American Politics

[kkck]

To be fair, there's really not all that much that biden can do here. It's not like presidents dictate monetary policy.. I would also guess that anti inflation monetary measures taken by the fed to deal with inflation would probably push the economy into a recession. Which might or not be the right thing to do but either way the current fed doesn't seem competent enough to make the right call... Add to that the impact the war has had on a lot of products and it's impact in international trade... It's unfathomable... regardless of what biden does I would venture the guess a worldwide recession is coming (assuming we aren't already in one). Russia is a third world country but it's economy is still pretty big and trashing it will have a pretty big impact (which is not to say it wasn't the right move).

 

[ninjabot]

Nobody's keeping up with the "LibsofTikTok" drama?

 

[xi0]

Yeah, it's great to see Neo-fascist Tucker Carlson act like a reporter reporting on a highly influential Tiktok account affiliated with the Florida GOP is somehow doxxing and justifies doxxing her in return.

--- Double Post Merged, Apr 21, 2022, Original Post Date: Apr 20, 2022 ---

Can't even blame this bullshit on the court being unbalanced either

 

[kkck]

If I am getting this right, the SCOTUS decision basically amounts to them passing the ball to congress? As in, it's congress' job to change the law so that PR receives those benefits?

 

[xi0]

Perhaps, or it brings up the question of referendum on statehood. Which the GOP would never support, just like they don't support DC having a Senator.

For me, I just look at it as Americans paying Federal Taxes not getting the benefit of paying said taxes. The situation in Puerto Rico is just absurd IMO.

 

[kkck]

Perhaps, or it brings up the question of referendum on statehood. Which the GOP would never support, just like they don't support DC having a Senator.

For me, I just look at it as Americans paying Federal Taxes not getting the benefit of paying said taxes. The situation in Puerto Rico is just absurd IMO.

Hasn't PR refused statehood a number of times? Or has their attitude on this changed? I recall reading a long as time ago that PR were a proud people that didn't want statehood or some idiocy of the sort. I haven't been too sympathetic for them since tbh.

For me it depends on what the overall tax situation in PR is (and I know jack shit about it). As far as I understand PR is exempt from some federal taxes. So to me it makes sense that if they don't pay some federal taxes that they are excluded from any federal benefit associated with those, even if the beneficiaries of said benefit would be people who can't even work, let alone produce tax money. Alternatively if this is a benefit that is not associated with any specific federal tax (though that sounds like a massive can of worms and a failure of government) then they should be receiving it.

 

[xi0]

Hasn't PR refused statehood a number of times? Or has their attitude on this changed? I recall reading a long as time ago that PR were a proud people that didn't want statehood or some idiocy of the sort. I haven't been too sympathetic for them since tbh.

For me it depends on what the overall tax situation in PR is (and I know jack shit about it). As far as I understand PR is exempt from some federal taxes. So to me it makes sense that if they don't pay some federal taxes that they are excluded from any federal benefit associated with those, even if the beneficiaries of said benefit would be people who can't even work, let alone produce tax money. Alternatively if this is a benefit that is not associated with any specific federal tax (though that sounds like a massive can of worms and a failure of government) then they should be receiving it.

There's been several referendums, but I don't see that as having much bearing on what rights Americans deserve to have. Puerto Ricans are Americans, regardless of whether PR is a state or not. Social Security shouldn't be a conditional benefit depending on what taxes you do or don't play IMO. Not to mention that the case was about an American who moved from NY to PR and continued to get benefits and was forced to pay them back.

 

[kkck]

There's been several referendums, but I don't see that as having much bearing on what rights Americans deserve to have. Puerto Ricans are Americans, regardless of whether PR is a state or not. Social Security shouldn't be a conditional benefit depending on what taxes you do or don't play IMO. Not to mention that the case was about an American who moved from NY to PR and continued to get benefits and was forced to pay them back.

It depends? Social security and other comparable benefits should be associated to taxes people pay, depending on what expectations people have regarding what those should do. Basically you pay a tax and are owed a benefit. Within that of course there should also be disability care for people who can't work because of basic decency.

I suppose I am missing the context here, gonna have to read up on the story later. Though I will add that the SCOTUS' job is not to write or change laws but rather to determine whether a given law falls within the framework of the constitution. A law being horseshit does not necessarily mean it's unconstitutional or that it's the SCOTUS' job to fix it.

