Pedo Epidemic in MAGA

[Some Schmo]

I guess its really out of frustration in how one sided you all are here. If Trump does something beneficial it'll be automatically discounted and when Biden was there, everything is rosy. Its as if no one here can think beyond their team talking points or like you they resort to mindless name calling. Its really not a discussion.

How about being skeptical of the democrats for once? Or is that a bridge too far? Is there anything the democrats could have possibly done to beat Trump the last time or is the simpleton response still what you have to go with? Those MAGA people are dumb end of story, right? They should have voted for the drunk instead like brilliant people like you did.

Answering for myself, I am plenty skeptical of everyone, but the MAGA party is so far off the rails that they give me too much to complain about. I am unhappy with the gerontocracy of the DNC right now. But, damn, the MAGA party is so corrupt and authoritarian that the DNC's problems pale in comparison.

This.

You want me to be critical of Democrats, Exiled? OK. I think they are pretty feckless and don't have many compelling leaders. I think there is plenty to complain about, and Biden wasn't perfect. The Afghanistan withdrawal was terrible. He certainly should never have signaled that he intended to run for reelection.

Happy now?

I'm just not going to spend equal time on the two parties, because they don't equally deserve comment or criticism. It's ridiculous to expect them to receive equal criticism. With everything the majority party is doing right now, I don't have the energy to nitpick Democrats, who are the minority. Democrats aren't nearly represented by as many leftist extremists in Congress as right wing extremists represent the right. So, my commentary reflects that imbalance.

[Some Schmo]

I remember telling a friend back in 2013 that my theory for people with both sides disease are likely former Republicans who are finally realizing their party sucks, but have always thought the Democrats suck. So now they're stuck hating both sides (as though they were equally bad).

I can see that, and, to be honest, I am not that different from this type of person. I was a registered Republican at one point, and I left the Republican Party to become an Independent. I have voted consistently Democrat since Trumpism became a thing, and I have not once seriously made a move to become a Democrat. I am not sure I could join one of the two major parties, since I do not believe in the two-party system. I am sure my years of being a registered Republican make the idea of registering as a Democrat feel off to me. More disturbing is the sense that you need to stick with or defend the decisions a party because you committed to be a member of the group.

Since leaving the LDS Church, I have not joined another church. Since leaving the Republican Party, I have not joined another party.

It's kind of a theme for me.

Back when I considered myself Republican, I didn't view Democrats as evil. I disagreed with some of their policies. I've imagined that if I did think Democrats were evil back then, I might have turned out a both-sider like Exiled.

As I became critical of Bush and the Iraq war, it became more and more apparent that calling myself a Republican because I thought fiscal responsibility was a good thing was a bad reason to identify with that party. Their BS machine was in full swing even back then (although Trump has taken that to a new level, obviously).

So yeah, I hear you on not joining another religion. I'm far more aware of what's going on in this country than I was 20 years ago, and that's because I care about what's really true and try to see things without caring what any team's opinion is, unless it's team reality.

ETA: by the way, there was a time when I considered being a Democrat because at least they acknowledged climate change, but like you, I ultimately didn't like calling myself anything other than Independent.

[canpakes]

Is there anything the democrats could have possibly done to beat Trump the last time or is the simpleton response still what you have to go with? Those MAGA people are dumb end of story, right?

Good Doctor, you should ask Dr. Exiled why folks voted for Trump.

Start with this one:



Is Trump correct? If he is, how should we interpret that conclusion? That folks honestly thought that Trump would or even could bring down prices? Are they experiencing a misunderstanding about how economics and free markets function? Or maybe candidate Trump just lied more convincingly to them? What’s the reason?

What really got voters choosing Trump? The idea that UDAID financed the education of a handful of journalists in foreign countries, or the fact that folks were convinced that because their weekly purchase of a dozen eggs was costing $1.50 more, it was busting their food budget by forcing them to spend an additional $6 per month?

You’re very good with pitching these questions. Would you like to try for answering one of them?

