I know we aren’t supposed to get political here (and that I sometimes tread very close to that line) so this is completely non-partisan, although obviously USA-centric, sorry my British friends. Happy Inauguration Day Here’s to a peaceful and prosperous next four years for everyone.

I really admire how this forum doesn’t get into petty arguments about politics or religion. I think this is such a rare thing nowadays on the internet to have such civil and discerning behavior, I am yet to find any other forum that matches this caliber.

^Indeed. It’s refreshing, I guess tobacco is the great equalizer.

I am an electrical contractor. The last eight years have been terrible. I am hoping to see a major increase in business. It means I will be buying more material and hiring people. Hiring means I am mentoring future electricians, which there is a shortage of. I agree with @Aamon. I avoid such topics in my work life. Customers sometimes want to delve into such things. I tell them I have no political views or religion when I am on the clock, even if I (secretly) agree with them. Having such views would guarantee making someone upset. I avoid forums (other than this one) because of how they end up being flame wars. I will only say that Melania looked very nice this morning and I hope the inauguration is a safe one for everyone, even the protesters.

I think today I will continue to load both glass and brass with powders. Never hurts to prep for the future.

I think I’ve got enough glass and brass loaded for the forseeable future. Being prepared is the best investment one can make.

Regardless of political beliefs, it is a profoundly awesome thing to have a peaceful transition of power take place. (And in the scope of time also a profoundly rare occurrence.)

I wish health, peace, safety and happy snuffing to you all!

I lost my job in 2008 due to the economic collapse. indirectly…and I’m way too old to get a job in a coal mine, though where I live, those are some of the highest paying jobs. If if wasn’t for Obamacare, I’d be fucked since I have some minor health problems. But I hope the new government helps some of you, cause it won’t be helping me any. On the other hand, we live in two party democracy, so there will always be give and take. I did enjoy watching the inauguration however. Mrs. T. seems like a great 1st lady, and the Prez will undoubtably have a lot of on the job learning while he commands “our” ship of state.

Edited because I droned on about my problems with obamacare and I don’t want to subject you fine people to that. Carry on smartly.

This forum is a vast contrast to a private group on facebook i’m a member on dedicated to talking about philosophy, politics and religion, it feel and is incredibly primitive. 98% of the comments are derogatory and attacking another view on the subject in question. I understand why alot of groups like the Freemasons for example prohibit the discussion of work, politics and religion and it actually works.

Either way those in the US all the best for the years to come!

I got shouted down in the pub last night for suggesting that we should at least give the bloke a chance. That’s democracy, I suppose.

No point booing before he’s even done anything.

@mrmanos Hang in there, bud. I’ve been dealing with a nasty case of rheumatoid arthritis since 2008. I have to have insurance because the medicine is $2k/month. Without it, I couldn’t work. I like my work because of the physical nature and being self employed. As a hedge, I am finishing up a degree related to my field. It should give me some options. So, sometimes there are alternatives. One thing is sure-we can’t create wealth by serving each other coffee and hamburgers, or swapping dollars on eBay. I remember a town of my youth with one cotton mill after another. They are all gone now. When they existed, they gave good employment to people who wouldn’t fit in at an office.

@lunecat, I notice you use the words “snowflakes” and “name calling” in the same sentence. Hehe. I got an acquaintance in Jakarta, former FBI, conservative, nationalistic. One of things I enjoy about our conversations, both online and in person, is that even though we have very different opinions, we make a strenuous effort to be civil and to avoid those kinds of simplistic characterizations. He’s a cool guy, lots of interesting stories. I miss the days when disagreeing with someone didn’t mean that you had to despise and dislike them.

@JakartaBoy Hear, hear! 

I saw the video over the weekend. Her shift from aggression to claiming victim status was seamless.

@JosephJames, wow, your arthritis sounds way worse than mine! I am self employed, and last fall was working on a house with my brother in law, setting all the concrete forms, in preparation to pouring the foundation. That worked my back so bad I had to get an MRI. It revealed that I had a bunch of nerves that were being pressured by narrow holes in my vertebrae. Long story short, it returned almost to normal, but I was left with weakness in my calf. It’s getting better at last. But my point originally was that if had not had the Obamacare, I couldn’t have afforded the MRI, office visits, etc. For myself, it’s been a real help. I know others have had a lot of complaints about it, raising prices, being required to have it, etc, etc, but I’ll always thank Obama for taking the first step in providing “universal” health care. My family comes from Canada, where, no matter what I hear people say about their health care system, I know from personal experience that it works reasonably well, for most people. Sorry to go on a rant, but the subject is important to me.

