Chit-Chat: The Feels

[Dimity]

I believe while it won't be a comeuppance there will be a "sucks to be you" moment in 2026.  If Trump and his merry band of incompetents continue  down this path they are not going to keep the House and/or the Senate.  Maybe, just maybe, then some of them will grow a spine.  Probably not.

[Dimity]

[kittykat]

I'm not watching the inauguration. Not one second.  I'm glad Michelle Obama is not attending.  I wonder if Karen Pence is sitting out as well considering the dagger stares she gave him at the funeral.

[Annber03]

I'll be at work that day, so thankfully I'll have that to distract me. 

Even if I were home, though, yeah. No. No watching it. I didn't watch the first one, either, in 2017. I can find plenty of actual entertaining stuff to watch instead. 

[Lantern7]

2 hours ago, Dimity said:

No lies detected. I don't know what's worse . . . that the largest feasible bad thing that would happen to Carrie would be that she would be pulled from singing the "anthem" for NBC's football block, or that Carrie getting pulled will never happen no matter how many people object to her now. She wants to sing before a football game? Stick her in Amazon's Thursday night coverage, where two sub-.500 teams bumble around for three-plus hours.

PS: Does this make her the anti-Taylor?

Edited January 15 by Lantern7

[anony.miss]

13 hours ago, heatherchandler said:

I haven’t seen one person actually post that they support him. 

People posted Trump support here - you likely missed the comments.

Quote

You might have gleaned that from what they posted

No need to glean - when someone openly supports a convicted felon and criminally liable sex offender,  the message comes through loud and clear.

Edited January 15 by anony.miss

[Yeah No]

13 hours ago, Avaleigh said:

You need an ID to have a job in most places. You need an ID for taxes. I've frequently needed an ID for certain medical appointments mainly if it's at a new doctor's office. You need an ID to have a social life for the most part. Even if you don't drink, you still need an ID if you want to dance at a club. You need an ID to travel even if it's simply domestic travel. You need one at the airport, you need one to rent a car, and you need one when you check into a hotel. I just can't understand not getting one if it's in a person's power to do so. Even if it meant spending hours at the DMV (which many of us have done at some point in our lives including myself), even if it means walking to get there or getting someone to give you a ride, even if it means having to make a temporary cut your budget in order to pay for it--whatever it takes--just get an ID for the love of heaven. 

You often need an ID to pick up an online order at a store or get a membership card to Costco or BJs. Or packages at the Post Office.

11 hours ago, fastiller said:

Just one story. How were a lot of minors able to enlist in the US army during WW2?

My mother enlisted in the Women's Army Corps. during WWII when she was a year underage. She did it by altering her ID. I don't know how or which one but I do know that back in the day it was much easier for the average person to do this and get away with it. 

8 hours ago, EtheltoTillie said:

We have nondriver IDs in NYS, and you still get them at DMV.  But it's not so hard here, even though DMV is notorious.  Also they don't ask for voter ID in New York.  People in general do get the IDs just to have ID. 

Most states have non-driver IDs now. My non-driver BFF in NYC has had one for a long time.

The problem with the DMV since the pandemic, at least here in CT, is that you can't do anything with them, even talk on the phone, without an appointment. It's very prohibitive.

[Yeah No]

I gave my husband and our political friend that Pew Research political type quiz and not surprisingly my husband came out a "Stressed Sideliner", which means he's right in the middle. So he's a true Independent, and one of those that tends to be liberal on social issues but more conservative on financial ones. Our friend came out an "Establishment Liberal" which was also no surprise. When I went over my responses with our friend they were very similar so we're wondering why I got "Democratic Mainstay" instead. That makes me wonder just how close to the "edge" I was on that quiz. Anyway, it is certainly interesting and I will be giving it to my other friends to see how they come out.

[Soapy Goddess]

 

Quote

And selling their souls in the process.

And here comes the righteous indignation 🙄

17 hours ago, FilmTVGeek80 said:

It’s not a “theory.” One of the members of the band even gave a recent interview where he talked about not initially wanting the felon to use their music and sending a cease and desist letter. The only reason he changed his mind is because he realized how much money he could make from that idiot using their music. 

Exactly!! Even if it WAS a "theory", now it's not. So what's the problem?

And why are you so against someone changing their mind?  

 

Edited January 15 by Soapy Goddess

[Soapy Goddess]

15 hours ago, Spartan Girl said:

Fuck the Village People and fuck Carrie Underwood.

I'm so sick of the "put politics aside" bullshit. Too many people have conflated "politics" with "basic human empathy and decency."

