Cali No Longer Fund or Compel Gov Trips to Anti-LGBT States

[Infected Mushroom]

I know right?

Americans should completely unite under Trump instead. If the Democrats were patriotic, they would declare their allegiance for their new overlord immediately.

Trump's no longer a candidate, he is now the leader of the United States. To oppose him is to be un-American. To oppose him is to oppose America.

Either you are with us or against us!

I prefer Skywalker's phrasing in Sith...

"If you're not with me, then you're my Ennemy!"

But yeah, that's the general idea. See if you oppose a presidential candidate in election time that's fair game because the election's still running... but once its over and people resort to blaming their own camp (and the other party) for the electoral result while telegraphing false rumours against the President, that sort of thing is unpatriotic and borderline treason.

[Lady Scylla]

Either you are with us or against us!

I prefer Skywalker's phrasing in Sith...

"If you're not with me, then you're my Ennemy!"

But yeah, that's the general idea. See if you oppose a presidential candidate in election time that's fair game because the election's still running... but once its over and people resort to blaming their own camp (and the other party) for the electoral result while telegraphing false rumours against the President, that sort of thing is unpatriotic and borderline treason.

Actually, it's not. That's protected under the constitution so the government can't hang you for saying something against him. I thought you were a lawyer?

[Infected Mushroom]

I prefer Skywalker's phrasing in Sith...

"If you're not with me, then you're my Ennemy!"

But yeah, that's the general idea. See if you oppose a presidential candidate in election time that's fair game because the election's still running... but once its over and people resort to blaming their own camp (and the other party) for the electoral result while telegraphing false rumours against the President, that sort of thing is unpatriotic and borderline treason.

Actually, it's not. That's protected under the constitution so the government can't hang you for saying something against him. I thought you were a lawyer?

I don't care about what's protected under the Constitution and nothing in my argument hinges on anything constitutional

[Lady Scylla]

Actually, it's not. That's protected under the constitution so the government can't hang you for saying something against him. I thought you were a lawyer?

I don't care about what's protected under the Constitution and nothing in my argument hinges on anything constitutional

Then you're just talking bullshit.

[Infected Mushroom]

I don't care about what's protected under the Constitution and nothing in my argument hinges on anything constitutional

Then you're just talking bullshit.

Not really

[East Catalina]

Either you are with us or against us!

I prefer Skywalker's phrasing in Sith...

"If you're not with me, then you're my Ennemy!"

But yeah, that's the general idea. See if you oppose a presidential candidate in election time that's fair game because the election's still running... but once its over and people resort to blaming their own camp (and the other party) for the electoral result while telegraphing false rumours against the President, that sort of thing is unpatriotic and borderline treason.

It's nothing new, patriotic or not, and it does nothing to aid our enemies. This shit is why treason only comprises the three things in the Constitution.

[East Catalina]

Then you're just talking bullshit.

Not really

You're behaving like a gun turret set up on the Canadian side of Lake Erie aimed at the Democratic Party headquarters in Cuyahoga County and continuously firing at it at the slightest "provocation".

[Washington Resistance Army]

Then you're just talking bullshit.

Not really

Yes, really.

[Lady Scylla]

Then you're just talking bullshit.

Not really

Yes really. If you're not basing it from that point, then you have nothing worth a damn to add to the discussion and you're just wasting all of our times with off the wall bullshit. There's little point to it other than to stir the pot and get attention, and it is, by all counts, very irritating.

[Infected Mushroom]

I prefer Skywalker's phrasing in Sith...

"If you're not with me, then you're my Ennemy!"

But yeah, that's the general idea. See if you oppose a presidential candidate in election time that's fair game because the election's still running... but once its over and people resort to blaming their own camp (and the other party) for the electoral result while telegraphing false rumours against the President, that sort of thing is unpatriotic and borderline treason.

It's nothing new, patriotic or not, and it does nothing to aid our enemies. This shit is why treason only comprises the three things in the Constitution.

