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

Clarste One Winged Egret Since: Jun, 2009 Relationship Status: Non-Canon
One Winged Egret
#126951: Jun 18th 2016 at 12:13:34 AM

Any Amendment can be repealed, in that there are legal mechanisms to do that, but that is not going to happen and is not something any reasonable person would be worried about for the foreseeable future.

The First Amendment, more than any of the others, is practically sacred in modern American mythology.

edited 18th Jun '16 12:19:16 AM by Clarste

GameGuruGG Vampire Hunter from Castlevania (Before Recorded History)
Vampire Hunter
#126952: Jun 18th 2016 at 12:20:02 AM

One homophobic rampage and a suicide later, I've heard through the grapevine that gun sales are skyrocketing.

No, that's normal. After a national shooting, gun sales go up since gun nuts believe the government will use said incident to take their guns away.

As for your concern... Yes, if an Amendment was passed to repeal the First Amendment, the First Amendment would become invalid. Amendments are designed to be changes to the Constitution itself, and thus later Amendments override earlier Amendments and the Constitution as it was originally written. That being said, it won't because both the press AND the churches in the United States would destroy any politician who even suggested it. Remember that the First Amendment deals not just with the freedom of speech, but also freedom of the press and freedom of religion, and both the press and the churches have a large amount of power in the United States.

As far as Prohibition is concerned, the reason why the 21st Amendment was ratified to repeal the 18th... The "War on Beer" failed spectacularly and was a disaster of unprecedented proportions! You think the War on Drugs is bad? The War on Drugs did not create anyone like Al Capone.

edited 18th Jun '16 12:31:40 AM by GameGuruGG

Wizard Needs Food Badly
Bat178 Since: May, 2011
#126953: Jun 18th 2016 at 12:35:42 AM

[up] At least not in the US. In Mexico, however...

TerminusEst from the Land of Winter and Stars Since: Feb, 2010
JackOLantern1337 Shameful Display from The Most Miserable Province in the Russian Empir Since: Aug, 2014 Relationship Status: 700 wives and 300 concubines
Shameful Display
#126955: Jun 18th 2016 at 4:01:36 AM

[up][up][up] I'm not so sure. On the left their is an increasing sentiment against speech they disagree with, and I've heard some argue the first amendment is a tool of privilege. I could see at some point in the future a movement to replace the first amendment with more "mature" and "responsible", European style press freedom that doesn't protect hate speech or things like that. Mind you this would hardly lead to 1984.

I Bring Doom,and a bit of gloom, but mostly gloom.
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
#126956: Jun 18th 2016 at 5:09:13 AM

That sentiment never seems to survive outside of socal media or colleges, even graduates seem to loose that sentiment, so it's not a generational thing so much as a specific period of life thing.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#126957: Jun 18th 2016 at 5:16:24 AM

A bit more local-level than usual but:

Oakland loses 3rd police chief amid growing scandals:

http://bigstory.ap.org/51f9b2743ebd461a9bf59a4b45bc4cb0

SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#126958: Jun 18th 2016 at 5:30:08 AM

it struggles with allegations that a number of officers had sex with a teenage prostitute and exchanged racist text messages.

Oy wey.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#126960: Jun 18th 2016 at 8:19:17 AM

@silasw: I don't think we can say that for sure until the Internet generation is actually in charge of things, and to be completely honest, while I'm not super anxious, it's important to remain diligent about authoritarian elements of society, both from the left and the right.

desdendelle Hooded Crow from Land of Milk and Honey (Sergeant) Relationship Status: Hiding
Hooded Crow
#126961: Jun 18th 2016 at 8:50:28 AM

@Hil's Twitter: it's like a guy in WoT saying "uninstall game u noob". If that's snark, I'm not seeing it.

On empty crossroads, seek the eclipse -- for when Sol and Lua align, the lost shall find their way home.
majoraoftime (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#126962: Jun 18th 2016 at 9:00:25 AM

I'm not so sure. On the left their is an increasing sentiment against speech they disagree with, and I've heard some argue the first amendment is a tool of privilege. I could see at some point in the future a movement to replace the first amendment with more "mature" and "responsible", European style press freedom that doesn't protect hate speech or things like that. Mind you this would hardly lead to 1984.

40% of American millenials are okay with limiting speech offensive to minorities

Interestingly, preference for absolute free speech goes up with education.

