Random political thought thread.

[Virtual ghost]

Sánchez hits back at Trump after criticism of Spain’s defense spending

But truth to be told Spain is indeed one of the countries that isn't doing it's defense homework (for years).

However, that expenditure represents only 1.28 percent of Spain's GDP, the lowest percentage among member countries.

 

[ygolo]

Since people have been thinking about oligarchy:

 

[Virtual ghost]

Sánchez hits back at Trump after criticism of Spain’s defense spending

Update:

Tech billionaires want to ‘overthrow democracy’ with social media, Spain PM Sánchez says

“The owner of a small restaurant is held accountable if their food poisons customers,” he said. “Social media tycoons should be held accountable if their algorithms poison our societies.”

 

[The Cat]

 

[ceecee]

I can't see it happening. Outside of immigration reform (which will prove popular) and a basic move away from identity politics (which people are sick of). I see those as his main upsides.

Trump and the right are identity politics. So you see only lib identity politics as an issue - just say that.

 

[SensEye]

Trump and the right are identity politics. So you see only lib identity politics as an issue - just say that.

You'd have to be more specific about what identity politics on the right you are referring to, but I would probably oppose them. Most Trump/MAGA policies I am not in favor of. I certainly perceive them to be less driven by identity politics than the left, so I see that as one of their few upsides.

 

[ceecee]

You'd have to be more specific about what identity politics on the right you are referring to, but I would probably oppose them. Most Trump/MAGA policies I am not in favor of. I certainly perceive them to be less driven by identity politics than the left, so I see that as one of their few upsides.

Identity politics is politics based on a particular identity, such as ethnicity, race, nationality, religion, denomination, gender, sexual orientation, social background, caste, age, disability, intelligence, and social class. The term encompasses various often-populist political phenomena and rhetoric, such as governmental migration policies that regulate mobility and opportunity based on identities, left-wing agendas involving intersectional politics or class reductionism, and right-wing nationalist agendas of exclusion of national or ethnic "others."

I would say that the US right/GOP/concervatives are even more driven by identity politics than anyone else. In 2022 the GOP strategy was - Inflation, Immigration, Identity Politics. Meaning that the only people basing their identity on oh, race, religion, nationality...were Democrats. lol

Again, stop using right wing catch phrases. People will think you're standing up to be counted with them and backtracking isn't always going to be an option.

 

[ygolo]

@Siúil a Rúin Indeed all forms of oligarchy need to be watched. I would say Sultanic oligarchy is the most troubling. However, not keeping tabs on other forms would be a detriment.

 

[ygolo]

Another conversation that'll be important in the national discourse:

 

[ygolo]

When opposing all the craziness in the hundreds of executive orders, I think focus is needed.

I think most important are the things that affect the interpretation of the constitution, particularly birthright citizenship.

This also, in particular, underscores what it means to be part of the USA.

 

[The Cat]

 

[ceecee]

@Siúil a Rúin Indeed all forms of oligarchy need to be watched. I would say Sultanic oligarchy is the most troubling. However, not keeping tabs on other forms would be a detriment.

Dunno man, I think the oligarchy with the largest military on the planet, probably more of a concern.

 

[Red Herring]

Shock for Germany - Trump is buying Grönemeyer!*

*Herbert Grönemeyer is a famous singer ... just a stupid pun on his name sounding vaguely like Grönland ( = Greenland). It's not like it makes much less sense than threatening a NATO partner with invasion

 

[The Cat]

"We'll build a theme park, with real, live Dinosaurs! What could go wrong?"

 

[Coriolis]

It’s one thing to make the merit only argument for hiring, rejecting DEI policy, but then to blatantly hire incompetent white dudes that are your relatives or friends directly in the face of that argument should trigger enough cognitive dissonance to leave someone walking in an endless circle not even stopping for lunch.

With all the privilege given some demographics over others throughout their educational development, why the heck can’t they find rich white dudes with professional merit?

DEI has its place even in a supposed meritocracy. Unless one truly believes that some demographic groups are inherently less able than others, underrepresentation due to perceived lack of merit means those groups did not have the same opportunity to gain the necessary qualifications, whether through bias in lower-level hiring, or perhaps limited educational opportunity. This just means DEI must be applied much earlier in the food chain, with our youngest of children, to ensure they start and continue life on as level a playing field as possible.

 

[The Cat]

Whoops.​

 

[The Cat]

In my experience, merit like a mob can be a subjective, fickle and arbitrary thing. Bit like fashion I suppose. Whats all the rage today tomorrow might be nothing but rags. Not even counting the inherent untruth in all advertising. At least the next four years will make for some interesting fortune cookies. I'm really trying to look for a silver lining, but it looks like Elon and his buddies already got their hands on that along with everything else that isnt nailed down...

 

[The Cat]

It somehow feels less impossible now.​

 

[SensEye]

I would say that the US right/GOP/concervatives are even more driven by identity politics than anyone else. In 2022 the GOP strategy was - Inflation, Immigration, Identity Politics. Meaning that the only people basing their identity on oh, race, religion, nationality...were Democrats. lol

I would argue that immigration policy is not identity politics. All nations (which include various races) have border regulations, as well they should. So I am going to strike that one. Also, unwinding DEI type initiatives, while related to identity politics, is more of an attempt to distance public policy from it.

Youtube videos from racist morons are not relevant. I need specific government policies designed to promote certain identities over others to convince me Conservatives are more into identity politics than the left.

I think the only example I recall so far, would be banning transgender people from the military. That I would consider identity politics. I would let any able bodied member of society serve if they wanted to.

 

[ygolo]

Dunno man, I think the oligarchy with the largest military on the planet, probably more of a concern.

If it's becoming a Sultanic oligarchy instead of a Civil oligarchy, that's a change for the worse.