*WARNING: US politics* GP's future

There is politics in this thread. I know it's against the rules I set up, but it's important to this site, so sorry. For this thread alone, I'll allow comments of a political nature, as long as there's no personal attacks, bashing, negativity. I don't care if you support me or not, if you don't show people decency, I will delete accounts.

I try to avoid mixing my personal and gaming life where they don't directly intersect, first because, they don't intersect, and second, gaming goes beyond my views, politics, opinions, etc. While those of you who follow me on Twitter have seen tweets about my views on mental health and my mental health in specific, I've generally avoided more divisive topics. Unfortunately, this one directly affects GP and it's future.

So the thing I was most fearing in recent times happened. Trump's rise to power will directly result in my losing rights in the US. For those of you who haven't met me, I'm of Indian decent, and I hold reasonably close to my heritage and culture. Having lived in the US for 25 of my 30 years, I've blended what it means to be American and Indian to be who I want. Unfortunately, due to mistakes not my own, I've also been in a precarious immigration situation from which there is little escape. After college, I was unable to work, drive, travel, etc, due to paperwork. Five years ago, thanks to Obama signing an executive order, I gained these rights, and it's no small part of what pushed me to finally launch Gamers' Plane, which you all have made special and unique.

Unfortunately, Trump has promised to cancel this same program immediately. This means I won't be able to work or drive. You may or may not know: I run this site purely for the love of gaming, because I believe people deserve a place to game the way they want to game, if they can't meet up with other gamers in real life, and because people need a place to come together. While a pipe dream has always been to make this my life, I spend way more in time and money on developing GP then I get back, and I don't mind in the least. Unfortunately, if I lose my ability to work, I won't be able to afford to pump money like I have been into the project, and if I lose my ability to drive, and I tell you from experience, my depression will be at sky-high levels.

This isn't a "you voted for Trump, you suck" post, but if you did, I'm sorry to say I find it very hard to respect you. This definitely isn't a "I need money" post; I don't want to see a sudden uptick in donations or anything, the future is still uncertain. This is a "I don't know what the future of GP is" post. I'll do what I can to find the most affordable services so that if I lose my ability to work, I can keep giving you the site. It does mean things like visual updates and a more mobile friendly site won't be possible; that will cost me thousands. I hope to keep the site running, in some form or another. I hope to keep giving you all a place to game.

I'm Canadian, so I did not had a horse in that race, but can't you accept donation via paypal or a patreon to help continue funding your site? Or perhaps thinking of moving north of the border, eh?

As mixed (white & native) man who's a member of the LGBT+ community, my home, the only place I've ever known. Has just become a very dangerous place to be. I'm sorry for all those everywhere who will have to feel the effects of this. Stay safe out there people.

If it comes to it, I may have to request enough donations monthly to keep the site live. That's not yet though.

Unfortunately, because of the immigration quagmire I'm in, I can't leave the US without incurring a 10 year bar on returning, and even if I did leave, I'd first have to go to India, without a passport, get arrested, somehow deal with that, and however long after that, get a passport to go somewhere else.

Push come to shove, Keleth, you know we have your back. I'll happily donate if it comes down to it.

Is there any way for you to become an official US citizen? You're too nice a guy to get screwed like that :(

If it's any consolation, what a politician says he will do and what he ends up doing ends up being two entirely different things... Also, he doesn't enter office until January 2017, so you still have time to get your shit in order...

Hey Keleth. I'm sorry that you are under such dire threat. Also a Canadian, I can say only that many of us up north are also threatened by the potential actions against the vulnerable among our southern cousins. I only hope that these are among those election promises that are so often forgotten.

As to GP, as others have said, let us know as soon as your earnings get tenuous - we have more to give than we do to keep GP afloat.

The only 3 choices are

1) Immigration reform, which isn't going to happen
2) A senator/congressman writing me a personal bill, which also isn't going to happen
3) Marrying a US citizen, which given I'm 30 and have never even been on a date, with nothing even hedging a prospect, is also very unlikely right now
Unfortunately, because it's an executive action thing, nothing I can do to get stuff in order, just hope for a miracle, which is also unlikely.

