Random Politics Thread

[Virtual ghost]

World’s cartoonists on this week’s events

 

[ceecee]

I never pictured Missouri to be this much "old school".

The GOP is a completely regressive party, this is what their base wants. Doesn't matter where they are.

 

[Red Herring]

I read that men in this legislative body have long been required to wear shirts, ties, and jackets, yet no one gets up in arms (pun intended) about that. Either make the requirements comparable in what needs to be covered, or get rid of them altogether.

I discussed this today with my husband. I think the issue is that while there has been a professional civilian uniform for men for centuries there still is no societal agreement on what a female "professional" looks like. Several options are available ranging from smart casual (i. e. not much different from a wealthy stay at home mom) to only slightly adjusted versions of the male suit. The question behind this seems to be that a professional woman is either somehow more casual, less professional than a man or an imitation of a man but they have no clear aesthetic of their own. Women in the public light have to either choose one of those compromises or invent a style of their own like Angela Merkel did when she turned black pants and a colorful blazer into her personal uniform. However, there is no real norm for women because even in 2023 that question (dressed up private person or imitation of the male) still hasn't been answered consensually.

By the way, there is no dresscode in German parliament and while Lenelotte von Bothmer caused a stir in 1970 for being the first woman MP to hold a speech there in pants which was considered undignified and unwomanly (the man next to her is an usher, they only introduced female usher uniforms much later, by the way), in 1985 future foreign secretary Joschka Fischer wore blue jeans and white sneakers during his swearing in as a minister in Hesse (the shoes are now in a museum) .

Conservative Dorothee Bär from Bavaria also repeatedly showed up in a dirndl (mostly for show, they really aren't worn much outside Oktoberfest).

 

[The Cat]

I never pictured Missouri to be this much "old school".

That's true of the GOP as a whole - very few women and the ones they have gatekeep their vile life philosophies - but this would impact all women in the legislature of MO. Including Dems (I'm sure they'd like to see less of them too). They don't seem to have any issue with sleeveless women on Fox that sell the right sexuality every day. The GOP is generally white and male, not sure why any woman would want to be part of them including voting for them.

Incidentally, the far left is mostly men in the US too.

The GOP is a completely regressive party, this is what their base wants. Doesn't matter where they are.

and yet so many of them seem to have porn search histories that would beg to differ...

Tragic really.​

 

[Virtual ghost]

The GOP is a completely regressive party, this is what their base wants. Doesn't matter where they are.

Ok, but my picture was that Missouri was relatively liberal red state.
But it is kinda strange to see that US still has debates that over here got settled 100+ years ago.

 

[Coriolis]

I discussed this today with my husband. I think the issue is that while there has been a professional civilian uniform for men for centuries there still is no societal agreement on what a female "professional" looks like. Several options are available ranging from smart casual (i. e. not much different from a wealthy stay at home mom) to only slightly adjusted versions of the male suit. The question behind this seems to be that a professional woman is either somehow more casual, less professional than a man or an imitation of a man but they have no clear aesthetic of their own. Women in the public light have to either choose one of those compromises or invent a style of their own like Angela Merkel did when she turned black pants and a colorful blazer into her personal uniform. However, there is no real norm for women because even in 2023 that question (dressed up private person or imitation of the male) still hasn't been answered consensually.

By the way, there is no dresscode in German parliament and while Lenelotte von Bothmer caused a stir in 1970 for showing up in pants which was considered undignified and unwomanly (the man next to her is an usher, they only introduced female usher uniforms much later, by the way), in 1985 future foreign secretary Joschka Fischer wore blue jeans and white sneakers during his swearing in as a minister in Hesse (the shoes are now in a museum) .

Well, yes, in recent history (past couple hundred years?) women's fashion has been much more varied for a given occasion than men's. There are two axes here: formality and modesty, with the latter meaning mostly how much of the body is exposed. A woman can be casual and modest, e.g. in sweatpants and a hoodie; or formal and exposed, e.g. an evening dress like the one below.

To me, it is just about equality. Even with the new restrictions in Missouri, women are already afforded much greater latitude in what they wear than men. I wonder to what extent this really does reflect a freedom of expression on the part of women, vs. what men have wanted to see over the years (greater exposure). Of course what began as the latter could have been turned into the former.

I'm surprised men in this day and age are not balking at the jacket and tie requirement. Men have successfully challenged prohibitions on wearing shorts in the hotter months, citing the fact that women were allowed to wear skirts and dresses, leaving their lower legs exposed. These school boys, for example, wore their sisters' skirts when told shorts were not allowed. I read of something similar in Brazil.

 

[The Cat]

Well, yes, in recent history (past couple hundred years?) women's fashion has been much more varied for a given occasion than men's. There are two axes here: formality and modesty, with the latter meaning mostly how much of the body is exposed. A woman can be casual and modest, e.g. in sweatpants and a hoodie; or formal and exposed, e.g. an evening dress like the one below.

To me, it is just about equality. Even with the new restrictions in Missouri, women are already afforded much greater latitude in what they wear than men. I wonder to what extent this really does reflect a freedom of expression on the part of women, vs. what men have wanted to see over the years (greater exposure). Of course what began as the latter could have been turned into the former.

