Conservation or Big Beautiful Ballrooms?

[NR_Hunter]

I just grok'ed this, and it looks like this money is strictly for security upgrades for SS and hardening the target following the third assassination attempt, and cannot be spent on anything else. A lifelong friend of mine in the Special Ops community outlined how 5 or 6 guys could have carried out an End of Governance operation; the entire leadership structure of our country suddenly gone. I guess I don't think a billion is all that much to prevent that.

Could have is not the same as would have, but I do agree for the most part.

If a random psycho with a shotgun could run past 12 armed guards it’s not a good look when you consider what a small handful of well trained dudes could do, especially when you factor in suicide vests.

But overall f*CK the ballroom idc about that damn shit.

 

[BuzzH]

I just grok'ed this, and it looks like this money is strictly for security upgrades for SS and hardening the target following the third assassination attempt, and cannot be spent on anything else. A lifelong friend of mine in the Special Ops community outlined how 5 or 6 guys could have carried out an End of Governance operation; the entire leadership structure of our country suddenly gone. I guess I don't think a billion is all that much to prevent that.

Not true, there are no strings attached in the bill for strictly use of the billion that is being pushed for security upgrades. That's just more gaslighting hoping nobody reads the bill language.

 

[nrpate05]

Everybody relax, it'll all be paid for with tariff revenue, even after every American gets a $2000 check and federal income tax is eliminated. It's truly amazing how dumb our politicians think Americans are. I guess it has worked for a long time because legacy media just repeated the political talking points. The idea that the ballroom is necessary for security is completely insane.

I remember my dad always voting republican because they were 'fiscally conservative.' That ended a long time ago. Increasing the debt because of useless wars while cutting programs that actually help Americans is the name of the game these days. The Dems aren't any better. The only difference is that the Dems say they are going to spend money and the Repubs say they're not going to, but they always increase the debt while regular Americans take it on the chin.

 

[Bonasababy]

MN had an $11 billion surplus a few years ago that was spent in the blink of an eye. Leave it to political members to light money on fire. I'm all for budget cuts but lets be smart about it. I'd rather cut funding to learing centers and funding to foreign countries, then allocate those funds to conservation.

Takes digging into details to understand the real impact, some of which is transforming and a big aid to the economy of the state.

Not all progressive ideas are bad, despite what one party promotes.

Was a time where some progressive ideas bashed by them today were started by Republicans.

Obamacare actually was first implemented by Mitt Romney. Could have just as well called it Romneycare. In my state, provisions to protect water quality and mitigate agriculture impact on it and steer energy sourcing towards renewable were first developed and championed by republican governors (Arne Carlson and Tim Pawlenty).

What's missing with progressive measures is a review of impact a few years later. Those that dont work or do what was intended need to be considered for changes or dropping.

 

[Bonasababy]

Everybody relax, it'll all be paid for with tariff revenue, even after every American gets a $2000 check and federal income tax is eliminated. It's truly amazing how dumb our politicians think Americans are. I guess it has worked for a long time because legacy media just repeated the political talking points. The idea that the ballroom is necessary for security is completely insane.

I remember my dad always voting republican because they were 'fiscally conservative.' That ended a long time ago. Increasing the debt because of useless wars while cutting programs that actually help Americans is the name of the game these days. The Dems aren't any better. The only difference is that the Dems say they are going to spend money and the Repubs say they're not going to, but they always increase the debt while regular Americans take it on the chin.

Trump may be an outlier yet but the biggest increase in the debt in recent decades has come from tax cuts enacted by republican administrations.

People just cant get their head around that...but the compounding effect of 100s of millions of people paying less in taxes has a huge impact on the debt.

 

[Irrelevant]

I remember my dad always voting republican because they were 'fiscally conservative.'

Fiscal conservatism ends at the County level, though many States do a fairly decent job too (at least some years under some administrations).

