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The Walmart subsidies
The argument has since spread all over the place and been used to rationalize all sorts of taxes, minimum wage increases, etc.
There is a rat's nest of nasty deception in this argument which needs to be considered. Even if we ignore that this is based on a sloppy propaganda white paper (extrapolating from a single store to the entire US) by a political faction, we still have some really big flaws with the argument.
The first is simply that the point of subsidies is to encourage behavior we want. Walmart is employing poor people. Usually, that is a desirable goal, particularly for the ideologies that spin this as welfare subsidies, but notice how in this case virtue is transformed rhetorically into vice.
Second, anyone who employs people who receive welfare is by this argument receiving the subsidy. The only way to avoid the alleged subsidy is to employ people who never receive any sort of welfare. Thus, anyone who employs poor people can be accused of this vice.
Thus third, it can't be fixed as long as one pays out welfare benefits of any sort. There is no correction that can ever get rid of the alleged problem because either someone will always employ poor people on welfare and run afoul of the welfare subsidy or no one will, creating a permanent unemployed class of people.
I see this causing problems for universal basic income schemes because since everyone receives the income, every employer can be considered to be "subsidized" and thus subject to whatever crazy scheme or punishment that can be rationalized. It's another failure mode that needs to be considered with UBI systems.
Don't go to Cuba!
President Donald J. Trump is calling for a total and complete shutdown of Americans entering Cuba, until our country's representatives can figure out what the hell is going on. Some very bad things happened in Cuba. Very bad things. They did some bad things in Cuba. Things that made our diplomats very sick. I guarantee you there's a problem. I can't guarantee you'll be safe. If you go there, you might not be safe. I have friends that are Cubans. They are great people -- but they know we have a problem. We must be vigilant!
Tom Price is a swamp creature!
Tom Price resigned. I told him he could resign, or be FIRED! Because I'm here to drain the swamp, and he's a big, big part of it. I'm not happy about the way he RIPPED OFF my taxpayers! I'm not happy, OK? He's a very good man, a fine man. But he's a big, big part of the swamp, which is unacceptable. Screw him. Screw him like a bitch.
Happy birthday @WHNSC!
My National Security Council, who I love, turned 70 years old today! Terrific age! Terrific guys! Love the advice, very important right now. Great advice about Rocket Man and #NoKo!
Boycott the NBA and NFL!
I’m very, very saddened by what’s been happening in the NBA and NFL. A few disloyal players -- Colin Kaepernick and Steph Curry are the worst -- have been disrespecting my Great American Flag (and Country). They refuse to stand for my national anthem. I'll tell you, if a player wants the privilege of making millions of dollars in the NFL or other leagues, he or she should not be allowed to disrespect our heritage that way. That’s a total disrespect of our heritage. That’s a total disrespect of everything that we stand for. Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects my flag, to say, "Get that son of a bitch off the field right now. Out! He’s fired. He’s FIRED! Find something else to do!" You know, some owner is going to do that. He’s going to say, "That guy that disrespects the flag, he’s fired." And that owner, they don’t know it, but I'll tell you, they’ll be the second most popular person in this country. When people like yourselves turn on television and you see those people taking the knee when they are playing my great national anthem -- the only thing you could do better is, if you see it, even it's one player, leave the stadium. I guarantee things will stop. NFL should change policy! Roger Goodell of NFL put out a statement trying to justify the total disrespect certain players show to our country. Tell them to stand! Believe me, drugs are a very, very big factor in what you're watching on television at night. In the sports and the reality TV. Senator Strange (from Alabama) and I are unified by the same great American values. We're proud of our country. I consulted with my generals and military experts. General John Kelly (COS) totally agrees with my stance on the NFL and its players disrespecting FLAG, ANTHEM, COUNTRY. #FakeNews .@CNN said he opposes. Total lie!
There's been a tremendous backlash against the NFL. Many people booed the players who kneeled yesterday (which was a small percentage of total). These are fans who demand respect for my Flag! If NFL fans refuse to go to games until players stop disrespecting my Flag & Country, you will see change take place fast. Fire or suspend! NFL attendance and ratings are WAY DOWN. Boring games yes, but many stay away because they love our country. League should back U.S. The NFL ratings are down massively. Now the number 1 reason happens to be they like watching what’s happening with yours truly. They like what’s happening. You used to see these tackles and it was incredible to watch. Now tackle -- head-on-head tackle -- 15-yard penalty. Because you know today if you hit too hard: 15 yards! Throw him out of the game! They’re ruining the game! That’s what they want to do. They want to hit. They want to hit! These new, and very much softer, NFL rules are hurting the game. "Uh oh, got a little ding on the head? No, no, you can’t play for the rest of the season." We're going soft, just like the NFL, we're going soft. The issue of kneeling has nothing to do with race. It is about respect for my Country, Flag and National Anthem. NFL must respect this! The people who will suffer the most as a result of this softness and disloyalty are inner city players and fans. There is no compassion in tolerating this conduct. It's an attack on the poor and will never be accepted in a Trump administration, ever, ever.
Time to bring back the United States Football League and my New Jersey Generals, probably the best team in football, ever. With @DougFlutie and @HerschelWalker.
So proud of NASCAR and its supporters and fans. They won't put up with disrespecting our Country or my Flag - they said it loud and clear! #StandForMyAnthem
The chill surrounding the promise of Snow.
Summer is winding down. The trees are turning yellow and are starting to release their leaves. The mornings have a distinct crispness that that foreshadow the coming winter. It's a great time of year -- possibly my favourite time of year.
The smell of fallen leaves always brings back memories. Memories of raking leaves and jumping in the pile. Memories of fall hikes in the mountains. From my desk at work, I have an amazing view of the Rocky Mountains. For most of the summer they have been hidden by smoke from forest fires, but today they are out in all their glory. It's a crystal clear day, and the peaks are glistening with the brilliant white of freshly fallen snow.
Soon the snow will be able to extend its reach to the lower elevations, where it will remain for the next 5 months or so. Cold winter nights mean warm, hearty meals. Stews and soups that warm the inside help keep the cold at bay. Blankets that have been packed away for the summer will be brought out and piled on the bed to make a heavy cocoon.
Winter is about being cozy. Without cold it's impossible to appreciate being warm, and that's what I think about when I think about winter. Not the cold, but the warmth.
-- Snow
Asparagus
Checked out my garden tonight: my potatoes are ready, will be harvesting on a need to eat basis until they are gone or frost is imminent.
My asparagus is coming nicely: have planted in 3 bunches, one planting per year. My first bunch should be ready next year (it takes at least 3 years for plants to get going enough (seed plantings a year or more longer)).
So in 3 years time I should have asparagus coming out my Ying Yang! Can't wait. Focused on the asparagus and potatoes due to lack of time: no cherry tomatoes this year. :(
Playing Europa universalist 4 as France currently, then watched Rocket Men with my son and wife: my son enjoyed it. Brought back memories of watching moon walks as a kid.
Keeping busy.
Maybe I'll try to submit some stories next week.
Gotta keep busy.
Happy End of the World
I think I may have figured out at last what is making the Human Race so unhappy, and it's not just to do with chasing after little green pieces of paper. It occurred to me recently, but I'm getting rather forgetful these days. Let me see if I can remember.
Big THANK YOU to China!
A BIG hand to China for finally getting tough with #NoKo! Very bold, and smart, move! Complete denuclearization very soon!
Worst TV ever!
I was saddened to see how bad the ratings were on the Emmys -- the worst ever. The smallest audience ever. Because they had .@SeanSpicer and .@Stephen_Colbert. LOSERS!
