[DEBATE] Presidential Election - 2016 (closing Nov 22)

As a British citizen, I have the National Health Service. And hey, Trump doesn't want TTIP - which would destroy the NHS, so I guess that's one thing to be thankful for

I am moving away though. I don't know when, I don't know how anymore, but I'm moving to Germany. One way or another, I'm going to get there, and nothing is going to stop me. I don't know how my healthcare carries over there though

Then let's hope it doesn't get to you eating bricks, as he would have already done both and if one doesn't bite your guy's economy, the other one will. (Which might send America into another recession, or hell, a depression again... :\)

For clarification (I'm confused as to whether or not you got confused at my confusing wording); TTIP would destroy the NHS. If the US pulled out - like Trump wants to - TTIP can't exist, which is fantastic. It means the nationalised health services of Europe won't get privatised and owned by American corporations. Europeans don't want the trade deal, Americans don't want it, by pulling out of the agreement Trump would be doing both places a favour.

He can scrap it on his own. Congress can't do anything about it.

So, what do you all think about this? (Courtesy of Windows 10.)

I tend to doubt he will leave NATO. He will probably put certain demands on the other members, possibly certain compensation to the US. But, his plan on trade and the economy is very obvious, he wants to be isolationist. Make the cost of imported goods so high by the use of tariffs that American business can be more competitive. He wants a 45% tariff on Chinese imports. That is an cost increase in the US of anything made in China of 45%. He has also voiced similar trade policy on other imports. I have had many economics courses both in undergraduate and graduate business school and I am a proponent of free trade. Each country should do what they do well and then everyone will be better off. But a large portion of Trump's constituency wants to bring back high paid, unskilled, manufacturing jobs. Other countries do that better than we do. We need to educate our citizenry to be better competitive but I'm afraid that is not in Trump's plan. I said if you are considering purchasing any items that are predominantly imported you should think about buying sooner than later. Particularly electronics.

That is where Bernie had it right. As other countries like Russia, China and India make huge investments into education the US continues to fall behind. Ultimately, by not making this investment we will be unable to be competitive against the countries that have made that investment. We will end up with this under class that is entirely dependent on the government to take care of them and the overall wealth of this country will only go to a select few. We will end up with an elite part of society and a huge part that have little or nothing. We can already see this happening with the continued disparity between the classes. Count on Trump exacerbating that. The pain we go through will be severe.

So true, a little bit of socialism can never hurt.

Bring on the haters.

Here's my ten cents; I honestly know how Trump won. I get we wanted some "change", but was it really for the greater good? I feel people that aren't white are sacrificing our equality for the superiority of whites. I, myself, am asian and this is my opinion, so no hurt feelings. When my father was still sick with his terminal lung cancer, he heard about Trump running for president. He saw his speeches on TV, and he knew he wasn't fit for president. My father was a very political man. He didn't just hate him, he hated him with a passion. Now we can never fullfill one of my father's death wishes. Thanks for bearing with me here, I really appreciate it!

What power does congress and senate have exactly? It's not like only 1 person runs your country right?

House and Senate is in GOP control

Yes, but still they wouldn't be foolish enough to do something like that right?

The good thing (I guess you can use the word "good" loosely here) about the GOP getting control of the federal government, is that they CANNOT complain about the country if it starts sucking/going down the tubes after Trump gets into office; they're in charge, what happens is all on the republicans. They cannot blame the Democrats for that these next 4 years!

(Don't be ignorant and blame us Democrats for your own failures, man up and be mature about it. )

Yes, the president can leave/renegotiate NAFTA without any authorization from congress. Will Trump leave NAFTA? He has said he will. He ran for president as that being a reason to vote for him. Of course, people running for political office say they will do things they don't. But whether he actually will only time will tell.

Yes...God, an almighty, all knowing, all caring and loving being made Donald Trump.
The Media made a racist, facist, sexist, anti-LGBT+ and so much more.

You say "He's supposed to be omniscient", but He is also omnipresent as David describes in Psalms 139:7-10.

