# The Trump Administration: The Clusterfuck Continues (Part 1) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [November 11, 2024, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068 "2024-11-11T06:19:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 267
**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:** [June 1, 2025, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/5382 "2025-06-01T22:11:35Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > So, basically, her advice for us is to pray and die. What really pisses me off is that she’s focusing on the dying part. Yeah, sure, it’s trivially obvious that we’re all going to die. But there’s also quality of life issues at stake. Yes, many people will die earlier than necessary because of these cuts, but there will be many, many more suffering some degree of decrease in quality of life, short of death, because of these cuts. Diabetic patients losing limbs because they can’t afford enough insulin. People suffering chronic pain because they can’t get the surgery needed to fix an underlying problem. Stuff like that. The list goes on, and on, and on. They’ll all suffer, for a long time before they die. ---
**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:** [June 1, 2025, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/5383 "2025-06-01T22:17:47Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > The instructions for that application should be a fun read. > > “I vow to uphold the constitution the way Trump says it reads and will do my utmost to implement the excutive orders Trump, my favorite president, has issued in the past or will issue in the future, including thoe which have been declared or shall be declared uncostitutional.” We need a contest: Write the most obviously anti-Trump version of such an essay, but written in such a way that the usual MAGA idiots who can’t understand subtext will think it’s a pro-Trump essay. ---
**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:** [June 1, 2025, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/5384 "2025-06-01T22:23:22Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > We need a contest: Write the most obviously anti-Trump version of such an essay, but written in such a way that the usual MAGA idiots who can’t understand subtext will think it’s a pro-Trump essay. That definitely IS a task for ChatGPT. For a human being to try it would likely cause brain damage. I’ll let someone else try it. ---
**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:** [June 1, 2025, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/5385 "2025-06-01T23:49:00Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > What does “PDB” stand for? “Pissing Devochkas on the Bed”? Or “Please Don’t Bother”. It’s a complete waste of time, after all. > [@Horatius](#): > > We need a contest: Write the most obviously anti-Trump version of such an essay, but written in such a way that the usual MAGA idiots who can’t understand subtext will think it’s a pro-Trump essay. “Ensure your answer includes words of three or more syllables” would have the same effect. And speaking of the ongoing clusterfuck, aren’t you just a tad curious about [how the felon’s showing his love for the military](https://www.military.com/daily-news/2025/05/28/pentagon-diverts-1-billion-army-barracks-fund-border-mission.html)? > [@](#): > > The Pentagon is shifting $1 billion meant for maintaining and renovating [Army](https://www.military.com/army) barracks to instead fund its surge of troops to the U.S.-Mexico border, a move that coincides with the service’s gradual deprioritization of quality-of-life initiatives for soldiers. > > Redirecting the barracks funding erodes much of the additional money the Army started pouring into living quarters during the previous administration. The funding could be partially replaced by a separate $1 billion in proposed barracks investments across all services in Congress’ so-called "One Big Beautiful Bill,” but that legislation, designed to enact President Donald Trump’s agenda, would still leave the Army with an enormous financial loss on maintaining living quarters for junior troops. > > The shift of Army barracks money to the border mission was laid out in a wide-ranging Defense Department plan, sent to Congress on May 8, to move funding between various programs. The service declined to comment on how the cut might affect ongoing projects. This part of the article is especially telling. > [@](#): > > The diversion of funds away from soldier housing contrasts with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s public persona. Having served 11 years as an Army [National Guard](https://www.military.com/national-guard) officer, Hegseth has frequently portrayed himself as a champion for the rank and file, telling troops at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, last week, “I’ve been in your boots.” Yeah, right. Maybe he was in their boots, maybe not. But he certainly wasn’t in the junior soldiers’ barracks. [Here’s an update on the list of sanctuary cities the felon wants targeted.](https://www.aol.com/dhs-removes-list-sanctuary-cities-184959551.html) (The **bolding** is mine.) > [@](#): > > WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Department of Homeland Security removed a list of “sanctuary” states, cities and counties from its website following sharp criticism from a sheriffs’ association that said a list of “non-compliant” sheriffs could severely damage the relationship between the Trump administration and law enforcement. > > DHS on Thursday published a list of what it called “sanctuary” jurisdictions that allegedly limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. The list prompted a response from the National Sheriffs’ Association, which represents more than 3,000 elected sheriffs across the U.S. and generally supports federal immigration enforcement. > > Sheriff Kieran Donahue, president of the association, said in a statement on Saturday that **DHS published “a list of alleged noncompliant sheriffs in a manner that lacks transparency and accountability.”