The real attack on Democracy.

[fallout]

This would be the same Trump who at a press conference ....

You've gotta be kidding me. A gaffe is much different than being incoherent every single time you step out in public and open your mouth. lol

 

[AnalogPackrat]

Apologies for taking so long to respond.

Winning arguments- do they produce net positive effects? /pol subgroups don't seem to allow it.

Well, speaking for myself, part of why my position/viewpoint changed was by having discussions and arguments with friends and colleagues about various issues. So yes. Arguments are an important mechanism for change.

 

[jabe]

I DO NOT care about global inflation

So... you believe US inflation is 100% self-contained solely by US policy, and the rest of the world experienced the exact same spike in inflation at the exact same time due to... coincidence?

The ones that caused us to stop being energy independent

US to remain net exporter of petroleum products through 2050

And you have the nerve to question people’s defense of Trump.

Yup.

 

[jabe]

A gaffe

"A" gaffe?
Not sure how videos of Biden prove Trump is "sharp", as claimed.

 

[fallout]

"A" gaffe?
Not sure how videos of Biden prove Trump is "sharp", as claimed.

You said Trump's 'gaffe' is 'no different' than Biden. I'm just pointing out, yes.. there's a BIG difference. If you can't see it, not sure what to tell you?

 

[crazydoc]

If you can see it, not sure what to tell you?

Did you mean "can't"? Looks like a gaffe to me - how old are you?

 

[Matador]

Counter-argument: Bing bing bing bing bing ding ding ding! WHOOSH! *missile sounds* Boom!

 

[fallout]

Did you mean "can't"? Looks like a gaffe to me - how old are you?

touché

haha

 

[crazydoc]

Looks like we're going to have a choice for president between two old white men who are aging and not as sharp as they used to be. One seems to have his heart in the right place and has surrounded himself with advisors who in general have the good of the country in mind. The other doesn't have a heart and has surrounded himself with sycophants who have his own power in mind.

 

[scott2000]

and has surrounded himself with advisors who in general have the good of the country in mind

no need to vote ..... it's all taken care of by him and his advisors...

 

[JohnRoberts]

The remarkable thing about this election is that both candidates have served in the office they are now competing for. The claims being made by both sides are hyperbolic (fantastic), we merely need to pay attention and trust our own eyes and ears.

Good luck separating the wheat from the chaff in our modern polarized media environment.

JR

 

[jabe]

You said Trump's 'gaffe' is 'no different' than Biden.

Not seeing where I said that.

 

[fallout]

This would be the same Trump who at a press conference just yesterday called Andrew Cuomo the current governor of NY, and said things like:

 

[jabe]

In response to BigPauly calling Trump "quite sharp". No mention of or comparison with Biden, and no use of the phrases you put in quotes. Why make things up?

 

[sodderboy]

Looks like we're going to have a choice for president between two old white men who are aging and not as sharp as they used to be. One seems to have his heart in the right place and has surrounded himself with advisors who in general have the good of the country in mind. The other doesn't have a heart and has surrounded himself with sycophants who have his own power in mind.

Yes, you actually wrote those words. "in general"? the suck we are experiencing goes beyond the unintended consequences of golly-good legislation.
Compare the actual records of these people, what they promised on the campaign trail vs what they did and were actually able to get accomplished, against whatever opposite pressures that came their way. And look at the pressures that came each of their ways. Compare their third year SotU addresses- who is a uniter, who is a divider? Who does not "have a heart"?
Put these two candidates at podia for one hour answering randomly chosen questions from the web, 5 minutes each with a 1 minute rebuttal each.
There will be no doubt if either of them is whupped. Totally whupped. No doubt.
Have them each do a flight of stairs with no hands going up, hand rail going down. No doubt again.

But it is a presidential election and not a comprehension or agility contest. Look at the platforms of each person and where it is most important there is absolutely no doubt. MAGAA
Bring on the riots, virus(es), international incidents, whatever, but MAGAA.
Mike

 

[Cqwet Dbdfte]

Haha. When those European systems last for 200+ years come talk to me. And they've only recently had any real cultural diversity mixed in. I see the problems these highly socialized states (Sweden) are now experiencing as a result.

