American Politics 3.0 - Back to Brunch

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by HockeyIlliterate

I’m on a phone, so I’m not going to cut and paste a rebuttal to each paragraph.

Rants about Trump’s COVID relief is not relevant to student loans issues.

The current interest rates aren’t my numbers. They are the numbers.

I’m aware of consolidating student loans and it’s effects. But locking in a rate at consolidation is a risk you take. Voluntarily, I might add.

The penalization comment about refinancing is interesting. I won’t presume what you mean by that, but I will state that your own comment acknowledges that refinancing is an option—just one that you don’t want to take.

My take from that is that you’d rather not avail yourself of existing options (and possibly regret availing yourself of one previously), which is fine. But then don’t expect others to give you other options that amount to a bailout from the pockets of those who paid off their own loans or never took them out in the first place because they couldn’t afford to do so.

You make many assumptions about my job while I was paying off my student loans. Unfounded and incorrect assumptions. The truth is that I didn’t have a great paying job, deferred a lot of spending, lived like a very broke student for years, and buckled down and paid the loans off. I did it and millions of others have done it.

I was not in favor of bailing out the banks, the car companies, or the homeowners who bought houses way beyond their means.

I would possibly be in favor of allowing student loans to be discharged through bankruptcy, but only on a go-forward basis for new loans. But I would expect any such bankruptcy relief to be conditioned on the to-be-debtor having first being soundly evaluated, much like those who apply for a mortgage or car loan, on their career plan, job options, and educational history and probable chance of success at school.* I suspect that many potential borrowers wouldn’t like that because, chances are, they won’t get to go to their preferred school or study what they want.

But oh well. You want the money? You accept the terms and obligations that come with it.

And if you don’t like the terms or find then to be oppressive or terrible or sucky, then don’t take the money and find another way to attend college and grad school.

But to take the money and spend it, and then turn around and whine about the terms and ask (or demand) for others to pay off your debt just reeks of entitlement, selfishness, and immaturity.




* There are potential problems that could still show up with this, much like the liar loans in the housing market. Fraud could be rampant. Monitoring that the evaluations are done correctly could cost a lot of money. But to just hand out essentially unsecured money that can then be discharged through bankruptcy, well, we might as well just set dollar bills on fire. Which, I guess, is close to what will happen if the government just wipes out all of the student loan debt.

For transparency, this issue doesn't really impact me. Would is benefit me? Only to a small extent as I only have a couple years of payments to make. I only care because it impacts millions of people in this country and people I've seen every work day for five years. I would really like to see something work for the common folk for a change and this is an issue that would float 44-48 million boats. Would it be fair and equitable? Nope, but neither were the massive tax breaks and incentives for the rich, and then the COVID loans and forgiveness of those agreements. Give back to main street and watch the economy come to life because it is going to be actual spending that the economy desperately needs.

[GirlySports]

China not wasting time, put bans on several Trump administrators and business partners.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1351969556487663616


Is the Biden Administration honor-bound to oppose this in some fashion? I don't think we (Americans) are supposed to sit by while other countries impose sanctions on our government officials for doing official government things the other countries don't like.

[GordonBlue]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

China not wasting time, put bans on several Trump administrators and business partners.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1351969556487663616


Is the Biden Administration honor-bound to oppose this in some fashion? I don't think we (Americans) are supposed to sit by while other countries impose sanctions on our government officials for doing official government things the other countries don't like.

but they are no longer government officials.

Personally I don't think Biden should take any action. He shouldn't even acknowledge it.
Every one of those people tried to destroy America. #### 'em.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

China not wasting time, put bans on several Trump administrators and business partners.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1351969556487663616


Is the Biden Administration honor-bound to oppose this in some fashion? I don't think we (Americans) are supposed to sit by while other countries impose sanctions on our government officials for doing official government things the other countries don't like.

Not government officials any more. Biden should ignore this and let them twist in the wind. They brought this on themselves. Now I hope they extend this to Trump's family. They can't do it to Trump, as a former President, but they can do it to kids and strip them of any benefits they attained while working for the White House. So Ivanka could see all of her trademarks and such go to the wind with the stroke of a pen.

[djsFlames]

Came for inauguration content, not 10 page essays.

Which damn thread do I go to now.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

China not wasting time, put bans on several Trump administrators and business partners.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1351969556487663616


Is the Biden Administration honor-bound to oppose this in some fashion? I don't think we (Americans) are supposed to sit by while other countries impose sanctions on our government officials for doing official government things the other countries don't like.

What does “we (Americans)” mean? Anyway, those guys aren’t government officials anymore. I think anybody who has done business in China knows it is pretty much an at-will relationship. Expect more than that and expect to get burned.

[Kybosh]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Wonder how all the Qanon folks are coping with all this...

The real Qanon was the friends they made along the way.

(Saw that on Reddit and laughed).

[TheScorpion]

I hate that I laughed at this.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1351970189789831168

[nfotiu]

I have to say I quite enjoy that Trump doesn't get to tweet stupid things about today. I know I would have been checking out his Twitter to see what he is whining about, but it seems so much healthier for everyone that he doesn't get that platform.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by nfotiu

I have to say I quite enjoy that Trump doesn't get to tweet stupid things about today. I know I would have been checking out his Twitter to see what he is whining about, but it seems so much healthier for everyone that he doesn't get that platform.

It feels a lot less toxic now.

[darockwilder]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Should we start a pool as to what QAnon rebrands itself as? We all know it's coming.

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine...coming/610567/

An interesting overall read, but the final section (VII. APOCALYPSE) is where it could likely end up. A proper religion. Based on how the followers are such true believers it's not much of a stretch.

[Manhattanboy]

Biden is an idiot and no friend of Canada for not at least giving us the opportunity to make our submissions as to the mutual benefit of KXL for both countries.

[oldschoolcalgary]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1352003245376466949

not sure if I should laugh at people like this or be worried that so many people have bought into the entire QAnonsense

[TheIronMaiden]

What the hell does that lady think will happen?

[GreenLantern2814]

Look, Psaki or whatever your name is, either humiliate yourself like a sycophantic SNL cartoon or GTFO.

[DownInFlames]

I'm watching Jen Psaki's first briefing. She mentioned that Biden will call Trudeau on Friday to discuss Keystone XL.

[troutman]

This first press briefing is so . . . normal!

And not evasive.

[firebug]

Originally Posted by DownInFlames

I'm watching Jen Psaki's first briefing. She mentioned that Biden will call Trudeau on Friday to discuss Keystone XL.

Biden must not want to miss his chance to meet Manhattanboy when he comes to Alberta like Obama foolishly did.

[Macman]

Originally Posted by troutman

This first press briefing is so . . . normal!

And not evasive.

To be fair it's still inauguration day, Did anyone ask about Hunter?

[jayswin]

nm