# Stupid Republican idea of the day **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 26, 2009, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897 "2009-03-26T18:48:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1826
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2018, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36502 "2018-02-06T20:16:58Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Ivanka and Lil Marco Rubio are working on a paid family leave program which would take money out of people’s social security accounts, thus forcing them to have to postpone retirement. > [https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/04/rubio-ivanka-trump-family-leave-385050](https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/04/rubio-ivanka-trump-family-leave-385050) I see an expansion coming to this idea. You take your regular vacation leave and the the pay from that comes out of your SS account. See, the Republicans aren’t going to kill Social Security; that would be political suicide. They’ll just use it in lieu of vacation pay, family leave, sick leave, etc… ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2018, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36503 "2018-02-06T21:14:39Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > … > Paying them for taking all that time off, though? That’s pretty expensive, and is something that would make many small businesses rather non-viable if there is not some sort of subsidy at least to help cover that payroll. Apparently other countries have figured out a way. (Listed from least generous to most generous.) [Cite](http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/05/22/maternity-leaves-around-the-world_n_1536120.html) United States: Length Of Maternity Leave: 12 Weeks Percentage Of Wages Paid: No national program but cash benefits may be provided at the state level. Iceland: Length Of Maternity Leave: 3 months for the mother, 3 months for the father, and 3 months that can be taken by either parent (total of 9 months) Percentage Of Wages Paid: 80 (up to ISK350,000 per month) Germany: Length Of Maternity Leave: 14 Months Percentage Of Wages Paid: 65 Japan: Length Of Maternity Leave: 14 Weeks Percentage Of Wages Paid: 67 Malta: Length Of Maternity Leave: 14 Weeks Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100 New Zealand: Length Of Maternity Leave: 14 Weeks Paid, 38 Weeks Unpaid Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100 Switzerland: Length Of Maternity Leave: 14 Weeks Percentage Of Wages Paid: 80 Belgium: Length Of Maternity Leave: 15 Weeks Percentage Of Wages Paid: 82 per cent for the first 30 days and 75 per cent for the remaining period. Finland: Length Of Maternity Leave: 105 Days Percentage Of Wages Paid: 70 Slovenia: Length Of Maternity Leave: 105 Days Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100 Austria: Length Of Maternity Leave: 16 Weeks Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100 France: Length Of Maternity Leave: 16 Weeks Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100 Latvia: Length Of Maternity Leave: 112 Days Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100 Luxembourg: Length Of Maternity Leave: 16 Weeks Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100 Netherlands: Length Of Maternity Leave: 16 Weeks Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100 Spain: Length Of Maternity Leave: 16 Weeks Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100 Greece: Length Of Maternity Leave: 119 Days Percentage Of Wages Paid: 50 Australia: Length Of Maternity Leave: 18 Weeks Percentage Of Wages Paid: Each parent can take up to 12 months of leave, of which 18 weeks are paid. Lithuania: Length Of Maternity Leave: 126 Days Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100 Belarus: Length Of Maternity Leave: 126 Days Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100 Moldova: Length Of Maternity Leave: 126 Days Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100 Ukraine: Length Of Maternity Leave: 126 Days Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100 Romania: Length Of Maternity Leave: 126 Days Percentage Of Wages Paid: 85 Portugal: Length Of Maternity Leave: 120 to 150 Days Percentage Of Wages Paid: Parental benefits paid at 100 per cent for the shorter duration of leave and 80 per cent for the longer option. Estonia: Length Of Maternity Leave: 140 Days Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100 Poland: Length Of Maternity Leave: 20 Weeks Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100 Russia: Length Of Maternity Leave: 140 Days Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100 Italy: Length Of Maternity Leave: 5 Months Percentage Of Wages Paid: 80, however, there an additional option for six month leave with 30 per cent of your salary Bulgaria: Length Of Maternity Leave: 410 Days Percentage Of Wages Paid:90. Parents can also take an additional year of paid parental leave at minimum wage. Hungary: Length Of Maternity Leave: 24 Weeks Percentage Of Wages Paid: 70 Ireland: Length Of Maternity Leave: 26 Weeks Percentage Of Wages Paid: 80 Czech Republic: Length Of Maternity Leave: 28 Weeks Percentage Of Wages Paid: 60 Slovakia: Length Of Maternity Leave: 28 Weeks Percentage Of Wages Paid: 55 Macedonia: Length Of Maternity Leave: 9 Months Percentage Of Wages Paid: Not found. Norway: Length Of Maternity Leave: 36 to 46 Weeks Percentage Of Wages Paid: Parental benefits paid at 100 per cent for the shorter duration of leave and 80 per cent for the longer option. Albania: Length Of Maternity Leave: 365 Days Percentage Of Wages Paid: 80 per cent prior to birth and for 150 days after and 50 per cent for the rest of the leave period. Bosnia And Herzegovina: Length Of Maternity Leave: 1 Year Percentage Of Wages