2024 Elections: One Last Chance for Democracy

[Whalers]

Originally posted by trixR4kids View Post


Yeah because they rigged it.

Ok, Donnie.

Ok, DonnA.

I fixed your post because you are too brilliant to remember. Trixie was referring to the PRIMARY. The DEMS rigged the vote for Hillary - DonnA is Brazile.

Now back to your regularly scheduled hand wringing about where to hide next.

 

[Jimjamesak]

This election arrested my march Left. Lessons Learned:

• Marx was wrong: economic relations do not drive superstructure. Societies are tribal; economics is window dressing.
• Lasting change is cultural.
• Violence and dislocation cannot be the basis of a stable cultural change. The Marxist prescription of crisis and revolution is as flawed as Accelerationism.
• Therefore, we should aspire to a bell curve with a relatively low amplitude, and within that the most effective position to command a democratic majority, either overtly politically or subversively through culture, is Gradual Left Centrism.

tldr: "Moderation is best in all things." -- Hesiod

The one thing that this election has done is that my empathy is almost gone. In fact, it’s almost reversed. I want suffering and pain, I want this world to descend into a hellscape. Give the people the world they vote for or are too apathetic to fight against.

 

[unofan]

Originally posted by trixR4kids View Post


Yeah because they rigged it.




Ok, DonnA.

I fixed your post because you are too brilliant to remember. Trixie was referring to the PRIMARY. The DEMS rigged the vote for Hillary - DonnA is Brazile.

Now back to your regularly scheduled hand wringing about where to hide next.

Bernie did better in caucuses, where the party has far more control, than in actual primaries, where you know, it's one person, one vote. He also did better in closed primaries than open ones.

So, you know, that kinda flies in the face of being rigged. But if you all want to channel your inner Trump and claim everyone's persecuting you, go for it.

But why you all want to bring up something that happened 8 years ago is ridiculous.

 

[ScoobyDoo]

The one thing that this election has done is that my empathy is almost gone. In fact, it’s almost reversed. I want suffering and pain, I want this world to descend into a hellscape. Give the people the world they vote for or are too apathetic to fight against.

This isn't political so I will respond. I will never wish for suffering and pain. However, I am tapped out on sympathy and empathy. And whoever said this, “The Arc of the Moral Universe is Long, But it Bends Toward Justice.” was full of shit.

 

[trixR4kids]

UE has never been lower and the inflation rate is 2.4% vs. a US historical average of 3.3%.

Meanwhile CEO pay has never been higher, margins have never been higher, stock buybacks have never been more frequent.

US mass media (most of which is operated by conservatives) has hidden these truths from the majority of the public. Don't talk to me about the "situation" when the indicators are not there to back up that argument. This isn't talking down this is talking reality. That a Big Mac meal costs $10 isn't a sign people can't live comfortably.

You're talking about the rate that inflation has gone up by has decreased, we haven't had any deflation which means it's still going up just not by quite as much. It's not just Big Macs, the cost of rent, groceries, insurance, used cars, energy, and pretty much every necessity went up drastically toward the end of Trump's term and never improved under Biden. I have no doubt that this affected enthusiasm for Harris as did her caring more about the Israel lobby than winning the election.

This election arrested my march Left. Lessons Learned:

• Marx was wrong: economic relations do not drive superstructure. Societies are tribal; economics is window dressing.
• Lasting change is cultural.
• Violence and dislocation cannot be the basis of a stable cultural change. The Marxist prescription of crisis and revolution is as flawed as Accelerationism.

I don't think either of these things is true, this country is privileged and still has a relatively high standard of living compared to most the world but the extent of that has declined drastically and it has had an effect on elections. People who were sold the idea that they can go to college and afford a house and maybe a nice thing or two clearly know that isn't the case anymore, it hasn't been true since before 2008 and the electorate just flips every 4 years out of desperation (2012 being the exception in a low turnout election where Mitt Romney was the opponent against a historically gifted campaigner for the dems).

As far as violence I'm not going to advocate that on a college hockey forum but I also don't know what the alternative is for fighting against fascism. Voting for either of the candidates in this election certainly wasn't going to accomplish that though.

