General Political Thread

[JUDE]

For the record, I'm ok with capitalizing FTD.

 

How about "FBHO"?

[Guest Jules]

If you must.

[Sir Stewart]

KevinG can be a real DICK sometimes.

[KevinG]

 

before I went to rehab I used to drive around after work listening to talk radio, building resentments related to all kinds of political and current events issues.  It can really take a toll.  I think discussing politics and even being invested in issues is great, but if it's making you angry on a daily basis, it may be time for a break or a readjustment.  there's quite a bit of anger and resentment in these threads--not just about the issues but about the way others think, feel and post about the issues.

 

Seriously, keep your concern to yourself.  You know nothing about me, nor my mental state of mind.  I can get worked up and still be well adjusted in my life.  Just because you had some issues in the past don't project that on me.  If you were really concerned (which I highly doubt) you would have reached out to me through a PM not publicly.  

 

In other news it looks like the Shutdown and the Debt Ceiling crisis has been averted, as there is a deal in place and looks to pass. 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/16/government-shutdown-2013_n_4107113.html#644_cruz-wont-delay-either

 

 

KevinG can be a real DICK sometimes.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGKRSAwrkXo

 

 

[JUDE]

KevinG can be a real DICK sometimes.

 

X2

[Sir Stewart]

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGKRSAwrkXo

 

 

 

Oh, but I am never a Dude In Classy Knickers!

[Guest Don Draper]

Seriously, keep your concern to yourself. You know nothing about me, nor my mental state of mind. I can get worked up and still be well adjusted in my life.

"you can go fuck yourself" in a thread about politics related to a semantic issue does not seem to be in line with your statement.

 

In the context of this thread alone, you don't seem well-adjust insofar as having a productive political conversation that does not resort to ad hominem attacks.

 

That is my experience as someone engaging with you.

 

In other news, it is looking more and more like I will be off in my "when the shutdown ends" prediction by just a few hours, but that's long enough for me to have to bring donuts to the office tomorrow. Asshole Congress.

 

Now newspapers can get to more important things, like discussing the likely impact of Bezos's purchase of the Post.

[KevinG]

X2

 

So I am not sure what is going on here, I don't know if that shutdown now looks like it is finally over or what, but it seems that I have taken some personal beatings for whatever reasons.  It is unfortunate, I have tried at most times tried to keep the spirit of the "respector" thread and never attacked anyone personally.  I guess the same courtesy cannot be extended to me.  

 

 

"you can go fuck yourself" in a thread about politics related to a semantic issue does not seem to be in line with your statement.

 

In the context of this thread alone, you don't seem well-adjust insofar as having a productive political conversation that does not resort to ad hominem attacks.

 

That is my experience as someone engaging with you.

 

If you read further I posted an apology to that, I was just getting sick of people attacking me personally for they way I phrase things.  Hell, even Sir Stewart (aka PBO) changed his user name as some sort jab at me.  Which ok, fine, other the occasional fuck off (which in so much really we are concerned about here) I have never attacked anyone personally.  Or at least have not done so purposely.  

 

It is a shame we have gotten to this point, the blame can be laid at my feet I guess, I couldn't let something go.  You have now taken a thread and used to attack me.  Thanks, you have made it a fun day for me.  

[Guest Don Draper]

I used to drive around after work listening to talk radio, building resentments related to all kinds of political and current events issues. It can really take a toll. I think discussing politics and even being invested in issues is great, but if it's making you angry on a daily basis, it may be time for a break or a readjustment.

I can't relate to the rehab end of it, but I used to read comments sections on newspaper websites (namely the Minneapolis Star Tribune) and I would spend hours replying to those things. The day I stopped was one of the best days of my life.

 

I'd never gotten in to talk radio or cable news pundits, thank god.

[Sir Stewart]

I don't mean any serious ill will toward you, KG. I thought of it as light-hearted, but I see it's not. I'll stop.

[LouieB]

Hey KevinG, thanks for taking up the slack for me.  I can't handle this anymore.  I never thought, nor can some people believe, how downright conservative Wilco fans can be. 

 

My favorite line of late is "I am fiscally conservative and socially liberal."  So it is okay to think gays can get married, but heaven forbid you should actually vote for someone who might take that position publically, along with other actual socially liberal issues that all those conservative representatives you are supporting are actually against.  Most people are fiscally conservative.  I can't think of a single person who wants the government to spend money it doesn't have.  Unfortunately getting healthcare to people, as well as taking care of children, the elderly, or the disabled costs money.  It also costs money to do stuff that is socially liberal.  (And it costs money to police women's bodies, which the conservatives are happy to do. Or to be the police of the world since we have the largest military spending of any country.  Much of that conservative stuff is really really expensive, including letting people get sick and die without health insurance.)

