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

Lanceleoghauni Cyborg Helmsman from Z or R Twice Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: In my bunk
#44426: Dec 19th 2012 at 12:17:45 AM

I must say, It's really annoying how whenever you say you're for gun control in the us the kneejerk reaction is "THEY WANNA TAKE MAH GUNNNNNNNNNNNS!!!!!!"

When I really want them to just be as regulated as Cars, mandatory annual inspections, Easily identifiable tagging tied to a specific owner, a slightly rigorous written and practical test, Mandatory background check (so this part I added in), etc.

edited 19th Dec '12 12:18:16 AM by Lanceleoghauni

"Coffee! Coffeecoffeecoffee! Coffee! Not as strong as Meth-amphetamine, but it lets you keep your teeth!"
DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#44427: Dec 19th 2012 at 12:22:35 AM

While I agree that that the idea that Obama faced no obstacles when he had the majority Congress to be inaccurate, Obama undoubtedly could have done more.

If I had to point out his biggest flaw, it was that he did exactly what Clinton did in 1993; try to be bi-partisan and get both parties to work together. And like Clinton it bit him in the ass.

[up] In fairness, your views don't reflect the majority of people who call themselves Pro-Gun control. When a lot of people in your camp are calling for gun bans, don't be surprised that people assume you share the majority's position.

edited 19th Dec '12 12:30:36 AM by DeviantBraeburn

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
Thorn14 Gunpla is amazing! Since: Aug, 2010
Gunpla is amazing!
#44428: Dec 19th 2012 at 2:06:23 AM

Snyder confuses me.

He goes and signs that awful right to work bill, and then he vetoes that gun thing.

Medinoc from France (Before Recorded History)
#44429: Dec 19th 2012 at 2:41:10 AM

If I understood correctly, the problem with gun-free zones is that they're not enforced. They need people to enforce it and make sure no one can enter armed. These people must be armed themselves (and thus, stand guard in front of the door if we don't want to be hypocritical).

Also, arming teachers will just make the killers Shoot The Teacher First. The killer will always have the initiative unless the alarm can be raised before he kicks open the classroom door.

edited 19th Dec '12 2:41:44 AM by Medinoc

"And as long as a sack of shit is not a good thing to be, chivalry will never die."
Lanceleoghauni Cyborg Helmsman from Z or R Twice Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: In my bunk
#44430: Dec 19th 2012 at 2:47:52 AM

And liability insurance! that would be a good addition as well

"Coffee! Coffeecoffeecoffee! Coffee! Not as strong as Meth-amphetamine, but it lets you keep your teeth!"
Completion oldtimeytropey from Space Since: Apr, 2012
oldtimeytropey
#44431: Dec 19th 2012 at 3:31:57 AM

A lot of you are confusing the NRA for the GOA. The NRA, while also a lobbying group, runs firearms training classes, teaches Eddie Eagle classes at elementary schools (stop, don't touch. leave the area, tell an adult), and advocates responsible gun ownership.

GOA is the one that wants to arm everyone.

Midgetsnowman Since: Jan, 2010
#44432: Dec 19th 2012 at 6:50:42 AM

[up]

The NRA also has a leader who is absolutely convinced Obama wants to take everyones guns based on the evidence that Obam did nothing about guns his entire first term.

By liberal standards, both groups are utterly batshit idiots.

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#44433: Dec 19th 2012 at 6:55:32 AM

By centrist standards, both groups are batshit crazy. It's only by our crazy American standards that an organization like the NRA can be seen as reasonable and rational.

While one cannot necessarily ascribe causation to any particular factor, taken in aggregate, the United States is pretty fucked up in the head. For example, take a look at gun-death rates per capita — we're #12 overall and #1 among First World nations. We also have some of the most lax gun control laws, the most conservative politics, the worst education, the worst medical and mental health care, and the highest poverty rates among first world countries.

It doesn't take a genius to figure out that these things are related.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
RadicalTaoist scratching at .8, just hopin' from the #GUniverse Since: Jan, 2001
scratching at .8, just hopin'
#44434: Dec 19th 2012 at 7:24:45 AM

Hmm. I stand disappointed by Obama. His only possible defence for negotiating with the Republicans would be in an expectation that the Tea Party wing and the Norquist devotees revolt over even the slightest tax increase, allowing him to go over the cliff with a crippled Boehner and a weakened Republican opposition. And I don't like even that. Risking the country to sabotage the opposition is something the other guys do, Mr. President.

Hopefully Reid puts the brakes on this compromise.

Share it so that people can get into this conversation, 'cause we're not the only ones who think like this.
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
johnnyfog Actual Wrestling Legend from the Zocalo Since: Apr, 2010 Relationship Status: They can't hide forever. We've got satellites.
Actual Wrestling Legend
#44436: Dec 19th 2012 at 8:11:38 AM

While one cannot necessarily ascribe causation to any particular factor, taken in aggregate, the United States is pretty fucked up in the head.

Tell me about it.

