Random political thought thread.

[Burning Paradigm]

So our DSA chapter has been working with the autonomous Mutual Aid as well as the DSA chapters in Dallas, Houston and Austin to get money and supplies down there. If I hear one more fucking lib (some right wingers but usually not, they just silently support letting ppl die) husk tell me not to waste my time (red state/Trump voters/bootraps) I'm going to punch them in the face. I know all kinds of people in TX, none of them voted for Trump but no one should be dying and freezing there no matter who they voted for.

Autonomous Mutual Aid Groups Mobilize in Texas as Death Toll Rises - It's Going Down

It pisses me off so much. Who's going to break it to them this is something the Big Bad Orange man would do? Also, if partisan affiliation is really that important to them, the hardest hit in terms of numbers are going to be low-income folks and minority populations in large, blue cities. But, they're willing to throw then under the bus to make some sort of larger smug point. Like you said, nobody should freeze to death regardless of who they voted for.

Anyhow, I appreciate what the mutual aid groups are doing; I have friends benefitting personally from their work. It's just embarrassing that, once again, mutual Aid and HEB, our state grocery store chain, do more than our state government.

 

[Stigmata]

It pisses me off so much. Who's going to break it to them this is something the Big Bad Orange man would do? Also, if partisan affiliation is really that important to them, the hardest hit in terms of numbers are going to be low-income folks and minority populations in large, blue cities. But, they're willing to throw then under the bus to make some sort of larger smug point. Like you said, nobody should freeze to death regardless of who they voted for.

Anyhow, I appreciate what the mutual aid groups are doing; I have friends benefitting personally from their work. It's just embarrassing that, once again, mutual Aid and HEB, our state grocery store chain, do more than our state government.

According to that Mayor of that small town in Colorado County, West Texas, citizens seeking aid in reestablishing services that they pay for is now considering looking for a handout.

West Texas mayor resigns after refusing to help with snowstorm: ‘The City and County...owes you NOTHING’


There should be absolutely no politicizing of the tragedy that is already in motion with people dying and not having access to basic essentials, yet for the life of me I just can't understand why people turn out in droves to continually support a political party that no one has no interest in governance, but outright despises the very concept of such. Republicans continually show that when they have to actually do something outside of gaslighting and playing political whataboutism games, they screw it up horrifically every single time. Now they're so emboldened that when they bungle it up, they just turn around and give their constituency the middle finger. It I'd an absolute disgrace, and this widespread loss of power in this state is largely due to Republican local government not wanting to be on the national power grid so they can sideskirt the federal regulations while maximizing profit now at the customer's expense.

How many more examples do people need before they wise up? Hell, the modern Republican party doesn't even have an actual party platform outside of own the libs and defeat socialism fearmongering.

 

[ceecee]

It pisses me off so much. Who's going to break it to them this is something the Big Bad Orange man would do? Also, if partisan affiliation is really that important to them, the hardest hit in terms of numbers are going to be low-income folks and minority populations in large, blue cities. But, they're willing to throw then under the bus to make some sort of larger smug point. Like you said, nobody should freeze to death regardless of who they voted for.

Anyhow, I appreciate what the mutual aid groups are doing; I have friends benefitting personally from their work. It's just embarrassing that, once again, mutual Aid and HEB, our state grocery store chain, do more than our state government.

I think in the last year, more people grasp what Mutual Aid is and that it is applicable to all. But dem socialists very much subscribe to the solidarity not charity aspect plus just using a more common sense approach.

I don't see anywhere on this list about red states not being included.

 

[Burning Paradigm]

According to that Mayor of that small town in Colorado County, West Texas, citizens seeking aid in reestablishing services that they pay for is now considering looking for a handout.

West Texas mayor resigns after refusing to help with snowstorm: ‘The City and County...owes you NOTHING’

I saw that...only bootstraps I'll pull up in my lifetime is to kick that mayor in the rear.

 

[Stigmata]

I saw that...only bootstraps I'll pull up in my lifetime is to kick that mayor in the rear.

The reason I mentioned this example was that this story does not represent some isolated ideology by some wacko in West Texas, even Rick Perry said Texans would rather freeze and deal with blackouts than have the federal government involved in regulating their power (not to mention this agenda also serves to benefit their donors in the utility industry). While he merely got caught saying the quiet parts loud, he ideas very much reflect of the local government in the state. Do you realize how crazy that is, to suggest people endure what they're enduring now to keep the big bad boogeyman government away, with their aspirations of free college and a national healthcare system.

They've convinced people to actively vote against their own self-interests, and for what? What is one Republican policy that is beneficial to average, everyday people outside of lower taxes? What are they seeking to improve for anyone? What is their platform? They even acknowledge the healthcare system is broken in its current form, but what solutions have they offered outside of trying to repeal Obamacare (and even this is a joke right now) in the middle of a pandemic?

 

[ceecee]

A really good Twitter follow is Judge Clay Jenkins. He very clearly explains exactly how TX arrived at the last week or so. He also has a plethora of information for anyone in that needs food, shelter, FEMA $$ whatever...
[MENTION=38020]Jud[/MENTION]geClayJ

 

[Jaguar]

What is their platform?

Lying.

 

[Jaguar]

A really good Twitter follow is Judge Clay Jenkins. He very clearly explains exactly how TX arrived at the last week or so. He also has a plethora of information for anyone in that needs food, shelter, FEMA $$ whatever...

[MENTION=38020]Jud[/MENTION]geClayJ

Who the hell is the TypoC member named Jud, and what does he or she have to do with Judge Clay Jenkins?

 

[Jaguar]

Former Kansas Sen. Bob Dole announces stage 4 lung cancer diagnosis


Nah, he must be faking.

