TVTropes Now available in the app store!
Open

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

Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#253726: Aug 31st 2018 at 9:35:28 AM

Instead, a long term military occupation against an armed and hostile populace, killing off even more swathes of people on every side, without popular support for this especially once the bodies start mounting. Not counting the number of issues from sympathisers and turncoats.

That's just being optimistic about the long term and hoping it would all work out to justify the increase in devastation and unrest now. Hindsight doesn't mean that because one didn't work, the other is automatically more justified.

Right and doing nothing absolutely cause less harm in the long run <rolls eyes>

No you're wrong, they didn't want to consider the cost and thus allowed black people to bear it. That is completely unjustified and repugnant.

I am well aware the North wasn't willing to engage in that, that's what I'm criticizing them for.

Edited by Fourthspartan56 on Aug 31st 2018 at 12:35:27 PM

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
wisewillow She/her Since: May, 2011
She/her
#253727: Aug 31st 2018 at 9:36:07 AM

.... yeah, no. “Preventing mass exploitation of black people would be hard” is not a valid excuse.

LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#253728: Aug 31st 2018 at 9:52:30 AM

I mean, it wasn't "do nothing", it was more "stop working before the work was actually done."

Which also isn't good, and I'm sure you can pick that a part even without hindsight. Though I do think both Spartan and Willow are taking hindsight for granted here.

Edited by LSBK on Aug 31st 2018 at 11:52:29 AM

sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#253729: Aug 31st 2018 at 10:11:19 AM

Minor but potentially related side note: my work cafeteria has two TVs. On one, Fox News was just talking about the public viewing of McCain while the other one showing CNN is on Aretha Franklin's services.

Make of that what you like.

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#253730: Aug 31st 2018 at 10:48:57 AM

A leaked comment from Trump has apparently revealed his intentions in the NAFTA talks; not to negotiate with Canada at all and use tariffs as a blunt threat. Needless to say, caving in is probably not in Ottawa's to-do list.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/nafta-trump-compromise-trudeau-1.4806240

This whole North American alliance thing is becoming more of a raw deal by the day.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#253731: Aug 31st 2018 at 10:52:49 AM

Because tariffs have been working so well.

But then again, I guess if the people most hurt by them aren't actually going to blame him for it he doesn't have much real incentive to stop (in his mind).

Actually, what do you think the odds of him just doubling down out of pettiness if the farmers and industries did blame him?

Edited by LSBK on Aug 31st 2018 at 12:56:37 PM

Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#253732: Aug 31st 2018 at 10:54:52 AM

[up]100 to 1, there is no real chance of Trump to do anything other than double down when it comes to people criticizing him.

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#253733: Aug 31st 2018 at 10:57:44 AM

The companies hurt by it will blame him for sure, the average GOP voter is a different story.

Honestly, I think that Trump is using the same tactics the GOP uses on its own grassroots in dealing with other countries. However, he has yet to learn that unlike his supporters, other countries don't smile and say "thank you" when you spit on them.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
RainingMetal (Handed A Sword) Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#253734: Aug 31st 2018 at 11:01:54 AM

Back to the statues:

How about a Confederate soldier and a Union soldier shaking hands to symbolize the end of the war?

ASAB: All Sponsors Are Bad.
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#253735: Aug 31st 2018 at 11:04:15 AM

[up]Nope, statues of confederate soldiers should only involve their surrender or submission.

Anything that gives them dignity or even slight sympathy just feeds the Lost Cause of The South narrative.

That's why no statues of them would be better.

Edited by Fourthspartan56 on Aug 31st 2018 at 2:03:47 PM

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
RainingMetal (Handed A Sword) Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#253736: Aug 31st 2018 at 11:05:41 AM

Oh well.

Romanticism really does a number on one's perception. Like how the war wasn't really an even fight; the Union army really eclipsed the Confederates in numbers.

ASAB: All Sponsors Are Bad.
Gaon Smoking Snake from Grim Up North Since: Jun, 2012 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
#253737: Aug 31st 2018 at 11:07:40 AM

The best I could see would be a statue of a Confederate soldier dropping the Confederate flag and happily picking up a regular American flag.

"All you Fascists bound to lose."
Wyldchyld (Old as dirt)
#253738: Aug 31st 2018 at 11:12:04 AM

[up][up][up][up]That's actually a symbol of equality and legitimacy.

Edited by Wyldchyld on Aug 31st 2018 at 7:15:34 PM

If my post doesn't mention a giant flying sperm whale with oversized teeth and lionfish fins for flippers, it just isn't worth reading.
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#253739: Aug 31st 2018 at 11:15:46 AM

I'd prefer American soldiers doing the Iwo Jima pose on top of the ruins of Atlanta, but that probably wouldn't go over well.tongue

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
RainingMetal (Handed A Sword) Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#253740: Aug 31st 2018 at 11:16:00 AM

How about just a cannon then?

But then the town squares would look like a game of Risk, and that game sucks.

ASAB: All Sponsors Are Bad.
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#253741: Aug 31st 2018 at 11:17:24 AM

[up][up][up]Very insightful, I didn't realize it when I first read the post but it's exactly this that bothers me.

It's one thing for two sides have declared an armistice to create that kind of monument but for the victor to make one of the loser is unpalatable, especially when the loser in question is so vile.

[up][up]God that would be magnificent.

Edited by Fourthspartan56 on Aug 31st 2018 at 2:17:03 PM

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#253742: Aug 31st 2018 at 11:18:04 AM

[up]I think that's a terribly disingenuous image for multiple reasons.

Imagine, for example, a WW 2 memorial where a Nazi officer and a Frenchman shook hands.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#253743: Aug 31st 2018 at 11:20:21 AM

[up]Um... is this aimed at me? Because I'm fairly sure we're agreeing.

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
Reflextion from a post-sanity world (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: What's love got to do with it?
#253744: Aug 31st 2018 at 11:21:07 AM

How about a statue of a Confederate soldier on a pike, Vlad the Impaler style?

Edited by Reflextion on Aug 31st 2018 at 2:24:06 PM

Someone did tell me life was going to be this way.
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#253745: Aug 31st 2018 at 11:23:09 AM

Hmm... not completely comfortable with that and I despise the Confederacy.

Honesty I think that's a tad too far tongue

Edited by Fourthspartan56 on Aug 31st 2018 at 2:25:32 PM

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
RainingMetal (Handed A Sword) Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#253746: Aug 31st 2018 at 11:25:25 AM

Yeah, that's totally not going to start a shit-storm or anything.

ASAB: All Sponsors Are Bad.
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#253747: Aug 31st 2018 at 11:30:15 AM

Like 5 posts were posted when I was typing out about a North and South soldier posting.

It's why I hate the little arrows.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#253748: Aug 31st 2018 at 11:31:40 AM

[up]Oh I see.

Yeah I feel you, for what it's worth directly quoting people with brackets and quoteblocks can bypass any confusion in the more active discussions.

Just what I do to sometimes avoid it smile

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
PhysicalStamina i'm tired, my friend (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Coming soon to theaters
i'm tired, my friend
#253749: Aug 31st 2018 at 11:33:08 AM

People should just tag "WE LOST BTW" on any remaining Confederate statues.

i'm tired, my friend
RainingMetal (Handed A Sword) Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#253750: Aug 31st 2018 at 11:34:01 AM

How about painting them blue?

ASAB: All Sponsors Are Bad.

Total posts: 417,856
Top