What's heavy? as in heavy machinery............. I toted and poured approx. 75 sacks of Quikrete yesterday......... that's more sacks than my age............. and I'm old... does a wheelbarrow count? I ain't paranoid. I've just had my eyes open. From way back. Like about the late sixties and early 70's......... you remember, right? Back when that previous gold old solid Republican out to fix things was in office........... Richard E. Nixon........ what a Patriot!!

It's all about integrity. The Republicans threw theirs away decades ago.
They use division to fool the masses of uninformed and prejudiced.
The Democrats (meanwhile) fiddle, twiddle, and generally meander about fighting about causes on the fringe while the average hot dog swilling hard working American family (of all persuasions) goes unrepresented.

It's been that way a long long time. Longer than me. Seeing clearly and understanding that doesn't make me paranoid, just aware enough to try and be prepared. You can keep counting on that Republican gov't and chumps like Trump all you want to......... I won't call you paranoid, for damn sure......... just woefully naive.

i also protest...what about non -sequiturs.

our thread dedicated to pet peeves..venting...diatribes and musings has been around for one year plus....here in the baseball forum... believe it or not and this thread have had the most visitors.. so we are in great company....i think it is great that we have in excess of 25000 visits in a short period of time. the thread is fun......i am happy to say that in response to some very persuasive posts doctorkz and toddcommish among others have re-registered as democrats......saving one mind at a time.

Not all of this is about Trump the man...This boils down to whether or not you are in favor of big government, whether or not it is to supply us with what we need. You either believe in free markets, through which competition and innovation drive our economy, or that you didn't build it. What remains to be seen is whether or not Americans that voted for Trump can stomach receiving less from this agency or that entitlement in order to reduce spending. We are nearing insolvency. Our ability to borrow is just about tapped out. We cannot continue to kick the can. Some cuts must be made.

The regulatory mechanisms have gotten out of hand, so I applaud his intention to reduce. Has been strangling our economy. But the Wall Street fat cats shouldn't be allowed to run wild. A decade ago they cost this country a third of its wealth, and got a slap on the wrist instead of serious jail time. Some middle ground can be found.

Military spending is a thorn in the side to some. Trump is in a similar situation to what Reagan faced after Vietnam and the Carter years. An aging fleet, and many global threats. Boosting is needed, at least temporarily.

Some conservatives are lacking in compassion. They would in fact put babies in the snow. Fortunately they are in the minority within their own party. The Healthcare legislation is supposed to ensure all have affordable access, as well as choices. Yes it is an entitlement, but repealing without replacing would be political suicide. They are viewed by some as behind, but this is a complex fix, the largest entitlement reform ever attempted. And because they lack 60 votes, they must do it piecemeal. For the good of the country, I hope they succeed. This must be accomplished prior to delving into tax reform.

A lot of squawking about uninsured after this would take effect. The vast majority without coverage would consist of people choosing not to seek coverage, and those refusing to sign up for Medicaid that are eligible. That is 11 million in 2018. That isn't accurately being reported...

Democrats aren't Democrats anymore. They are progressives. Democrats in the old sense are a dying breed. Clinton and JFK both lowered individual and corporate rates. That would have been unheard of under Obama. It doesn't jive with wealth redistribution...

Here's what I don't understand: some of us can read this article and conclude: "Trump is a smart businessman."

Others will think: "He can easily afford it, so why not pay a slightly higher wage and give decent jobs to Americans?"

And if you were as rich as Trump, would you want to be surrounded by employees you're paying $10-13 an hour to make your meals? Every year the man must be unwittingly consuming gallons of human saliva, and worse.

Come on!

I'm reading the current issue of The New Yorker and really enjoying it. I can't recall a news article of theirs that gave me as many chuckles as this one, IS TRUMP TROLLING THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS CORPS?

A newspaper reportedly knew what they'd be paid. The employees were actually from a contractor, likely a temp service. And that it was a common practice in the area. Based on this they say he's a cheapskate. An opportunity to write something unflattering. Reminiscent of MSNBC's tax return caper that turned out like Geraldo opening Capone's vault.

Would be worth writing if he was using migrants that he boated in daily.

Yes, using cheap foreign workers is common practice for such businesses in South Florida (as the article from the first link states). But as the source for the hourly wages told the New Yorker: “But he is the President, and he has an example to set. Whatever they’ve said—‘We cannot find these people just for six months out of the year’—baloney. If you’re paying a decent wage, you’ll find people to work.”

That person was speaking off the record, though. If you want someone on the record, you have Jeff Sessions (from the same article):

“Most Americans would like a permanent job and not a short-term job,” he said. “It seems to me that short-term jobs should pay more if they expect to get workers to work on a short-term basis.”

Seasonal jobs DON't normally pay more. Those that do are probably quite unpleasant, such as Alaska canneries.

If he is using a temp service, he is likely paying more, since there is a fee for their service.

Doc, here's the issue: Why isn't the "America First" president hiring Americans?

The answer seems to be: "Because the self-proclaimed multi-billionaire can save a few bucks using cheap foreign labor."

Do you agree or disagree?

It's a seasonal business. And we don't know that he didn't hire some Americans. The story had few if any direct facts. And the workers came from a contractor, not hired directly by Trump.

To answer your question directly, yes he should...it is like Hillary and Bernie pushing the $15 minimum wage, then paying their interns $12 per hour. It is hypocrisy.