I'm surprised men in this day and age are not balking at the jacket and tie requirement. Men have successfully challenged prohibitions on wearing shorts in the hotter months, citing the fact that women were allowed to wear skirts and dresses, leaving their lower legs exposed. These school boys, for example, wore their sisters' skirts when told shorts were not allowed. I read of something similar in Brazil.

I wish this mindset had been normal when I was growing up. life would have been less hell.

 

[The Cat]

 

[Red Herring]

I'm surprised men in this day and age are not balking at the jacket and tie requirement. Men have successfully challenged prohibitions on wearing shorts in the hotter months, citing the fact that women were allowed to wear skirts and dresses, leaving their lower legs exposed. These school boys, for example, wore their sisters' skirts when told shorts were not allowed. I read of something similar in Brazil.

Well, in a way they have. That's why I posted the picture of the minister in jeans and sneakers. When the Greens first entered national parliament in 1983 they were famous for their male delegates in Norwegian sweaters... and knitting during sessions.

(The Greens in 1983)

Vice chancelor Habeck has showed up in parliament in a t-shirt underneath his blazer (and several other men also wear t-shirts rather than business shirts) and our minister for health, who used to be known for his nerdy bowtie before entering government, wore neither tie nor bowtie but an open shirt and blazer for his swearing-in. So things are changing, at least over here.

(The Greens today)

 

[ceecee]

Ok, but my picture was that Missouri was relatively liberal red state.
But it is kinda strange to see that US still has debates that over here got settled 100+ years ago.

The assumption here was many of these topics were also settled years ago too. But no one hates Americans like conservative Americans and their mewing politicians and you're seeing that play out in real time.

 

[ceecee]

and yet so many of them seem to have porn search histories that would beg to differ...

View attachment 28226
Tragic really.​

At least they aren't Louisiana when it comes to porn. To protect "the children" of course. Never saw a group of people more obsessed with children (aside from the Catholic Church) than Republicans.

I lol'ed thinking about these right wing fucks that have never heard of a VPN.

Watching Porn Online in Louisiana Now Requires ID Verification

A conservative lawmaker said she had to author the legislation to protect young people.

www.advocate.com

 

[The Cat]

At least they aren't Louisiana when it comes to porn. To protect "the children" of course. Never saw a group of people more obsessed with children (aside from the Catholic Church) than Republicans.

I lol'ed thinking about these right wing fucks that have never heard of a VPN.

Watching Porn Online in Louisiana Now Requires ID Verification

A conservative lawmaker said she had to author the legislation to protect young people.

www.advocate.com

yeah that was...how barbaric. That they should protest this much tells on them far more than they seem capable of realizing. But to see them come after the sacred institution of porn, which is as wholesome and American as Apple pie...I'm shocked. Shocked I say to learn that there has been gambling going on in this establishment. ;3 Also their senator...looks like a man who knows his way around a cuckold fetish...

 

[Virtual ghost]

How Americans' Support For Aiding Ukraine Has Evolved

 

[The Cat]

 

[Z Buck McFate]

I find this woman's tweets a bit grounding. Sorta like Beau, she presents calm arguments. She doesn't merely generate outrage.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1614437212602482689

Missouri must have some of the poorest areas in the country. I read an article several months ago about rent hikes (and how some unbelievably high percentage of properties were being bought to be flipped and rented out vs being bought for owner to live in, but anyway), and the only spot in the country with no increase in rent was Independence, Missouri. It stuck out in my mind because my uncle lived there, and we've spent the past five years driving down there to fix up his house whenever we had time. I've also heard recently the public schools have gone down to a four day week, because they can't afford a full five days; meanwhile, tax money is being thrown at private schools. It really seems like that should be bigger news.

 

[The Cat]

 

[Virtual ghost]

Something random.

‘The most important election nobody’s ever heard of’

 

[Virtual ghost]

And here is one not so random which really looks as another major drama.

Yellen says U.S. will hit debt limit Thursday, warns of ‘irreparable harm’


But to be honest I never really understood why US unlike other developed countries can't have generally balanced budget most of the time. I mean, I know "why" but I don't get it why this has to be so controversial topic. You can't fix this over night but eventually you have to start somewhere.

 

[ceecee]

And here is one not so random which really looks as another major drama.

Yellen says U.S. will hit debt limit Thursday, warns of ‘irreparable harm’


But to be honest I never really understood why US unlike other developed countries can't have generally balanced budget most of the time. I mean, I know "why" but I don't get it why this has to be so controversial topic. You can't fix this over night but eventually you have to start somewhere.

This country is barely developed at this point.

 

[ceecee]

Something random.

‘The most important election nobody’s ever heard of’

WI is so badly gerrymandered. Having experienced the fight for a redistricting commission independent from the state legislature and governor, I can say it's a far better way to draw maps. A little slower but much more democratic - people can have their say, draw their own maps, be very involved in the process, all states should have this ability.

The GOP stance on abortion in the states nearly guarantees an entire generation of people and beyond will never vote for them, anywhere at any level. Hope the short term wins were worth it.

BTW Richard Uihlein is ULine - don't buy any of their shit.