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

LinkToTheFuture A real bad hombre from somewhere completely different Since: Apr, 2015 Relationship Status: What's love got to do with it?
A real bad hombre
#155851: Nov 16th 2016 at 2:30:52 PM

I still don't get the climate denialism. Do they actually not believe in it or do they just not care?

"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." -Thomas Edison
Kayeka (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#155852: Nov 16th 2016 at 2:34:01 PM

[up]Little of column A, little of column B. All that lobbying by various industries tends to make one distrustful of the scientific community.

Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#155853: Nov 16th 2016 at 2:40:41 PM

Short-sighted greed, mental gymnastics and propaganda created to serve said greed.

AlleyOop Since: Oct, 2010
#155854: Nov 16th 2016 at 2:48:36 PM

I still don't get why the US is so unique in that. Even the right of Europe has gotten around to accepting it.

alekos23 Since: Mar, 2013
SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#155856: Nov 16th 2016 at 2:51:49 PM

That, and a lot of Republicans do believe it is an issue but are silenced by the angry hordes of primary voters and propaganda machines. You may notice that a lot of the believers are not currently in office.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
alekos23 Since: Mar, 2013
#155857: Nov 16th 2016 at 2:54:07 PM

Honestly,most people tend to only know "Climate Change" as "Rising Waters" and "Higher Temperatures" which is a horrible way to look at it.

kkhohoho (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#155858: Nov 16th 2016 at 2:59:25 PM

[up]They also don't think it's something that will seriously affect them in their lifetimes, essentially telling the whole world that it's Somebody Else's Problem and screwing over future generations in the process.

edited 16th Nov '16 3:00:27 PM by kkhohoho

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#155859: Nov 16th 2016 at 3:03:09 PM

"Don't bother me with that climate change bullshit; I'm too busy waging race and class warfare."

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
AlleyOop Since: Oct, 2010
#155860: Nov 16th 2016 at 3:05:23 PM

And when it did become undeniable some of them went so far as to openly say "who cares about what happens to the later generations?"

alekos23 Since: Mar, 2013
#155861: Nov 16th 2016 at 3:11:06 PM

Clearly we need more mockumentaries with gamma-ray-emitting superstorms that melt your face.Should get the message across.

Pseudopartition Screaming Into The Void from The Cretaeceous Since: Dec, 2013 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
Screaming Into The Void
#155862: Nov 16th 2016 at 3:18:57 PM

I remember hearing a rumor that Pence specifically believes that it's our God-given right to use up the planet's resources, then Jesus will come down and save us in the second coming. But I've been unable to find a proper source for it so, grain of salt.

Oil-industry lobbying is probably a pretty huge factor, people just don't seem to realize that economic health is directly tied to environmental health, and misreporting convincing people that climate change isn't a decided issue (that's related to the whole mistrust of experts thing, plus the idea that impartiality in the media means giving both sides equal space, both of which are ignorant of actual fact). And like, we're really bad as a species at planning for the distant future.

Hey, at least the Kochs have stopped denying it, after they spent a couple of decades funneling millions of dollars into denial groups. We're saved, everybody!

edited 16th Nov '16 3:19:27 PM by Pseudopartition

TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#155863: Nov 16th 2016 at 3:47:50 PM

"Honestly,most people tend to only know "Climate Change" as "Rising Waters" and "Higher Temperatures" which is a horrible way to look at it."

There's more to it?

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#155864: Nov 16th 2016 at 3:54:45 PM

[up] Yes, as a consequence of those things, you're going to see massive famines later in the 21st century if nothing is done, and probably the breakdown of civil society in many parts of the world.

Okay we're going to see massive famines no matter what at this point, but it's the difference between millions of people dying and billions of people dying.

edited 16th Nov '16 3:55:21 PM by CaptainCapsase

IrishZombie Since: Dec, 2009
#155865: Nov 16th 2016 at 3:58:19 PM

Question. Assuming Trump doesn't manage to keep the Republican population at large happy with him, but also manages to serve the full four years without getting impeached (or killed, if we're being frank, though I wouldn't wish that even on him), what happens in 2020 if he wants to run again? The Dems would have a strong case against Trump in that event, sure, but is it conceivable that the Republicans decide they've had it with Trump and field someone else to run against him?

I mean, I can't think of an instance where a president that was both up for reelection and actually wanted another term didn't become their party's de facto candidate, but I'm pretty sure there Ain't No Rule against it...