We were dysfunctional before, but nowadays I look around and see a country which produces nothing except ax murderers with no vocation or self respect. And squeezes every red cent out of its citizens for services which ought to be government funded.

edited 19th Dec '12 8:12:24 AM by johnnyfog

I'm a skeptical squirrel
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#44437: Dec 19th 2012 at 8:35:37 AM

Let's be fair. Most people are normal and reasonably ethical. It's the ones who aren't that cause most of the problems, however, and we lack effective strategies to deal with them. A major reason why we lack those strategies is reactionary elements of society insisting that government only work on behalf of the wealthy and the "morally sound" - by which they mean evangelical Christians.

edited 19th Dec '12 9:07:39 AM by Fighteer

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
johnnyfog Actual Wrestling Legend from the Zocalo Since: Apr, 2010 Relationship Status: They can't hide forever. We've got satellites.
Actual Wrestling Legend
#44438: Dec 19th 2012 at 8:42:42 AM

Well, the religion is a side-effect of hypercapitalism. Come to think of it, I think this is why so many of those activist pizza moguls are evangelicals or Catholics or mormons.

You would think, as cutthroat businessmen, they would be generally agnostic and fatalist. But maybe they can't cope without some kind of rationale. It's like Sir Charles Trevelyan claiming that the Great Famine was meant to teach the Irish a lesson.

I'm a skeptical squirrel
NativeJovian Jupiterian Local from Orlando, FL Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: Maxing my social links
Jupiterian Local
#44440: Dec 19th 2012 at 10:21:16 AM

We were dysfunctional before, but nowadays I look around and see a country which produces nothing except ax murderers with no vocation or self respect. And squeezes every red cent out of its citizens for services which ought to be government funded.
Oh, please. Hyperbole helps no one. The fact that there are things that suck doesn't mean that everything sucks, and acting like it does just adds noise to the conversation. If you treat every single issue that comes up like it's the end of the world, all you're doing is burning yourself out and training everyone else to tune you out.

Really from Jupiter, but not an alien.
johnnyfog Actual Wrestling Legend from the Zocalo Since: Apr, 2010 Relationship Status: They can't hide forever. We've got satellites.
Actual Wrestling Legend
#44441: Dec 19th 2012 at 10:24:05 AM

Did I ask your opinion on how to frame my statements?

I'm a skeptical squirrel
Karkadinn Karkadinn from New Orleans, Louisiana Since: Jul, 2009
Karkadinn
#44442: Dec 19th 2012 at 10:45:21 AM

Personally I found the 'red cent' statement pretty accurate, if you consider the out of control costs of mandatory things like healthcare and education, which couple particularly unpleasantly with current wage levels.

Furthermore, I think Guantanamo must be destroyed.
Midgetsnowman Since: Jan, 2010
#44443: Dec 19th 2012 at 10:48:20 AM

so in interesting political effects of the Sandy Hook shootings, apparently theres record breaking amounts of gun owners giving up their guns voluntarily at gun buyback programs.

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2012/12/gun-buyback-programs-are-thriving-never-after-newtown/60157/#.UNHwtv4VL44.facebook

Serocco Serocco from Miami, Florida Since: Mar, 2010 Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
Serocco
#44444: Dec 19th 2012 at 10:48:24 AM

The senate passed a bill that raised rates on income over $250,000.

In RWBY, every girl is Best Girl.
johnnyfog Actual Wrestling Legend from the Zocalo Since: Apr, 2010 Relationship Status: They can't hide forever. We've got satellites.
Actual Wrestling Legend
#44445: Dec 19th 2012 at 10:52:08 AM

Personally I found the 'red cent' statement pretty accurate

That, and even simple things like transportation in the big cities. Here, we're about to have another 25 cent hike (3 bucks), and come next year there will be an identical hike. That's what was on my mind when I mentioned it.*

edited 19th Dec '12 10:54:36 AM by johnnyfog

I'm a skeptical squirrel
RadicalTaoist scratching at .8, just hopin' from the #GUniverse Since: Jan, 2001
scratching at .8, just hopin'
#44446: Dec 19th 2012 at 11:22:43 AM

Is it just me or has the last 70 years of American history shown a pattern where the rich and wealthy regretted letting to much wealth flow to the middle class with postwar stimulus policies like the GI bill, and dedicated tons of effort to undoing that?

I'm reminded of Romney's "borrow tuition costs from your parents" line during the campaign and this utter fixation on always cutting, always "balancing" Social Security instead of giving it what it needs to fund itself and then leaving it alone. It's like they felt the middle class sponge was too saturated at the end of the 50s and have dedicated decades to squeezing it dry so that this middle class generation will be the last in America.

Share it so that people can get into this conversation, 'cause we're not the only ones who think like this.
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#44447: Dec 19th 2012 at 11:27:02 AM

You are not making that up. In fact, the movement really got started in the 1970's, when the wealthy class noted that the general public had largely forgotten the lessons of the Great Depression and began sneaking in policies designed to increase their share of income. The rest of our current situation can be demonstrated to have snowballed from there.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Thorn14 Gunpla is amazing! Since: Aug, 2010
Gunpla is amazing!
#44448: Dec 19th 2012 at 11:41:52 AM

I think Obama is seriously more concerned about what happens to America if we go over the cliff, than a political victory.

deathpigeon Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: One True Dodecahedron
#44449: Dec 19th 2012 at 11:45:11 AM

I'm more concerned with what will happen if we don't go off the Fiscal Cliff and the Republican party has its way. If that happens, the economy will tank even worse than if we go off the cliff.

Trivialis Since: Oct, 2011
#44450: Dec 19th 2012 at 11:47:45 AM

I thought the Speaker already decided to raise taxes a few days ago, though.

Cut some, raise some. Wasn't that the whole idea?


Total posts: 417,856
Top