[annatar1914]

"Predatory capitalism" is a made up phrase by those that wish to criticize capitalism.

... For being predatory, that is, preying on people for greater and greater profits and to the devil with the best interests of everyone else.

[Hindsite]

... For being predatory, that is, preying on people for greater and greater profits and to the devil with the best interests of everyone else.

You seem to be describing someone like an Ebenezer Scrooge in the first part. The second part does not make any sense to me.

[Drlee]

When I made a wage under the poverty level for a family of 7, my wife picked up the slack by working part-time. We didn't complain about it like you liberal snow-flakes.

How noble of you. (If not very smart.)

You have me mistaken with someone else. I am a lifelong republican. I am a conservative. I am a retired soldier who, because of decent investments is what some would call well to do. I live in a big house, drive among other things a Porsche and have a thank you letter signed by Ronald Reagan in my office. I am a fiscal conservative and social libertarian. And you call ME a liberal.

You do not know what the terms liberal and conservative mean. But never fear. Few people these days do. I do not fault you for your ignorance of complicated terms. I do fault you for believing that any full time worker in the richest country in the world should be paid wages under the poverty level while expecting the government to pick up the slack. You my friend are the big spending liberal. Not me.

[annatar1914]

You do not know what the terms liberal and conservatives mean. But never fear. Few people these days do.

More's the pity, I believe. So many self-described ''conservatives'' don't believe in conserving anything worthwhile as a general principle, and so many ''Liberals'' who don't know that first thing about liberty.

[blackjack21]

Fascism is NOT friendly towards labor unions or communism.

Fascists were hostile to communism, but not to labor unions per se. If you speak of labor unions as necessarily having to be friendly with communists and anarchists, then perhaps you would have a point. Neither Fascists nor capitalists saw it that way.

The fascists in Germany had alliances with communists but that didn't mean they liked each other.

So did the Americans. That didn't make Americans pro-communist either; although, a lot of people would say that FDR was essentially a communist. I would argue that his wife certainly was.

Part of the characteristics of fascism, which we see in America today with Donald Trump and his supporters is anti-intellectualism, hierarchy (like with Trump stating time and time again he wants to be President "for life" which basically means he wants to be dictator like you know Adolf Hitler was a dictator), victim-hood (fascist politics portray the dominant group of society as victims.

American politics generally isn't known for intellectualism. It hasn't been, except for periods of significant strife. Hierarchy is a natural matter. Trump is not going to be president for life. He's just trolling you for his own amusement. "Victim-hood"? You are crying fascist.

The Nazis said that Germans were the victims of the minority Jews, you know sort of like the American white man is the victim of those 'illegals.'), law and order (fascists promise a regime of law and order not to punish actual criminals, but to criminalize “out groups” like racial, ethnic, religious and sexual minorities).

The Democrats are claiming they are victims of ignorant white voters who were misled by the Russian government; that if the Russians hadn't interfered, people naturally would have voted for Hillary Clinton. As for law and order, there is no criminalization of anybody who isn't already a criminal, such as illegal aliens.

Kinda like right now where we’re seeing criminality being written into immigration status in the United States.

That was written into the law ages ago. There has been no major change to the immigration laws since 1965.

Fascists identify out groups as lazy, attack welfare systems and labor organizers, and promote the idea that the group on top is hard working, the groups on the bottom are lazy and drains on the state and should be forced to work, ideally for free.

The fascists weren't characterizing out groups as lazy, but rather as pernicious--making money by way of usury, rent, etc.--not altogether different from the communists. Socialism is notorious for characterizing upper classes as idle and parasitic. The fascists were not trying to appeal to the upper classes. They were trying to appeal to the working classes--people working in factories and on farms. Where in your mind has Trump been attacking labor unions? Trump met with Teamsters union president James Hoffa Jr. at the White House.

Hoffa Meets With President Trump to Discuss Pension Security

jimjam would characterize this as proof positive that Trump is a mobster.

Interesting to see the human sewage that Obese Donald gravitates to. Birds of a feather:

Obama was bowing to these guys, and you weren't upset about that at all. Now suddenly you have problems with the Saudis?