Honestly, I doubt Trump will be as horrible as everyone says he will. Oh sure, he'll drive the US economy into the shitter, but I doubt he'll have enough authority to implement any of his anti-immigration laws. Remember, there is still congress and the senate in place to prevent the president to do as he pleases.
Well, look on the bright side, at least the US won't go to war with Russia now. As a Canadian (with Canada sandwiched between these two countries), I am relieved... Still, the better choice would have been a 3rd party candidate, or better yet, not have the Democratic party rig the primaries in favor of Hillary instead of Burnie... But that's none of my business...

I'm going to rant. Thanks in advance for the outlet. I just need to blow off steam.

But to your point kalajel...we can't count on the other branches of government to curtail Trump's insanity.

The Supreme Court can't do anything until a federal case is brought before them. That usually takes years. If Trump's nominee gets in, he (no way will it be a woman. I'm almost willing to put money on it...I don't gamble though) will just send anything he doesn't want to rule on back to the regular courts, keeping any real change from happening.

As for Congress (The Senate and House of Representitives)...they went Republican as well. I forget which of them was already Republican, I think the Senate...but I'm not sure. The main problem that President Obama faced, in my opinion, was not having enough support from Congress because they are controlled by Republicans who think everything Democrats do is bad.

Now with a through and trough Republican government, they CAN do whatever they want. This is the party that butchered the Affordable Care Act so bad that premiums have doubled for my family. Literally from $600 a month to $1,200 in the last 5 years. And now instead of co-pays, that were a little bit out of pocket each visit until we met a deductible, now we have to meet a $5,000 deductible before we can get any kind of discount on doctors visits. This year, my partner lost sight in one eye (spontaneous retinal detachment...not a head injury). We paid $7,000 just to have insurance through my work (only March through October...new job, plan year starts in October). We paid paid $5,000 out-of-pocket trying to save the eye (it did not work). Only then did insurance kick in and start paying 80%. We hit our $9,000 yearly out-of-pocket maximum on September 30th. This would have meant any further medical bills we had were fully covered, we pay nothing...except notice the date? Right...the day BEFORE our plan year rest. So while my partner is still recovering and can no longer drive (the other "good" eye is legally visually impaired, seeing 20/80, so no driving), they can also not work again until they go through vocational rehabilitation and learn to function with the use of only one really bad eye. Oh, and if Trump and the Republicans have their way and repeal Obama Care, now my partner has a pre-existing condition that insurance could deny coverage over. But enough about my personal problems.

This is the Republican Party that left D.C. and shut down the government, nearly causing a financial collapse in the USA, because they didn't want to vote on some budget extension. This is the Republican party that refused to approve a nominee to the Supreme Court a year before the election, because they hoped to get their president in the office. This is the Republican party that called Democrats crybabies for staging a sit-in because the Democrats wanted to DO THEIR JOBS and vote on a bill. This is the Republican Party that will not denounce known white-supremacists when they endorse the party.

The people that voted for Trump are the people that refuse to learn the lessons History offers. Trump blames Obama for bailing out banks and the auto industry. (I agree it was a dumb idea) but it was the last Republican president that started that trend. Republicans cause the financial problems in this country because they want the "free market" to regulate things but don't acknowledge that the "free market" is set up to screw everybody but the one person who comes out on top. The Republican party members do not care about anything other than their own individual concerns.

The Republican Party is going to send us into ruin and wonder why we don't thank them for the privilege.