[huckelberry]

I remember telling a friend back in 2013 that my theory for people with both sides disease are likely former Republicans who are finally realizing their party sucks, but have always thought the Democrats suck. So now they're stuck hating both sides (as though they were equally bad).

I can see that, and, to be honest, I am not that different from this type of person. I was a registered Republican at one point, and I left the Republican Party to become an Independent. I have voted consistently Democrat since Trumpism became a thing, and I have not once seriously made a move to become a Democrat. I am not sure I could join one of the two major parties, since I do not believe in the two-party system. I am sure my years of being a registered Republican make the idea of registering as a Democrat feel off to me. More disturbing is the sense that you need to stick with or defend the decisions a party because you committed to be a member of the group.

Since leaving the LDS Church, I have not joined another church. Since leaving the Republican Party, I have not joined another party.

It's kind of a theme for me.

Kishkumen, I find myself puzzled by this idea of becoming unable to criticize a party if you identify with it. There are all sorts of Republicans and all sorts of Democrats, perhaps more variety than that group of true independents who vote Donald Duck for president because they do not believe in two parties. In every election I can remember there more than parties proposing a presidential candidate. Most people stick with one or the other largest parties because they hope to create a winning majority.

But I do wonder what people mean by being a member of a party. If one is employed by the party perhaps uniting to a party line might be a pressure. I have caucused with Democrats for elections for some 50 years. It is sometimes a chance to argue, express different views. There is no obligation to agree or to vote for the candidates selected for that matter. I can vote for a Republican If I think that best or a commie should I get nutty destructive passions.

[Some Schmo]

Those MAGA people are dumb end of story, right?

by the way, yes. Of course. Not much really needs to be said when you consider how damned stupid Trump voters are. There are several reasons you are a moron if you voted for Trump. It's indisputable.

Anyone who hasn't noticed or figured that out is another one of the damned dumbasses. Obviously.

[Kishkumen]

Back when I considered myself Republican, I didn't view Democrats as evil. I disagreed with some of their policies. I've imagined that if I did think Democrats were evil back then, I might have turned out a both-sider like Exiled.

As I became critical of Bush and the Iraq war, it became more and more apparent that calling myself a Republican because I thought fiscal responsibility was a good thing was a bad reason to identify with that party. Their BS machine was in full swing even back then (although Idiot has taken that to a new level, obviously).

So yeah, I hear you on not joining another religion. I'm far more aware of what's going on in this country than I was 20 years ago, and that's because I care about what's really true and try to see things without caring what any team's opinion is, unless it's team reality.

ETA: by the way, there was a time when I considered being a Democrat because at least they acknowledged climate change, but like you, I ultimately didn't like calling myself anything other than Independent.

Thank you for sharing that, Schmo. Yes, I don’t know that I believed Democrats were evil, but I felt Iike I was surrounded by people in the LDS Church who did. Especially when I was at BYU. Now, of course this was not the case. Not all Mormons were Republicans, but the majority on campus were, and these LDS Republicans were very vocal and could be very extreme in their views and passions about those views. Clinton’s election was a sign of the End Times.

I think I started to associate party membership with obnoxious extremism, like a person who joined a party was a cult member of some kind, who would say whatever to forward the interests of the cult. Watching liberals or progressives in action has sadly been a similar experience. But, I now see that groups have their extreme members who find their role in pulling ridiculously toward the opposite end of those who are closest in spirit to the party’s opponents.

It is practically a biological phenomenon (obviously a sociological one, in fact). It seems like parties are similar to superorganisms, and members inside find the roles that best serve the group, usually without any conscious awareness that this is what they are doing. I am probably engaged in the same behavior here at this very moment, at least in some form.

But the idea of getting caught up in all of that in the realm of politics is distasteful to me.

[Kishkumen]

Kishkumen, I find myself puzzled by this idea of becoming unable to criticize a party if you identify with it. There are all sorts of Republicans and all sorts of Democrats, perhaps more variety than that group of true independents who vote Donald Duck for president because they do not believe in two parties. In every election I can remember there more than parties proposing a presidential candidate. Most people stick with one or the other largest parties because they hope to create a winning majority.

