https://www.wral.com/story/david-brooks-can-we-please-stop-calling-these-people-populists/21862865/

Pretty good article by David Brooks. I don't always like his analyses,
but this one makes sense.

//--
If America elected a populist as president, you would expect him to
devote his administration to addressing these inequities, to boosting
the destinies of working-class Americans. But that’s not what President Donald Trump is doing. He seems to have no plans to narrow the
education chasms, the health outcome chasms or the family structure
chasms. He has basically no plans to revive the communities that have
been decimated by postindustrialization.

Why is that? The simplest answer is that Trump really seems not to give
a crap about the working class. Trump is not a populist. He campaigns
as a populist, but once he has power, he is the betrayer of populism.

What’s going on here is not a working-class revolt against the elites.
All I see is one section of the educated elite going after another
section of the educated elite. This is like a civil war in a fancy prep
school in which the sleazy kids are going after the pretentious kids.

Look at who is running this administration. The president is an Ivy League-educated real estate developer. The vice president is an Ivy League-educated former venture capitalist. Elon Musk, the emperor of
DOGE, is an Ivy League-educated billionaire.

Look at the people working with Musk. Luke Farritor is a 23-year-old
who used artificial intelligence to decipher an ancient Greek scroll.
Ethan Shaotran is a 22-year-old Harvard student. Gavin Kliger wrote a
Substack post called “Why I Gave Up a Seven Figure Salary to Save
America.” These people are not exactly Joe the Plumber.

And look at the programs they are going after. They’re not going after
the programs where big budget savings can be realized — like the
entitlement programs. They’re going after the programs where they think highly educated progressives work. They’re going after the foreign aid community, the scientific community, the NGO community, the
universities, the Department of Education and the Kennedy Center.

They are seeking to destroy the wokesters (the word they use for highly educated progressives) and DEI (the term they use for what highly
educated progressives do).

In 2018 the organization More in Common released the “Hidden Tribes” survey. It found that two groups were driving American politics, which
it called progressive activists and devoted conservatives. These groups
are at opposite ends of the political spectrum, but they have a lot in
common. They are the richest of all the groups in the More in Common
typology. They are the whitest of all the groups. They are among the
best educated of all the groups. When I wrote a column about the bitter
feud between these two elite groups, I headlined it “The Rich White
Civil War.” That headline still accurately describes what we’re seeing.

//--

--

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Sun, 16 Feb 2025 09:49:40 -0700
Retrograde <fungus@amongus.com.invalid> wrote:

https://www.wral.com/story/david-brooks-can-we-please-stop-calling-these-people-populists/21862865/

Pretty good article by David Brooks. I don't always like his analyses,
but this one makes sense.

Actually, thinking about this a second time: if this admin truly reduces the size - and expense - of the government, and manages to dramatically lower taxes for the working class,

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Sun, 16 Feb 2025 10:23:56 -0700
Retrograde <fungus@amongus.com.invalid> wrote:

Actually, thinking about this a second time: if this admin truly reduces the size - and expense - of the government, and manages to dramatically lower taxes for the working class,

[premature send] , he'd be a hero and would be remembered as someone
who finally got "the impossible" done.

For that to happen though he's got to reduce the average American's tax
bill without tanking the economy and while resisting the urge to just
deliver the lower taxes to the billionaires instead of the working
class (and that's going to be tough).
--

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Sun, 16 Feb 2025 09:49:40 -0700, Retrograde
<fungus@amongus.com.invalid> wrote:

The simplest answer is that Trump really seems not to give
a crap about the working class.

Any country that decreases workers' wages and/or total number of
workers employed will find a decrease in products/services
bought/used.

These retards' actions are counterproductive for enriching a nation.
AI for instance, could replace millions, but will decrease total
number of products and services bought/used.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Sun, 16 Feb 2025, Retrograde wrote:

On Sun, 16 Feb 2025 10:23:56 -0700
Retrograde <fungus@amongus.com.invalid> wrote:

Actually, thinking about this a second time: if this admin truly reduces the size - and expense - of the government, and manages to dramatically lower taxes for the working class,

[premature send] , he'd be a hero and would be remembered as someone
who finally got "the impossible" done.

