# NEW Stupid Republican Idea of the Day (Part 4) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 22, 2025, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678 "2025-02-22T21:08:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 33
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2025, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/641 "2025-04-10T06:59:56Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > I don’t get all this complaining about the dish washer, faucets, showers and toilets. I have modern low flow everything, and they all work fantastically. To be fair, early low-water-use toilets were lousy at flushing solids. The usual design methodology for toilets for a long time was to design the toilet, including the flush channel, then figure out how much water you needed to get a good flush, and size the tank accordingly. When water-saving standards went into effect, they just resized the tanks and marketed and sold poor-flushing toilets. They were a meme for a while - even made the A plot of a _King of the Hill_ episode. So naturally every toilet made since can’t flush well, right? Wrong! The toilet manufacturers, knowing this was an issue for customers, started redesigning their toilets using better simulations of water flow in the flush channel, added new routes for water to get to the bowl and scour out solids - all kinds of tricks. Technology made the entire toilet better. Modern low-water-use toilets flush _better_ than the state-of-the-art models from 40 years ago, and use way less water to boot. But Donald Trump, grievance personified, still whines about the toilets he had to use 30 years ago, and probably assumes that the super-flushing low-flush toilets of today are really just transplanted versions of the old models that expended eight gallons of water to clean the bowl of a little urine. Who’s going to point out differently to him? It’s one of his articles of faith. We see this in lots of areas affected by federal regulations. Car safety. Light bulbs. Again and again, manufacturers whine about regulations, but their engineers roll up their sleeves, get to work, and eventually design things that meed the new regs and are also better in other ways than what we had before. If I may mix metaphors - as long as everyone has a level playing field, the cream will rise to the top. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2025, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/642 "2025-04-10T14:48:44Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > Seriously, is modern water saving appliances a problem for most and I’ve just been lucky to live in multiple homes where they work fine? My complaint with the new dishwasher I bought a couple of years ago isn’t about how much water it uses, it’s that it doesn’t get the dishes _dry_ enough. It saves energy by shortening the heated drying cycle, so there’s always water left. I have to open the door right at the end of the cycle to let it air out while everything is still hot, so the damp air carries away most of the left over water. Also, the controls suck. Every fifth use or so, it just kind of decides it doesn’t want to start, and I have to reboot…my dishwasher. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2025, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/643 "2025-04-10T15:04:39Z")
Our Bosch is awesome. Quiet and gets everything clean. I did learn from a Youtuber I like to put detergent in the door for the prewash cycle. There is a little thing in the flap but I just squirt a bit on the door before I close. Also, use powder or liquid and don’t get ripped off buying the pods. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2025, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/644 "2025-04-10T15:07:27Z")
Unfortunately, I use a portable dishwasher, and around here, there were only two options to buy. One I looked at in the store was so poorly made, I really only had the one option. I’d have kept the old one I was using, but it just stopped working. For something I got used for $40, it was great. Worked for about ten years before it died, and was probably 30 years old overall. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2025, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/645 "2025-04-10T15:09:08Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/jHP942Livy0/maxresdefault.jpg "Your dishwasher is better than you think (tips, tricks, and how they work)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHP942Livy0) ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2025, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/646 "2025-04-10T15:15:00Z")
Ha! You know the YT’er I was referring to. Thanks for linking the video. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![FluffyBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@FluffyBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FluffyBob)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2025, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/647 "2025-04-10T15:33:41Z")
Are you letting the dishwasher actually finish its cycle, or even letting it just sit for an hour once its done? European brands like Miele and Bosch started condensing dry systems some years ago and most other manufacturers use the same system now, at least for higher end models. They do not even have a heating element. Its more energy efficient. As a builder, I like it, because dishwashers with heated drying and the venting systems that come with that tend to damage cabinets and countertops. This is one of the reasons for the move to stainless steel liners, to help condense the water vapour and direct it to a drain. Dishes come out of our Miele dry (except for things that get turned over in the cycle or have lips that catch water). We don’t rush to empty the dishwasher though, so that might not work for spme folk. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2025, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/648 "2025-04-10T15:58:04Z")
> [@FluffyBob](#): > > Are you letting the dishwasher actually finish its cycle, or even letting it just sit for an hour once its done? Yes, it runs the whole cycle. I sometimes run it when I’m about to leave the house, so I come back to it hours later, when it’s been finished so long everything is cold, and there’s water on most of the dishes. I have to catch it just as the cycle ends to vent it if I want it anywhere close to clean. This might just be a problem with my model, as I said above, I really only had the one choice. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2025, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/649 "2025-04-10T16:03:09Z")
I stayed in a motel last week that (probably) had an older model low flow terlet. It would not flush a wad of TP. It had no swirly action at all, water just flowed around the euphemistically called “solids”. NO amount of repeated flushing did anything at all. Had to get a plunger and force it. Not a fun stay! It could have just been broken. Who knows, all I know is I never saw one that useless before. ---
