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

miraculous Goku Black (Apprentice)
Goku Black
#360351: Mar 29th 2021 at 8:08:51 AM

"Enlightened centrism" is what we call it.

"That's right mortal. By channeling my divine rage into power, I have forged a new instrument in which to destroy you."
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#360352: Mar 29th 2021 at 8:10:59 AM

In Southpark's case it's more like lazy pseudo-intellectual lolbertarianism.

Disgusted, but not surprised
MorningStar1337 The Encounter that ended the Dogma from 🤔 Since: Nov, 2012
The Encounter that ended the Dogma
#360353: Mar 29th 2021 at 8:11:41 AM

I wonder how much of this steams from fear of not knowing the issues, how much of this stems form the uncertainty, and how much of this is caused by grift and the bothsiderism native to the ideology of "enlightened" centrism.

Edited by MorningStar1337 on Mar 29th 2021 at 8:12:16 AM

Scarecrow4774 from In Wonderland Since: Mar, 2017 Relationship Status: Complex: I'm real, they are imaginary
#360354: Mar 29th 2021 at 8:17:25 AM

Derek Chauvin's trial has started today and I was wondering about the other cops who were involved. Are they being tried at a later date, if they were even charged?

“We’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad.” - Lewis Carroll
Boston Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
#360355: Mar 29th 2021 at 8:26:14 AM

The Chicago Sun-Times reported that the other three officers involved in Floyd's murder were charged (https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/6/3/21279549/report-3-more-cops-to-be-charged-in-george-floyds-death-prottests-minneapolis-police).

There was a debate some time ago about whether they should be charged separately, or together. I haven't tracked the conversation since then.

Edited by Boston on Mar 29th 2021 at 11:26:27 AM

Protagonist506 from Oregon Since: Dec, 2013 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#360356: Mar 29th 2021 at 8:28:19 AM

I recall a joke I wrote for a politician character, talking about a vampire he wants to defeat:

"Well yeah, I get called a 'bloodsucker' all the time. But to be fair, it's mostly by uncreative comedians who want to sound edgy but are too cowardly to try to say anything meaningful"

Leviticus 19:34
Scarecrow4774 from In Wonderland Since: Mar, 2017 Relationship Status: Complex: I'm real, they are imaginary
#360357: Mar 29th 2021 at 8:46:55 AM

[up][up] OK thanks. Part of me is surprised they haven't turned on each other over what happened. But I guess the whole "cop brotherhood" thing is really strong.

“We’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad.” - Lewis Carroll
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#360358: Mar 29th 2021 at 8:58:09 AM

There's another facet of aggressive centrism that makes it far worse than it appears on the surface. The person engaged in this behavior has decided that there are no such things as objective facts: that one cannot stand outside a problem, analyze it with logic and evidence, and decide that one party is factually correct. They make decisions on the basis of what "feels right", on the basis of what truth speaks to their soul or whatever nonsense they spout.

When you tell this person: "Yes, police kill more black people than white," they say, "Well, that doesn't seem right to me," or, "Well, there must be a reason for it beside racism," and leave it at that. They put up an impenetrable wall of intellectual relativism. They decide on the basis of who "sounds more credible" to them.

These people are behind the fact that we have been unable to address climate change, civil rights, labor rights, and other issues as aggressively as necessary. You can count on a hardcore Republican to be evil. If it weren't for the centrists enabling them, they would have no voice.

I speak as someone who used to be a fence-sitter a long time ago.

Edited by Fighteer on Mar 29th 2021 at 12:01:13 PM

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#360359: Mar 29th 2021 at 9:20:52 AM

Those centrists tend to identify more as "Independents".

Disgusted, but not surprised
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#360360: Mar 29th 2021 at 9:21:40 AM

Centrism is dying in America because people have come to the realization at least one side was always acting in bad faith. If one side has no interest in compromise, it does not have any point whatsoever.

Its all or nothing.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#360361: Mar 29th 2021 at 9:25:36 AM

Oh, don't think those folks don't have their backup plans. When it becomes obvious that one side is completely evil and operating in bad faith, they migrate their centrism to the other side and start picking apart its disagreements. The defense has depth.

For example, this sort of person calls out the fact that Democrats don't all agree on the best way to address climate change as "proof" that we can't solve the problem, or that Democrats are just as clueless as Republicans, missing the point that there are qualitative differences between the two kinds of debate.

Edited by Fighteer on Mar 29th 2021 at 12:28:11 PM

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
MorningStar1337 The Encounter that ended the Dogma from 🤔 Since: Nov, 2012
The Encounter that ended the Dogma
#360362: Mar 29th 2021 at 9:30:09 AM

Frankly I prefer partisans to enlightened centrists. at least partisans wear their true allegiances on their sleeves. Bothsiderists meanwhile only serve to be the opposite of RIN Os in practice, being Repugnicans in all but name.

Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#360363: Mar 29th 2021 at 9:55:19 AM

Over 30 percent of Americans say they won't get COVID-19 vaccine: poll

We're probably not going to get herd immunity, all because Republicans are irrational trash who care nothing for the common good.

I wish the US wasn't so weak, we could just make vaccination mandatory and deal with this.