And the report coming out today that Jack Smith would have been able to convict if Trump hadn't been reelected makes me want to text my former friend that refused to vote and rip them a new one. But we haven't spoken in months, they haven't tried to initiate any conversation with me, so I doubt they'd really care how hurt, angry, and betrayed I'm feeling. 

So the entire country should just go on and continue to hate one another?! How lovely. Talk about empathy and decency...

15 hours ago, heatherchandler said:

I haven’t seen one person actually post that they support him.  You might have gleaned that from what they posted but no one has outright posted it.

Susan Sarandon can say whatever she wants, she has every right.  I don’t understand why anyone would care what her thoughts are on politics.  She’s an actress.  Why would her opinion matter to me?

Well said, heatherchandler. Apparently some people don't have a mind of their own, so they must listen to their favorite celebrity to see what they're doing. It's the monkey see, monkey do mentality.

Edited January 15 by Soapy Goddess

[Soapy Goddess]

14 hours ago, Anela said:

more than one have said they wanted a different thread, where they could celebrate his win, and be happy.  

And you would be wrong regarding their motivation. It's not that they NEED a different thread to be happy. That's absurd. It would just be nice to post without having the majority twisting one's words with total negativity. Which is really disappointing because PT'er used to be all about inclusivity!

There's nothing wrong with celebrating a win. It's much better than all the doom and gloom being posted in this thread. 

But TPTB deemed it necessary to have "the feels" thread for one faction, while totally ignoring the others!  You all talk about fair, but this is far from it.

[Soapy Goddess]

4 hours ago, Dimity said:

She's not singing "TO" anyone. She's singing to America, about America. Betty Bowers needs to brush up on her comedy.

[Lisa418722]

I'm off work on Monday because it's also MLK Day.  I will not watch ANY news on Monday or Tuesday.  I'll have the TV on Oxygen or ID because true crime will be easier to watch.  

[tres bien]

I don’t have a crystal ball but I doubt any of the republican senators will pay a price for anything they do over the next four years as long as they don’t cross Trump. 

If they do he will endorse a primary challenger (right Joni Ernst) and that will be end of any tiny bit of independence that have had

I had high hopes for the House this time around and the Democrats almost pulled it off. If the republicans in the house spend the next two years wasting everyone’s time with bogus investigations and “legislation” like they did yesterday then maybe 2026 will save us from the MAGA stranglehold on us 

Edited Wednesday at 12:42 PM by tres bien

[annzeepark914]

4 hours ago, Soapy Goddess said:

And you would be wrong regarding their motivation. It's not that they NEED a different thread to be happy. That's absurd. It would just be nice to post without having the majority twisting one's words with total negativity. Which is really disappointing because PT'er used to be all about inclusivity!

There's nothing wrong with celebrating a win. It's much better than all the doom and gloom being posted in this thread. 

But TPTB deemed it necessary to have "the feels" thread for one faction, while totally ignoring the others!  You all talk about fair, but this is far from it.

So...ask PT to set up a thread for those of you who *are* celebrating Trump's win. Then you can avoid coming here and getting annoyed.

[Dimity]

11 minutes ago, annzeepark914 said:

So...ask PT to set up a thread for those of you who *are* celebrating Trump's win. Then you can avoid coming here and getting annoyed.

Rather on brand for Trump supporters, snatching umbrage from the jaws of victory.

[Annber03]

5 hours ago, Soapy Goddess said:

So the entire country should just go on and continue to hate one another?! How lovely. Talk about empathy and decency...

One doesnt' get to support a party that runs on hatred of those who are different from them,by virtue of their gendersexual orientation/race/etc. and then act shocked when those the party hates respond in kind. 

Quote

Well said, heatherchandler. Apparently some people don't have a mind of their own, so they must listen to their favorite celebrity to see what they're doing. It's the monkey see, monkey do mentality.

That description could certainly apply to supporters of Trump, who, lets remember, was a celebrity when he entered politics. 

4 hours ago, Soapy Goddess said:

And you would be wrong regarding their motivation. It's not that they NEED a different thread to be happy. That's absurd. It would just be nice to post without having the majority twisting one's words with total negativity. Which is really disappointing because PT'er used to be all about inclusivity!

There's nothing wrong with celebrating a win. It's much better than all the doom and gloom being posted in this thread. 

But TPTB deemed it necessary to have "the feels" thread for one faction, while totally ignoring the others!  You all talk about fair, but this is far from it.