 

I am fiscally conservative too, Let those who can help support socially liberal stuff help pay for it in proportion to what they have.  And let's stop letting the government waste money by giving breaks to those who don't really need it like the oil companies and banks.(and agra-business etc.)

 

LouieB

[Hixter]

I never thought, nor can some people believe, how downright conservative Wilco fans can be. 

They're people.

[Hixter]

Dismal numbers from the Washington Post:

 

[tinnitus photography]

it's clearly an iznop scheme.

[Sir Stewart]

Don't blame the developers though.

[LouieB]

Sure the sign-up has been a bit of a problem, but let's look at it realistically.   We ALL KNOW that the web doesn't function all that well sometimes and that start up apps can have problems as do ongoing apps, we also know that lots of folks just logged on out of curiosity, rather than to actually try and get healthcare.  None of this is fatal.  Those just curious (like HIxter who went on the site despite not needing to) will stop after awhile.  Flaws in the system including server capacity will be straightened out.  And eventually just like with every program, people will get served, despite the best efforts of some in Congress to stop them.  A fucked up web app is hardly a reason to close down a program that is trying to get healthcare to people who don't have it.

 

LouieB

[Hixter]

Don't blame the developers though.

At a cost to taxpayers that is somewhere in the hundreds of millions of dollars, I think I will.

[Sir Stewart]

Did you even read it.

[Guest Don Draper]

Since I believe LouieB is quoting me in his post, I'll briefly reply: I identify as liberal. I have never, ever voted for a Republican candidate, and certainly don't imagine that I ever will. I don't think it's "okay for gays to marry," I think that any law that proposes otherwise is stripping citizens of a fundamental right. I don't support voter ID laws as they are currently written, which in a lot of ways tosses me over the fence into "very liberal."

 

And yet. I think the fact that Minnesota is using state funds to build the new Vikings stadium is abhorrent and embarrassing. On my way to work I drive past two homeless shelters (more like high-rises) that are largely privately-funded by donations. They are always bustling with activity which I take to mean that they've got a fair amout of customers. And yet, the state has money to spare for a stadium. Idiotic.

 

Minneapolis is spending several million dollars to rehab a single street in ther downtown, which is frequented by homeless and panhandlers. The plans mention making the street safer and other euphemisms for "white people come shop here," but the plans don't seem to mention where the homeless and the panhandlers will wind up.

 

And popular opinion would suggest that my support of more help for low-income people is also classifiable under the "liberal" umbrella.

 

People don't say outright "let's spend money we don't have," but many seem to support the allocation of state and federal funds to things that I don't think the state or nation have any business spending money on, or things that they may have funding for but seem shortsighted, in my opinion.

 

I'm sorry you misunderstood where I was coming from, but tr fact is that I'm fiscally conservative in that I think our governments should stop providing extras for some until all have reached a baseline of livability.

[Guest Don Draper]

Succinctly, I meant exactly what I said and I'm surprised you read it the way you did when you identify the same way I do.

[John Smith]

Social security and Medicare are what screw up the budgeting process. Not with their costs though, just the fact that they are commingled with everything else. I think they should set SS and MCare aside all the income and all the costs. We have special taxes dedicated towards them so keep them separate and then look at the remainder. Most people would be shocked to find that warfare and public services are not driving the debt and deficit.

 

Set those two items aside and work out the budget with the rest.

[Guest Don Draper]

Ah, yes. That too. Social Security is up a creek and Democrats need to stop trying to chase it.

[NoJ]

I don't mean any serious ill will toward you, KG. I thought of it as light-hearted, but I see it's not. I'll stop.

 

When?

[Doug C]

 If you were really concerned (which I highly doubt) you would have reached out to me through a PM not publicly.  

 

I agree. If you are truly concerned with someone's mental state, especially if that concern comes from having successfully worked through your own issues, you would show them respect by privately offering your sincere view.

 

I find it hilarious that people are (allegedly) bothered because someone said "fuck off" on a mesage board. Especially when those people were and are being basic cyber-baiters.

 

That being said, writing TEA Party rather than Tea Party seems silly to me. But where others saw a button to push, I could give a shit. But then, I'm 50 years old.

[Guest Don Draper]

There seems to be a lot of teasing and banter on the board. I guess there also seems to be an in-group, but there's no reason to take teasing that seriously.

 

Additionally, Atticus's post seemed genuine and I don't know why it was inappropriate to post. "Your reaction reminds me a lot of a behavior I used to engage in. I don't and I feel better now." Perhaps the reference to what was certainly a very low point in his life ticked people's antennae?