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

Protagonist506 from Oregon Since: Dec, 2013 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#118376: Apr 6th 2016 at 8:32:03 AM

Tyranny of the Majority is a legitimate thing to be concerned about. In a democratic government without any limits on government, minorities will almost never get a voice. As such, you need to introduce limits on government and individual rights.

Leviticus 19:34
FFShinra Since: Jan, 2001
#118377: Apr 6th 2016 at 8:34:35 AM

Indeed. One can see what that tyranny does with those new laws that were just enacted in MS and NC.

CassidyTheDevil Since: Jan, 2013
#118378: Apr 6th 2016 at 8:44:27 AM

@Protag: This is true, but the phrase rarely seems to be used that way. It seems like it's used more by people with autocratic tendencies who don't particularly care about individual rights or abuse of government power. Or else, used sarcastically by democratically-inclined folks who are critical of the autocratic perspective.

Or worse, vulgar liberals who conflate the two opposite meanings positively.

edited 6th Apr '16 9:03:27 AM by CassidyTheDevil

germi91 Public Servant from Spain Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
Public Servant
#118379: Apr 6th 2016 at 8:50:35 AM

It is preferable to avoid tyranny altogether regardless of the origin, though it's true that tyrannies have been exercised by either one or a minority as a historical norm.

Hence the necessity of a separation of powers and a formal social contract or constitution.

"It is true that we are called a democracy, for the administration is in the hands of the many and not of the few."
FieldMarshalFry Field Marshal of Cracked from World Internet War 1 Since: Oct, 2015 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
Field Marshal of Cracked
#118380: Apr 6th 2016 at 9:06:42 AM

another cross post, how the Panama Papers prove Sanders and Corbyn right

advancing the front into TV Tropes
SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#118381: Apr 6th 2016 at 2:03:22 PM

So, how likely is it that Trump and Clinton will rebound in New York? I've read David Wasserman's analysis on 358 of the delegate allocation rules that the Republican party applies and it seems to imply that a) it may be heavily stacked in Trump's favour in New York (and California?) and b) that people who live in Democratic-held congressional districts are exceptionally important in the GOP primary.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
Demonic_Braeburn Yankee Doodle Dandy from Defective California Since: Jan, 2016
Yankee Doodle Dandy
#118382: Apr 6th 2016 at 2:34:30 PM

San Francisco approved a measure Tuesday making it the first place in the nation to require businesses to provide fully paid leave for new mothers and fathers to spend time with their new child.

The San Francisco law takes effect Jan. 1, 2017 for companies with 50 or more employees.

It will be phased in for smaller employers so that by Jan. 1, 2018 it will cover all employers with at least 20 workers. Employers with fewer than 20 employees will be exempt from the law.

Any group who acts like morons ironically will eventually find itself swamped by morons who think themselves to be in good company.
TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#118384: Apr 6th 2016 at 2:39:41 PM

Let's then add My God, You Are Serious! to Trump's page.

The man actually has plans for his crazy shit.

He has become legitimately frightening.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#118385: Apr 6th 2016 at 2:46:15 PM

Do divided conventions also lead to downballot disasters? Because the only safeguards against shutdowns, defaults and debt ceiling fights, Cromnibus riders, "free trade" treaties and other MEB problems is to remove as many Republicans from Congress as possible. This is part of why I am wishing for Trump to receive the nomination - he's the candidate most likely to aid in that.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
PotatoesRock Since: Oct, 2012
#118386: Apr 6th 2016 at 3:29:40 PM

In theory @ Downballot Disaster, you get such a shattered party pissed off that their guys didn't get in, that a fair number stay home to spite the chosen one. In theory it's one thing if say Kasich and Cruz get together, but it'll be less ugly than some options.

What would be nuclear is if Paul Ryan or so such got made the nominee.

sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#118387: Apr 6th 2016 at 3:49:53 PM

Is it likely that someone who dropped out or didn't primary in the first place would get preference over someone who was still active?

CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#118388: Apr 6th 2016 at 4:13:51 PM

[up] Who knows. If the Republicans are seriously going to go through with this, they're throwing away any hopes at winning the general election barring the democratic party doing something equally self-destructive, and the only remotely plausible scenario for that is a narrow Sanders victory in pledged delegates being overridden by the superdelegates, and in a scenario where a contested convention results in a third party Trump run (pretty much inevitable if he doesn't win outright), I don't doubt the democrats would still win in a landslide even if they resorted to that.

edited 6th Apr '16 4:18:04 PM by CaptainCapsase

sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#118389: Apr 6th 2016 at 4:24:32 PM

What do people think of the recent Supreme Court news, that Harry Reid is considering options to force a vote on Garland?