I mean, if you want to celebrate the fact that we're about to have a guy who treid to violently overthrow a democratic election and who has numerous sexual assault allegations and other criminal charages against him, and who leads a party that wants to take away rights from women and minorities, take office again, that's your call, I guess.

Again, it continues to amaze me all the downplaying of the reasons why there's so much negativity around this particular incoming administration, as if our reasons to be negative and worried and angry aren't completely valid and logical. 

Edited Wednesday at 01:34 PM by Annber03

[Is Everyone Gone]

Well I am shocked. Two of my co-workers were talking today about how much they loved Andrew Tate. I said Andrew Tate said horrible things about women and they were snapping at me for "taking things out of context."

Both of them are LGBT, black women.

[tres bien]

The democrati voters may have been happy to see Manchin and Sinema exit but hello 2025 and now we have John Ftterman

Fetterman and his wife went to MLA this week to meet the MAGA master this week 

Yep so now the senate democrats have to spend the next two years holding their fire against him I hopes of keeping his seat in 2026

😤

[annzeepark914]

9 minutes ago, tres bien said:

The democrati voters may have been happy to see Manchin and Sinema exit but hello 2025 and now we have John Ftterman

Fetterman and his wife went to MLA this week to meet the MAGA master this week 

Yep so now the senate democrats have to spend the next two years holding their fire against him I hopes of keeping his seat in 2026

😤

Maybe Josh Shapiro could run against him in a primary?  There's just something about Fetterman's attitude that bothers me. 

[Ohiopirate02]

19 minutes ago, tres bien said:

The democrati voters may have been happy to see Manchin and Sinema exit but hello 2025 and now we have John Ftterman

Fetterman and his wife went to MLA this week to meet the MAGA master this week 

Yep so now the senate democrats have to spend the next two years holding their fire against him I hopes of keeping his seat in 2026

😤

Fetterman is not up for reelection until 2028.

[tres bien]

30 minutes ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

Fetterman is not up for reelection until 2028.

That’s too bad. He’ll have four years to make the senate democrats lives a living hell.

I’ve never been a fan of his. and he’s obviously not interested in being a team player

[Yeah No]

2 hours ago, annzeepark914 said:

So...ask PT to set up a thread for those of you who *are* celebrating Trump's win. Then you can avoid coming here and getting annoyed.

I just took a look at the "Everything Else" section and anyone can start a topic in it, so there's no need to ask the Admin. of the site to do it.

Also, I have probably said this before, but I think we are just too divided ideologically for it to be realistic to expect both sides of this divide to co-exist peacefully here. I think that's unfortunate, but it's reality.

7 hours ago, Soapy Goddess said:

But TPTB deemed it necessary to have "the feels" thread for one faction, while totally ignoring the others!  You all talk about fair, but this is far from it.

Again, as far as I can see there's nothing stopping anyone from starting such a thread on this section of the board.

[Dimity]

13 minutes ago, Yeah No said:

But TPTB deemed it necessary to have "the feels" thread for one faction, while totally ignoring the others!  You all talk about fair, but this is far from it.

(Sorry Yeah No - for some reason this quote from Soapy got attributed to you!)

Anyway that's not exactly accurate, unless the TPTB had second sight they had no way of knowing who was going to win the election when this thread was created in September.

What you're seeing is that most people prepared to speak out here about their feelings happen to be against having an Insurrectionist/Felon elected president. 

If you are feeling overwhelmed, well, take heart.  You can go almost anywhere else to talk about how happy the Insurrectionist/Felon being elected has made you.  It's not hard to find such places. 

Edited Wednesday at 03:48 PM by Dimity

[bluegirl147]

13 hours ago, Dimity said:

If Trump and his merry band of incompetents continue  down this path they are not going to keep the House and/or the Senate. 

I haven't looked at the map yet but the Senate gets harder to stay/flip Blue each election cycle. I know that Jon Osoff's seat is up for reelection in GA and that will most likely be the seat most likely to flip.  

11 hours ago, Annber03 said:

I'll be at work that day, so thankfully I'll have that to distract me.

Me too.  I trust our fellow posters here who can stomach it will watch and inform us of what I'm sure will be some cringeworthy moments.

7 hours ago, Soapy Goddess said:

And here comes the righteous indignation

If refusing to support or even like a convicted felon,someone found in court be liable for a sexual assault.  Someone who bragged about sexual assault.  Someone who instigated an insurrection which resulted in people dying.  Someone willing to sell our government to the highest bidder.  Then I think I have the right to have righteous indignation.  

 

7 hours ago, Soapy Goddess said:

So the entire country should just go on and continue to hate one another?! How lovely. Talk about empathy and decency...

