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

Barkey Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
#55027: May 23rd 2013 at 6:34:59 PM

McCain supporting negotiations for expanded background checks.

Mc Cain has always been one of my favorite Republican Senators. His presidential campaign absolutely crashed and burned and I voted against him, if he had better campaign staff that didn't make him into such a sellout with things like "Joe the Plumber", maybe he would have gotten my vote. Having Palin as his running mate is ultimately what sealed his fate when it came to which direction I voted, because I can't stand her.

I like having him back to focusing on his work as a Senator, he's always been one of the more reasonable and bipartisan GOP congressmen. If he had a better running mate who wasn't a crazy ass evangelical, I would have voted for him to be President, and not Obama.

edited 23rd May '13 6:35:40 PM by Barkey

DrunkGirlfriend from Castle Geekhaven Since: Jan, 2011
#55028: May 23rd 2013 at 6:39:25 PM

[up] I get feeling a lot of people who voted Democrat would have voted for Mc Cain if he hadn't gone with Palin. Of course, he'd probably run into the same stalling and partisan crap that Obama is, because a lot of the hardliners think he's a RINO.

"I don't know how I do it. I'm like the Mr. Bean of sex." -Drunkscriblerian
DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#55029: May 23rd 2013 at 6:40:49 PM

[up][up]

You realize that article is from April, right? Kinda old news.

edited 23rd May '13 6:40:59 PM by DeviantBraeburn

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
tricksterson Never Trust from Behind you with an icepick Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
Never Trust
#55030: May 23rd 2013 at 6:42:24 PM

[up][up]Aye, I would have voted for the McCain of 2000 or even 2006. But he sold his soul to the social issues rightwing.

Trump delenda est
AnSTH Lawful Evil Since: May, 2013 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#55031: May 23rd 2013 at 6:48:22 PM

I was still in highschool during the 2008 election, but the more I've learned about Mc Cain (and given the recent White House scandals) the more I think he would've been a better President.

Is Voter's Remorse a thing?

But that's a story for another time.
KBSL Since: Mar, 2013 Relationship Status: Forming Voltron
#55033: May 23rd 2013 at 7:22:47 PM

Just a question in general here, but why do you think some people think cutting welfare and foodstamps is the answer to every problem? I recently read an article about a certain city with the highest teen pregnancy rate in its state and every comment was basically "If we cut welfare, they'll think twice" or "we shouldn't reward irresponsible behavior." I can't help but think part of the reason is because this particular city is heavily Hispanic, even though the same article also pointed out that the teen pregnancy is at its lowest than it has been in thirty years when it was much whiter. Also, just throw this out their, someone also made a comment about how sex-ed doesn't help, but only teaches teens how to do it better. I found this all both irritating and fascinating.

edited 23rd May '13 7:28:39 PM by KBSL

Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#55034: May 23rd 2013 at 7:25:16 PM

Because people think the poor have babies just so they can collect a welfare check instead of actually getting a job.

edited 23rd May '13 7:25:28 PM by Kostya

Barkey Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
#55035: May 23rd 2013 at 7:28:05 PM

You realize that article is from April, right? Kinda old news.

Was new to me and pleased me, so I felt I would share it. tongue

Besides, April was only last month. Not that long ago.

edited 23rd May '13 7:28:27 PM by Barkey

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#55036: May 23rd 2013 at 7:31:11 PM

@KBSL: I can't explain the logic of those attitudes in a way that does them justice, because they aren't logical. They're driven by a judgmental, reactionary, Puritanical world view that does not respond to rational arguments. It's a very popular world view in the United States, unfortunately.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Barkey Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
#55037: May 23rd 2013 at 7:39:32 PM

^

Pretty much this.

I think welfare is definitely necessary from some people, though at the same time I'm one of "those" cruel and unsympathetic people who thinks that mandatory drug tests being part of the equation are a great idea. If you're on welfare, you shouldn't be spending taxpayer money on drugs. I don't give a shit if people do drugs, I do give a shit if they do it with taxpayer funded assistance. You're supposed to be spending that time trying to find a job, not getting stoned.

NativeJovian Jupiterian Local from Orlando, FL Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: Maxing my social links
Jupiterian Local
#55038: May 23rd 2013 at 7:42:59 PM

You realize that they (briefly) instituted drug testing for welfare here in Florida and it cost them an order of magnitude more money to do the testing than it saved them in denying people benefits?

