Random Politics Thread

[Virtual ghost]

I don't think it's a great sign when they put RFK Jr. in charge of the FDA. That gives me a good idea of what to expect.

To tell you the truth I am fairly sure he wouldn't be given too much freedom to decide the agenda. He is getting the job simply because he dropped out in time. However he will have to listen people of the industry and that means that things probably wouldn't get too crazy. In other words if they do he will be kicked out like the many in the first term.


I know that this isn't too much of a comfort but this is the best I can do for now.

 

[Red Herring]

What were your thoughts about the breakdown of the government coalition? - "Men!"

 

[Virtual ghost]

She is right.

Since it was evident that 3 typical male egos were what was the actual problem.

 

[Lark]

I kind of think that categories like socialism and capitalism are useless these days, or perhaps are only useful in terms of a historical reference.

Not only do I think that nothing resembling either of them exists, even if a "pure" definition of the term was even possible, but I dont think its possible that either could exist, at least for the present time being.

 

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

While it isn't fascism, it's certainly adjacent and when it comes to the "other" invading the country, conservatives/nativists simply replace the ethnic group from time to time. Germans, Irish, Italian, Mexicans....it is the identical thing over and over. You would think people would smarten up but they don't and can't be bothered to do so. That is why right ring populism becomes popular over and over again.

Nobody ever learns anything, unfortunately. This is the upsetting part for me, really.

 

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

To tell you the truth I am fairly sure he wouldn't be given too much freedom to decide the agenda. He is getting the job simply because he dropped out in time. However he will have to listen people of the industry and that means that things probably wouldn't get too crazy. In other words if they do he will be kicked out like the many in the first term.


I know that this isn't too much of a comfort but this is the best I can do for now.

I think it's troubling that someone appointed to be in charge of health is a believer of New Age BS rather than empiricism-based medicine. This kind of thinking/methodology is really one of the greatest accomplishments of the last few hundred years, and when it's officially deemed to be passe by the most powerful nation, what does that tell you?

Trump probably doesn't even care what R.F.K does. RFK would back him up in another pandemic situation which is what matters to him, I'll wager.

 

[Virtual ghost]

I think it's troubling that someone appointed to be in charge of health is a believer of New Age BS rather than empiricism-based medicine. This kind of thinking/methodology is really one of the greatest accomplishments of the last few hundred years, and when it's officially deemed to be passe by the most powerful nation, what does that tell you?

Trump probably doesn't even care what R.F.K does.

Your education system seem to be so weak and out of date that this really isn't that much surprising. But yeah, this is evidently "bonkers".

 

[SensEye]

No, the Democrats tried to pass a bill combating illegal immigration and seemed to mention it frequently during the campaign season from the few bits I watched. They still lost.

How do you explain that? Do you think they could have gone far enough right on this issue that they could outflank the Republicans? I'm skeptical.

First issue was they left the problem unaddressed for 3.5 years until it became such an obvious crisis that even they realized it might cost them the election. So they tried a last minute panic move. From what I understand that 'bi-partisan' bill contained mostly things the Republicans wanted, and the Dems choked down. Trump scuttled that bill which was bad for the country but savvy politics as it turned out. It seemed a sensible bill to me and I hope Trump brings it back to legislate a long term solution rather than just executive order his way around the problem.

Why do companies and businesses keep hiring undocumented workers?

I assume that because they are undocumented, they can be paid low ball wages and maybe get no benefits (I don't really know if you can pay these workers off the books at below minimum wages - but it would not shock me if you could). Businesses are always going to act to maximize profit. Hence my recommended solution, give these workers temp visas (i.e. make them documented) and thereby they should still get minimum wage. This is to address the alleged problem of Americans don't want to do this low paid work (i.e. minimum wage work).

PS> I don't buy into any b.s. that businesses will go bankrupt at current minimum wage levels. If they can only function by paying near slave labor wages they should go bankrupt.

Give me a break. There has been no immigration policy in the US since Regan. You can explain to all of us how this is strictly a Democrat issue. You can also explain to all of us how exactly the idea of "the border" is also a Democrat issue only

Well then both parties need to get their shit together and have for some time. I suspect they've both ignored the problem to avoid controversy in a cancel culture world.

