"it’s simply nobody’s business what is in his personal tax returns, because Trump, even when acting as president, was still a private citizen"
I'm going to disagree with this, and suggest that ALL of our presidents' financial pictures should be made 100% public OR they should be forced to sell off or divest business holdings while they are POTUS. Trump's own self-dealing while in office[1] provides the surface level justification for this, AND I think Americans should have as much information as possible by the time of the General Election to make an informed decision about POTUS and financial background and status is a BIG part of that picture.
If you're unwilling to make that part of your life public, I'm unwilling to give you the nuclear codes.
Agreed that we need to enact laws that require Federal-level elected personnel to both release their past decade of tax returns to the public AND divest business holdings AND ban stock trading/utilize a blind trust system.
We agree on that - especially if term limits can't be imposed. Term limits would reinstate the idea of a government for, of and by the people. Career politicians have ruined that concept. Ideally, legislators should be able to serve a term or two while retaining their ability to earn a living in their chosen field.
I was discussing the Ukraine-Russia war with my in-laws (ex-Ukrainian SSR [they came in the 70s]) this past Sunday while eating latkes, and one of the things they agreed with was that Russia is not a reliable negotiating partner: there have been multiple agreements between Ukraine and Russia, and Russia has violated every one of them. Russia cannot be trusted to uphold any agreement long-term.
That explains Zelensky's expression when he met with Trump back in 2019 in New York when Trump said, "...and I really hope that Russia, because I believe that President Putin would like to do something, I really hope that you and President Putin can get together and solve your problem. That would be a tremendous achievement and I know you are trying to do that."
If Trump is found guilty of bilking the taxpayers, lock him up. I believe we would uncover far more graft and corruption if we investigated career politicians who can stay in office forever. Career politicians spend half of each term in office campaigning for reelection. They spend their campaign money in questionable ways on themselves and relatives. I'm convinced that many are thoroughly corrupt and act more in their own self-interest than on the taxpayers' behalf. Presidents are limited to two terms, but some have a long record of profitable "public service". Joe Biden is the most obvious example. I do not recall any other president being an office holder for so long. Even LBJ served only 32 years total as a member of Congress and as President. Career politicians are destroying this nation.
I was watching video recording of the meeting in 2019 between Trump and Zelensky and this week's meeting with Biden and Zelensky. I gotta tell you...it was painful watching Trump talking to Zelensky about the corruption problem in Ukraine.
"it’s simply nobody’s business what is in his personal tax returns, because Trump, even when acting as president, was still a private citizen"
I'm going to disagree with this, and suggest that ALL of our presidents' financial pictures should be made 100% public OR they should be forced to sell off or divest business holdings while they are POTUS. Trump's own self-dealing while in office[1] provides the surface level justification for this, AND I think Americans should have as much information as possible by the time of the General Election to make an informed decision about POTUS and financial background and status is a BIG part of that picture.
If you're unwilling to make that part of your life public, I'm unwilling to give you the nuclear codes.
[1] https://www.politico.com/news/2022/10/17/trump-organization-excessively-charged-secret-service-for-hotel-stays-house-panel-00062101
Agreed that we need to enact laws that require Federal-level elected personnel to both release their past decade of tax returns to the public AND divest business holdings AND ban stock trading/utilize a blind trust system.
AMEN on the ban on stock (and other securities) trading!
We agree on that - especially if term limits can't be imposed. Term limits would reinstate the idea of a government for, of and by the people. Career politicians have ruined that concept. Ideally, legislators should be able to serve a term or two while retaining their ability to earn a living in their chosen field.
I was discussing the Ukraine-Russia war with my in-laws (ex-Ukrainian SSR [they came in the 70s]) this past Sunday while eating latkes, and one of the things they agreed with was that Russia is not a reliable negotiating partner: there have been multiple agreements between Ukraine and Russia, and Russia has violated every one of them. Russia cannot be trusted to uphold any agreement long-term.
That explains Zelensky's expression when he met with Trump back in 2019 in New York when Trump said, "...and I really hope that Russia, because I believe that President Putin would like to do something, I really hope that you and President Putin can get together and solve your problem. That would be a tremendous achievement and I know you are trying to do that."
If Trump is found guilty of bilking the taxpayers, lock him up. I believe we would uncover far more graft and corruption if we investigated career politicians who can stay in office forever. Career politicians spend half of each term in office campaigning for reelection. They spend their campaign money in questionable ways on themselves and relatives. I'm convinced that many are thoroughly corrupt and act more in their own self-interest than on the taxpayers' behalf. Presidents are limited to two terms, but some have a long record of profitable "public service". Joe Biden is the most obvious example. I do not recall any other president being an office holder for so long. Even LBJ served only 32 years total as a member of Congress and as President. Career politicians are destroying this nation.
I was watching video recording of the meeting in 2019 between Trump and Zelensky and this week's meeting with Biden and Zelensky. I gotta tell you...it was painful watching Trump talking to Zelensky about the corruption problem in Ukraine.