Perry: Obama had Privileged upbringing

[Dark Silver]

Rick Perry said Wednesday that President Obama doesn't understand the plight of Americans because he grew up "privileged" and "never had to work for anything."

The Texas governor, one of many Republicans who has accused the president of calling his fellow citizens "lazy" after the president told CEOs over the weekend that Americans have "been a little bit lazy" about selling the country as a place for foreign investment, elaborated on his view in an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News.

"He grew up in a privileged way," Perry said. "He never had to really work for anything, he never had to go through what Americans are going through," Perry said, theorizing that Obama's upbringing is what distances him Americans.

"This president has never felt that angst that they felt in their heart."

Obama, whose family was abandoned by his father when he was young, was brought up by his mother and grandparents, none of whom were wealthy. He attended the exclusive Punahou High School in Honolulu, Hawaii as a scholarship student. In his autobiography, Dreams of My Father, he wrote of his struggle to fit into a school where he was one of the few black students.

On Fox, Perry said Obama's upbringing has resulted in bad policy.

"I think that mentality of I'm the smartest guy in the room and therefore it couldn't be my fault is really hurting America," he said.

CBS News

[The Minx]

It's really silly, but a lot of people are still going to buy it. People believe things that confirms their pre-existing ideas.

But Perry really needs to fade away right now.

[SirNitram]

Cross-race child in the US in the 60s and 70s. 'Priveledge' is not how I'd describe the situation.

[frigidmagi]

Wasn't Perry fairly well off in his upbringing? I'm wondering if this is pot and kettle here.

Note: I did find out that Perry served 5 years in the USAF, as a pilot. You don't want another pilot as President... Do you? As for me... As many issues as I have with Obama, I'm not voting for an Air Force Pilot. Ground crew maybe, pilot never.

[B4UTRUST]

As many issues as I have with Obama, I'm not voting for an Air Force Pilot. Ground crew maybe, pilot never.

As former ground crew of the AF, I likewise refuse to support any pilot. Idiots are bad enough in the service, I certainly don't want them trying to run a country when they can barely fly a plane without fucking something up.

Also, when I run for office I'll be wanting your support.

[rhoenix]

Also, when I run for office I'll be wanting your support.

If Harold Camping was looking for his sign, I think that would be it.

I'd vote for you.

[frigidmagi]

Also, when I run for office I'll be wanting your support.

As long as it's not the Presidency. You're a vast improvement over our current crop of Senators and Reps and might do well even as a governor. But you with the Bomb? I've had nightmares that start that way (odd... I can say that about most of the board... Crap).

I expect your vote in return... Although not for President, I expect most sane folks run screaming at the idea of President Magi.

[The Minx]

How about a President Minx?


Or maybe that's not such a good idea... still better than GWB, probably.

[Dark Silver]

Oh come now frigid....

you can't say me with the power of the "little red button" wouldn't be all bad? Now could you?

[Charon]

See. Unlike most of you nuts. I'm not pyscho enough to ever want to run for President.

Ever.

Governor maybe. I don't think I could handle being a senator without singlehandedly returning us to the traditions of patting down senators to make certain they don't try to shank each other in congress. It is my firm belief that Congress could use a good brawl to get it out of their system. Or a good orgy, whichever they agree to first.

[Hotfoot]

Go ahead, put me in Congress.

I DARE you.

[B4UTRUST]

So, at this point we have how many people on this board willing to try to run for office? So, what, do we form the LibArc party now?

[The Minx]

Can't be worse than the Tea Party, can it?

And I just remembered that there's that age restriction on being President. Phooey.

[Dark Silver]

35 for senate seatings, 45 for President.

[The Minx]

I thought it was 30 for the Senate and 35 for President.

Regardless, the House seems the place to start. -.-

[Comrade Tortoise]

As it turns out, I am eligible to be a Congresscritter. Specifically House of Representatives. I can pretty much guarantee I will be a one term congresscritter, and thus immune to corruption. I figure I will be a bit like a back-bencher in the house of commons. Complete with a two drink minimum and tomatoes.

