deanb Posted October 20, 2016 Report Share Posted October 20, 2016 yeah gerrymandering would only apply if you could completely recreate states. (p.s I imagine the real things don't allow you to vote more than once, though I'm unsure how) Also McCain was probably the last decent republican nominee, apart from the whole VP choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMightyEthan Posted October 20, 2016 Report Share Posted October 20, 2016 The poll worker has a thing that activates the machine, and then it lets you go through the voting process, and at the end it deactivates and can only be reactivated by a poll worker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hot Heart Posted October 27, 2016 Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 To quote Mr. GOH! from a while back: "Wow, Ethan, your state is totally fucked up" http://cjonline.com/news/2016-10-25/kansas-lawmaker-denounces-black-protester-suggests-she-go-back-home Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMightyEthan Posted October 27, 2016 Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMightyEthan Posted October 28, 2016 Report Share Posted October 28, 2016 The fucking Oregon wildlife refuge takeover psychos were acquitted because we live in a country full of morons. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mal Posted October 28, 2016 Report Share Posted October 28, 2016 And the Bundy's attorney got tased and tackled due to a heated argument with the judge over not letting Bundy walk out of the court room since he (Ammon) and his brother Ryan still had charges over the stuff they done in Nevada. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanb Posted October 28, 2016 Report Share Posted October 28, 2016 they the ones that were wanting to do cattle ranching or whatever, and armed themselves up n had a bit of a siege going on? Wasn't that years ago? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMightyEthan Posted October 28, 2016 Report Share Posted October 28, 2016 They are those people, and there was a second siege last year in Oregon over them being insane. They're still facing charges over the cattle siege because until now there had been no way to arrest them without triggering a massive gun battle, so the feds just waited.I'm not gonna lie, hearing that the lawyer got tased made me happy. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanb Posted October 28, 2016 Report Share Posted October 28, 2016 If they didn't have "Police" on their chest I'd never have guessed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mal Posted October 29, 2016 Report Share Posted October 29, 2016 The situation in North Dakota (Dean's post) is depressing. Pair it up with the Oregon stuff and yeah. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMightyEthan Posted November 1, 2016 Report Share Posted November 1, 2016 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thursday Next Posted November 1, 2016 Report Share Posted November 1, 2016 Chris Arnade has some interesting things to say on the election. You should follow him. e.g. https://twitter.com/Chris_arnade/status/793468385648574464 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanb Posted November 1, 2016 Report Share Posted November 1, 2016 Cracked had an article that pretty much hit the nail on the head too about the divide in America. Feels similar over here, for example despite the fact that a lot of employment in Sunderland is based around the Nissan plant, and there's a lot of EU money pumped into the North East, Sunderland still voted "Leave". It echos back to the great depression and the rise of fascism around the world in the early C20th. It's just crazy how from over here it seems so absolutely clear that Trump is a terrible candidate for president, yet folks will argue for him, or say how Clinton is "equally bad". She doesn't fluster around responses, she's got decades of experience in navigating the political field. I mean, do Americans really want Trump to be representing them on the international stage. We have Farage as one of our representatives within EU and he's godawful, an absolute joke that does us no favours at all. Doesn't help that Trump is angling for such an isolationist policy (which we all know worked wonders for the US and world stage in the past) which'll put US on a backfoot in any discussions on world stage. But oh no she has emails! Yeah and your other choice has a court date in Dec for child rape, which given his own remarks on his daughter, women in general and own admittance of letting himself into Miss America changing rooms doesn't seem all that unlikely. I guess a problem is, and it would be the same if Leave had lost, is that even if he loses his supporters still make up a decent chunk of the population and that's something you've got to look at. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMightyEthan Posted November 1, 2016 Report Share Posted November 1, 2016 At least his *enthusiastic* supporters only make up a small portion of his total supporters. Most of his supporters are highly reluctant. I've even heard people say they're only voting for him cause they know he'll get himself impeached and they want Pence as president (which is colossally stupid, but there you are). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thursday Next Posted November 1, 2016 Report Share Posted November 1, 2016 Problem is that we are (or I am) in an erudite echo-chamber, I mostly follow (on social media and in my real social life) smart, left leaning, forward thinking types who tend to be more affluent. It's difficult not to look at the other side and think "How can these luddites not see how dumb they are acting." but at the same time, I don't know how I would feel if I were less well off and my primary source of information were publications with a different agenda *ahem The Sun ahem*. I mean, if everything was based on say... physical strength rather than education, and I was told that because I didn't go to the gym and get swole that I was worth less than other people and that that was my own fault (even though it isn't entirely my fault cos I couldn't afford to go to a good gym), and then some orange person (who had clearly benefited from that system) told me they were going to smash it and see what shook out of the wreckage, then maybe I would think "Things can't get any worse, screw you gym bunnies, you played the game your way and I lost and you made me feel like crap, but now I'm going to tear it all down and we'll see who wins with an even (utterly wrecked) playing field.") I kind of get the emotion behind it, but you aren't going to get through to those people by screaming idiot at them, you only entrench them further. Instead you need to find a way to reassure them that even though they are left behind you will do what you can to catch them up and make sure their kids aren't treated the same way. No idea *how* you do that though... lol. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mister Jack Posted November 1, 2016 Report Share Posted November 1, 2016 I honestly can't fathom how anyone in the lower class can say they're a Republican with a straight face. The Republican party is against pretty much everything that would give them a chance at improving their lot in life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mal Posted November 1, 2016 Report Share Posted November 1, 2016 I kind of get the emotion behind it, but you aren't going to get through to those people by screaming idiot at them, you only entrench them further. Instead you need to find a way to reassure them that even though they are left behind you will do what you can to catch them up and make sure their kids aren't treated the same way. No idea *how* you do that though... lol. I think routes outside of traditional higher education should be stressed. I and most other grad students I know, we are highly encouraging folks to look into stuff like trade school/apprenticeships to be an electrician and stuff like that. I've come across many people in those professions saying that they need people and are very open on taking on people. I swear most of us don't look down on people in those professions! The skills and experience they get mirrors what we grad students learn: specialize knowledge on how to do what we do well and in some case, to not kill ourselves. Like shit, I wish I knew and had time to learn half of the stuff they know. Sometimes I wish I was doing those things instead. I'd have a livable job by now doing what I have interest in. It should be noted that there are too many grad students especially at the PhD and post doc level. This system is set to churn out grads at a unsustainable rate and someday it'll come crashing down and academia will have to take a hard look at itself. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanb Posted November 1, 2016 Report Share Posted November 1, 2016 "Socialism never took root in America because the poor see themselves not as an exploited proletariat, but as temporarily embarrassed millionaires". Butyeah I'm with Thursdays thing in I wouldn't even know where to begin and it's really quite difficult when it's, at least over here but I imagine similar in the US, an audience that rejects "experts" so being like "but this clearly states". You're a bit up shit creek trying to go against that mentality. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saturnine Tenshi Posted November 1, 2016 Report Share Posted November 1, 2016 @Trades: I want to get into a trade. It's good, reliable pay, and I think it's something I might enjoy. Don't know which I'd like to do, and I don't want to end up bouncing around. Also don't want the debt from going to school for it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CorgiShinobi Posted November 1, 2016 Report Share Posted November 1, 2016 I've gone back to school after working for almost 3 years and hating where life was taking me. Things are difficult for me emotionally, but I've gone back to get a technical degree around IT and Networking. It's not glamorous and I'm not going to shine like the typical stereotype of a Millennial superstar, but it's going to help live life to a healthy degree. I want to emphasize that last sentence. The general idea around going into work in a trade or something like "general management" at a franchise or retail setting is looked down upon because there's an air of "third-rate" to it. During one's K-12 education, there will be stereotypes and impressions that fall upon you that those electricians and plumbers are doing that work because they didn't excel in their education. The kids who didn't take schooling seriously or the dimwits, those will be the kids to fill those positions! But then you become an adult and realize that human beings are the those who are filling those positions. With the turnout of all these higher education students not getting into their anticipated position, looking into a trade to them brings about a mindset of, "Shit, I failed!" I know that's what I went through and having gone through an emotional roller coaster for the last 1.5 years, I just pray and hope that in the end I can just doing well for myself in this job market. I don't enter this thread much because I don't have a solid political affiliation. If you dug deep into this thread, you'd find our posts where we did that political compass that determines how liberal, conservative, libertarian, and authoritarian one is. I ended up nearly in the middle, and no it wasn't on purpose. My social media grouping of friends and associates make up both right-wing and left-wing. I like to see both sides to politics, but this election year has made me extremely pessimistic. Based on what I see from people talking, both around me and online, I get the impression that many voters don't truly like the candidate they're voting for. Like Ethan mentioned, I've seen some Trump supporters only back him because they like Pence and assume he'll probably be president instead. I've also seen that in the Hillary camp for those who never stood by her in the first place and believe Kaine to be a safe and sustainable choice. This was my worse case scenario, which I stated months ago. I don't like any of the candidates, and that includes third party. Gary Johnson had more of a push given the circumstances of this election and my generation was looking into him. Thing is, if you do look into him, you'll find he's not some messiah of political imbalance, but another politician that has his share of crazy quirks and frightening lack of political knowledge to be considered the next president. Not like that all matters as my state is a Red State so even if I cared for anyone outside of Trump, all the electoral votes will go to him no doubt. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMightyEthan Posted November 1, 2016 Report Share Posted November 1, 2016 Libertarians are scary psycho crazy. I would vote for a Republican (except Trump) over a Libertarian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saturnine Tenshi Posted November 2, 2016 Report Share Posted November 2, 2016 Folks like you and I can't sit on the fence forever, Atomsk88. We'll be forced to choose a side someday, and we may end up in opposing factions. D:< Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mal Posted November 2, 2016 Report Share Posted November 2, 2016 Chris Arnade has some interesting things to say on the election. You should follow him. e.g. https://twitter.com/Chris_arnade/status/793468385648574464 After thinking about it on and off today, I really like his more fleshed out thoughts in the articles he posted after his Tweet storm. Here and here. The tweets and articles really make your pause and think. It honestly makes me feel sad in the "I/We fucked up" sort of way. It's an odd feeling to have in terms of thinking about your country and especially since you and I didn't have a part in creating this mess. It's collective guilt I suppose? A bit too early for that though since I have a good 40-60 years on this earth and ~25 years before my niece/nephew generation get to our shoes. This is going to be a long term fix or continuous patch job. I would hate to see this shit break out and consume us. And I suppose (I can't tell the future) it can lead to fascism to rise again. Assuming it can, I rather not directly fight or have the younger generations fight that since the world had a great time fighting that back in WWII. The above is melodramatic but I can't shake it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thursday Next Posted November 2, 2016 Report Share Posted November 2, 2016 Yeah Mal, I like his articles too. The tweetstorms are easily digestible and were how I came across him and his "front row vs back row" thesis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. GOH! Posted November 2, 2016 Report Share Posted November 2, 2016 Except his tweet that the new US hierarchy is based on education is wrong. The hierarchy is based on your parents' wealth, full stop. Class mobility is very poor in the US. Education is no longer a gateway to steady work unless your family has money. There are exceptions to the rule that get trotted out to make the US look like a meritocracy, but the data strongly suggests that mobility is the outlier. Of course people are angry; but their anger is misdirected at the left when the right promotes policies that will further entrench the current class system. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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