American Politics Discussion Thread

[Mjmd]

Its also fascinating looking at the snowball earths when we actually had too much oxygen. But yes it is why I mentioned geologic history. For instance if you look at past high carbon periods they had high temperatures. Ocean life during those periods suffered heavily. Rainforest of various kinds actually did pretty well. But as we've chopped most of those down we just end up with flooding.

[Mjmd]

BTW mono casual "we should blame x side for everything" arguments are generally flawed. It can be true, but the broader in scope and more of history you start going over the less and less likely it is. I obviously just covered some 70 years of history in a broad macro economic sense and I feel like I barely scratched the surface. If you are making such political statements about republicans or Democrats you are probably mentally biased. That is why for instance in the past I've taken pains to lay out reasons why people vote for fascism. I don't think all republican voters are stupid or evil or whatever negative term you've heard (Republicans in power I call complicit or cowards for the most part). There are historical similarities and logical fallacies people fall into again and again. Its why I focus on those issues. I think its a major area of failing in the Democratic party as well. As soon as you see yourself as part of a side, that your side can do no wrong and has the answer for everything, that the other side is always bad, that is when there are issues. Be suspicious of anyone in power or who is trying to gain it. Think things through. Compare them to other examples.

[MJW (ya that one)]

I'm not going to participate in these politics threads anymore.  But for the sake of completion here's my last Senate update. There are no more elections until the big day so it's just reaction to polls. Boring.   Overall rating: Tilt D. AK is Solid Murk. 

     

[T-hawk]

I'll skip most of it since we've said our pieces, but this one is new:

I didn't research all of these, because UM there are a lot. Again, even assuming some liberal bias and we throw out half, its a lot. Also, did you listen to him?
https://civilrights.org/trump-rollbacks/

Are you aware that page does not list a single instance of any race-based policy?

The only mention of race is a case regarding Microsoft, where the Trump administration sided against a racist practice of favoritism towards hiring black managers.

Also, the very first item on that page is flat out wrong. The executive order did not discriminate against Muslims. It applied to countries, not a religion. This page is giving you nothing but bias just like everything else and has no credibility.

If you are going to call Trump a racist, please find any example where any action of Trump's ever had anything to do with race. Saying "umm there are a lot" is not an argument. Cite a source. And note that immigrant is not a race, Muslim is not a race, national origin is not a race.

[darrelljs]

If you are going to call Trump a racist, please find any example where any action of Trump's ever had anything to do with race.

This is an older list. Many were fact checked as false. The worst ones to me were “Very fine people on both sides” and “Proud boys: Stand back and stand by”. I don’t think you can definitively say he’s racist, but he’s at least soft on white supremacy.

Darrell

[Mjmd]

I'll skip most of it since we've said our pieces, but this one is new:

I didn't research all of these, because UM there are a lot. Again, even assuming some liberal bias and we throw out half, its a lot. Also, did you listen to him?
https://civilrights.org/trump-rollbacks/

And note that immigrant is not a race, Muslim is not a race, national origin is not a race.

Well when you are constantly targeting people who aren't white from the above list, that would just make you an equal opportunity racist, so yes that counts. What do you need him to specifically say "I'm racist against anyone with brownish skin south of the border". That was basically his campaign.

When you are calling immigrants coming from Mexico

 "bringing their worst people" to the U.S. who were "bringing drugs, they’re bringing crime, they’re rapists."

Anyone else remember Trump wanting to build a big beautiful totally useless and expensive wall Mexico was never going to pay for? Me to. Is it stupider than Milwaukee Democrats streetcar. Hard to say. Certainly more racist.

Good thing he never told brown skinned Democrats to

Go back to where they came from.

Covid is of course the

 "Kung Flu" (I'll even give him a pass on the "China virus" and assume that one was merely anti china

I can of course keep going. He was a prolific tweeter, but I actually have to go into the office today.

Again, lets try to stay focused on what is actually imporant, but lets say Trump was the

best president for black people ever

Again, doesn't matter after you tried to overturn an election. He could have been the best president in history (also claimed) but as soon you undermine our democracy you are now in the bottom 3 and where in that list he belongs is up to better historians than me / probably effected by future events.

[Mjmd]

I'll skip most of it since we've said our pieces, but this one is new:

I didn't research all of these, because UM there are a lot. Again, even assuming some liberal bias and we throw out half, its a lot. Also, did you listen to him?
https://civilrights.org/trump-rollbacks/

And note that immigrant is not a race, Muslim is not a race, national origin is not a race.

Well when you are constantly targeting people who aren't white from the above list, that would just make you an equal opportunity racist, so yes that counts. What do you need him to specifically say "I'm racist against anyone with brownish skin south of the border". That was basically his campaign.

When you are calling immigrants coming from Mexico 

"bringing their worst people" to the U.S. who were "bringing drugs, they’re bringing crime, they’re rapists."

Anyone else remember Trump wanting to build a big beautiful totally useless and expensive wall Mexico was never going to pay for? Me to. Is it stupider than Milwaukee Democrats streetcar. Hard to say. Certainly more racist.

Good thing he never told brown skinned Democrats to

Go back to where they came from.

Covid is of course the

 "Kung Flu" (I'll even give him a pass on the "China virus" and assume that one was merely anti china

I can of course keep going. He was a prolific tweeter, but I actually have to go into the office today.

Again, lets try to stay focused on what is actually imporant, but lets say Trump was the

best president for black people ever

Again, doesn't matter after you tried to overturn an election. He could have been the best president in history (also claimed) but as soon you undermine our democracy you are now in the bottom 3 and where in that list he belongs is up to better historians than me / probably effected by future events.

[Mjmd]

Well Biden is going to do the $10K student loan forgiveness, making pretty much neither side happy. I'm not a huge fan; it doesn't really fix the problem going long and in fact just creates questions going long. I have liked the times he has done forgiveness for predatory lending, but I'm not as big on this. I think capping interest would be the way to go, although he probably can't do that via executive action.

Edit: note this is "expected" at this point.

[superdeath]

I mean, id like to see a massive reduction in military spending and have that money go towards healthcare/education..

[darrelljs]

I mean, id like to see a massive reduction in military spending and have that money go towards healthcare/education..

So would the Chinese.

I'd like to see taxes go up and that money go towards healthcare and education and deficit reduction.

Darrell