Yes, I'm aware of them. And the mess that is the EU. No, thanks. If people like those systems they are free to move there, just as people can move here for what we have to offer. One size does not fit all.

As for Switzerland, it's got the population of two average states in the US and is mostly populated by western European people. What may work there will not necessarily work here. I see that your 1848 Constitution formed a Federal government with three branches, legislative, judicial, and executive. Your legislature very similar to ours with one house representing Cantons (2 per Canton or 1 per half Canton) and the other proportional by population. I guess the founders of the US had some good ideas that you copied over there.


I did. For 29 years. I learned from it. Will not support any such system in my country based on those experiences.

I don't know exactly how well you "see" what is happening in Europe. The US media is quite thin on this, and news media is a poor source of statistically reliable information. The US southern border is inundated with hopeful ppl from failed 3rd world states. Of recent swedish immigrants to the US about half return. The US scores very low on many quality of life metrics compared to many EU countries.
Sweden reportedly has accepted massive amounts of people from the middle east, with a growing immigrant population soon hitting 35%. Surely Sweden is a lost cause in their self preservation. The same is not true for the rest of the EU.
There are websites with more fact based information about the quality of life around this planet, including CIA.
Fascism has been the major cause of strife in the last 100 years, wether labeled as communism, corporatism, national socialism, or islam.
The underlying theme is labor free permanent income for a very few.

 

[AnalogPackrat]

Looks like we're going to have a choice for president between two old white men who are aging and not as sharp as they used to be. One seems to have his heart in the right place and has surrounded himself with advisors who in general have the good of the country in mind. The other doesn't have a heart and has surrounded himself with sycophants who have his own power in mind.

I agree, but likely the names we'd attach to your descriptions are reversed. My summary: one candidate was actively involved in executive decision-making and the other can't remember what flavor of icecream he's eating.

 

[AnalogPackrat]

I don't know exactly how well you "see" what is happening in Europe.

At least as well as you "see" what's happening here.

The US media is quite thin on this, and news media is a poor source of statistically reliable information.

I don't watch much mainstream media, but some of what I watch is international. It's useful for detecting bias (both ways) and seeing what is (over)emphasized and what is (conveniently) left out.

The US southern border is inundated with hopeful ppl from failed 3rd world states.

Because our POTUS invited them. The migrants even say this when asked.

Of recent swedish immigrants to the US about half return.

Not sure why that's relevant, but I'd imagine those were here on educational or work visas and not intending to stay permanently. Maybe they returned to retire on the Swedish social programs. Do you have relevant links? An awful lot of Swedes came here and settled in the upper midwest 100+ years ago.

The US scores very low on many quality of life metrics compared to many EU countries.

Sure. Freedom isn't free. Many people would rather live comfortably without the stress and effort of working and making their lives better. That's easier in a more socialist state. But if you want a chance to go beyond that, the US is better. The economic mobility and freedom we have is not like the EU.

Sweden reportedly has accepted massive amounts of people from the middle east, with a growing immigrant population soon hitting 35%. Surely Sweden is a lost cause in their self preservation. The same is not true for the rest of the EU.

Seems to me that France, Germany, Ireland, the U.K. and other European nations are struggling with the same issue.

There are websites with more fact based information about the quality of life around this planet, including CIA.

The metrics for "quality" are largely subjective.

Fascism has been the major cause of strife in the last 100 years, wether labeled as communism, corporatism, national socialism, or islam.

Ah, here we see the real crazy. Fascism, prior to 10-15 years ago, meant something and was not a general perjorative term.

The underlying theme is labor free permanent income for a very few.

That will be the actual case for any real system run by humans, like it or not. The problem is actually the concentration of power, not money, in too few people. In a corrupt system, money can buy influence/power, but power is the problem.

 

[hodad]

Fascism, prior to 10-15 years ago, meant something

Oh, it still means something, but apparently you're too myopic to see what's staring you in the face.

 

[JohnRoberts]

If you think Trump's "heart is in the right place," I'm not sure what that says about you. I guess if you think unenlightened self-interest is the greatest good, then I guess Trump's heart might be in the "right" place. The man has told you repeatedly who he is; either you're not listening, or you have a very twisted moral compass.

Let's try not to make everything personal.
===
The best political statement any of us can make is in the voting booth. That day can't come soon enough.

JR