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

TheStarshipMaxima NCC - 1701 Since: Jun, 2009
NCC - 1701
#51051: Mar 12th 2013 at 9:44:55 AM

Okay, before this "Let's Bash America" train gets too far out of the station.....

Yes, the American public education system leaves much to be desired. No question there.

I'm a hardcore Eaglelander and I was quite aware the US didn't enter WWII until, what, halfway into the war. I was well-aware it was the Dunkirk evacuation and the subsequent Determinator status of the Brits along with the Wermachts failed attempt at invading Russia (I mean, if Napoleon couldn't pull it off, what made them think they could?) that contributed heavily to the Axis defeat.

The truth is there are some highly-educated kids in American schools, both public and private.

So yes, there are schools out there that do teach all these things. We just need more of them.

It was an honor
Ramidel Since: Jan, 2001
#51052: Mar 12th 2013 at 9:50:15 AM

Back to topic:

I wonder why, for example, California and New York don't declare an "anti-Texas" standard where they issue requirements designed specifically to conflict with the Texas Board of Education's requirements?

Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#51053: Mar 12th 2013 at 9:51:16 AM

Greenmantle: Yes. I think there should be one national standard for education. If you're living in the US there are some things you need to know regardless of what state or economic background you come from.

Zendervai: I don't think being a private school gives you the right to misinform children. I don't particularly like the idea of private schools anyway.

edited 12th Mar '13 9:52:56 AM by Kostya

Wildcard Since: Jun, 2012
#51054: Mar 12th 2013 at 9:57:36 AM

I knew public education was bad in many ways but maybe I just got lucky. My school taught about the Japanese Interment Camps, the Invasion of Russia, the segregated army, and even mentioned America's late arrival into the war, (though unlike the other three examples this was not emphasized much).

[up]There is not a standard already?

edited 12th Mar '13 9:58:33 AM by Wildcard

TheStarshipMaxima NCC - 1701 Since: Jun, 2009
NCC - 1701
#51055: Mar 12th 2013 at 10:03:52 AM

[up] As did mine. And actually, it tends to be private schools that teach all the "extra" stuff. So they're not quite bastions of misinformation.

It was an honor
ohsointocats from The Sand Wastes Since: Oct, 2011 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#51056: Mar 12th 2013 at 10:06:23 AM

Is it? I don't know why I remember all this stuff, then...

Wildcard Since: Jun, 2012
#51057: Mar 12th 2013 at 10:09:25 AM

[up][up]Depends on the private school. Obviously not all of them are though.

edited 12th Mar '13 10:15:19 AM by Wildcard

TheyCallMeTomu Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
#51058: Mar 12th 2013 at 10:15:41 AM

Depends on the public school too. My school was pretty good about not deluding us with that kind of BS.

(Man, how long has it been since I actually posted in this thread? I feel like I've been half-lurking for weeks now)

edited 12th Mar '13 10:16:01 AM by TheyCallMeTomu

Midgetsnowman Since: Jan, 2010
#51059: Mar 12th 2013 at 10:22:11 AM

I thiunk it depends on region. My schools here in the midwest pretty much gave you the papered over USA USA RAH RAH RAH version of every war.

ohsointocats from The Sand Wastes Since: Oct, 2011 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#51060: Mar 12th 2013 at 10:26:34 AM

I think I must have come from Narnia.

RavenWilder Since: Apr, 2009
#51061: Mar 12th 2013 at 10:36:53 AM

Re: history classes not covering the Cold War much:

It might have to do with history teachers not wanting to think of stuff that happened during their lifetime as "history". Maybe it makes them feel old.

HilarityEnsues Since: Sep, 2009
#51062: Mar 12th 2013 at 10:39:14 AM

There's a difference between "Let's bash America" and "Maybe we shouldn't have textbooks that act like humans and dinosaurs were around at the same time or look at the Ku Klux Klan through rose colored glasses". I'm not saying every school in America is terrible, I'm just shocked at this specific case.