Also, get a handle on your own country and your own border and stop sending illegals into the US.

Hey, I'm doing what I can! You can be assured I have never even remotely considered voting for our moronic PM. In fact, I have experienced in real life what a dogmatic progressive left wing party the practices virtue politics does. It's not good. Canada's future economic prospects have become much more grim thanks to 10 years of mismanagement by this clown. I hope Canadians will throw the bum out, but the Canadian Overton window is far left of the US, and my fellow citizens are every bit as politically daft as in any other country.

 

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

First issue was they left the problem unaddressed for 3.5 years until it became such an obvious crisis that even they realized it might cost them the election. So they tried a last minute panic move. From what I understand that 'bi-partisan' bill contained mostly things the Republicans wanted, and the Dems choked down. Trump scuttled that bill which was bad for the country but savvy politics as it turned out. It seemed a sensible bill to me and I hope Trump brings it back to legislate a long term solution rather than just executive order his way around the problem.

Wasn't Biden in office? Are we talking about two different bills?

I assume that because they are undocumented, they can be paid low ball wages and maybe get no benefits (I don't really know if you can pay these workers off the books at below minimum wages - but it would not shock me if you could). Businesses are always going to act to maximize profit. Hence my recommended solution, give these workers temp visas (i.e. make them documented) and thereby they should still get minimum wage. This is to address the alleged problem of Americans don't want to do this low paid work (i.e. minimum wage work).

I would also assume that there are less protections and that they are easier to exploit since the workers are less likely to report any violations for fear of being deported. Politicians should want to disrupt this state of affairs.

PS> I don't buy into any b.s. that businesses will go bankrupt at current minimum wage levels. If they can only function by paying near slave labor wages they should go bankrupt.

Well, we're in agreement on that.

 

[Coriolis]

Ok, but I am not talking about progressive media. I am talking about MSNBC and similar to that.


However I do wonder why you think that Vance would be worse ? (for me there is still too many unknowns in the mix even if general picture is known).

You don't consider MSNBC to be part of our mainstream media? Vance would be worse because 1) he is younger and likely to be around much longer; 2) he is much more disciplined than Trump; and 3) he has demonstrated that he will sell himself to the highest bidder, meaning the group most likely to give him status and power. He would therefore be an even better tool in the hands of right-wing extremists than Trump, whose loose cannon behavior occasionally undermines their intentions, and whose shelf life is limited.

First issue was they left the problem unaddressed for 3.5 years until it became such an obvious crisis that even they realized it might cost them the election. So they tried a last minute panic move. From what I understand that 'bi-partisan' bill contained mostly things the Republicans wanted, and the Dems choked down. Trump scuttled that bill which was bad for the country but savvy politics as it turned out. It seemed a sensible bill to me and I hope Trump brings it back to legislate a long term solution rather than just executive order his way around the problem.


I assume that because they are undocumented, they can be paid low ball wages and maybe get no benefits (I don't really know if you can pay these workers off the books at below minimum wages - but it would not shock me if you could). Businesses are always going to act to maximize profit. Hence my recommended solution, give these workers temp visas (i.e. make them documented) and thereby they should still get minimum wage. This is to address the alleged problem of Americans don't want to do this low paid work (i.e. minimum wage work).

PS> I don't buy into any b.s. that businesses will go bankrupt at current minimum wage levels. If they can only function by paying near slave labor wages they should go bankrupt.

This last line echoes our president Franklin Roosevelt, who said that if a business cannot pay a living wage, it should not stay in business.

Democrats have hardly left border troubles unaddressed for 3+ years. One of President Biden's first charges to V.P. Harris was to work with the nations who are the sources of these immigrants, to address the conditions that cause them to come here. This is taking the long view of treating the disease vs. putting bandaids on the symptoms. I haven't stayed on top of this issue, so don't know exactly what Harris has been doing and how likely it is to work. The immigration bill that Trump scuttled was also not a last minute ploy, but something negotiated over many months as a compromise (i.e. no one is getting everything they want) to make some immediate headway on the problem. We could be months into these remedies, but no, to try to score some points, Trumpists are making us wait.

 

[Virtual ghost]

You don't consider MSNBC to be part of our mainstream media?