7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

In minecraft terminology...He is like the owner, the admin, (No, I am not suggesting Aikar is God), but where can we go in game that Aikar could not go and be there...near instantly? What could he not see or have record of? If we use our Elytra and fly as high as we can into the Heavens, or if we go to the farthest reaches of the Nether...also known as hell...He is there, and even the guardian temples provide no hiding place.

So why did I say all of that? To answer your inaccurate statement that "God doesn't come into this at all." That would be like saying we can do whatever we want on the Empire, and Aikar doesn't come into it at all.....Hmmm....right....

You evidently didn't read my post too closely, because I already answered -
why would he choose a fascist, racist, sexist, xenophobic, homophobic, Capitalist pig for a President?

I will elaborate a bit, but continue to restate what I said earlier about this.

What I said earlier was if God can cause a donkey to speak, and use this animal to make His message known, then He can use Donald Trump to turn this Country around. I also pointed out this about Saul....

"Saul of Tarsus – Persecutor of Christians and even claimed to be “Chief of all Sinners” at one time (1 Timothy 1:15)
Yet on another occasion we find him saying “We have wronged no man” (2nd Corinthians 7:2.)"

Saul was not just a facist, sexist, xenophobic, homophobic, or capitalist pig...no Saul did not waste time worrying about status quo....He just saw someone praying to the wrong God, got a report of someone serving the wrong God, took religious profiling to the maximum level and simply murdered them. You do realize the cross and similar punishment of Christians did not stop at Calvary. Saul was the CHIEF of ALL Sinners....which means even Trump could not, nor can he trump Saul in this category.

So what did God do with Saul? He changed him on the road to Damascus. And from that day forward...Saul became Paul, and wrote the majority of the New Testament. So why would God do this?

Because He is a Jealous God, and He wants our attention. He wants us to recognize Him...

What is the best way to view a star with your eyes only?

I would say on a clear night, but they are always there. We just don't see them until the brightness of the star is enveloped in darkness. At that point, the darkness is irrelevant, what we behold is the star. Yes, God has chosen someone who defies logic to initially darken the scene to get our attention so that we can see there is more to this than meets the eye, and no, I am not suggesting God is an Autobot.

I have to say that over the course of several decades, I have learned that to really clean my room...It usually becomes a bigger mess before the organization takes effect. So yes, I agree it is a mess, but that is what happens when you pull all the junk out into the floor and start taking stock of what is what, and why is it there.

Because of your statement...about us all being a mess is the very reason I wrote what I wrote. I wanted to offer a different perspective that would let you know God is in control, in spite of the mess.

If I am not mistaken one of, if not the largest voting block in this election was from Christians / Church people.

The Establishment Clause - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof...

People seem to take this to extremes these days it seems to benefit their agendas. All this says is that CONGRESS shall not make laws with respect to religion, and then goes on to re-affirm that there shall be no prohitition of the free exercise thereof. This means we should be able to exercise our freedom of religion or beliefs whereever and Congress cannot make a law to prevent it. People these days must be reading that with soda-pop glasses to read something else into that. It is also saying that Congress...not the school house, not the post office, not the white house....shall make no laws...cause you know...it is Congress that makes laws...not schools, not Court Houses, nor any other goverment entity that would respect the establishment of religion.

I brought up God, as I feel it is the best way to view this election outcome and find Peace.

In regards to your verse...it helps if you read it in context : Matthew 19:24-26

24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
25 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

We see here that Jesus went on to say that it is possible, because all things are possible with God. Also, have you ever thought about the amount of wealth it took to build Solomon's Temple?

Also consider Luke 17:20-21

20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

This says the Kingdom of God is here now...and doesn't He pave His streets with Gold.

Overall, yes I agree we should use moderation in all things including money, which is actually just a tool that can be used to help or hinder the Kingdom.

I hope this has clarified some of my previous thoughts in my other post as it was early when I submitted that after a very long day. It also doesn't help when you type over 12k characters, and have to whittle 2k out to submit on forum. I think it would be nice to have a character counter in the forum submission box so that we can know when to type to a close so to speak. I guess also not being so long winded would help, but I find myself wanting to reply to several people at once such as in this post, and it adds up. I really don't like trying to keep up with live forum chat posts...I feel that should just be in a chat room.

