|
Welcome to the International Skeptics Forum, where we discuss skepticism, critical thinking, the paranormal and science in a friendly but lively way. You are currently viewing the forum as a guest, which means you are missing out on discussing matters that are of interest to you. Please consider registering so you can gain full use of the forum features and interact with other Members. Registration is simple, fast and free! Click here to register today. |
![]() |
#321 |
Orthogonal Vector
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 50,412
|
|
__________________
Sufficiently advanced Woo is indistinguishable from Parody "There shall be no *poofing* in science" Paul C. Anagnostopoulos Force ***** on reasons back" Ben Franklin |
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#322 |
Fait Accompli
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Rain City
Posts: 2,181
|
Please, don't think like that. I can make an absolute slam dunk case that Hillary, Podesta and all American people who care more about illegal border crossers than they do the American people are racists by the PC lib radical left definition of racism. An Open Border policy is a huge destructive act that would allow illegals to casually stroll across the border with picnic baskets demanding their props and our money and legal protection. This would have been the first open display of the dismantling America for the sake of the Global trade(Shafta[Slick Willie]-Shafta/TPPT)
Anybody who wants to give illegal border crossers drivers licenses is a traitorous Benidict Arnold to the American people. No liberals that I was aware of ever stopped to think that act all the way through. A drivers' license is no good without a car. Who's going to pay for the car? Hillary and Slick Willie...I think not. We, the People will foot the bill. Also, do the majority of illegals even know how to drive? How many more Any American who cares more about illegals than they do their own people is a type of racist. If Hillary would have been elected, this country would be in the process of being dismantled right before our eyes and all Hillary voters would rue the day. What I'm seeing is nothing more than the 5 stages of griefImage result for 5 stages of grief: The five stages, denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance are a part of the framework that makes up our learning to live with the one we lost. They are tools to help us frame and identify what we may be feeling. But they are not stops on some linear timeline in grief. Please, for the sake of the country give up the ghost and get on with the grieving process. Also, check out this: https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q...orical+racists https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...by+the+numbers |
__________________
Life is God’s funniest joke And we are the punchline |
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#323 |
Grammar Resistance Leader
TLA Dictator Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Pattaya, Thailand
Posts: 41,468
|
I know that game, it's called moving the goalposts. Now, would you like to play the one I offered up and not one that you think you can win at?
I asked you how you explain away the sorry plight of the rural poor under the munificent governance of the GOP. Weren't you just bitching about how the poor downtrodden forgotten flyover rural folks aren't doing well? The problem, of course, as you see it... is that the Democratic Presidency has ignored you. No problem at all with the repeatedly elected GOP state houses, nor with your GOP representatives nor senators. No, it's the evil Democrats. But cities? Now, that's a different case. Those are Democratic cities so we can blame all their ills on Democrats. Seems the rules of your game are that if Republican-run states have problems it's the Democrats' fault. If Democratic-run cities or states have problems, it's the Democrats' fault. Pretty hard to lose when you get to play by a set of rules that you change depending on who the opponent is. I suggest California challenge Kentucky to a game of basketball, then when Kentucky shows up to claim their prize, we tell 'em, "Ooops, it's basketball-surfing." |
__________________
Ha! Foolmewunz has just been added to the list of people who aren't complete idiots. Hokulele It's not that liberals have become less tolerant. It's that conservatives have become more intolerable. |
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#324 |
Philosopher
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 8,396
|
Well, you could *try*, but...
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#325 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Puget Sound
Posts: 15,405
|
One can't help but wonder about the convoluted thinking that leads to the conclusion that We the People pay for cars for illegal immigrants. Wow.
In picking out this one oddity, I certainly don't want to leave the impression that the remainder of your post came within shouting distance of anything resembling reality. |
__________________
To survive election season on a skeptics forum, one must understand Hymie-the-Robot.
My authority is total - Trump |
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#326 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 12,718
|
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#327 |
Philosopher
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: The great American southeast
Posts: 8,859
|
I don't know why racists are so happy that Trump won. As strange as some of his speeches were there is not one negative reference to blacks or any other group of people. Trump's main pitch was about keeping jobs in America and to put an end to "illegal" immigration and to remove those who came here illegally. Illegal immigrants broke the law by coming here without waiting to be processed. Later on Trump, said he was only going to deport some of the illegals.
