# The Trump Administration: A Clusterfuck in the Making **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 7, 2016, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070 "2016-12-07T00:25:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1602
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2019, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32025 "2019-04-17T00:48:34Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > It could be worse. My clients are getting taxed on _ **my** _ income. Imagine a non personal injury case I have on contigency fee. I work really hard and earn my 33% fee. My client is happy we prevailed and is happy with my fee. > > However, due to tax laws I don’t understand, she has to pay taxes on the entire $100,000. I have to pay taxes on $33,000. She can’t deduct the amount she pays me as an expense. That’s ridiculous. I guess it’s a good illustration of the fact that the right really, _really_ does not like trial lawyers—they’d make being a trial lawyer illegal if they could. For now they’re contenting themselves with treating you unfairly in tax law. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2019, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32026 "2019-04-17T01:56:42Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > That’s ridiculous. > > I guess it’s a good illustration of the fact that the right really, _really_ does not like trial lawyers—they’d make being a trial lawyer illegal if they could. For now they’re contenting themselves with treating you unfairly in tax law. She pays tax on her income, and then pays you. That is like complaining that the folks I work for pay taxes, and then I pay taxes on the money I make from them. Get your clients more money. ---
**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:** [April 19, 2019, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32027 "2019-04-19T20:23:19Z")
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services says that immigrants who smoke marijuana legally should be denied applications for citizenship. [New USCIS guidance says immigrants can be denied citizenship for smoking legal marijuana – ThinkProgress](https://thinkprogress.org/officials-encouraged-to-deny-citizenship-to-immigrants-for-smoking-legal-marijuana-0d3ced2f76b4/)? ---
**Author:** ![Anny\_Middon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc79bd/32.png) [@Anny\_Middon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anny_Middon)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2019, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32028 "2019-04-20T15:16:00Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > She pays tax on her income, and then pays you. That is like complaining that the folks I work for pay taxes, and then I pay taxes on the money I make from them. Get your clients more money. If the “folks I work for” are a business, they deduct what they pay you and provide you with a W-2 or 1099 form. So they are not paying taxes on the amount they pay you. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2019, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32029 "2019-04-20T15:36:51Z")
> [@Anny\_Middon](#): > > If the “folks I work for” are a business, they deduct what they pay you and provide you with a W-2 or 1099 form. So they are not paying taxes on the amount they pay you. Businesses can deduct wages from their taxable income at 100%? ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2019, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32030 "2019-04-20T15:41:13Z")
It’s not wages if they’re clients. And yes, businesses can deduct business expenses from their taxable income. Which ones and how much will vary by location, type of expense, etc. ---
**Author:** ![glowacks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/glowacks/32/5548_2.png) [@glowacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glowacks)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2019, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32031 "2019-04-20T20:11:14Z")
Individuals can no longer (under the TCJA for the next 10 years or so) deduct any expenses of producing income except the ones specifically allowed as part of a business (whether just a rental, or a Schedule C) or as another specified itemized deduction (investment interest). This includes unreimbursed expenses as an employee that anyone who is self-employed can deduct, as well as legal costs to recover money that ends up taxed, like lost wages or emotional damage. I think it’s absolutely unconscionable and perhaps even unconstitutional, and I’m surprised no one has raised the constitutionality of it meaning that you’re taxed on gross receipts for certain kinds of income, which is substantially different than an income tax. As to the issue with state taxes, the double taxation arises only if you can’t deduct federal tax paid on your state taxes. Very very few states allow this (perhaps only one, and I don’t remember which one, but I’ve seen it), but perhaps high tax states should look into that to solve the theoretical problem. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2019, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32032 "2019-04-20T21:04:06Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services says that immigrants who smoke marijuana legally should be denied applications for citizenship. > [New USCIS guidance says immigrants can be denied citizenship for smoking legal marijuana – ThinkProgress](https://thinkprogress.org/officials-encouraged-to-deny-citizenship-to-immigrants-for-smoking-legal-marijuana-0d3ced2f76b4/)? I thought Beauregard had completely retired from everything and is just a Sunday school teacher now. What’s next in ramping up oppression on immigrants - loss of driver’s license for the smallest of driving infractions; barred from a city’s restaurants or sports or entertainment venues for perceived “troublemaking”; barred from owning pets after some MAGat complained about his lawn getting shat on. Hope those scenarios are outlandish and stay that way. ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Jocko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uncle_jocko/32/2932_2.png) [@Uncle\_Jocko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Jocko)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2019, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32033 "2019-04-20T22:19:34Z")
> [@glowacks](#): > > As to the issue with state taxes, the double taxation arises only if you can’t deduct federal tax paid on your state taxes. Very very few states allow this (perhaps only one, and I don’t remember which one, but I’ve seen it), but perhaps high tax states should look into that to solve the theoretical problem. Iowa allows residents to deduct federal income tax on their state tax return. So that’s one. Fun side note: Iowa conservatives have been clamoring for years to take away federal tax deductibility. Their reasoning? Iowa’s posted income tax rates (which are higher than the _effective_ rates, thanks to federal deductibility) scare away businesses who locate in bordering states that have lower posted tax rates instead. My response to that is, any business that doesn’t do their homework to realize they don’t actually pay Iowa’s posted tax rates is too dumb for us to want in the state anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2019, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32034 "2019-04-20T22:55:04Z")