As for Third Party Candidates...I am/was a Bernie Sanders fan and was outraged by that little turn of events. However, our system is so screwed up, a third party is a wasted vote. There are several states that, had votes for other candidates gone to Clinton, she would have won. If I've done the math correct, it would have meant a loss of Electoral votes for Trump and an increase in Electoral votes in favor of Hillary Clinton so that she would have won by a slimmer, but still significant margin. I mean, she won the popular vote, but our f*#&ed up Electoral College takes the power away from the people and gives it back to lawmakers. The Electoral College doesn't even have to go with their state's popular opinion, they can just give the votes to whoever they want. The last report I saw only had one state splitting their votes. I think at least they should give them out according to percentage win in their state, but I'm just a nerd so what do I know.

In the end, I know that my ideas are not popular. I even admit they might not work. I believe the government should meet our basic needs. We should get a Universal Minimum Wage and Universal Health Care. I'll pay the taxes because if I don't need to worry about how to put food on the table or if I am going to get sick and lose my job, I will be happy. But my United Federation of Planets style of society can't exist until we can contain a matter/anti-matter reaction and obtain unlimited clean energy and break ourselves of the need to rely on monetary systems of trade.

So, yeah, Kaleth...I feel for you buddy. That sucks and I will hope that nothing happens to put your situation at risk. Maybe Trump will get to distracted by all the butt-kissing to remember to cancel those executive orders. Hope so anyway.

I don't know what to say, Ro. :-(

I don't pretend to understand U.S. politics but I do have friends and family who are U.S. immigrants and I know these are dark days ahead. Plus, everything that happens over there affects us here in the Philippines too. On top of which we've been having a rough time here as well with that clown Duterte and now our Supreme Court deciding that thief/torturer/murderer Ferdinand Marcos deserves a hero's burial.

Through all this, GP has been a place I've gone to to help me cope. I'm extremely saddened that the crap that's happening in the real world could potentially harm the very place I go to escape it.

I do hope everything works out for you. As for the site, let us know how we can help. We've got your back.

Keleth mate I really feel for your situation, I'll echo what several others have said on here and say I'd be more than happy to throw a bit of money your way towards the upkeep of the site (would a patreon be something you'd be willing to do?). If there's an amount you need each month to keep the wheels spinning then having some kind of tracker on the site may be good so people can see how close you are to achieving the months "goal".

I know it can feel somewhat distasteful to ask for financial help and I appreciate this started as a labour of love but honestly this site delivers a fantastic service that I don't think is replicated anywhere else so you shouldn't feel bad about asking for help

Why would the Supreme Court nominee have to be a woman? This weird trend lately of having a vagina being the only qualification which trumps (no pun intended) all other really irks me and is partially the reason of Trump's rise to power. The right is on the rise all over the globe, this is not a coincidence. We've had to endure nearly a decade of forced and enforced political correctness, do not be surprised at the backlash. You cannot impose this sort of thing on people and not expect them to resent it and push back.

As for a through and through Republican government allowing Trump to do whatever the hell he wants, bullshit. Obama had a through and through Democrat government and plenty of things he wanted to implement got blocked. There is a system of check and balances put in place in the US precisely for this reason.

Yes, I get that the Republicans are very anti-welfare state, but on the other hand extreme reforms of the welfare state are necessary because it's going bankrupt in the next 50 years anyways. This is why I'm sort of in a hurry of getting treated with my schizophrenia and get the hell off welfare as quickly as possible.

Like I said, Trump will be a horrible president, no doubt the worst so far, but he's far from the monster the left insisted on making him appear.

Edit: As far as learning from history, it is my life experience that very few people do.

In two years there will be mid-term elections, in which 33% of the Senate, 100% of the House, and 34 state governors will be reelected. If people are still unhappy with the government (which is how Trump got elected in the first place) then a whole new batch of representatives will be elected.

What this basically means is that Trump has two years to make people happy, or he'll lose the support he has in the states and in Congress. Two years isn't enough time to do a mass deportation (or pay for it), but he'll probably sign a few immigration reform laws. Trump will most likely focus on issuing tax cuts and increasing government spending on rebuilding infrastructure first. He'll also have to build that dumb wall before he deports anyone, which will take a long time.