When he was told about racism being done in his mane he said quit. Thats not racism. |
__________________
If at first you don't succeed try try again. Then if you fail to succeed to Hell with that. Try something else. |
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#328 |
Fiend God
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: In a post-fact world
Posts: 91,292
|
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#329 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Puget Sound
Posts: 15,405
|
Holy cow. There's some sort of portal causing posts to bleed over from an alternate universe. A universe where Donald Trump didn't call Mexicans rapists. A universe where Trump didn't suggest a Muslim registry. A universe where Trump didn't propagate blatant lies about black on white crime emanating from neo-nazis. A universe where Trump didn't decline to denounce David Duke.
|
__________________
To survive election season on a skeptics forum, one must understand Hymie-the-Robot.
My authority is total - Trump |
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#330 |
Illuminator
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,659
|
I think he did call the Mexicans that raped people rapists. And? Did they not? Are you spreading false information and claiming Trump said ALL Mexicans are rapists? That's simply false as he never did.
Trump wants to stop incoming immigration from problem areas of the World temporarily until we can figure out how to properly check those folks out. In case you haven't noticed, we seem to be having problems with radical Muslim extremists at the moment....... Is crime a problem? It certainly is. Color has nothing to do with it though he did note Black crime was higher overall than White crime when you base it on population numbers.......He wants to make the inner cities safe again for everyone. Is this a bad thing? Trump has disavowed David Duke dozens of times, you didn't get that info yet? You are really deep in the rhetoric. Try a dose of reality. Chris B. |
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#331 |
Illuminator
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,659
|
Certainly most large population areas are run by Democrats and have been. Thus the problems never seem to be solved. As to my point, if the Democrats were doing so well in these cities, why do the same exact problems persist?
About rural America, this election cycle will see KY run by an all Republican legislature for the first time in 95 years. I have hope for a better tomorrow now. As far as small local farms, forget those, they've been gone for years. Factory farms have replaced farmers. Tobacco farmers are becoming scarce as well now in favor of larger more centralized operations. The rural areas of the Country rely heavily on industrial/factory jobs now. Once those factories were shut down and moved to Mexico, or wherever, the rural areas have had nothing to fall back on. NAFTA destroyed rural America when it let our jobs be shipped outside the US. Now KY had a few coal industry jobs to go around but those have been largely eliminated by Obama's EPA rulings and his personal war on coal. These policies would have continued under Clinton of course. Don't get me wrong, I like green energy as much as anyone. I have solar panels too. But, to destroy an entire energy industry is not helping the people of KY. It would be funny if the silicon valley jobs all relocated outside the Country in a matter of a few years. I wonder how the people of CA would feel when subjected to the same job loss rate as the Central states has been. Perhaps a different point of view on the economy? Perhaps. Chris B. |
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#332 |
Philosopher
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 8,396
|
He was also against allowing in Syrian refugees (because Aleppo seems like a lovely place to live at the moment), and claimed that we need "nation-wide stop and frisk" - ie. state harrassment and violence based entirely on skin color - because in black neighborhoods you get shot going to the corner store. This is only true if George Zimmerman's around, or if you're involved in a gang.
And he claimed that the Central Park 5 were still guilty, even though the DNA evidence pointed towards an actual serial rapist who had confessed to the crime. And the birtherism. And that Obama couldn't possibly have done well in school, or written his memoirs. and that the US-born judge Curiel couldn't be fair towards him, because "He's Mexican, I'm building a wall." This is all standard racial and ethnic supremacist crap. |
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#333 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Sir Fynwy
Posts: 31,328
|
I take it that you simply haven't found time to read the analyses of the US coal industry that state quite clearly that the loss of jobs in the coal industry has absolutely nothing to do with Obama's "personal war on coal" and everything to do with :
But then again those are facts and in the past you do seem impervious to those ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#334 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 14,180
|
Here's Trump's quote:
"When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re not sending you. They’re not sending you. They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.” So no, he did not say that Mexicans that raped were rapists. He said that the people Mexico sends to the US are rapists, among other things. But some, he assumes, are good people, so it's all good, right? |
__________________
Before you say something stupid about climate change, check this list. "If we extend unlimited tolerance even to those who are intolerant, if we are not prepared to defend a tolerant society against the onslaught of the intolerant, then the tolerant will be destroyed, and tolerance with them. " Karl Popper, The Open Society and Its Enemies Vol. 1 |
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#335 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Sir Fynwy
Posts: 31,328
|
Yes, small scale agriculture is no longer cost effective unless you're aiming for a niche market. The alternative is to return to the methods, and prices of the 1950's where 30% of a family's income was spent on food (compared to less than 10% now).