One last response would be to Soul in regards to prayer. I would never consider it something to do out of spite, but as with all of the Empire whom I consider an extended family I am reminded of what John said in III John 1:2

2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

I too pray, and wish only the best for those here in the Empire.

So why do I seemingly mix Church and State in issues like this? Because it is what I sense. As you can see, I was correct in the face of enormous odds that Trump would win, and even back in March I simply attempted to point to what I saw on the horizon. Once again I return to simply say that when the dust settles on this, there is an amazing future brimming on the horizon. I believe God has shown me other things that could happen, and even if it seems like a roller coaster ride, what a ride it will be. Many great and wonderful things will take place.

I would like to think most people think the internet is a technological wonder...it will pale in comparison to what is to come. Breakthroughs, Advancements, and solutions to centuries old problems will be solved in a very short period or span of time.

May God Bless you all, and be your Beacon of Hope in the days ahead.

KnightZer0ne
Tempered Outpost Founder

The media took what he said and showed it. Look at his past interviews where he shows his true colours.

I'd also like to know why God, picked a country which doesn't have an official religion and isn't officially Christian (yes I know the domaintant religion is protestant, but not official).

Dude, if you want to believe Trump is your savior sent to you by God that's cool. But it would be really cool if you started a different thread that is more specific to that theme would be appropriate. Maybe the title, "Trump Our Lord And Savior, All Praise". I'd read it, really I would.

The key word in this comment is "past". I don't debate what he did in his past, but believe God has come into his life and changed his perspective. His decision to stop being a democrat, and his view on abortion are two such instances of a major change in his life.

Hmm.. I dunno...Maybe just the slogan on our money...In God We Trust?

Hmm...Maybe you didn't understand that I was equating Trump to the darkness that helps us focus on the star in that analogy. I was in no way trying to say that Trump is our Savior....That role was filled 2000 yrs ago by a Nazarene who carried a cross to Golgotha. Trump may work hard in his new role to help me, but I do believe he would draw the line at death...heh, and to top that it wouldn't work anyways, because as we all know he is not without sin.

Oh, and sorry if my perspective is not the normal doom and gloom that seems to typically be associated with the fact that Trump is the President Elect of the USA.

Look at his current interviews as well then. He hasn't changed on a majority of topics and still has an extremely closed mind.

Yes, 'In God We Trust', is the official slogan of the United States, however, it is not regarding any specific religion otherwise it would be violating the United States Constitution. You may think of the Christian God, while a Muslim may think of their God, Allah.

I believe what I said in the post on page 81 addressed this view.

"I point these two situations out, because as I have often heard in regards to being fishers of men that similar to normal fishing you are highly unlikely to catch a fillet of fish already cleaned up, & ready to cook. In most normal cases, Minecraft being an exception, one must work to clean the fish after the process of rescuing them from the water. This can also apply to one who has decided to accept Christ as their Savior, it doesn’t always mean from that instant onward that you will not sin, or be completely free of the entanglements associated with a non-Christ-like lifestyle. It is a Walk with God that must be taken step by step."

I also believe there were many instances where Trump learned along the way of this campaign, and even apologized a few times for stuff. If he were truly closed minded, then I don't think he would admit he was wrong.

As for what you said about God, yes that could be true.

To really know the answer to your question though, you may have to simply ask Him. As far as I can tell though, the walk with God is about relationship, not necessarily religion. And as I read back over your initial question about why God would pick a country without an official religion, I sense...Why would a God of infinite proportions choose to be limited to the confines of a specific man-made view of Him when it comes to utilizing a country to spread the Gospel to the far reaches of the globe?

If money were not an issue....would you pick a local tv station to purchase airtime for a commercial? or would you go to one of the major networks and purchase time on there to reach many more viewers? Does not the world take notice of what happens in the USA? That seems like a pretty good reason to me.

Maybe that will help

Gotta be at work in less than 8hrs now...
GoodKnight