US Political Discussion: Biden/Harris Edition (Rules in OP)

[Crungy]

I'm not a republican but I find it humorous when trump and his bootlickers call people like Cheney a RINO when it's him pushing far right extremes and not representing what most would consider historically republican.

 

[nightflameauto]

Not the "conservatives" you mean....the ones who sit outside abortion clinics or child molesting pizza parlors polishing their AR15's in case Clarence Thomas is sitting on the toilet and can't activate the Jewish space cannons in time to prevent fetal harm....but "normal" people who value an American president who won't be Putin's performing monkey or spend 18 hours a day on Twitter will see some value in her. I don't agree with her politics but I agree strongly with her most valuable asset....competency.

That's 99% of the reason she won't ever get the nod.

Democrats field a bunch of folks with interesting ideas, some even surprising, then slowly widdle it down to the most milquetoast, boring, addled, dumbass of the bunch.

Republicans field a bunch of folks with some interesting ideas, some even surprising, some a little out there, and some full-blown batshit fucking crazy, then slowly widdle it down to the full-blown batshit fucking craziest one of the bunch.

Maybe she could run as an independent? And get three pity votes from people like me that know their state will go full red no matter what we vote for.

 

[Crungy]

Add "attractive" women to the republican list. Whether it's a male politician wanting to bone someone or someone who fucked their way up the ranks cough Boebert cough... They rely on attractive people, craziness be damned.

 

[mmr007]

That's Cheney....and that's her manhandling McCarthy, election deniers and Trumpism. We are waaay too early yet I agree to start handicapping the field. But 80 million people voted for Biden even tho 79 million didn't want him for president. I do believe if Cheney runs she has a chance and again my only interest in her is she has more balls than all republicans put together

 

[Randy]

I'm not a republican but I find it humorous when trump and his bootlickers call people like Cheney a RINO when it's him pushing far right extremes and not representing what most would consider historically republican.

I know a multitude of Republicans that have abandoned the party over the last ~15 years.

First guy I can think of was a literal rocket scientist (worked on the Gemini space mission), lifelong Republican under the belief of small government and low taxes (and the party of Lincoln). His prinicipals started to bother him during the Iraq War, and then when Obama was the nominee, he started getting awful race baiting emails. He was really impressed with Obama as a speaker and as a writer. He had traveled all over the world several times over again, and he thought the attacks on Obama (secret Muslim, not really American, etc) were 100% rooted in racism. When he started getting emails signed by people who were party officals or Republicans he previously respected, he jumped ship.

The Republican Party is definitely splintered. And in the case of post-2016 IMO, hijacked by Trumpists that aren't at all conservative. What's been left are those that took over and Republicans without a moral compass that stay married to the party just to pwn teh libz.

 

[Flappydoodle]

Presidents don't make split second decisions. Or same day decisions. Or usually even same-month decisions.

Is this actually true?

Given that POTUS is the commander-in-chief of the military, I would assume that he is called on fairly regularly. I recall that Obama had to personally authorise some drone strikes, for example.

I would think that Presidents don't really make boring policy decisions too often. But they certainly do have to make diplomatic decisions on a timely basis.

Cheney and Romney might not have the votes of the Maga group, but at least they believe in something other than keeping their job by kowtowing to trump.

Well, at least one of them believe in magic underwear apparently

Almost everywhere else is happier, richer, and safer than us. Why? Because everyone gets nice things. They get healthcare, they get good education, they get well paying jobs, they get more time off, they spend more time with their families and hobbies, and to top it all off they don't have to I worry about getting shot all the time.

I don't think this is true. The USA has the highest wages in the world, according to this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_average_wage

You're looking at incomes 20% higher than Germany, UK, Finland, NZ etc.

Of course there is large disparity in the US, but it's false to say that people "don't have" healthcare or well-paying jobs or time off. There are a LOT of jobs that provide amazing healthcare and a good lifestyle. The *quality* of US healthcare is also godlike. If you need some specialist surgery done, the US is almost always going to be the best place in the world to do it.

