Increasing Risk

[exchemist]

I do not recall which MSNBC pundit originated the comment, but it deserves to be understood for all that it portends. The comment was:

There is a new lost cause narrative in this country.​

Please give serious thought to what this means.

Yes, I read this too. A reference to the supporters of the losing side in the US Civil War, I gather. A bit like the "Stab in the Back" narrative in Germany after WW1. A narrative of romantic victimhood.

But who will tend the sacred flame of lies, when Trump is a spent force or in prison, I wonder. Trump Junior? Ted Cruz?

 

[Revoltingest]

nope......

if you don't use the rep word
I won't use the dem word

and people who are not full fledge American citizens shouldn't be voting

You're so old fashioned. The modern view
is that anyone living here gets to vote.

 

[Thief]

You're so old fashioned. The modern view
is that anyone living here gets to vote.

Chaos!....Chaos!

no wonder we have problems

 

[Thief]

just spotted a headline pic of Trump heaving the old.....Up Yours!

Twitter lost 5billion for banning Trump

 

[Stevicus]

It seems to me the risk of further shenanigans increases each day. That is, the closer we get to Trump's last moment in power, the more at risk we are that he'll want to tear down another pillar or two holding up our country. Nothing is for certain, but I think the risks are increasing.

I don't know if anyone else is thinking along the same lines as I am, but I thought I should mention my thoughts to you as something you might want to think about. Make of them what you will.

I live somewhat far removed from all the stuff going on in Washington, although we've had our share of shenanigans in my area too.

This seems to go beyond Trump. Whatever battle lines have been drawn, they'll still exist once Trump is out of power. As I wrote in another thread, whatever battle is going on, it's American vs. American. I won't call it a "civil war," not yet anyway. But there does appear to be a profound and irrevocable divide where normal political processes may not be sufficient to resolve it.

I don't think it's a battle we should be fighting. The best course of action our government can and should take right now is to pump money and resources to the lower classes as soon as possible. This will take a lot of wind out of the sails of those who would seek to rile up the masses. Reduce the number of reasons people might have to fight, and they won't fight. That's the strategy they should take, rather than scurrying around looking for scapegoats and a pound of flesh.

Triple the amount spent on education and social welfare, make higher education tuition-free, put a moratorium on health insurance premiums, co-pays, and deductibles, and revitalize our broken infrastructure and crumbling cities. Bring manufacturing and jobs back to America. Make labor unions strong again and a force to be reckoned with. The Democrats will have no excuses after January 20, so they'd better get it done.

 

[sun rise]

People would know party affiliation of the candidates anyway.
And I don't think Ameristan will ever accept voter ID. It would
be decried as racist or anti-poor or anti-immigrant.

That's being done all over the country to disenfranchise blacks. It's called by other names such as "real ID" that we'll need to fly, but it's a national ID card nonetheless.

And it's being promoted by the pro-bureaucratic pro-big government so-called right.

 

[Revoltingest]

That's being done all over the country to disenfranchise blacks.

That's what they say on the left. But could the real
motive for opposing voter ID be that they expect
illegal aliens to vote for their candidates?

It's called by other names such as "real ID" that we'll need to fly, but it's a national ID card nonetheless.

I don't see a national ID card as the great
threat that's claimed by some on the right.
Moreover, I see it as a potential tool to
defeat identity theft.

 

[Sunstone]

Oh, goodie. Nothing more to worry about. All's well that ends well. Let's push the snooze button and go back to sleep until next time.

Why not? It worked for the Germans after the failed Beer Hall Putsch. They had nothing to worry about for years, I'm told.

 

[Daemon Sophic]

.......
America is an economically based society

I might be inclined to vote another business man into office

The whole point learned from last Wednesday, and the preceding 5 years is to NEVER put in another “businessman”.
We need to remove money from politics, not choose the most money-driven, smarmiest fast-talkers to our positions of highest power.
Oi vey!

People would know party affiliation of the candidates anyway.
And I don't think Ameristan will ever accept voter ID. It would
be decried as racist or anti-poor or anti-immigrant.

You're so old fashioned. The modern view
is that anyone living here gets to vote.

Nope.
Everyone wants voter security.
We hold these truths to be self-evident:
...Voter fraud is an EXTREME rarity.
...Voter suppression and gerrymandering are pandemic and extremely destructive, now and for many many decades throughout our history.
Period.

Mail the ballots to every US citizen. No exceptions. No Cost. No extra work on the citizen’s side. You are a citizen....you get your ballot.
Make it free.
Make it universally uniform.
Make it ridiculously simple.
Give people a couple of months (up to a certain date at midnight) to get the completed ballots in to the Post Office. Once recieved at the election offices, an email or snail mail is immediately sent back to you saying “We got it! Thank you patriotic American!”

If the mailing out of ballots date passes, and you didn’t get one, any US citizen can you call a toll-free number, and the election officials will drive to your doorstep for a warm hand-off with the recipient signing for it (no exceptions).

Childishly simple. Free to ALL US citizens. Relatively dirt cheap as a US govt. department goes (and it should be one of our most trusted and well funded). More secure than almost everything out there currently. Everyone is ID’d, free and effortlessly, because it is Every Citizen’s right to vote.

 

[Revoltingest]

The whole point learned from last Wednesday, and the preceding 5 years is to NEVER put in another “businessman”.

Geeze, Louise....your take is to oppose anyone
with business experience?
You'd oppose Jimmy Carter & Mitt Romney?

 

[Daemon Sophic]

Well said, especially for a Republican.