I do fault you for believing that any full time worker in the richest country in the world should be paid wages under the poverty level while expecting the government to pick up the slack.

I haven't seen any conservative (except you) suggest that the government should pick up the slack anywhere in this thread.

[jimjam]

"Predatory capitalism" is a made up phrase by those that wish to criticize capitalism.

That's what I thought. Thank you for clearing this up for me.

[annatar1914]

That's what I thought. Thank you for clearing this up for me.

@jimjam

I think the lesson you're trying to teach, JJ, is lost on some persons of a certain time and place; American Baby Boomer generation, the ''me generation'' of White Southern Dispensationalist/''Prosperity Gospel'' Evangelicals, who were told the ''Rapture'' and the End Times would occur in their lifetime (tied in this scam to the generation alive during the birth of the state of Israel in 1948, that they would see the End Times and be translated out before all hell broke loose, so they could cheat ordinary death...)... As lunatic and selfish as these beliefs are, they appealed to a coddled and perpetually adolescent generation of American protestants that thinks all of human history, including it's theological and eschatological aspects, revolves around them and meeting their alleged wants and needs.

These people tend to think that America is an exceptional, even Messianic, Nation, and that Capitalism is ordained of God, that those who prosper are blessed by God in this life and the next, while those who do not are somehow sinners whose sins no doubt have made them poor and wretched...

[Stormsmith]

The working class need the wealthy to provide jobs with a living wage. By providing the corporations and business owners with tax cuts, the President is in effect helping the working class. Obamacare is a bad system anyway. It needs to be replaced by a better system.

Actually, the unemployment the level is incredibly low, suggesting more vacancies would require immigration.

What would have worked would be upping minimum wage. This would have given workers a real wage, had more workers paying taxes, reduced their dependence on taxpayer support eg food stamps etc and decreased the federal deficit by not giving a huge tax break to the Uber wealthy and through increased worker taxation.

[Drlee]

These people tend to think that America is an exceptional, even Messianic, Nation, and that Capitalism is ordained of God, that those who prosper are blessed by God in this life and the next, while those who do not are somehow sinners whose sins no doubt have made them poor and wretched...

That is absolutely correct and, in my opinion, about as apostate as it can be. I simply can't think of a thing that could be less Christian in every sense of the word than believing that God pays by the hour on a merit system.

Do I believe that God helps his believers? Yes. Does he give them a bigger car because they donated a few hundred bucks to a televangelist? Oh hell no.

Is Trump blessed because he is a righteous man? Oh hell no.

Do we know what Jesus would say to Trump if Trump asked him how to be a good Christian? Oh hell yes:

21Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.” 2

But Trump supporters are willing to sell Jesus down the river because...guns, gays and glamour.

[Patrickov]

Is Trump blessed because he is a righteous man? Oh hell no.

Trump merely exists as a symbol of punishment to the leftist politicians. Supporting his work is one thing, but thinking him righteous is a bit of a stretch.

[jimjam]

@jimjam

I think the lesson you're trying to teach, JJ, is lost on some persons of a certain time and place; American Baby Boomer generation, the ''me generation'' of White Southern Dispensationalist/''Prosperity Gospel'' Evangelicals, who were told the ''Rapture'' and the End Times would occur in their lifetime (tied in this scam to the generation alive during the birth of the state of Israel in 1948, that they would see the End Times and be translated out before all hell broke loose, so they could cheat ordinary death...)... As lunatic and selfish as these beliefs are, they appealed to a coddled and perpetually adolescent generation of American protestants that thinks all of human history, including it's theological and eschatological aspects, revolves around them and meeting their alleged wants and needs.

These people tend to think that America is an exceptional, even Messianic, Nation, and that Capitalism is ordained of God, that those who prosper are blessed by God in this life and the next, while those who do not are somehow sinners whose sins no doubt have made them poor and wretched...

