Arby’s Says It Helped Kill the $15 Minimum Wage

 The parent company of some of America’s largest fast-food chains is claiming credit for convincing Congress to kill a $15 minimum wage from the recent COVID relief bill then boasting about it on internal documents.

"Inspire Brands — which owns Jimmy John’s, Arby’s, Sonic, and Buffalo Wild Wings, plus recently acquired Dunkin’ Donuts for $11.3 billion in November — on Thursday sent employees and franchisees a review of its government lobbying activity that highlighted its success in keeping the $15 minimum wage out of Democrats’ American Rescue Plan, the COVID-19 relief bill President Joe Biden signed earlier this month.

“We were successful in our advocacy efforts to remove the Raise the Wage Act, which would have increased the federal minimum wage to $15 and eliminated the tip credit,” reads the report."

I really don't understand the logic from this industry and these brands in particular.

It kinda makes sense for manufacturing and US Businesses that compete internationally. Raising US wages increases the advantage of those already setup with foreign plants run on cheap international labor.

But these are food brands, selling food made locally to local customers. Their biggest competition is local restaurants that compete for the same minimum wage employees.

By raising the minimum wage, they raise it for their competitors too. Then it becomes a competition of marketing, supply chains, and financial management, which should allow them to crush every mediocre local joint within months.

By fighting the minimum wage, it only ensures their labor force is sick and comprised exclusively of people who couldn't find a job working anywhere else. It leaves them weak to compete against the local guys who can hire the good labor these brands trained in the industry very affordably.

So essentially, these execs are bragging about how many times they've shot themselves in the foot this year with perfect aim.

https://jacobinmag.com/2021/03/fast-food-chains-block-15-minimum-wage-relief-dunkin-arbys-sonic

I will continue to NOT support these places.

I will continue to NOT eat the diarrhea inducing reconstituted beef-slurry/spam-slop that Arby's calls roast beef (it's a spam-like, gooey, slimy, jelly in a bag before it's baked into a solid and sliced onto your sandwich. They do this to make dollars off the pennies worth of "meat" they sell you, fyi).

I will continue to NOT support the owner of a sandwich shop who's menu of a dozen different sandwiches, all of which taste like mayo (and only mayo), so he can go big game hunt in Africa and trophy-kill all those dangerous giraffes. He can't pay his employees, but he can afford to kill lions and elephants on the regular. Stop funding this douchebags asshole-safaris.

I will continue to NOT support the third-rate corporate coffee chain, their glorified gas-station coffee, and the shit-toast they call food. If America runs on Dunkin, it's employees sure as shit DON'T run on the crap pay they receive.

America: Put down the fork and the frappe and boycott these cheap sacks of shit. The workers of the service industry need our help.

Ted Cruz at it again

 

Ted Cruz falsely claimed Democrats want to give 'illegal aliens' and 'child molesters' the right to vote

Here's a lift of Republican child molesters, just in case anyone forget which party likes to f*ck kids more:

Republican anti-abortion activist Howard Scott Heldreth is a convicted child rapist in Florida.

Republican County Commissioner David Swartz pleaded guilty to molesting two girls under the age of 11 and was sentenced to 8 years in prison.

Republican judge Mark Pazuhanich pleaded no contest to fondling a 10-year old girl and was sentenced to 10 years probation.

Republican anti-abortion activist Nicholas Morency pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography on his computer and offering a bounty to anybody who murders an abortion doctor.

Republican legislator Edison Misla Aldarondo was sentenced to 10 years in prison for raping his daughter between the ages of 9 and 17.

Republican Mayor Philip Giordano is serving a 37-year sentence in federal prison for sexually abusing 8- and 10-year old girls.

Republican campaign consultant Tom Shortridge was sentenced to three years probation for taking nude photographs of a 15-year old girl.

Republican racist pedophile and United States Senator Strom Thurmond had sex with a 15-year old black girl which produced a child.

Republican pastor Mike Hintz, whom George W. Bush commended during the 2004 presidential campaign, surrendered to police after admitting to a sexual affair with a female juvenile.

Republican legislator Peter Dibble pleaded no contest to having an inappropriate relationship with a 13-year-old girl.

*Republican activist Lawrence E. King, Jr. organized child sex parties at the White House during the 1980s.

*Republican lobbyist Craig J. Spence organized child sex parties at the White House during the 1980s.

Republican Congressman Donald "Buz" Lukens was found guilty of having sex with a female minor and sentenced to one month in jail.

Republican fundraiser Richard A. Delgaudio was found guilty of child porn charges and paying two teenage girls to pose for sexual photos.

Republican activist Mark A. Grethen convicted on six counts of sex crimes involving children.

Republican activist Randal David Ankeney pleaded guilty to attempted sexual assault on a child.

Republican Congressman Dan Crane had sex with a female minor working as a congressional page.

Republican activist and Christian Coalition leader Beverly Russell admitted to an incestuous relationship with his step daughter.

Republican governor Arnold Schwarzenegger allegedly had sex with a 16 year old girl when he was 28.