For that to happen though he's got to reduce the average American's tax
bill without tanking the economy and while resisting the urge to just
deliver the lower taxes to the billionaires instead of the working
class (and that's going to be tough).

Didn't McKinley fund 90% of the government with tariffs? Those were other
times on the other hand.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

This message is in MIME format. The first part should be readable text,
while the remaining parts are likely unreadable without MIME-aware tools.

On Sun, 16 Feb 2025, Retrograde wrote:

https://www.wral.com/story/david-brooks-can-we-please-stop-calling-these-people-populists/21862865/

Pretty good article by David Brooks. I don't always like his analyses,
but this one makes sense.

//--
If America elected a populist as president, you would expect him to
devote his administration to addressing these inequities, to boosting
the destinies of working-class Americans. But that’s not what President Donald Trump is doing. He seems to have no plans to narrow the
education chasms, the health outcome chasms or the family structure
chasms. He has basically no plans to revive the communities that have
been decimated by postindustrialization.

Why is that? The simplest answer is that Trump really seems not to give
a crap about the working class. Trump is not a populist. He campaigns
as a populist, but once he has power, he is the betrayer of populism.

What’s going on here is not a working-class revolt against the elites.
All I see is one section of the educated elite going after another
section of the educated elite. This is like a civil war in a fancy prep school in which the sleazy kids are going after the pretentious kids.

Look at who is running this administration. The president is an Ivy League-educated real estate developer. The vice president is an Ivy League-educated former venture capitalist. Elon Musk, the emperor of
DOGE, is an Ivy League-educated billionaire.

Look at the people working with Musk. Luke Farritor is a 23-year-old
who used artificial intelligence to decipher an ancient Greek scroll.
Ethan Shaotran is a 22-year-old Harvard student. Gavin Kliger wrote a Substack post called “Why I Gave Up a Seven Figure Salary to Save America.” These people are not exactly Joe the Plumber.

And look at the programs they are going after. They’re not going after
the programs where big budget savings can be realized — like the entitlement programs. They’re going after the programs where they think highly educated progressives work. They’re going after the foreign aid community, the scientific community, the NGO community, the
universities, the Department of Education and the Kennedy Center.

They are seeking to destroy the wokesters (the word they use for highly educated progressives) and DEI (the term they use for what highly
educated progressives do).

In 2018 the organization More in Common released the “Hidden Tribes” survey. It found that two groups were driving American politics, which
it called progressive activists and devoted conservatives. These groups
are at opposite ends of the political spectrum, but they have a lot in common. They are the richest of all the groups in the More in Common typology. They are the whitest of all the groups. They are among the
best educated of all the groups. When I wrote a column about the bitter
feud between these two elite groups, I headlined it “The Rich White
Civil War.” That headline still accurately describes what we’re seeing.

//--

Sounds like it was written by a bitter negro. Being white rules! It's so
grat to be white! =D

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Sun, 16 Feb 2025 10:23:56 -0700, Retrograde
<fungus@amongus.com.invalid> wrote:

if this admin truly reduces the size - and expense - of the government..
lower taxes for the working class,

This will never happen...its about lowering corporate/wealthily taxes.

Look at second pie chart....Corps need to step up to the plate, but
the T-Borg wants less taxation.

The Federal Budget in Fiscal Year 2023: An Infographic https://www.cbo.gov/system/files/2024-03/59727-Federal-Budget.pdf

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Sun, 16 Feb 2025 10:23:56 -0700, Retrograde
<fungus@amongus.com.invalid> wrote:

if this admin truly reduces the size - and expense - of the government... >lower taxes for the working class,

The T-Borg culture can't sort the chaff from the wheat. They complain
about SS, well if eliminated as they want, what are the consequences?

Extended family, where the next generation is supporting their
parents, which means fewer dollars supporting businesses (i.e., more
garage sells will exist and have a negative impact on businesses).

Same with eliminating Medicare/Medicaid, with the main consequence of
many non-affluent hospitals folding, which also decreases employment.

T-Borgs lack reasoning abilities....there are no "free lunches" which
they seek. Robbing Peter to pay Paul has economic consequences...

