Immigration returning to their previous departments. The border can be guarded by the military as well- isnt that their job? But the DHS gives me the creeps, and their current director is an incompetent.

Agreed, as long as it is accompanied by a balanced budget law.

Of course you would jump immediately to accusations of racism and sexism. No surprise there. No evidence either. I would say that, first, she was roundly rejected by her own party in 2020. She is also immature and shallow. She has never been seriously tested in any sphere- always wrapped in the warm bubble of safe Democratic politics. She has failed at every task given as VP. Her own staff has deserted her in droves. Enough for now?

Here are a few ideas; 1. Generally, return spending to pre pandemic levels. No reason for the budget to be 30% bigger now. 2. Cut defense spending 10% 3. Cut all personnel in all departments 10% 4. Eliminate the Dept of Homeland Security and Dept of Education 5. Means testing for all federal entitlement programs. Good start?

Love me some pomelos, but... If the math in the article is right (one million tonnes valued at 45 million baht), then that makes the price of pomelos 45 baht per TON. I am paying that much for a single package at Max Value! Something aint right...

Welcoming the government largesse is not the same as the money being put to good use. Every time the money goes through another set of hands, some of it sticks and less is available for actual projects. The previously mentioned high speed rail in California has its hand out for more than $23 billion from the federal government. Money well spent? And there is more than one alternative than the old shibboleth "tax breaks for the wealthy". How about everyone keep more of their money to spend as they please?

States run the vast majority of the road system and also are in charge of education. Internet can be provided by private companies. Any answer to the reality that government "investment" is all too often a waste?

In an ideal world, perhaps. However, so much of the 'investment' is used to buy political power and repay favors that it is inherently inefficiently spent. A classis example is Amtrak. Biden has a nostalgia for trains so tens of billions of dollars are poured in. But... Americans don't ride trains (except in very specific areas). They can't be persuaded to either. American cities are not set up to be connected by them. Yet still they are funded. The California High Speed Rail is a classic example. Started in 2008, scheduled to be finished by 2020 at a cost of $33 billion. Still not a passenger has ridden, cost is up to over $100 billion, no end in sight. Investments? Come on, man.

The IRS won't go after the ultra rich because the ultra rich are smart. That is why they are rich! They also have legions of accountants and attorneys to allow them to use every last legal means to pay only what they owe.

"Build Back Batter".... wow, haven't heard that phrase for a long time. thanks for the nostalgia. It also doesnt account for the huge bump in spending. As I recall it got trimmed down a lot before passing. And it is NOT called "investment". It is called "spending". "Investment" is when you put your money into something that will generate a return. IE a bond or stock or something like that. Government spending is generally inefficient and wasteful. See the great California high speed raid project for an example.

Biden has already added 3 times the debt that was lost in the Trump tax cuts. Plus, any time the government DOES manage to increase revenue, they wind up spending even more. It is a vicious circle. No, the onlu solution is cutting spending. Actually cutting, not merely slowing the rate of increase. Using 2019 as a baseline would be a good start IMHO. There is no reason the federal government needs 30% MORE money this year than in 2019. You could confiscate every single dollar of wealth of every billionaire in America, and it would barely pay off 1/10 of the national debt.

Yes, messy due to the selfish actions of one student. Agreed with the congratulations.

Just what the country needs, a California lawyer (another one). Any man who uses the phrase "toxic masculinity" in a non sarcastic way needs to be ignored.

Like the fat man said, "Two out of Three Ain't Bad". #1 really appeals for some reason. Sitting outside, grilling a quality steak, seeing the desert sunset.... doesn't get any better.

I mean that it isnt worth the effort needed to try and gain some small revenue. Lean on the rich too hard and they simply find ways to avoid paying. Look what happened in France for example. They tried a wealth tax and it was a dismal failure. Better to limit the size of government and spending instead.

Once your gf is 15 years older, has three kids, and survives cancer, let us know.

Absolutely not. I say both should hang it up, and soon. Difference is that there is a chance that the GOP will nominate an obviously younger and more mentally healthy candidate (at least I hope so). The Democrats seem to be pinning all their hopes on Joe, to the point of not even running debates in the primary season. That alone tells you something.

Also depends on reality. At 82, there is a very significant chance that Biden would not survive his second term. Especially given the stresses of the job and his underlying health conditions. That means President Harris for the remaining time. And that is scary.

Yes it is. Because by a certain point, the effort is not worth the cost. Any idea why spending increased by 30% in just a few years, and why it is now necessary to keep at that level? The federal government collected around $5 billion in 2022- that would have more or less paid for spending if the level had stayed even close to pre pandemic levels. Even compared to last year, federal spending has increased by $226 BILLION this year. Why is that?

Both "deficits are bad" and so is trying to "increase revenue".

If you read the following article, you can see what actually happened; https://coloradosun.com/2023/05/27/parachute-student-mexican-sash-graduation-ceremony/ Her classmates were NOT impressed by the spectacle made of their graduation. Had she been told that the scarf was banned from the school, I could understand her position. But to ask her to simply not wear it during the actual ceremony? Not a big deal. That, plus her parroting of "Viva La Raza" tell you all you need to know. Imagine a caucasian student saying their motto is "Hooray for My Race!". Or a school guidance counsellor agreeing to say it during a graduation ceremony.

Both can be true. Pre covid government spending was $5 trillion per year. Now that covid is over, it still sits at $6.5 trillion. Understandable that spending went up during the pandemic, but it is over now. How about returning to even the inflated levels of 2019?

Stand up for your rights, sure. But when a court has ruled, you respect the ruling. Particularly when YOU are the party who brought the lawsuit in the first place. Her actions show petulance and immaturity. Plus a remarkable degree of self absorption, even by modern standards. I am sure her fellow graduates appreciated being part of her little spectacle /s.