btw, if you recognize the dude in the middle, it's Lt Vindman, the whistleblower on the Ukraine call.

A friend of mine called last night.  She's not vaccinated.  She's waiting.  For what I don't know. What do you do when your friends want to get together but you find out they are un-vaxxed?  For now, I'm kindly going to give an excuse because there is just no talking to them.  This opinion piece kinda sums up where I am with this:

 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/wellness/when-will-the-pandemic-end-here-s-how-to-cope-with-new-mandates-and-a-coronavirus-wave-elizabeth-wellington/ar-AANeYxa?ocid=entnewsntp

35 minutes ago, The_Omega said:

He greatly reduced regulations, which took the boot off the the neck of industry.  The economy was already on a steep upward trajectory when Biden took office, and he's benefitted from it's continued climb, but his policies, have reduced where it could be. The continuation of the enhanced unemployment benefits is idiotic.

The CFR was reduced by 0.5%. That's it. Reagan reduced it 5%. Clinton reduced it 4.4%.

Deregulation under Trump is vastly overstated.

I would argue that so much about how the economy is doing is wrapped up in perception based on what party controls the White House that were at a place where our political polarization has very measurable effects on the economy. 

Virtually nobody could have argued that they were personally worse off economically in December 2016 vs January 2009, yet if you ask any Republican they will talk endlessly about how terrible the economy was. Some may acknowledge it grew, but will say it should have done much better, that growth was tepid (and yet similar growth under Trump was magically seen as far more prosperous.

Democrats would complain similarly about economic weakness during Trump's tenure, focusing on wealth inequality and the cost of deregulation being deferred to future generations.

Trump is vastly overrated by his supporters. (So is Obama FWIW) Virtually any Republican would have had the same policies, and yet he verbally firebombed half the country for four years and drove the wedge deeper into he cultural divide. And we're worse off for it IMHO. If this country ever does break apart in our lifetime along these cultural lines, Trump will be seen as a major catalyst.

Just now, DiPros said:

A friend of mine called last night.  She's not vaccinated.  She's waiting.  For what I don't know. What do you do when your friends want to get together but you find out they are un-vaxxed?  For now, I'm kindly going to give an excuse because there is just no talking to them.  This opinion piece kinda sums up where I am with this:

 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/wellness/when-will-the-pandemic-end-here-s-how-to-cope-with-new-mandates-and-a-coronavirus-wave-elizabeth-wellington/ar-AANeYxa?ocid=entnewsntp

I think it's best to be straight with them.

Tell them you respect their choice, but that it's not a risk you are willing to take with your health at this time. They should respect your view.

30 minutes ago, DiPros said:

Clearly they don't work.   The virus is going to remain out there regardless of these measures.  Better to stick with testing and quarantining to get the transmission under control.  Locking everyone down makes no sense.  

I tend to agree.  What started with "flatten the curve" turned into "zero tolerance" in Australia.

51 minutes ago, we_gotta_believe said:

Hey Mike, did I ever tell you how my 401k under Trump was flat, but now with Biden it's exploding through the roof! 

Prove it

13 minutes ago, DBW said:

Speed limit signs too.  I had the exact discussion last night with someone.  There are countless laws and regulations that are designed to keep you and others safe. We don’t throw temper tantrums when they put in a speed bump in the neighborhood or a new stop sign, and we don’t get all triggered when we turn 16 and need that license to drive our cars. Nobody bats an eye when you want to take that cruise to the Caribbean and they say you need a passport.  Pretty sure nobody complains when they turn 21 and finally get to show their ID to buy beer or go into a bar. crap, many people consider that GAINING freedom.  

Yep.  Nothing wrong with those types of measures but of course many of those are also discussed and debated.  It wasn't too long ago we debated 18 vs. 21 for the drinking age for example.  We also accept a certain level of risk on the highway and that impacts how we set the speed limit, another example.  It is all about risk and how much we want to take together.  It is a constant discussion and it includes how things impact others.

11 minutes ago, DiPros said:

A friend of mine called last night.  She's not vaccinated.  She's waiting.  For what I don't know. What do you do when your friends want to get together but you find out they are un-vaxxed?  For now, I'm kindly going to give an excuse because there is just no talking to them.  This opinion piece kinda sums up where I am with this:

 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/wellness/when-will-the-pandemic-end-here-s-how-to-cope-with-new-mandates-and-a-coronavirus-wave-elizabeth-wellington/ar-AANeYxa?ocid=entnewsntp

You don't want to meet with them because of the discussion that will take place?

17 minutes ago, we_gotta_believe said:

btw, if you recognize the dude in the middle, it's Lt Vindman, the whistleblower on the Ukraine call.

Weird how hes turned into a political figure now

12 minutes ago, DiPros said:

A friend of mine called last night.  She's not vaccinated.  She's waiting.  For what I don't know. What do you do when your friends want to get together but you find out they are un-vaxxed?  For now, I'm kindly going to give an excuse because there is just no talking to them.  This opinion piece kinda sums up where I am with this:

 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/wellness/when-will-the-pandemic-end-here-s-how-to-cope-with-new-mandates-and-a-coronavirus-wave-elizabeth-wellington/ar-AANeYxa?ocid=entnewsntp

Youre a horrible person.