Except they weren't, or at least they weren't on Obama's watch:
..but of course it's the Democratic Party killing manufacturing ![]() (and Trump who gets his tacky merchandise manufactured overseas that's going to bring those jobs back) |
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#336 |
Philosopher
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 8,396
|
No, he said that Mexico was sending us criminals and rapists, which is still absurd - and yes, he's effectively calling Hispanic immigrants criminals and rapists by doing this.
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
And if he really thinks this would help anything, then he's an ignoramus and a white supremacist, which is even worse. Although, given his ignorance on most topics, it's probably the more likely option. |
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#337 |
Illuminator
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,659
|
Oops, you're trying denial right out of the box. Guess what, a claim of "your not educated on the subject" won't work.
So, coal miners were replaced by robots? LMAO! You're funny. The miners today use the exact same extraction equipment they've used for decades. Fracking reduced the price of natural gas, certainly. Tougher EPA restrictions on coal burning energy plants had nothing to do with anything I suppose? Right. What part of "War on Coal" do you not understand? Chris B. |
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#338 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Sir Fynwy
Posts: 31,328
|
No they don't, extraction methods have become much less labour intensive over the last four decades.
edited to add.... In part this has been because of a move of coal production from areas where deep mining prevails to those where less labour intensive surface mining is the norm. If the demand for coal were to remain constant, mines would still move out west. https://www.bloomberg.com/view/artic...-it-used-to-be ..end of edit Even in those areas where the EPA restrictions made no difference, generators have been switching to gas like crazy because it's so much cheaper to generate electricity using gas. Even if all the EPA restrictions were removed it would not signal a renaissance for coal-generated electricity for cost reasons. |
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#339 |
Illuminator
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,659
|
If Obama's policies worked so well for rural America, why exactly did they reject everything Democrat this past election?
Doesn't seem to jive with your claims. Personally, I've seen more factories close and relocate out of Country under Obama here in KY. By the election results here, it would seem most here have seen the exact same. If Obama did such a great job, nobody here has seen any results from it. Padding jobs numbers and comparing with Bush won't do any good. As even the common man realizes there are more people in need of a job now than there were under Bush. We've also seen population increases, poverty increases, food stamp recipient increases, shrinking middle class, etc.... Chris B. |
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#340 |
Illuminator
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,659
|
I suppose we'll have to wait and see what happens under Trump's watch. It'll be easy to tell if there's any improvement. So far the stock market has been climbing since the election. It would appear most are optimistic, but I'll admit I'm waiting to judge the results of his actions for the coal industry. I'll be first to cry foul if he backs out of anything coal related.
Chris B. |
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#341 |
Philosopher
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 8,396
|
Sorry, y'all. I forgot to mention Trump's close partnership with white nationalist Steve Bannon, his nomination of white supremacist and civil rights opponent Jeff Sessions to the Attorney General post, his habit of retweeting white genociders, and his apparent signing on to voter suppression efforts that the GOP has been obsessed with ever since Obama was voted into office.
It's hard to keep up with all of the blatantly racist things Trump's done. |
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#342 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Sir Fynwy
Posts: 31,328
|
A variety of reasons, may including the 40 year hatchet-job on the Democratic Party candidate resulting in low voter turnout, an anti-establishment vote
I prefer facts to anecdotes - 1 million more manufacturing jobs under Obama I prefer facts to anecdotes - unemployment rate halved under Obama you keep alleging this - put up or shut up Why not ? The response to the perceived failure of Obama is to elect someone who will continue the GOP's policies which, under Bush, reduced manufacturing employment by 30% Well that's what happens when you abandon facts in favour of the right-wing fact-free narrative. ...and the measures that are typically taken to reverse those things - raise marginal rates for the very rich and thus redistribute wealth - like they did in the '50s are the opposite of what the GOP proposes. Instead they propose to continue with "trickle down" which has been shown for decades to increase income and wealth inequality, shrink the size of the middle class and so on. ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#343 |
Illuminator
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,659
|
I must say, I don't envy the next 8 years for you. I guess you're gonna be bitter the entire time Trump is in office. If it makes you feel better to stew on falsities and split hairs, by all means please continue. It doesn't seem like a pleasant way to spend the next 8 years though.
