The Republican Agenda 2016 forward

[Spartapus]

Not satisfied that ICE raids pissed off Hispanics enough, CA Republicans joined by the DOJ are suing over the voter approved redistricting map because....wait for it.....it gives Hispanics too much voting power.

What's even crazier about this is it seems the Texas redistricting forced on them by their legislature relied heavily on Trump's popularity with Hispanics in the 2024 election. Then right after they high fived each other for passing it somebody peaked their head in the door and went "It seems the ICE raids are unpopular with the people being raided." Oh snap! So now it's all "we must stop the Hispanics!!"

 

[Spartapus]

Also, from a existence perspective, many americans think they live well, but in other western countries, hunger isn't normalized, and education and healthcare is considered a national mission. So one might not rise as high, but when it comes to essentials, they can't fall as deep either, relative to the US.

It will be interesting to see what happens to the state of Europe's FREE STUFF now that the US isn't doing the overwhelming majority of military duty while they are under threat. I think their lack of taking responsibility had less to do with disinterest and more to do with the corrupt US military industrial complex telling them "don't worry about it".

What's funny and pathetic is there's still people out their who think we can war ourselves into a booming economy despite that never happening since the end of WWII. I'm sure that's one of Trump's theories behind eyeing Venezuela which would undoubtedly be our most unpopular war to date, both inside and outside the US.

 

[P___X]

It will be interesting to see what happens to the state of Europe's FREE STUFF now that the US isn't doing the overwhelming majority of military duty while they are under threat. I think their lack of taking responsibility had less to do with disinterest and more to do with the corrupt US military industrial complex telling them "don't worry about it".

Really?! 😂

You really believed that EU countries are able to provide basics to their citizens because big daddy Lockheed Martin sponsors it?! 😂 😂 😂

Per this narrative, the only reality is this pile of steaming expensive shite where we'd rather pay for healthcare to punish people into working ungodly hours, while university tuitions consistently manage to outpace inflation for no fucking justifiable reason (I'm in higher education, BTW). No, it's cheaper to treat diabetes and hypertension than paying for dialysis (where US-specific example) and it has nothing to do with bullshit narrative of the US Military Industrial Complex being some kind benefactor of allied interests.

 

[Spartapus]

Really?! 😂

You really believed that EU countries are able to provide basics to their citizens because big daddy Lockheed Martin sponsors it?! 😂 😂 😂

Per this narrative, the only reality is this pile of steaming expensive shite where we'd rather pay for healthcare to punish people into working ungodly hours, while university tuitions consistently manage to outpace inflation for no fucking justifiable reason (I'm in higher education, BTW). No, it's cheaper to treat diabetes and hypertension than paying for dialysis (where US-specific example) and it has nothing to do with bullshit narrative of the US Military Industrial Complex being some kind benefactor of allied interests.

I'm fairly certain their expanded social safety net exists because they spend less on their military budget than Americans spend on Netflix.

 

[P___X]

I'm fairly certain their expanded social safety net exists because they spend less on their military budget than Americans spend on Netflix.

That's not what healthcare spending data shows:


They simply don't waste it on administrative overhead.

Seriously, this people at other places live longer and have better safety nets because Americans pay for it thing is one of the most blatant republican lies that has been perpetuated, and I didn't expect for it to rear its ugly head here.

 

[SouprMatt]

I'm going to assume they haven't done much research beyond gut feeling. I know people who want to leave the country for political reasons but quickly determined there aren't a lot of places to move to that don't also have their own political and economic issues. And if the US economy collapses it will take a lot of other countries down with it which will make their problems even worse. Sure, some countries are trying to detangle themselves from the US but that is going to be messy and not happen overnight.

The situation for reproductive health in the U.S. is one of the worst in the world. Fear of jail for a miscarriage? Having to wait with life-threatening pregnancy complications because doctors are scared of being thrown in jail for helping you?

It’s not imaginary; it’s serious.

https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/issue-briefs/2025/jul/maternal-mortality-united-states-2025

The pregnancy-related mortality ratio increased by 22.8 percent between 2000 and 2009 before stabilizing at about 660 deaths a year. That changed between 2019 and 2021, when the number of deaths almost doubled, to 1,222, largely because of the COVID-19 pandemic. By 2023 the ratio had almost returned to its prepandemic level, dropping back to 676 deaths — similar to the earlier totals, although the number of births has continued to decline. While Exhibit 1 suggests less change in maternal deaths over time than past media reports indicate, even this more conservative measure would place the U.S. last among high-income countries, with a mortality ratio triple that of Sweden, Japan, the Netherlands, Germany, the United Kingdom, and France.

Triple the mortality rate of those other countries. This is reality, not just a gut feeling.

 

[Spartapus]

That's not what healthcare spending data shows:
View attachment 2367

They simply don't waste it on administrative overhead.