** Donahue said the list was created without input from sheriffs and “violated the core principles of trust, cooperation, and partnership with fellow law enforcement.” Here’s the bolded part again. > [@](#): > > **DHS published “a list of alleged noncompliant sheriffs in a manner that lacks transparency and accountability.”** He’s surprised by this? It’s 100% on brand for the felon. [The felon’s minimi in the House shows both his loyalty and his delusion at the same time.](https://www.aol.com/speaker-mike-johnson-says-medicaid-145150175.html) > [@](#): > > Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., on Sunday defended cuts to Medicaid in the budget bill House Republicans [passed last month,](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/house-passes-sweeping-domestic-policy-package-big-win-trump-speaker-jo-rcna208417) saying that “4.8 million people will not lose their Medicaid unless they choose to do so.” > > Johnson told NBC News’ “Meet the Press” that the bill imposes “commonsense” work requirements for some Medicaid recipients and added that he’s “not buying” the argument that the work requirements, which [would require](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/trump-bill-house-republicans-pass-what-know-rcna208488) able-bodied Medicaid recipients to work, participate in job training programs or volunteer for 80 hours a month, are too “cumbersome.” > > “You’re telling me that you’re going to require the able-bodied, these young men, for example, OK, to only work or volunteer in their community for 20 hours a week. And that’s too cumbersome for them?” Johnson told “Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker. “I’m not buying it. The American people are not buying it.” > > The bill also adds new rules and paperwork requirements for those Medicaid recipients and increases eligibility checks and address verifications. [So much winning!](https://www.yahoo.com/news/us-court-wont-lift-judges-001416614.html) (The **bolding** is mine.) > [@](#): > > (Reuters) -A U.S. appeals court on Friday refused to allow President [Donald Trump](https://www.yahoo.com/people/donald-trump/)’s administration to carry out mass layoffs of federal workers and a restructuring of agencies, leaving a lower court order in place that blocked the sweeping government overhaul. > > The decision by the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals means that, for now, the Trump administration cannot proceed with plans to shed tens of thousands of federal jobs and shutter many government offices and programs. > > U.S. District Judge Susan Illston in San Francisco on May 22 blocked large-scale layoffs at about 20 federal agencies, agreeing with a group of unions, nonprofits and municipalities that **the president may only restructure agencies when authorized by Congress**. Doesn’t this mean DOGE itself has been determined to be unconstitutional? [Hey, let’s harass the staff of a Democratic congressman!](https://www.yahoo.com/news/nadler-staffer-briefly-detained-dhs-181214528.html) > [@](#): > > Officers with the Department of Homeland Security briefly detained a staff member in Rep. [Jerry Nadler](https://directory.politicopro.com/member/51541)’s (D-N.Y.) Manhattan office during an incident on Wednesday, as protests took place outside an immigration courthouse in the same federal facility as the representative’s office. > > The incident, first reported [by the news outlet Gothamist](https://gothamist.com/news/homeland-security-cops-handcuff-one-of-rep-nadlers-aides-in-chaotic-day-at-ny-fed-building) on Friday, was captured on video. In the recording, a DHS officer can be heard saying that members of Nadler’s staff were “harboring rioters” in their office while another officer cuffs a crying staffer. > > “I’m a federal officer,” the DHS official said to a second staff member in the video posted by Gothamist, adding “we have the right to check” the office. The second staff member, who can be seen initially blocking the officer’s entry to a private area in the office, asked whether the officers had a warrant to search the space, to which the officer replied negatively. The staff member eventually acquiesced, allowing the officer to walk through the area. > > Nadler slammed both DHS and President Donald Trump in a statement Saturday afternoon for demonstrating “aggressive and heavy-handed tactics” and “sowing chaos” not only in his district, but across the country, as the Trump administration escalates its crackdown on immigration. > > “President Trump and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are sowing chaos in our communities, using intimidation tactics against both citizens and non-citizens in a reckless and dangerous