@mrmanos I am glad you are recovering. MRI is expensive. I was paying for my health insurance when Obamacare became law. My insurance went up 60%. It has gone up every year. I had to shift to Obamacare because my policy ceased to exist. Premiums still going up, deductibles are so high it’s not much use. The first thing I got out of Obamacare was being kicked off my arthritis medicine that actually worked. After 6 years in remission, it is now back. Last night, I got 2 hours sleep. Shoulders were so bad that there was no sleep position that worked. 6 years ago, my wife wanted me to file for disability. I wanted to keep working. I got into a study for a new medication from Japan. It worked and I stayed on it after the experimental study, until I got kicked off of it. I have been able to work the last 6 years with no symptoms. Seems those days are over. What I have is an immune disease. It makes my joints feel like I have a bad sprain or a fracture. Hospitals were required to treat people before Obamacare. If you showed up, they had to treat you. People who paid their bills, subsidized those who didn’t. Obamacare didn’t really change that. Medication costs haven’t dropped, doctors are opting out, the coops are collapsing and no one saved $2500 per family. I don’t know what the answer is. Obamacare isn’t it. My views are different from most people’s. I have no problem with dying. If I get cancer or something, I have no intention of going through chemotherapy, etc. I will move on to whatever is next.

@lunecat, there is a lot of stereotyped thinking, pigeon holing, and prejudice on both sides. It’s often the result of people living in cocoons and never having a chance to meet with people with different opinions and experiences. My sister spent a few months riding her bike through the rural South of America. What struck me is that she now gets very angry about people stereotyping white working class Americans as brainless rednecks, in stark contrast to another sister, who rarely gets off her inner city campus. This is why I think people should try to get out more, talk to people with different opinions, see where they are coming from. For the record, I agree with you that one of the presidential candidates did indeed represent entrenched, big city, elite values and that he/she took working class Americans for granted. And now I’ll try to go back to following snuffhouse rules about political and religious discussions.

I have had the fortune of seeing a broad cross section of the people of America in my work for the DoD and I have never seen the entitlement, lack of knowledge of history or lack of ability to have a civil discussion that is present in generation snowflake (millenials). If you disagree with these people then they go straight to unsubstantiated character attacks such as racism, sexism etc… and have no interest in hearing any other point of view. In fact the mere thought that any point of view other than theirs might be valid is almost physically painful to them. I’ve had a few on my staff over the years and, after giving them a chance to prove that my view of them is incorrect, I invariably process them out the door so they can go apply for welfare while ‘holding out for a management’ position with their liberal arts degree. Hopefully they’ll learn a thing or two about civility and what it takes to make something of yourself while working on Pres. Trump’s steel mills or oil pipelines.

@sandwhichisles: Haha! That sounds like a quote from my ex FBI mate!

For a forum that doesn’t engage in politics, there sure is a lot of politics in this thread. I’d ask that we please let this one end.

@jakartaboy I’m sure it does, we play a similar role. I’m willing to give everyone a chance, all I ask is a little civility and the moral fortitude to be accountable for your own actions, both successes and failures.

I don’t own a TV. well that’s a lie I should say I don’t subscribe to paid TV. The less I know what is going on the happier I am. I tried watching tv while laying on my back for my hospital stay. How the hell do you deal with all those commercials? If it not on the internet I missed it.

As for the new chief he can’t do worse that the last 4 puppets.I would like to see simple manufacturing jobs come back like knitting mills, machine shops, lamp factories, foundries ,and other lost to oversees or south of the border businesses. It’s getting so you need a bachelor’s degree for jobs that use to only require a high school diploma.

That’s what I would like too. But I’m afraid that, by and large, we’ve raised a generation of kids who think they’re too good to work in a mill.

Well guys, I think @zanaspus might be right. As interesting as this has all been and as amazingly civil as it has been (for the internet, anyway) we should probably close off before this degenerates. Good talking, and I would like you all to know that I appreciate all the discussion and all of your points of view.

@lunecat, I’ve got no doubt that some of the anti-Trump people are pretty much as you describe, just as I’ve got no doubt that some of the other side wear pointy white hats. I’m thinking of the Americans I work with, like my boss, who has spent three years in Afghanistan and is former military, and was appalled by Trump because of what he saw as managerial incompetence and lack of experience. You can disagree, and he might be wrong - but I don’t think you can call someone like that a snowflake. He’s a smart guy and he’s got good reasons for his opinions. Some of the other side do, too. Those are the people who should be arguing respectfully with each other, forget the fringe on both sides.