Systems like the UK sure won't leave you bankrupt, but you might die waiting for care, or suffer a long time before you get it. Waiting time for cataract operation is 20 MONTHS. My mother is almost blind now, and though they have tons of money there's no feasible private option. A friend of mine has had back pain for two years but can't get an MRI or CT. Again, can't go private without a referral from an NHS doctor, which they won't give. So even if you want to just pay out of pocket, you can't. The only option is go abroad, which is pretty ridiculous.

In terms of happiness, the US ranks 16th (https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/19/world-happiness-ranking-2022-where-the-united-states-ranks-now.html) That's higher than the US, France, and basically identical to Germany and Canada. The US is the highest ranking important country. Top ranking are tiny Nordic countries or city states.

IMO what the current generation of "Internet Americans" are currently good at is whining, apparently. You look at reddit et al and it's a massive sea of negativity and complaining. But compared to the rest of the world, Americans still have it fucking SWEET.

And if you look at medical care in countries like Germany or France it’s simple - the doctors just fix you, the end. It comes out of taxes.

Germany has a good system but it's an insurance-based system. You have to pay mandatory insurance. Basically Obamacare. Higher earners have more private insurance options available.

 

[bostjan]

Trump isn't far-right. He's a grifter and an opportunist. He'll be as far left or right as suits him, since he has no actual moral principles.

 

[Crungy]

True. So he really is a RINO, more deflection from the king.

 

[DrewH]

FYI, Obamacare is a goddamn abomination of the state gifting a mandate to pay a clique of private companies or face fines.

It should be investigated for the corrupt conspiracy to defraud the public that it is.

What it is NOT, however, is:
* NOT socialism
* NOT universal healthcare
* NOT HEALTHCARE AT ALL, if you select most of the available plans (Golds are sorta-healthcare and Platinums approach some semblance of genuine coverage)

Agree that we should have actual healthcare plans and not these tragedies that are available.

By your logic, auto insurance would also be an abomination too? Yet, many states mandate it. Strange how I don't hear people going for their torches and pitchforks over that. That is the hypocrisy of people that chose Obamacare as their hill to die on.

 

[nightflameauto]

Agree that we should have actual healthcare plans and not these tragedies that are available.

By your logic, auto insurance would also be an abomination too? Yet, many states mandate it. Strange how I don't hear people going for their torches and pitchforks over that. That is the hypocrisy of people that chose Obamacare as their hill to die on.

You have to make a decision to buy a car, you don't have to make a decision to have a body. I just can't wrap my head around how anyone not in the insurance industry thinks healthcare should be for profit only, with no other options available to people.

Oh well. We've done a great job at trimming away the fat when it comes to healthcare. And by trimming away the fat I mean, made it completely out of reach for ever more people. Literally, thanks Obama.

 

[mmr007]

Is this actually true?

Given that POTUS is the commander-in-chief of the military, I would assume that he is called on fairly regularly. I recall that Obama had to personally authorise some drone strikes, for example.

I would think that Presidents don't really make boring policy decisions too often. But they certainly do have to make diplomatic decisions on a timely basis.


Well, at least one of them believe in magic underwear apparently



I don't think this is true. The USA has the highest wages in the world, according to this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_average_wage

You're looking at incomes 20% higher than Germany, UK, Finland, NZ etc.

Of course there is large disparity in the US, but it's false to say that people "don't have" healthcare or well-paying jobs or time off. There are a LOT of jobs that provide amazing healthcare and a good lifestyle. The *quality* of US healthcare is also godlike. If you need some specialist surgery done, the US is almost always going to be the best place in the world to do it.

Systems like the UK sure won't leave you bankrupt, but you might die waiting for care, or suffer a long time before you get it. Waiting time for cataract operation is 20 MONTHS. My mother is almost blind now, and though they have tons of money there's no feasible private option. A friend of mine has had back pain for two years but can't get an MRI or CT. Again, can't go private without a referral from an NHS doctor, which they won't give. So even if you want to just pay out of pocket, you can't. The only option is go abroad, which is pretty ridiculous.