*Republican congressman and anti-gay activist Robert Bauman was charged with having sex with a 16-year-old boy he picked up at a gay bar.

Republican Committee Chairman Jeffrey Patti was arrested for distributing a video clip of a 5-year-old girl being raped.

Republican activist Marty Glickman (a.k.a. "Republican Marty"), was taken into custody by Florida police on four counts of unlawful sexual activity with an underage girl and one count of delivering the drug LSD.

*Republican legislative aide Howard L. Brooks was charged with molesting a 12-year old boy and possession of child pornography.

Republican Senate candidate John Hathaway was accused of having sex with his 12-year old baby sitter and withdrew his candidacy after the allegations were reported in the media.

*Republican preacher Stephen White, who demanded a return to traditional values, was sentenced to jail after offering $20 to a 14-year-old boy for permission to perform oral sex on him.

Republican talk show host Jon Matthews pleaded guilty to exposing his genitals to an 11 year old girl.

Republican anti-gay activist Earl "Butch" Kimmerling was sentenced to 40 years in prison for molesting an 8-year old girl after he attempted to stop a gay couple from adopting her.

Republican Party leader Paul Ingram pleaded guilty to six counts of raping his daughters and served 14 years in federal prison.

Republican election board official Kevin Coan was sentenced to two years probation for soliciting sex over the internet from a 14-year old girl.

*Republican politician Andrew Buhr was charged with two counts of first degree sodomy with a 13-year old boy.

Republican politician Keith Westmoreland was arrested on seven felony counts of lewd and lascivious exhibition to girls under the age of 16 (i.e. exposing himself to children).

Republican anti-abortion activist John Allen Burt was charged with sexual misconduct involving a 15-year old girl.

*Republican County Councilman Keola Childs pleaded guilty to molesting a male child.

Republican activist John Butler was charged with criminal sexual assault on a teenage girl.

Republican candidate Richard Gardner admitted to molesting his two daughters.

Republican Councilman and former Marine Jack W. Gardner was convicted of molesting a 13-year old girl.

*Republican County Commissioner Merrill Robert Barter pleaded guilty to unlawful sexual contact and assault on a teenage boy.

Republican City Councilman Fred C. Smeltzer, Jr. pleaded no contest to raping a 15 year-old girl and served 6-months in prison.

Republican activist Parker J. Bena pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography on his home computer and was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison and fined $18,000.

Republican parole board officer and former Colorado state representative, Larry Jack Schwarz, was fired after child pornography was found in his possession.

*Republican strategist and Citadel Military College graduate Robin Vanderwall was convicted in Virginia on five counts of soliciting sex from boys and girls over the internet.

Republican city councilman Mark Harris, who is described as a "good military man" and "church goer," was convicted of repeatedly having sex with an 11-year-old girl and sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Republican businessman Jon Grunseth withdrew his candidacy for Minnesota governor after allegations surfaced that he went swimming in the nude with four underage girls, including his daughter.

Republican director of the "Young Republican Federation" Nicholas Elizondo molested his 6-year old daughter and was sentenced to six years in prison.

Republican benefactor of conservative Christian groups, Richard A. Dasen Sr., was charged with rape for allegedly paying a 15-year old girl for sex. Dasen, 62, who is married with grown children and several grandchildren, has allegedly told police that over the past decade he paid more than $1 million to have sex with a large number of young women

Trump 2024

 

Professor who’s predicted presidential winners since ’80s says Trump won’t be a candidate in 2024. He’s probably right

The GOP doesn't need Trump anymore. They've learned everything they needed to from him, and if their voter suppression and intimidation tactics are any indication, are doing well enough by themselves in chipping away at America's core pillars.

Whoever the GOP picks in 2024 will likely be a more competent and terrifying version of Trump.

Only reason for Trump to run again is to grift more money out of his base. 

Grifting, the Trump Family way.

Trump Busted For Grifting Nearly $1M From Taxpayers

Donald Trump’s Latest Grift May Be His Most Cynical Yet

Trump is using the GOP to help him 'keep grifting money' out of his supporters

Eric Trump’s Grifter Wife Funneled Dog Rescue Charity Funds To Trump

If Republicans run him again they get to continue their grifting because Trumps name will raise money and Republican turnout. It will be counter balanced by Democratic turn out to reject him but it’s their only chance.

If Anyone besides Trump runs they very likely will have the boost Trump gave them disappear. Most Trump supporters don’t give a shit about the republican party in fact they hate it.

Trump and the GOP were using each other to accomplish their goals but it was always going to end like this. They got their Judges and factions like the religious right got power and access to government.

Both accomplished their short term goals and said “Fuck it lets deal with the consequences later and have Democrats clean up the mess we make.”

Basically if their goal is to win it’s a bad thing. But if they care more about money and attention they might as well do it.

