The Fentanyl Crisis is finally solved....

[Markk]

My question was if you were president.

But I'm not president, therefore your question insists on a false premise. I can't answer a question based on a false premise.

So then by that logic you are a dictator, given you gave 11 pages of theory as a dictator? Gad, this has been a total fail for you. I do give you credit though in that you did follow it out to the logical conclusion, which is your theory is demonstrably unachievable.

[Gadianton]

----- you are a dictator, given you gave 11 pages of ----- dictator....

Usually the point of a "ruler" hypothetical is to explore policy ideas with no friction to implementing the policy, not to explore all the red tape that one might encounter in the real world trying to implement them. How are you going to convince congress, etc.

For instance, if I were to ask, suppose you were chairman of the federal reserve, what would you set interest rates to? Everyone but you would understand the point of the question to be: what interest rate do you propose and how do you think it would affect the economy? Only Markk would object and worry about how all the member banks would be convinced to go along with the proposed rate and If a detailed plan can't be put forward explaining how every member of the federal reserve board would be convinced, then it's pointless to speculate about how the proposed rate would affect the economy.

What it really is, Markk, is you asked the question in bad faith and you haven't been a very good listener given you're the one who asked the question, but like I said, I knew what I was getting into answering your question and so it is what it is.

All the best on your art thread.

[Markk]

----- you are a dictator, given you gave 11 pages of ----- dictator....

Usually the point of a "ruler" hypothetical is to explore policy ideas with no friction to implementing the policy, not to explore all the red tape that one might encounter in the real world trying to implement them. How are you going to convince congress, etc.

For instance, if I were to ask, suppose you were chairman of the federal reserve, what would you set interest rates to? Everyone but you would understand the point of the question to be: what interest rate do you propose and how do you think it would affect the economy? Only Markk would object and worry about how all the member banks would be convinced to go along with the proposed rate and If a detailed plan can't be put forward explaining how every member of the federal reserve board would be convinced, then it's pointless to speculate about how the proposed rate would affect the economy.

What it really is, Markk, is you asked the question in bad faith and you haven't been a very good listener given you're the one who asked the question, but like I said, I knew what I was getting into answering your question and so it is what it is.

All the best on your art thread.

That is just a cop out. I asked you a fair question based on your criticizing of Trump's desire and plan to stop real problems and issues with the border and Mexico.

Gad: I've been dipping my toes into the problem, but I don't have any great explanation nor easy fixes. I can guarantee you that Donald Trump has no freaking clue, and all your outrage policies will just make things worse in the short-run and long-run for the average American. Perhaps they will deserve it for trying to fix their problems by inhumane policies like "mass deportations".


Mark: So you have no real solutions? Just that Trump's does not have a clue. Noted.
Okay you are president Gad (or Marcus, or Cakes, or anyone else), you just got elected with the same conditions we face today, which Trump is facing. Lets limit it for now to the southern border. What are your first moves in regard to executive decisions and policy, starting with these seven realties? Lets go one at a time.

1. Cartel Human Trafficking across the border
2. Cartel Drug production
3. Cartel smuggling drugs across the border (all means and methods)
4. Cartel networks in the US distributing drugs
5. Illegal immigrants here with criminal records from their countries
6. Illegal Immigrants here that commit crimes
7. Illegal immigrants here that are in gangs.

It is a deep and real issue, and Trump, right or wrong was left with this mess, and right or wrong is dealing with it despite push backs just because of who he is.

Join the art thread, I would love to hear your perspectives. I believe we can find common ground there.....

[Gadianton]

I asked you a ----- question based on your criticizing of Trump's-----plan to stop real problems

Which is the main reason why it was in bad faith. Because I was critical of your lord and savior Donald Trump, there is no possible way that you were going to give my idea or anyone else's idea (who is critical of Trump) the time of day. Of course, I knew what I was in for when I decided to answer. The reason why nobody else answered is because they know you aren't capable of having a logical conversation (whether that's due to aptitude or attitude I can't say). Steuss tried, but boy, did he realize it was a mistake in no time.

On your art thread, you mentioned that you are your own worst critic as an aspiring artist. I have a hard time believing that. How to balance that against the Markk who goes overboard to find "logical fallacies" in just about every sentence I write, without any idea what a "logical fallacy" actually is in the first place? After misusing terminology over and over, and you have multiple people pointing it out to you, you are so stubborn that not only do you press onward with the same mistakes, you go out and find even new terminology to mangle, and you mangle it worse than in your previous offenses. In your mind, there is no possibility that you might not understand something, and by golly, nobody is going to tell you anything. How does that person, when suddenly taking up a paint brush, get filled with crippling self-doubt and uncertainty about what they are about to do?

[Doctor Scratch]

I asked you a ----- question based on your criticizing of Trump's-----plan to stop real problems

Which is the main reason why it was in bad faith. Because I was critical of your lord and savior Donald Trump, there is no possible way that you were going to give my idea or anyone else's idea (who is critical of Trump) the time of day.