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Sun, 16 Feb 2025 21:33:30 +0100
D <nospam@example.net> wrote:

Sounds like it was written by a bitter negro. Being white rules! It's so
grat to be white! =D

Please be less ridiculous. It's getting tough to read your posts.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Sun, 16 Feb 2025 10:23:56 -0700, Retrograde
<fungus@amongus.com.invalid> wrote:

dramatically lower taxes for the working class,

Some facts about the upcoming tax cuts. If you make less than $400k,
there are no breaks for you. Congrats again MAGA, you're the dumbest
people on Earth.

https://x.com/MAGACult2/status/1890890872914354594

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Sun, 16 Feb 2025, Retrograde wrote:

On Sun, 16 Feb 2025 21:33:30 +0100
D <nospam@example.net> wrote:

Sounds like it was written by a bitter negro. Being white rules! It's so
grat to be white! =D

Please be less ridiculous. It's getting tough to read your posts.

It's difficult... the sheer amount of positive news every day with Trump
makes this very difficult! =D

Also, you must not discard the truth in my post. It is enormously
pleasurable to be white in Trumps world. I just met two beautiful women
who came to me because they saw that I was white and wanted a secure
provider! =)

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Sun, 16 Feb 2025, JAB wrote:

On Sun, 16 Feb 2025 10:23:56 -0700, Retrograde
<fungus@amongus.com.invalid> wrote:

dramatically lower taxes for the working class,

Some facts about the upcoming tax cuts. If you make less than $400k,
there are no breaks for you. Congrats again MAGA, you're the dumbest
people on Earth.

https://x.com/MAGACult2/status/1890890872914354594

Incorrect statement.

Among the TCJA's many overhauls, it created a single flat corporate tax
rate of 21%, raised the standard deduction for individuals and couples, increased the child tax credit and capped the deduction for state and
local taxes at $10,000 (known as the SALT cap).

...

If you're an hourly employee or depend on gratuity to meet your expenses, Trump's plan to exempt overtime pay and tips from taxation may sound
appealing to you.

All Social Security benefits, too, would be free from income taxes under Trump's proposal

...

Lowering of corporate taxes will also benefit everyone who works for a corporation.

You must look to the TRUTH (TM) and not on naughty propaganda messages. American is now entering a new golden age! =D

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Mon, 17 Feb 2025 11:45:15 +0100, D <nospam@example.net> wrote:

single flat corporate tax rate of 21%

"Since January 1, 2018, the nominal federal corporate tax rate in the
United States of America is a flat 21% following the passage of the
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017"

I believe the above was for a period of time, and has to be renewed.

raised the standard deduction for individuals...

"Each year, the IRS updates the standard deduction to keep up with
inflation, so it tends to increase over time."

"The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act nearly doubled the standard deduction and
eliminated or restricted many itemized deductions in 2018 through
2025. It also eliminated the "Pease" limitation on itemized deductions
for those years"

She said, "Some facts about the upcoming tax cuts" which are suggested
below.

2025 Budget Stakes: High-Income Tax Cuts, Price-Hiking Tariffs Would
Harm Families

High-income households and profitable corporations would grow even
wealthier under Republican proposals for trillions of dollars in new
or extended tax cuts, even as Republican proposals for trillions of
dollars of cuts to health assistance, food assistance, and other
programs would leave more children in poverty, more families without
stable housing, and more people without health coverage. Families
would also face an additional burden: higher prices for many basic
goods due to the tariffs that President Trump has begun to impose,
which would act as a large tax increase on U.S. consumers.

https://www.cbpp.org/research/federal-tax/2025-budget-stakes-high-income-tax-cuts-price-hiking-tariffs-would-harm

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Mon, 17 Feb 2025 11:45:15 +0100, D <nospam@example.net> wrote:

Some facts about the upcoming tax cuts
https://x.com/MAGACult2/status/1890890872914354594

Incorrect statement.

Is this a better statement: Christian values are not being
implemented by Congressional Rs, and POTUS?