Seriously, this people at other places live longer and have better safety nets because Americans pay for it thing is one of the most blatant republican lies that has been perpetuated, and I didn't expect for it to rear its ugly head here.

I won't dispute that, but healthcare isn't the only social safety net. If they have to ratchet up their military spending they'll have to divert money from other things. I don't know what those things would be but its usually from things that help the poor.

 

[Spartapus]

The situation for reproductive health in the U.S. is one of the worst in the world. Fear of jail for a miscarriage? Having to wait with life-threatening pregnancy complications because doctors are scared of being thrown in jail for helping you?

It’s not imaginary; it’s serious.

https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/issue-briefs/2025/jul/maternal-mortality-united-states-2025

Triple the mortality rate of those other countries. This is reality, not just a gut feeling.

If nothing else, maybe during this phase of our history people will stop accepting "We're #1" just because some American said so. This will probably be the century dominated by China while we hear about great advancements coming out of everywhere except the US. Trump and Project 2025 are determined to make us the definitive third world shit hole.

 

[Pumbaa]

I won't dispute that, but healthcare isn't the only social safety net. If they have to ratchet up their military spending they'll have to divert money from other things. I don't know what those things would be but its usually from things that help the poor.

Divert money from things like the US defense industry, for example.

 

[P___X]

I won't dispute that, but healthcare isn't the only social safety net. If they have to ratchet up their military spending they'll have to divert money from other things. I don't know what those things would be but its usually from things that help the poor.

So my next take is if even Chump supports H1B, then perhaps the US is taking advantage of talent produced by other countries and again. I wonder where the US would be without using this subsidy from other countries?

Divert money from things like the US defense industry, for example.

yes, a fraction (!!!!!) of the US defense industry would be sufficient to cover most of public education. Again, the US just doesn't have to spend on education because we can "steal" people for free.

My education would have cost about $400K in the US. Instead, the EU taxpayer's footing this bill.

 

[Spartapus]

Divert money from things like the US defense industry, for example.

I don't think that really solves their issue. It just takes the US out of the equation. They're still going to have to increase their military capabilities which is going to cost more money.

Does anybody in Europe think they can do this with little to no budget changes? Honest question.

 

[Spartapus]

So my next take is if even Chump supports H1B, then perhaps the US is taking advantage of talent produced by other countries and again. I wonder where the US would be without using this subsidy from other countries?


yes, a fraction (!!!!!) of the US defense industry would be sufficient to cover most of public education. Again, the US just doesn't have to spend on education because we can "steal" people for free.

My education would have cost about $400K in the US. Instead, the EU taxpayer's footing this bill.

It does seem kind of bizarre that Trump has both exploited foreigners in his own business practices while seeming to not know how that works. But then again, we're talking Trump.

Just so I'm clear, on this whole military spending thing I'm not coming at it as some kind of flag waving US patriot going "You Europeans didn't know how easy you had it!". I'm strictly talking about budgetary changes that would need to be made and it only makes sense that other things would have to suffer as a result.

I think we're all in agreement that Americans have had to have less of a social safety net and affordable education at least partially do to the government choosing to put so much into the military instead. I don't think it should be considered offensive to think other countries have been able to have better social safety nets because they didn't spend more on their military. It's an offset. Perhaps we're just disagreeing on the extent of it which I haven't really been specific about because I don't really know.

 

[P___X]

It does seem kind of bizarre that Trump has both exploited foreigners in his own business practices while seeming to not know how that works. But then again, we're talking Trump.

Just so I'm clear, on this whole military spending thing I'm not coming at it as some kind of flag waving US patriot going "You Europeans didn't know how easy you had it!". I'm strictly talking about budgetary changes that would need to be made and it only makes sense that other things would have to suffer as a result.

I think we're all in agreement that Americans have had to have less of a social safety net and affordable education at least partially do to the government choosing to put so much into the military instead. I don't think it should be considered offensive to think other countries have been able to have better social safety nets because they didn't spend more on their military. It's an offset. Perhaps we're just disagreeing on the extent of it which I haven't really been specific about because I don't really know.

Yes, but I plainly disagree with the assumption that the US military spending is justified and necessary. Humanity should actually spend less on military globally. In fact this is how the soviets crumbled: overspending on military while neglecting other sectors.

 

[Pumbaa]

It does seem kind of bizarre that Trump has both exploited foreigners in his own business practices while seeming to not know how that works. But then again, we're talking Trump.

Just so I'm clear, on this whole military spending thing I'm not coming at it as some kind of flag waving US patriot going "You Europeans didn't know how easy you had it!". I'm strictly talking about budgetary changes that would need to be made and it only makes sense that other things would have to suffer as a result.

