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
"People don't seem to care or realize that their rights are in jeopardy, in fact they give them up willingly to these would-be dictators hoping that they will be the perfect autocrat who will make everything better without those pesky checks and balances in the way."
As someone from venezuela, I can tell you this is true: is what I call "the infantilization" of politics, as thr strongman reduce the political process into something easy do he call sell is snake oil to the public.
the fact so many fall for this trick speak a lot of the country
"My Name is Bolt, Bolt Crank and I dont care if you believe or not"
What's really frustrating is that this happens Every. Damn. Time. A strong-man takes over a country. If more Americans actually gave a shit about what happens outside of America, they'd realize that Trump is full of shit and that he will do nothing but drag America into the shit. It's just basic fucking pattern recognition and knowledge of history and current events!
But nooo...Americans are different. Americans are special. We'd never end up as bad as Venezuela! /s
Fuck.
edited 16th Dec '16 10:12:40 AM by M84
Disgusted, but not surprisedIf Trump is disqualified by any method prior to assuming the office, Pence becomes President. If Pence is also disqualified, Congress (which is controlled by Republicans) figures out what to do. If the Electoral College does not return 270 votes for any candidate, then the House of Representatives picks the next President. In none of these outcomes do Obama and Biden get to stay in office.
There is no "historical mandate" towards social justice. It only comes about because people fight for it. If we give up that fight, or get lazy...
edited 16th Dec '16 10:10:33 AM by Fighteer
"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"". We'd never end up as bad as Venezuela! /s"
As a venezuelan, this is what piss me the most about this: I can understandthis shit happening here in my country, but THERE? is just.....UGHHHHHHHHHHH
Also, we make a list in the venezuelan thread about the step the US need to take to become us, here it is:
☑ A wild anti-establishment candidate appears!
☑ Promises to do away with the status quo.
☑ "Let's Make This Country Great Again!"
☑ Divisive, inflammatory speeches.
☑ "He has no chance to win voters with that rhetoric."
☑ "The media won't fuck with me."
☑ Personal attacks backfire.
☑ Deliberate polarization.
☑ "The elections are rigged!"
☑ Wins elections.
☑ "People who vote for him are stupid and/or evil."
☑ "This country is not like that other country."
—-THE US IS HERE—- □ "They won't be back!"
□ "Nah, I don't believe it"
□ Demonization of institutional checks against his power.
□ Institutional reform that results in a more centralized state.
□ Media demonization.
□ Anti-media legislation.
□ Takeover of other branches of government*
□ "We are democratic because we won elections."
□ Embracement of a previously concealed ideology.
□ Doing away with term limits.
□ Use of thugs to terrorize the population. **
□ Use of public institutions to segregate society."
So now you know it, and knowing is half of the battle
edited 16th Dec '16 10:20:46 AM by unknowing
"My Name is Bolt, Bolt Crank and I dont care if you believe or not"![]()
47 minutes. You can watch it here
when the time comes.
edited 16th Dec '16 10:28:22 AM by RBluefish
"We'll take the next chance, and the next, until we win, or the chances are spent."@unknowing
Like I mentioned before, a huge part of the problem is that a lot of Americans honestly don't give a shit and/or know shit about anything happening outside of America, or think that we're somehow intrinsically "better" than everyone else on Earth. Which is horseshit.
Why yes, I have very little patience with the whole "American Exceptionalism" thing. That and the "American Dream" are why we're in this mess in the first place.
Too many of us believed It Can't Happen Here. But it can. And did.
edited 16th Dec '16 10:35:05 AM by M84
Disgusted, but not surprised@unknowing: There's a bit of a difference in scale. A opportunistic demagogue taking power in Venezuela, as bad as it is for the country, doesn't have the kind of global consequences that the same thing happen in the United States would. We have to go back to the 1920s and 30s to find something comparable to what's happening now, which is extremely depressing.
To be fair here: Trump BARELY won and like venezuela case it have to be with number of thing: the people looking the establishment as detached or cold(as much I like obama as president, he general calm personality give this impression), uncertenity about the country and a lot of bullshit.
But, if my experience here tell me something, Trump is about to get hate BIG TIME, for no other reason he is just Trump.
He have a 600% inflation here, please let that sink on you for a moment.
edited 16th Dec '16 10:45:23 AM by unknowing
"My Name is Bolt, Bolt Crank and I dont care if you believe or not"At the very least, I pray this costs him his crimi-errr, business empire.
I would imagine as more and more of his partners are repulsed by him, or disappointed by his defaulting on debts, that he would have fewer and fewer partners.
Say to the others who did not follow through You're still our brothers, and we will fight for youWouldn't Pence be automatically disqualified if the one who chose him as his VP gets disqualified?
Fiat iustitia, et pereat mundus.

The Atlantic: Rebranding White Nationalism: Inside the Alt-Right
My ass you are.
edited 16th Dec '16 10:05:02 AM by AngelusNox
Inter arma enim silent leges