These types of arguments miss the point. When people say, "Abortion is murder" they don't mean Abortion already is murder under the law or murder under the Constitution.

Do I need to explain the rest or do you see where this is going?

I think you get it right?

[Infected Mushroom]

Not really

Yes really. If you're not basing it from that point, then you have nothing worth a damn to add to the discussion and you're just wasting all of our times with off the wall bullshit. There's little point to it other than to stir the pot and get attention, and it is, by all counts, very irritating.

See above post.

[East Catalina]

It's nothing new, patriotic or not, and it does nothing to aid our enemies. This shit is why treason only comprises the three things in the Constitution.

These types of arguments miss the point. When people say, "Abortion is murder" they don't mean Abortion already is murder under the law or murder under the Constitution.

Do I need to explain the rest or do you see where this is going?

I think you get it right?

I see where it's going indeed. Towards denouncing people as traitors under newfangled and artificial popular definitions of the word they want to make law.

[Lady Scylla]

Yes really. If you're not basing it from that point, then you have nothing worth a damn to add to the discussion and you're just wasting all of our times with off the wall bullshit. There's little point to it other than to stir the pot and get attention, and it is, by all counts, very irritating.

See above post.

I see it, now see mine where my point hasn't changed in the slightest.

[Great Minarchistan]

I don't particularly like this. It's drawing the dividing lines of America even further.

At a time when unity is needed oh so dearly in the US, this doesn't really help.

I know right?

Americans should completely unite under Trump instead. If the Democrats were patriotic, they would declare their allegiance for their new overlord immediately.

Trump's no longer a candidate, he is now the leader of the United States. To oppose him is to be un-American. To oppose him is to oppose America.

Steady there, you are already stepping into blind nationalism. Just because Trump is the leader of US that means if I cannot stand with him I can't be an American? Well, thank god I am not one anyway, plus this speech has been said several times (I remember from a certain nationalistic german chancellor...) and in most of them people ended up getting their freedoms restricted and the country flunked.

[Yorkers]

I don't particularly like this. It's drawing the dividing lines of America even further.

At a time when unity is needed oh so dearly in the US, this doesn't really help.

Unity at all costs? I mean, if we're going for unity we have to forgo our unity with our LGBT population which is not entirely welcome in these states.

California has 38 million people. I'd be shocked if the LGBT population is even a fraction of that.

Seems like a small cost.

[Great Minarchistan]

Unity at all costs? I mean, if we're going for unity we have to forgo our unity with our LGBT population which is not entirely welcome in these states.

California has 38 million people. I'd be shocked if the LGBT population is even a fraction of that.

Seems like a small cost.

And the stupidity is giant. LGBT community isn't that small as you may think. Roughly 5% of Californians (and in S.F. city the number is just bigger) are LGBT members, what makes up about 2 million people.

The point is, what the hell is California wanting to do? Embargo subsidized flights to anti-LGBT states will surely make a funny headline to start the day.

[Yorkers]

California has 38 million people. I'd be shocked if the LGBT population is even a fraction of that.

Seems like a small cost.

And the stupidity is giant. LGBT community isn't that small as you may think. Roughly 5% of Californians (and in S.F. city the number is just bigger) are LGBT members, what makes up about 2 million people.

The point is, what the hell is California wanting to do? Embargo subsidized flights to anti-LGBT states will surely make a funny headline to start the day.

I don't care much for this either, but it is incredibly stupid on California's part.

Oh well, as long as Trump hits the sanctuary cities hard, all will be forgiven.

[Cannot think of a name]

Unity at all costs? I mean, if we're going for unity we have to forgo our unity with our LGBT population which is not entirely welcome in these states.

California has 38 million people. I'd be shocked if the LGBT population is even a fraction of that.

Seems like a small cost.

You know you're talking about the state that has the Castro and West Hollywood in it, right?

[Cannot think of a name]

I don't particularly like this. It's drawing the dividing lines of America even further.

At a time when unity is needed oh so dearly in the US, this doesn't really help.

I know right?