Filibuster busting

 Biden says he supports reforming Senate filibuster in ABC News exclusive interview

Even reforming the filibuster to actually give it some cost to use would mean a lot. In its current state it’s as simple as the minority sending an email threat that they may filibuster to hold a vote captive. There’s no skin in the game, no cost benefit analysis involved. It’s just cheap and easy for them to throw around at virtually everything.

They should have to stand up on the floor and talk in order to capture the session and delay. No hiding, make their opposition known and explain their arguments in detail. Even more than that, I’m warming up to the idea that they should have to assemble a threshold of 40 votes to be present to extend the filibuster, rather than triggering it with a simple threat and requiring 60 votes to break it. Flip it around and put the onus on those who want to use it; if they cannot muster 40 votes to continue filibustering then debate ends, cloture is invoked, and the bill passes with a simple majority. It should be there to give the minority a voice and for them to invoke on extraordinary occasions, not to lazily make threats with no discretion and no cost that control the legislative agenda.

McConnell Threatens To Grind Senate To Halt If Dems Don’t Let Him Keep Power To Grind Senate To Halt

This is the guy who

Said his primary objective was to make Obama a one term president

Forced Reid to go nuclear to get anything done ten years ago

Failed to fulfill his constitutional obligation to prevent a SCOTUS nominee for Obama because it was "election year"

Rammed through a SCOTUS nominee two weeks before an election

Had to filibuster his own bill, which was designed solely to embarrass Obama

You just need to ignore this guy - he has no morals or principles, and he will inevitably take whatever steps he wants, and rationalize it irrespective of consistency

This is from the article:

"Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) came out with his strongest threat about abolishing the filibuster yet on Tuesday, warning that he will use procedural delays to turn the Senate into a “100-car pileup” if Democrats go nuclear.

“Nobody serving in this chamber can even begin, even begin to imagine what a completely scorched-earth Senate would look like,” he said. 

If Democrats torch the filibuster on legislation, or at least torch the 60-vote threshold part of it, McConnell said he’d use Senate rules to slow down and force votes on every single small piece of Senate operations. Much of Senate business runs on unanimous consent, a quick way to dispense with unobjectionable and housekeeping tasks. 

“I want our colleagues to imagine a world where every single task, every one of them, requires a physical quorum, which, by the way, the Vice President does not count in determining a quorum,” he said."

Mitch McConnell Doesn't Care About Saving the Senate

If the Democrats don't watch themselves, then McConnell might do something radical like hold up a Supreme Court nominee for a made up reason about an upcoming election and then shove another one through while an election is underway!

What's that? He's already done this?

Let's face it, McConnell will do whatever gives him the most power. If the Democrats lost the Senate and prevented him from passing bills he wanted to pass, McConnell wouldn't hesitate to ditch the filibuster.

Ultra millionaire tax act

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.)  unveiled legislation to create a wealth tax for high-net-worth households, called the Ultra-Millionaire Tax Act, which would create an annual tax of 2 percent on the net worth of households and trusts between $50 million and $1 billion and a tax of 3 percent on net worth above $1 billion. The rate for net worth above $1 billion would increase to 6 percent if a "Medicare for All" health care plan is enacted.

So how much is that 2%?

When your net worth is 50,000,000$, that means 1,000,000$. As the average household income in the USA was 68,703 in 2019, that would mean 14.5 household's income tax. Comparing to that average income, 2% from that 68,703$ is 1374.06$. Which is little about 114$ per month.

In 2017 there were 205 people that made more than 50 million dollars a year.

How about net worth? To be in top 1%, you need at least 11,000,000$ net worth. So how many that top 1% is? There are roughly 1,456,336 households in America that have 10,000,000$ or more in net worth. And there are around 97,287 households with 50,000,000$ or more in net worth. 

Less than 100,000 households are affected by UMTA. 

And I bet there are people with that kind of wealth that will happily spend more money lobbying to stop that tax than what it would actually cost them.

Trump is still lying sack of human waste

Trump repeats lie that Joe Biden lost presidential election.

Trump will never stop lying about the 2020 election. His CPAC speech proved it.

Trump falsely claims in CPAC speech that he could beat Democrats 'for a third time' in 2024.

This is a Pandora's Box you can't close again. No presidential candidate in American history has directly disputed election results, let alone to this extent. Trump litigated at every possible angle, and accused the Supreme Court he partially installed of being "too scared" to overturn the election. Every CPAC panel this year about election integrity has implied that the Democrats cheated to get Biden to win. And then Trump makes the entire third act of his speech about it. The crowd chanted "You Won" during that part too.

How can you have a functioning democracy if one of the two political parties is constantly and directly accusing the other of cheating to win the election? Why bother to negotiate with people you are calling cheaters? And regardless of if they're arguing in bad faith, a sizeable part--possibly a majority--of their voter base genuinely believes it.

The Republicans are feeding into a mix of psychotic egotism and blind hatred for the sake of sacred votes and staying in power. Trump listing "RINOS" got more booing than mentioning any Democrat. The US will be lucky if the Republicans eat each other over this. If they get into power while having this egotistical psychopath as kingmaker and wannabe king, democracy in the USA will come to an end.