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

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#257126: Oct 7th 2018 at 8:36:27 PM

Forced labor is not a =/= to slavery.

Which I say with all the fact forced labor is awful.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#257127: Oct 7th 2018 at 8:53:33 PM

Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.

The amendment very clearly allows for convicts to be slaves.

It gets even worse when you realize that some prisons outsource their slave labour force to private companies.

When you take prison demographics into consideration the picture looks even grimmer.

Edited by M84 on Oct 7th 2018 at 11:54:20 PM

Disgusted, but not surprised
TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#257128: Oct 7th 2018 at 8:58:20 PM

The Confederates figured out a long time ago that the prison loophole can be used to re-establish slavery. It's the whole reason the War on Drugs is a thing; minor drug offenses provide an easy excuse for arresting large numbers of black people and then shunting them into prison-slavery for decades.

My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.
Swanpride Since: Jun, 2013
#257129: Oct 8th 2018 at 1:22:52 AM

Someone at ABC pointed out something regarding Trump's approval ratings I hadn't really considered yet...I was wondering why lately, they stayed mostly stable and sometimes even rose during a time of crisis. Apparently it is NOT because the Republican voter keep supporting them, but because they stop identifying as Republicans. Meaning the percentages actually doesn't reflect anything until you consider the sinking number of republican voters. Add all the people who left the party since Trump came into power into the fray and his approval ratings are even worse than they already are.

RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#257130: Oct 8th 2018 at 1:48:42 AM

That's been noted before. Trump has strong Republican support but the number of Republicans is slipping because he's a lunatic.

Swanpride Since: Jun, 2013
#257131: Oct 8th 2018 at 2:18:27 AM

I wonder what the actual numbers are, though...

PushoverMediaCritic I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out. from the Italy of America Since: Jul, 2015 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out.
#257132: Oct 8th 2018 at 2:22:04 AM

I would be very curious to see a poll of people based on what their political affiliation is now and what it was in 2016.

SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#257133: Oct 8th 2018 at 2:48:49 AM

Meanwhile, hurricane watches are being issued for the Gulf of Mexico in anticipation of Tropical Storm Michael.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#257134: Oct 8th 2018 at 4:43:41 AM

Related, a report on climate change has been released requiring immediate action. I fully expect the GOP to respond with "burn more coal".

Ultimatum Disasturbator from the Amiga Forest (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Disasturbator
#257135: Oct 8th 2018 at 4:47:56 AM

"Act now idiots" really is fitting,because I can't see the idiots in charge doing anything to combat climate change,it's only after major disaster do they decide to enact change, but in this case it's going to be too little too late

have a listen and have a link to my discord server
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#257136: Oct 8th 2018 at 4:54:27 AM

It helps that most of the assholes in charge are old enough that they won't live to see the worst consequences of it.

Disgusted, but not surprised
CrimsonZephyr Would that it were so simple. from Massachusetts Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
Would that it were so simple.
#257137: Oct 8th 2018 at 4:58:32 AM

Climate change is one of those issues that argues for a hard age limit for political office. You're more likely to give a damn if you're likely to live through it.

"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."
megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#257138: Oct 8th 2018 at 5:01:29 AM

[up]x9 Makes sense. My (traditionally) Republican dad changed his registration to unaffiliated, because the GOP has lost it’s collective mind, and Massachusetts has open primaries.

Edited by megaeliz on Oct 8th 2018 at 9:23:01 AM

Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#257139: Oct 8th 2018 at 7:18:38 AM

Forced labor is not a =/= to slavery.

Which I say with all the fact forced labor is awful.

Forced labor is literally slavery, you don't need to personally own someone for them to be a slave (rather that's merely a subcategory of slavery).

Unless of course, the people in the forced labor camps in North Korea or the old Soviet Union aren't actually slaves?

"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
#257140: Oct 8th 2018 at 8:34:44 AM

So, is the far-right freaking the fuck out about Taylor Swift "turning" on them yet?

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
CrimsonZephyr Would that it were so simple. from Massachusetts Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
Would that it were so simple.
#257141: Oct 8th 2018 at 8:37:16 AM

It's only a matter of time. I'm glad Swift ditched her apolitical line, if only because it was ridiculous and corporate.

"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."
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#257142: Oct 8th 2018 at 8:40:27 AM

It's probably because of the Kavanaugh confirmation. Especially since the GOP Senator candidate is Marsha Blackburn, who idolized Phyllis Schafly. It's a very bad combination for womens' rights.