 

[Spartanforlife4]

Men under 30 broke +14 for Trump. That’s a 30 point swing since 2020 and women under 30 were +18 Harris, but that’s still a 14 point swing right since then. Maybe the algorithms will be the end of us.

 

[Jimjamesak]

This isn't political so I will respond. I will never wish for suffering and pain. However, I am tapped out on sympathy and empathy. And whoever said this, “The Arc of the Moral Universe is Long, But it Bends Toward Justice.” was full of ****.

The only way anything is to change is if everything fails. There’s this belief that things won’t be as bad because there will be people to stop things, to moderate things. “A lot of it was just campaign bluster” was what I was told. And in fairness, they’re mostly right. In the past there have been people that have moderated things. No more. It has to stop. It has to fail and fail spectacularly. It needs to get bad. Huge tariffs, skyrocketing inflation, 30, 40, 50% unemployment, people’s families being rounded up, women dying of miscarriages. It has to be widespread and affect everyone.

And I realize that I myself will be affected and that the people I love will be affected. It’ll suck and it’ll be terrible, but it is honestly the only way for the world to actually change.

 

[trixR4kids]

Bernie did better in caucuses, where the party has far more control, than in actual primaries, where you know, it's one person, one vote. He also did better in closed primaries than open ones.

So, you know, that kinda flies in the face of being rigged. But if you all want to channel your inner Trump and claim everyone's persecuting you, go for it.

But why you all want to bring up something that happened 8 years ago is ridiculous.

You had the media declaring that Hillary had an insurmountable lead because of her vaunted super delegate totals before the primaries even began and those being awarded to her despite Bernie winning every county in some states. You had the rigging of the debate questions and thousands of leaked emails from the DNC admitting that they did this. You'd have to be completely braindead to think the democrats didn't put their foot on the scale to get their desired outcome in both of those primaries. You just like that the system gives you the most right wing fascist candidates so you support it, let's be honest here.

 

[Drew S.]

[/LIST] People who were sold the idea that they can go to college and afford a house and maybe a nice thing or two clearly know that isn't the case anymore, it hasn't been true since before 2008 and the electorate just flips every 4 years out of desperation (2012 being the exception in a low turnout election where Mitt Romney was the opponent against a historically gifted campaigner for the dems).

This absolutely nails it as far as I’m concerned. I voted for Harris and wanted her to win but honestly I’m not sure a lot of people would have been much better off if she did. I don’t think either party has solutions for the big problems we face and to a large degree I’m not sure how much they even care. Income to cost has gotten massively out of whack in the time I’ve been an adult along with the cost of cheap necessities going through the roof.

 

[RaceBoarder]

Trix is right about people in the 30-45 year old range being told basically that if you have a full-time, 40-hour/week job, you will be able to easily make ends meet (look at all the 80s/90s TV that showed single income families owning homes and having 2-4 kids in suburbia, or city people easily paying rent on apartments). And all these characters had careers that many people today have.

Personally, I have been at my current job since 2019. During the pandemic, that money went well beyond what was needed to live. I was able to knock out student debts that I had been riding for 12 years. I was free and clear on a reliable vehicle. I was putting about 20% of my income into savings to work towards getting a new car when it was needed or for other needs if they came up.

In the last 3 years, all that extra cash dried up. I have a security alert set up on my cards where if any purchase over $70 is made, I get a text/email. Before 2021, I would never get that when I was shopping for everyday needs at the grocery store. I could swipe my card without caring what the exact total was. Now I get that damn alert EVERY WEEK when I go to Wal-Mart (oh, and I was fully priced out of the prominent supermarket chain in the Chicago area, so there is also a drop in quality of goods involved here as well).

More and more, it's looking like I'm going to rely heavily upon officiating income to have any sort of "play" money. After 20 years of working full-time PLUS constant side hustles, I'm burnt the eff out. I want time to sit back. I want time to relax. I'm taking steps backwards after FINALLY being able to get my head above water during/immidiately after the Pandemic.

There is a whole generation out there who have been living this. And at least half of them don't have empathy towards P.o.C. or LGBTQ+ communities when they feel they have been denied the "American Dream" themselves. And also this generation has kids who are now becoming voting age.