And yes, the KKK thought of themselves as a force for reform. My issue isn't that that's inaccurate, it's just that it's not helpful if you want to understand the kind of people that comprised the group. It's important to explain how groups like the Klan, Nazis, etc. saw themselves in order to fully understand their way of thinking, but it's pointless if you don't accompany that with information about the real world consequences of their beliefs. It's certainly possible that they actually did go more in depth than that, but the talk about dragons kinda makes me... well, skeptical.

edited 12th Mar '13 10:40:15 AM by HilarityEnsues

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#51063: Mar 12th 2013 at 10:40:32 AM

Also, its pretty damn difficult to cover the Cold War meaningfully in a grade school history class. You can have 4-8 month university courses focused on a single aspect of the Cold War and still not have enough space to do everything.

Changing subjects, Laura Bush says what everyone knows, but will the GOP/Tea Party care or listen?

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/03/11/laura-bush-says-some-gop-candidates-frightened-women/?hpt=po_t1

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
rmctagg09 The Wanderer from Brooklyn, NY (Before Recorded History) Relationship Status: I won't say I'm in love
The Wanderer
#51064: Mar 12th 2013 at 10:51:14 AM

Probably not, they seem quite obsessed with dragging themselves down deeper.

Hugging a Vanillite will give you frostbite.
Midgetsnowman Since: Jan, 2010
#51065: Mar 12th 2013 at 12:04:33 PM

she's a woman. why would they listen to her?

BestOf FABRICATI DIEM, PVNC! from Finland Since: Oct, 2010 Relationship Status: Falling within your bell curve
FABRICATI DIEM, PVNC!
#51066: Mar 12th 2013 at 12:14:41 PM

That bit in one of the textbooks about dinosaurs co-existing with humans is disgusting and ridiculous at the same time. It would not be less stupid than claiming that the Roman Empire never existed, or that bacteria and viruses have nothing to do with disease.

Quod gratis asseritur, gratis negatur.
Zendervai Since: Oct, 2009
#51067: Mar 12th 2013 at 12:36:39 PM

[up] It's marginally better than claiming dinosaurs never existed.

terlwyth Since: Oct, 2010
#51068: Mar 12th 2013 at 1:11:07 PM

I'll tell ya' California doesn't have much in the way for "anti-Texas" stuff,because textbook updates aren't so good. The state literally spends the least per pupil out of all the states when back before 1978,it spent the most.

And then Schwarzenneggar hacked away at it.

tclittle Professional Forum Ninja from Somewhere Down in Texas Since: Apr, 2010
Achaemenid HGW XX/7 from Ruschestraße 103, Haus 1 Since: Dec, 2011 Relationship Status: Giving love a bad name
HGW XX/7
#51070: Mar 12th 2013 at 1:19:30 PM

[up][up]

I'm sorry, I just want to take a moment to laugh at the fact that a state of 38 million people was run by Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Cracks me up every time.

Schild und Schwert der Partei
terlwyth Since: Oct, 2010
#51071: Mar 12th 2013 at 1:22:22 PM

It's.Not.Funny

It's a mindboggle that he even managed to slip in with that recall,while Scott Walker didn't get recalled out,...or that Dukakis didn't win in '88.

Achaemenid HGW XX/7 from Ruschestraße 103, Haus 1 Since: Dec, 2011 Relationship Status: Giving love a bad name
HGW XX/7
#51072: Mar 12th 2013 at 1:25:49 PM

[up]

Looked pretty funny from Glasgow [lol]

Still Britain's no better - we elected a reality TV star. Look at this twat.

edited 12th Mar '13 1:26:43 PM by Achaemenid

Schild und Schwert der Partei
RadicalTaoist scratching at .8, just hopin' from the #GUniverse Since: Jan, 2001
scratching at .8, just hopin'
#51073: Mar 12th 2013 at 1:37:43 PM

Remind me, which state elected former pro wrestler Jesse Ventura to the governor's office?

Share it so that people can get into this conversation, 'cause we're not the only ones who think like this.
SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#51074: Mar 12th 2013 at 1:42:24 PM

Minnesota.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
RTaco Since: Jul, 2009
#51075: Mar 12th 2013 at 1:55:29 PM

Predator has a nice track record for spawning Governors.


Total posts: 417,856
Top