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

LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#98451: Aug 12th 2015 at 12:33:05 AM

Of course the problem with any union giving any ground to anyone is that it'll set a bad precedent of compromise that can lead to nasty working conditions. The teacher's unions have the problem of having to defend bad teachers for that reason.

Admittedly the unions are defending some really fucking heinous people but I can almost see where they're coming from.

Oh really when?
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
#98452: Aug 12th 2015 at 1:52:25 AM

Thing is refusing to compromise even when you're wrong is how you ensure a never ending conflict.

But yeah the problem do that while not all cops are racist idiots who murde black kids, the vast majority of cops seem to be happy to defend such cops to the death.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
PotatoesRock Since: Oct, 2012
#98453: Aug 12th 2015 at 4:02:48 AM

But yeah the problem do that while not all cops are racist idiots who murde black kids, the vast majority of cops seem to be happy to defend such cops to the death.
Perhaps it's related to Police Union bargaining power. Police need to walk and talk in lock step or else the strength of the Union's bargaining position poofs.

JackOLantern1337 Shameful Display from The Most Miserable Province in the Russian Empir Since: Aug, 2014 Relationship Status: 700 wives and 300 concubines
Shameful Display
#98454: Aug 12th 2015 at 4:15:27 AM

[up]I think it's related to the "thin Blue line" ideology. I may be reading to much into this, but I can't help notice that the stripe for civilians in that flag, and the stripe for criminals are the same, and both of them are Black. Not sure if racist, or I'm just being an idiot

I Bring Doom,and a bit of gloom, but mostly gloom.
Gabrael from My musings Since: Nov, 2011 Relationship Status: Is that a kind of food?
#98455: Aug 12th 2015 at 4:54:47 AM

What police Union?

There is no one giant police Union. Some cities or state departments may have a union. But not all areas allow unions.

You have the Fraternal Order of Police, but even then they don't have the same powers of a union because they are not a union.

I say this because I want people to realize that cops aren't some massive hive mind and thanks to states rights and department differences, what problems and tools to address these problems are different.

Like did you know Park Rangers are a branch of law enforcement?

"Psssh. Even if you could catch a miracle on a picture any person would probably delete it to make space for more porn." - Aszur
PotatoesRock Since: Oct, 2012
#98456: Aug 12th 2015 at 5:03:53 AM

What police Union?
I didn't mean it as a monolithic entity, so please don't over analyze. Merely that the behavior would make sense via membership in the area/city/town's Union, where applicable.

I was merely conjecturing that the reason officers tend to lock step on these issues is to avoid giving any "cracks" for other portions of government to crackdown on them or bust benefits and funding. Where applicable.

Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#98457: Aug 12th 2015 at 5:14:30 AM

If we're talking about possible solutions I think a good first step would be mandating body cameras on every officer and dash cams on their car. In addition any shooting of an unarmed civilian should prompt a thorough investigation. The officer would be put on paid leave at this time unless it's determined if their actions were reasonable. If that happens a criminal trial would begin.

BlueNinja0 The Mod with the Migraine from Taking a left at Albuquerque Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
The Mod with the Migraine
#98458: Aug 12th 2015 at 5:26:51 AM

I will be cross-posting this to the Law Enforcement thread, but apparently there's a $1000/hour psychologist who has been advising police for years to shoot first, ask questions never. He has an entire company built upon this.

That’s the epitome of privilege right there, not considering armed nazis a threat to your life. - Silasw
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Gabrael from My musings Since: Nov, 2011 Relationship Status: Is that a kind of food?
#98460: Aug 12th 2015 at 6:17:50 AM

Dash cams 'are already mandatory in masse.

Cops don't speak up as much because they need to be safe.

You start rocking the boat and see how you get all the shit calls, your back-up doesn't show on time. Your reports get rejected. You don't get support to meet your court dates.

Cops are already overworked and underpaid. The average cop after three years is only making $30K a year for 60 hours a week.

They can't risk it.

"Psssh. Even if you could catch a miracle on a picture any person would probably delete it to make space for more porn." - Aszur
HallowHawk Since: Feb, 2013
#98461: Aug 12th 2015 at 7:21:55 AM

In regards to these shootings caused by policemen, where are Internal Affairs?