Let's not act like the right doesn't say fuck you to people who support people they don't like and not support people they do like.  Dixie Chicks ring a bell? I don't see anyone burning anything of Carrie Underwoods or the Village People.

7 hours ago, Soapy Goddess said:

Apparently some people don't have a mind of their own, so they must listen to their favorite celebrity to see what they're doing.

Considering Trump was a celebrity before a presidential candidate the answer is yes for his base.

2 hours ago, Annber03 said:

Again, it continues to amaze me all the downplaying of the reasons why there's so much negativity around this particular incoming administration, as if our reasons to be negative and worried and angry aren't completely valid and logical. 

Just basing our feelings on things Trump has said himself is enough reason to be apprehensive about his plans for this country.

1 hour ago, Is Everyone Gone said:

Well I am shocked. Two of my co-workers were talking today about how much they loved Andrew Tate. I said Andrew Tate said horrible things about women and they were snapping at me for "taking things out of context."

Both of them are LGBT, black women.

Isn't he the guy that was  hiding out in Eastern Europe because he was accused of sex trafficking?

1 hour ago, tres bien said:

The democrati voters may have been happy to see Manchin and Sinema exit but hello 2025 and now we have John Ftterman

He has become such a disappointment.  I knew who he was years ago when  he was mayor of a blue collar suburb of Pittsburgh.  Maybe his stroke was worse than we thought.

1 hour ago, annzeepark914 said:

Maybe Josh Shapiro could run against him in a primary?

I absolutely think he gets primaried and Shapiro would probably easily beat him. He is much more of an establishment Democrat and in this instance that would help.

1 hour ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

Fetterman is not up for reelection until 2028.

I won't be surprised if he changes his party affiliation to Republican. Or Independent.

[Anela]

7 hours ago, Soapy Goddess said:

And you would be wrong regarding their motivation. It's not that they NEED a different thread to be happy. That's absurd. It would just be nice to post without having the majority twisting one's words with total negativity. Which is really disappointing because PT'er used to be all about inclusivity!

There's nothing wrong with celebrating a win. It's much better than all the doom and gloom being posted in this thread. 

But TPTB deemed it necessary to have "the feels" thread for one faction, while totally ignoring the others!  You all talk about fair, but this is far from it.

I didn’t make any assumptions about your motivation, I just said that you wanted a thread where you could celebrate.  Because that’s what you said.  You could put us on ignore, and celebrate with the people who have agreed with your posts.  The doom and gloom is here for a good reason, that you choose to ignore.  

8 hours ago, Soapy Goddess said:

So the entire country should just go on and continue to hate one another?! How lovely. Talk about empathy and decency...

Well said, heatherchandler. Apparently some people don't have a mind of their own, so they must listen to their favorite celebrity to see what they're doing. It's the monkey see, monkey do mentality.

Now you are actually making a big assumption.  Susan Sarandon isn’t my favourite celebrity, and I don’t follow her anywhere.  I disagreed with her in 2016, when she said that Hillary would be worse than trump.  I simply stated that she’s an informed citizen, who has every right to speak up about politics.  We all do.  And you just elected a celebrity.  To me, he will always be the former host of the apprentice.  That’s it.  You accuse people of not thinking for themselves, when you spread disinformation. I responded to you about the gas prices, where trump admitted that inflation was all his fault.  No response, after you’d blamed Biden for all of it.  

2 hours ago, Annber03 said:

One doesnt' get to support a party that runs on hatred of those who are different from them,by virtue of their gendersexual orientation/race/etc. and then act shocked when those the party hates respond in kind. 

That description could certainly apply to supporters of Trump, who, lets remember, was a celebrity when he entered politics. 

I mean, if you want to celebrate the fact that we're about to have a guy who treid to violently overthrow a democratic election and who has numerous sexual assault allegations and other criminal charages against him, and who leads a party that wants to take away rights from women and minorities, take office again, that's your call, I guess.

Again, it continues to amaze me all the downplaying of the reasons why there's so much negativity around this particular incoming administration, as if our reasons to be negative and worried and angry aren't completely valid and logical. 

Yep! 

Edited Wednesday at 04:35 PM by Anela

[Bookish Jen]

Like many of you, I will not watch the inauguration this upcoming Monday. I wanted to do some volunteer work that day, but unfortunately, I didn't find any convenient opportunities. So instead, I hope to get together with a friend for lunch and a bit of shopping.

[Dimity]

1 hour ago, Bookish Jen said:

Like many of you, I will not watch the inauguration this upcoming Monday.