Americans should completely unite under Trump instead. If the Democrats were patriotic, they would declare their allegiance for their new overlord immediately.

Trump's no longer a candidate, he is now the leader of the United States. To oppose him is to be un-American. To oppose him is to oppose America.

Hmmm...interesting. Teddy, what do you think?

“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”

I think I'm with Roosevelt on this one.

[Wallenburg]

I don't think you know what fascism is. Fascists tend not to give a shit about civil rights.

I know exactly it means.. If you have trouble seeing it then that may just be a symptom of said problem. But here's a hint.. It's not only what you disagree with.

I already know that. Maybe you shouldn't make stupid assumptions. You still have yet to demonstrate that California is fascist.

And if not forking up taxpayer money for travel to states with shitty leaders is

From one of the links..

"The Human Resources memo also says state employees cannot accept money from third party groups to pay for travel to the banned states. That means private sponsors could not pay to have experts from California colleges speak at conferences. "

"But California’s public universities will have to avoid athletic competitions in a group of states that as of this week"

"Also, the ban becomes a kind of boycott, withholding California taxpayer dollars from certain states."

Yeah.. This is a little more than taxpayer money for travel. And a lot more like "OMG! You're not doing things how we want! MUST PUNISH PUNISH PUNISH!!"

Interesting. I'm not as strongly in favor of that, but it makes sense. And by the way, it isn't much of a punishment to keep a few college football teams from competing against North Carolina's football players.

California is another sad example of states who had a great opportunity to prosper and ruined it through heavy taxation.

California is actually doing pretty damn well, "heavy taxation" or not.

Like, honestly, go read about Laffer Curve and try to steal better next time, ffs.

"I know basic economic theories" isn't an argument, especially when many of them prove to be total horseshit.

Plus, government funded trips are already stupid - what about cut airtrip tax instead? - link that with LGBT cause "embargoes" and you must be joking.

Why would California cease all travel of state officials in and out of Sacramento, and why the hell would California encourage travel to anti-LGBT states by lowering taxes on travel to them?

[Wallenburg]

I don't particularly like this. It's drawing the dividing lines of America even further.

At a time when unity is needed oh so dearly in the US, this doesn't really help.

I know right?

Americans should completely unite under Trump instead. If the Democrats were patriotic, they would declare their allegiance for their new overlord immediately.

Trump's no longer a candidate, he is now the leader of the United States. To oppose him is to be un-American. To oppose him is to oppose America.

I don't recall you ever saying that it is un-American to oppose Obama. Why is that?

[Outer Sparta]

First, it's this. Now what, Calexit time?

[Genivaria]

^^.

Despite Texas' many flaws, I'd say with a degree of confidence that I would much rather live in Texas than California, not just because of ideology, but merely because Texas has better education, better job opportunities, better business environments, better roads and infrastructure, cheaper real estate, and lower taxes.

Sounds pretty nice, actually. Eat a dick, California.

Pretty low bar. Education here sucks, job opportunities are laughable, unless you're military, business environment is hilarious because of the right to work bullshit, and Texas can't even build a damn highway right. Real estate is iffy, owning a house here can range from $250,000+ and rent in just the projects can be $800-1,500. Taxes? Pfft. I pay taxes for water coming in and out of my place. Accounting city ordinances, I can't build anything without a permit, my grass can't be over 3 inches -- even on the spot in the back yard of the alley which is technically the city's land, not mine because it's where the utility lines are. I have to do the same for the land in the front which up to 10 feet from the road is technically not my land but the city under public accommodation. (Which is funny because if I want a sidewalk there, I have to pay for it) As a result, the streets here are a patchwork of sidewalks-no sidewalks. If I don't keep those areas mowed down, it's a hefty fine. You can't park vehicles on the grass, you can't park them out front, they must be in a driveway or parking space.