Paid: 82 per cent for the first 30 days and 75 per cent for the remaining period. Canada: Length Of Maternity Leave: 52 Weeks Percentage Of Wages Paid: 55 per cent at 17 weeks for maternity leave, and the additional 35 weeks can be taken by either parent. Wages also depend on province. Croatia: Length Of Maternity Leave: 1 Year Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100 Denmark: Length Of Maternity Leave: 52 Weeks Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100 Serbia: Length Of Maternity Leave: 52 Weeks Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100 United Kingdom: Length Of Maternity Leave: 52 weeks; however, pay is only for 39 weeks Percentage Of Wages Paid: 90 of average weekly earnings for first 6 weeks; £139.58 or 90 per cent of average weekly earnings (whichever is lower) for next 33 weeks Sweden: Length Of Maternity Leave: 420 Days Percentage Of Wages Paid: 80 ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2018, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36504 "2018-02-06T21:33:02Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Apparently other countries have figured out a way. (Listed from least generous to most generous.) [Cite](http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/05/22/maternity-leaves-around-the-world_n_1536120.html) And how many of those countries require the employer to pay for the entirety of the leave out of pocket? That was my point, **Buck Godot** seemed to be implying that the reason for Ryan’s plan was to save the employers money. I disagree with Ryan’s plan because I think it should come out of the general tax fund, not out of your SS account, but in either case, the employer shouldn’t have to be the (only) one footing the bill. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2018, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36505 "2018-02-06T21:39:14Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > The important thing is that no corporate profits are put at risk. Let’s keep things in perspective here. Well obviously. I mean family leave is either on the company’s dime or paid with corporate taxes in every sane country out there, but y’all just can’t be having with that nonsense 😃 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2018, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36506 "2018-02-06T23:35:59Z")
So now the Nazi-loving Russian asset Republicans call their leader wants to have a military parade in the style of Hitler or Mussolini. The inspiration for this is alleged to be Bastille Day. I wonder if the man who lives in a gold-plated apartment knows what Bastille Day was about. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2018, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36507 "2018-02-06T23:40:16Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > And how many of those countries require the employer to pay for the entirety of the leave out of pocket? In Canada’s case, the money comes from the unemployment insurance system. Works fine. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2018, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36508 "2018-02-06T23:41:36Z")
He’s been pushing for a military parade since he took office. I don’t doubt that he’s also pushing for them to carry Trump signs. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2018, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36509 "2018-02-06T23:47:35Z")
He wanted one, sure, but now he’s told the Pentagon to start planning it. Money well spent, I’m sure. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2018, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36510 "2018-02-07T00:03:29Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > I see an expansion coming to this idea. You take your regular vacation leave and the the pay from that comes out of your SS account. See, the Republicans aren’t going to kill Social Security; that would be political suicide. They’ll just use it in lieu of vacation pay, family leave, sick leave, etc… I’m not sure if the idea is even stupid, let alone stupid enough to belong in this thread. I’ve myself thought of something similar except applying to unemployment benefits rather than pregnancy leave, _with the caveat_ that the old unemployment insurance contribution would go into the SS fund and be counted as increasing your effective social security income by an equivalent amount relative to your social security contribution. Of course, if this were proposed by the Republicans it would, as you are implying, probably not include that money-neutral caveat but would instead be a backdoor way to reduce total benefits. But if implemented properly, it would be better than the pittance that most unemployment insurance offers, and if you’re not working for a year or so then I don’t see why you shouldn’t postpone your retirement for a year or so or get less in benefits (and if you physically cannot work SS has a disability portion as well). I think this parenthood leave idea would be better than the mandatory _unpaid_ leave now implemented because many families can’t afford to lose that income. Even if “that’s not how social security works” currently. It would, however, be worse than those _paid_ leaves that exist in some workplaces, and they would not feel the pressure to retain these because the post-birth families can always “dip into” their SS and thus not feel the pain right away. Perhaps an even better solution would be to make a couple weeks of the leave fully paid mandatorily and the rest paid out of virtual social security payouts. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2018, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36511 "2018-02-07T00:10:47Z")
