Two US Senate Run-offs in Georgia: Victory for both means a 50/50 Senate - Must Win

[jclay]

I spent a lot of time behind the iron curtain. Family had property stolen because some communist ass' determined that they were filthy rich, business transferred to a party pet....families separated.

To keep this short, Socialism covers a broad spectrum from the whiter shade of grey to the deep black of communism.

Socialism, as in the economic system, has not been and is not on offer in the USA. Charges of socialism made against democrats range from histrionics of the ignoratti to calculated political strategy of demagogues who benefit from the status quo and understand the political power of such claims. Relatively modest changes to power dynamics and revisiting whether particular programs/enterprises (like health care, or health care funding) better serve the public via public or private sector structures is what's really going on, even in Bernie-land. Accusations of communism don't merit comment though continuation of our ever increasing concentration of wealth could eventually get us headed in either path, or others equally distasteful. Refer to Cuba for a recent, relevant example.

[vertical_doug]

Socialism, as in the economic system, has not been and is not on offer in the USA. Charges of socialism made against democrats range from histrionics of the ignoratti to calculated political strategy of demagogues who benefit from the status quo and understand the political power of such claims. Relatively modest changes to power dynamics and revisiting whether particular programs/enterprises (like health care, or health care funding) better serve the public via public or private sector structures is what's really going on, even in Bernie-land. Accusations of communism don't merit comment though continuation of our ever increasing concentration of wealth could eventually get us headed in either path, or others equally distasteful. Refer to Cuba for a recent, relevant example.

The issue is most people only think of social programs (socialism) such as SNAP, medicaid and other direct expenditures of the US GOV as socialism. There is a much larger set of social expenditures by the US GOV but this is done via tax policy. Loop holes, and other deductions are from a point of GOV economics and a reason these are known as tax expenditures. The wealthy typically receive much more socialism (expenditures) than the poor. It's like reverse socialism, you receive from the GOV inversely proportional to your need.

You can think Charitable deductions that the ultra wealthy use to shield wealth and distribute it how they see fit as the ultimate form of reverse socialism (privatizing public wealth).

[davids]

The issue is most people only think of social programs (socialism) such as SNAP, medicaid and other direct expenditures of the US GOV as socialism. There is a much larger set of social expenditures by the US GOV but this is done via tax policy. Loop holes, and other deductions are from a point of GOV economics and a reason these are known as tax expenditures. The wealthy typically receive much more socialism (expenditures) than the poor. It's like reverse socialism, you receive from the GOV inversely proportional to your need.

You can think Charitable deductions that the ultra wealthy use to shield wealth and distribute it how they see fit as the ultimate form of reverse socialism (privatizing public wealth).

Yep.

As everyone rushes to congratulate MacKenzie Scott's stupendous charity, I find myself thinking about this issue. We have staggeringly wealthy individuals effectively making social policy rather than our elected government. It is not right.

I say this even as I find myself very impressed with Scott's generosity and decisions. And as I make my annual charitable gifts, with my tax savings in the back of my mind...

[davids]

But back to Georgia.

I think Trump's temper tantrum around the relief package endangers the Republicans in GA. Which personally makes me happy, but also scares the crap out of me. This pathological narcissist is President of the United States for another month...

[echappist]

The issue is most people only think of social programs (socialism) such as SNAP, medicaid and other direct expenditures of the US GOV as socialism. There is a much larger set of social expenditures by the US GOV but this is done via tax policy. Loop holes, and other deductions are from a point of GOV economics and a reason these are known as tax expenditures. The wealthy typically receive much more socialism (expenditures) than the poor. It's like reverse socialism, you receive from the GOV inversely proportional to your need.

You can think Charitable deductions that the ultra wealthy use to shield wealth and distribute it how they see fit as the ultimate form of reverse socialism (privatizing public wealth).

For you and others who are versed in how things operate in other developed countries, how do things work elsewhere?

In the U.S., charity at the highest levels is more often about securing one’s present and future legacies than it is about doing actual public good. Even the gifts that seem magnanimous at first are often given with ulterior motives (e.g. Sacklers, Epstein giving to MIT, and Robert Smith giving ti Morehouse). The last two especially were done for PR purposes, with the last one done expressly to “demonstrate good moral character” and reduce severity of punishment for abetting tax evasion activities of Robert Brockman. It’s all quite venal.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.was...outputType=amp

[vertical_doug]

I can speak about US, UK and Japan.

