Inauguration boycott grows as Donald Trump meets Martin Luther King III

[Darsithis]

I thought that Americans are super proud of their capitalism.
If not, why the fuck did you bring it to us?

Generalization.

I don't particularly care for capitalism. I'm a strong socialist, always have been. I've always liked the idea of a strong Federal government that takes care of the people and I don't ascribe to the mentality that doing so "breeds weakness" or that people on a basic income with a strong social security net will be "lazy".

Capitalism doesn't have to be bad. You can make great profits AND benefit your workers/people. You don't have to be like Trump, who spawns businesses like bacteria and lets them die.

[Deleted]

I'm not sure how "Trump is incompetent and doesn't play by the rules" translates into "Capitalism sucks," but OK.

"what is capitalism"

Burning companies is a legitimate strategy in capitalism. Just because you don't like it, well.. your problem.

[Deleted]

The sad part is that these people think Trump, a businessman who dedicates his life to burning companies into bankruptcy and avoiding his taxes is actually going to turn things around for them.

If he had paid more taxes than he is required to, he would be a terrible businessman and not fit to be the president. I mean who in their right mind pays more taxes than they need to? Seriously..

[Deleted]

i don't like how people treat this john lewis as though his word is god and beyond reproach.

rand paul said it, his status as a civil rights icon doesn't make him exempt from criticism. no person living or dead is.

totally agree. from what i see on the british news, it seems this fella is beyond any kind of criticism.

[zenkai]

While wanting the country to go shit is an overreaction, I do think simply not supporting the president is a huge deal, assuming you only vote against his policies if you acteally disagree with him.

But not supporting a President hurts you as well, this doesn't mean you should support all the decisions they make. This also doesn't mean I believe you should be forced to support them.

[Darsithis]

"what is capitalism"

Burning companies is a legitimate strategy in capitalism. Just because you don't like it, well.. your problem.

I'm not arguing what capitalism is. I'm saying it's ironic that the poor of the belt are thinking a rich, business-burning, tax-evading man is going to turn things around for them.

If he had paid more taxes than he is required to, he would be a terrible businessman and not fit to be the president. I mean who in their right mind pays more taxes than they need to? Seriously..

It's the insane amount of loopholes that allow the rich (who control those loopholes) to avoid their fair share of the tax burden that continues to widen this ridiculous gap. There are times when I feel like we're heading for Ferenginar.

[Deleted]

Generalization.

I don't particularly care for capitalism. I'm a strong socialist, always have been. I've always liked the idea of a strong Federal government that takes care of the people and I don't ascribe to the mentality that doing so "breeds weakness" or that people on a basic income with a strong social security net will be "lazy".

Capitalism doesn't have to be bad. You can make great profits AND benefit your workers/people. You don't have to be like Trump, who spawns businesses like bacteria and lets them die.

So we went from socialism to capitalism and it seems that we're going back to capitalism.
Should have just stayed with Nazis. Our businesses profited AND people had socialism.. or national socialism.

I'm not arguing what capitalism is. I'm saying it's ironic that the poor of the belt are thinking a rich, business-burning, tax-evading man is going to turn things around for them.

No, I know you don't. It wasn't a response to you.

[Maletalana]

Can you point out an instance of me declaring it treason to call Obama names?

Edit:

Let me help you out.

http://www.mmo-champion.com/search.p...rchid=41439718

I've never tried linking search results before, but it should show every instance of a post I made containing "treason."

No you see when you do it, it's treason. But when they decide to cover their eyes and say "not my president" it's free speech. Clearly.

[Deleted]

It's the insane amount of loopholes that allow the rich (who control those loopholes) to avoid their fair share of the tax burden that continues to widen this ridiculous gap. There are times when I feel like we're heading for Ferenginar.

Well yea but look at it this way. If the loopholes are there and everyone is using them, a business that doesn't puts themselves at a disadvantage. I see nothing wrong with that. As long as it's legal, it's fine, the solution would be to plug those holes for everyone.

[Breccia]

I thought that Americans are super proud of their capitalism.

Well, a lot of us are.

However, the definition of capitalism is "an economic system characterized by private or corporate ownership of capital goods, by investments that are determined by private decision, and by prices, production, and the distribution of goods that are determined mainly by competition in a free market" For example, Trump's proposal to turn a lot of public roads, bridges, and tunnels over to private ownership, so they'll be repaired "for free", is a capitalistic idea. It's not realistic, but it is capitalism. By contrast, his recently kicked around idea of having the US negotiate down drug prices isn't really capitalism, since it is obstructing a free market.