And then in four years is the next general election, and we'll have another chance to put different people into power. Even if he somehow manages to act on the crazy stuff he's talked about, I doubt he'll get support from state governors, congress, or the supreme court to do exactly what he wants.

I know it all seems horrible, but there are limits to what a president can do. Don't get pulled into the fear hype-train, there are plenty of rational people from both parties that don't want to see his crazy ideas come to life.

That's my optimistic view on it all, anyway.

//Handle

Prayers to you Keleth. You have made a wonderful site, and I'd hate to see it go. None of us will think less of you if you put up a means for us to help financially. For what its worth, we all love this project of yours too.

Handle's absolutely right. Also, concerning that stupid wall, perhaps someone should inform Trump that there is already a wall on the US/Mexico border? :P

I feel for you Keleth, man. As a Northern Irishman, I won't claim to be involved much in American politics and the implications of Trump's election; I'm quite far removed from it all. But I sympathise. I hope and I know you can get through this - it just takes guts. Guts that I know you have simply because you took the jump of investing so much into your labour of love, this site. No one will think less of you or judge you for asking for donations. We all love this site so much, it gives a place to escape from all this noise. Don't let the shitstorm get you down!

I will not get involved in any type of political discussion here other than to say that I'm very disappointed in the outcome of the election.

As for you, Ro, like the others have stated I would be more than happy to help in any way that I can. You've given us a great site here and I'll do whatever I can to help it and its creator.

Keleth. I'm Scottish so I don't know much about US politics but I do know that I can't think of a single person here who thought that Trump would be worth voting for. The man is an abomination on every level. Vulgar and disrespectful. Right now I feel lucky to live in Scotland, still one of the remaining progressive nations.

This site gives me great pleasure. Correction, your work directly gives me great pleasure. Keep doing it and we'll have your back by donating to keep the lights on.

I'd like to second this.

Additionally, as many have said, no one would judge you for requesting donations. I'd be more than happy to help if it meant keeping the site around.

Disappointed however I'm hopeful. I have to be. We have to be. My wife is a Filipina immigrant that has a green card and doesn't want to give up nationality from Philippines. As for now we are good but that can change. However then again it cannot just like Trump's promises Therr was a split in the GOP so things will have to go through same process. 2 years and we can do more elections.

As much as we all may dislike the outcome we have to at least let him try otherwise our system is just broken. Within a year we can get a fear by 2 if bad hopefully we can get back some seats.


For your situation I do. Ot have answers other then maybe wrote your mayor or congressman. Never hurts to try.

Having gone through the immigration process myself, I feel your pain. Everything visa related is awful.

Trump doesn't take office until January, and making promises on the campaign trail is much different to actually turning all that hot air into legislation (which surely is an act of alchemy if ever there was one). I would imagine that once the dust clears, all of the elected politicians have to be concerned about getting themselves reelected, and may not rush to help Trump since he trashed the Republican party after getting the nomination. I expect there to be a power struggle between Trump and the party that got him elected so the first few months of his tenure might be interesting to watch. All that being said, I would imagine that prizes like the repealing the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) will be much more tempting the Republicans since they have, basically, everything under their control. In the short, (I sincerely hope) you're probably safe. As Handle said, there's also going to be that two year window before the next election. Time will tell, but I think GP is well-supported, and people appear to be ready to step in where they can. Count me in as well.

Courage! and take care of yourself/yourselves.

I want to clarify: the work permit I have is due to an executive action, so it's as simple as Trump signing another executive action to revoke it. So this is something he can do, and has promised to do, near immediately, along with all the other executive orders the Republican party disagrees with.

I too am deeply saddened by the election. I live in Texas which is right now a slam dunk for the Republicans. Yet, I went out and voted for Clinton. It's hard to believe that a man through hate speech got elected. This country is more divided than ever along racial lines. Hard to believe in this day and age.

The economy is improving and yet, Trump will get the accolades for the improvement. We'll see the revocation of consumer protections such as the Dodd-Frank Act which prevents the banks from fleecing ordinary consumers. Just wait. History has a funny way of repeating itself.

