All purpose news and politics thread part v: The quickening

[jetengine]

It tends to get better with each passing generation -- the election of Obama wouldn't have been feasible prior to the Civil Rights movement and would have been virtually impossible any time before that -- so there is progress in that respect.

We just hit quite a few setbacks once Republicans (like Trump) take office -- and that doesn't just apply to African-Americans but to all Americans.

That's why they are trying to consolidate (judicial) power to combat the coming demographic shift -- voter suppression is only the tip of the iceberg in that respect. They know they have to cheat -- or change the laws -- because they can't win in a fair and just democracy.

Imagine a world where the Republican party supported the rights of all voters and exhibited fiscal responsibility and personal integrity instead of showing their blatant hypocrisy every time they get into office and ditching any alleged concern for those values the moment they seize power.

They had the opportunity after Bush to change direction and straighten up their act -- instead they chose Trump and still protect him to this day.

I'll add that therein lies the division between what Republicans say -- on message boards for instance -- and what their party actually does.

I just cant honestly see what purpose conservatism has in this world anymore frankly.

[Tami]

Sen. @BernieSanders
is asking the New York State Board of Elections to keep his name on the state’s primary ballot, even though he suspended his presidential campaign more than two weeks ago. THREAD —>

Twitter Link

Thoughts? Anyone?

[InformationGeek]

Twitter Link

Thoughts? Anyone?

I believe he mentioned in the past that he wants to at least keep his name on the ballots so if he does get enough delegates, he can at least influence the Democrat Party with some of his policies.

[JackDaw]

I just cant honestly see what purpose conservatism has in this world anymore frankly.

How do you define “conservatism”?

Put it this way if you replace the word government with the words “other people” in many phrases you see how unrealistic and selfish many people’s expectations of government are.

One example that does vex me a wee bit (I’ll admit) is those people who go abroad on a venture that any sane person would realise was chancy, plan it badly...then as soon as it goes wrong demand “the UK government needs to sort it out”.

Say instead “other people need to sort it out”..and immediately you start wondering why that is? Nobody forced them to go abroad and act like a prat.

Yes, I realise we need to stick together, in this life, or we are all shafted. But it can’t be all take and no give...society just can’t work if we just keep demanding more and more of government, while accepting fewer and fewer personal responsibilities.

[PwrdOn]

Thats....actually pretty smart.

Hear me out. America doesnt want China on the same level as it. The USA wants to be the preeminent superpower. Anyway to hamper China getting better is a good thing. This dude has effectively used his racism to hide his Realpolitik.

Its still shitty of course but theres some intelligence at play

Most students who come here from China, and most other countries for that matter, would prefer to stay to live and work here rather than going back. This influx of talent from abroad is largely what keeps the US tech sector ahead of the curve, not some inherent technological superiority like Cotton seems to be suggesting. However, the increase in xenophobic attitudes during the Trump administration has begun to reverse this brain drain, which is going to hurt us a lot more than some lame Red Scare conspiracy of student spying.

How do you define “conservatism”?

Put it this way if you replace the word government with the words “other people” in many phrases you see how unrealistic and selfish many people’s expectations of government are.

One example that does vex me a wee bit (I’ll admit) is those people who go abroad on a venture that any sane person would realise was chancy, plan it badly...then as soon as it goes wrong demand “the UK government needs to sort it out”.

Say instead “other people need to sort it out”..and immediately you start wondering why that is? Nobody forced them to go abroad and act like a prat.

Yes, I realise we need to stick together, in this life, or we are all shafted. But it can’t be all take and no give...society just can’t work if we just keep demanding more and more of government, while accepting fewer and fewer personal responsibilities.

Conservatism only demands that the weak and helpless in society take personal responsibility, those in positions of power are free to do whatever the hell they want and never suffer any consequences for their actions.

[Tami]

As if this year couldn't get more disastrous

2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season Expected to Be More Active Than Usual, The Weather Company Outlook Says

4 major hurricanes are predicted as part of an above-normal 2020 Atlantic hurricane season

[PaulBullion]

It's actually not smart for a *lot* of reasons and is terrible realpolitik. If your goal is to maintain American power, a walled garden view of science is the worst way to go about it.

He's also acting as if the Chinese students could not learn the same things in Berlin, Paris or Edinburgh.

[Kirby101]

Conservatism only demands that the weak and helpless in society take personal responsibility, those in positions of power are free to do whatever the hell they want and never suffer any consequences for their actions.

Actually, conservatives demand that the rich and powerful are constantly bailed out for any mistakes. Only the powerless must practice personal responsibility.

[PaulBullion]

(snip)

I'll add that therein lies the division between what Republicans say -- on message boards for instance -- and what their party actually does.

I think if they said on this board what their party actually does, they'd be banned.

[PaulBullion]

Twitter Link

Thoughts? Anyone?

It's so confusing.

Does he want people to vote for him - or for the candidate he has endorsed? It's a little schizophrenic.

[aja_christopher]

How do you define “conservatism”?

Put it this way if you replace the word government with the words “other people” in many phrases you see how unrealistic and selfish many people’s expectations of government are.