Same.  I am going back into hibernation mode.  I am sure I'll hear about it when Trump licks inflation and you all are paying 99 cents for a dozen eggs.  Until then I'll just focus on my furrowed middlebrow women's fiction and enjoy my winter.

[peacheslatour]

I will be sitting on a nail for the entirety of the inauguration. I still keep asking myself, with voters like these how did Obama win so overwhelmingly?

[Anela]

1 hour ago, Bookish Jen said:

Like many of you, I will not watch the inauguration this upcoming Monday. I wanted to do some volunteer work that day, but unfortunately, I didn't find any convenient opportunities. So instead, I hope to get together with a friend for lunch and a bit of shopping.

 

4 minutes ago, Dimity said:

Same.  I am going back into hibernation mode.  I am sure I'll hear about it when Trump licks inflation and you all are paying 99 cents for a dozen eggs.  Until then I'll just focus on my furrowed middlebrow women's fiction and enjoy my winter.

Same. I was just thinking about how much reading I want to try to do, instead of being so distracted. If my dad has the day off, I might see if we can go to my favourite independent bookstore (that's close-ish to me), and get a book for one of my reading challenges. If I don't need the money for anything else, and the weather isn't terrible. 

3 minutes ago, peacheslatour said:

I will be sitting on a nail for the entirety of the inauguration. I still keep asking myself, with voters like these how did Obama win so overwhelmingly?

I know. Ohio went blue for him, both times. He won easily, both times. 

[Ohiopirate02]

13 minutes ago, peacheslatour said:

I will be sitting on a nail for the entirety of the inauguration. I still keep asking myself, with voters like these how did Obama win so overwhelmingly?

 

11 minutes ago, Anela said:

I know. Ohio went blue for him, both times. He won easily, both times. 

It's because the GOP saw this and went into action to preserve their power. They got some major assists from people like Rupert Murdoch and other heads of media, and figured out how to make social media like Facebook work for them.

[bluegirl147]

33 minutes ago, peacheslatour said:

I still keep asking myself, with voters like these how did Obama win so overwhelmingly?

For some crazy reason a lot of Obama voters voted for Trump.  I have a former coworker who did.  He said he wanted change in 2008 and wanted change in 2016.  I also think a lot of voters who stayed home in 2016 and 2024 were most likely Obama voters.  I also think a lot of people wanted to vote for the first African American president.

14 minutes ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

 

It's because the GOP saw this and went into action to preserve their power. They got some major assists from people like Rupert Murdoch and other heads of media, and figured out how to make social media like Facebook work for them.

This is true.  An African American being elected and by a comfortable margin, scared the fuck out of Republicans. I remember how they criticized him for having huge crowds. Said he was acting like a celebrity.  So what did they do?  They went and got a celebrity of their own.

 

But it is crazy to me how after the 2012 election the Republican party was being written off as dead. They even did an autopsy and confirmed they had a limited appeal to older white people. That they needed to be more inclusive of young people, people of color and other marginalized groups.  So what did they do? They went with Donald Trump.  And now 12 years later it's the Democratic Party being written off as dead.  Someone make it make sense.

Edited Wednesday at 07:15 PM by bluegirl147

[PRgal]

Professor Tiger Mom Amy Chua will be at the inauguration, a guest of JD Vance, according to The Free Press.   I've never read her book and I don't intend to.  At the same time, however, I'm worried that I've unintentionally become a Tiger Mom based on the extra-curricular activities I've enrolled my son in (e.g. piano lessons...the stereotype is that for Asian families, there are only two appropriate primary instruments:  piano and violin; swimming, tennis (though if you ask my dad, he'd want him in golf.  Most golf camps don't take kids under 8) and STEM camps).

[peacheslatour]

5 minutes ago, PRgal said:

Professor Tiger Mom Amy Chua will be at the inauguration, a guest of JD Vance, according to The Free Press.   I've never read her book and I don't intend to.  At the same time, however, I'm worried that I've unintentionally become a Tiger Mom based on the extra-curricular activities I've enrolled my son in (e.g. piano lessons...the stereotype is that for Asian families, there are only two appropriate primary instruments:  piano and violin; swimming, tennis (though if you ask my dad, he'd want him in golf.  Most golf camps don't take kids under 8) and STEM camps).

Over scheduling can hinder the creative impulse in children.

[Absolom]

This could be very interesting if the economy doesn't improve quickly.  

https://www.npr.org/2025/01/15/nx-s1-5259893/poll-trump-immigration-economy-favorability

Quote

"The opening round of the second term is not going well with the public," said Lee Miringoff, director of the Marist Institute for Public Opinion, which conducted the survey of 1,387 adults. "Americans are not convinced of Trump's agenda pillars, including pardons and tariffs. Mass deportations are only getting mixed reviews."