[Batman]

I got rid of one POTUS and the guy was a freaking genius supervillain, I think I can handle any of you lot if things go too far south (no offense intended), and with the possible exception of some of you getting so frustrated with the status quo that starting a nuclear war to force a Redo From Start begins to look like a workable idea I don't think any of you could be worse than a certain president I shan't name.

Thankfully, being a native born US citizen in a comic book (however popular) doesn't count so I'm not eligible for most of those positions anyway and thus don't have to worry about all this.

[frigidmagi]

Lex Luther may have been a genius but his social skills and human understanding were crap. That's why Lex don't have what we call the social skills The only place he can lead is the corporate sphere, where they reward that crap.

I mean fuck, we had an alien invasion (or 3?) and Lex was sooo obsessed with killing Superman that he took his eye off the ball. Seriously, What the Fuck? I mean you're President of the United States, you wanna win over Superman? Be The Big Damn Hero.

[Steve]

I dunno about President, but Emperor Stephen I of the Empire of America has a nice ring to it.

Actually, as POTUS, my first act would be to provoke an executive branch controversy by issuing orders to US Marine security detachments to the US consulates and embassies world wide that would require them to give aid and succor to American citizens seeking sanctuary regardless of whether the Ambassador and his/her subordinates from the State Department approve. IOW, the next time an American mother shows up with her kids that had been abducted by their foreign father, even if the embassy staff want to turn them away to be nice and polite to their hosts, the Marines would have standing Presidential orders to house and protect them and prepare for their return to American soil via military transport. (Now, if evidence surfaced that the case was not as it appeared, I'd be willing to give singular orders to back down in that case, but otherwise....)

And if the State Department protests, I'll remind them of who their boss is.


I mean, I'd be a one-term President in all likelihood, but by God I'd have the most talked about one-term presidency in history!

[Comrade Tortoise]

I dunno about President, but Emperor Stephen I of the Empire of America has a nice ring to it.

Actually, as POTUS, my first act would be to provoke an executive branch controversy by issuing orders to US Marine security detachments to the US consulates and embassies world wide that would require them to give aid and succor to American citizens seeking sanctuary regardless of whether the Ambassador and his/her subordinates from the State Department approve. IOW, the next time an American mother shows up with her kids that had been abducted by their foreign father, even if the embassy staff want to turn them away to be nice and polite to their hosts, the Marines would have standing Presidential orders to house and protect them and prepare for their return to American soil via military transport. (Now, if evidence surfaced that the case was not as it appeared, I'd be willing to give singular orders to back down in that case, but otherwise....)

And if the State Department protests, I'll remind them of who their boss is.


I mean, I'd be a one-term President in all likelihood, but by God I'd have the most talked about one-term presidency in history!

I like that order. I will adopt it in my single term. Here we have my agenda items, in no particular order. Bolded items are things on the list which I am willing to sacrifice for the others, or which may not be especially relevant given current trends. Most of these will be legislative items which require congressional votes to approve.

Act 1: Executive order to audit the entire department of the interior, and imposition of conflict of interest rules. I would make it illegal, via executive order, to lobby regulatory agencies. If you want to lobby, do it through congress. Those found to have engaged in questionable practices will be prosecuted. All current pesticide registrations will be subject to re-review using the peer reviewed literature, and the testing of "inactive" ingredients like surfactants in pesticide formulations will be mandated retroactively. Those found to have falsified documentation (Like Texas falsifying radiation tests of drinking water) will be prosecuted to the extent that the law permits. Oh, and greenhouse gasses will be cracked down upon (see below)

Act 2: Speaking of congress, my second act would be to create a division of the FBI tasked with rooting out corruption in congress and the federal courts, the the rest of the executive branch, with teeth handed out via special prosecutors. That's right. Justice Thomas' non-discolsure of his wife's income would be prosecuted under my regime.

