Change My Mind

The future of politics is Stormy

Depends how you make the money.

Name me a single politician who hasn't.

Donald J Trump

…and not only was he an incompetent politician, but evidently incompetent in actually making money.

Sure, he refused his paycheck, but all that merchandising and he couldn’t keep a few billion dollars? Tsk.

Not to mention all the unreported use of our tax dollars he uses.

And assuming he isn’t lying when he reports his earnings.

Which he admits to do and has been found guilty of doing so.

Multiple times.

You really believed he was a billionaire?

Naw, he came out poorer because he didn't enrich himself swindling, like Biden, Obama who became a millionaire as President, Bush Jr.

So I answered your question and you immediately moved the goalposts.

What goalposts?

He is a billionaire. You serious?

Not paying politicians doesn’t make them better. Period. Trump is proof of that.

There is no proof Trump is a billionaire - unless you take his word for it. In fact, he's heavily in debt. He's basically a walking pyramid scheme, and had become so toxic to lenders due to his defaults that all that was left to lend to him was Deutsche Bank and certain Russian 'self-employed entrepreneurs.'

And he's been estimated to have made 1.6 billion while in office, if not more.

I admit that I’m basing the fact he is a billionaire on those estimates.

I cannot argue he isn’t without speculating.

What isn’t speculation is that he frequently lies on his reported earnings on taxes but the exaggerates them for publicity.

And exaggerates to sell as well

Plus he's compensating a heckuva lot for his....... shotcomings,,,

Shortcomings, Modda.

He doesn't need to become a martyr.

His supporters would just eat that up.

Shame they couldn't put all that dedication and energy into something productive, even if just in their own lackluster stand ins for lives.

Actually, just to jump in on that first point - because if you've ever seen Arrested Development, you'll know it's important to note that it's often not actually about what's in their bank account but more about what they're being allowed access to even when they're supposed to be struggling.

His exact net worth is something he has intentionally made difficult to determine - I suspect that even HE doesn't know - but the point is that he has his name all over billion-dollar assets which, without argument, gets him the billionaire experience.

Yeah, I missed out on that show too *lowers head in shame*

Aye, I was going by net worth, but there is an estimate out there based on his assets topping the billion mark.

Basically like owning a house with an outstanding mortgage. In reality not totally yours, but you're still the owner.

Trump reaped at least 1.6 billion while in office.
Ivanka and Kusch made multiple deals with China from the White House WHILE Trump's little tariff war was going on. Donny himself made a big personal business deal with them during that time. Also deals with other countries - Kusch was barred from the premises because of this.
Don Jr used Air Force One to fly him to places like Brazil for personal business - he even said the Presidency was a "brand" to be used to the most possible.

Most of Trump's constant golf trips were at his own resorts on the taxpayer dime, even charging for the water Secret Service drank, as well as for their admission to the grounds, etc - AND HIS as well. He directed foreign dignitaries to stay at his hotels in DC and NYC, and had military officials stay at his golf resort in Scotland when in the area. When Pence went to Ireland, Trump had him stay at his resort there, despite being an hour away from Dublin where he was to go.

Of course there's more, these were just off the top of my head.

If any of that was true and illegal, he'd be up on that rather than some minor process charge they had to change the law to make happen. Still doesn't change the fact Trump didn't profit off the job, like Biden and Obama. Or that he didn't take a salary.

What part of 1.6 BILLION $$ did you not understand? The golf outings at HIS resort? $3.4million per weekend. Yes, per WEEKEND. At HIS resorts which he owns.

Funny how the fakers didn't bring him up Emoluments Clause violation charges when they impeached him, innit? Just like eveything else, they just let it slide.

btw, there's actually no proof he didn't accept his WH salary as he wouldn't show his taxes. Given his history as a grifter and liar, no need to phone home for a vowel on that one.

What? You should at least be earning minimum wage, same as any other job

I totally agree. All of the Representatives and Senators should only earn minimum wage while they're in office and not be allowed to invest in companies they regulate.

I mean, that's at least an improvement over the OP. It's still very communist of you, having skilled administrators paid exactly the same as the staff they're supposed to be managing, so, where is the element of meritocracy? But hey, look, if you're hard-core communist, that's your own business I guess.

the OP is referring to elected political officials, not elements of meritocracy. Yes, gov't officials are called "public servants".

OK. It's still an administrative position. Is this news to you?

That's not the point they made.

The point is that their point is shit.

Let's see. The original argument was that politicians shouldn't get wealthy above their salary and the rebuttal was that everyone should make a minimum wage. I can see which point is shit and pointless.

Oh! then what you want to do is argue with the OP for not making the point you wanted them to make.

And what you want to do is waste peoples time with pointless insignificant arguments. Common tactic from Democrats.

You're the one trying to engage in my time!

Not anymore

Ok. Does that mean you're going to stop talking any time soon or?

You're a Democrat?

They never said everyone should make a miniumum wage. They said at least a minimum wage. The argument isn’t shit, but your comprehension appears to be.

Hopefully my clarification has fixed that.

LOL What politician doesn't make minimum wage? Besides Trump.

Well, since they're all on a salary, including Trump.

None.

Trump didn't take a salary. He didn't need it but neither did Pelosi or any of these mega millionaires. I realize you will probably react as if I'm claiming Trump is a saint but it's just a fact that he didn't take a salary.

I respect facts more than opinions so that's commendable. However, it's not quite as clean cut as you like.

It's a fact that Trump actually did take the salary. Though, exactly how much is unknown.

While he did donate most of his salary to charities and government organizations each quarter, his final two quarterlies are unaccounted for. But, he did put in some money to round out the donations to $100,000. How much he made up for or if he actually paid them from his own pocket can only be speculated.

In total, he donated at least $1,096,662 as well as 303,338, again to round out the donations. His final two quarterly checks in 2020, would've amounted to $156,666. Assuming he did pay the difference from his own pocket to round up the quarterly donations, he ended up actually paying more than he took out of the office with something like $146,672.

But as he did apparently accept the final two checks; not to mention every donation could be written off in taxes, to say he didn't benefit financially is not entirely accurate.

To be fair, even if he did pocket the final two checks and someone else was rounding out the donations, the lowest pay that I could find for a federal representative is something like $174,000 a year. Compared to Trump's two unaccounted for quarterlies, that would mean might have earned at minimum $156,666. So, if you wanted to at least claim that he was the lowest paid elected official in the federal government while in office, you'd be right.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/adamandrzejewski/2021/02/27/president-donald-trump-probably-donated-his-entire-16m-salary-back-to-the-us-government--here-are-the-details/?sh=fdbedd51a8dc

.......yyyyyes it is. If you don't leave a job richer than when you came in, that job isn't paying you, is it?

Lol

Ok. It should still earn minimum wage or more though.

Gov't officials haven't been buying enough Bud Light at Target to make massive profits off them? What's your point?

My point is between myself and the one I sent it to. Not your concern.

Well, consider my response to be copy and pasted from Modda's, then. Because he's completely correct.

Open meme site. If my comment peturbs you, then no need to reply.