The core of why Trump got another term was negative feelings about the economy. Voters said throughout the campaign that their top concern was inflation, specifically prices. But bringing down prices, Trump said after the election, will likely be "hard" despite his promises to fix the economy.

Bolding mine.

He's already admitting bringing prices down will be hard.  All on his own it will be impossible.  There are more factors than the president's wishes.  😄

Edited Wednesday at 07:36 PM by Absolom

[Dimity]

11 minutes ago, PRgal said:

At the same time, however, I'm worried that I've unintentionally become a Tiger Mom based on the extra-curricular activities I've enrolled my son i

When I think of a Tiger Mom it isn't someone who has her child in extra-curricular activities, it's someone who expects - no demands - her child excel in all those activities plus their school work.  If you're happy he's participating and wants to be there you're not a Tiger Mom.  If you insist he continue to participate in activities even if he doesn't want to (and not just the usual token of protest that most kids do make) then you might be a Tiger Mom.

[Ohiopirate02]

2 minutes ago, Absolom said:

This could be very interesting if the economy doesn't improve quickly.  

Bolding mine.

He's already admitting bringing prices down will be hard.  All on his own it will be impossible.  There are more factors than the president's wishes.  😄

As much as I hated those absurd stickers with a picture of Joe Biden saying "I did that" pointing to the gas price, I feel the Dems needs to do something similar to Trump. Someone really needs to make the public aware that the higher costs that will happen with those tariffs are solely the fault of Trump.

[bluegirl147]

4 minutes ago, Absolom said:

He's already admitting bringing prices down will be hard.  All on his own it will be impossible.  There are more factors than the president's wishes. 

One reason prices, especially grocery prices, are high is because companies charge what they can get away.  Corporate greed.  Some exec at Kroger said as much. There is no reason to think they will lower prices simply because Trump wants to look good.

[PRgal]

9 minutes ago, peacheslatour said:

Over scheduling can hinder the creative impulse in children.

Exactly.  Kiddo has a friend who is in something after school every day plus weekends.  Parents work, sure, and they need their children in something, but costs for activities can be higher than childcare.  So why not just do childcare?   

[bluegirl147]

1 minute ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

As much as I hated those absurd stickers with a picture of Joe Biden saying "I did that" pointing to the gas price, I feel the Dems needs to do something similar to Trump. Someone really needs to make the public aware that the higher costs that will happen with those tariffs are solely the fault of Trump.

Maybe buy billboards close to stores that will have products affected by tariffs. Unless it is drilled into MAGA's heads Trump is to blame they won't believe it.  They won't hear it on Fox and they don't watch any other news.

[peacheslatour]

Just now, PRgal said:

Exactly.  Kiddo has a friend who is in something after school every day plus weekends.  Parents work, sure, and they need their children in something, but costs for activities can be higher than childcare.  So why not just do childcare?   

I always worked at least pert time when my son was small. He had some wonderful daycare programs, usually at his school. But there were lessons of course. It was important to me that he knew how to swim, that was paramount. Once that was accomplished, he went to sailing camp every summer. He had a blast!

[Anela]

3 minutes ago, bluegirl147 said:

One reason prices, especially grocery prices, are high is because companies charge what they can get away.  Corporate greed.  Some exec at Kroger said as much. There is no reason to think they will lower prices simply because Trump wants to look good.

They also admitted they lied about theft being out of control, as well. I think that was Target? I can't remember. 

[Dimity]

3 minutes ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

Someone really needs to make the public aware that the higher costs that will happen with those tariffs are solely the fault of Trump.

I saw a meme today that talked about how Americans are very accustomed to buying from places like Amazon and Temu (and a few other names that I wasn't familiar with) and its point was the sticker shock they are going to get when Trump imposes a 60% tariff on goods from China. 

I don't think that percentage is right though but not sure what his intent actually is. No matter what though some people are under the delusion that the country getting the tariff is the one who pays the tariff and that's not really true.  At the end of the day consumers are the ones who are going to be paying more for their goods.  But try convincing them of that.

[Ohiopirate02]

Just now, Anela said:

They also admitted they lied about theft being out of control, as well. I think that was Target? I can't remember. 

The CEO of Walgreens just admitted that the anti-theft measures the company put into place were costing them sales.

https://fortune.com/2025/01/14/walgreens-ceo-anti-shoplifting-backfired-locks-reduce-sales/

What cracks me up about this is the company will put in all of these measures when the most logical solution is to hire more staff. People will get used to things being locked up if the store is staffed properly. But staffing stores properly costs the company money and someone has to think of the shareholders.