 

[jabber]

The BBB is going to save us money? Interesting, I was unable to corroborate that one. It appears that the most expensive dinner was during the Obama years, at about $950k, but that included all the costs. So even if we assume that food, drink, security, parking, general logistics, and entertainment (IDK if that's a thing), are all free with this new ballroom. And that we do these types of things quarterly, it seems like that's 350 years to pay it off (1.3 billion [1 billion request + 300 mill private donation] / 4 million/year) . IDK, maybe my math is wrong.

It is wrong. Does your dinner from MCDs still cost the same as it did during the Obama years?

 

[406dn]

Fiscal conservatism ends at the County level, though many States do a fairly decent job too (at least some years under some administrations).

Mostly true, but we did have a period in the 90's when the Federal budget was balanced. We might have even gotten on a path to pay down, or pay off the debt.

Then we got another round of tax cuts under GWB. The closest we have come since then is being able to say that the annual deficit came down, from the previous year.

The ballroom will be a monument to our fiscal recklessness. There are others, of course.

 

[Irrelevant]

It is wrong. Does your dinner from MCDs still cost the same as it did during the Obama years?

good point, though the individual discretion seems significantly more applicable than inflation, but if we look at Jan 2008 vs now, there's been 54% inflation. Plus as others have pointed out, it's not fair to add in the private funds, so we'll just stick with just the 1 bil request. That makes quite a bit of difference, we're down from 350 years to 175 years. Helluva investment.

 

[Irrelevant]

Mostly true, but we did have a period in the 90's when the Federal budget was balanced. We might have even gotten on a path to pay down, or pay off the debt.

Then we got another round of tax cuts under GWB. The closest we have come since then is being able to say that the annual deficit came down, from the previous year.

The ballroom will be a monument to our fiscal recklessness. There are others, of course.

The ballroom is really chump change compared to war. Thankfully, we have a president who is adamantly anti-war and America First.

"We had no wars, for four years, we had no wars. Except we defeated ISIS," Trump proclaimed.

"They said ‘he will start a war.’ I’m not going to start a war, I’m going to stop the wars."

"I will not rest until I have delivered a strong, safe and prosperous America that our children deserve," the Republican nominee said, promising a "golden age of America."

 

[Laszlo Cravensworth]

The ballroom is really chump change compared to war. Thankfully, we have a president who is adamantly anti-war and America First.

"We had no wars, for four years, we had no wars. Except we defeated ISIS," Trump proclaimed.

"They said ‘he will start a war.’ I’m not going to start a war, I’m going to stop the wars."

"I will not rest until I have delivered a strong, safe and prosperous America that our children deserve," the Republican nominee said, promising a "golden age of America."

You cannot cut taxes and wage war, but W convinced us otherwise. We've been on a war footing for over 20 and have just continued to cut taxes.

 

[elkduds]

Mostly true, but we did have a period in the 90's when the Federal budget was balanced. We might have even gotten on a path to pay down, or pay off the debt.

Then we got another round of tax cuts under GWB. The closest we have come since then is being able to say that the annual deficit came down, from the previous year.

The ballroom will be a monument to our fiscal recklessness. There are others, of course.

The Clinton 90s had the enormous tailwind of the dot com boom.

 

[SAJ-99]

The ballroom is really chump change compared to war. Thankfully, we have a president who is adamantly anti-war and America First.

"We had no wars, for four years, we had no wars. Except we defeated ISIS," Trump proclaimed.

"They said ‘he will start a war.’ I’m not going to start a war, I’m going to stop the wars."

"I will not rest until I have delivered a strong, safe and prosperous America that our children deserve," the Republican nominee said, promising a "golden age of America."

There are plenty of other things in this 2027 Budget that are mind bodging. Just in the Interior Department's section there is $10B for Presidential Capital Stewardship Program. Improving Washington DC, apparently. Burgham last week in front of Congress couldn't explain what the money would be used for. If I was betting, I don't think they told him.

