The Divided Sates of America
[QUOTE=Shinshi86;5246618]Not trying to selectively quote your post, it's just that what I'm about to write will be quite lengthy.
Your first two sentences laid out the unadulterated truth: [U]both parties suck[/U]. Which is why I'll never understand why fellow Americans are so hell-bent on maintaining the two-party status quo. Seems most are masochists who enjoy this mess for both themselves & others. You're also 1,000% right that it starts at the local level, but again the majority won't even do that much. They'll blindly adhere to the whole "red vs blue" conflict which resembles bad reality TV.
Are Democrats technically more diverse, modern, and accepting in most of their ideological stances (compared to Republicans)? Sure, I won't refute that. But I've never been one to condone choosing between the "lesser of two evils. " It's a copout and--frankly--a coward's way of voting. All it does is keep the status quo in place. We have third party candidates for a reason. I don't get why we don't vote in the most qualified person who represents our values instead of making it a 50-50 coin flip.
But I also hold Democrats responsible for some bullshit. They didn't call for an emergency vote on an economic stimulus package when they could have. They hypocritically whine about pork-spending in the Republican drafts despite being guilty as sin in their own past legislation (especially during the Obama administration). They wasted everyone's time with not one--but TWO--impeachment proceedings which were unsuccessful.
Again, I write this Bible of a post to emphasize that no political party is innocent. To me, they're both equally deplorable in the manner in which they failed us. I just wish everyone else would be just as outraged as I and vote accordingly. But I doubt I'll ever see the responsible ones ever held accountable. This country is broken, and it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if we get surpassed as a global superpower and undergo a further recession into obscurity. Frankly, we Americans made out bed and must lie in it. This is what the majority wanted after all. Hopefully, I'll have already moved out of the US before some of the worse shit takes place.[/QUOTE]United? United in what? We're supposed to be one country, that is looked up to by the rest of the world as a superpower and yet that time has long passed because we're really not number one anymore. Our healthcare sucks, our education sucks, the middle class has been swallowed whole by the divisional gap between the rich and poor, our job security is failing and social security will be in shambles by the time us working folk retire. We have been surpassed by other countries already and you want to know the irony of it all? This big superpower we proclaim to be is in debt trillions to China.
We have all these glaring issues that remain to be fixed but we're too busy maintaining the poor status quo by slinging mud at each other. This bickering and arguing amongst ourselves doesn't serve us at all and as the divide continues to grow year after year our chances of retaking that number 1 slot become slimmer and slimmer. Republicans have failed us. As stated the government was in their hands during this pandemic and while countries initially hit harder by the pandemic recovered, we managed to make it worse. (Ok I guess we are number one in something) but what did the democrats do once they took the reigns? Did they double down on getting the vaccine out? No they spent our tax dollars on another failed impeachment. Why? Trump is gone, get over it move on! Our government should have shifted gears IMMEDIATELY a to get a vaccine ready and instead they wasted a valuable month on stupid shit. Time is money people and WE should be holding our representatives accountable.
We pay them. A lot. More than we should. Let's be honest? Why? If they are serving our interest maybe politics should be a volunteer position? Someone whose willing to fix this country and not take a penny to do it certainly would have my best interest in mind. As stated before they don't have our interest at heart, it's their interest. Their paycheck, their legacy that they have to protect. And that's why they resort to mudslinging rather than talk about their platform. It's nothing more than a game, a fight for job security. And you can't win elections by explaining why you're the best candidate, you win by trashing the opposition and creating the illusion that you're better by comparison.
Did you know that George Washington, our founding father and first president, was vehemently against a two party system? He warned that the creation of political factions would build a machine solely intent on seeking and retaining power rather than incline the interest of men and public liberty. Well golly gee, 200+ year big brain play that we all just conveniently ignored and now the problem blew up in our faces.
