They don't. Neither do people who took out loans deserve to be handed free money.

More people would probably support your position regarding the questioning of Biden's debt relief for students if student loans could be discharged in bankruptcy. Also, during the Great Recession, banks got bail outs. During covid, lots and lots of businesses got loans forgiven. Why shouldn't students have their loans forgiven?

The debt forgiveness genie is out of the bottle and anyone looking to put it back in is going to catch a lot of grief.

Their interest is in the economic growth that comes from developments that leads to increased tax revenue to the municipality.

It is that attitude that will eventually FORCE the insurer of last resort (the federal gov't) to begin to impose tighter restrictions on national building codes. If not done directly through legislation/regulation, it will be done through increasingly high disaster insurance rates; rates high enough to make the average homeowner not want to purchase or rebuild in disaster prone areas.

Which really goes back to my point: Since states write the rules for insurance companies, why hasn't anyone simply mandated comprehensive defacto "no fault" property insurance?

For the same reason that they don't adequately put in places sufficient restrictions on development in disaster prone areas: they care more about the developers (i.e. their donors) than they do about the unwitting victims that buy into these areas.

But something else is at play: In 2011, Florida's Republican-controlled state legislature loosened decades-old state regulations meant to keep development in high-risk areas at a reasonable pace, or to discourage developers from building on low-lying wetlands, Keenan said.

Around the same time, former Gov. Rick Scott and Republican lawmakers approved a state budget that got rid of the Department of Community Affairs, a state office regulating growth and development.

"That opened the door for unrestrained development in ways that put people at a lot of risk, particularly flood risks," Keenan said.

Ukraine Applying for NATO Membership

The time to buy fire insurance is before the fire.

Putin rightly suspects that if the current war fails to achieve his objectives, Ukraine will be granted NATO membership and his desire to annex parts of Ukraine are loss forever. This will make him even more determined to tough it out. But, Putin is holding a losing hand and Ukraine/NATO will not be bluffed. He had best play his trump (no pun intended) card and see what happens or forever be ridiculed as the Russian president that lost the war. Either way, he is a loser.

all the actions he took before the siege on Jan. 6, 2021, were in preparation for orders he anticipated from the then-president

Ah... The Trump con has struck again. Unless the Oath Keepers can provide irrefutable evidence of Trump's intent, they are up schitts creek without a paddle.

Trump has tapped into the prejudices, anxieties and fears of a large swath of Americans and is exploiting them for all they are worth; often times to their detriment: criminal and financial.

But it appears that Citizens is about to exhaust all their reserves if these damage estimates prove correct.

I fault politicians for allowing Citizens to have such a small reserve, allowing people to build in flood plains, failing to adopt building codes that would force buildings to be more "hurricane proof", etc. But, such is life when you have a bunch of (red state) politicians that eschew regulations. Who suffers when calamity strikes: average citizens most of whom prioritize social issues, gun rights, etc. over common sense regulations.

I get it that Fl can be a beautiful place to live. So can other areas that aren't so prone to hurricanes. Why should the federal government keep coming to the rescue of places that repeatedly keep being destroyed yet REFUSE to update their flood prone maps and put into place common sense regulations to minimize future damages? Talk about a colossal waste of federal money.

If you want to live in disaster prone areas, be prepared to lose everything and stop expecting the feds to come to your aid.

Most U.S. Republicans Reject 'MAGA' Label

To help those republicans that may be confused by their MAGA status I offer the following:

If you believe that a wall should be built on our southern border and that Mexico will pay for it, you might be MAGA.

If you believe that Obama was not an American citizen, you might be MAGA.

If you believe that Trump's inauguration crowd was larger than Obama's, you might be MAGA.

If you believe that the 2020 presidential election was not fairly decided, you might be MAGA.

If you believe that antifa masquerading as Trump supporters were responsible for the Jan 6 insurrection, you might be MAGA.

If you believe that the people that stormed the capitol were tourists, you might be MAGA.

