American Politics Thread

[TechSkylander1518]

Quite honestly, I'm almost starting to believe the conspiracy theories that this might all just be a ploy.

View: https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1313186529058136070

"Don't be afraid of COVID, don't let it dominate your life"? That would never have any legitimacy from anyone, let alone a president who killed hundreds of thousands of people through negligence, but now that he's contracted it he's gotten some "legitimacy" in some people's eyes.

 

[Aulos]

I don't at all wish death on Trump (I wish for him to be jailed for the rest of his life), but I just can't help but feel really angry that this is all that happened, and now he'll come out unscathed, bragging about how he beat the virus, and that it was nothing, that it is just a big hoax, that everything is fine, and that everything needs to open up completely immediately.

This absolutely despicable man in every single way, who has spent the whole year downplaying the virus, throwing big indoor hate rallies, not wearing a mask (and even more, mocking those who do), and not following any other guideline in even the slightest, finally gets the virus, but then it does little to him (probably in part because he has the best healthcare in the country). So little that he comes out stronger and now is able to gloat about how the virus is nothing.

It's moments like this (along with RBG's death at the worst possible time) that really keep me from believing in anything like a God, karma, etc.

As I said, I wasn't wishing for his death... Just...for him to understand even a little bit how serious this virus is.

 

[A Wild Luxray]

As I said, I wasn't wishing for his death... Just...for him to understand even a little bit how serious this virus is

Yeah, I'm in the same boat. I don't wish for him to die at all, though I do wish he was kinda having a rougher time with it so he'd understand the severity better once he recovered, and so his most diehard supporters could open their eyes and see this is more than "just the flu". Now that he's somehow miraculously unscathed by it, he can gloat about it and his supporters will continue to see COVID-19 as "just a flu".

 

[swiftfox]

View: https://twitter.com/mediumbuying/status/1313237480406122497?s=21

Either the Biden campaign senses blood in the water, or they’ve got so much cash they figure it’s worth a shot.

 

[swiftfox]

He’s left Walter Reed. Shortly before that, he tweeted he’ll return to the campaign trail “soon.” Whatever happens now is in God’s hands.

 

[Rainfall]

I think that the issue you mentioned in your post about voter apathy is relevant worldwide, and not exclusive to the United States of America. We had elections a couple of years ago here in Australia, and Scott Morrison spoke about the so-called "Quiet Australians" who didn't follow the election or got involved in politics. Some of the issues I think that has emerged as a result of voter apathy is that politicians have stopped looking after the interests of the community and begun focusing on the interests of the rich such as cuts to services that ordinary people rely on everyday and tax cuts for the rich. And we have the budget tomorrow night, so I would be watching it to see which services will suffer cuts so Josh Frydenberg (our Federal Treasurer) can deliver tax cuts to the rich.

That's a good point! Thanks for the picture and anecdote about Australians. I don't know what the statistics regarding voter apathy around different nations might be like (or want to go look for them right this very moment), but for now, I can imagine that most assortments of elected officials, with their own constituents and varied ideas of government function, that convene together to somehow make policy will churn out results that tend to dis-satisfy most people. There is also the need for re-election to keep their jobs, leading to the tilt that you noted, effectively catering to the rich (and the special interests). These things put together will make people disillusioned, leading to apathy.

I'm not sure the degree to which apathy and lower turnout is correlated with voter suppression (contrasting enabling and "opt-out / default-in"), but I imagine it's significant. It certainly deals with a people's and sub-populations' political culture, too. Anecdotally, I hear from a Japanese citizen that political apathy in Japan, too, is high, especially among youth. (I can't find the conversational support details right now, unfortunately.)

I think what Trump has done in the past 4 years should be enough to wake Americans up from their political apathy because if Americans don't wake up, then it will get worse.

As for US President 45,

Spoiler: more ranting, this time on psychology and... practical epistemology

[copy-pasting myself from somewhere]
I would agree with you, but then I think I wouldn't...