[bluegirl147]

1 minute ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

What cracks me up about this is the company will put in all of these measures when the most logical solution is to hire more staff. People will get used to things being locked up if the store is staffed properly. But staffing stores properly costs the company money and someone has to think of the shareholders.

There is a local butcher shop/deli that always has a lot of employees working.  The business is one of my company's customers and I complimented the owner on always being full staffed because my company rarely is.  He said it does cost a lot (he provides benefits as well) but he says his customers are never dissatisfied.  Corporations should take note. 

[Avaleigh]

13 hours ago, Soapy Goddess said:

So the entire country should just go on and continue to hate one another?! How lovely. Talk about empathy and decency...

I don't think it's good for us as a country to have one half hating the other and vice versa. Political discussion for average people where both sides feel they can have a voice and be treated respectfully seems to be a rare thing. Both sides seem to prefer their respective echo chambers and this wasn't always the case, and it isn't as though there weren't serious political issues at play 10 to 50 years ago. There were people at different ends of the political spectrum who could still be friends, even spouses. They could come together in areas where they did have common ground. Through love, sports, faith, business, food, travel, etc.

There are a lot of people on both sides who essentially want the same things: a place to live, health and safety for their family, friends, and themselves. They want life to be affordable, they want to be protected from crime, they want freedom from persecution, etc. We just have different ideas of what it will take to get those things.

Yes, of course, there are also people on the right who are racist, misogynistic, transphobic, you name it. It's the most troubling aspect of the MAGA movement. Trump has essentially made being all of those things and more socially acceptable, and that's what a lot of people including myself are unable to get past.

All that being said, I've seen some posters try to politely explain to you @Soapy Goddess why they're upset that our country elected Donald Trump again, given everything that happened during his first term, and given everything that he has promised to deliver on for his second term. Much earlier in the thread, there were a couple of posters who took their comments to you too far and those posts had to be removed. Ideally, if people want to explain why they disagree with your POV, they will do so in a respectful manner. 

I've had some sympathy for you because I know from personal experience that it isn't easy when it feels like a pile on, and I've acknowledged that I have friends and family who voted for Trump and wouldn't want them to be made to feel that they are terrible people because they (IMO) mistakenly believe that Trump will help make their lives better. 

All this being said, I have yet to see you genuinely acknowledge why people find the idea of a second Trump term to be upsetting. There are people who are worried that they will lose their healthcare. There are women who are worried that they could be prevented from seeking healthcare, even if their lives are at risk, if they happen to live in the wrong state. There are couples who are worried that their IVF could be disrupted. There are people who are worried that their marriages will become invalid. There are people who are concerned about the SCOTUS potentially reinterpretting birthright citizenship. There are people who are worried about their friends and relatives in Ukraine and elsewhere, and know that Trump is unlikely to be sympathetic to their side. There are also people who are barely making ends meet as it is,and worry that things will become even more unaffordable because Trump's priority seems to be to make sure the ultra wealthy get even more money.

13 hours ago, Soapy Goddess said:

There's nothing wrong with celebrating a win. It's much better than all the doom and gloom being posted in this thread. 

It might not be wrong for people to celebrate winning, but it does come across as insensitive given the gravity of the issues that some people will be dealing with once he takes office. It's not the same as, say, celebrating your favorite sports team winning. For the losing team, life pretty much continues as normal. When it comes to politics, the consequences of losing can be a lot more severe, so celebrations can feel a bit like salt in an open wound. 

Also, I wouldn't go so far as to say that celebrating is "better" than the posts from people who are openly upset about what they fear will happen because this thread has been about a lot more than that. If nothing else, I hope you've noticed how many posters have continued to have a sense of humor, have continued to share valuable information, have continued to be sympathetic to certain posters, have continued to have hope, and have continued to emotionally support the people who find it challenging to feel positive given everything that's happening.

There's a lot of good to be found here and I think that's why people find the thread comforting even if they don't necessarily receive support from other posters or even if they don't necessarily agree with every point that has been made. This thread has been a good example of why PT is still a solid community. 