 

[xi0]

It depends? Social security and other comparable benefits should be associated to taxes people pay, depending on what expectations people have regarding what those should do. Basically you pay a tax and are owed a benefit. Within that of course there should also be disability care for people who can't work because of basic decency.

Well that's what SSI is, and the decision says that can't be protected despite the US and Puerto Rico requiring the withholding of FICA and Medicare taxes from people's paychecks for the purpose of funding the program, just like anywhere else in the US.

--- Double Post Merged, Apr 21, 2022, Original Post Date: Apr 21, 2022 ---

Just to put it into context, the 8 Justices are essentially to the Right of Richard Nixon on this issue...

 

[kkck]

Well that's what SSI is, and the decision says that can't be protected despite the US and Puerto Rico requiring the withholding of FICA and Medicare taxes from people's paychecks for the purpose of funding the program, just like anywhere else in the US.

--- Double Post Merged, Apr 21, 2022, Original Post Date: Apr 21, 2022 ---

Just to put it into context, the 8 Justices are essentially to the Right of Richard Nixon on this issue...

According to the SSA website:

SSI is a Federal program funded by general tax revenues (not Social Security taxes). It provides monthly payments to meet basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter. The base monthly federal amount varies depending on your living arrangement and countable income.

FICA and medicare taxes are social security taxes right? Meanwhile if I am understanding this right PRicans don't pay federal income taxes. I am not sure if those are or aren't "general tax revenues" or what the whole breath of "general tax revenues" would be. I could understand a case that if this person paid taxes or worked in a different state then he should continue to receive the benefits his taxes entitle him to though this also depends on the rationale behind the service and the law.

 

[xi0]

I'd just to refer to Sotamayor's dissent opinion -

In dissent, Sotomayor responded, "In my view, there is no rational basis for Congress to treat needy citizens living anywhere in the United States so differently from others. To hold otherwise, as the Court does, is irrational and antithetical to the very nature of the SSI program and the equal protection of citizens guaranteed by the Constitution. I respectfully dissent.”

This is a case where I'd prefer wiping my ass with the constitution if this is the kind of thing it is used to uphold. And still, Ameribrained idiots will insist we no longer have colonies.

 

[kkck]

But... how would that be a workable position? You have a program, which receives funding from a specific source for a specific purpose. If you expand what the program covers without regard for how it is funded then all the good intentions behind the move will tank the program into shit. The reaction to some government dipshit expanding what a tax paid social program covers without regard to how it is funded should be outrage. I remember a few years ago marco rubio proposed paid maternity leave to be covered by social security... And a section of the media at least lauded this as such a great progressive idea... Even though it's obviously a staggeringly stupid idea that should have made him unelectable going forward.

SCOTUS might or not have had PR's well being in mind when calling this case but the position that this is congress' mess to fix appears to be reasonable. If PR is not paying federal taxes then they simply shouldn't be receiving benefits associated with those federal taxes.

 

[xi0]

They'll still swear this kind of approach spurred on by obviously putrid rhetoric is somehow not hateful though

 

[kkck]

So we are at a point where the GOP is fighting disney and the left is defending it? Clownworld...

 

[Sanity Check]

the GOP is fighting disney

I oppose DeSantis removing disney tax breaks.

 

[kkck]

I oppose DeSantis removing disney tax breaks.

Disney probably needs to ramp up it's campaign donations to the GOP if it wants to keep those.

 

[Sanity Check]

Disney probably needs to ramp up it's campaign donations to the GOP if it wants to keep those.

DeSantis is doing this for his 2024 presidential run.

Not a fan.

 

[M3J]

Disney shouldn't get tax breaks. No big company should.

 

[xi0]

It's hilarious how the fiefdom Disney has in Florida was allowed due to corporatist conservative policies, but now because DeSantis is trying to be mini-Trump it's suddenly an issue. All this does is pass the missing money onto the average taxpayer.

--- Double Post Merged, Apr 23, 2022, Original Post Date: Apr 23, 2022 ---

Oh, and because this is retaliation for Disney's criticism of that useless anti-Gay legislation... it's also super rich that Disney had no interest in making an public statements about it before facing internal pressure. Don't forget Disney donates to a shitload of GOP politicians.

--- Double Post Merged, Apr 24, 2022 ---

 

[M3J]

Of course. Companies get away with almost all sorts of shit.