If you believe that Trump's call to Zelensky that resulted in his 1st impeachment was "perfect", you might be MAGA.

If you believe that it is ok to grab women by the p...y, you might be MAGA.

If you believe that the Mueller report completely exonerated Trump, you might be MAGA.

The treaty should be honored. Period.

Were the Cherokee counted as Oklahoma residents in the census that resulted in Oklahoma receiving its number of congressional representatives? If so and the Cherokee were removed from the count, would Oklahoma have the same number of representatives?

The Trump tax cuts incentivized moving jobs overseas.

The movement of jobs overseas started happening long before Trump; and, if memory serves me correctly, it wasn't just republicans. It was Ross Perot that talked about that "giant sucking sound" of jobs leaving the US as a result of NAFTA. NAFTA happened under a democrat Bill Clinton.

Both parties are responsible for the manufacturing decline in the US. Both parties deserted the American worker and pushed them and the small towns in which many of them live into difficult situations.

While NAFTA was an issue, the real problem was the outsourcing of manufacturing to Asia. At least by keeping the jobs in the Americas, we were able to decrease the flow of illegal immigrants from Mexico. The outsourcing of jobs to Asia provided no relief to the our illegal immigration problem. If some of those jobs that went to Asia went to Central and South America, we wouldn't have such a desperate situation on our southern border.

We solved one problem (i.e. developed strong allies to counter the influence of China) but caused another (i.e. large flow of migrants crossing our southern border).

A constant refrain from the Vietnam War Era was "Hell no, we won't go".

It has made a come back, in spades, in Putin's war against Ukraine. Not only are protesters in the street, but Putin allies are turning up dead.

I don't see how Putin survives this. His only hope is to brutally suppress dissent because when he leaves, the follow on government is coming after him and his oligarchs. The people of Russia will reclaim what has been stolen from them.

Rudy G agreed to pay and therefore he should pay up or face the consequences. However, feminists should be in a tizzy about the concept of alimony. Alimony is a relic of the past that (most?) women are trying to put behind them i.e. when women couldn't vote and were systematically constrained in their educational, financial and job opportunities.

However, child support and alimony for spouses providing primary care of minor children is warranted. But once the child reaches adulthood, alimony should end after a year or two so as to ease the dependent spouse's transition to independence.

Liz Cheney Says She Will Not Remain a Republican If Donald Trump Is GOP Nominee in 2024

I was glad to see that she added the qualifier: "If Donald Trump Is GOP Nominee in 2024". If Trump does decide to run, I would like to see Cheney also run for president. She would give him fits on the campaign trail bringing up his Jan 6 missteps at every campaign stop. She would be relentless.

If the reason some members don't want to do a criminal referral is because of Trump's prior status as president, they are hypocrites. They can't take a position that "no man is above the law"; that "Trump should be treated like any other citizen" and then turn around and take a position that Trump shouldn't be prosecuted because he is a former president and that there might be political consequences. If a criminal referral for John/Jane Doe would be warranted under similar circumstances, it should be warranted for Trump.

The same reasoning applies for subpoenaing Trump and/or Pence. Just because the report has to be written is no reason to not issue a subpoena. If the repubs take control of congress in 2023, let them bear the weight of withdrawing the subpoena.

Dems always seem to over think these things: if you think the man is a criminal, make the referral.

Just do what you think is right and deal with the consequences!

Since the root cause of migration from Central and South America has to do with poor economic conditions and violence, the obvious solution is to provide an alternative. Since corruption and violence is a real problem in those sending countries which won't do right by their people, find countries in the region that aren't corrupt/violent and willing to accept immigrants, incentivize American companies to invest in them. Let them become the magnet for some of the migrants so as to reduce the huge numbers that want to come to the USA.

Especially for the supremes. Since the courts can't seem to manage themselves ethically maybe Congress needs to step in.