The Court situation's become a topic of personal interest, due to the blatant anti-other-side attitude the Senate Republicans are showing. I'm convinced that, if the only difference in this situation was a conservative president instead of liberal, this wouldn't even be an issue. If anything, the controversy would be going the other way as the Republicans try to force their nominee through the selection process as fast as possible.

edited 6th Apr '16 4:25:03 PM by sgamer82

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#118390: Apr 6th 2016 at 4:27:25 PM

[up] Republicans have, as a matter of party identity, chosen to publicly act as if Barack Obama's presidency is illegitimate: that is, that they shall use every tool in their playbook to deny him the right to govern. That this is ultimately self-destructive is something they are unable or unwilling to face.

I support anything Harry Reid can do to break through this wall of defiance, as long as it doesn't set a counter-precedent should we be faced with the terrifying prospect of a Trump-led White House and a Democratic Senate.

edited 6th Apr '16 4:29:07 PM by Fighteer

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
NickTheSwing Since: Aug, 2009
#118391: Apr 6th 2016 at 4:42:46 PM

Considering how difficult it would be to differentiate between the remittances from legal citizens and illegal immigrants, I would not put it past Trump to shut off remittances entirely.

He could then use the money he needs for the wall and then distribute the remaining cash to enrich his base and important allies, much like how Hitler gave over Jewish businesses and properties to German citizens.

Of course this would then make more Mexicans direly impoverished and result in a dash for America...which...the wall would be in the way of. And I suspect that while its getting made, ICE would be patrolling the area, making sure these desperate people meet horrible, desperate ends.

Trump gets his wall, ICE gets to test out its new capabilities, and the Republicans look good to the Xenophobic base.

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#118392: Apr 6th 2016 at 4:45:46 PM

He'd need to stack the Supreme Court somehow, as there's no way that would be judged constitutional. Seizure of remittances would probably be considered a bill of attainder.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#118393: Apr 6th 2016 at 4:49:32 PM

[up][up] Even with the worst case scenario for the supreme court (4 justices), there's only so much damage Trump could do as president; the United States isn't nearly unstable enough for him or anyone else to seize the Republic in the foreseeable future.

If he (or Sanders) doesn't make it? Well, the anti-establishment sentiments that fueled his campaign isn't going away, and if dirty tricks like superdelegates, brokered conventions, and the like are used to suppress such candidates, a decent chunk of the American public is on the fast track to radicalization.

edited 6th Apr '16 4:54:27 PM by CaptainCapsase

Memers Since: Aug, 2013
#118394: Apr 6th 2016 at 4:52:20 PM

Trump's nominations would probably be more moderate but rather deport heavy judges. Cruz's nominations would be religious extremists who would do serious damage to women's rights, gays, etc etc.

edited 6th Apr '16 4:56:52 PM by Memers

CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#118395: Apr 6th 2016 at 4:59:04 PM

[up] I seriously doubt Trump's nominees would be anything other than "pro-whatever Trump says" people.

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
#118396: Apr 6th 2016 at 5:00:00 PM

A Trump nominee would be full Caligula, we'd see him shove a personal friend/family on the court.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
ILoveDogs Since: May, 2010
CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#118398: Apr 6th 2016 at 5:04:14 PM

[up][up] I don't doubt he'd try to pull that at least once, but not even the GOP senate would stand for that. They'd probably end up compromising on judges who are still thoroughly underqualified in all ways other than their uncanny agreement with whatever Trump says, but his agenda in office would likely be more about further enriching himself than anything as directly destructive as what Cruz would be trying to accomplish.

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
#118399: Apr 6th 2016 at 5:21:52 PM

Sept Trump would directly enrich himself by taking money strait from the American people, look Cruz is Saudi Arabia levels of religious nut, but he still wants there to be a country when he leaves office, Trump? Trump is North Korea level of crazy, he might just blow everything up tomorrow, he might blow his own country up or another country, nobody can tell.

Look at the way Trump does business, he'd sell Alaska back to Russia and pocket the profit if he got the chance.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
Demonic_Braeburn Yankee Doodle Dandy from Defective California Since: Jan, 2016
Yankee Doodle Dandy
#118400: Apr 6th 2016 at 5:58:15 PM

The FEC questions Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) About over $1000 of campaign funds used on steam games.

edited 6th Apr '16 6:03:21 PM by Demonic_Braeburn

Any group who acts like morons ironically will eventually find itself swamped by morons who think themselves to be in good company.

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