Road-wise. They've been working on I-35 since the 70s. Non-stop. They're newest expansion, they enacted eminent domain and shutdown all of the business running alongside the highway in-town. This was a problem for several people, including some family friends, who didn't have the money to reopen a new one. State was just -- oh well. They then go through and waste a bunch of money on these coloured tiles, and lay them alongside the highway in a cute pattern (Because I'm totally going to look at this while driving at 75), and then waste more money laying down grass and trees. OOPS. They didn't wait for the utilities company to move their damn lines. So now they had to go back in and tear it all up, let the utilities company pull this lines and move them, then redo it all. The grass has since died because everything in this godforsaken state likes being dead and yellow, and the resulting dirt has covered much of the tiles. They then turn around and are asking the state for more money.

Education, education, education. Texas is all about testing. You study most of your time for the TAKS tests, taking practise tests and hoping to go you pass these because if you fail the TAKS, you're likely to flunk. The elementary school down the road from us runs a cellphone jammer that, at times, disrupts our cellphones in the houses around it. I'm still waiting for the FCC to strangle them. The schools got an $8 million dollar grant to renovate said elementary school as well. All they did was knock out the first wall, redo it, paint it, expand a tad on the front entrance and that was that. $8 million dollars? Where in the hell did the rest of it go? Now let us ignore the fact that, on top of the American pledge, we must do the Texas pledge. (Wat.) Yes, Texas is such a snowflake it has its own pledge. Then you've got the consistent religious bullshit with churches showing up to pass out bibles, and holding prayer at the start of the day, and at school events. The city has one highschool. They refuse to build a new one because of costs, so the school is overcrowded with over 3,000 students. My classrooms were anywhere from 30-50 kids. Its become such a problem that teachers quit en masse this past year because the pay was too awful, and they were getting no support from the superintendent. No, what, you may ask, could they do to further waste money? We're going to buy every student a touchscreen laptop. Yes. A touschscreen laptop. A touchscreen laptop that I ever used but twice my entire time in school.

Now let us talk about jobs and healthcare. Texas is a Right to Work state. Given, I'm not a massive fan of unions, but with Texas, is a means to fuck you. A lot of places will merely terminate you for simply discussing, or talking about a union. That's it. Have a nice day! It's not uncommon, especially in the factory environment, to see businesses hire illegals. But Texas is a Republican state, everyone doesn't like illegals. Every factory I've worked at here has had a room, or a few rooms, full of illegal workers who were doing simple tasks. They never ate lunch with us, they never talked much to us (to me, in my case, because I speak Spanish), and they used an entirely different door from the rest of the plant. Given, I don't mind illegals so long as they're willing to work and pay taxes, but I do find the hypocrisy palpable.

Seeking employment, well, that's a funny thing. Most of the people working at McDonalds here are older people in their 40s. This has created a problem because those getting out of highschool (like myself) couldn't find the jobs that were meant to have to get ourselves started. 9 times out of 10. If you're sitting in an interview, and there's a soldier -- they'll take the soldier over you. It's happened time and time again, because they're given upmost priority here. Now, because of Texas' lovely mentality, businesses here lack oversight to the point that every job I've taken has done something that really teeters the line of being just outright illegal. I've seen factories fire people for injuries, and outright threaten people with their jobs, I've seen restaurants where there were roaches running around, or they'd drop raw chicken on the floor and simply cook it anyway.

I've seen, especially in factories, where employee safety was given not even two shits about. It rained one day. The roof has holes apparently, so it flooded much of the factory floor I was in. Why's this a problem? Well, the voltage boxes for the lights and machines were surrounded by pools of water. We were told to work anyway. We had constant fires thanks to the welders and they never threw the firealarm, even though, during one fire, three booths caught fire. They didn't make people wear paint masks in the paint room, which apparently had awful ventilation -- my friend there got so lightheaded he started throwing up.

