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

unnoun Since: Jan, 2012
#173126: Feb 7th 2017 at 5:31:27 PM

I mean, as automation and artificial intelligence improve, I think it's fair to ask how much "work" is actually even necessary for humans to do.

The center and even right might have more of a sound point to me if technology stayed stagnant.

edited 7th Feb '17 5:35:41 PM by unnoun

Krieger22 Causing freakouts over sourcing since 2018 from Malaysia Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: I'm in love with my car
Causing freakouts over sourcing since 2018
#173127: Feb 7th 2017 at 5:33:07 PM

The Democrats are on the left as far as the American Overton Window is concerned. They are at the center or slightly left of center if you used a central European one, though. Maybe on the right if you were in Scandinavia or I don't know, the former USSR?

Which has resulted in a lot of morons with an Internet connection in the US with Babby's First Socialist Classes demanding to know why they are voting for a right winger anyway, or joining the Democrats, taking said classes and then flinging shit because anyone to the right of Marx is late stage capitalist scum these days.

edited 7th Feb '17 5:34:06 PM by Krieger22

I have disagreed with her a lot, but comparing her to republicans and propagandists of dictatorships is really low. - An idiot
KarkatTheDalek Not as angry as the name would suggest. from Somwhere in Time/Space Since: Mar, 2012 Relationship Status: You're a beautiful woman, probably
Not as angry as the name would suggest.
#173128: Feb 7th 2017 at 5:34:48 PM

[up][up] Shouldn't "right" and "center" be reversed in that last sentence?

edited 7th Feb '17 5:34:56 PM by KarkatTheDalek

Oh God! Natural light!
Lanceleoghauni Cyborg Helmsman from Z or R Twice Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: In my bunk
#173129: Feb 7th 2017 at 5:35:45 PM

We could reasonably automate a lot of our work force. It'd be hard to abolish work altogether, as the US is still more or less reliant on slavery to function.

"Coffee! Coffeecoffeecoffee! Coffee! Not as strong as Meth-amphetamine, but it lets you keep your teeth!"
unnoun Since: Jan, 2012
#173130: Feb 7th 2017 at 5:35:49 PM

[up][up] Yeah, probably.

Fixed or whatever.

edited 7th Feb '17 5:36:28 PM by unnoun

CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#173131: Feb 7th 2017 at 5:36:09 PM

All things considered, the democrats are devoutly centrist, and have been since the 70s at least. The GOP went off the deep end at the start of the Reagan era, and has only been getting worse since then.

It is looking like, however, that they may be moving left in response to Trump and disillusionment within their own core voting blocs. Which is what I was hoping would happen in response to this eventuality. My fear was that democrats would try to cut a deal with Trump to keep the left contained, as was the fatal mistake of the center in Weimar Germany.

edited 7th Feb '17 5:37:53 PM by CaptainCapsase

Journeyman Overlording the Underworld from On a throne in a vault overlooking the Wasteland Since: Nov, 2010
Overlording the Underworld
#173132: Feb 7th 2017 at 5:38:24 PM

[up]x7 I am pretty sure you could class the Black Panthers and any other racially based hate group as Far Right as well.

Automation is a wrinkle. I think the 20th century mostly happened because technology outpaced corporate control. No matter what, the late 20th and early 21st centuries' way of life was untenable. One of two things are going to happen: 1. Either the corporations are going to tighten the noose, replace us workers, and find it necessary to either liquidate/transplant us to other worlds, or 2. We'll win the class war and see mandatory work slacken off. There'll still be jobs needed, it's just a matter of finding a system to incentivize those jobs. In due time I favor a system where each person has their baseline medical needs met and then has to do something productive for the luxuries they don't need but would be better off having.

I'm conservative. I don't expect either of those in my lifetime. I know they're coming. They have to unless the new Far Right leaning overbalances itself and sends us into a second set of Medieval ages. Which I doubt will happen too. We'll just see drastic changes.

edited 7th Feb '17 5:40:41 PM by Journeyman

Pseudopartition Screaming Into The Void from The Cretaeceous Since: Dec, 2013 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
Screaming Into The Void
#173133: Feb 7th 2017 at 5:39:25 PM

Yeah, The Beaverton is essentially Canada's version of The Onion. Other highlights from today include: We asked some Australians to try these classic Canadian snack foods and they died, they all died

So, all of Trump's nominations got confirmed, right? Well, that ended up being pointless. And now I have even less confidence in Bannon getting kicked from the NSC. Still, thanks everybody who called/emailed/talked to people and tried to get some Republicans to flip, you did the best you could.

edited 7th Feb '17 5:42:28 PM by Pseudopartition

DingoWalley1 Asgore Adopts Noelle Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
Asgore Adopts Noelle
#173134: Feb 7th 2017 at 5:43:00 PM

[up] There are still a couple of picks still going through Congress: Session and Puzder are two I can think of off my head. But the odds are great that both of them will get through with no issue.

Journeyman Overlording the Underworld from On a throne in a vault overlooking the Wasteland Since: Nov, 2010
Overlording the Underworld
#173135: Feb 7th 2017 at 5:44:29 PM

I already knew it was a long shot because my own Republican senator told me outright it was tradition that the President gets to pick their cabinet and the confirmation is treated as a formality. I am annoyed and not going to vote for Manchin ever again because he turned traitor, but not much else to do about that.