3 minutes ago, Mike31mt said:

Prove it

Funny you should ask, just got back from the bank:

14 minutes ago, JohnSnowsHair said:

The CFR was reduced by 0.5%. That's it. Reagan reduced it 5%. Clinton reduced it 4.4%.

Deregulation under Trump is vastly overstated.

I would argue that so much about how the economy is doing is wrapped up in perception based on what party controls the White House that were at a place where our political polarization has very measurable effects on the economy. 

Virtually nobody could have argued that they were personally worse off economically in December 2016 vs January 2009, yet if you ask any Republican they will talk endlessly about how terrible the economy was. Some may acknowledge it grew, but will say it should have done much better, that growth was tepid (and yet similar growth under Trump was magically seen as far more prosperous.

Democrats would complain similarly about economic weakness during Trump's tenure, focusing on wealth inequality and the cost of deregulation being deferred to future generations.

Trump is vastly overrated by his supporters. (So is Obama FWIW) Virtually any Republican would have had the same policies, and yet he verbally firebombed half the country for four years and drove the wedge deeper into he cultural divide. And we're worse off for it IMHO. If this country ever does break apart in our lifetime along these cultural lines, Trump will be seen as a major catalyst.

Virtually any other republican??? 

No, not even close

11 minutes ago, DiPros said:

A friend of mine called last night.  She's not vaccinated.  She's waiting.  For what I don't know. What do you do when your friends want to get together but you find out they are un-vaxxed?  For now, I'm kindly going to give an excuse because there is just no talking to them.  This opinion piece kinda sums up where I am with this:

 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/wellness/when-will-the-pandemic-end-here-s-how-to-cope-with-new-mandates-and-a-coronavirus-wave-elizabeth-wellington/ar-AANeYxa?ocid=entnewsntp

I’ve been interacting with friends I know aren’t vaccinated.  I am and I have confidence that it will do it’s job to keep me safe and out of the hospital if I do happen to catch it.  I guess you could wear a mask too and say I’m doing this because I care about you and maybe they’ll start to see the light.  I guess it depends on how much you care to see this friend.  My interactions are more because I’m going to play hockey games and they’re on the team so I could not go and lock myself in my own home but I got vaxxed to not have to do that. 

Just now, we_gotta_believe said:

Funny you should ask, just got back from the bank:

Apparently your 401k doesnt track any of the indices like most other humans

2 minutes ago, DrPhilly said:

You don't want to meet with them because of the discussion that will take place?

Yes.   Not so much that they are not vaccinated.  I realize I could still get sick from either a vaxxed or un vaxxed person.  

2 minutes ago, Mike31mt said:

Weird how hes turned into a political figure now

Weird how you're still salty because an American patriot who served his country with honor exposed Trump for being a lying two-bit criminal that he is.

3 minutes ago, Mike31mt said:

Youre a horrible person.

Thanks

Just now, DiPros said:

Yes.   Not so much that they are not vaccinated.  I realize I could still get sick from either a vaxxed or un vaxxed person.  

You sure shouldn't be worried about their health.  They are big enough to take that responsibility.

I realize you probably have some underlying issues so you need to be careful even if you are vaccinated.

Just now, we_gotta_believe said:

Weird how you're still salty because an American patriot who served his country with honor exposed Trump for being a lying two-bit criminal that he is.

Uh huh, sure he did

Thats where the extent of your GAF stops with Ukraine considering the man you voted for had more shady dealings by far

The reality is this guy is a useful idiot to the left.   If and when he stops being useful, the Dems will throw him to the trash like everyone else they pretend to care about

Just now, Mike31mt said:

Apparently your 401k doesnt track any of the indices like most other humans

I mixed my portfolio to be an exact inverse match of yours from 4 years ago. 

Just now, we_gotta_believe said:

I mixed my portfolio to be an exact inverse match of yours from 4 years ago. 

Which basically what I said.  Id love to see you prove your point but we all know you can't

Just now, Mike31mt said:

Uh huh, sure he did

Thats where the extent of your GAF stops with Ukraine considering the man you voted for had more shady dealings by far

The reality is this guy is a useful idiot to the left.   If and when he stops being useful, the Dems will throw him to the trash like everyone else they pretend to care about

You should definitely cry more about a decorated officer of the military having the courage to stand up to a criminal moron who turned out to be the biggest lying sore loser in our nation's history.

Just now, we_gotta_believe said:

You should definitely cry more about a decorated officer of the military having the courage to stand up to a criminal moron who turned out to be the biggest lying sore loser in our nation's history.

"Decorated military officer"....lol stfu, like I said useful idiot, no more, no less

8 minutes ago, DiPros said:

Thanks

Coming from this guy you should take that as a compliment.

2 minutes ago, Mike31mt said:

Which basically what I said.  Id love to see you prove your point but we all know you can't

Are you really this stupid? Do you actually not understand I'm mocking you? 

When I asked you to prove your 401k "exploded" under Trump after it was flat under Obama by telling us the funds you invested in, you cowered away and conveniently pretended like you never said it in the first place.

So no, sorry, you acted like a jackass for 4 years and now you'll be force fed a double dose of your own medicine. All your dumb rhetoric is coming back to bite you in your fat west virginian ass. Better get used to it, because you've got a long road ahead, Mikey.