**Author:** ![FluffyBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@FluffyBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FluffyBob)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2025, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/650 "2025-04-10T17:40:03Z")
Well that does suck. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2025, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/651 "2025-04-10T17:58:38Z")
So the IRS has agreed to leak contact/address info on people with deportation orders. And what does that mean? It means undocumented people that have been paying quite a bit into the system (close to $100b in 2022) have decided to stop filing their taxes. [Edit, didn’t mean to imply all of them, just some of them, enough to warrant an article anyways] > **[IRS deal to share personal data with ICE scares undocumented immigrants from...](https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/2025/04/10/tax-paying-undocumented-immigrants-now-wont-file-due-to-irs-ice-pact/82708688007/)** > > Milwaukee tax preparers and national advocates are raising alarms about the ripple effects, from lost revenue to a decline in taxpayer trust. Also, ICE has been grabbing people out of courthouse hallways. > **[After ICE arrests at Milwaukee courthouse, officials cautiously look into...](https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/milwaukee/2025/04/08/ice-courthouse-arrests-prompt-milwaukee-county-officials-to-look-into-changes-edwin-bustamante/82974356007/)** > > The Journal Sentinel confirmed the identity of one of the people arrested by ICE, a 27-year-old man facing charges for firing a gun outside a bar. > **[Recent ICE arrests in Milwaukee County Courthouse hallways raise concerns](https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/waukesha/2025/04/04/ice-agents-arrest-2-people-at-milwaukee-county-courthouse-judge-says/82875637007/)** > > Experts are concerned immigration enforcement at the courthouse could have a chilling effect on immigrants' participation in the judicial system. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2025, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/652 "2025-04-10T18:06:15Z")
ETA - replying to posts about efficiency in appliances, they were directly above this one when I started writing. I had this in-wall air conditioning unit with an energy efficient mode that I’m convinced was a total cheat. When the AC was in normal mode the fan ran constantly, in the energy efficient mode the fan cycled on and off. This always puzzled me, because I’m pretty sure the fan isn’t the part that’s consuming most of the energy. But here’s how the cheat worked. When I set the unit to 73 in the efficient mode, it cooled the room to 73 degrees. But I could get the room down to the same temp by setting it to 78 in normal mode. I hated the efficient mode because the fan cycling annoyed me, so I just set it to 78 in normal mode instead of 73 in efficient mode. I don’t think I wasted any energy, if anything I think it was more efficient. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2025, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/653 "2025-04-10T20:53:27Z")
ID for a dildo?This seems both evil and stupid, but it’s apparently the important legislation that Texans are hankering for, so 🤷‍♂️? I am unsurprised. > **[A Vibrator, Huh? Let's See Your ID.](https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/texas-lawmaker-wants-women-to-show-id-to-buy-sex-toys-22038057)** > > Sen. Angela Paxton, Ken Paxton's wife, continues the Republican war against masturbation. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2025, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/654 "2025-04-10T20:58:45Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > ID for a dildo?This seems both evil and stupid, but it’s apparently the important legislation that Texans are hankering for, so 🤷‍♂️? I am unsurprised. - > > [Texas Lawmaker Wants Women to Show ID To Buy Sex Toys | Dallas Observer](https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/texas-lawmaker-wants-women-to-show-id-to-buy-sex-toys-22038057) If a woman wants a plastic pal that’s fun to be with, she can marry one like Ms. Paxton did. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2025, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/655 "2025-04-10T21:02:25Z")
I object to that! No way that asshole is fun to be with! ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2025, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/656 "2025-04-10T21:12:05Z")
> [@SunUp](#): > > We see this in lots of areas affected by federal regulations. Car safety. Light bulbs. I was amazed when I switched from incandescents to LEDs just how much better the light quality was. ---
**Author:** ![Fugazi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f08c70/32.png) [@Fugazi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fugazi)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2025, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/657 "2025-04-10T23:24:31Z")
I guess for the under-aged, they won’t be able to buy a vibrator so they’ll just have to settle for real sex. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2025, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/658 "2025-04-11T00:11:41Z")
And one more example of Lone Star State Stupidity. Or more accurately culture war bullshit to distract people from actual issues. But I guess that’s a never-ending supply they have to choose from these days. “FURRIES” Act my butt. Brainless crap. > **[What is the FURRIES Act? Lawmakers target non-human student behavior in schools](https://www.click2houston.com/news/politics/2025/03/14/what-is-the-furries-act-lawmakers-target-non-human-student-behavior-in-schools/)** > > Is it just an expression of freedom or a distraction? Lawmakers want to crack down on students acting like their furry friends during school. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2025, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/659 "2025-04-11T00:11:46Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > > [@Joey\_P](#): > > > > > [@Broomstick](#): > > > > > > I’m going to take a guess that it was because they were foreign > > > > Well, they had Visas, so that’s probably a safe bet. - > > Does the Trump administration only accept Masterracecards? I hear he’s considering American Express if they can work MAGA into the name somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2025, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/660 "2025-04-11T11:00:44Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > ID for a dildo?This seems both evil and stupid, but it’s apparently the important legislation that Texans are hankering for, so 🤷‍♂️? I am unsurprised. This sort of thing – legislation regarding “sex toys” – has been going on for a long time in Texas. As I remarked in a post here in 2014, regarding a Texas law that limited the number of Dildos you could legally own: > [@](#): > > [20 wacky sex laws in the U.S.: Are you breaking any? - #8 by simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/20-wacky-sex-laws-in-the-u-s-are-you-breaking-any/681689/8) > > Writing about the Great Texas Dildo Limitation, Molly Ivins remarked that “possession of six or fewer means that you are a mere enthusiast.” …and she’d said that years before I quoted it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678.md?page=32) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678.md?page=34)