It's in our hands to respect each other. Be excellent to each other if you will. Because our differences shouldn't divide us. They should unite us. In order to do that we have to rise above the political bullshit and start seeing us all as Americans first and everything else second.
It's no wonder a hooker can come here to NOVA and charge $$$ for service when she only charges $. 5 in Tampa. One country folks. Not 50 disillusioned states. And it all starts by spitting out the bullshit narrative both parties are spoonfeeding you.
You're right to an extent
[QUOTE=GripNSip;5247283]It's in our hands to respect each other. Be excellent to each other if you will. Because our differences shouldn't divide us. They should unite us. In order to do that we have to rise above the political bullshit and start seeing us all as Americans first and everything else second.
It's no wonder a hooker can come here to NOVA and charge $$$ for service when she only charges $. 5 in Tampa. One country folks. Not 50 disillusioned states. And it all starts by spitting out the bullshit narrative both parties are spoonfeeding you.[/QUOTE]There's definitely a divide in this country which needs to be bridged while basic human decency & respect should be given to those around us. With that being said, there are some who frankly aren't worthy of inclusion at the adult's table. Exhibit A is Deranged--and others like him--who feel the overwhelming compulsion to be a vindictive, sarcastic prick just because they can. I typically treat such a group like children (or ignore them outright) owing to the fact that they've not earned the right to be treated differently.
Yes, that category of folks might constitute a sizable portion of citizenry (35% - 45% ?) . But when such a group is so set in their ways and want nothing more than to keep the status quo while believing their party is the perfect answer to everything? How can anyone even bother wasting a millisecond conversing with such fanaticism? You'd think shaming them by exclusion would hammer the point down & shame them to change some of their ways, but some like Deranged might just wear that as a badge of honor & feel further vindicated in their belief system.
Selective outrage at its finest
[QUOTE=Deranged;5248007]Again with the holier-than-thou preaching with nothing of substance to contribute. No wonder you have to pay people to spend time with you.[/QUOTE]Believe whatever you like. I couldn't care less what your perception of me is. Fact of the matter is you're the one who allowed those earlier posts to cause such personal angst. And what's even more hilarious is they weren't even initially directed at you--not unless you're one of those who are indeed complacent with the current state of the country.
Also I've contributed a fair amount to both this forum and the present conversation. Remember it was you who rolled up in here with the shitty attitude and sarcasm. That speaks far more volumes about you than anyone else here. So spare me your selective outrage and victimhood. You act like an asshole, I'm going to treat you as such. Don't like it? Pound sand.
Its Covid, not the China Virus
There are lots of different kinds of Chinese Food, and lots of different Virus' that come from China. The Avian flu for one. If you mean Covid just say Covid and stop being dense. You can say 'I had Itallian food for dinner, but until you say what you ate I don't know if you had pizza or pasta.
[QUOTE=SlapNutts;5259372]Rhetoric? It is the China Virus, that's where it came from. Just like "Lyme Disease" came from Lyme, Connecticut. If that's the case Chinese food shouldn't be called that any more, or Italian food is that racist too? Or Japanese car? Or is it only racist when it's a virus?.[/QUOTE]
More sex / mental problem than racist
[QUOTE=Barkeater;5259640]There are lots of different kinds of Chinese Food, and lots of different Virus' that come from China. The Avian flu for one. If you mean Covid just say Covid and stop being dense. You can say 'I had Itallian food for dinner, but until you say what you ate I don't know if you had pizza or pasta.[/QUOTE]No doubt lots of virus' come from China and other places as well, but in the year 2020 I think we all know that this is a " China Virus " , and I don't feel racist to describe it as such. The previous poster gave only a few of the many things named by place of origin, if I throw in " Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever " it probably wouldn't be thought that I didn't like people from the Rockies.
Call it what makes you feel PC and I'll call it the China Virus and hope they pay a price for the millions dead around the world.
You do know that they let people travel from Wuhan to wherever they wanted OUTSIDE of China, and that they have the only economy that has grown in the last year?