In terms of happiness, the US ranks 16th (https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/19/world-happiness-ranking-2022-where-the-united-states-ranks-now.html) That's higher than the US, France, and basically identical to Germany and Canada. The US is the highest ranking important country. Top ranking are tiny Nordic countries or city states.

IMO what the current generation of "Internet Americans" are currently good at is whining, apparently. You look at reddit et al and it's a massive sea of negativity and complaining. But compared to the rest of the world, Americans still have it fucking SWEET.


Germany has a good system but it's an insurance-based system. You have to pay mandatory insurance. Basically Obamacare. Higher earners have more private insurance options available.

Doesn't matter what our average income or wages are when we have amongst the highest costs of living in the world with exorbitant rents and healthcare, secondary education costs etc...

And for happiness index....our report card is not exactly something that gets displayed on the fridge for everyone to see.

 

[DrewH]

You have to make a decision to buy a car, you don't have to make a decision to have a body. I just can't wrap my head around how anyone not in the insurance industry thinks healthcare should be for profit only, with no other options available to people.

Oh well. We've done a great job at trimming away the fat when it comes to healthcare. And by trimming away the fat I mean, made it completely out of reach for ever more people. Literally, thanks Obama.

You lost me at decision. Cars are a necessity in day and age.

 

[ArtDecade]

You lost me at decision. Cars are a necessity in day and age.

My guess is that you don't live in a metropolis.

 

[MFB]

My guess is that you don't live in a metropolis.

Barring New York/Chicago/Boston, from what I've heard in other cities/states, most public transport is an absolute clusteruck in need of total overhaul

 

[Adieu]

By your logic, auto insurance would also be an abomination too? Yet, many states mandate it. Strange how I don't hear people going for their torches and pitchforks over that. That is the hypocrisy of people that chose Obamacare as their hill to die on.

Nope, because owning and operating a motor vehicle is a choice (to some extent at least)

Being between the ages of 18 and 65 isn't really optional

 

[DrewH]

My guess is that you don't live in a metropolis.

No, and just because you do, doesn't mean you don't have a need for a car. What if you don't work in the city? What about relatives? Screw them, you don't need to visit? Don't take day trips or vacations? You are in the very small minority of people these days if you can get by without owning at least one vehicle in your household.

What's next? You going to tell me that toilet paper purchasing is a decision just because a small # of people have bidets?

 

[DrewH]

Nope, because owning and operating a motor vehicle is a choice (to some extent at least)

Being between the ages of 18 and 65 isn't really optional

Totaly incorrect. How old are you? 20? Never been outside the security of your rents and college? Yeah, I didn't need a car back then either. For grown up folks, it's not an option. Unless you don't work, get your groceries delivered, and use door dash 100% of the time.

 

[nightflameauto]

Barring New York/Chicago/Boston, from what I've heard in other cities/states, most public transport is an absolute clusteruck in need of total overhaul

'MERICA! FUCK YEAH!

I've never really gotten patriotism in the form of being proud to be from a place. It's random. I was born here. Big whup. But here lately I've been pretty hardline in actively disliking being born here. I'm stuck in the most backwardass "first world" country in the world. And our leaders are god damned determined to turn us into a third world hellhole as fast as they possibly can.

 

[Adieu]

Barring New York/Chicago/Boston, from what I've heard in other cities/states, most public transport is an absolute clusteruck in need of total overhaul

It's expensive enough that other choices like Uber/Lyft/taxi or living with someone who has a vehicle may be sufficient and better for some people's needs.

Lot of people work at home these days. I'm fairly sure I only drove ~500 miles in 2021. Those were some stunningly expensive miles and it would probably have been more financially reasonable not to bother with vehicle ownership.

I just like my truck though.

 

[mmr007]

People...people...people....please do not make analogies between health insurance and car insurance unless you make $15 an hour but are able to own a $3 million Bugatti but your car insurance only pays 60% of the replacement cost should someone who is uninsured slam into and decimate your car and kill the passenger inside. The rest is your financial contribution...er...responsibility. That's what health insurance feels like to many people