1. UK and US are close in tax treatment. I think a key difference is US tend to donate to charities with a direct relationship. UK tends to be a little more altruistic. However, some areas converge. The Prince's Trust in the UK is a favorite of the financial community and in some ways, the fund raising mirrors Robinhood in NY (focus on young people). However, the Prince's Trust Administrative costs are high being running about 20% of the total pie. I think in both US/UK, a huge amount of money is being spent by charities on fot-profit fund raisers and fund raising.

2. In Japan, they only recently started to allow some tax relief for charitable giving. Hence, the Japanese total charitable giving is much lower than US/UK.

I think those of you who follow the Charitable Navigator notice the same trends I do as increasing administrative costs and less money actually going to giving. I think there are also more and more scam charities....
Speaking of such.... the charitable navigator has a High Concern Advisory for a certain someone's foundation.
https://www.charitynavigator.org/ind...ry&orgid=16764

versus something much more legit...
https://www.charitynavigator.org/ind...ary&orgid=4629

[vertical_doug]

At this point, the technique is to have some crazy make allegations against Warnock, and then have Loeffler denounce as disgusting...

I have to think if this was real, it would have surfaced long ago in the first election.
It is just the Trumpification of politics to make wild accusations...

https://www.nationalreview.com/news/...e-allegations/

[sine]

Socialism is indeed a broad word and its use in the context of American politics is absurd.

The US like many countries has a mixed economy*. Capitalism that includes some elements of socialism. Some countries more than others and individuals/parties in the us want to expand social programs further. Where does it end?

The link is to an article by EJ Dionne and William Gallstone.

https://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgo...-short-primer/

Finally, the ads work. Democrats outspent the Republicans but lost seats. Democrats do not have an effective 30 second counter argument.

* https://www.investopedia.com/terms/m...mic-system.asp

[Mabouya]

All the counting's not yet done, but it's getting there, and things are looking pretty good for the Dems.

If it happens, flipping these two seats would be a HUGE win.

Thanks Stacey Abrams, and so many other who worked super hard to get here.

[Bob Ross]

The Fat Lady has not yet started singing...but she's warming up in the green room and sure sounds pretty good from down the hall.

[j44ke]

Predictions of a US Senate performance based on the test run in PA? Doesn’t seem feasible but that’s not going to stop anyone.

[Clean39T]

Ich Bin Ein Georgian.

Cracked a nice can of syrupy peaches to put on my oats this morning.

And am dreaming of a cycling vacation in/around Athens when this covid mess is behind us....

It's nice to feel good about something.

[ColonelJLloyd]

Grab a plate at Weaver D's.

[jclay]

Warnock and Ossoff won! That's pretty fantastic on an otherwise awful day.

Stacey Abrams should be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

A whole bunch of insurrectionists should be feeling very lucky that whomever was tasked with organizing law enforcement and riot control for their visit was less than incompetent...and that they weren't part of a BLM march instead of a mob attempting to subvert the election results.

Grab a plate at Weaver D's.

Can't quite make it to Athens, but in spirit I'm there.

[Mark Kelly]

So Biden now has a clean slate to achieve SFA. Politics as usual.

[monadnocky]

So Biden now has a clean slate to achieve SFA. Politics as usual.

I don't think it will be that easy. Unlike the Senate Republicans, Senate Democrats don't vote en bloc quite as often, and, besides, there are a few Democratic senators who have, in the past, voted much of the time consistent with their Republican colleagues.

Don't get me wrong. I'm pleased as punch about what happened in Georgia. But a carte blanche for Biden to forward his agenda this is not.

[robin3mj]

I don't think it will be that easy. Unlike the Senate Republicans, Senate Democrats don't vote en bloc quite as often, and, besides, there are a few Democratic senators who have, in the past, voted much of the time consistent with their Republican colleagues.

Don't get me wrong. I'm pleased as punch about what happened in Georgia. But a carte blanche for Biden to forward his agenda this is not.

Pretty sure Mark was being sarcastic, assuming SFA means "sweet f--- all"

[vertical_doug]

Since a little bit of troll resides in all of us, please indulge me.

My favorite post-Georgia headline

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/polit...cid=uxbndlbing

Matt Drudge Trolls Kelly Loeffler Over Senate Loss: GOP Should Have Run the ‘Real Ann Coulter’

[monadnocky]

Pretty sure Mark was being sarcastic, assuming SFA means "sweet f--- all"

Ah, got it, didn't know what SFA meant. Cheers.

[thollandpe]

Killer Mike gets it.



Shout out out the the WNBA!