We'll see the revocations of most of the environmental protections which I am especially for. Yeah for more global warming!!! Just read that he's probably going to be appointing an oil tycoon. Woo hoo!!!

I would take a wait and see on Dump's executive action - he could "Grandfather" it. Keep us posted.

Anyways, apparently Trump made this website where people can go in and offer him their suggestion on how to help make America great again. Might interest a lot of you guys here...
greatagain.gov

Keleth, I am very sorry to hear of your predicament. I cannot imagine how much that must weigh on you daily, the uncertainty of your home and future. I wanted to add my voice to those supporting you and offering to help with the bills of the site, although I know that is the least of your troubles.

I'm stunned to hear the problems you're facing with this Keleth. I echo all the comments above and the site deserves the upkeep to be taken on by players and GM's. Get those Paypal links up there bright and clear for everyone!

Thirded! There are so many things I'd like to comment on, but they will only make me angrier and I'd like to keep things civil.

Can't hurt to have another voice of solidarity. I'm fortunate to have been born here, but my entire family emmigrated from Cuba in the 60s. It was an easier time then to gain citizenship, but it still wasn't necessarily easy.

I totally empathize with your struggle and can't imagine the difficulty of leaving the home you've known for most of your life. I appreciate the optimism from some of the others, but I agree with your assessment on this, Keleth. DACA is done and I think he even listed revoking those executive orders on his "First 100 Days" plan. It really is top of the agenda and an easy win for him.

I would also happily kick in money to the site, but honestly, this has to be secondary to actually getting your life in order. I appreciate all the work you've put in and would be sad to lose this great site, but those concerns pale in comparison to what you're going through.

Would it be possible to pass this off to someone else and let them be a steward until you can hopefully resolve some things?

I'm a highschooler who lived in Peru for 4 years, so though I think I would take Trump over Hillary, I heartily disagree with him on his immigration views. America was founded as a free country where those who have had enough of their own countries can come for refuge, and I have seen from the other side how hard America makes it to get into this "free country" (Disclaimer: only partially free after you turn 35, but still significantly better than everywhere else so we can call it free. Or maybe not, but we'll still call it free. Because we feel like it.) I have had so many Peruvian friends rejected who are way more productive and hard-working than so many Americans I know (you all know how teens are - I mean, let's just be real) who have access to this "free country" because they were born here. Living in Peru really broadened my specturms, and I totally understand the stupidity of the American immigration system. I apologize for our country, Keleth, and hope that you can continue to keep this site up. And if you can't do it alone, you have built yourself an amazing structure to hold you up, because we'd all be willing to do it.

Well, given the fact that Trump himself admitted he was playing a character during the electoral race and that his most radical immigration stances are no longer on his website, I'd say this pretty much validates my theory that he approached this race from the point of view of a businessman who thinks "there is no such thing as bad publicity". Keleth is going to be fine. Turns out Trump only wants to deport illegal immigrants who commits crime in the U.S. (which I'm pretty sure is not Keleth's case).
I also can't stop laughing my ass off about the fact that Trump won despite Hillary committing massive electoral fraud... Guess that sometimes, the system does work...

YAY! I kind of wondered if he was doing that; he was acting like such a moron that I thought "surely he can't be serious."

This is the reason why I, for the first time in my life, tune into the nightly news- frankly I find American politics right now downright hilarious. Is this the United States or the latest Netflix series? I agree that Trump is an abomination to the founding fathers. I also say this considering I have absolutely no patriotism whatsoever, don't speak politic, nor have I ever voted. The minute politicians write their own speeches and political advertising is banned, I'm there behind the curtain. That's never going to happen right?

