Welcome to Thunderdome

Leisher wrote: Not only that, but how can a socialist be called a progressive?

1) Progressive sounds better.

2) People want socialism. A lot of people have not done well in the past 30 years in the US.

TheCatt wrote: 1) Progressive sounds better.

No, how can someone being a socialist equal being progressive. Socialism would be a backwards step.

TheCatt wrote: 2) People want socialism. A lot of people have not done well in the past 30 years in the US.

So because they're ignorant and/or lazy we have to drag the rest of the country down to their standards? Originally, I was willing to say nice things like unlucky and whatnot, but let's be honest, if you haven't done even a small bit of research on the political system you're begging for, then you are indeed ignorant and lazy.

"I want free money.". Core beliefs of.most socialists.

Leisher wrote: No, how can someone being a socialist equal being progressive. Socialism would be a backwards step.

I mean, logically, you're right. It's branding.

Leisher wrote: So because they're ignorant and/or lazy we have to drag the rest of the country down to their standards?

I read something about a year ago, that basically said within the US, most wealth generation has gone to the upper class (duh). But, more interesting was that worldwide, a lot of wealth generation had gone to developing economies, building wealthy and middle classes in those countries. Wealth that prior to the 80s was going to the middle class in the developed economies. So they've benefited at the expense of many Americans.

if you haven't done even a small bit of research on the political system you're begging for, then you are indeed ignorant and lazy.

I would guess their goal is European-style socialism, rather than full socialism.

GORDON wrote: "I want free money.". Core beliefs of.most socialists.

I support free public education, and cheap/nearly free post-secondary education. I'm close to universal healthcare as well, since ours is such a disaster. I think people should get a relatively equal start in life.

TheCatt wrote: I read something about a year ago, that basically said within the US, most wealth generation has gone to the upper class (duh). But, more interesting was that worldwide, a lot of wealth generation had gone to developing economies, building wealthy and middle classes in those countries. Wealth that prior to the 80s was going to the middle class in the developed economies. So they've benefited at the expense of many Americans.

True, but the "many Americans" they've benefited from have also benefited. The middle class in a lot of those countries your talking about still have a lower standard of living than our middle class. Income equality is a standard brought up to elicit an emotional response. What you have or what you're deprived of is what really matters. Venezuela at one point last year had the least income inequality on the planet. I'm sure the guy eating his dog would have rather been in the bottom 5% of income earners if it meant a food pantry.

Here is a GREAT site for comparing countries. I just did a quick check against Denmark and Canada and aside from the cost of the Internet, we look pretty good.

TheCatt wrote:

GORDON wrote: "I want free money.". Core beliefs of.most socialists.

I support free public education, and cheap/nearly free post-secondary education. I'm close to universal healthcare as well, since ours is such a disaster. I think people should get a relatively equal start in life.

Really, I don't have a problem with that.

I don't like the complete divorce of consequences, from actions, that we've achieved. Bad decisions have been handwaved away as bad luck, or worse, "It wasn't fair."

GORDON wrote:
I don't like the complete divorce of consequences, from actions, that we've achieved. Bad decisions have been handwaved away as bad luck, or worse, "It wasn't fair."

Couldn't agree more.

Leisher wrote:

GORDON wrote:
I don't like the complete divorce of consequences, from actions, that we've achieved. Bad decisions have been handwaved away as bad luck, or worse, "It wasn't fair."

Couldn't agree more.

You should agree. I'm very insightful. Agreeing with me speaks well of your character.

Putting this here because...well, you'll get it.

Listening to the latest Bill Simmons podcast and he was talking to a Hollywood writer. They got into a topic covering how many people in Hollywood attempt to talk sports, but clearly have no clue what they're talking about. They usually can only name the biggest name athletes and bullet points they might get from headlines. They don't actually know the games.

Doesn't take a scientist to replace sports with politics in that statement and realize you'll get the same results.

Another interesting thing they touched on was ESPN. Remember when ESPN personalities were spouting on politics non-stop? Notice how that completely stopped? That was Bob Iger from Disney who shut that shit down.

Sanders wants Amazon and others to pay for their workers' government assistance.

It's a fine concept in theory, but the problem is that they're going to pass those costs onto consumers.

Leisher wrote: Sanders wants Amazon and others to pay for their workers' government assistance.

It's a fine concept in theory, but the problem is that they're going to pass those costs onto consumers.

They already are via taxes. But socialized by non customers as well.

I support higher minimum wages. Better than government programs.

TheCatt wrote:
I support higher minimum wages. Better than government programs.

That won't go away even with higher minimum wage.

So sick of that bullshit "BigCorp" should pay their employee's public assistance bullshit. I say, quite trying to raise and support a family while holding a job you should have moved on from after you graduated high school and got marketable skills. Oh wait. You chose to not get an education or a skill. Well dumb ass. Not sure why you thought you'd be able to support yourself with a minimum wage job. Here. Let everyone else support you. You just keep being a dumbass.

So sick of that bullshit "BigCorp" should pay their employee's public assistance bullshit. I say, quite trying to raise and support a family while holding a job you should have moved on from after you graduated high school and got marketable skills. Oh wait. You chose to not get an education or a skill. Well dumb ass. Not sure why you thought you'd be able to support yourself with a minimum wage job. Here. Let everyone else support you. You just keep being a dumbass.

Can't say I disagree with this take. Personal responsibility is absolutely missing in our country. If the opportunities are there, and you don't take advantage of them, why should tax payers or big business have to support you?

Vince wrote: This seems like it should be getting more coverage.

Yeah, that should be the headline of the day, now that we're a day removed from McCain passing away.

Just goes to prove that your political affiliation affects how you are treated when you're accused of something.

Did anyone else see how Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson tried to politicize Aretha's death and make it about themselves?

Fucking Sharpton can't even spell respect.

He looks much older than 63...

TheCatt wrote: He looks much older than 63...

Right? "Black don't crack" my ass.

I've observed that when someone older than middle age loses a lot of weight, they look older in the face.