Again, I'm sorry, but in our community here, it's hard to hear this from people who are much, MUCH better off than me. Who try and tell me that "things aren't so bad". Get off your high horse. I need to worry about ME before I need to extend myself to fight for others (and yea, I realize that is a horrible thing to say). I truly don't think most of this board has been in a situation where you live paycheck to paycheck for a long time, and it shows. I know it's not everyone here, but sometimes it truly does feel that way.

Also, I really do think to truly make "Left" agendas work, you need to stop degrading how a large segment of this country lives (Rednecks, Hillbillies, white trash, whatever slang you want to use to describe them, etc.). You would be surprised at how much the stigma attached by outsiders pushes these people further away instead making a point here or one there stick and slowly bring things around. It's a segment that CAN be changed over time, but it will take time. But like most things, we need results NOW or it's a "lost cause".

 

[rufus]

The only way anything is to change is if everything fails. There’s this belief that things won’t be as bad because there will be people to stop things, to moderate things. “A lot of it was just campaign bluster” was what I was told. And in fairness, they’re mostly right. In the past there have been people that have moderated things. No more. It has to stop. It has to fail and fail spectacularly. It needs to get bad. Huge tariffs, skyrocketing inflation, 30, 40, 50% unemployment, people’s families being rounded up, women dying of miscarriages. It has to be widespread and affect everyone.

And I realize that I myself will be affected and that the people I love will be affected. It’ll suck and it’ll be terrible, but it is honestly the only way for the world to actually change.

We'll, that's what Elon said had to happen.

 

[rufus]

This absolutely nails it as far as I’m concerned. I voted for Harris and wanted her to win but honestly I’m not sure a lot of people would have been much better off if she did. I don’t think either party has solutions for the big problems we face and to a large degree I’m not sure how much they even care. Income to cost has gotten massively out of whack in the time I’ve been an adult along with the cost of cheap necessities going through the roof.

Once you figure out the why these things have happened, then you might start getting closer to figuring out the fix.

I'll give you a hint. It ain't nothing that radical liberals or Democrats in general have done or been doing.

 

[rufus]

Now I get that damn alert EVERY WEEK when I go to Wal-Mart (oh, and I was fully priced out of the prominent supermarket chain in the Chicago area, so there is also a drop in quality of goods involved here as well).

You, as I assume a single person, are dropping $70+/week on groceries? What the hell are you buying?

​​​​​​

 

[RaceBoarder]

Now I get that damn alert EVERY WEEK when I go to Wal-Mart (oh, and I was fully priced out of the prominent supermarket chain in the Chicago area, so there is also a drop in quality of goods involved here as well).

You, as I assume a single person, are dropping $70+/week on groceries? What the hell are you buying?

​​​​​​

Um, food? Stuff for my lunch runs about $5-6/day. A 12-pack of pop is $6-7. Usually $7-8 for a protein for a solid dinner. $10 goes towards two "Fruit assortments" for snacking when not at work. Eggs are $2-3. Another $15-20 in "quick" dinner items that I make 3-4 days/week. $15 in whatever "household" items are needed. I don't like coffee, so I do do a daily Rockstar/Monster for my daily caffeine fix, so $8.50/week there.

Stuff adds up quick when you don't have the time/skill to dedicate to cooking all week and need to accommodate being a Type-1 diabetic.

 

[mookie1995]

I hope Joe remembers for that the next two months he has immunity.

mookie got a giggle where peeps want him to resign and allow kamala to become 47. then the donald would have to toss all his 45-47 merch and recreate 45-48 crap

 

[Drew S.]

Now I get that damn alert EVERY WEEK when I go to Wal-Mart (oh, and I was fully priced out of the prominent supermarket chain in the Chicago area, so there is also a drop in quality of goods involved here as well).

You, as I assume a single person, are dropping $70+/week on groceries? What the hell are you buying?

​​​​​​

If I go and buy just the essentials for myself it’s usually around $100. If I have to get much for my wife, kids, meals, other stuff I don’t typically buy it’s closer to $200. Most things in the grocery store are $5 to $10 each so it doesn’t take much for it to get expensive quick.