^^^This. I have been following along and I have been astonished at the fact that Markk is willing to expend shocking amounts of effort to analyze, deconstruct, and comment upon a complete fantasy of an idea, and yet the actual Trump policies seemingly get a stamp of approval with no scrutiny whatsoever. It’s just: “Lock down the border!!” What’s that supposed to do? Really lame, Markk.

[Markk]

I asked you a ----- question based on your criticizing of Trump's-----plan to stop real problems

Which is the main reason why it was in bad faith. Because I was critical of your lord and savior Donald Trump, there is no possible way that you were going to give my idea or anyone else's idea (who is critical of Trump) the time of day. Of course, I knew what I was in for when I decided to answer. The reason why nobody else answered is because they know you aren't capable of having a logical conversation (whether that's due to aptitude or attitude I can't say). Steuss tried, but boy, did he realize it was a mistake in no time.

On your art thread, you mentioned that you are your own worst critic as an aspiring artist. I have a hard time believing that. How to balance that against the Markk who goes overboard to find "logical fallacies" in just about every sentence I write, without any idea what a "logical fallacy" actually is in the first place? After misusing terminology over and over, and you have multiple people pointing it out to you, you are so stubborn that not only do you press onward with the same mistakes, you go out and find even new terminology to mangle, and you mangle it worse than in your previous offenses. In your mind, there is no possibility that you might not understand something, and by golly, nobody is going to tell you anything. How does that person, when suddenly taking up a paint brush, get filled with crippling self-doubt and uncertainty about what they are about to do?

Gad, are you really that desperate? Your "idea" or plan, is just basically unachievable, it is just a whim, and you are in no way equipped to deal with such a task. What did or do you do for a living Gad, that would put you in the position to solve the fentanyl crisis, and especially given the fact you don't believe it is a crisis?

Your argument against my points is, I misused terminology, really ?

Lol, now you are getting into me being a critic of my paintings as being false because I point out your fallacies in your plan to solve a nation wide drug epidemic, which by the way again, you deny as even being a epidemic. Believe me, my paintings suck, while my wood working and metal art I am fairly proud of.

by the way the reason nobody answered your mess, is because most thought you were kidding, yes, your theory is that lame, and even Steuss said he disagreed with it, and got pissed with me when I said mistakenly that he agreed with your plan.

Gad, your theory is a total fail, move on. But if you really think I am sandbagging on my art being crappy, would you be interested in buying a painting? If I knew how to take a pic and upload it, I would show you my best attempt, after I wipe the dust off.....and you can be the judge of that?

How do I take a pick on my I phone and up load it to the forum on a Microsoft laptop?

[Markk]

Which is the main reason why it was in bad faith. Because I was critical of your lord and savior Donald Trump, there is no possible way that you were going to give my idea or anyone else's idea (who is critical of Trump) the time of day.

^^^This. I have been following along and I have been astonished at the fact that Markk is willing to expend shocking amounts of effort to analyze, deconstruct, and comment upon a complete fantasy of an idea, and yet the actual Trump policies seemingly get a stamp of approval with no scrutiny whatsoever. It’s just: “Lock down the border!!” What’s that supposed to do? Really lame, Markk.

Nonsense Scratch, He has done more than lock down the border. It starts there for sure, but he is doing more like designating the cartel as a terrorist organization. Which allows us to go after the money among other things. He has been in office for what two months? We will see how successful his approach will be for sure.

Scratch, how would you solve the fentanyl crisis? Or are you in the same tent as Gad, that it is not a crisis? You seem to always hide, and poke in and out with drive by comments....so here you have a chance to actually give a opinion and follow it out to a logical conclusion....there is enough bandwidth here, don't let it stop you. What cracks me up is even you state Gads view is a fantasy, when he stated on the first page it was not. I guess my efforts had some effect on you in that we both view it as a fantasy, while Gad stated he was "not being sarcastic."

You are just trying to protect your tribe member and friend here, I get that, and respect it to an degree, but on this one.... good luck.

[Doctor Scratch]

^^^This. I have been following along and I have been astonished at the fact that Markk is willing to expend shocking amounts of effort to analyze, deconstruct, and comment upon a complete fantasy of an idea, and yet the actual Trump policies seemingly get a stamp of approval with no scrutiny whatsoever. It’s just: “Lock down the border!!” What’s that supposed to do? Really lame, Markk.