manner. In the most recent and deeply troubling incident, DHS agents forcefully entered my Congressional office and handcuffed a member of my staff,” Nadler said, adding that he was “alarmed by the aggressive and heavy-handed tactics DHS is employing in New York City and across the country.” > > The New York representative also cautioned that the incident showed a “deeply troubling disregard for proper legal boundaries,” and warned that “if this can happen in a Member of Congress’s office, it can happen to anyone — and it is happening.” [It’s stupid’s economy.](https://www.yahoo.com/news/send-grandma-dad-maga-supporting-183523842.html) > [@](#): > > Hi there, my name is Alexa, and for each month of Donald Trump’s presidency, [I’m tracking the real numbers achieved by his administration](https://www.buzzfeed.com/alexalisitza/tracking-trump-economy-march) on BuzzFeed. > > (AKA, the unemployment rate, cost of eggs, gas prices, inflation, the Dow Jones, whether citizens received a stimulus check, and Trump’s overall approval rating.) > > Why am I doing this? Because Trump and his campaign positioned itself, and perhaps [largely won on](https://x.com/marlene4719/status/1886557158331895843), being the “economy vote” — a title that seems ironic now as his [global tariff war](https://www.buzzfeed.com/alexalisitza/best-trump-global-tariffs-tweets) seems to be [hurtling us straight toward a recession](https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2025/04/07/what-is-a-recession-definition/82975206007/)… [It turns out Musk wasn’t the only vermin to descend on Washington in January this year.](https://www.yahoo.com/news/musk-doge-takeover-institute-peace-212244789.html) > [@](#): > > The head of the [United States Institute of Peace](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/congress-president-trump-washington-elon-musk-b2754082.html) says its Washington, D.C. headquarters near the Lincoln Memorial was left to rot after billionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency took it over in March, resulting in water damage, graffiti – and, worse yet, an infestation of roaches and rats. > > After DOGE replaced the independent, fully government-funded nonprofit’s board with MAGA loyalists and fired the entire staff, Musk’s crew left it with a “level of staffing… woefully insufficient to properly protect and maintain” the $500 million Moshe Safdie-designed concrete-and-glass structure, according to a [May 23 affidavit filed in D.C. federal court](https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.278529/gov.uscourts.dcd.278529.45.1.pdf) by USIP President and CEO George Moose. > > “Vermin were not a problem prior to March 17, 2025, when USIP was actively using and maintaining the building,” Moose’s affidavit states. [And yet another court order going against the multifelon.](https://www.yahoo.com/news/order-california-judge-protects-venezuelan-181144072.html) > [@](#): > > A federal judge has granted protection from deportation and work permits to as many as 5,000 Venezuelans who have Temporary Protected Status. > > U.S. District Judge Edward E. Chen in San Francisco on Friday granted an emergency motion filed by Venezuelan plaintiffs following last week’s Supreme Court ruling that the Trump administration can deport some Venezuelans on TPS while a challenge wends its way through the courts. > > Chen’s order involves two key dates: Jan. 17, 2025, when Alejandro Mayorkas, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security at the time, extended TPS for Venezuelans until next year, and Feb. 5, when the new DHS secretary, Kristi Noem, announced she was revoking the extension. > > In an 11-page ruling, Chen ordered the government to uphold the rights of TPS holders who received government documentation — such as work permits and/or TPS renewals — under Mayorkas’s extension between those two dates. > > “If DHS granted that extension, it must honor it and comply with the court’s order,” said Emi MacLean, a senior staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union who is among the lawyers representing the Venezuelans in the case. Yeah. This four year term is going to seem like centuries. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2025, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/5386 "2025-06-02T00:18:09Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Only toadies, lickspittles, and obsequious weasels need apply. Cruella De Vil: “What kind of sycophant are you?” Frederick: “Uh, what kind of sycophant would you _like_ me to be?” ---
**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:** [June 2, 2025, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/5387 "2025-06-02T01:26:42Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > They’ll all suffer, for a long time before they die. And that will bring them to Christ, > The Iowa lawmaker then encouraged viewers who want to see “eternal and everlasting life” to “embrace” Jesus Christ. ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2025, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/5388 "2025-06-02T03:46:31Z")
> [@from Montys link](#): > > “And I made an incorrect assumption that everyone in the auditorium understood that, yes, we are all going to perish from this earth. So I apologize, and I’m really, really glad that I did not have to bring up the subject of the tooth fairy as well,” she continued. It’s not just what they say but how they say it. Smirking and derisive, they have nothing but contempt for the people they are supposed to represent. She even throws in a “Christian” bit at the end. Does she really think her god thought that was funny? The press secretary is especially prone to this scornful behavior. But they do know how to make daddy happy. It’s reprehensible. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2025, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/5389 "2025-06-02T04:03:11Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > Wait, have we pissed off Australia (yet)? > [@penultima\_thule Feb 15th](#): > > So we need the US to buy our big ticket items of iron ore, coal and LNG etc so we can afford to buy all that military hardware the US thinks we need. And, as expected, [US demands Australia lifts defence spending by $40b a year](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-02/us-australia-defence-spend-billions-hegseth-china/105364740) ‘as soon as possible’ because “Australia must do more to support the US in the Indo-Pacific”. After all it’s you damn merkins who are ramping up the tension in the Pacific theatre. Which presumably will comprise substantial purchases US military hardware and has nowt to do with Boeing losing billion dollar contracts and li’l ol’ Oz picking up some nice exports to PRC of ag produce into PRC which the US lost. ---
**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:** [June 2, 2025, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/5390 "2025-06-02T05:12:44Z")
> [@aurora\_maire](#): > > > [@from Montys link](#): > > > > “And I made an incorrect assumption that everyone in the auditorium understood that, yes, we are all going to perish from this earth. So I apologize, and I’m really, really glad that I did not have to bring up the subject of the tooth fairy as well,” she continued. "Yeah, but we didn’t plan on dying _today_! > [@aurora\_maire](#): > > She even throws in a “Christian” bit at the end. That’s not even a dog whistle. It’s a bloody loud foghorn. It’s purpose is to let you know that you simply do not count as American if you are not Christian, her version of Christian that is. And, of course, it matters not, therefore, if you die, even if you die today. ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2025, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/5391 "2025-06-02T07:01:35Z")
Over the weekend China accused the US administration of making “groundless accusations” [that China’s army was rehearsing an invasion](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-01/china-rejects-us-groundless-warnings-taiwan-invasion-threat/105363336) of Taiwan. How do they rehearse a siege? Haven’t the (real) good military people (esp. retired) concluded this would be the most effective way (at least at first) to take Taiwan. Same article: The US demand comes as President Donald Trump says he will increase economic punishments on Australia by doubling the tariffs on steel and aluminium, which the prime minister has described as “inappropriate” and “economic self-harm”. So up to Australia I guess is whether they allow the USA 7th Navy to dock in Brisbane and Sydney. “But Mr Hegseth warned Australia must lift spending faster with a “real and potentially imminent” threat from China.” Oh, c’mon. That’s why I said “(real) good military people” above about Taiwan. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2025, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/5392 "2025-06-02T08:34:37Z")
> [@Coriolanus](#): > > would be the most effective way (at least at first) to take Taiwan. The most effective way for China to retake Taiwan is by simply waiting until the US debt crisis becomes acute and offering to swap their holdings of Treasuries for Taiwan. ---
**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:** [June 2, 2025, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/5393 "2025-06-02T08:40:25Z")
“_A big beautiful deal. The best deal anyone has ever seen._”? ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2025, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/5394 "2025-06-02T08:43:22Z")
That’d be the sound bite … but methinks those familiar with the Louisiana Purchase might disagree. ---
**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:** [June 2, 2025, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/5395 "2025-06-02T08:43:38Z")
An attack on Taiwan would be the worst thing the PRC’s government could do to the mainland’s economy. There is far too much cross-strait economic activity, especially with investment from Taiwan in the mainland. The saber rattling is more for domestic consumption than for a sustained military objective. The mainland is not going to take Taiwan and Taiwan’s government is never going to be in charge of a re-united China. The only way the latter would happen is if the one-party state on the mainland collapses akin to the collapse of East Germany and that of the Soviet Union. And that’s not going to happen either. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2025, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/5396 "2025-06-02T08:59:54Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > if the one-party state on the mainland collapses akin to the collapse of East Germany and that of the Soviet Union. And that’s not going to happen either. I will just tell you what I told everyone who would listen prior to 1989: East Germany is going to collapse. I don’t know when, but when it starts, it will be quick. Same for mainland China. And the USA. It may take many decades, but collapse they will. And it will be quick. And probably not as neat and peaceful as Eastern Germany was. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2025, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/5397 "2025-06-02T09:01:04Z")