Of course I do. I simply said that they aren't something that I would call a progressive.
What means that they don't fit into what you were saying.

Vance would be worse because 1) he is younger and likely to be around much longer; 2) he is much more disciplined than Trump; and 3) he has demonstrated that he will sell himself to the highest bidder, meaning the group most likely to give him status and power. He would therefore be an even better tool in the hands of right-wing extremists than Trump, whose loose cannon behavior occasionally undermines their intentions, and whose shelf life is limited.

Ok, I will take your word on that since I am not an expert on the guy (that is exactly why I asked).

 

[Virtual ghost]

As expected, the cases against Trump will get dropped one by one.

 

[SensEye]

Democrats have hardly left border troubles unaddressed for 3+ years. One of President Biden's first charges to V.P. Harris was to work with the nations who are the sources of these immigrants, to address the conditions that cause them to come here. This is taking the long view of treating the disease vs. putting bandaids on the symptoms. I haven't stayed on top of this issue, so don't know exactly what Harris has been doing and how likely it is to work. The immigration bill that Trump scuttled was also not a last minute ploy, but something negotiated over many months as a compromise (i.e. no one is getting everything they want) to make some immediate headway on the problem. We could be months into these remedies, but no, to try to score some points, Trumpists are making us wait.

I consider whatever Harris was doing to fall under the heading of 'political theater'. Reminds me of Blinken's numerous trips for ceasefire negotiations in the middle East (all unproductive). I'm fine with sending someone out to do these things, but at the same time, the border should have been secured. No reason one can't stop the bleeding AND address the long term cause of the problem. The Dems failed to stop the bleeding, and it cost them.

@JVB - we are talking about the same bill. When I say Trump scuttled it I just meant he used his influence to stop the Republicans in congress from voting for it.

If Biden and the Dems had any political savvy, they would have passed executive action after the bill failed. I believe Biden did do something along these lines (I recall something about more restrictions if border crossings surged on any given day). However, it was a lame half measure which tried to please his progressive base at the same time as making the general public feel something was being done, but pleased no one as far as I could tell. It also came too late in the game.

 

[The Cat]

 

[Virtual ghost]

Trump threatens steep tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China


It is beginning.

 

[ceecee]

I mean, maybe some people have now figured this out (this country has collective CTE so probably not) and will stop looking at it. Obviously not boomers or wonks or Dem staffers that fucking hate all of us even more than their bosses do. But a couple people here and there.

 

[Virtual ghost]

Trump threatens steep tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China


It is beginning.

UK could strike back at Trump with taxes on Harleys and Jack Daniel’s

All of this could pretty quickly turn into the largest trade mess ever.

 

[Virtual ghost]

I know that I am getting kinda "difficult" with arguments/posts lately. However that is simply how thing are for me. For me liberalism has basically already fallen. After all out of regulars here I am evidently under the most socially conservative government. With new year the conscription is coming back into force, the new ministry of demographic is making sure to fix the demographic (in order to prevent multi-culturalism). Southern border is basically under thigh control. The green progressive party has fallen into single digits of support, what means that if they lose some incoming races the party is basically finished (and they will probably lose them). Many neighboring countries are openly dismantling democracy (Orban perhaps even isn't the most radical out of them). My centrist liberals are also politically dead. Military spending is going up significantly. The whole EU is putting green deal on full stop. War in nearby Ukraine makes sure that the social climate is like it is ww3 (what in a way is actually the case). Government influence on the economy is growing due to the war and potential trade wars that should soon be here. The squeeze on social liberalism has also begun. Especially since even bigger cities are starting to move and elect socially conservative figures. Especially since the war is pushing this mass social unease ..... etc.


I simply lost the connection to liberalism, I just no longer see it as my future. I know that I am kinda spoiling fun for others but for me all of this is just a done deal. Liberalism is toast and life goes on.

 

[The Cat]

I would love love love for people to count the cost before making a colossal fuck up that puts everyone deeper in the hole.

This is why we can't have nice things I guess.

​

 

[The Cat]

The truth hurts doesnt it Elon.
Elon Elon just a toy,
and always has been since but a boy.
The richest man in musk and money,
But no one who can ever call honey.
Because he knows inside his head,
that all his loved ones wish him dead.
​