Yav,

"What Powell said is inflation may be a step function"

His words were,

"At most, tariffs create a one-time adjustment in prices"

I may actually agree with something Kamala Harris said. Part of what we're experiencing is "greedflation".

Corporate greed exploiting the public's expectation of rising prices.

Yav,

Damn phone...I wasn't ready to post.

Ignore the first part.

Read just the Harris part.

Why does working on the phone automatically do stuff doesn't happen on PC.

The local experts, explain how the tariff deals with other countries will be impacted.

Everyone....

#19

Did I post an opinion or just a link and quote.

Feel free to discredit the article here but the inflammatory comments directed at me, as if it's my opinions, are unnecessary.

Grow up and act like adults.

I'll be sure to put quotes around such posts if its not my writing in the future.

Snoofy,

That's why I post here.

Dems are kooky but some are worth reading if you can tolerate the abuse.

My abusive parents, harassed by some in the military, the open animosity gays my generation put up with gays today typically don't have to, I'm used to living a life of open in your face animosity and passive/aggressive hatred.

Gays today have it good. They just don't appreciate it.

Snoofy,

You see, I'm more "out" than you think.

I'm married but it doesn't throw them off. They can tell I'm not "just one of the guys".

People today are more sophisticated and observant about such things.

You think I haven't been "out". I've never been 'in" since high school.

I just quit that life and committed to my relationship.

Isn't that what people should do anyway?

Snoofy,

"Fact is, having a Beard for a wife, that's old-fashioned."

She's my wife I love, not a beard.

Don't talk about my wife.

Speak,

"And your response is to elect fascists who will take us back to the days when they didn't have it so good so they can suffer like you had to."

It is unfortunate a series of events have been occurring the last few years demonstrating irrational or unfair or inappropriate demands being made by gay rights and liberal activists that are actually hurting gay rights.

Most of these "fascists", as you call them, are reacting defensively, not offensively.

Ultimately, these particular demands will fail.

It is unfortunate nonactivists will suffer the consequences.

I am concerned gays will continue to lose the goodwill previous generations of gay people worked to obtain.

Even, the threat of Gay Marriage being reversed, isn't off the table.

Speak,

Let's cut to the chase.

The issue today isn't gays. Most people have moved on from gay rights and even gay marriage.

The flashpoint now is transgender demands colliding with a society built for two genders.

Yav,

Nothing was given...agreed.

Aren't you just repeating what I said.

Previous generations of gays worked for what gays today take for granted.

But don't be foolish enough to think it can't be lost.

Young people today aren't disciplined or motivated to do much more than play videos games and talk on social networks.

Donner,

Read all my posts collectively to get the full picture.

Don't take my comments out of context.

Donner,

Why name them?

If I don't, that means I'm wrong?

Donner,

If your logic is that my refusal to explain myself proves I'm lying, then what possible reason would I have to waste time engaging you?

Your head is hard.

Impenetrable.

Donner,

You're not debating.

You're baiting.

And I'm not biting.

Snoofy,

Transgenders already have everything gays have.

Laura,

"You're not biting what??"

Here's the answer.

A growing part of society is tired of pretending to believe things that don't square with reality.

Throughout history, men have cross-dressed and lived as women. But no one, including the societies that tolerated it, actually believed they were actually women.

Why must we now be forced to pretend otherwise?

That's what not 'biting means.

Clown,

Transgenders already have everything gays have.

My point is they're wanting more.

Those extra demands are harming the gay population.

Laura,

You may toss out cultures that may pretend this person has the soul of a woman or whatever.

But they all know good and well she's a he.

Laura,

Many of those Two-Spirit people also believed rocks are ancestors.

Laura,

Ok...from what you posted they believe rocks are ancestors.

Lamp,

It's pretty simple.

Transgenders have all the same rights as gays, or things gays want, that straights don't want, like Gay Marriage.

To begin, I will not consider them the opposite gender for argument sake.

Two people who both have the same anatomy can marry, even if one is wearing a white dress.

The whole issue is transgenders are expecting certain accommodations gays don't need, namely wanting society to pretend he's a she.

That was fine for a long time until it turned into an activist issue primarily when minor aged girls or boys started going in the wrong showers and restrooms.

Perhaps a business might chose to use pronouns and such, but he should stay out of the woman's bathroom.

Transgenders have a dilemma. If they want to live the opposite gender, they better get thick skin.

Society is straight. Gays will never be a larger segment of the population than they currently are. Won't happen.

Being gay is tough. Being transgender must be tougher.

I don't know what to suggest but I'll tell you now. Women will not be pushed aside or infringed upon.

Lamp,

I don't lump them, but liberals do.

Because liberals do, they must be addressed as such.

My writing should be clear. I break out transgender from "gay rights".

My take on it is this.

Gays and liberals won Gay Marriage but couldn't just sit back and enjoy their win.

After winning on marriage, liberals needed a new wedge issue.

