Quote (Thor123422 @ Sep 5 2020 06:53pm)

I'm researching some history things, like the things that lead to the current borders of Europe, and some of that goes all the way back to Rome.

One thing I found that was interesting is that the grain dole was a hugely successful program that brought long-term stability to Rome and was basically the biggest social welfare program in history until the modern welfare state, and it only failed at the end because basically the whole empire was collapsing around them. It's a pretty stark contrast to what I've heard from conservatives about how "the grain dole ruined the Roman empire by breeding welfare queens!" and then you find out the grain dole lasted longer than the entire history of the United States.

Anyway the take away is that it's virtually guaranteed that you will need a welfare system to maintain the stability of your country for the long-term, and this has been the case for like 2000 years now.

Quote

“You just breathe the air and that’s how it’s passed,” Trump said in a Feb. 7 call. “And so that’s a very tricky one. That’s a very delicate one. It’s also more deadly than even your strenuous flu.”

“This is deadly stuff,” the president repeated for emphasis.

Quote

The loathing was mutual. “Not to mention my fucking generals are a bunch of pussies. They care more about their alliances than they do about trade deals,” Trump told White House trade adviser Peter Navarro at one point, according to Woodward.

Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law and senior adviser, is quoted by Woodward as saying, “The most dangerous people around the president are overconfident idiots,” which Woodward interprets as a reference to Mattis, Tillerson and former National Economic Council director Gary Cohn.

Quote (Arsenic_Touch @ Sep 9 2020 02:12pm)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/bob-woodward-rage-book-trump/2020/09/09/0368fe3c-efd2-11ea-b4bc-3a2098fc73d4_story.html

Lordy, there are tapes.

Press Secretary: "The president never downplayed the virus."

Trump to Woodward, on tape: "I wanted to always play it down. I still like playing it down."

Quote (Arsenic_Touch @ 9 Sep 2020 14:12)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/bob-woodward-rage-book-trump/2020/09/09/0368fe3c-efd2-11ea-b4bc-3a2098fc73d4_story.html

Lordy, there are tapes.

Press Secretary: "The president never downplayed the virus."

Trump to Woodward, on tape: "I wanted to always play it down. I still like playing it down."



March 9th - "So last year 37,000 Americans died from the common Flu. It averages between 27,000 and 70,000 per year. Nothing is shut down, life & the economy go on. At this moment there are 546 confirmed cases of CoronaVirus, with 22 deaths. Think about that!"

We already knew all this, but it's great to have it tape.

And another gem from the interview.

Quote (excellence @ Sep 9 2020 04:40pm)

Trump shut down travel and Biden/Pelosi said it was racist to do so

Quote (Kayeto @ Sep 9 2020 03:22pm)

https://i.imgur.com/1pAEprh.png

Catching a politician lying is like catching Lebron James practicing his free throws. It's literally their job. The politicians are there to interface with the public and say whatever furthers the agenda of the group they work for.