I finally agree with Trump

[Res Ipsa]

The bill is a symptom of the complete dysfunction of our federal government. Although there is fault on both sides, the individual primarily responsible is Mitch McConnell. Other than a massive tax cut for the rich and an attempt to make health insurance unavailable for millions of Americans, and approving right wing judges, he has virtually shut the Senate down as a law making body for nearly 10 years. The Senate has become the place where all bills go to die. When the house passes a bill that McConnell thinks might pass on a bipartisan basis, he simply ignores it. Most or all of the stuff in this bill could have been included in bills under regular order -- committee hearings, debate and the opportunity to amend in one house. A vote. Send to the other house. Assign to a committee. Debate, amendments, etc. That is how it is supposed to work. But McConnell will block any legislation that he fears some R Senators will cross the aisle and vote with the Ds. There is no ability to compromise when McConnell simply obstructs.

So, all these bills that Congress could easily have taken care of over the last several years just accumulate until legislation to fund the government must be passed to keep it operating. Then everything and the kitchen sink gets thrown in with no hearings, and no chance for members to even read the damn bill. That's what a position of "no compromise ever" results in.

There are several easy changes that could help fix this situation. First, bring back earmarks. Taking away earmarks removed all incentives for individual legislators to cross party lines and compromise. Eliminating earmarks hasn't reduced the deficit and has resulted in long periods of stalemate punctuated by garbage like the current bill. Give the congress critters something to logroll with again. Second, change the Senate rules to introduce something like the House's discharge petition procedure. That allows the members of the House to force a bill to be brought to the floor. A single Senator should not have the power to keep the Senate from considering a bill. Finally, reform the reconciliation rules so that they can be used only to pass a budget and then require passage of a budget. I wish the failure to pass a budget by a certain date would result in dissolving Congress and a new election in 30 days. If the current crew of Congresscritters won't compromise on a budget, get someone in there who will.

[ajax18]

Then we should do this for all natural disasters as well? Let Florida and Louisiana pay for their own Hurricane damages, you're cool with that?

Absolutely. Hurricane Katrina set a terrible precedent. People should either purchase flood insurance or move out of the flood plain.

Imagine if a Democrat President said these were just Red State bailouts?

As I remember it was the liberal media and Kanye West accusing George Bush of racism for not paying off the mortgages of New Orleans houses that were destroyed and not properly insured by their owners.

New York was hit hard in the first month before anyone had time to shut anything down and most of this is due to the fact that New York is the #1 destination city for flights coming from Europe.

I could see federal relief for the first few months when "nonessential workers," were put out of work equally across the nation. But beyond that should be a state issue. The federal government grabbing power and never letting go of it is a terrible trend in this country and it creates all kinds of malincentives and lack of personal responsibility.

[ajax18]

Are you going to address the fact that you were just corrected, or are you going to do the crap thing and just move on to another talking point?

- Doc

So what should I call the 45% unemployment rate that resulted thanks to these restrictions in March?

Mike Rowe had a good point on Hannity last night,

"Candace mentioned irredeemable and deplorable. There's a new word for 40 million people in this country. It's called nonessential. It's crazy. We have deemed a giant section of people in our economy one click away from unemployed. What happens to an economy when you call men like those unimportant?"

[Res Ipsa]

Are you going to address the fact that you were just corrected, or are you going to do the crap thing and just move on to another talking point?

- Doc

So what should I call the 45% unemployment rate that resulted thanks to these restrictions in March?

Mike Rowe had a good point on Hannity last night,

"Candace mentioned irredeemable and deplorable. There's a new word for 40 million people in this country. It's called nonessential. It's crazy. We have deemed a giant section of people in our economy one click away from unemployed. What happens to economy when you call men like those unimportant?"

Ajax, where do you get your information? Here are the state unemployment rates for March 2020. https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2020/unemp ... h-2020.htm

Can you find your 45% unemployment? 40%? 20%? 15%?

You are ridiculous.

[Icarus]

Are you going to address the fact that you were just corrected, or are you going to do the crap thing and just move on to another talking point?

- Doc

So what should I call the 45% unemployment rate that resulted thanks to these restrictions in March?

You're impossible to discuss anything with. You just ignore every point and then deflect with more idiotic falsehoods all the while revealing your source as none other than fake news extraordinaire, Sean Hannity!

There is no "45% unemployment rate" and the drop in employment had nothing to do with government restrictions.
https://carsey.unh.edu/COVID-19-Economi ... t-By-State

Mike Rowe had a good point on Hannity last night,

[Icarus]

Here you go Ajax, take a look at these employment graphs for the two hardest hit Blue States.

NY.jpg

cali.jpg

[Icarus]

And now the two hardest hit Red States:

texas.jpg

fla.jpg

As you can see the bulk of the job losses came within the first month well before any government restrictions were enforced. And the recovery rate from each state seems to be basically the same.

[Res Ipsa]

Also, most people in the U.S. are one click away from being fired because people like Ajax favor right to be fired laws.

[ajax18]

As you can see the bulk of the job losses came within the first month well before any government restrictions were enforced. And the recovery rate from each state seems to be basically the same.

Then you shouldn't have any problem making the bailout money a state rather than federal issue. Just tax the rich in California, New York, and I guess Georgia as well and you'll do fine.

[Jersey Girl]

T-man vetoed the bill.