I think everyone gives too much credit for people to be 'reasonable'. Specifically saying this in a more technical and a less normative/judgmental sense. Psychological pitfalls are too strong, and I think any one person's field of view is both too small (in data availability & processing ability) & too clouded to be able to expect a fully clear view. Not to mention the existing and rising spectre of technology-boosted disinformation.

Beliefs are basically (partly subconsciously) chosen, and driven by various institutions/cultures that you're embedded in, or are important to you; beliefs are often-enough not-based on reality. Even when faced with facts that are hard to swallow, people tend to interpret them in ways that reinforce existing beliefs.

And after four years, if it didn't happen by month 1, month 3, year 1, or year 3, there will be some that see the situation with new eyes, but way too many who do not.

I hope the budget cut turned out to be somewhat reasonable! Or, at least manageable.

 

[A Wild Luxray]

Joe Biden addressed one thing at the town hall on NBC tonight nobody has yet to address. The 20-30 year old Americans who are struggling with crippling debt and finding a well paying job even with college degrees. He finally acknowledged us. He spoke about reducing student loan debt, living wages, and first time homebuyer down payment credit.

 

[Volphied]

Quite honestly, I'm almost starting to believe the conspiracy theories that this might all just be a ploy.

Now that he's somehow miraculously unscathed by it, he can gloat about it and his supporters will continue to see COVID-19 as "just a flu".

View: https://twitter.com/brenonade/status/1313256208363552769


View: https://twitter.com/brenonade/status/1313263278613827585?

 

[A Wild Luxray]

Kamala Harris and Mike Pence will debate in just one day. I'm hoping to see Kamala utterly eviscerate that disgusting homophobic fake Christian. Remember when she tore Brett Kavanaugh a new one? Hoping to see a repeat performance. Also, I think its safe to say this debate won't be as big of a disaster as the last.

 

[swiftfox]

The bottom might be falling out for Trump. A national poll from CNN out today has Biden up 16 points while a Monmouth University Poll shows Biden up 12 in Pennsylvania.

 

[omahanime]

Next debate should be cancelled if president still sick, says Biden – as it happened

More than 18 officials and staff in the president’s orbit have tested positive for the virus

www.theguardian.com

Great. Just Great

 

[prog rocker]

Is it normal that I'm thinking he's doing this on purpose and out of spite?

 

[omahanime]

Joe Biden @JoeBiden

There’s no better person to convey what’s at stake in this election than my friend, @MichelleObama. Tune in to hear her closing argument.

www.pscp.tv

 

[A Wild Luxray]

Is it normal that I'm thinking he's doing this on purpose and out of spite?

I wouldn't be surprised when pretty much his entire presidency has been spent trying to spite Obama.

 

[swiftfox]

Is it normal that I'm thinking he's doing this on purpose and out of spite?

Given that he was likely infected before the first debate with Biden (he got there too late to be tested, presumably on purpose), and now Pence objecting to extra safety measures for the VP debate, I think it’s fair to wonder if there’s malicious intent.

Oh, and now he’s calling off all COVID relief negotiations until after the election. Just great.

 

[Volphied]

Oh, and now he’s calling off all COVID relief negotiations until after the election. Just great.

View: https://twitter.com/TheStalwart/status/1313552575820595207

 

[A Wild Luxray]

He'e essentially blackmailing everyone. This is his way of saying if you ever want a second stimulus, vote for me.

 

[Volphied]

View: https://twitter.com/NateSilver538/status/1313559949667192833



View: https://twitter.com/mkraju/status/1313565483782885377


View: https://twitter.com/IlhanMN/status/1313574311098281985

 

[swiftfox]

For people still worried because of 2016.

View: https://twitter.com/nate_cohn/status/1313451844052701186?s=21

 

[omahanime]

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/15/how-taiwan-beat-the-coronavirus.html

By ratio that would be about 6540 cases and 102 deaths in USA.