Trucking Under Democratic Or Republican Government

JD, though my tone may have been glib, you’re right. I have no doubt there is wide divergence of political opinion on this forum, and those of us already working in the industry (or planning to enter it soon, like myself) are likely an opinionated bunch, given to “telling it like it is.”

Given that division is at an all-time high and trust at historic lows, I think we should stick to “telling it like it is” only if it applies to trucking—not politics. So far I have nothing but gratitude and respect for everyone’s support on this forum, and I’d like to keep it that way! Not interested in poking a hornet’s nest and risking an argument over politics, especially since we all know no one’s opinion would be changed either way.

I come to this forum to learn about the trucking industry, because I know your experts in the field. I’m not at all interested in your political views, because I know your not experts. We are surrounded my political controversy everywhere else, would it be possible to have a forum where we avoid politics and disrespecting others views or the States we choose to live in. Brett please stop this thread so newbies can learn about the trucking industry not political issues. I can go to Truckers Report for that.

PG I don’t think Brett needs to take this thread down. No one has gotten heated and the tone has stayed civil and respectful.

Was just chiming in my own personal take, which is that, as a fairly opinionated and outspoken person myself, I choose not to discuss my political views with similarly opinionated and outspoken people. Especially since we are, to an extent, all “colleagues” here, if you will.

Brett please stop this thread so newbies can learn about the trucking industry not political issues

I don't do politics myself, but it's a discussion relevant to trucking and done respectfully. I try to make sure the subject lines for each topic are pretty informative so people can find the discussions they're interested in and skip the ones they're not.

Also, don't underestimate the people we have here and the contributions they can make on various subjects. We've had every conceivable type of professional in here; doctors, lawyers, computer programmers, pilots, teachers, engineers, and a million others. Sometimes the most unexpected insights come from out of the blue when someone with special knowledge of the subject chimes in.

Also, keep in mind that we're a community of people, many of which have been here for a number of years. They come here to both socialize with friends and help new drivers get started in the industry. I do want to keep most of the conversations relevant to trucking, but once in a while it's nice to throw in a conversation that allows our folks to discuss topics that may not be 100% relevant to trucking with people they've come to know and appreciate.

I come to this forum to learn about the trucking industry, because I know your experts in the field. I’m not at all interested in your political views, because I know your not experts. We are surrounded my political controversy everywhere else, would it be possible to have a forum where we avoid politics and disrespecting others views or the States we choose to live in. Brett please stop this thread so newbies can learn about the trucking industry not political issues. I can go to Truckers Report for that.

Kind of like - on any site - if a particular doesn't interest you - SCROLL PAST.

We VERY RARELY DO POLITICS on this site. When we do - it typically is, how it relates to the industry.

It's also VERY RARE that a topic gets taken down - because unless it degenerates to name calling/trolling (which this one hasn't) - there's always something to be learned.

And - with all due respect - as someone who's been here 11 years myself (probably the next longest continuous member here, aside from the owner), it's a little bit of a reach to assume that anyone here, isn't an "expert" in certain areas of politics (I'm considered a pretty good source on middle eastern history/politics).

Yeah - WE ARE ALL SO TIRED OF HEARING ABOUT POLITICS. As a conservative - the last 4 years have been draining (and I'm not a nazi, racist, supremacist, misogynist - or any of the other "-ists").

But differences in policy is a FACT OF LIFE - and there are some stark foundational policies that affect the industry in a number of ways - some of which were discussed here. And as someone who has been an observer of this industry through a number of administrations - I can pretty much go by past histories to get a feel which way things might go when admins change.

Rick

Excellent responses to my misguided request to take the thread down. I do apologize. I have much to learn from this forum. I will listen.

It's about policy....not strictly party lines. The supposed new administration will indeed stagnate us relatively speaking. We had some good things going..USMCA, better tax rates, less regulation, new China deal, etc. Let's hope much doesn't get changed. That would be for the best.

As a former govt employee ..any govt is run horribly. I want them out of my life and I am moving to a cabin in MT. Lol

I can already tell we're going to hit it off...these same words have come out of my mouth.

It's about policy....not strictly party lines. The supposed new administration will indeed stagnate us relatively speaking. We had some good things going..USMCA, better tax rates, less regulation, new China deal, etc. Let's hope much doesn't get changed. That would be for the best.

These are some of the things we fear the most - as far as what will possibly be reversed should the admin flip sides.

USMCA was a great re-write of NAFTA - where we were at a disadvantage to CA/MX comparatively speaking. This is probably going to remain.