And, they never had us wear protective sleeves if you were doing things with freshly hot welds -- this is where I got injured. So the frames we were welding had to be moved and measured, then balanced. There was no doing this slow because we had a quota we had to meet everyday. I had always been real careful about handling these because, well, it's a hot friggin weld. One day it slipped, the weld hit my arm and I got instant 2.d and 3rd degree burns to the point my skin was hanging off my arm. It's really kind of funny with businesses, they don't start caring until someone gets hurt. Naturally, I go to the ER. They treat it, unfortunately I have permanent nerve damage in part of my arm where the burn was, and so begins the fun. OSHA, for whatever reason, shows up. Now, you want to talk about a company busting ass.

Suddenly, they're all so surprised why none of us were wearing sleeves. Despite the fact the plant managers walked by us everyday up til this point. (Keep in mind, despite my injury and because I needed the money so badly, I went back to work the next day -- thank you painkillers) From there, I got pulled into meetings between OSHA and the plant supervisors for weeks on end. Everyweek, they made me write, and rewrite what happened. They were looking for one tiny, itsy detail they could use to say they weren't at fault. I wasn't even aware there were thermal sleeves, so it's not like I could've known any better, I was 18. Needless to say, OSHA apparently jumped down their throats and suddenly there were presentations about safety, bla bla bla. Once OSHA was gone? Pfffft, everything went back to normal. We then had a guy rivet his hand a month later. When I did security, I guarded a chemical plant. A plant that had a lovely chemical spill just months before (all of which you could still see because it had solidified in the parking lot as this rock hard orange substance). A plant with some really nasty chemicals.

Just a month before I got posted there, they also had a fire. After that, security was posted to watch the room where said fire had happened to ensure it didn't do it again. What I always found so funny on our Emergency plan was that, if something happened, we were suppose to call the plant managers before the emergency services. Not evacuate the plant or anything, call them first. If there was a spill or a fire, we were told to go find it. Keep in mind, we're dealing with some chemicals that, if it got into the air, it'd kill you outright. Thankfully, nothing happened while I was there.

Now, what about healthcare? Well, Texas decided to say fuck you to Obamacare, which rather sucked because I would have qualified. My income is just high enough, and just low enough that I couldn't get covered for any other plan. In fact, because of income, I didn't have health insurance since I was 15. I hadn't been to a dentist, eye-doctor, nada. There was no way I could afford it, and it was so bloody expensive, even before Obamacare was a thing that I'd sooner wait and see if why I was sick was something that was going to kill me.

So, I thought, if Texas did the medicaid expansion, looking it over, I would've finally had health insurance. I couldn't do insurance through my work because that was a $5,000 deductible. I don't even go to the doctors that bloody much. However, Texas didn't do it. When my bipolar got so bad, and I got suicidal for the fourth time, there was little choice. I needed to do something because I had been unmedicated for faaaaar too long. So, the only insurance plan I could qualify for was Indigent, which meant I had to make under $700/month. So I quit my job. Now, if you know anything about me, you're well aware how my treatment with these people who are the state has gone. It's funny really. Medicaid, I could've gotten good care, and the state would've covered it. Instead, the state's covering my healthcare here anyway, but it's shit care and I must see their doctors. It was soon after that I found out I had skin cancer, and thankfully got it checked out, but given another 6 months, I probably wouldn't have been here. Let us also ignore Baylor Scott and White whose monopolised the centre of the state like the cancer they are. So yes, Texas is a hellhole.

My Lady thank you for putting all of my collective frustrations with my shitty home state into one elegant post.

[Galloism]

I don't particularly like this. It's drawing the dividing lines of America even further.

At a time when unity is needed oh so dearly in the US, this doesn't really help.

I know right?

Americans should completely unite under Trump instead. If the Democrats were patriotic, they would declare their allegiance for their new overlord immediately.

Trump's no longer a candidate, he is now the leader of the United States. To oppose him is to be un-American. To oppose him is to oppose America.

So opposing Obama was unamerican and opposing America?

Just want to make sure we're clear that Republican Congressmen, in general, are unamerican.

[Geilinor]

If California wants to fuck with other states fine.

we'll just take their buisness.

in Texas.

California's economy is growing faster than Texas'. I doubt you're getting their business.