 

[Stevicus]

Why not? It worked for the Germans after the failed Beer Hall Putsch. They had nothing to worry about for years, I'm told.

They probably wouldn't have had to worry if they had managed their economy better. If people had to carry wheelbarrows full of money to buy a loaf of bread, someone should have noticed that something wasn't right. These are the kinds of things people should pay attention to.

 

[Sunstone]

I'm concerned about the rally that is set for January 17. The Trumpists will be there again. They feel emboldened by their 'success' on the 6th.

The good side is that people are now taking them seriously and there *may* be an adequate police presence.

My concern is that the rioters may be supported by too many in the police force or the national guard. If those groups don't do their job, we will have a full-fledged coup.

I learned this morning a little more about the "rally" being organized for the 17th.

The calls are to come armed this time and "shed blood".

Simultaneous "rallies" are being organized for all 50 state capitals.

The 17th is merely the start date. The calls are for the "rally" to extend at least through Inauguration Day on the 20th.

All of this is being openly organized by means of social media. Facebook, etc. No word on whether the social media companies are or are not trying to disrupt the organizing.

Many of the insurrectionists involved in Wednesday's assault are still in Washington, perhaps waiting for the 17th.

Curiously, some of the insurrections were seen the night of the 6th gathered in the Willard Hotel, smoking cigars, and reminiscing about the day's events. The Willard is the most expensive hotel in Washington.​

 

[Daemon Sophic]

Geeze, Louise....your take is to oppose anyone
with business experience?
You'd oppose Jimmy Carter & Mitt Romney?

No.
Although Mitt was/is for the rich, at the intentional cost of the middle class (and poor), like most Republicans for the last 50 years.

Trump was put in because naïve twits thought experience as a “businessman” (especially one so successful as Trump ) was what DC really needed to “shake things up”, and to “drain the swamp”.
They, were warned again and again. They were shown over and over. Yet most of them still insist they did the right thing.
Personally I am still pissed at the complete hatred and contempt for our United States of America, and our Constitutional ideals, that these worthless maggots (the rioters and their political leaders) have undeniably demonstrated to the world, last week, and over the last 5 years.

 

[Revoltingest]

No.
Although Mitt was/is for the rich, at the intentional cost of the middle class (and poor), like most Republicans for the last 50 years.

Trump was put in because naïve twits thought experience as a “businessman” (especially one so successful as Trump ) was what DC really needed to “shake things up”, and to “drain the swamp”.
They, were warned again and again. They were shown over and over. Yet most of them still insist they did the right thing.
Personally I am still pissed at the complete hatred and contempt for our United States of America, and our Constitutional ideals, that these worthless maggots (the rioters and their political leaders) have undeniably demonstrated to the world, last week, and over the last 5 years.

I say we need more businessmen in politics,
& far far fewer lawyers. But in both cases, the
individual matters more than the profession.

 

[tytlyf]

I say we need more businessmen in politics,

I disagree, businesspeople have a profit mindset, not people.

far far fewer lawyers.

It is interesting how republicans always elect elitists, millionaires, lawyers, etc.

But in both cases, the
individual matters more than the profession.

Common sense, empathy and intelligence are more important traits.

 

[Mr Spinkles]

I think the opposite.

I think Trump's authority is completely blown and I think his followers (or those motivated enough for physical action) have shown themselves to be a weak-minded rabble of misfits, who are now widely reviled.

Actually what you foresee is not the “opposite” of what Sunstone foresees.

BOTH can happen at the same time.

Even as Trumpworld is defeated and marginalized, they become more extreme and desperate. Like part of a balloon being squeezed, it may pop ...

I am not afraid of the government being overthrown - the chances are zero. I am afraid of violence. On January 6 there were 30,000 people at the Trump rally. It only takes one person to wield an assault rifle or detonate a bomb.

Sorry to sound dark, or dramatic. But after warning about Trump for five years I don’t know how else to get people’s attention. Life will go on but not the same way if we underestimate these people.

 

[Sunstone]

They probably wouldn't have had to worry if they had managed their economy better. If people had to carry wheelbarrows full of money to buy a loaf of bread, someone should have noticed that something wasn't right. These are the kinds of things people should pay attention to.

I'm quite aware that the only enduring solution to these troubles will be if we as a society can work out a new and broadly acceptable scheme for distributing the wealth of our nation. Are you?

 

[Daemon Sophic]

I say we need more businessmen in politics,
& far far fewer lawyers. But in both cases, the
individual matters more than the profession.

Yes. The quality of the person is critical, first and foremost.
I would prefer small business owners, and service employees, and academics, etc...etc... If you make more than 10 times the median income, you likely have lost any idea what it is to be a worker in America.

 

[Polymath257]

I learned this morning a little more about the "rally" being organized for the 17th.

The calls are to come armed this time and "shed blood".

Simultaneous "rallies" are being organized for all 50 state capitals.

The 17th is merely the start date. The calls are for the "rally" to extend at least through Inauguration Day on the 20th.

All of this is being openly organized by means of social media. Facebook, etc. No word on whether the social media companies are or are not trying to disrupt the organizing.

Many of the insurrectionists involved in Wednesday's assault are still in Washington, perhaps waiting for the 17th.

Curiously, some of the insurrections were seen the night of the 6th gathered in the Willard Hotel, smoking cigars, and reminiscing about the day's events. The Willard is the most expensive hotel in Washington.​

Once again, I seriously hope those in charge are taking this seriously and have enough *loyal* forces to counter the onslaught.