Keleth, allow me to try and allay your fears, at least in my mind. I am the child of Cuban immigrants, somehow escaping the mad patriotism (swinging one way or the other) that is inherent on my island. I was born and raised in nosebleed northern Jersey, watching New York from teh windows facing the backyard. My Dad saw the towers go down from the top of his factory. My cousin still has respitory problems because she was in the building across the street. We are some serious Jersey immigrants and thus basically grew up watching Trump treat New York City like his own personal litter box. He is a blow-hard and a gas bag and I have been hearing screaming rants and lies from him for years (and therefore gods-damn him for finding social media). On that note, dude, the guys from Queens, how bad can it be?

To you personally Keleth, let me tell you this. The man with the bad-hair-lifetime is a bottom line business man with a bagpipe for a mouth. But its about business. He is so much about business that he will probably jeopardize his own presidency over his greed. Thus think of it this way, greedy men keep what is valuable and will not let it go. So ask yourself, are you valuable- economically? If you have skills and have been contributing in some shape or form for the last few years you are fine. Obama didn't sign that golden ticket for you if you were not worth something. Ye gods this is a country of immigrants, the guy was raised around immigrants- I say not to worry. Don't worry but be ready and vigilant.

But yes, times are a bit tough as a stay at home Dad of a nuclear-powered 2 year old at the suicide-watch stage in life (why is it when he opens a drawer he takes out the MOST deadliest thing????) but I shall be the Once and Future Donator for GP

I trust and hope that I have made things better for you, as much as this site has made my gaming life so much better.

Wardomo- Oye mano que me dice?

Now let me get to a Company post or my gamers will cry mutiny!

I found this blip and perhaps article, you have options...
Like my priest who married me told me when I told him my wife wanted a divorce, "Get a lawyer."

Whoah, shit, that sucks. I'm sorry Keleth. If there's ever a financial issue with the site, please do not hesitate to let the users know. It's a great site and I'm sure many people would be more than happy to help out with any hosting costs etc.

I am so sorry Keleth. As a member of the LGBT community, I am utterly terrified of what is coming. If you needed donations or graphic design work done I would be more than willing to contribute what I could.

Good luck today, Keleth! We're rooting for Trump to be a campaign promise breaker. (That road is well paved.)

DJT may be a liar, unstable, and unqualified, but there are people who have his ear that do know what they're doing. Positions are being filled by people who do have an agenda, Congress has had 8 years of practice in implementing their hostile platforms with little regard for the consequences, and now they have a figurehead who may very well sign off on whatever is put in front of him. The last seat on the SCOTUS remains to be filled and rumors are circulating about who DJT will appoint, and this time Congress wants to do away with the filibusters and delays in confirmation that prevented President Obama from doing the same.

All these things will have a direct impact on myself, my family, and my friends, and that includes anyone I know online in some superficial way (ie you on GP). I think for the first time in my life I will need to get off my ass and exercise my voice by calling my representatives and flooding their voicemails with the request that they oppose whatever hateful policies this administration tries to implement. I would urge that any of you do the same, even if such policies don't directly affect you. I don't think we can afford to assume any longer that anything so blatantly bigoted or racist or *-phobic wouldn't pass into law.

I manage an office that works indirectly with a defense contract, nice peaceful cozy job we've all enjoyed for years. This month, new policies have suddenly re-opened the background checks of my employees, and they all immediately noticed this has only happened to our non-white coworkers. Myself and our company are not privy to know the reasons for these investigations for security reasons, and I feel so sick and ashamed to have only the options of complying or not for my now-furious employees. I don't pretend to have a mind for politics, but this shit sucks. Best of luck to you, Keleth.

From the Washington Post:

Yah, I'm scared. I submitted my paperwork a week ago, and in all hope, if it's cancelled, they won't accept new applicants but will finish processing current applications fairly. Mind boggling, but word around the immigration circles is he's planning on replacing it with something permanent? Which I always find ironic, as the DREAM Act was first introduced and supported by Republicans until Obama came into office.

I just saw this thread. So many good people are now stranded after the latest executive action. My kids have Iranian heritage from my wife and I am blasted by people in power referring Iranians as jihadists.

Keep us posted!