Can you try to give Trump a chance you think? Just a few months? Then if you see nothing good happening in the Country, return to the previous discontent. It'd be better than stressing over something you have no control over for the next 8 years. Chris B. |
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#344 |
Illuminator
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,659
|
The facts have Obama doing well for the Country. Perhaps certain areas of the Country are in fact doing well. That's great. Of course we do have 50 states of which the majority of those haven't seen these great works of Obama's come to fruition.
I suppose you could blame Hillary's loss on the right wing conspiracy. Fact is she just wasn't much of a candidate. Bernie would have been a more likely candidate. But the facts are Hillary and the DNC conspired to take the nomination away from Bernie from the beginning. Chris B. |
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#345 |
Philosopher
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 8,396
|
I'm not worried for myself. I'm black, but I'm also male and wealthy, and I've been through the Reagan era, when civil rights were denied, police were even more violent and racist than they are now (see: the Charles Stuart case), and money was drained out of black communities at the federal level. Even any wars he kicks off will, personally, benefit me - unless he sets off a world or nuclear war, of course. I'd feel bad for the chumps that voted the narcissistic conman into the presidency, but the truth is that they brought it on themselves. Maybe some suffering will teach them a lesson that logic didn't.
Quote:
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#346 |
Illuminator
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,659
|
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#347 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Puget Sound
Posts: 15,405
|
No to your question. And what The Don said.
Quote:
Quote:
|
__________________
To survive election season on a skeptics forum, one must understand Hymie-the-Robot.
My authority is total - Trump |
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#348 |
Illuminator
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,659
|
I wouldn't worry about the police. As a White man, I have more chance of being shot and killed by police than you. As police shoot Whites more often than Blacks. This war against cops is largely just propaganda of some hard Left groups. Don't fall for it.
I realize you have been exposed to Leftist beliefs for quite some time now, but to equate Reagan with being racist is beyond the realm of reality. The man did not have a racist bone in his body. I understand the frustration you feel. But don't judge Trump by what other's have said, judge him by his actions. We'll see exactly what he does for the Country, if he does nothing I'll join you in being frustrated and bitter. But let's wait and see. You never know. Chris B. |
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#349 |
Orthogonal Vector
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 50,412
|
|
__________________
Sufficiently advanced Woo is indistinguishable from Parody "There shall be no *poofing* in science" Paul C. Anagnostopoulos Force ***** on reasons back" Ben Franklin |
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#350 |
Illuminator
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,659
|
If you want to believe all the garbage said about Trump, it's your right. I think you're being a little naive though. I suppose you think everyone that voted Trump is a racist, well that's fine. If it makes you feel good to believe this then by all means. You'll never really understand why Clinton lost though.
Chris B. |
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#351 |
Philosopher
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 8,276
|
Just ... no. In 2015, The Washington Post launched a real-time database to track fatal police shootings, and the project continues this year. As of Sunday, 1,502 people have been shot and killed by on-duty police officers since Jan. 1, 2015. Of them, 732 were white, and 381 were black (and 382 were of another or unknown race). But as data scientists and policing experts often note, comparing how many or how often white people are killed by police to how many or how often black people are killed by the police is statistically dubious unless you first adjust for population. According to the most recent census data, there are nearly 160 million more white people in America than there are black people. White people make up roughly 62 percent of the U.S. population but only about 49 percent of those who are killed by police officers. African Americans, however, account for 24 percent of those fatally shot and killed by the police despite being just 13 percent of the U.S. population. As The Post noted in a new analysis published last week, that means black Americans are 2.5 times as likely as white Americans to be shot and killed by police officers. Don't fall for it. ![]() |
__________________
"There is a cult of ignorance in the United States...nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.'" - Isaac Asimov |
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#352 |
Orthogonal Vector
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 50,412
|
Because they are not getting enough of what they feel they are entitled to. They deserve jobs no matter if they are ecconomically viable or not. They deserve jobs as they were 60 years ago, and progress and change be damned.