But I do wonder what people mean by being a member of a party. If one is employed by the party perhaps uniting to a party line might be a pressure. I have caucused with Democrats for elections for some 50 years. It is sometimes a chance to argue, express different views. There is no obligation to agree or to vote for the candidates selected for that matter. I can vote for a Republican If I think that best or a commie should I get nutty destructive passions.

Thanks for sharing your experience, huck. I have never been that active in a party. It could be that being involved in social media discussions of politics has actually made things worse for me. I recall conversations among Democrats in Florida in which it was very clear that criticizing Democrat candidates who were suspected of sketchy behavior was "rocking the boat" and most unwelcome. To me, being in a party is to be somewhat consumed by it, constantly aware of the boundary maintenance, who the "real" party members are, having to change my mind, or keep it to myself, because now the party has decided "X."

I mean, imagine sticking with the GOP between the Reagan years and now. There is no way I could stick with that. I didn't even make it to the end of the W presidency. After the invasion of Iraq, I was out.

On the other hand, I know of people who treat being in a party as a practical measure. They do it so they can vote in primaries in a state that has closed primaries. They do it, sometimes, to vote against the worst impulses in a party, even if they usually vote for the opposite party in the election in itself. There are all kinds of reasons to belong to a party, and I don't think that any one of them is wrong, partly because I feel no special allegiance to any party.

Honestly, I am sure it was the zeal of Mormon Republicans that totally soured me on belonging to a party. I associated party membership with loud, obnoxious, closed-minded people in whom there was very little daylight between their religious extremism and their political extremism. Now that I am older, I can see that one should not let the obnoxious folk, who are really to be found in any group to one extent or another, spoil participation in group efforts entirely. I just happen to have become allergic to being a joiner because of my bad experience of Mormon Republican ditto heads.

[Dr Exiled]

Is there anything the democrats could have possibly done to beat Trump the last time or is the simpleton response still what you have to go with? Those MAGA people are dumb end of story, right?

Good Doctor, you should ask Dr. Exiled why folks voted for Trump.

Start with this one:



Is Trump correct? If he is, how should we interpret that conclusion? That folks honestly thought that Trump would or even could bring down prices? Are they experiencing a misunderstanding about how economics and free markets function? Or maybe candidate Trump just lied more convincingly to them? What’s the reason?

What really got voters choosing Trump? The idea that UDAID financed the education of a handful of journalists in foreign countries, or the fact that folks were convinced that because their weekly purchase of a dozen eggs was costing $1.50 more, it was busting their food budget by forcing them to spend an additional $6 per month?

You’re very good with pitching these questions. Would you like to try for answering one of them?

I think they voted for Trump because he tricked them into believing he was a populist and the democrats couldn't field a candidate that could speak without a teleprompter and perhaps had a drinking problem. But, the alzheimer's patient won in 2020 and perhaps hubris led to the second coming of Trump. Also, most can see that both parties have abandoned them in favor of wall street and the donor class. There are a lot of independents ripe for the taking for a candidate that is actually a populist, however the donor class that loves war profits with their corporate media lackies won't allow a true populist to get in there. I think the people are tired of constant war and the constant upward movement of wealth to the top. All the gains in productivity have gone to the top since the early 70's, but none of the above really means anything because everyone here is stuck on the superficial excuse that people are just dumb.

[canpakes]

I think the people are tired of constant war and the constant upward movement of wealth to the top. All the gains in productivity have gone to the top since the early 70's, but none of the above really means anything because everyone here is stuck on the superficial excuse that people are just dumb.

Would you claim that ‘constant upward movement of wealth to the top’ is aided by those same recipients doing all that they can to ensure that the hoi polloi beneath them are kept as distracted and ignorant as possible as to how how that happens and how to become smart and/or effective enough to change it?

[Doctor CamNC4Me]

I think the people are tired of constant war..

Are they?