Follow TV Tropes

Following

The General US Politics Thread

Go To

Nov 2023 Mod notice:


There may be other, more specific, threads about some aspects of US politics, but this one tends to act as a hub for all sorts of related news and information, so it's usually one of the busiest OTC threads.

If you're new to OTC, it's worth reading the Introduction to On-Topic Conversations and the On-Topic Conversations debate guidelines before posting here.

Rumor-based, fear-mongering and/or inflammatory statements that damage the quality of the thread will be thumped. Off-topic posts will also be thumped. Repeat offenders may be suspended.

If time spent moderating this thread remains a distraction from moderation of the wiki itself, the thread will need to be locked. We want to avoid that, so please follow the forum rules when posting here.


In line with the general forum rules, 'gravedancing' is prohibited here. If you're celebrating someone's death or hoping that they die, your post will get thumped. This rule applies regardless of what the person you're discussing has said or done.

Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

PotatoesRock The Potato's Choice Since: Oct, 2012 Relationship Status: I know
The Potato's Choice
Euodiachloris Since: Oct, 2010
#121602: May 6th 2016 at 10:13:36 PM

@Captain Capsase: Quite frankly, it doesn't matter if whatever can knock us back to the Neolithic is self-inflicted or not.

It's just stuff. It's not like modern societies, ideologies or technologies are the best things ever. They're things: that's all. Things change and ending is a possible change that could always happen. It's not like it'll mean much in 4 billion years: deep time works like that. *shrugs* Enjoy the now while you have it, that's my motto. wink

edited 6th May '16 10:15:58 PM by Euodiachloris

CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#121603: May 6th 2016 at 10:23:06 PM

[up] for what it's worth, I'm fairly confident that nukes wouldn't be used until society is already on its way to collapse; please don't mistake me for saying we're all just doomed and we can do nothing about it and so on.

What I'm saying is that there is relatively little time left for us as a society to act so as to avoid disaster; society has in the past only ever undergone radical change when problems have simply grown to the point where they can no longer be ignored; we are procrastinators to the very end.

That's been the end of numerous empire across history, but in the modern world, the stakes are higher than ever in our history; failing to act until crises are looking us in the face is not going to work with climate change; by then the collapse of industrial civilization is inevitable and human extinction a possibility.

Ramidel (Before Time Began) Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
#121604: May 6th 2016 at 10:31:16 PM

@Silas: The Minnesota Democratic Party is actually the Farmers and Workers Party.

We have some odd duck parties on the local level, but since (as you said) we have a really weak party system that works on the basis of showing up, the two parties just absorb everyone on a national scale - as seen with this election.

I despise hypocrisy, unless of course it is my own.
NativeJovian Jupiterian Local from Orlando, FL Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: Maxing my social links
Jupiterian Local
#121605: May 6th 2016 at 10:51:46 PM

Actually the rational thing to do wasn't to turn the key because there was reason to believe instrumentation error was possible in the particular scenario I'm describing.
Yes. Thus the scare quotes around "rational".

My whole point was that nuclear deterrence is a uncertain blessing.
No, it's actually been a unilateral good for the world as a whole. Start by saving millions of lives by forcing Japan to surrender instead of requiring an invasion that would make the European theater look like a walk in the park. Then add the further millions saved by preventing the outbreak of WWIII. Subtract the existential anxiety felt by people living with the knowledge that they could die in a nuclear fireball. Result: millions of actual lives actually saved, vs millions of people worrying about maybe dying eventually. No contest there.

Also, reverse slippery slope fallacy; just because we haven't destroyed ourselves yet, doesn't mean we won't
I wasn't saying that we won't destroy ourselves in the future simply because we haven't destroyed ourselves yet. From the page in question: "One can make valid arguments that the failure of dangers to appear from similar circumstances should make us more confident in the safety of the new circumstances." I'm saying we probably won't destroy ourselves in the future for all of the same reasons we haven't destroyed ourselves yet: because everyone knows the consequences, and no one wants them to happen.

nor does that necessarily make having the capacity to self destruct at any time available in the event of a severe misunderstanding particularly comforting.
Then take comfort instead in the fact that your parents and grandparents survived to have you because they didn't have to fight in WWIII. Living in the shadow of nuclear annihilation isn't exactly fun, but if you worry about every possible thing that might kill you that you have no control over, then you'll be a miserable anxiety-ridden wreck. Learn to stop worrying and love the bomb.

edited 6th May '16 10:56:40 PM by NativeJovian

Really from Jupiter, but not an alien.
HallowHawk Since: Feb, 2013
#121606: May 6th 2016 at 11:48:33 PM

[up][up][up] And that is why I don't like about what those religious nuts say about the Rapture and everything related to it. Anyways, I've digressed already.

Back on-topic: I may have asked this already, but how many more primaries to go before general voting?

edited 6th May '16 11:48:43 PM by HallowHawk

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#121607: May 7th 2016 at 4:52:16 AM

There are a handful of Western states left to go, and then the parties will have their respective nominating conventions in June and July. Then it's a straight shot to the general election on November 3rd.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#121608: May 7th 2016 at 5:00:59 AM

[up][up][up] I don't worry about nuclear annihilation at any moment; that's not constructive. What is worrying is that it might be the final nail in the coffin for our species if other crises brings civilization to the brink of collapse, and the unthinkable becomes thinkable.

Even in the worst case scenario of alternate history, a nuclear war actually wouldn't be the end of the human race or even civilization on it's own. Only the belligerents and nations in the vicinity would face total destruction, and in the end; perhaps half of the human population would be expected to die off, chiefly from famine resulting from ecological disasters.