And they view none of this as the government based entitlement programs that they would have to be. |
__________________
Sufficiently advanced Woo is indistinguishable from Parody "There shall be no *poofing* in science" Paul C. Anagnostopoulos Force ***** on reasons back" Ben Franklin |
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#353 |
Orthogonal Vector
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 50,412
|
|
__________________
Sufficiently advanced Woo is indistinguishable from Parody "There shall be no *poofing* in science" Paul C. Anagnostopoulos Force ***** on reasons back" Ben Franklin |
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#354 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Puget Sound
Posts: 15,405
|
|
__________________
To survive election season on a skeptics forum, one must understand Hymie-the-Robot.
My authority is total - Trump |
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#355 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Sir Fynwy
Posts: 31,328
|
How do you know that the majority haven't seen an improvement under Obama ?
There are some states which would always vote a particular way no matter how well or badly the current President was doing for them personally. Obama's approval ratings are pretty high for a lame duck President coming to the end of an 8 year period in charge. There were many factors involved. Looking at the successful Democratic Party Presidental candidates since 1980, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, they were and are both very charismatic. The unsuccessful ones, much less so. Hillary for all that I think she would have been a very effective President, had been so carefully schooled that all spontaneity seemed to have been coached out of her and there always seemed to be a filter between her and the audience. Then again, 30 years of constant media scrutiny in which all kinds of things are suddenly "-gates" will do that to you. She (and all the GOP primary candidates) also had to deal with an opponent who was unlike any other in recent memory. Scandals and gaffes which would have seen off any other candidate were ineffective. Perhaps the US was jonesing for a shot of Trump and nothing else would do. She certainly came a lot closer to beating Trump than any of the GOP primary candidates I disagree, his socialist past, his record of voting against the democratic Party, his age and doddering appearance and his Jewish heritage would all have meant that he would have savaged. I guess you're employing the post-factual definition of fact - something you want to be true as opposed to something which is actually true. For sure Hillary was the preferred candidate (as no doubt the GOP had preferred candidate) - I think you have to go long way to demonstrate any kind of conspiracy. Hillary handily won the vast majority of primaries where the people, and not just those who could afford the time to turn up to a caucus, made a choice. Of course all of this probably belongs in another thread what with it having nothing to do with Donald Trump, his supporters and their alleged racism. |
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#356 |
Philosopher
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 5,092
|
Actually, adding that patronizing, condescending "and some, I assume, are good people" on the end is what makes it unmistakenly racist. If he had stopped with "they're sending rapists" it might have been possible to imagine that he only meant that some are rapists and criminals, but he made it clear: He assumes that some might be good people; he assumes that some might not fit his stereotype, and he says it as if he's being gracious and reasonable to allow a few exceptions.
I'm pretty sure that you and I have different understandings about what racism is. Perhaps it would help if you gave your own definition. |
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#357 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 12,369
|
That's a distinct possibility, and I have some Trumpie associates that I've probed about this discrepancy ("Trump's accusers are all lying bitches; Clinton's accusers are truthful victims and just the tip of the iceberg.")
One thing that surprised me was the belief that the video itself was a fake. A colleague (who is 80 and has never touched a computer) told me the read somewhere that it was "photoshopped" and obviously an amateur quality fake. |
__________________
"Sometimes it's better to light a flamethrower than curse the darkness." - Terry Pratchett |
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#358 |
Illuminator
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,659
|
I think it's still tied into this topic Don , since we're basically talking about the election and how the differing views are seen by each side.