Elle Since: Jan, 2001
#155866: Nov 16th 2016 at 3:58:24 PM

Warmer oceans and stuff contributes to greater extremes of weather, warm and cold. There was a congressman a few years back who brought a snowball in from outside (DC, which doesn't usually get big snow, got one) to "proove" that global warming was malarky. Also, greater drought, greater floods, possible resource conflicts in poorer nations over water, stuff like that.

[up]I remember reading about it happening at least once but forget when and whom.

edited 16th Nov '16 4:00:07 PM by Elle

Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#155867: Nov 16th 2016 at 4:02:05 PM

I was also thinking about the possibility of Trump not running for President again due to the toll of the presidency on his completely unqualified person, but I don't think his ego would allow him to not campaign for re-election, especially since it'd allow him to go campaigning and rallying.

RBluefish Since: Nov, 2013
#155868: Nov 16th 2016 at 4:06:06 PM

Trump and his Death Eaters are reportedly talking about the Muslim registry again, only they'd call it something different and put a fresh coat of paint on it in order to have it pass Constitutional muster.

This is terrifying. At this point, I don't see how anyone can say that the Hitler parallels are unfounded.

"We'll take the next chance, and the next, until we win, or the chances are spent."
Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#155869: Nov 16th 2016 at 4:09:19 PM

The problem is Godwin's Law. People have become desensitized to comparisons with the Nazi party and Hitler, mostly because EVERYONE does it, especially when it's not warranted.

And so when someone who's actually similar to Hitler in some ways comes along, they don't really buy it. I think many of them don't want to believe he's that bad, because accepting it as an Awful Truth would be devastating.

edited 16th Nov '16 4:09:46 PM by Draghinazzo

AlleyOop Since: Oct, 2010
#155870: Nov 16th 2016 at 4:15:47 PM

[up][up][up][up] Maybe you're thinking of Teddy Roosevelt vs Taft in the 1912 election that they both ultimately lost to Woodrow Wilson? Though it wasn't consecutive, more like Roosevelt came back after letting Taft rule but the conservative Republican wing didn't want him back.

edited 16th Nov '16 4:21:24 PM by AlleyOop

TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#155871: Nov 16th 2016 at 4:23:11 PM

"Question. Assuming Trump doesn't manage to keep the Republican population at large happy with him, but also manages to serve the full four years without getting impeached (or killed, if we're being frank, though I wouldn't wish that even on him), "

Hang on, how many folks will suffer and die because Trump is inexperienced and ruinous?

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
TheWanderer Student of Story from Somewhere in New England (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: Wishfully thinking
Student of Story
#155872: Nov 16th 2016 at 4:24:24 PM

"Honestly,most people tend to only know "Climate Change" as "Rising Waters" and "Higher Temperatures" which is a horrible way to look at it."

There's more to it?

I think I remember hearing that even if the world were limited to the 2 degree celsius increase, a lot of plants and fruit bearing trees and such would have their growth stunted and ability to be used for food impaired as a result.

Add on the fact that a lot of pollinating insects are already struggling in part because of the chemicals used on farms and other environmental causes, and there's a potentially major kink in our ability to continue feeding people as the century goes on.

(Keep in mind all of this is second hand, and by no means am I a botanist or environmental expert. Take the above with a grain of salt.)

[up] Lots. Far, far too many preventable deaths will happen because of Trump.

edited 16th Nov '16 4:29:31 PM by TheWanderer

| Wandering, but not lost. | If people bring so much courage to this world...◊ |
kkhohoho (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#155873: Nov 16th 2016 at 4:25:51 PM

[up]Or in other words, this century could well be the deathknell of civilization as we know it. Kinky.tongue

nightwyrm_zero Since: Apr, 2010
#155874: Nov 16th 2016 at 4:50:28 PM

So Trump is the Great Filter. The local manifestation of the universal constant preventing galaxy wide civilizations. wild mass guess

edited 16th Nov '16 4:52:08 PM by nightwyrm_zero

DingoWalley1 Asgore Adopts Noelle Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
Asgore Adopts Noelle
#155875: Nov 16th 2016 at 5:07:54 PM

Republicans want to bring back 'Pork Barrel' Legislation (IE, Bills with parts that fund specific States or Organizations).

So much for 'Draining the Swamp', am I right?

edited 16th Nov '16 5:08:12 PM by DingoWalley1


Total posts: 417,856
Top