Nonsense

Is it? So why don't you link to the post(s) where you've asked question after skeptical question about these policies? Here: I'll help you out. How are they going to lock down the border? You've mentioned being "impressed" by the notion that "10,000" troops are going to be sent to the border. Who's going to pay for the troops? Where will they be stationed? Along Texas? Arizona? California? Whose jurisdiction will they be under? Mexico's? And if so, how are you going to prevent corruption? How will you prevent them from being "plants" for the cartels, or prevent them from getting paid off or killed by the cartel? How are you going to plug holes along the border? Or are you assuming that 10,000 troops will be enough to guard every last inch of the border night and day and prevent any "leakage"? And what will you do if the cartels decide to abandon the border and instead move the drugs straight into urban distribution centers, sort of like what Pablo Escobar was doing with cocaine during the Reagan Administration?

he is doing more like designating the cartel as a terrorist organization. Which allows us to go after the money among other things.

Oh, yeah? How? They can just stroll over to the local branch of the bank and seize the cartel's assets? Is that how it works?

He has been in office for what two months? We will see how successful his approach will be for sure.

That's one way of looking at it. But my recollection is that he already served an entire 4-year term as president where his main claim was that he was going to build a "big, beautiful wall" all along the entire US/Mexico border, and that he was going to "force" Mexico to pay for it. But that never happened, did it? And he had 4 whole years to get it done.

So what's your timeline this go-around? 2 years to get the border locked down and the fentanyl crisis under control? 3 years?

That's really my only point here: you won't ask these same types of skeptical questions about your own guy's proposals.

[Markk]

Scratch: Is it? So why don't you link to the post(s) where you've asked question after skeptical question about these policies? Here: I'll help you out. How are they going to lock down the border?

I never said we were going to lock down the border beyond my response to you. Locking down the border in my opinion means stopping the best we can illegal flow of all illegal trafficking, including drugs, human, sex

Trump understand we will not completely stop everything from coming over, he just spoke on that again the other day. He has often stated that in order to do so, at least with drug, we would have apply the death penalty.

So I understand your position, are you in favor of a open border? Are you against trying to tighten things up and making are border more secure?

Scratch: You've mentioned being "impressed" by the notion that "10,000" troops are going to be sent to the border. Who's going to pay for the troops?

We have about 10,000 us troops on the border now, 4,000 were there under Biden, and Trump is adding about 6,000 more, and we will obviously pay for any additional logistical needs for the operation....their salary is existing I would imagine.

In regard to Mexico and Canada, they will pay for their troops, at least I imagine they would. But I am sure there is politics involved.

Scratch: Where will they be stationed? Along Texas? Arizona? California? Whose jurisdiction will they be under? Mexico's?

Our troops on our side of the border will be under our jurisdiction. They are mostly Military police and combat engineers. The former will from what I have read support CBP with surveillance and general deterrence. The latter will will help with new barriers and repairing existing ones.

I assume they will be stationed at specific locations as needs arise. We have military bases along the southern border from San Diego to the Gulf for primary logics. My guess is Fort Bliss (El Paso) and Fort Huachuca (southern Arizona) will be key. San Diego, including Pendleton is huge, and we have several naval bases in southern Texas.

I can only assume that Mexico and Canada command their own troops, but I imagine and hope we communicate together.

The way you are asking these questions suggest you are not aware of who's troops are being deployed....have you been following the news?

Scratch: And if so, how are you going to prevent corruption? How will you prevent them from being "plants" for the cartels, or prevent them from getting paid off or killed by the cartel?

LOL, I am not a player here nor is my plan.

As far as there being plants in Mexico, Lol....there is no doubt there is in my opinion. It is one of the most corrupt countries in the world. But so far there seems to be some good faith progress, and Mexico seems to be doing some positive things.

https://www.npr.org/2025/02/28/g-s1-511 ... to-the-u-s

I don't trust them, and doubt if Trump does, which is why he will leverage them for results. Biden did nothing, and in return Mexico did nothing. Right or wrong that is the way I see it.

Scratch:How are you going to plug holes along the border? Or are you assuming that 10,000 troops will be enough to guard every last inch of the border night and day and prevent any "leakage"?

I am again not doing anything. In regard to the southern border there are 10,000 troops on our side, 10,000 on the Mexican side, and over 17,000 CBP on the southern border. Plus local law enforcements, ICE agents, and HLS agents. Then add that they are using drones and other high tech mean and methods. We are never going to stop it 100%, but we can get to a manageable number, at least in my opinion.

Scratch: And what will you do if the cartels decide to abandon the border and instead move the drugs straight into urban distribution centers, sort of like what Pablo Escobar was doing with cocaine during the Reagan Administration?

I will do nothing, other than support those I believe are moving forward.

Scratch, you do realize that they are in our Urban Areas, big time. The cartel operate throughout our nation in all sorts of trafficking. I am positive you are not much into current events given that statement.

Trump is going after the cartel here along with the gangs that network with them.

[Doctor Scratch]

I will do nothing, other than support those I believe are moving forward.

Exactly my point. And you will offer that support devoid of any skepticism or question-asking.

Scratch, you do realize that they are in our Urban Areas, big time.

Indeed! It sure will be interesting to see how all those troops along the border are going to address this problem.