The comments are entertaining if you want to see some old people shit themselves.

smokeycut Since: Mar, 2013
#126963: Jun 18th 2016 at 9:05:32 AM

Most people I've discussed limiting free speech with say they're in favor of limiting hate speech, not freedom of the press or freedom to speak out against the president or what have you. But stopping people from saying "that woman deserved to be raped" or "we need to stone all the gays", or stopping people from owning/displaying nazi memorabilia.

JackOLantern1337 Shameful Display from The Most Miserable Province in the Russian Empir Since: Aug, 2014 Relationship Status: 700 wives and 300 concubines
Shameful Display
#126964: Jun 18th 2016 at 9:08:23 AM

[up][up] No the survey said preference for limits goes up amongst those with a college education.

[up] Like I said, European style laws would hardly bring about a dystopia.

I Bring Doom,and a bit of gloom, but mostly gloom.
RavenWilder Since: Apr, 2009
#126965: Jun 18th 2016 at 9:20:27 AM

Hasn't France banned all public displays of religion or something like that, though?

edited 18th Jun '16 9:49:26 AM by RavenWilder

smokeycut Since: Mar, 2013
#126966: Jun 18th 2016 at 9:23:41 AM

I believe that's in schools only, but it was mostly designed to target muslims. Kids get away with crosses, but not hijabs.

AdricDePsycho Rock on, Gold Dust Woman from Never Going Back Again Since: Oct, 2014 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Rock on, Gold Dust Woman
#126967: Jun 18th 2016 at 9:25:26 AM

I've heard some controversy about something along those lines. While I'm against organized religion, I'm not one to say you can't wear a hijab or a cross. It's freedom of expression.

Have you any dreams you'd like to sell?
desdendelle Hooded Crow from Land of Milk and Honey (Sergeant) Relationship Status: Hiding
Hooded Crow
#126968: Jun 18th 2016 at 9:26:14 AM

[up][up][up] France is a special case, though — they've a rather hard variation on the whole "separation of church and state" thing.

edited 18th Jun '16 9:26:24 AM by desdendelle

On empty crossroads, seek the eclipse -- for when Sol and Lua align, the lost shall find their way home.
TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#126969: Jun 18th 2016 at 9:40:09 AM

Yeah, that's just an excuse to fuck with Muslims. At the time, you could also see Sarkozy attending Catholic rituals with a fucking tear in his eye.

Speaking of Muslims in school, has anyone here been reading Ms. Marvel?

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
smokeycut Since: Mar, 2013
#126970: Jun 18th 2016 at 9:45:22 AM

I got the first issue of it when it started, but never wound up keeping up with it. Too much stuff on my list already. I've heard tons of good stuff about it.

LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#126971: Jun 18th 2016 at 9:46:32 AM

I see panels float my way on social media but never got it. Love the idea though.

Oh really when?
Protagonist506 from Oregon Since: Dec, 2013 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#126973: Jun 18th 2016 at 10:30:36 AM

I mean, the problem is that free speech is specifically meant to protect unpopular speech. Otherwise, the Star Wars Holiday special would be illegal contraband. So, banning a certain type of speech can set a worrying precedent (I'm not saying it's never necessary, but still).

Leviticus 19:34
majoraoftime (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#126974: Jun 18th 2016 at 10:59:44 AM

No the survey said preference for limits goes up amongst those with a college education.

I recommend reading it more carefully:

Furthermore, Americans who have a high school degree or less are more likely than those with at least a college degree to say that speech offensive to minority groups should be able to be restricted (a 9-percentage-point difference).

It's not very clearly written, but it does say that the more education a person has, the less likely they are to support limits on offensive speech.

edited 18th Jun '16 11:02:09 AM by majoraoftime

JackOLantern1337 Shameful Display from The Most Miserable Province in the Russian Empir Since: Aug, 2014 Relationship Status: 700 wives and 300 concubines
Shameful Display
#126975: Jun 18th 2016 at 11:34:50 AM

[up] Oh that is surprising. I mean its always stereotyped as overpriviladged college kids without a sense of humor. Maybe it's because a large part of the people wanting these limits are minorities themselves, and a good number of them lack a college education.

I Bring Doom,and a bit of gloom, but mostly gloom.

Total posts: 417,856
Top