Election Day 1

[Moksha]

SpaceX wouldn’t exist without government subsidies.

Musk will have much more money once Trump awards him the contract for Christian space lasers.

[Moksha]

Trump's plans will effectively turn America into the shithole county he's been campaigning on this whole time. This being a shithole country is the only promise he'll keep.

As such a country, we can take Drumdudes advice and abandon dictionary definitions. Besides, they only point to what we've got in store for us.

[Dr Exiled]

Seems like all of this is overblown. Trump wants to fire some people and put in his people. Right now he has all the government behind him and will be able to install his people. However, in two years the democrats will probably mount a sufficient campaign to take some power back by taking back the House or Senate or both. It's not one party rule. It's not a dictatorship despite what some in the media want to push.

I don't think the end is here just yet.

[Kishkumen]

It's not a dictatorship despite what some in the media want to push.

I don't think the end is here just yet.

These are dumb comments. Just dumb. Yes, it is not a dictatorship while Biden and Harris are still in office and the inauguration has not occurred. Of course the end is not here because the end is a completely subjective thing. The end of what? It entirely depends on your point of view. The end of my faith in the electorate? Definitely. The end of the Republic? Possibly. Of course, as a Roman historian, I know that the empire continued to call itself a republic after it got its first constitutional monarch, the princeps Augustus. So, anyone can slap the name of republic on a system, and there will be someone prepared to goose step down the street to celebrate their "republic."

What I have learned in all of this is that the public's ability to think has eroded to the point that they are incapable of sizing up a situation rationally, and they don't really seem to care about the actual Constitution because they do not understand it. Trump can say any stupid thing that pops into his speed-crazed, fry-oil-saturated brain, and more than half of Americans don't seem to care. So, I guess it is true that something has ended (in my view). You may not care that it has ended, but it definitely has. We are most definitely in a post-truth, post-fact era. American proved it. The facts simply do not matter to them. Both sides were on that trajectory. MAGA folk just ran faster toward it with reckless abandon.

Finally, I think this is the end of shame and humility as we understood them. Both sides were heading in this direction, and MAGA people got there faster. These days, if you criticize or correct people, they just get angry with you and stop listening. It is kind of like my recent exchange with IHAQ, I responded to a question of IHAQ's with my own question because I thought asking that question might help IHAQ see things in a different light. Instead, IHAQ said I was "condescending" and declared a refusal to engage with me further. It is a small example of what I think is a much larger phenomenon. People only want to hear what flatters them explicitly or implicitly.

[canpakes]

Seems like all of this is overblown. Trump wants to fire some people and put in his people. Right now he has all the government behind him and will be able to install his people. However, in two years the democrats will probably mount a sufficient campaign to take some power back by taking back the House or Senate or both. It's not one party rule. It's not a dictatorship despite what some in the media want to push.

I don't think the end is here just yet.

Speaking of, are we taking bets yet on the possibility of Trump pitching Aileen Cannon for an upcoming Supreme Court seat?

[Dr Exiled]

It's not a dictatorship despite what some in the media want to push.

I don't think the end is here just yet.

These are dumb comments. Just dumb. Yes, it is not a dictatorship while Biden and Harris are still in office and the inauguration has not occurred. Of course the end is not here because the end is a completely subjective thing. The end of what? It entirely depends on your point of view. The end of my faith in the electorate? Definitely. The end of the Republic? Possibly. Of course, as a Roman historian, I know that the empire continued to call itself a republic after it got its first constitutional monarch, the princeps Augustus. So, anyone can slap the name of republic on a system, and there will be someone prepared to goose step down the street to celebrate their "republic."

What I have learned in all of this is that the public's ability to think has eroded to the point that they are incapable of sizing up a situation rationally, and they don't really seem to care about the actual Constitution because they do not understand it. Trump can say any stupid thing that pops into his speed-crazed, fry-oil-saturated brain, and more than half of Americans don't seem to care. So, I guess it is true that something has ended (in my view). You may not care that it has ended, but it definitely has. We are most definitely in a post-truth, post-fact era. American proved it. The facts simply do not matter to them. Both sides were on that trajectory. MAGA folk just ran faster toward it with reckless abandon.

Finally, I think this is the end of shame and humility as we understood them. Both sides were heading in this direction, and MAGA people got there faster. These days, if you criticize or correct people, they just get angry with you and stop listening. It is kind of like my recent exchange with IHAQ, I responded to a question of IHAQ's with my own question because I thought asking that question might help IHAQ see things in a different light. Instead, IHAQ said I was "condescending" and declared a refusal to engage with me further. It is a small example of what I think is a much larger phenomenon. People only want to hear what flatters them explicitly or implicitly.

1. I think you ought to avoid calling things dumb but whatever.

2. How do you think censorship plays into this post-truth, post-fact world? Recently, we saw Hillary Clinton propose censorship and John Kerry lament the corporate media's loss of control and also calling for censorship. The Harris campaign wanted it as well. https://thehill.com/opinion/civil-right ... ee-speech/

Do you think censoring the wrong kind of speech would ameliorate the post-truth, post-fact world of which you complain? If so, how does one decide on what is right speech and wrong speech? What the King wants or the latest incarnation of king like people? It seems censorship leads to the post-truth, post-fact world and so, it seems more speech is the answer. Better speech is the answer. Calling out bad speech and showing evidence of it and maybe a little self-reflection from everyone would solve the problem?

3. I think people are stubborn and don't want to hear contrary ideas to their worldview. I have teenagers at home and deal with it all the time. No one likes to be told they have a wrong outlook on whatever subject.

[Dr Exiled]

Seems like all of this is overblown. Trump wants to fire some people and put in his people. Right now he has all the government behind him and will be able to install his people. However, in two years the democrats will probably mount a sufficient campaign to take some power back by taking back the House or Senate or both. It's not one party rule. It's not a dictatorship despite what some in the media want to push.