Congress and the Executive need to reform the court. Just enlarging it isn't the answer. However, randomly selecting SCOTUS justices for each term from appellate judges with substantial experience is. Their appointment to the court would last for a single term and they would revert back to being appellate judges and a new crop of justices would be selected for the following term. The outgoing justices would select the cases to be heard by the incoming justices.

If you can answer those four questions, then you are capable of intellectual honesty.

It is simply ASTOUNDING that someone would conflate the legal, authorized actions of the federal government with the political stunt that DeSantis is pulling and think that they are making a convincing argument! Do they really believe what they are writing or are words just falling out of their brain and onto the keyboard?

I'm reminded of sentences produced by an AI bot; they are legible but make no sense.

House GOP Eyes Repeal of Dems' Drug Pricing Law

That will win them a lot of votes. But, because of gerrymandered district, voters are of little consequence. The big donors are all that matters.

and not be fired by Trump

That's the f..king key! With Trump, you have to get a LARGE, non refundable retainer; just like the $3M retainer just paid out to a recent top attorney hired by Trump. As that retainer beings to wind down, demand that it be replenished (monthly?) or Trump will be dropped as a client. With such a large retainer and replenishment as it dwindles, there is no fear of being fired so Trump's threat of firing will have little or no impact on a lawyer's willingness to stay.

As a attorney, once Trump has you in his pocket, you will try to please him (by lying) or quit and not get paid.

And we were worried about leaving them all of that expensive military gear.

there is just something weird about this.

Exactly! Certain facts, like the size of an apartment is easily determined. Banks and insurance companies have the means to do the type of investigation to verify certain claims made by Trump. I believe they choose not to. The next shoe to drop in this investigation should be of the banks and insurance companies that let Trump (and others?) get away with this type of fraud.

This "partial mobilization" of people with military experience." is going to lead to Putin's downfall. These people were minding their own business and building a life for themselves. All of a sudden, Putin is calling them up to risk their lives for a war of his choosing; a war that doesn't threaten the Russian people! They are going to be pissed and the people that are going to bear the brunt of their anger will be the officers in the field. These officers will be dropping like flies from "friendly fire", fragging, etc.

Russian public opinion is turning against Putin. This call up of reservists will only exacerbate things.

Use of tactical nuclear weapons by Russia would put a target on every major piece of infrastructure in Russia; including the Kremlin itself. I have no doubt that Biden would authorize the sell and use of long range missiles, fighter aircraft, etc. to the Ukrainians. Couple that with precise targeting instructions and Russia is in for a real fight. But, before that happens, I suspect someone close to Putin will put him out of his misery.

Student Loan Forgiveness Will Hurt Military Recruiting

For decades, there has been all of this talk about so few families with members that have served or all currently serving. Ok then, re-instate the draft. Give ALL families the same opportunity to serve.

The new draft doesn't necessarily mean being drafted into the military; it could be any form of public service. As long as there are plenty of well paying job opportunities, young people will choose those over military service.

I hope they pass this proposed bill around to numerous constitutional scholars to have them try to pick holes in it.

I have no faith that congress critters, on their own, can even come close to writing a bullet proof piece of legislation. And, this proposed legislation must be bullet proof.

Where We'll End Up Living as the Planet Burns

Environmentalist, logging companies and government have to reach an accommodation: Logging companies should be permitted to log certain areas in an environmentally friendly manner that would make these large wildfires less likely and more easily controlled if/when they occur. It would seem that there is a pattern (checkerboard with large, undisturbed wild life transit areas?) of logging that would have a reduced impact on the habitat of wild life yet reduce the severity of fires when they occur.

Additional benefits of such an approach would be more timber available for construction, reduced pollutants put into the atmosphere due to fire and reduced impact on wild life due to fire induced habitat loss.

If You Care About Your Country and Your Rights, Don't Vote for Any Republicans in 2022

If ever there was a party that needed a strong and clear message that it is headed for the trash bin of history, a thorough and consequential drubbing up and down the ballot would send that message.

The question is: "is America ready to send that message"?