One example that does vex me a wee bit (I’ll admit) is those people who go abroad on a venture that any sane person would realise was chancy, plan it badly...then as soon as it goes wrong demand “the UK government needs to sort it out”.

Say instead “other people need to sort it out”..and immediately you start wondering why that is? Nobody forced them to go abroad and act like a prat.

Yes, I realise we need to stick together, in this life, or we are all shafted. But it canÂ’t be all take and no give...society just canÂ’t work if we just keep demanding more and more of government, while accepting fewer and fewer personal responsibilities.

I agree completely with the issue of personal responsibility.

But the reality is we pay our governments to "sort things out" that most of us can't deal with on a personal scale (schools, justice, health care, etc).

Regarding personal responsibility, Trump goes abroad and acts like a prat all the time, and he's the head of the conservative party here in America.

He also lies and cheats on his wives, yet he's held up as an icon in many conservative circles, including evangelicals.

In America conservativism in many ways has become more about appearance and less about actual personal responsibility and integrity.

With that in mind, you can't blame people for being skeptical of it as a whole.

I think if they said on this board what their party actually does, they'd be banned.

Can't see where it would be problematic to admit that your party suppresses African-American and Latino voters.

Nor to explain why you still support Republicans despite the fact -- there's no point in pretending politics isn't motivated by self-interest.

It might go a long way towards changing said behavior, rather than claiming it's not as bad as we "think" it is when confronted with evidence.

Or maybe they simply don't want to change since it helps them win elections -- seems like the most logical answer since no other was forthcoming.

[godisawesome]

I just cant honestly see what purpose conservatism has in this world anymore frankly.

Until the political landscape shifts to where the current power structure and political will of the “conservative” factions shifts back towards the center, leftward, and the extreme side is ostracized and dismissed in relevance, it’s not really “conservatism” that’s being talked about: it’s outright Regressivism and fascism.

Right now, the actual “purpose” of conservativeism is actually more closely tied to “the left’s” attempt to reassert sanity and stability; the “centrists” joining with progressive elements in coalitions to try and restore order and humanity to the political system are far more like a legitimate “conservative” faction in principle - pushing more for caution, pragmatism, and supporting ideas about what makes older traditions sometimes worthwhile or laudable.

That’s partially why there’s serious tension between more extreme ends of “the left’s” coalition: everyone recognizes that a significant section of the current coalition against fascism and regressivism isn’t really “left” in terms of long term goals and viewpoints, or is in fear that the more uncompromising revolutionary side of the party might end up being a livability towards governance.

The truth of the matter is that wise leadership will seek to wield this coalition not just to reverse the current course of politics, but to try and forge enough understanding and epiphanies among both sides to create a stronger “leftward” tilt to the paradigm that will be stronger than what came before. In a lot of ways, there was *just* enough of this kind of wisdom in the mid-20th Century in America to allow the Democrats to become a Civil Rights Party in the 60’s, and to still have actual political power; little intelligent moves like integration of the military forces under Truman and superior patriotism on the part of oppressed minorities managed to convince enough of the middle ground centrists that legalized racism was wrong to let the votes and political leadership end up on the right side of history there.

The tricky part is that, in general, progressive and centrist politics require “coalition thinking” for a broader part of their spectrum than on the right; while both sides of the political horseshoe eventually end in single-party “purity” and horrifying fanaticism, it takes a bit longer to get there on the left, while fairly early into the right side of the equation, you get the “fall in line mentality.” That’s why fascism and other such regressive moves a can seem to unfold so quickly and brutally; fewer parties are needed to make a “coalition” on the right.

[JackDaw]

Conservatism only demands that the weak and helpless in society take personal responsibility, those in positions of power are free to do whatever the hell they want and never suffer any consequences for their actions.

If you define it that way...of course it’s a bad thing.

Just as if I defined socialism as “a system where people take no personal responsibility”, socialism would be a bad thing.

I accept that definition of socialism would be biased, of course. But equally your definition of “conservatism” is equally biased I think...you’re simply defining conservatism as embodying all the worst aspects of right wing politics.

Let me quote a less biased definition of conservatism (the one in Chambers 21st century dictionary): favouring that which is established or traditional, with an opposition to change.

Defined that way..in moderation..I think conservatism should have its place. If people do require big changes in society, I think there should be an onus on them to provide reasonable proof that the change is for the better.

Pushed to the limit (i.e. unreasonably opposing worthwhile change), of course it’s a disastrous way of thinking. Buy most ways of thinking are disastrous pushed to the limit.

[CaptainEurope]

I've never voted for Angela Merkel. She is in the "wrong" party, and I strongly disagreed with her stances on nuclear power and marriage equality.

But gosh darnit, I am kind of glad we have her now.

[Tendrin]

Until the political landscape shifts to where the current power structure and political will of the “conservative” factions shifts back towards the center, leftward, and the extreme side is ostracized and dismissed in relevance, it’s not really “conservatism” that’s being talked about: it’s outright Regressivism and fascism.ht.

This is a great post.