Also, related to public lands there was this section below. Maybe @Big Fin has insights. I highlighted the part that might be concerning to HT. I'm not sure how this will work given how the LWCF law is written, but laws don't matter much anymore. Are we exchanging money or the deed with the states? And exactly what will the easement look like? Montana has made its view on permanent easements pretty clear, so will the Feds use LWCF to buy an easement knowing that it won't be in perpetuity and eventually Montana will be able to dispose of the land? Also, is this shell scheme before or after LWCF funds are diverted to differed maintenance of NPS?

I'm also not sure how charging international visitors makes a better experience for American visitors unless you are hoping the international people stop coming, which will make it hard to fill the $40B hole in maintenance. The only good news is I'm pretty sure I just put more thought into this than the Administration did. But still, WTF.

 

[Irrelevant]

There are plenty of other things in this 2027 Budget that are mind bodging. Just in the Interior Department's section there is $10B for Presidential Capital Stewardship Program. Improving Washington DC, apparently. Burgham last week in front of Congress couldn't explain what the money would be used for. If I was betting, I don't think they told him.

Also, related to public lands there was this section below. Maybe @Big Fin has insights. I highlighted the part that might be concerning to HT. I'm not sure how this will work given how the LWCF law is written, but laws don't matter much anymore. Are we exchanging money or the deed with the states? And exactly what will the easement look like? Montana has made its view on permanent easements pretty clear, so will the Feds use LWCF to buy an easement knowing that it won't be in perpetuity and eventually Montana will be able to dispose of the land? Also, is this shell scheme before or after LWCF funds are diverted to differed maintenance of NPS?

I'm also not sure how charging international visitors makes a better experience for American visitors unless you are hoping the international people stop coming, which will make it hard to fill the $40B hole in maintenance. The only good news is I'm pretty sure I just put more thought into this than the Administration did. But still, WTF.

View attachment 407647

#somuchwinningithurts

 

[WyoCoalMiner]

I'm also not sure how charging international visitors makes a better experience for American visitors unless you are hoping the international people stop coming, which will make it hard to fill the $40B hole in maintenance. The only good news is I'm pretty sure I just put more thought into this than the Administration did. But still, WTF.

Foreign visitors shell out more for Yellowstone, Grand Teton visits - WyoFile

People come from across the globe to visit Wyoming’s national parks. Some are willing to pay more, viewing Yellowstone and Grand Teton as bucket list trips.

wyofile.com

From this article the biggest complaint seems to be the addition of Trumps mug to the pass.

 

[nrpate05]

Foreign visitors shell out more for Yellowstone, Grand Teton visits - WyoFile

People come from across the globe to visit Wyoming’s national parks. Some are willing to pay more, viewing Yellowstone and Grand Teton as bucket list trips.

wyofile.com

From this article the biggest complaint seems to be the addition of Trumps mug to the pass.

I'm debating getting a national park pass this year simply because it'll have his face on it. I'm going to ask if I can pay extra to have it deleted.

 

[jimh406]

I'm debating getting a national park pass this year simply because it'll have his face on it. I'm going to ask if I can pay extra to have it deleted.

That's cool for the next few years, but what if you don't like the next President? A better alternative is just put a sticker on it.

 

[406dn]

The ballroom is really chump change compared to war. Thankfully, we have a president who is adamantly anti-war and America First.

Of course it's chump change, sorta anyway, but it is a very visual presence, that will be seen as a colossal white elephant, for as long as it stands.

 

[406dn]

Foreign visitors shell out more for Yellowstone, Grand Teton visits - WyoFile

People come from across the globe to visit Wyoming’s national parks. Some are willing to pay more, viewing Yellowstone and Grand Teton as bucket list trips.

wyofile.com

From this article the biggest complaint seems to be the addition of Trumps mug to the pass.

Yes, it is a bucket list item for many. Last summer a tourist from Europe asked if he could take a photo of my two horses, tied to the trailer. This was after he nearly clipped us, pulling into the parking lot.

 

[WyoCoalMiner]

Yes, it is a bucket list item for many. Last summer a tourist from Europe asked if he could take a photo of my two horses, tied to the trailer. This was after he nearly clipped us, pulling into the parking lot.

Can't imagine coming from another country and letting $100 stand in the way.