Act 3: British Petroleum will have to do wetland mitigation under the clean water act, or be debarred from all US drilling operations. Its good to be able to direct the executive branch to do things.

Act 4: Warrantless wiretaps Stop. USA Patriot Act reauthoriztion: VETO. The Convention Against Torture will actually be... you know... enforced. Whistleblowers who have been prosecuted for releasing classified documents will be pardoned. Julian Assange will be granted legal immunity for anything stemming from the existence of Wikileaks.

Act 5: War crimes committed in our current wars will be prosecuted as far up the chain as is necessary. Including past Executives.

Act 6: All Science agencies, including the NIH, NSF, NASA, CDC etc will get budget increases, the use of the VETO will be used as necessary.

Act 7: Actual healthcare reform. I dont care whether it is through massive reforms to private insurance like in germany and the netherlands, or through flat out single payer. I am immune to corruption, and the veto will be used as needed.

Act 8: The DOJ will independently audit all capital convictions. Presidential pardons will be handed out like candy if any come up with even the slightest impropriety or doubt regarding guilt. I may not be able to ban the death penalty, but I DO have unlimited ability to pardon. If applicable, commutation to life will also be done in circumstances where guilt is less in question.

Act 9: a comprehensive non-discrimination act with regard to sexual orientation, gender identity, intersex condition... whatever... will be ram-rodded through congress.

Act 10: Federal recognition of gay marriage will be ram-rodded through congress.

Act 11: substantive consumer protections will be ram-rodded through congress.

Act 12: Regulation of the banking sector that means a damn will be ram-rodded through congress.

Act 13: Closing of tax loopholes, and alteration of the tax code to include additional high-end brackets will be ram-rodded through congress.

Act 14: Reforms of social safety nets to include income-staging and shifts in incentive structures to prevent people from being stuck on assistance because getting a job would actually hurt their income, which is the current condition. Local cost of living will be taken into account. This will be done via executive order or through legislation as necessary.

Act 15: Greenhouse Gas Cap-and-Trade ram-rodded through congress. Failing that, treat them like pollutants

Act 16: USDA and Department of Agriculture regulations and incentive structures shift to encourage family farms again, while the USDA and EPA WILL begin angrier regulation of agricultural runoff, ban the use of growth hormones and anti-biotics in livestock (without vet scripts for individual animals), and mandate independent research into the ability of GM crops to contaminate unmodified strains. Fuck you Monsanto, suing people for having accidentally contaminated crops. Go to Hell.

Act 17: Speaking of GM crops, stem cell research etc... I like them. I just dont like Monsanto, big pharma et al. Because they are evil. Therefore, massive research grants will be given to universities to develop them on the condition that rather than selling patent rights, they license them or distribute them all by their big selves, giving the universities ultimate control over the products of research. This is how things used to be done before Big Agribusiness. Agricultural scientists at land-grant universities developed and distributed seed stock to farmers. These grants would have conditions attached, like price controls. The university would not pay any up-front costs to develop these crops or medical technologies. In exchange, they license them to agribusiness/big pharma which will be permitted to produce and sell them at set markups and pay royalties to the universities, or the universities can do it themselves (other grants will be devoted to developing the infrastructure). The funds from these enterprises will be earmarked by the universities for internal research grants, student aid, new faculty positions etc. Harnessing the power of a multi-billion dollar market to improve our decaying universities and either drive the god damn corporate parasites out of business, or bring them to heel. Monsanto, Merk etc can all eat shit and die.

Act 18: Steve's proposal. I am copying it.

[The Minx]

CT, you'll have a hell of a time getting most of that through congress. I take it you're not much for compromise.

Just a couple of points:

mandated retroactively

The Supreme Court won't allow this one. Ex post facto clause.

price controls

Bad idea - that leads to shortages.