@Monty, thanks. From your comments, I get the feeling that both China and Taiwan are, for now, satisfied with the status quo, no matter how political they are. They’ve reached an equilibrium, that neither likes, but that works for both. Would I be correct in my feeling? ---
**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:** [June 2, 2025, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/5398 "2025-06-02T09:27:01Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > I will just tell you what I told everyone who would listen prior to 1989: East Germany is going to collapse. I don’t know when, but when it starts, it will be quick. The DDR had plenty of problems prior to 1989. If anything, it’s a miracle they lasted as long as they did, even with Soviet assistance. With the removal of that support, the collapse became pretty evident. West Germany’s government’s investments did not provide any real economic benefit to West Germany; it was to remove emigration pressures (and, yes, there was actually emigration, but not much, from East Germany). Taiwan’s investment provides an economic benefit to both mainland China and Taiwan. The impending collapse of the United States is a fantasy. As much as I despise the current administration, our system actually is working to hold it back from doing the damage it wants to do, damage that actually would bring on a collapse. And by our system, I mean both our functioning federal vs state division of power, and our decentralized law enforcement, along with a military which is not the tool of an absolute monarch. > [@Spoons](#): > > @Monty, thanks. From your comments, I get the feeling that both China and Taiwan are, for now, satisfied with the status quo, no matter how political they are. They’ve reached an equilibrium, that neither likes, but that works for both. > > Would I be correct in my feeling? I’d say you’re mostly correct, depeding on what you include in the status quo. The mainland government gets irritated when any Taiwan government official makes noise about an indepedent Taiwan. The status quo which the mainland wants and likes is a pragmatic working relationship but without any pushback from Taiwan’s government. The economic issue is the most important one, in reality, for that pragmatic working relationship. Maybe both sides see this as more of a hydra than a dragon or snake. The hydra was an unpleasant thing to begin with, and when one cut off one of its heads, it grew multiple replacements, presumably making the thing even more unpleasant. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2025, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/5399 "2025-06-02T09:33:57Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > The impending collapse of the United States is a fantasy. As much as I despise the current administration, our system actually is working to hold it back from doing the damage it wants to do, damage that actually would bring on a collapse. Time will tell. You say yourself that the current clusterfuck is working towards the collapse, I hope for the sake of the world and of sanity that you are right when you write the system will hold back the madness. I am not sure they can succeed forever, but you are closer to the ground. Just for the record: When I told anyone back in the '80s that the GDR was going to collapse, 99% replied that that could never happen. But having been right once does not mean I will ever be right again, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2025, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/5400 "2025-06-02T09:35:07Z")
Thank you, @Monty. A “pragmatic working relationship” were the words I was trying to find, and you got my gist. Thanks again! ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2025, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/5401 "2025-06-02T09:42:28Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > An attack on Taiwan would be the worst thing the PRC’s government could do to the mainland’s economy. I thought Taiwan was important to the Chinese in general for almost religious-type reasons and that Xi, who has not claimed President for life as Putin has (and Fatass can in 3 years), was really keen on being in charge (and getting praise and credit) at the time of re-annexing Taiwan. Invasion like a Normandy landing would be very costly in terms of soldiers and materiel. As would any indiscriminate pre-flattening of whatever might be considered important to take out (Perhaps electric grids). Yet a siege of an island that in no way is self-independent on food and fuel and other resources might take a month or some longer yet definitely-finite time would be effective till they capitulate. So long as the 7th Navy (or Vicious Pete Hegseth) doesn’t tell them to “quit it” and if need be, back those words with actions. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068.md?page=266) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068.md?page=268)