WOW we are actually discussing politics as politicians should ahahaha. I agree with alot of the comments made, give him 2 years and if he isnt any good then I highly doubt he will be elected for an additional 2 years. There is absolutely no point complaining about anything now if you didn’t vote for him or worrying about potential things he may do. You cannot please everybody so everyone is going to disagree with something he does, though give him sometime before you start worrying about something he may do, or repercussions from something he has done. I do not mean any offence though the United States government would have people more knowledgeable and informed than us about how certain scenarios would playout and how legislation would be beneficial or detrimental to society. Even if you dont like the man he’s here for 2 more years, and as you all have seen the waste of news time dedicated to bashing someone before he even took office. I see this as incredibly detrimental to Americans faith in their country, you should not be aloud to intentionally segregate and divide the public, and then let them loose on each other, that is disgusting and unethical journalism. The media are basically fueling hatred and stereotypes (by profiling), against someone they claim to be doing the exact same things. Double standard I think so

Hi Aamon, a US president is elected for a four year term, and can only serve a maxamum of two four year terms

ahaha thanks @tboyer I get the years mixed up between other countries quite frquently

I had to post this!
Fantastic album, really really great album!

Gonna be a fantastic wall. Really,really great wall.

I just want to say that I am a bit annoyed by the generalization of my generation. At age 26 I am considered a millennial and I can’t stand the new president. I am not entitled, I work my butt off 5 days a week, often 6 so I get overtime, in a manual labor job building boats. And I am not alone. The loudest and most obnoxious always get the most attention. So what you don’t see are the every day people of the left like myself who are worried and fearful of what they are hearing from our new officials. Just like when the Right is shown it usually only shows the most extreme of them too. But you can’t be in one extreme and call for unity. It only polarizes the people more. What people on both sides of the debate lack is foresight. Many things seem like a good idea from a shallow pool, but when it gets thrown into the deep end, there are far reaching consequences that so many seem willfully blind to.

But thats just my 2 cents.

lunecat said: " We must remain clam" 

good advice, lol.

Haha, good catch.  “Keep Clam” is the slogan of a Seattle seafood joint: Ivar’s.

@Harlequin, well said. I’m 35 and apparently on the older side of the millennial generation. I’ve been in the military over 10 years and have been on deployments. I also currently work in the medical field. Every generation seems to say that the following generation is worse than generation. It seems like actual debate most other places (other than here) arent actual debates. They go in and attack the person and refuse to debate things. Then call people names and write them off. This includes the people that call others snowflakes. What amuses me is that people call others snowflakes, yet they voted for one of biggest snowflakes there is. When Obama won the office, a lot of conservatives did not say oh well, better luck next year. There was a lot of racial hatred spewed towards him for quite awhile. Now the conservatives are telling the liberals to get over it, when some conservatives never got over Obama being president. I find it amusing that people hang on to the confederate flag tell other people to get over it. But hey, each to their own. As far as the medical part goes, medical insurance has been going up. It was the insurance companies that raised the price on insurance due to greed. Now that the aca has been repealed, has anyone seen their insurance premiums drop? I’m curious to see if that has happened to anyone. My premiums are still the same.

I am also at the edge of GenX/Millenial, and that’s what is so frustrating about it. I grew up in the same culture and share in parts of it. I just don’t understand sime people’s willful inability to have an open discussion. I also don’t understand the thought police political correctness and safe spaces and other things that make me wonder how these people are going to exist in the real world. I know not everyone is like that, I have several friends that I disagree with politically and philosophically. But they are people who are willing to have a conversation instead of just screaming ‘racist’ when I state why I believe we need reinforce our national sovereignty or whatever other issue.

@Psicko insurance is a numbers game. You spread risk over a large pool of healthy people the costs are not so bad. When more sick people are on it, prices go up. Just numbers and economics. Insurance companies can’t print money up the way the Fed can. The younger, healthy people they expected to comply decided to pay the penalty instead.

@JosephJames oh, I know how insurance works. Doesn’t mean companies don’t get greedy. It’s like the gasoline industry. When a possibility of a perceived threat comes along to potentially raise prices, they will. Even If it doesn’t in the end. About 15 years ago a gasoline pipeline broke in Tucson Arizona. There are two pipelines in that area that broke. One of them is the local line that brings ga’s to Tucson. The other line is not local, it just goes through. The one that busted was the non local one. Local gas prices soared and there was gasoline shortages, for no reason. The people who dictate gas prices decided to jack prices up. That caused a panic. All because of greed. There was no real threat, because it wasn’t the local line that busted. It was a created threat by those in charge.

We have had the broken pipeline scam twice in recent memory. Both times when a hurricane hit Louisiana. No gas in Asheville NC but you could take a short drive to South Carolina and they had plenty. It was greed in that case. The biggest problem with ACA (aside from dictating citizens have to purchase something) was allowing insurance companies to help write the law. Yes, insurance company greed is a problem, but I suspect they got their way because they knew taking on a lot of unhealthy people was going to cost them a lot more money.

=)) =)) =)) That’s hilarious!!!

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