So this one particular young girl in school wanted to use the boy's showers and was denied. It went to court.

Of course the girl wasn't taking it to court. It was liberals.

But here's the kicker...this isn't even about gays anymore. It's straight liberal activists, likely atheists, weaponizing the issue to jab at Christian values.

That's a little heavy...that's the Cliff Notes version.

Truth,

"Transgenders do not have the right to obtain the medical care that they need and desire."

You're proving my point.

Transgenders are asking for more than gays have historically wanted or needed.

Clown,

Interestingly, Gay Marriage passed and Gavin Grimm's bathroom lawsuit were both filed June 2015.

Yav,

"gays need different things than straight people"

Not really.

Both gays and straights need protection from discrimination.

Gays...it's patchwork but it exists.

And legal recognition of their unions.

Straights and gays basically need the same thing.

Transgenders....it's a different story...should we start with a list?

Yav,

"Bill Johnson, weren't you one of those? I believe you were."

It gets complicated.

I attended a conservative church over 20 years.

But...I was a Democrat at that time.

I never supported gay conversation or whatever.

I have always believed gays can be Christians while some conservatives believe they are mutually exclusive.

After voting Democrat for years, I voted for Trump.

Lamp,

Again...not taking the bait.

Unless you're living in a cave, you should be able to list some things.

Lamp,

Not sure what you mean.

If you're confusing me with another alias, you can relax on that.

I am me and I've always been me and no one else is me.

I'm me.

Snoofy,

You're oblivious apparently.

The military has always had gays serving.

Anyone who had to answer questions had to lie about it.

But that's their whole life. Not just military.

You're showing a total lack of empathy and understanding.

Even today there are people who choose to keep it private and that is their business, not yours.

Keep your ugly attitudes to yourself judging gay people for not coming out.

Speak,

There's no shortage of people who, saying they dislike gays, is putting it mildly.

I could tell you stories, even in the last 10 years, I have had to deal with discrimination.

While Project 2025 contains many elements I agree with, it will be imperative to not undermine protection for gay people.

In fact I would support a full blown Gay Equality Act.

Snoofy,

"One thing Trump is trying to do is kick the transgenders out of the military."

Transgenders in the military is complicated.

The military is responsible for national defense.

Not everyone is allowed to join.

Snoofy,

And I was called a troll??

Begone..

Laura,

"Transgender people have been serving the military without incident."

Not sure what you think "transgender" actually means.

In 2016 they were allowed to wear uniforms of the opposite gender, I believe, if they transitioned.

Since then it's been reversed, reinstated and reversed again.

Like I said, it's complicated.

I think you're confusing gays serving in the military, which is settled, with your idea that military service is about playing dress-up.

Snoofy,

"Why would it matter if a soldier is gay or not?"

The opinion, at one time, was the concern they could be open to blackmail.
And unit cohesiveness. In military culture that is imperative.
Until more recently, straight military men couldn't deal with it.

"Why would it matter if a soldier is trans or not?"

All sorts of issues.
Health, medical needs, putting too much emphasis on personal political demands instead of unit cohesiveness.
There's a lot more to it. Like I said, it's complicated.

I answered you.
Now I'm done with you.

Snoofy,

"You think trans people can be corrected. That they are wrong about who they are.
Why can't gay people be corrected. Why aren't gay people wrong about who they are?"

The current requirements for transitioning do not require mental help reviews or counseling. Only signed consent.

That's fine for adults. It's their decision.

Children is another story. Robust mental health care and ongoing support is a must. If dysphoria persists into later adolescence, then a fully informed decision can be made. Removing parents from the process is a frightening idea in my estimation.

Why can't gay people "be corrected"?

I don't know but I guarantee if they ever figure out how to alter one's sexual orientation, the percentage of gays in the general population would drop.

It's a personal journey figuring out and deciding if you're gay. For some it's plain as day. "NO WAY" or "Of Course". And some others it's a harder decision. Social or political pressure can confuse the situation and create frustration.

Just my opinion.

Redial,

Soaring grocery prices?

Who do you blame it on?

I'll check out your profile or post history to see if I can guess?

Redial,

It all depends on if you believe food prices highest percent increase last 5 years was in 2022 or 2025.

Redial,

I agree with you.

So pick up the thread.

Biden's stimulus checks or Trump's tariffs?

Everyone wants to point fingers when food prices go up. But the data shows inflation spiked in 2022 because of a mix of global and domestic factors.

So what's really pushing prices now? It feels a little too easy to just blame tariffs. What's the real driver?

Last year 2.3

This year so far 2.9

Last year food inflation was 2.3. So far this year it's 2.9.

Are tariffs really enough to explain that extra 0.6?

Or what else?

Grok says I totally get you.

Redial,

I research and write drafts.

AI helps me make my thoughts clearer or less offensive.

I don't always use it.

I researched the rates and used the difference to show how much has gone up.

Accounting was where I worked before retiring.