 

[Burning Paradigm]

The reason I mentioned this example was that this story does not represent some isolated ideology by some wacko in West Texas, even Rick Perry said Texans would rather freeze and deal with blackouts than have the federal government involved in regulating their power (not to mention this agenda also serves to benefit their donors in the utility industry). While he merely got caught saying the quiet parts loud, he ideas very much reflect of the local government in the state. Do you realize how crazy that is, to suggest people endure what they're enduring now to keep the big bad boogeyman government away, with their aspirations of free college and a national healthcare system.

They've convinced people to actively vote against their own self-interests, and for what? What is one Republican policy that is beneficial to average, everyday people outside of lower taxes? What are they seeking to improve for anyone? What is their platform? They even acknowledge the healthcare system is broken in its current form, but what solutions have they offered outside of trying to repeal Obamacare (and even this is a joke right now) in the middle of a pandemic?

Oh yeah, I wasn't suggesting this is some isolated ideology. The "frontier" mentality, if you will, has persisted through generations and infested local politics across the state of Texas outside of major metropolitan areas. It shows you the Republican Party's strategy is very much the divide and conquer one they accuse the other side of doing. They convince voters that they face an existential threat from the federal government turning their life into a Soviet hellscape for what? Improving the healthcare system, improving public education, true justice for all Americans and a law enforcement system that respects that, a fair economy and taxation system, protecting infrastructure from climate threats, etc. The crazy/scary part is I know more than my fair share of people who ascribe to this ideology despite having very little wealth, and it makes me sad. The right-wing information ecosystem is a cancer that has turned people who have no reason to vote for this party into loyalists out of fear of, again, some mythical Soviet hellscape.

 

[Jaguar]

El Paso Heeded the Warnings and Avoided a Winter Catastrophe – Texas Monthly

I'd use that against the governor and run for office. Yo, Beto. You running? Just shut the fuck up about taking guns.

 

[Virtual ghost]

World’s cartoonists on this week’s events

 

[Jaguar]

The N.S.A. has built an infrastructure that allows it to intercept almost everything. With this capability, the vast majority of human communications are automatically ingested without targeting. If I wanted to see your e-mails or your wife’s phone, all I have to do is use intercepts. I can get your e-mails, passwords, phone records, credit cards.

I don’t want to live in a society that does these sort of things.

What the hell did you think the NSA does on a daily basis, play Tic-Tac-Toe? Silly kid.

 

[Red Herring]

 

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

My mother asked me what my opinions were of Ani DiFranco and Rachel Maddow. She asked me if I liked them. I said I didn't hate them, but I didn't like them. I feel like that was seen as some kind of a political "sin" on my part (even though she doesn't even listen to Ani DiFranco.. it's more because they're opinionated women).

Truth is, I actually have way more respect for DiFranco than Maddow. After listening to her speak about criminal justice reform, it sounded like she actually wanted to help people. She was truly trying to educate people about an actual issue, rather than engage in overwrought theatrics about stupid partisan tribal bullshit. I still don't know anything about her music, though.

I am sorry, but I've never had Maddow say anything I found insightful. Her opinions always boil down to Democrats are good and Republicans are bad, and I've never seen her hold Democrats to the same standard as Republicans. I don't consider that a sign of intellectual brilliance; there's nothing unique or impressive about partisan loyalty. I've met women who impress me with their intellect way more than that who don't have cushy anchor jobs at cable news.

 

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

I build software for a living. People don't know all the details of how something works, but they want what I make to work, and can usually tell when it is not working. If they tell me it doesn't work because something went wrong despite my best efforts, I say "oh, let me see what I can do to fix that." I don't blame it on someone else, and if I did, people wouldn't and shouldn't buy that.

Is it that ridiculous to hold politicians to that standard? Yes, it's true that I never went to law school, but I can tell that this isn't working. TRY TO DO SOMETHING TO FIX IT. That's all that I'm saying. I don't want people to get fed up with you being hapless and ineffectual and then bring in an idiot who says that the magic cure to all of this is to pour water on the machine because computers are like plants.

 

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

Being President isn't a sacred holy office that must be hallowed and never profaned. It's a job you were picked to do by the American people. Do the job and actually try to, you know, get stuff accomplished. That's why they didn't go with the other guy again because he refused to do that; he wanted the job for the celebrity. We don't need more of that. I don't care if your wife tears up the rose garden, but try to get stuff done. That's what you're there for.

I don't want a pious priest of whatever side of the culture war I'm on, I want someone to actually do what they can to solve real problems. I don't need sermons about the value of diversity or patriotism, I need solutions. Stop jumping at the first excuse you can find not to do something; I'm not buying it.

 

[Kingu Kurimuzon]

My mother asked me what my opinions were of Ani DiFranco and Rachel Maddow. She asked me if I liked them. I said I didn't hate them, but I didn't like them. I feel like that was seen as some kind of a political "sin" on my part (even though she doesn't even listen to Ani DiFranco.. it's more because they're opinionated women).

Truth is, I actually have way more respect for DiFranco than Maddow. After listening to her speak about criminal justice reform, it sounded like she actually wanted to help people. She was truly trying to educate people about an actual issue, rather than engage in overwrought theatrics about stupid partisan tribal bullshit. I still don't know anything about her music, though.

I am sorry, but I've never had Maddow say anything I found insightful. Her opinions always boil down to Democrats are good and Republicans are bad, and I've never seen her hold Democrats to the same standard as Republicans. I don't consider that a sign of intellectual brilliance; there's nothing unique or impressive about partisan loyalty. I've met women who impress me with their intellect way more than that who don't have cushy anchor jobs at cable news.

Boomer neoliberals love maddow

 

[Virtual ghost]

World’s cartoonists on this week’s events

 

[Lark]

Boomer neoliberals love maddow

When you say neo-liberals what and who do you mean?

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What does America first even mean?