> [@Uncle\_Jocko](#): > > Iowa allows residents to deduct federal income tax on their state tax return. So that’s one. According to [the balance](https://www.thebalance.com/deducting-federal-income-taxes-on-your-state-return-3193248), there are six states that allow this deduction: Alabama, Iowa, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, and Oregon. All of these have limits on the amount you can deduct. ---
**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:** [April 21, 2019, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32035 "2019-04-21T01:14:46Z")
We all pretty much agree that nothing will make the core of deplorables desert thump, up to and including shooting someone on Fifth Avenue and/or peeing on the statue of Lincoln at the Lincoln Memorial. Even if “The Economy” (whatever that specifically means to anyone) tanks or slips or does bad stuff. Thump will say it’s Obama’s fault and the MAGAbots will believe him. BUT what if Big Republican donors start to desert him? They aren’t as dumb or gullible as the MAGAts. What if they feel they’re not getting their money’s worth from thump? PLUS they are appalled and disgusted by his rude, crude, obnoxious, stupid, ill-informed behaviors. They aren’t ideologically tied to him the way the Republicans are. Could that happen? Could the Big Money start to fade away even as his poll numbers seem to indicate approval from the base? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2019, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32036 "2019-04-21T01:19:19Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > We all pretty much agree that nothing will make the core of deplorables desert thump, up to and including shooting someone on Fifth Avenue and/or peeing on the statue of Lincoln at the Lincoln Memorial. Even if “The Economy” (whatever that specifically means to anyone) tanks or slips or does bad stuff. Thump will say it’s Obama’s fault and the MAGAbots will believe him. > > BUT what if Big Republican donors start to desert him? They aren’t as dumb or gullible as the MAGAts. What if they feel they’re not getting their money’s worth from thump? PLUS they are appalled and disgusted by his rude, crude, obnoxious, stupid, ill-informed behaviors. They aren’t ideologically tied to him the way the Republicans are. Could that happen? Could the Big Money start to fade away even as his poll numbers seem to indicate approval from the base? They share the same interest with him in wealthy people not paying income tax. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2019, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32037 "2019-04-21T01:42:43Z")
[This](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-immigration-militia/fbi-arrests-leader-of-u-s-patriots-stopping-migrants-at-border-idUSKCN1RW0O5?il=0) is an interesting development. (Reuters) > [@](#): > > The FBI on Saturday said it had arrested Larry Hopkins, the leader of an armed group who have been stopping migrants who illegally cross the U.S.-Mexico border in New Mexico. > > Hopkins, 69, also known as Johnny Horton, was arrested in Sunland Park, New Mexico, on a federal complaint charging him with being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said in a statement. > > Hopkins represents himself as commander of the United Constitutional Patriots (UCP), a small volunteer group camped out near Sunland Park since late February. > > The UCP describes itself as a “patriot group” helping over-stretched U.S. Border Patrol agents deal with a surge in undocumented migrants. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2019, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32038 "2019-04-21T02:07:02Z")
Well, if you put “constitutional” right in the fucking name you’re pretty much bullet proof, right? ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2019, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32039 "2019-04-21T02:29:58Z")
Pardon candidate. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2019, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32040 "2019-04-21T02:54:11Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > Pardon candidate. :rolleyes: The magats will support him because their chief will tweet about unfair the law is just like they did when that SEAL or Green Beret straight up murdered someone and the twerp tweeted about what a hero he is for that. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2019, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32041 "2019-04-21T03:10:38Z")
And Trump’s White Trash Nation marches on, undaunted. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2019, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32042 "2019-04-21T13:14:16Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Well, if you put “constitutional” right in the fucking name you’re pretty much bullet proof, right? A group for regular Americans, or at least those straining to be. The blockage isn’t going away— they’ll keep squatting until they’re forced to evacuate. And they won’t go easily; it’s not in their fiber. ---
**Author:** ![Toxgoddess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Toxgoddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxgoddess)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2019, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32043 "2019-04-21T16:33:23Z")
I see what you did there. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2019, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/32044 "2019-04-21T18:19:00Z")
I would say that it stinks, but it was pretty good, as per usual. But what about right wing militia armed felon dickbags? "Larry Mitchell Hopkins, 69, of Flora Vista, New Mexico, was arrested for allegedly being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas and the FBI said. … “This is a dangerous felon who should not have weapons around children and families,” Balderas said. “Today’s arrest by the FBI indicates clearly that the rule of law should be in the hands of trained law enforcement officials, not armed vigilantes.” You simply _MUST_ click the link and get a look at the beady eyed sister fuckin Trump supporter’s mugshot. > **[FBI arrests member of armed group stopping migrants in New Mexico](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/fbi-arrests-alleged-member-armed-group-stopping-migrants-new-mexico-n996746)** > > "The rule of law should be in the hands of trained law enforcement officials, not armed vigilantes," New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas said. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1601) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1603)