Edited by Fourthspartan56 on Mar 29th 2021 at 9:56:09 AM

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#360364: Mar 29th 2021 at 10:04:51 AM

I wish to slap the people who want to wait and see if it's safe.

Given the number of people already vaccinated, take a guess.

Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#360365: Mar 29th 2021 at 10:07:30 AM

Agreed, it's completely irrational.

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
Kaiseror Since: Jul, 2016
#360366: Mar 29th 2021 at 10:09:22 AM

If we're lucky we'll reach herd immunity through vaccination and prior infection.

Edited by Kaiseror on Mar 29th 2021 at 12:12:49 PM

Brandon Deadly Vu! from The Neitherworld (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Don't hug me; I'm scared
Deadly Vu!
#360367: Mar 29th 2021 at 10:11:48 AM

Don't know if this was posted here already (article is dated March 26) but Arkansa governor signed a bill allowing medical workers to refuse treatment to LGBTQ people.

Guess the "do no harm" oath is crock.

Like creepy stories? Check out my book!
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
#360368: Mar 29th 2021 at 10:13:32 AM

Keep in mind that vaccine hesitancy goes down as more people are vaccinated, so that 30% number should drop over time.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
Kaiseror Since: Jul, 2016
#360369: Mar 29th 2021 at 10:17:29 AM

I don't think most of these people are actually hesitant, they just refuse to do so because it would either force them to acknowledge covid as a real problem and not some conspiracy or they just hate doing anything the government wants them to do.

BrendanRizzo Since: Jan, 2015
#360370: Mar 29th 2021 at 10:18:05 AM

Personally, I think that those who object to getting vaccinated on the grounds that it's a Deep State plot or something should be held down and inoculated by force, just so we can see the looks on their faces when they realize that they've been injected with Bill Gates's tracking chip.

Edited by BrendanRizzo on Mar 29th 2021 at 10:25:14 AM

Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#360371: Mar 29th 2021 at 10:18:05 AM

Keep in mind that vaccine hesitancy goes down as more people are vaccinated, so that 30% number should drop over time.

If we're lucky we'll reach herd immunity through vaccination and prior infection.

I desperately hope you're both right.

If nothing else, at least Biden can be trusted to do all he can to encourage them.

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
DingoWalley1 Asgore Adopts Noelle Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
Asgore Adopts Noelle
#360372: Mar 29th 2021 at 10:25:04 AM

While the Senate remains gridlocked due to Republican Obstructionism and some Democratic opposition to removing/seriously changing the Filibuster, Sen. Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has an idea; Using Budget Reconciliation to alter Budget Reconciliations. Essentially, the 1974 Budget Law might allow Congress to continually change Budget laws without the need for more Reconciliations. Theoretically, as they're creating the new Budget Reconciliation for 2022, they can also alter the last Budget Reconciliation without the need for Republican votes. This would also mean that, theoretically, Budget Reconciliations would no longer be limited to once per Fiscal year, they could be unlimited so long as they fit Budget Reconciliation rules.

However, this requires the Senate Parliamentarian to agree with Schumer's interpretation of the '74 law, and I doubt they're going to be approving of this. I also can't see Harris going over the Parliamentarian, considering they didn't over-rule the Parliamentarian for the last Budget Reconciliation.

[down] Basically, they make sure the Senate follows their own rules. A watcher of the Watchmen if you will.

Edited by DingoWalley1 on Mar 29th 2021 at 1:28:09 PM

BrendanRizzo Since: Jan, 2015
#360373: Mar 29th 2021 at 10:26:38 AM

Why do we even have a Senate Parliamentarian?

That's a genuine question, by the way. No one ever heard of the position until this current Congress, and I have no idea what it does.

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#360374: Mar 29th 2021 at 10:27:49 AM

The Onion continues to be on point: Police Now Ignoring Active Shooter Reports In Effort To Deprive Killers Of Attention

LOS ANGELES—In the wake of a renewed string of nationwide attacks, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department issued a statement Monday announcing they would no longer be responding to active shooter reports in an effort to deprive the killers of attention. “If you happen to be caught in the midst of a mass shooting, try not to react—that’s exactly what these shooters want,” said spokesperson Richard Miller, who was just one of dozens of police department representatives across the country to urge Americans to assist law enforcement by depriving shooters of the notoriety they crave. “Don’t run, don’t hide, and don’t call 911, because we’re not coming. Indulging this behavior is the last thing we want to do. Just avoid eye contact and try to go about your business, and he should tire out on his own eventually.” At press time, Miller was encouraging the media to do their part by ignoring the shootings as well.

Insert chorus of "the Onion isn't satire anymore; it's just reporting reality" quips.

Best Twitter reply: "For the safety of our officers we're waiting outside and letting the children soak up the bullets."

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#360375: Mar 29th 2021 at 10:31:47 AM

If nothing else, at least Biden can be trusted to do all he can to encourage them.
If all else fails, tell them Krispy Kreme is giving free donuts to everyone who gets vaccinated (not a joke, this is a real thing and I cynically expect it to see actual success in getting people vaccinated where science fails)

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/krispy-kreme-free-doughnut-every-day-2021-covid-19-vaccination-card/

Edited by sgamer82 on Mar 29th 2021 at 10:33:05 AM


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