American Politics Discussion Thread

[Bobchillingworth]

I dont watch the news, which is why i ask.

I don't know about "watching" the news, but given that you seem to have strong opinions about the state of the country and at least some interest in the wider world beyond Iowa, you really ought to consider at least regularly reading some (legitimate) news sources. The Washington Post is a decent starting place, though behind a paywall. The Atlantic has some of the best writers around, IMO, though they aren't really set up to cover "breaking news". I personally dislike the NYT and CNN for various reasons, but you might find them worth reading. Or just read the BBC's front page, which seems to obsessively cover the U.S. despite being British.


Regardless, not to state the obvious here, but international events often have domestic implications. Cyne is being a pal here explaining events which occurred at the start of the year and why they matter, but if you care to consider yourself an informed citizen you ought to be at least minimally tracking on this stuff yourself.


Also:

if we killed an Iranian general... a retaliatory strike from them would be fair

"Fair"? Iranian Shia proxies did launch retaliatory strikes, and still occasionally do (hence why Trump has been floating abandoning our incredibly expensive embassy in Baghdad), but no nation is going to consider attacks on its citizens and territory "fair", even if they provoked them, because doing so would A: invite further attacks, B: effectively concede that whatever action led to the retaliation was without merit, and C: have politically and materially-damaging repercussions. After all, if you and I are at a bar, and you deck me because you think I'm about to pull a knife on you, you're not going to then stand around and dispassionately accept whatever retribution I attempt to dish out, just so that we're "even". Whether or not a the knife actually exists in that scenario is immaterial.

[GeneralKilCavalry]

I dont watch the news, which is why i ask.

I don't know about "watching" the news, but given that you seem to have strong opinions about the state of the country and at least some interest in the wider world beyond Iowa, you really ought to consider at least regularly reading some (legitimate) news sources.  The Washington Post is a decent starting place, though behind a paywall.  The Atlantic has some of the best writers around, IMO, though they aren't really set up to cover "breaking news".  I personally dislike the NYT and CNN for various reasons, but you might find them worth reading.  Or just read the BBC's front page, which seems to obsessively cover the U.S. despite being British. 


Regardless, not to state the obvious here, but international events often have domestic implications.  Cyne is being a pal here explaining events which occurred at the start of the year and why they matter, but if you care to consider yourself an informed citizen you ought to be at least minimally tracking on this stuff yourself. 

NYT spouts contrarianism all day long and has some of the worst takes I've ever read. Pseudo-intellectual word salad, really.

Download the BBC app and follow the major headlines of the day, it's by far your best bet to stay informed, superdeath. Deutsche Welle, France 24, Al Jazeera and The Guardian are also must-haves.

[ipecac]

It appears that an acceptable outcome will be reached, both 'trust the plan' and 'trust the polls' true believers be very disappointed and angry. If some learn to care less about politics and be less trusting, that's good enough.

[Boro]

That is how the founders conceived of the US republic, representatives that are free to be 'antidemocratic'. That's why the popular vote is meaningless. In 2000, SCOTUS de facto decided the election.

There is definitely precedent for things to become interesting, legally and by the book

and you folks are trying to export that shitshow?!

[ipecac]

That is how the founders conceived of the US republic, representatives that are free to be 'antidemocratic'. That's why the popular vote is meaningless. In 2000, SCOTUS de facto decided the election.

There is definitely precedent for things to become interesting, legally and by the book

and you folks are trying to export that shitshow?!

Not me, and it's meaningless anyway. Trump win = corporate neocons and lobbyists, Biden win = corporate neolibs, lobbyists, and maybe some neocons.

The most important election!

[wetbandit]

It appears that an acceptable outcome will be reached, both 'trust the plan' and 'trust the polls' true believers be very disappointed and angry. If some learn to care less about politics and be less trusting, that's good enough.

I find it difficult to fathom how a result that makes people less inclined to pursue civic engagement is good.

[Bobchillingworth]

I don't think it takes much reading between the lines to discern that ipecac is a keyboard nihilist who is eager for democratic governments and western society in general to collapse into authoritarian ethno-nationalist states, as a prerequisite for some sort of stupid global race war.

[Cyneheard]

I don't think it takes much reading between the lines to discern that ipecac is a keyboard nihilist who is eager for democratic governments and western society in general to collapse into  authoritarian ethno-nationalist states, as a prerequisite for some sort of stupid global race war.

Since global wars end up so great for everybody   . If what little information we've been able to get out of Nagorno-Karabakh is any indication, 21st century wars will suck for everyone involved - drone warfare is here.

[ipecac]

It appears that an acceptable outcome will be reached, both 'trust the plan' and 'trust the polls' true believers be very disappointed and angry. If some learn to care less about politics and be less trusting, that's good enough.

I find it difficult to fathom how a result that makes people less inclined to pursue civic engagement is good.

I meant national politics. Actual civic engagement engagement in local communities is good, yelling at strangers on the internet because they don't share your views on things you both can't influence is a waste of time.

The problem is that people do the latter and think that is real civic engagement, while not doing any real local work.

[ipecac]

I don't think it takes much reading between the lines to discern that ipecac is a keyboard nihilist who is eager for democratic governments and western society in general to collapse into authoritarian ethno-nationalist states, as a prerequisite for some sort of stupid global race war.

lmao

If what little information we've been able to get out of Nagorno-Karabakh is any indication, 21st century wars will suck for everyone involved - drone warfare is here.

I read that good AA can still take them down.