 

[Scarlet]

Hoping this link takes you to the post:

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10234968296971018&set=a.4478247956921

We should start a list of "But I didn't think the leopard would eat MY face!" posts.

 

[ScoobyDoo]

Hoping this link takes you to the post:

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10234968296971018&set=a.4478247956921

We should start a list of "But I didn't think the leopard would eat MY face!" posts.

In the immortal words of Jerry Seinfeld, "That's a shame."

 

[rufus]

Hoping this link takes you to the post:

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid....4478247956921

We should start a list of "But I didn't think the leopard would eat MY face!" posts.

We'll, to be fair, their cult leader has spent 8 years telling them China would pay those tariffs. Cause their cult leader doesn't understand how tariffs work either.

Just like Mexico paid for that wall.

And dumbasses on here lecturing us how we shouldn't call them stupid, how that's no way to appeal to them. Ok, maybe they aren't 'stupid'. Maybe they have an actual education and some semblance of intelligence.

But they're ignorant as fuk. As I said, they know nothing about how anything works, but think they're experts on everything. Economics, foreign relations, public health, you name it. And they don't want to learn how anything works. They just know, and you can't convince them otherwise. "It's just common sense!! Everyone knows this!!!"

I have absolutely no sympathy for these people. It's not like they couldn't have known this was gonna happen. Reap the whirlwind, muthafukkahs!!!!

 

[Jimjamesak]

Trix is right about people in the 30-45 year old range being told basically that if you have a full-time, 40-hour/week job, you will be able to easily make ends meet (look at all the 80s/90s TV that showed single income families owning homes and having 2-4 kids in suburbia, or city people easily paying rent on apartments). And all these characters had careers that many people today have.

Personally, I have been at my current job since 2019. During the pandemic, that money went well beyond what was needed to live. I was able to knock out student debts that I had been riding for 12 years. I was free and clear on a reliable vehicle. I was putting about 20% of my income into savings to work towards getting a new car when it was needed or for other needs if they came up.

In the last 3 years, all that extra cash dried up. I have a security alert set up on my cards where if any purchase over $70 is made, I get a text/email. Before 2021, I would never get that when I was shopping for everyday needs at the grocery store. I could swipe my card without caring what the exact total was. Now I get that damn alert EVERY WEEK when I go to Wal-Mart (oh, and I was fully priced out of the prominent supermarket chain in the Chicago area, so there is also a drop in quality of goods involved here as well).

More and more, it's looking like I'm going to rely heavily upon officiating income to have any sort of "play" money. After 20 years of working full-time PLUS constant side hustles, I'm burnt the eff out. I want time to sit back. I want time to relax. I'm taking steps backwards after FINALLY being able to get my head above water during/immidiately after the Pandemic.

There is a whole generation out there who have been living this. And at least half of them don't have empathy towards P.o.C. or LGBTQ+ communities when they feel they have been denied the "American Dream" themselves. And also this generation has kids who are now becoming voting age.

Again, I'm sorry, but in our community here, it's hard to hear this from people who are much, MUCH better off than me. Who try and tell me that "things aren't so bad". Get off your high horse. I need to worry about ME before I need to extend myself to fight for others (and yea, I realize that is a horrible thing to say). I truly don't think most of this board has been in a situation where you live paycheck to paycheck for a long time, and it shows. I know it's not everyone here, but sometimes it truly does feel that way.

Also, I really do think to truly make "Left" agendas work, you need to stop degrading how a large segment of this country lives (Rednecks, Hillbillies, white trash, whatever slang you want to use to describe them, etc.). You would be surprised at how much the stigma attached by outsiders pushes these people further away instead making a point here or one there stick and slowly bring things around. It's a segment that CAN be changed over time, but it will take time. But like most things, we need results NOW or it's a "lost cause".

I work for a living and largely live paycheck to paycheck. Yeah, things have gotten more expensive. It sucks and I hate it.

But look me in the eye and tell me that the people you and I work with would respond positively to a proposed leftist platform. They would either deride it as evil socialism or complain that it would be a half measure and not good enough.

Yeah, we’re a demographic that is being left behind. But we aren’t exactly helping ourselves by pouting and staying home every time we don’t get exactly what we want.