I know this well. I am the only person who I know who is capable of living peacefully with one foot in the born again fundamentalist culture and one foot in the pot smoking agnostic culture. My wife's dad was a Baptist preacher, her son is a Baptist preacher and her first marriage was to a Baptist preacher. I went to high school in Brooklyn NY and, among other things, attended the Woodstock music festival in 1969. I am pretty much on good terms all around. There are many good people out there whose culture I do not share but I see goodness in them just the same. I do my political ranting on pofo and otherwise do not discuss politics as it seems to be a mental cancer for many. Thank you pofo .

[Hindsite]

Actually, the unemployment the level is incredibly low, suggesting more vacancies would require immigration.

But not illegal immigration.

What would have worked would be upping minimum wage. This would have given workers a real wage, had more workers paying taxes, reduced their dependence on taxpayer support eg food stamps etc and decreased the federal deficit by not giving a huge tax break to the Uber wealthy and through increased worker taxation.

Increasing the minimum wage by the government has never worked. All it does is cause inflation and devalue the dollar.

[blackjack21]

That's what I thought. Thank you for clearing this up for me.

Reaching back to the late 19th/early 20th Century? That's not exploitation these days if you do it to Chinese kids and sell sneakers tariff free in America. Nikes anyone?

Actually, the unemployment the level is incredibly low

Nice of you to admit Trump's economy is doing reasonably well. The labor participation rate is increasing, but it would go up considerably if we just cut welfare.

But Trump supporters are willing to sell Jesus down the river because...guns, gays and glamour.

Oh c'mon Drlee. For Hillary supporters, Jesus is just someone who mows their lawn.

[Godstud]

Increasing the minimum wage by the government has never worked. All it does is cause inflation and devalue the dollar.

False. Did Trump tell you that lie, so now you must believe it?

Why America Needs a $15 Minimum Wage
Research confirms the benefits of the minimum wage
High-quality academic scholarship confirms that modest increases in the minimum wage have not led to detectable job losses.

The highest national minimum wages that the U.S. experienced raised wages and closed racial earnings gaps without adversely affecting the employment opportunities of the overall low-wage workforce.

New research on 138 state-level increases shows that all low-wage workers benefit from minimum wage increases, not just teenagers or restaurant workers.

Multiple studies conclude that total annual incomes rise significantly after a minimum wage increase. Low-income workers and their families benefit the most from these income increases, reducing poverty and income inequality.
https://www.epi.org/publication/why-ame ... imum-wage/

[Drlee]

h c'mon Drlee. For Hillary supporters, Jesus is just someone who mows their lawn.

I thought that was JosA and JosB.

[blackjack21]

False. Did Trump tell you that lie, so now you must believe it?

Why America Needs a $15 Minimum Wage

It never occurs to you does it? That would be $15 dollars an hour. In Thailand, the minimum wage isn't even $15 a day. It's like 325 Baht. Are you paying Thai workers $15 per hour? I'm guessing no.

[Sivad]

Are you paying Thai workers $15 per hour? I'm guessing no.

The peasants he's got working his plantation probably make $15 a week.

[Godstud]

It never occurs to you does it? That would be $15 dollars an hour. In Thailand, the minimum wage isn't even $15 a day. It's like 325 Baht. Are you paying Thai workers $15 per hour? I'm guessing no.

Whataboutisms are all you can muster for an argument? How childish. I really doubt it when posters say you're intelligent, and yet all you can do is dwell on where I live. It's as relevant as where you live... as in, not at all.

The peasants he's got working his plantation probably make $15 a week.

Are you really that stupid that you are going to play BJ21's childish game? Grow up. Make an argument.

An educational tidbit for ethnocentric morons: In Thailand farms pay the workers a percentage of the profits(normally 40% to 50%), while the owner gets the rest.

[jimjam]

Increasing the minimum wage by the government has never worked. All it does is cause inflation and devalue the dollar.

It also helps poor people buy food. But, heck, that's a stupid liberal communist idea.

[Sivad]

An educational tidbit for ethnocentric morons: In Thailand farms pay the workers a percentage of the profits(normally 40% to 50%), while the owner gets the rest.

so you do no work and get 60% and all the people that do the work only get 40% to split between them? That's some bullshit, I hope those peasants rise up and lynch your ass.