Wow umm I sure hope this is a coincidence

[Rommie]

I remember last 4th of July a discussion with my extended family about foreigners buying real estate in Canada vs the USA involved me saying "you know, like how Chinese people can buy a visa to the USA if you have enough money." My dad was absolutely shocked that you can do this, even when my (also conservative) uncle and cousins confirmed it to him- "why would anyone want to move to Canada then over the USA if you can just buy a visa here?!"

OMG

I feel like this was a pretty classic example of how little people know about these rules, combined with sheer naiveté about them. Also, keep in mind that my dad is a naturalized US citizen!

[Sigma_Orionis]

Y'all realize that most countries give you a visa for cash and it's codified in law. It's a handy way of knowing if you'll contribute to the country. In the U.S. and Australia, the amount is $100,000.00 and it's certainly not new or exclusive to the Trump administration.

Nope, that's not the problem. The EB-5 visa program has existed for at least 20 years. (IIRC back in the late 90s, Early 2000s, the investment amount was US$ 100,000.00). That urban development companies use the EB-5 program to get investors is not particularly shady. However, the fact that such a development company, that happens to be tied to Trump's son in law is pushing it, smells funny. The fact that they are flouting their connections to Trump's family AND that they're implying that Trump has final say on which actual individuals get the visa, smells like rotten fish.

It's also, probably, a violation of the emollients clause. Which essentially says you are not allowed to use public office to enrich yourself, your family, or your business interests.

I have no problem with encouraging people of means to come to the U.S. and creating jobs. But, I have my doubts that buying a million dollar condo creates that many jobs. And I especially object to my government officials acting like low brow criminals. I much prefer the ones who are discrete and pretend to have ethics and stuff like that.

"Emoluments" (yeah, I looked it up, couldn't resist )

[SciFiFisher]

Y'all realize that most countries give you a visa for cash and it's codified in law. It's a handy way of knowing if you'll contribute to the country. In the U.S. and Australia, the amount is $100,000.00 and it's certainly not new or exclusive to the Trump administration.

Nope, that's not the problem. The EB-5 visa program has existed for at least 20 years. (IIRC back in the late 90s, Early 2000s, the investment amount was US$ 100,000.00). That urban development companies use the EB-5 program to get investors is not particularly shady. However, the fact that such a development company, that happens to be tied to Trump's son in law is pushing it, smells funny. The fact that they are flouting their connections to Trump's family AND that they're implying that Trump has final say on which actual individuals get the visa, smells like rotten fish.

It's also, probably, a violation of the emollients clause. Which essentially says you are not allowed to use public office to enrich yourself, your family, or your business interests.

I have no problem with encouraging people of means to come to the U.S. and creating jobs. But, I have my doubts that buying a million dollar condo creates that many jobs. And I especially object to my government officials acting like low brow criminals. I much prefer the ones who are discrete and pretend to have ethics and stuff like that.

"Emoluments" (yeah, I looked it up, couldn't resist )

phhffffffft!

[geonuc]

It's also, probably, a violation of the emollients clause. Which essentially says you are not allowed to use public office to enrich yourself, your family, or your business interests.

The clause isn't that broad. It prohibits holders of public trust from accepting gifts and such from foreign states, unless Congress says it's OK. There's nothing about enriching oneself through shady business deals as long as a foreign government isn't involved.

Of course, in this era of partisan divide, the exact wording of the constitution, or the intent of the founders, is becoming irrelevant. So, I could see a partisan federal court ruling that the clause means you can't use the public trust to enrich yourself at all.

[SciFiFisher]

It's also, probably, a violation of the emollients clause. Which essentially says you are not allowed to use public office to enrich yourself, your family, or your business interests.

The clause isn't that broad. It prohibits holders of public trust from accepting gifts and such from foreign states, unless Congress says it's OK. There's nothing about enriching oneself through shady business deals as long as a foreign government isn't involved.

Of course, in this era of partisan divide, the exact wording of the constitution, or the intent of the founders, is becoming irrelevant. So, I could see a partisan federal court ruling that the clause means you can't use the public trust to enrich yourself at all.

hmmm... fair point. I do know that every year, as a government employee, I get an ethics briefing. And the specific language of the briefing includes not using my government office or government resources to make money or profit for myself. I am strictly forbidden to do things like work for or on my own business interests while being paid by the government. I am required to recuse myself from any activities that involve making decisions about vendors or any other government contracting issues in which I have a personal interest.

Here is a pretty good overview of what I am talking about https://www.justice.gov/jmd/government-ethics-outline

[Thumper]

Yeah, we have ethics training every year that covers many of these areas.

[squ1d]

The theory regarding the original article strikes me as delusionally paranoid. I don't think the Aryan Brotherhood collected those figures.

Having said that, I have never witnessed anything like the reckless hyperstupidity of Trump, who is redefining (on a daily basis) what it means to be a retard in the international sphere.

[Cyborg Girl]

@squ1d

I'd normally consider such thinking delusional too, but this is the second time something like that has happened.

https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/tw ... zi-slogan/

And the Trump Administration already has a known fan base among neo-Nazis, openly racist viewpoints, and some staff (or former staff) have known connections to neo-Nazi or adjacent groups.

Our head of state is a right-wing populist demagogue, yo. None of this shit is far fetched. And, like, also keep in mind that pretty much everything about e.g. the Third Reich might sound delusional if you think about it out of context.

Most of you are still talking like this is a conspiracy. It isn't. It's very open political extremism. The goals, posited methods, allegiances, and positions have all been stated quite clearly, and the Republican voting base has been eating it up like vultures on a rotting carcass. A certain percentage of US voters have wanted a dictator for a while - and they still don't have one, but now they have a President who thinks like one, and that's going to really fuck things up.

[Sigma_Orionis]

I don't care for "Da Vinci Code" stuff. But, I can say that one of Trump's high level advisers. Whom, apparently is responsible for a lot of his immigration policies: Stephen Miller, is considered to be an "Immigration Hardliner". And, before anyone says anything. Yes, he's a descendant of immigrants himself and his own uncle called him a hypocrite for the stuff he's pushing.

I remember last 4th of July a discussion with my extended family about foreigners buying real estate in Canada vs the USA involved me saying "you know, like how Chinese people can buy a visa to the USA if you have enough money." My dad was absolutely shocked that you can do this, even when my (also conservative) uncle and cousins confirmed it to him- "why would anyone want to move to Canada then over the USA if you can just buy a visa here?!"

OMG

I feel like this was a pretty classic example of how little people know about these rules, combined with sheer naiveté about them. Also, keep in mind that my dad is a naturalized US citizen!

Exactly