They make sense to me. But why do I keep friends like you guys? Because you guys show me another side that I would miss otherwise.
I need people to call me out when I’m too lopsided. I’m fighting the Facebook echo chamber.
At the same time, do I have a political position in this case? Yes, I do. I’m a patriot and care about American values and care about the future of this country.
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It helped Indiana, Pence’s state, and saved 1000 out of 2000 jobs in an industry with no growth.
But am I glad he saved jobs? Sure I am.
How permanently are those jobs saved for? Well, Carrier was counting on $65 million/yr in labor costs saved.
But now, whatever they were planning on doing with the now $58 million/yr extra is gone. As a corporation, they’ve essentially lose $58 million/yr that they would have gained.
Are they ok with that? Will the 1000 jobs and plant stay? How will this affect the costs of their air conditioners? Employee benefits plans? What will this look like in 5 years time? Will the jobs still be there? Will they continue to get the government contracts they currently enjoy?
Don’t know.
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“we” is the problem here. I’m talking to you. I’m talking to Jonathan.
For some reason, I’m in a “them” category when we get on these topics.
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I get my news and information filtered through the people I know most of the time. When I want a balanced report, i turn to Christian Science Monitor, RT and Al Jazeera. Those are my three “go to” points for news.
I try to avoid CNN / MSNBC / etc when possible as well as sources from the right.
I go to “The Hill” when I want more gossipy stuff. [they gossip equally on the left and right which makes them oddly centered].
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I dunno. A friend posted this but I could just go to the original source too. Her comment was, “Wait a minute… Palin is making sense!?!”
if _she’s_ making sense, maybe you guys are right and I should get my head checked on this whole issue. I mean, what she said is the direction the GOP -was- attempting to return to a few years ago and it’s clear she was part of this camp in the GOP… but it doesn’t appear to have been a majority in any case, at least now.
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I support some positions on the right and some on the left. I’ve always considered myself center, left leaning but this election season I’ve had to do a lot of compromising and found it as a whole very disappointing.
I’m still left without anybody I can point to where I can say, “This person represents my general viewpoint!”
Never campaigned for anybody but I was never shy about my opinions either.
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When I talk to people on the right, they think I’m left and support every democrat, or that I’m a communist / marxist or SJW or libtard or cuck or whatever.
When I talk to people on the left and I say something like, “In principle, I agree with the voucher system as a hybrid solution”, I’m suddenly a religious fundy supporting Pat Robertson. Or when I say that the coal and oil industry are necessary at this point in time and can’t go anywhere because [i give reasons], then I’m pouring oil on the birds.
I don’t like preferential treatment for companies. Keeping companies in the USA is no guarantee of future jobs as automation is the future of things, not more employment by big companies. The big companies AREN’T giving most of the jobs and haven’t for a very long time.
But the money for social support has to come from someplace.
Where’s it coming from?
And wage taxation? hah. We have almost the LOWEST wage taxation ON THE PLANET. Only Mexico and Chile are lower.
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I support government intervention for:
airlines
trains
buses
because people moving helps interstate and international commerce.
There’s infrastructure companies that could use support now and again. I’m fine with some government support in advantaged technology companies and…
just had an idea that could be useful:
Tax advantages for GROWING companies to expand in areas of the country that were previously dominated by industries that have left (they are no more) or are dying.
Strongly encouraging Apple Corp to shift some operations to the USA is an excellent idea. They’re not dying anytime soon and are still on a growth curve, although it’s been slowing.
Granted, I’m _glad_ only 1/2 the amount of jobs are going to Mexico now for the air conditioning company.
But the gain they hoped for won’t come and they’ll likely make up the anticipated gain in other ways. How they do it is up to them. Always a chance of bankrupting them and then the whole company goes under and all the jobs. Who knows? It’s a tricky game to play.
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Helping individual companies is spotwelding a broken joint.
Imposing tariffs on companies who leave and then try to continue to do business with the US *is* however a more long term, generic viable solution.
This spot-welding method done haphazardly at the moment strikes me as PR and nothing more. If it’s policy, I’m unconvinced that it’s the most sustainable policy.
But I don’t have to worry about it so much. Whatever happens, happens. I criticized Obama freely, Bush freely, Clinton freely, and will do the same for Trump. Nothing new for me here.
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For the future of America, I hope your adoration of his decisions is justified. I have to keep a skeptical eye open. I do with every President. This is just the first new President you’ve heard me be cautious about. 
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