What does a TRUMP presidency look like?

[grumbler]

Yeah, he started it

Weren't you talking about how adults should conduct themselves just before this post 

 

Sorry, garbon, but he did nail that one.

[garbon]

Yeah, he started it

Weren't you talking about how adults should conduct themselves just before this post 

Yes and adults don't waste their time. We saw his really productive response to Joan's effort.

I guess I could have not responded and often would not have, but then that would have been dickish to Sophie. Like we don't care, even now, about if members of our forum want to spew trash about the identify of people on our forum.

[garbon]

If Raz decides not to attack trans people on this forum, I don't care how that happens. I'm not trying to become his teacher. It is embarrassing that it should be incumbent on others to patiently teach grown adults why they shouldn't be dickish.

Especially here where we already have a) discussed trans issues for so long and on so much depth and b) have already run trans member of our community away.

I could not disagree more. Attaining the age of majority does not somehow imbue a person with instant wisdom and knowledge.  And, you have to agree everyone here - with the exceptions of a very few (Richard, Toni and FunkMunk come to mind) have been complete dicks from to time.  Me especially.

The point I fundamentally disagree with is your objection to engage in dialogue with someone you disagree with.  That is an obligation you have as a member of society.

The ignorant can train themselves.

I can't abide the idea that someone says something hateful and rather than tell them hey don't do that, we are supposed to take time out to explain them through a lesson plan  of all the reasons they were wrong to say what they did...as if they are part of our same society and could work it out themselves.

[garbon]

Yeah, he started it

Weren't you talking about how adults should conduct themselves just before this post 

 

Sorry, garbon, but he did nail that one.

Sometimes life earliest lessons have value. We saw how well Michelle Obama's when they go low, we go high went.

[crazy canuck]

The ignorant can train themselves.

Yeah, he started it

Weren't you talking about how adults should conduct themselves just before this post 

Yes and adults don't waste their time.

What are you doing spending time here then?

[Jacob]

If you think it's worth the effort to engage constructively with Raz on this topic, wouldn't your time be better spent doing that rather than arguing with garbon?

[crazy canuck]

If you think it's worth the effort to engage constructively with Raz on this topic, wouldn't your time be better spent doing that rather than arguing with garbon?

I disagree with both of them. And also with you for that matter.  I am not sure what you were trying to accomplish by piling on Garbon's comment that "nobody here gives a fuck" what Raz thinks. I actually do care what Raz thinks, and if JR had not posted what he did, I would have.  Just not as articulately or thoughtfully.

[garbon]

If you think it's worth the effort to engage constructively with Raz on this topic, wouldn't your time be better spent doing that rather than arguing with garbon?

I disagree with both of them. And also with you for that matter.  I am not sure what you were trying to accomplish by piling on Garbon's comment that "nobody here gives a fuck" what Raz thinks. I actually do care what Raz thinks, and if JR had not posted what he did, I would have.  Just not as articulately or thoughtfully.

Well great, we are all winning. I accomplished what I wanted and am ignoring Raz. You can spend your time teaching the wilfully ignorant.

Seems like end of story?

[crazy canuck]

I obviously can't force you to engage in social discourse with your fellow citizens. But I won't stop telling you I think that is an obligation you have as a member of civil society.

[Syt]

Trump cuts 10% of CDC workforce: https://apnews.com/article/trump-job-cuts-health-cdc-0d002fd6f528a7b91ced79628bf68196

NEW YORK (AP) — Nearly 1,300 probationary employees at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — roughly one-tenth of the agency's workforce — are being forced out under the Trump administration's move to get rid of all probationary employees.

The Atlanta-based agency's leadership was notified of the decision Friday morning. The verbal notice came from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in a meeting with CDC leaders, according to a federal official who was at the meeting. The official was not authorized to discuss it and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

The affected employees are supposed to receive four weeks paid administrative leave, the official said, adding that it wasn't clear when individual workers would receive notice.

HHS officials did not answer questions about the specifics of the layoffs. In an emailed statement, Andrew Nixon, the department's director of communications, wrote: "HHS is following the Administration's guidance and taking action to support the President's broader efforts to restructure and streamline the federal government. This is to ensure that HHS better serves the American people at the highest and most efficient standard."

With a $9.2 billion core budget, the CDC is charged with protecting Americans from outbreaks and other public health threats. Before the cuts, the agency had about 13,000 employees, including more than 2,000 staff work in other countries.

Historically CDC has been seen as a global leader on disease control and a reliable source of health information, boasting some of the top experts in the world.


The staff is heavy with scientists — 60% have master's degrees or doctorates. Most of the workforce does not belong to a union.

It's not only new employees who are subject to probation. Probationary periods also are applied to veteran staffers who, for example, were recently promoted to a new job in management.

Dr. Joshua Barocas, an infectious diseases expert at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, said many of the probationary-status CDC employees are filling vital roles.

"It's essentially assuming that they are not in a job that is crucial for the success of keeping everyone safe — just because they've been there for less than a year or less than six moths," said Barocas, speaking Friday morning during an Infectious Diseases Society of America call with reporters.

"That sort of slash-and-burn approach is what will cause continued disruptions in our understanding of diseases" and disease outbreaks, he said.

___
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

[Syt]

[HVC]

Promotions put you back on probation? Is that an American thing? Here probation is your first three months, usually.

Either way, 10% new hires or promotions sounds weirdly high. Nerfed CDC and a antivax administration, what could go wrong?

[crazy canuck]

Promotions put you back on probation? Is that an American thing? Here probation is your first three months, usually.

Either way, 10% new hires or promotions sounds weirdly high. Nerfed CDC and a antivax administration, what could go wrong?

Reading between the lines it is someone who moved into a management position.  It would be common here for that person to have a probationary period as well.  But the outcome of a failed probation is different.  That person would be removed from their management position and go back to their previous job.  They would not lose their employment entirely.

[garbon]

I obviously can't force you to engage in social discourse with your fellow citizens. But I won't stop telling you I think that is an obligation you have as a member of civil society.

I can ignore you too, unless vM removes the feature.

[crazy canuck]

I obviously can't force you to engage in social discourse with your fellow citizens. But I won't stop telling you I think that is an obligation you have as a member of civil society.

I can ignore you too, unless vM removes the feature.

You always have that option.