Fact is, I'm honestly waiting for them to rig an election and come right out to say, "We don't need your votes. Bow down to your new King or we will, quite frankly, replace most of you with machines and kill off what we don't need. Welcome to the new age. Step in line or get stepped on peasant filth."

ThriceCharming Since: Nov, 2013
#173136: Feb 7th 2017 at 5:46:36 PM

The thing about hardcore leftists accusing Democrat politicians like Hillary Clinton of being secret/functional right-wingers is that the self-identified right has no such scruples about who does or doesn't truly represent their "values" and never fail to vote for the Republican candidate. When leftists stay home on election day because "There are no real leftists in American politics" or whatever, they open the door to far-right, quasi-fascist scumbags like Trump and his posse.

CenturyEye Tell Me, Have You Seen the Yellow Sign? from I don't know where the Yith sent me this time... Since: Jan, 2017 Relationship Status: Having tea with Cthulhu
Tell Me, Have You Seen the Yellow Sign?
#173137: Feb 7th 2017 at 6:04:20 PM

In support of De Vos's brave anti-grizzly agenda, GA decides to help college students sleep easier... Campus gun bill returns to Georgia House

Rep. Mandi Ballinger, R-Canton, on Tuesday filed legislation in the Georgia House that would allow anyone with a permit to carry concealed weapons to take a firearm on to Georgia’s public colleges and universities.
Deal vetoed a similar bill in 2016, after he asked House and Senate leaders to specifically exempt on-campus child care facilities, faculty or administrative office space and disciplinary meetings. Lawmakers refused...
Well, it doesn't apply to child care facilities, so I guess the children will have to stick to shivs and discarded beer bottles to settle disputes...

To those who live in California, how does it feel to be proud of your state?

Look with century eyes... With our backs to the arch And the wreck of our kind We will stare straight ahead For the rest of our lives
dragonfire5000 from Where gods fear to tread Since: Jan, 2001
DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#173139: Feb 7th 2017 at 6:07:06 PM

Labels are irrelevent. You're either in favor of national policies which benefit Americans as a whole, or you favor your own faction. That's the battle of our age.

As for Trump's cabinet, it was never about winning today. It was about organizing ourselves today, and winning in 2018.

edited 7th Feb '17 6:07:44 PM by DeMarquis

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#173140: Feb 7th 2017 at 6:12:00 PM

If anything, Trump's shitty choices might finally rally the Democrats and get them to turn out.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#173141: Feb 7th 2017 at 6:15:37 PM

Well, it better happen quick because there's gubernatorial and legislatural elections this very year. Dems and such need to get organized right quick.

RAlexa21th Zettai Ryouiki Enjoyer from California (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I <3 love!
DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#173143: Feb 7th 2017 at 6:22:27 PM

We are.

Does anyone have a link that lists the elections coming up in the next year?

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#173144: Feb 7th 2017 at 6:28:30 PM

Wikipedia has a list.[1]

As for Manchin, what did he do? My understanding is that he still voted against, he just gave way on the filibuster stuff that wasn't gonna work anyway. Plus we can't exactly afford to throw him out, his seat is gonna be needed.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#173145: Feb 7th 2017 at 6:34:34 PM

I mean, an unreliable Democrat is better than a Republican.

That's one thing the idealists and leftists (and the centrists, neo-liberals, etc, if the Democrats do shift to the left) need to get used to, strategic voting. In a two party, FTTP system...you are best off picking the least bad option or voting against something rather than for it. Republicans do it all the time, and its given them near unparalleled control over the US.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
Krieger22 Causing freakouts over sourcing since 2018 from Malaysia Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: I'm in love with my car
Causing freakouts over sourcing since 2018
#173146: Feb 7th 2017 at 6:40:17 PM

[up][up]"Giving Gorsuch a chance". When do/did they vote on him?

[up]I have to keep reminding myself these days that the subtitle for Rules for Radicals is A Pragmatic Primer for Realistic Radicals Any place taking bets on whether the "Justice Democrats" are trying to pretend that subtitle doesn’t exist?

Phone banking openings for Laurie Warner, Democrat candidate for Minnesotan State House special election

I have disagreed with her a lot, but comparing her to republicans and propagandists of dictatorships is really low. - An idiot
Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#173147: Feb 7th 2017 at 6:41:47 PM

Yeah while he's anti-choice, anti-LGBT and anti-the environment he's still a much needed Dem vote on a lot of other things, welfare, gun background checks (despite being an NRA member), Voting Rights, and any number of other things.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#173148: Feb 7th 2017 at 6:44:46 PM

It's an incremental process. First, you pressure them into taking any kind of stand at all, then for voting against the regime in power, and eventually into replacing that regime. But it's a process.

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
AmbarSonofDeshar Since: Jan, 2010
#173149: Feb 7th 2017 at 6:47:00 PM

The only Dem I'm willing to see disposed of is Gabbard. And if she pulls her head out of her ass and stops talking about how great Trump and Assad are, I'll even say we need her.

DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#173150: Feb 7th 2017 at 6:49:17 PM

Anyone got a link that explains what this Gabbard person did that was so terrible?

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.

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