I don't think the end is here just yet.

Speaking of, are we taking bets yet on the possibility of Trump pitching Aileen Cannon for an upcoming Supreme Court seat?

That might no be a bad bet. Maybe Trump believes the DOJ backing down is because of her. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-e ... rcna178930

[Kishkumen]

1. I think you ought to avoid calling things dumb but whatever.

I rest my case.

[Dr Exiled]

1. I think you ought to avoid calling things dumb but whatever.

I rest my case.

I wonder why IHAQ acted the way he did? Seems outlandish.

[Res Ipsa]

These are dumb comments. Just dumb. Yes, it is not a dictatorship while Biden and Harris are still in office and the inauguration has not occurred. Of course the end is not here because the end is a completely subjective thing. The end of what? It entirely depends on your point of view. The end of my faith in the electorate? Definitely. The end of the Republic? Possibly. Of course, as a Roman historian, I know that the empire continued to call itself a republic after it got its first constitutional monarch, the princeps Augustus. So, anyone can slap the name of republic on a system, and there will be someone prepared to goose step down the street to celebrate their "republic."

What I have learned in all of this is that the public's ability to think has eroded to the point that they are incapable of sizing up a situation rationally, and they don't really seem to care about the actual Constitution because they do not understand it. Trump can say any stupid thing that pops into his speed-crazed, fry-oil-saturated brain, and more than half of Americans don't seem to care. So, I guess it is true that something has ended (in my view). You may not care that it has ended, but it definitely has. We are most definitely in a post-truth, post-fact era. American proved it. The facts simply do not matter to them. Both sides were on that trajectory. MAGA folk just ran faster toward it with reckless abandon.

Finally, I think this is the end of shame and humility as we understood them. Both sides were heading in this direction, and MAGA people got there faster. These days, if you criticize or correct people, they just get angry with you and stop listening. It is kind of like my recent exchange with IHAQ, I responded to a question of IHAQ's with my own question because I thought asking that question might help IHAQ see things in a different light. Instead, IHAQ said I was "condescending" and declared a refusal to engage with me further. It is a small example of what I think is a much larger phenomenon. People only want to hear what flatters them explicitly or implicitly.

1. I think you ought to avoid calling things dumb but whatever.

2. How do you think censorship plays into this post-truth, post-fact world? Recently, we saw Hillary Clinton propose censorship and John Kerry lament the corporate media's loss of control and also calling for censorship. The Harris campaign wanted it as well. https://thehill.com/opinion/civil-right ... ee-speech/

Do you think censoring the wrong kind of speech would ameliorate the post-truth, post-fact world of which you complain? If so, how does one decide on what is right speech and wrong speech? What the King wants or the latest incarnation of king like people? It seems censorship leads to the post-truth, post-fact world and so, it seems more speech is the answer. Better speech is the answer. Calling out bad speech and showing evidence of it and maybe a little self-reflection from everyone would solve the problem?

3. I think people are stubborn and don't want to hear contrary ideas to their worldview. I have teenagers at home and deal with it all the time. No one likes to be told they have a wrong outlook on whatever subject.

LOL! The Hills’ political stances crack me up. One need only look to Florida where DeSantis used the power of the state to punish Disney for speaking. He sent his very own goon squad SWAT team to intimidate and prosecute voter registration non-profits who dared to ask why the registrations they submitted weren’t showing up on the voter rolls. He threatened to criminally prosecute doctors for appearing in a commercial supporting Floridas’ abortion proposition.

Several states have barred any discussion of climate change in state government. Several states have passed laws making it a crime for doctors to give standard of care information about abortions to their patients.

Across the nation, Republican controlled governments have absolutely passed laws to criminalize speech that contradicts their political agenda. And yet, here you go with a scary article about some things that Ds have said but not done, while turning a complete blind eye to what Republicans have actually done. At the same time, when someone does the same as the Hill did with things Trump has said he will do — criminally prosecute the media and democrats who say bad things about him, you downplay the threat as if it didn’t exist at all.

The crazy position that lies are not protected by the first amendment comes from that out of control progressive lunatic Clarence Thomas.

The empirical evidence that more speech leads to better speech is pretty depressing. Musk’s experiment in free speech, in which Musk platforms speech he agrees with, has become a virtual cesspool that ranges from nonsense to outright lies. Brandolini’s principle is a real thing, as evidenced by the stunning fact that Republicans believe that up is down when it comes to the prevalence of crime in the United States.

After the experience with rampant disinformation in past elections during the pandemic, with disinformation being used as tool by our enemies to polarize Americans and weaken the country, Biden formed a commission to investigate and at least try to address the problem. The right reacted as if he’d killed their puppy. A few other non-institutions outside the government tried to address the problem as well, meeting with an extreme reaction from the right that had them shut down.

Trump taught the right that there is no penalty for lying to the American public. And, in fact, tell the right lies to the right audience in the right ways, and the public will award you with the presidency. They’ve got a good gig going there, and they don’t want any pointy headed professors ruining it for them.

Where this leads next shouldn’t surprise anyone. Both political parties have the same experts on human behavior. They understand our cognitive biases and how to exploit them. They know what we all should understand about ourselves: that the portions of our brains that reasons is fragile and easily overridden by our cognitive biases and threat responses. Trump was able to win with the big lie because the big lie works. What should we expect from politicians who see that telling Americans that up is down in a way that makes them angry and resentful is a winning strategy?

You’re a smart guy, but it’s tough to take you seriously when you wave around democrats as a scary bogeyman while turning a blind elite to what Republicans in office are actually doing to make the government’s political position the truth, punishable by prison for people who speak in opposition.