I mean, if you're cool with that as a moral measure (under the thought that public money should never be going toward someone's drug habit, period) then that's one thing. But as a cost-cutting measure it completely and utterly fails.

Really from Jupiter, but not an alien.
Barkey Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
#55039: May 23rd 2013 at 7:45:18 PM

Oh yeah, I recognize that. For me it's a moral issue. I'm specifically a supporter of that measure as a deterrent, though I would like to see it done on a state-wide scale for a couple years, to see how that impacts the rate that people get jobs and get off welfare.

That and I like to yell at people who say it's a violation of their rights or find some other bullshit excuse to say that it is "unreasonable" or an "invasion of privacy" to request that of people on welfare. If I was on welfare, I'd heartily accept the demand to be drug tested. Then again, I'm not allowed to do drugs via my association with the Guard, and regularly get drug tested at drill a few times a year.

Midgetsnowman Since: Jan, 2010
#55040: May 23rd 2013 at 8:02:16 PM

[up]

My only concern with drug testing is that if you go for a cheap testing lab, you might get the kind of tests that misidentifies poppy seed bagels as heroin addiction.

edited 23rd May '13 8:02:25 PM by Midgetsnowman

QuestionMarc Since: Oct, 2011 Relationship Status: Having tea with Cthulhu
#55041: May 23rd 2013 at 8:05:40 PM

And I question whether any form of deterrence would affect a drug addict. They aren't exactly the sharpest pencil in the box.

NativeJovian Jupiterian Local from Orlando, FL Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: Maxing my social links
Jupiterian Local
#55042: May 23rd 2013 at 8:06:26 PM

[up][up][up]The question there is whether or not it counts as unreasonable search. Demanding that people submit to drug testing without probable cause that they're actually taking drugs sounds constitutionally questionable to me.

For a job or something is one thing; your right to a specific type of employment isn't legally protected, and if you don't want to submit to drug testing, then you can find another job. But you are entitled to welfare benefits if you fit the requirements, and adding "passes drug test" to the list of requirements seems to run into fourth amendment issues.

edited 23rd May '13 8:09:25 PM by NativeJovian

Really from Jupiter, but not an alien.
GlennMagusHarvey Since: Jan, 2001
#55043: May 23rd 2013 at 8:36:27 PM

Also, forcing people to take drug tests does not work well unless you have an appropriate alternative to those people who do legitimately fail it. Not just "no, go away".

DrunkGirlfriend from Castle Geekhaven Since: Jan, 2011
#55044: May 23rd 2013 at 8:38:24 PM

Yeah, I think we'd be better off trying to solve the problems that lead to people getting addicted in the first place.

"I don't know how I do it. I'm like the Mr. Bean of sex." -Drunkscriblerian
DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#55045: May 23rd 2013 at 8:40:40 PM

Republican Arizona state representative says she got threatening message over Medicaid support

[up][up]

I don't see what's wrong with telling them to go away.

edited 23rd May '13 8:41:38 PM by DeviantBraeburn

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
DrunkGirlfriend from Castle Geekhaven Since: Jan, 2011
#55046: May 23rd 2013 at 8:45:23 PM

[up] It leads to more crime?

"I don't know how I do it. I'm like the Mr. Bean of sex." -Drunkscriblerian
DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#55047: May 23rd 2013 at 8:50:10 PM

[up]

Dammit.

Senators McCain, Levin demand Lerner be ousted from IRS job

Here’s President Obama’s Prom Photo From 1979…

edited 23rd May '13 8:56:46 PM by DeviantBraeburn

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
Pykrete NOT THE BEES from Viridian Forest Since: Sep, 2009
NOT THE BEES
#55048: May 23rd 2013 at 9:04:28 PM

See, the sensible thing would be to treat drug addicts as a public health hazard and put them in rehab instead of booting them out on the street and expecting them to not turn to crime.

RavenWilder Since: Apr, 2009
#55049: May 23rd 2013 at 9:13:41 PM

The only way I'd be okay with people who fail a drug test being denied welfare is if the government also provides free rehab facilities.

tclittle Professional Forum Ninja from Somewhere Down in Texas Since: Apr, 2010
Professional Forum Ninja
#55050: May 23rd 2013 at 9:14:13 PM

An I-5 bridge north of Seattle, Washington has collapsed.

"We're all paper, we're all scissors, we're all fightin' with our mirrors, scared we'll never find somebody to love."

Total posts: 417,856
Top