How is Proverbs 19:17 being implemented?
=======

2025 Budget Stakes: High-Income Tax Cuts, Price-Hiking Tariffs Would
Harm Families

High-income households and profitable corporations would grow even
wealthier under Republican proposals for trillions of dollars in new
or extended tax cuts, even as Republican proposals for trillions of
dollars of cuts to health assistance, food assistance, and other
programs would leave more children in poverty, more families without
stable housing, and more people without health coverage. Families
would also face an additional burden: higher prices for many basic
goods due to the tariffs that President Trump has begun to impose,
which would act as a large tax increase on U.S. consumers.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Mon, 17 Feb 2025, JAB wrote:

On Mon, 17 Feb 2025 11:45:15 +0100, D <nospam@example.net> wrote:

Some facts about the upcoming tax cuts
https://x.com/MAGACult2/status/1890890872914354594

Incorrect statement.

Is this a better statement: Christian values are not being
implemented by Congressional Rs, and POTUS?

How is Proverbs 19:17 being implemented?
=======

2025 Budget Stakes: High-Income Tax Cuts, Price-Hiking Tariffs Would
Harm Families

High-income households and profitable corporations would grow even
wealthier under Republican proposals for trillions of dollars in new
or extended tax cuts, even as Republican proposals for trillions of
dollars of cuts to health assistance, food assistance, and other
programs would leave more children in poverty, more families without
stable housing, and more people without health coverage. Families
would also face an additional burden: higher prices for many basic
goods due to the tariffs that President Trump has begun to impose,
which would act as a large tax increase on U.S. consumers.

Salaries will soar high, like the bald eagle and then a few % of inflation
does not matter. Everyone in the US will be rich! =D

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Sun, 16 Feb 2025 09:49:40 -0700, Retrograde
<fungus@amongus.com.invalid> wrote:

Trump really seems not to give a crap about
the working class. Trump is not a populist.

All those government firings and T-Borg's antics clearly show both
view the rest of us as peasants. It's all those workers fault rather
than pointing the fingers at POTUS/Congress.

---------------------------

How the Mighty Fall: The Hubris of 6 Greek Heroes

Many Greek heroes were destroyed by their own hubris, from Achilles, Bellerophon, and Odysseus, to Arachne, Icarus, and Phaethon.

Hubris, or fatal pride, was the downfall of many Greek heroes in
ancient myth. In classical mythology, hubris was considered a very
dangerous shortcoming; it was an act of arrogance, usually where the
hero [T-Borg] attempted to assume godlike status. The gods of Greek
mythology did not look favorably on mortals who overstepped or bragged
a bit too much! The ancient Greeks considered hubris a fatal flaw that
brought tragedy upon heroes... and commonly led to their death. The
punishment for hubris was often a shocking reminder of human
limitations and mortality. As such, hubris was a prime topic for Greek
tragedy.

https://www.thecollector.com/greek-heroes-hubris/

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Tue, 25 Feb 2025 19:33:55 -0600
JAB <here@is.invalid> wrote:

On Sun, 16 Feb 2025 09:49:40 -0700, Retrograde
<fungus@amongus.com.invalid> wrote:

Trump really seems not to give a crap about
the working class. Trump is not a populist.

All those government firings and T-Borg's antics clearly show both
view the rest of us as peasants. It's all those workers fault rather
than pointing the fingers at POTUS/Congress.

Capitalism taken to its ultimate conclusion - replace ALL the workers
with AI/machines/whatever, and reap incredible profits! Err, no,
because all the fired masses have no money to buy your stupid shit
with ... the ultimate self-own arrogant shitsack narrcissists like the
ones we elected fail to understand.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Tue, 25 Feb 2025 19:23:04 -0700, Retrograde
<fungus@amongus.com.invalid> wrote:

replace ALL the workers with AI/machines/whatever,
and reap incredible profits!

Years ago, MS talked about a subscription model, and as time
progressed, more/more programs gravitated in this direction.

I believe this tech industry is attempting to get a toe hold, which
requires dumping humans. They have essentially reached the end of
tech innovation, and are looking for greener pastures.

With advances in tech, the human workforce has been reduced in various industries, but other neo-industries brought about more employment.

I'm not aware of any neo-industry(ies) which will employ millions
fired, laid off, etc.

Where is this new frontier for employment....There's the rub...as tech
replaces the human workforce, then, the economy will implode.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)