Edited by M84 on Oct 8th 2018 at 11:40:25 PM

Disgusted, but not surprised
Cris_Meyers reluctant author, willing misanthrope from Chicagoland (Fifth Year at Tropey's) Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
reluctant author, willing misanthrope
#257143: Oct 8th 2018 at 8:40:50 AM

Wait, Taylor Swift a far-right icon?

Or was this one of those situations where the celebrity never actually came out and said 'you guys suck' so they just assumed she was on their side?

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#257144: Oct 8th 2018 at 8:41:44 AM

[up]She developed a strong far-right fan following, and she remained very quiet about it.

Disgusted, but not surprised
unknowing from somewhere.. Since: Mar, 2014
#257145: Oct 8th 2018 at 8:47:03 AM

Yeah, Taylor got a really weird and creepy alt right following, and was consider a "darling" for not reason she is blone,white and willing to pick fight with black singers.

yeah....

"My Name is Bolt, Bolt Crank and I dont care if you believe or not"
CrimsonZephyr Would that it were so simple. from Massachusetts Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
Would that it were so simple.
#257146: Oct 8th 2018 at 8:48:56 AM

It was even before that. Taylor Swift's fanbase is like this emulsion of conservative country fans and liberal pop fans, and she did this sort of apolitical balancing act where basically all were welcome and she kept quiet, meaning she profited from all of them while leaving the potential bully pulpit that came from her massive cultural penetration completely unused.

I'm glad she has a conscience and followed it, but she could have come aboard sooner and done more good.

Honestly, I think conservatives are going to be finding the music world recoiling from them in general. Progressive country is finally seeing some vindication, and that means they won't have an unchallenged control over such a popular genre.

Edited by CrimsonZephyr on Oct 8th 2018 at 11:49:55 AM

"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."
Cris_Meyers reluctant author, willing misanthrope from Chicagoland (Fifth Year at Tropey's) Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
reluctant author, willing misanthrope
#257147: Oct 8th 2018 at 8:56:48 AM

Huh, makes sense now that I've actually thought about it.

The cracks in the conservatism of the country music scene seem to be getting bigger and bigger. I have to wonder how much of it is really the artists needing to keep up appearances.

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#257148: Oct 8th 2018 at 9:00:15 AM

Forced labor is literally slavery, you don't need to personally own someone for them to be a slave (rather that's merely a subcategory of slavery).

Unless of course, the people in the forced labor camps in North Korea or the old Soviet Union aren't actually slaves?

Slavery is owning someone else. You remove the horror of slavery if that person has any rights. Serfdom wasn't slavery. Indentured servitude wasn't slavery. Contract service isn't slavery. If you broaden slavery's definition, you diminish it's horror.

I say that as someone who hates forced labor, believes for profit prisons should be outlawed, and think the American prison system should have its leadership all arrested.

It was even before that. Taylor Swift's fanbase is like this emulsion of conservative country fans and liberal pop fans, and she did this sort of apolitical balancing act where basically all were welcome and she kept quiet, meaning she profited from all of them while leaving the potential bully pulpit that came from her massive cultural penetration completely unused.

I'm glad she has a conscience and followed it, but she could have come aboard sooner and done more good.

Honestly, I think conservatives are going to be finding the music world recoiling from them in general. Progressive country is finally seeing some vindication, and that means they won't have an unchallenged control over such a popular genre.

Random aside but this was a major theme in the TV show Nashville. One major country star being homosexual and knowing when/if he came out, his career was a country star was over and he was possibly in danger but he could potentially build a crossover success in "mainstream" music. Unfortunately, by that time, he'd also been involved in a sham marriage for his record company for their America's Got Talent girl.

Edited by CharlesPhipps on Oct 8th 2018 at 9:08:20 AM

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
StarOutlaw Since: Nov, 2010
#257149: Oct 8th 2018 at 9:25:01 AM

[up]Almost would have interned on that show if the producer's assistant hadn't screwed over my film class.

Swift might end up better than the Dixie Chicks did during the Bush admin, but who knows. She still might get pulled from radio stations.

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#257150: Oct 8th 2018 at 9:34:10 AM

Taylor is a bigger deal than the Dixie Chicks ever were and they didn't fail but gained a large European audience.

They've been performing there ever since.

That's why you don't hear about them in America.

Edited by CharlesPhipps on Oct 8th 2018 at 9:34:09 AM

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.

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