I think Hillary did well considering. Obviously her campaign staff kept her away from the press. She needed to be seen and heard more than she was. Trump on the other hand was everywhere all the time. Every channel, constantly under attack by the media. This is largely what got him elected. The "outsider" was being attacked by the "insiders" of the press and DC. The last thing everyone wanted was another "insider" in charge. Hillary's campaign failed, Hillary herself failed when she attacked Trump's followers. It's fine to attack the candidate, but never attack voters as it only cements their support. She could have had more votes had she not done this. Trump also reached out to minorities of the Left. He had more support among the Black vote than Mitt Romney had in 2012. But, Hillary abandoned White working class America......shifting demographics remember? I think everyone should agree that the US needs a President who will represent ALL citizens. And the Democrat party has just realized their "shifting demographics" was a fantasy. Trump is not a racist. The majority of his supporters are not racists. Of course both parties have a small minority of racists within them. For every white supremie you point to on the Republican side, you can also point to a Black Panther within the Democrats. Still, neither small group represents the whole of each party. And that's a good thing. I still think Bernie would have been the better candidate. Age is an issue of course, and I'm quite certain his far Left views would have been shifted a bit more center in the end, but I think he honestly wanted to do a good job for everyone in the US. Steering away from Wall Street was a big plus for any Democrat candidate IMO. Clinton however embraced Wall street and their donations, while Bernie condemned big banks, a very discerning difference between the two with Bernie having the high ground. Chris B. |
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#359 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 12,369
|
I think the world is just as polarized as in previous generations, but the fault lines are more local.
In 1989 when the Berlin Wall fell, I was thinking about what those people who are all fired up about Communists! are going to turn to, and considered it a strong possibility they will turn their attention and resources to organized labour and social programs. I think my prediction has come to pass, unfortunately. I was reading about values clusters over the past year, and the research has shown a shift from national values clusters to urban/rural values clusters. What I mean is: Argentinians used to be very different from Americans, regardless of their income/education/town. Argentinian city dwellers used to be very similar to Argentinian farmers. But as of 2014, Argentinian city dwellers have more shared values with New Yorkers than they do with Argentinian farmers. Globalization has made urbanites an transnational culture. They really are cosmopolitan, so to speak. Whereas, in the past, Americans were polarized against the entire 300 million citizens in the ComIntern. Now, we have a president elect and his partisan followers sucking up to the Russian establishment, while essentially polarized against their critics in Russia. The polarization is predominantly within nations now, rather than between them. And I should point out that this is depressing, because it's more clearly a straight out class war than before, and the interests of the super-super-rich now control the governments in two of the three superpowers. |
__________________
"Sometimes it's better to light a flamethrower than curse the darkness." - Terry Pratchett |
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#360 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 12,369
|
I'm not sure 'abandoned' is appropriate. Her platform contained detailed plans for reviving Rust Belt employment. It was just part of a general employment boosting strategy for everybody. My concern is that 'abandoned' is a synonym for 'treated as equal to those other demographics,' which actually reinforces the accusation of racism, unfortunately. Also, when this is pointed out, some critics say "Well she shouldn't have just put it on the website version of the platform, she should have spoon fed it to the white blue collar males in targetted advertising or something instead of giving them the intellectual challenge of doing online research to make their voting decisions." This sounds like the opposite of "She was treating them like they were dumb yokels," so this is one of the things that I try to understand: was she treating them like they were dumb, or was she overestimating their abilities? Fish or cut bait, y'know?
I still feel he's a racist, based on his actions and statements. In fact, it's pretty clear to me, not sure how anybody can think otherwise. Muslim database? C'mon, that's blatant. BUT, this doesn't necessarily mean his administration will pursue racist policies. BUT he appointed Sessions, so actually I think we can predict he will have a racist administration. Regarding Black Panthers - that organization dissolved in 1982. And they weren't profoundly racist from what I can tell. For example, they allowed members from all races (many of their organizers in the 1970s were Japanese who were interred, for example). In contrast, the Klan not only is White Only, but they also exclude Catholics and Jews who are white. In contrast the Black Panthers had all races and religions as members. (many of their top organizers were atheists, for example). The New Black Panthers is a black-only organization, and considered a hate group. They're stunningly anti-Semitic. It's ultraconservative and religious fundies. They reject both major parties, but their platform has some overlap with Republicans and Libertarians, from what I can tell. For example, they want the elimination of gun regulations and no minimum age for child brides, and their political preferences follow. Interesting enough, a lot of them are also FMOTLers. I mentally picture them as essentially black Mormons. I agree that Bernie had some attractive policies, but I don't think he was electable, and I think DNC made the right choice if the goal was to select the most electable presidential candidate. I assumed she would give Bernie a cabinet position, I was hoping Department of Health and Human Services. |
__________________
"Sometimes it's better to light a flamethrower than curse the darkness." - Terry Pratchett |
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
Bookmarks |
Thread Tools | |
|
|