I think we're all in agreement that Americans have had to have less of a social safety net and affordable education at least partially do to the government choosing to put so much into the military instead. I don't think it should be considered offensive to think other countries have been able to have better social safety nets because they didn't spend more on their military. It's an offset. Perhaps we're just disagreeing on the extent of it which I haven't really been specific about because I don't really know.

The key part here is "the government choosing". It is all about priorities. The US has chosen to prioritize enriching the few over lifting up the many. It is who they are, so much bigger than just the military budget.

 

[Spartapus]

Yes, but I plainly disagree with the assumption that the US military spending is justified and necessary. Humanity should actually spend less on military globally. In fact this is how the soviets crumbled: overspending on military while neglecting other sectors.

View attachment 2368

I (and most people) agree the level of our military spending is unjustified. A little covered fact is that bin Laden's goal wasn't to wage war and victoriously import a Muslim theocracy. It was to bankrupt us through our predictable military response.

Our collapse will probably happen for two historically based reasons, militarism and expansion like Rome and using wealth to outsource everything like Spain.

 

[Spartapus]

The key part here is "the government choosing". It is all about priorities. The US has chosen to prioritize enriching the few over lifting up the many. It is who they are, so much bigger than just the military budget.

And I'm saying the governments of Europe chose to do the opposite and here we are. I'm not ignoring any of that. I'm pointing it out. Are we just going to debate the current European reality by deflecting with how much the US sucks?

 

[P___X]

And I'm saying the governments of Europe chose to do the opposite and here we are. I'm not ignoring any of that. I'm pointing it out. Are we just going to debate the current European reality by deflecting with how much the US sucks?

Yeah, but what is the current European reality? They won’t have to compromise on education or healthcare, because those compromises cost more money than save. It’s only a legit debate about retirement age.

A little covered fact is that bin Laden's goal wasn't to wage war and victoriously import a Muslim theocracy. It was to bankrupt us through our predictable military response.

I haven’t heard this one before, but it makes sense. And considering the free-for-all that took place around 911, I do wonder what role it played in US wealth redistribution, subsequence policy changes that led to where we are right now.

 

[Spartapus]

Yeah, but what is the current European reality? They won’t have to compromise on education or healthcare, because those compromises cost more money than save. It’s only a legit debate about retirement age.


I haven’t heard this one before, but it makes sense. And considering the free-for-all that took place around 911, I do wonder what role it played in US wealth redistribution, subsequence policy changes that led to where we are right now.

I honestly don't know what the European reality is. I'm just suggesting they may have to make compromises on their healthcare, education, and other services if they now have to shovel more of their budget to the military. Of course that will piss off a lot of their citizens but their brand of corruption might demand it. I really don't know.

Trump is just as big of a gift to bin Laden as he is to Putin when you realize the goal is to destroy or greatly diminish the power and influence of the US.

On a related note, there's speculation the main reason the DOJ can't just destroy evidence of Trump in the Epstein files is Epstein was a CYA international actor and there's a high probability that places like Russia and Israel have backup copies. As long as Trump continues to destroy the US from within while being subservient to Israel they don't have reason to leak their backups.

 

[P___X]

I honestly don't know what the European reality is. I'm just suggesting they may have to make compromises on their healthcare, education, and other services if they now have to shovel more of their budget to the military. Of course that will piss off a lot of their citizens but their brand of corruption might demand it. I really don't know.

I do know, since I grew up and did my schooling there. A successful country doesn't compromise on education🙂 The US can only get away with it because of immigrant talent. Healthcare is the kind of thing that when there's good system for primary prevention, overall costs go down, so again you propose something that yields higher costs tomorrow for a few bucks spared today. Except for ruzzia, the world also isn't in a war economy.

On a related note, there's speculation the main reason the DOJ can't just destroy evidence of Trump in the Epstein files is Epstein was a CYA international actor and there's a high probability that places like Russia and Israel have backup copies. As long as Trump continues to destroy the US from within while being subservient to Israel they don't have reason to leak their backups.

At this point it's clear that epstein shared a lot of kompromat with the russians and I'm almost certain that he was a Mosad agent.

 

[Spartapus]

Texas redistricting case turns ugly as judge dissents 15 times

Two conservative judges clashed sharply over Texas' controversial mid-decade redistricting effort and the role race may have played.

abcnews.go.com

What’s kind of amazing is the dissent says the loud part out even louder. The map redraw was done to benefit Republicans, which sadly is legal. Race was just a coincidence and wasn’t the point of the redraw.

I don’t remember what the exact data is but TX is already extremely minority rule meaning there are far more Democrats in TX than they have by percentage of representation. And this is kind of news to me but there are pockets all over supposed red states where democrats just don’t bother to run a candidate for whatever reason and that’s why Republicans get overwhelming majorities.