Edited Wednesday at 09:49 PM by Avaleigh

[tres bien]

The newest news about Trump’s beautiful tariffs is yesterday he posted on his truth social that on day one he will be creating the External Revenue Service to collect all tariffs imposed on foreign companies

Sounds legit 🤔

[Ohiopirate02]

10 minutes ago, tres bien said:

The newest news about Trump’s beautiful tariffs is yesterday he posted on his truth social that on day one he will be creating the External Revenue Service to collect all tariffs imposed on foreign companies

Sounds legit 🤔

I wonder how Elon and DOGE feel about this. Because this department will be doing jack shit but taking figure from the other departments of the federal government like the IRS who deal with the tariffs collected from the American companies who pay them when items are imported.

[fastiller]

9 minutes ago, Avaleigh said:

There are people who are worried that they will lose their healthcare.

SCOTUS is set to hear a case to determine whether an insurance company can refuse to cover HIV medication.  (Braidwood et al v Becerra).   This will also decide whether an insurance company can refuse to cover cancer screenings or statins.  The prime item at issue is HIV medication (PReP), the others 'collateral damage'.

8 minutes ago, tres bien said:

The newest news about Trump’s beautiful tariffs is yesterday he posted on his truth social that on day one he will be creating the External Revenue Service to collect all tariffs imposed on foreign companies

Sounds legit 🤔

insert ThatsNotHowAnyOfThisWorks.gif.

[ebk57]

18 minutes ago, Avaleigh said:

I don't think it's good for us as a country to have one half hating the other and vice versa. Political discussion for average people where both sides feel they can have a voice and be treated respectfully seems to be a rare thing. Both sides seem to prefer their respective echo chambers and this wasn't always the case, and it isn't as though there weren't serious political issues at play 10 to 50 years ago. There were people at different ends of the political spectrum who could still be friends, even spouses. They could come together in areas where they did have common ground. Through love, sports, faith, business, food, travel, etc.

There are a lot of people on both sides who essentially want the same things: a place to live, health and safety for their family, friends, and themselves. They want life to be affordable, they want to be protected from crime, they want freedom from persecution, etc. We just have different ideas of what it will take to get those things.

Yes, of course, there are also people on the right who are racist, misogynistic, transphobic, you name it. It's the most troubling aspect of the MAGA movement. Trump has essentially made being all of those things and more socially acceptable, and that's what a lot of people including myself are unable to get past.

All that being said, I've seen some posters try to politely explain to you @Soapy Goddess why they're upset that our country elected Donald Trump again, given everything that happened during his first term, and given everything that he has promised to deliver on for his second term. Much earlier in the thread, there were a couple of posters who took their comments to you too far and those posts had to be removed. Ideally, if people want to explain why they disagree with your POV, they will do so in a respectful manner. 

I've had some sympathy for you because I know from personal experience that it isn't easy when it feels like a pile on, and I've acknowledged that I have friends and family who voted for Trump and wouldn't want them to be made to feel that they are terrible people because they (IMO) mistakenly believe that Trump will help make their lives better. 

All this being said, I have yet to see you genuinely acknowledge why people find the idea of second Trump term to be upsetting. There are people who are worried that they will lose their healthcare. There are women who are worried that they could be prevented from seeking healthcare, even if their lives are at risk, if they happen to live in the wrong state. There are couples who are worried that their IVF could be disrupted. There are people who are worried that their marriages will become invalid. There are people who are concerned about the SCOTUS potentially reinterpretting brithright citizenship. There are people who are worried about their friends and relatives in Ukraine and elsewhere, and know that Trump is unlikely to be sympathetic to their side. There are also people who are barely making ends meet as it is,and worry that things will become even more unaffordable because Trump's priority seems to be to make sure the ultra wealthy get even more money.

It might not be wrong for people to celebrate winning, but it does come across as insensitive given the gravity of the issues that some people will be dealing with once he takes office. It's not the same as, say, celebrating your favorite sports team winning. For the losing team, life pretty much continues as normal. When it comes to politics, the consequences of losing can be a lot more severe, so celebrations can feel a bit like salt in an open wound. 

Also, I wouldn't go so far as to say that celebrating is "better" than the posts from people who are openly upset about what they fear will happen because this thread has been about a lot more than that. If nothing else, I hope you've noticed how many posters have continued to have a sense of humor, have continued to share valuable information, have continued to be sympathetic to certain posters, have continued to have hope, and have continued to emotionally support the people who find it challenging to feel positive given everything that's happening.

There's a lot of good to be found here and I think that's why people find the thread comforting even if they don't necessarily receive support from other posters or even if they don't necessarily agree with every point that has been made. This thread has been a good example of why PT is still a solid community. 

Thank you so much for this!  I've been turning over in my mind how to say just this to the original poster and I just wasn't getting there (without being a bit mean...).  This is so beautifully written.   I appreciate this!!