But I see that I've one again gone off on a tangent trying to discuss the possible crises facing society a hundred years or more into the future, so perhaps we should return to a topic more pertinent to the topic.

edited 7th May '16 5:47:33 AM by CaptainCapsase

tclittle Professional Forum Ninja from Somewhere Down in Texas Since: Apr, 2010
Eschaton Since: Jul, 2010
#121610: May 7th 2016 at 8:13:12 AM

Trump has railed against the judge in the San Diego case, calling him hostile and suggesting his positions may be the result of Trump's stance on border security. The likely GOP nominee has noted Curiel's ethnicity.

Trump said of the judge at an Arkansas rally in February: "I believe he happens to be SPANISH, which is fine. He's HISPANIC — which is fine."

Emphasis added to simulate the intended effect.

ironballs16 Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Owner of a lonely heart
#121611: May 7th 2016 at 8:39:22 AM

So, as Verizon workers are on strike, apparently other employees (like IT staff and even lobbyists) are the ones sent out to service phone lines. I'd love for that to bite the company in the ass because the other staff realize how tricky the job entailed actually is.

"Why would I inflict myself on somebody else?"
TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#121612: May 7th 2016 at 8:45:34 AM

It's like Undercover Boss on a massive scale!

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
Ultimatum Disasturbator from Second Star to the left (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Wishfully thinking
Disasturbator
#121613: May 7th 2016 at 11:38:04 AM

>sending lawyers

sure they are

what about hiring contacted workers in for the ones on stike?

New theme music also a box
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#121614: May 7th 2016 at 11:54:30 AM

Trump has a white voter problem; in addition to his issues with minorities and women.

http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/04/politics/donald-trump-white-voters/

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#121615: May 7th 2016 at 11:57:30 AM

It's still pretty depressing that his lead among white voters is that big at all, even if it's much lower than to be expected.

Ramidel (Before Time Began) Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
#121616: May 7th 2016 at 12:01:06 PM

White men, yeah. If I cared to identify myself with such a group I'd be ashamed. tongue

I despise hypocrisy, unless of course it is my own.
storyyeller More like giant cherries from Appleloosa Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: RelationshipOutOfBoundsException: 1
More like giant cherries
#121617: May 7th 2016 at 12:35:20 PM

Just changed my registration back to Democrat. I certainly wasn't expecting the Republican race to end so quickly.

Also got the 4th flyer in the mail from a House candidate. All these attack ads make him seem desperate.

edited 7th May '16 12:37:09 PM by storyyeller

Blind Final Fantasy 6 Let's Play
Cronosonic Face-Puncher from Sydney, Australia Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Is that a kind of food?
Face-Puncher
#121618: May 7th 2016 at 1:17:11 PM

Just to respond to Jack's pagetopper a few pages back, $15 minimum wage isn't exactly radical when my home country's minimum wage is $17.29 per hour, or $656.90 per 38 hour week (before tax), and it's not exactly trashing our economy. And while Australia is a fairly egalitarian society (something John Howard tried to change but ultimately failed, as the current goverment's rather bloody nose over the 2014's budget demonstrates), it's not that far removed from the US in terms of economic polices in some respects, though it is closer to the UK and various European nations in others. So, yeah.

Our main problem politically right now isn't a clusterfuck like in the US or EU, it's just that we've had five prime ministerships over the last five years, and possibly a sixth if Shorten beats Turnbull this election come July, and the conservative government has been rather paraylzed by a 'hostile senate' who has no time for the buffon that was Tony Abbot, and Malcom Turnbull is moderate unable to do much that won't cause a right-wing revolt in his own party.

edited 7th May '16 1:28:54 PM by Cronosonic

TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
CrimsonZephyr Would that it were so simple. from Massachusetts Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
Would that it were so simple.
#121620: May 7th 2016 at 1:25:04 PM

[up]Yuck. Why even have superdelegates if they're just going to be obligated to follow the sheep? Remember that this is the state that elected LePage.

edited 7th May '16 1:26:10 PM by CrimsonZephyr

"For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."
rikalous World's Cutest Direwolf from Upscale Mordor Since: May, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
World's Cutest Direwolf
#121621: May 7th 2016 at 1:27:37 PM

[up][up][up]On the subject of Congressional candidates, we've got some interesting would-be senators over in California. One guy's statement was just a string of binary, and another assured us that she took a firm stance against, shit thee not, satellite mind control technology.

SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#121622: May 7th 2016 at 1:28:56 PM

California is a big state. Pretty obvious that you'll find a lot of wacko birds there.

Wonder what office they are running for, though - there is only one federal Senate seat up this year there.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
TacticalFox88 from USA Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Dating the Doctor
#121623: May 7th 2016 at 1:44:53 PM

[up][up][up]

Exactly. If Donald Trump isn't reason enough for Superdelegates, then Idk what is.

New Survey coming this weekend!
RavenWilder Raven Wilder Since: Apr, 2009
Raven Wilder
#121624: May 7th 2016 at 1:54:10 PM

Thing about the minimum wage is that it's one of those things that really would work better if it was handled at the state or local level instead of federal, since the cost of living varies wildly depending on where in the country you live. Trouble is state and local governments aren't always onboard with passing reasonable minimum wage laws for their region.

"It takes an idiot to do cool things, that's why it's cool" - Haruhara Haruko
SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#121625: May 7th 2016 at 1:54:15 PM

You know, maybe the RNC will create superdelegates for 2020...

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman

Total posts: 417,856
Top