What capitalism isn't, is "make as much money for yourself as you can by taking it from other people, going bankrupt and reneging on debts more times than you yourself can count, refusing to pay people you are contractually obligated, and taking millions as CEO before the company collapses, costing everyone their job". That's not capitalism. That's just greed mixed with incompetence.

[Darsithis]

Well yea but look at it this way. If the loopholes are there and everyone is using them, a business that doesn't puts themselves at a disadvantage. I see nothing wrong with that. As long as it's legal, it's fine, the solution would be to plug those holes for everyone.

I would love to see those loopholes closed. I would love to see the wage gap close. I would love to see wealth more equally distributed through opportunity instead of being hoarded and controlled by the elite to the disadvantage of the rest.

[Deleted]

Well, a lot of us are.

However, the definition of capitalism is "an economic system characterized by private or corporate ownership of capital goods, by investments that are determined by private decision, and by prices, production, and the distribution of goods that are determined mainly by competition in a free market" For example, Trump's proposal to turn a lot of public roads, bridges, and tunnels over to private ownership, so they'll be repaired "for free", is a capitalistic idea. It's not realistic, but it is capitalism. By contrast, his recently kicked around idea of having the US negotiate down drug prices isn't really capitalism, since it is obstructing a free market.

What capitalism isn't, is "make as much money for yourself as you can by taking it from other people, going bankrupt and reneging on debts more times than you yourself can count, refusing to pay people you are contractually obligated, and taking millions as CEO before the company collapses, costing everyone their job". That's not capitalism. That's just greed mixed with incompetence.

You say it isn't capitalism, I say it is. Even that definition you gave is not contradicting it. You can't just choose what's good in your opinion and say "THIS is capitalism". It doesn't work that way.

[Zenfoldor]

Glad those tickets didn't go to waste. So what brand of scotch is everyone drinking today?

[Deleted]

I would love to see those loopholes closed. I would love to see the wage gap close. I would love to see wealth more equally distributed through opportunity instead of being hoarded and controlled by the elite to the disadvantage of the rest.

Well, wealth isn't a static finite thing. Everyone can create wealth. It can't be hoarded. That being said, I think there is a problem when those "elites" as you put it get to make the laws to ensure they remain on top and make life difficult for small businesses and competition through rules, regulations, taxes they themselves can avoid etc.

[Darsithis]

Well, wealth isn't a static finite thing. Everyone can create wealth. It can't be hoarded. That being said, I think there is a problem when those "elites" as you put it get to make the laws to ensure they remain on top and make life difficult for small businesses and competition through rules, regulations, taxes they themselves can avoid etc.

It sort of is finite in that the more wealth the less it is worth, but I get what you mean.

[Crackleslap]

Protests already starting to deteriorate. Saw a group smash a maccas windows in. Very annoying.

[Sinndra]

Glad those tickets didn't go to waste. So what brand of scotch is everyone drinking today?

Glennfiddich 12 yr.

lol @ people boycotting today. the day will still happen, with or without their tantrums. such a childish thing to do, that solves nothing.

i didnt like W. but i still watched his inauguration, take a stand against his policies thru the appropriate means, pouting at home with the TV off, is not one of those means.

[Breccia]

You say it isn't capitalism, I say it is. Even that definition you gave is not contradicting it. You can't just choose what's good in your opinion and say "THIS is capitalism". It doesn't work that way.

No, it doesn't work that way. That's why we have things like definitions, such as the one I linked.

One person selling another person an apple for a dollar is not capitalism. That's just plain old commerce. It's how the concept of money and trade works. The government, a church, or a thief can sell an apple as well as the farmer himself.

Capitalism is an entire economic system. Trump's economic proposals would therefore be relevant to the discussion. His failings as a businessman, while important in general, were not directly related to the creation or management of an economic system. In fact, there are examples of the reverse, such as his court-ordered divesting of funds, aka "going into bankruptcy" which is the law dictating how you handle your private finances, rather than the free market.

Trump's proven history of solely looking out for his own fortune, at the cost of people who invested in him and/or who worked for him, is not inherently capitalistic. It just demonstrates his poor suitability as a leader, as @Darsithis pointed out.

[Rooflesstoofless]

I'm just not seeing the point in pointless resistance as excessive as this. People take turns to shit on Trump every second they get.

It's a good alternative to actually getting out and voting.

But as someone who doesn't really have a dog in this fight it is shaping up to be like we have another black president. Except we have pro/regressive crybabies instead of tea baggers.

[JohnBrown1917]

Glennfiddich 12 yr.

lol @ people boycotting today. the day will still happen, with or without their tantrums. such a childish thing to do, that solves nothing.

i didnt like W. but i still watched his inauguration, take a stand against his policies thru the appropriate means, pouting at home with the TV off, is not one of those means.

How exactly does one benefit from watching the inauguration?