> [@The\_Tooth](#): > > He wanted one, sure, but now he’s told the Pentagon to start planning it. Well, that is depressing. > [@"\[Denver Post](#): > > ([Donald Trump military parade: President has told Pentagon to plan one](https://www.denverpost.com/2018/02/06/trump-military-parade-plans/))"]The inspiration for (OFSG)'s push is last year’s Bastille Day celebration in Paris, which the president attended as a guest of French President Emmanuel Macron.… awestruck by the tableau of uniformed French troops marching down Avenue des Champs-Elysees with military tanks, armored vehicles, gun trucks and carriers – complete with F-16 fighter jets flying over the Arc de Triomphe and painting the sky with streaks of blue, white and red smoke for the colors of the French flag. > > Aboard Air Force One en route home from Paris last July, aides said Trump told them he was dazzled by the French display and said he wanted one at home. > [@The Tooth](#): > > Money well spent, I’m sure. Most certainly. > [@](#): > > The cost of shipping Abrams tanks and high-tech hardware to Washington could run in the millions, and military officials said it was unclear how they would pay for it. But better yet, they are also planning irony, as you might expect. > [@](#): > > A date has not been selected, although … officials had discussed Memorial Day on May 28, and July 4, but the Pentagon prefers Veterans Day on Nov. 11 – in part because it would coincide with 100th anniversary of the victorious end of World War I and therefore be less associated with the president and politics. _… On Armistice Day That’s all I really wanted to say …_ ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2018, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36512 "2018-02-07T00:13:44Z")
November 11th is going to be a display of military dink-swinging? That’s sort of gross. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2018, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36513 "2018-02-07T00:14:44Z")
Hannity blames the stock market drop yesterday on Obama. > **[Sean Hannity blames Obama for historic market crash](https://www.mediamatters.org/sean-hannity/sean-hannity-blames-obama-historic-market-crash)** > > From the February 5 edition of Premiere Radio Networks' The Sean Hannity Show: ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2018, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36514 "2018-02-07T00:21:46Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Hannity blames the stock market drop yesterday on Obama. > [https://www.mediamatters.org/video/2018/02/05/sean-hannity-blames-obama-historic-market-crash/219279](https://www.mediamatters.org/video/2018/02/05/sean-hannity-blames-obama-historic-market-crash/219279) Already mentioned above (and/or in the Trump thread), but do you think Hannity will give Obama credit for the 547(?) point upswing today? Nah, it’ll be something Trump did (it’ll come to me in a minute…) ---
**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:** [February 7, 2018, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36515 "2018-02-07T00:26:18Z")
> [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > Already mentioned above (and/or in the Trump thread), but do you think Hannity will give Obama credit for the 547(?) point upswing today? Nah, it’ll be something Trump did (it’ll come to me in a minute…) He did a boom-boom in his gold-plated potty chair. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2018, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36516 "2018-02-07T00:29:04Z")
> [@The\_Tooth](#): > > So now the Nazi-loving Russian asset Republicans call their leader wants to have a military parade in the style of Hitler or Mussolini. The inspiration for this is alleged to be Bastille Day. I wonder if the man who lives in a gold-plated apartment knows what Bastille Day was about. Hell, 95% of the French don’t know it either. Spoiler : it ain’t about the fukken Bastille. It’s a commemoration of July 14 17 **90** , not 89. 89 was when we tore each other apart, 90 was when the country felt united again, monarchy and church included. Then we tore each other apart again :o. So maybe Trump’s got something there, after all. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2018, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36517 "2018-02-07T00:32:18Z")
(FWIW, I for one can’t stand the military parade on actual bastille day, either. It always feels extremely tinpot-y, which isn’t surprising when you know when the parade was instigated. _Vous n’aurez paaaaas l’Alsace et la Lorrain-euh_…) ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2018, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36518 "2018-02-07T00:55:54Z")
> [@The\_Tooth](#): > > So now the Nazi-loving Russian asset Republicans call their leader wants to have a military parade in the style of Hitler or Mussolini. The inspiration for this is alleged to be Bastille Day. I wonder if the man who lives in a gold-plated apartment knows what Bastille Day was about. Let’s lobby Congress to name it “The National March for Bone Spurs”. ---
**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:** [February 7, 2018, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36519 "2018-02-07T00:58:28Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > Let’s lobby Congress to name it “The National March for Bone Spurs”. How will you fit all that military hardware into a one block route? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2018, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36520 "2018-02-07T01:11:37Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > Let’s lobby Congress to name it “The National March for Bone Spurs”. Trump’s Folly. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2018, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/36521 "2018-02-07T01:19:41Z")
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