[Comrade Tortoise]

The Supreme Court won't allow this one. Ex post facto clause.

It does not allow LAWS to be applied retroactively. Regulations are not laws, the congress has given the power to regulatory agencies such as the EPA to issue regulations. Now, fines could not be issued for retroactive violations of new regulations, however, a pesticide could be subject to re-registration in the same way that an old factory would need to be brought up to code if the emissions standards changed.

Bad idea - that leads to shortages.

Only with commodity goods with elastic demand. Medications have inelastic demand, so does the seed stock for crops. Just because the price is low does not mean there will be a run on Benzodiazepam, because only certain people need benzodiazepam and only in certain quantities.

[frigidmagi]

Ben does have a point, farmers can only buy so much seed corn, the limit being by how much they can store or plant. Additionally to be blunt, the corporations have a monoploy frankly and have been using it to price gouge the unholy hell out of people (we're going to charge you 5000 times the price of making this! Buwhahahahaha!). They don't need to do that to make a profit and it drives up prices while making farmers poorer for no good end.

That said, Minx is utterly correct that on most goods price controls lead to problems. As Venezuela could tell us.

[The Minx]

It does not allow LAWS to be applied retroactively. Regulations are not laws, the congress has given the power to regulatory agencies such as the EPA to issue regulations. Now, fines could not be issued for retroactive violations of new regulations, however, a pesticide could be subject to re-registration in the same way that an old factory would need to be brought up to code if the emissions standards changed.

If you're not going to fine people retroactively with the regulations, what's the point? Can't you just impose new regulations and have people follow them?

On price controls - they cause shortages even when demand is inelastic, just not as much, and it happens with all kinds of things, not just commodity goods. If you're worried about monopolies on seed types, it would make a lot more sense to promote open-source seed stock for people to use. Draconian measures usually have bad side effects regardless of whether they have noble intentions or not.

[Comrade Tortoise]

If you're not going to fine people retroactively with the regulations, what's the point? Can't you just impose new regulations and have people follow them?

Yes. But I want to avoid old pesticides known to cause massive reproductive and immune system problems in wildlife and people, generations after initial exposure (Yes, the grandchildren of those exposed are affected), being grandfathered in. The same goes for things that are completely untested. As it stands right now, the manufacturer of a pesticide or other chemical only needs to register and test the active ingredient--the substance doing the actual work. If you pick up a can of say, RAID:

.2% Permethrin--Insecticide
.2% Pyrethrin--insecticide

The rest is comprised of unspecified petroleum distillates, isopropyl alchohol and completely unspecified "inert ingredients". None of these require testing, or even specification on a label. There is zero data on their composition, health effects, synergistic effects with the active ingredient etc. That needs to end for reasons which should be obvious, once you consider the fact that the scientific literature shows that these "inert" ingredients in other pesticides can do things like kill frogs on contact at very low doses (but the EPA does not care, and these products remain on the market).

So, while I wont issue fines, the entire industrial formulations of these products needs to be tested, and they need to be tested by completely independent labs, and not the labs internal to or contracted by the company seeking regulatory approval. As it stands now, they are permitted to feather their own nests. See Spoiler Tag for an example:

Spoiler

Show

When Atrazine, an endocrine disruptor that chemically transexualizes frogs and causes reproductive defects and cancer in mammals generations after exposure (at levels orders of magnitude lower than what is considered safe in drinking water for long term exposure) was up for review, one guy named Ron Kendall chaired the EPA Advisory Panel for Atrazine, served on the Endocrine Disruptor panel which advised the Advisory Panel, ran the manufacturer's Scientific Advisory Board and the lab contracted to do the testing, and his lab produced one of the current VPs of the manufacturing company. Can you say regulatory capture?

By the way, Atrazine is the most commonly used pesticide in the US, and can travel 600 kilometers by wind and cloud. Banned in europe though.