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#98462: Aug 12th 2015 at 7:23:36 AM

In many departments, particularly ones where a lot of this sort of thing happens, they seemingly exist to rubber-stamp shootings.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
BAFFU Since: Dec, 2012
#98463: Aug 12th 2015 at 7:43:02 AM

Bernie Sanders is now first in NH polls.

Aszur A nice butterfly from Pagliacci's Since: Apr, 2014 Relationship Status: Don't hug me; I'm scared
A nice butterfly
#98464: Aug 12th 2015 at 7:45:19 AM

I say this because I want people to realize that cops aren't some massive hive mind and thanks to states rights and department differences, what problems and tools to address these problems are different.

Cops are the easiest thing to "other" and attack, really.

It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes
Gabrael from My musings Since: Nov, 2011 Relationship Status: Is that a kind of food?
#98465: Aug 12th 2015 at 7:48:05 AM

Internal Affairs wouldn't have jurisdiction over a shooting like that.

Internal Affairs deals with things like internal corruption, paperwork being falsified, evidence disappearing, etc. They don't deal with external things like a shooting. That is an outside police force like the feds who come in on that.

It is to try and prevent bias. But a judge has to order it.

IA would follow the internal paper trail, but they couldn't do much without an outside source like state or fed police.

"Psssh. Even if you could catch a miracle on a picture any person would probably delete it to make space for more porn." - Aszur
BlueNinja0 The Mod with the Migraine from Taking a left at Albuquerque Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
The Mod with the Migraine
#98466: Aug 12th 2015 at 8:05:45 AM

Trump plans to win by ... whining a lot. Seriously, Republicans? This is your best candidate? A man with the emotional maturity of a five year old?

That’s the epitome of privilege right there, not considering armed nazis a threat to your life. - Silasw
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#98467: Aug 12th 2015 at 8:12:48 AM

I know an awful lot of adults for whom that is their benchmark.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
BAFFU Since: Dec, 2012
#98468: Aug 12th 2015 at 8:16:19 AM

[up][up]

thats because he is a WINNER. not a LOSER, dummy. tongue

edited 12th Aug '15 8:16:33 AM by BAFFU

Aszur A nice butterfly from Pagliacci's Since: Apr, 2014 Relationship Status: Don't hug me; I'm scared
A nice butterfly
#98469: Aug 12th 2015 at 8:17:51 AM

Trump's VP should be Charlie Sheen.

It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#98471: Aug 12th 2015 at 8:56:45 AM

How about Shia LeBeouf, if being memetic is all it takes?

"How can we defeat ISIS?" "JUST DO IT!"

edited 12th Aug '15 8:58:00 AM by Fighteer

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Aszur A nice butterfly from Pagliacci's Since: Apr, 2014 Relationship Status: Don't hug me; I'm scared
A nice butterfly
#98472: Aug 12th 2015 at 8:58:18 AM

Cuz nobody ain't got time fo' dat, Fighteer.

It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes
SciFiSlasher from Absolutely none of your business. Since: Dec, 2011 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
#98473: Aug 12th 2015 at 8:59:46 AM

I would day that Ted Cruz is wild mass guessjust bullshitting his campaign and is ready to come out as Trump's VPwild mass guess, but he's still a politician, so that's bad for Trump.

How 'bout the other insane Ted? Ohhhhhhh, Mr. Nugent........

"Somehow the hated have to walk a tightrope, while those who hate do not."
speedyboris Since: Feb, 2010
#98474: Aug 12th 2015 at 9:07:06 AM

Rick Perry likely to drop out of the race. Can't say I'm crying buckets over this, but why couldn't it be Trump who's dropping out?

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#98475: Aug 12th 2015 at 9:09:07 AM

Because Trump is ahead. Why would you drop out in that situation, unless you're running a troll campaign? I think that Trump is going to stick it out; he has every reason to believe that the Tea Party will rally behind him, and the Tea Party runs the primaries.

Heck, he might even imagine that he can bully Clinton the way he'd bully any other woman who stands in his way. Their debates would be interesting, to say the least: it's hard to win when your opponent is playing by different rules.

edited 12th Aug '15 9:11:45 AM by Fighteer

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"

Total posts: 417,856
Top