"Better Tax Rates" - part of the campaign rhetoric was based on raising taxes - you gotta have some way to pay for all the free stuff you want to give away (college tuition, healthcare, etc.) on top of what the government already wastes - you can either TAX or BORROW - or BOTH. And they won't tax "the demon rich", because THEY ARE THE DEMON RICH - and the only person that will lend us $$ (well, not Trump - but his successor) is CHINA. They are chomping at the bit to repeal the DJT Tax Cuts. What this is going to mean (on the corporate side) - is multi-nationals leaving their $$ parked overseas. The Trump Tax Bill - gave "amnesty" to companies that repatriated $$'s - and companies brought TRILLIONS back into the US - which translated into more domestic spending on employees, etc.

Less regulation was a great thing (was). FMCSA is still going to do useless studies about how WE should manage our clocks, etc.. Putting Cocaine Mitch McConnell's wife as Transportation Secretary was a "favor" - she didn't do a HORRIBLE JOB (per se') - but the nepotism was obvious. She was amongst a number of appointments made, in order to "make peace" with the party (and if you wonder why she didn't get fired - can't fire the Senate Majority Leaders wife, if you want the senate to forward your appointments).

China? Nuff said. If you read DJT's first book (Art Of The Deal - 1987) - he's had a woodie for their trade practices for many years, and basically everything he complained about with regards to trade, intellectual property, currency manipulation was 100% fact. And a lot of that got fixed - and that WILL GET BROKEN AGAIN. One of the reasons: pols on BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE were getting their palms greased - and are COMPROMISED (where's HUNTER BEEN LATELY?).

CHINA IS THE BIGGEST THREAT TO NATIONAL AND GLOBAL SECURITY (Turkey/Iran running 3rd to Russia). Watch for them to move on Taiwan, in the next year. Watch for US to sit idly by while they do it (under Biden). The left has always favored (and been compromised) by China - NOW will be the time they LEVERAGE THE FAVORS OWED to their advantage.

There's A LOT that's going to change - and if the GA seats get flipped - there will be nothing to stop it at a BREAKNECK SPEED.

There's a lot of moving pieces to this. As OS commented at the beginning of the thread - HOW THIS AFFECTS US AS COMPANY DRIVERS is likely to not be "too bad". People still need to eat - and wipe their butts (with toilet paper flying off the shelves again - the apocalypse is upon us, and PEOPLE HOARD BUTTWIPE - something I am STILL TRYING TO UNDERSTAND). The loads will be there. It's the LITTLE GUYS that will suffer.

Unless - they follow through on the promise to LEGALIZE THE ILLEGALS (and there's over 20 million of them, not 11). Which means that there will be MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO WILL BE COMPETING FOR DRIVER JOBS. People who are ACCUSTOMED TO WORKING FOR LESS. It's not difficult to comprehend the potential for DRIVER PAY TO GO DOWN, when you have a ton of people WHO WILL WORK FOR LESS.

As far as I can see - legalization of the illegal population is THE NUMBER ONE THREAT TO US AS DRIVERS. Fuel prices rising aren't really going to affect company drivers (though they will, to an extent, lease-ops). Regulations aren't going to really hit us - unless they mess with HOS and let us DRIVE LESS (not likely).

Don't get me wrong - DJT, personality-wise, is an a-hole. It's his POLICIES that I was onboard with. OK - I find him to be entertaining.

But I was (am) with him 150% on: trade, immigration, taxation, foreign policy (Israel, China. military policy). He's the first admin to not get us INTO NEW WARS in, like - FOREVER. Has reduced our military footprint globally - gotten our NATO allies to start footing their own bills (for the most part). Hopefully he gets us the hell out of Afghanistan before he leaves - a bottomless pit for american lives & $$, which is going to go back to the Tali whether we like it or not - about 5 minutes after our last plane leaves Afghan airspace - let the CIA get their heroin on their own.

I still hold out hope we can flip this (or STEAL IT BACK - what's good for the goose). The political violence will be horrible - but isn't it ALREADY? I can't seem to recall where CONSERVATIVES BEHAVED LIKE THIS under the previous admin.

The left BEAT US LIKE A BATTERED WIFE FOR FOUR YEARS NON-STOP - and like the batterer, now they want to KISS AND MAKE UP?

Yeah - GFY...

Rick

Rick made a really really good point there. Trump is an a-hole. But his policies were spot on good for America. The dumbocrats have succeeded in making the presidency a popularity contest. A good portion of swing voters that rely on the MSM for their news never heard any of the good he did, or they spun it in a way that made it look bad.