Why are Americans are so Dumb?

[donquixote99]

There is something in what you say, jmc. I've long been of the basic belief the just as conservatives need liberals to keep them from beind too authoritarian and nasty, liberals need conservatives to keep them from being too pie-in-the-sky and silly. But we are now far from the level of civility that could make such synergy possible.

[FordGT90]

Originally Posted by jmcslob

I think liberals are as much to blame for the idiocy of the conservatives as the conservatives are for listening to the crook capitalists that convince that they are for what hurts them most.

About "crook capitalists"...
Dems Voting Against Pentagon Cuts Got 3.4x More Money From the Defense Industry

Yesterday, the House of Representatives rejected an amendment from Progressive Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) to cut the Pentagon’s budget by 10 percent on a vote of 324-93. While Republicans voted in lockstep against the amendment, Democrats were split, with 92 voting for the amendment and 139 voting against it.

Usually it's always been Republicans for bigger defense but that hasn't been the case since Sequester (2013). I find it peculiar that this role reversal has gone largely unnoticed; it was most obvious to me when Pelosi's first budget in 2018 swelled defense spending by suspending sequestration. A member of her caucus proposed an amendment to apply sequestration to defense and it was largely her caucus that voted against it. It's confounding.

The military doesn't even want a lot of things Congress is making them keep like the A-10 Thunderbolt II.

Originally Posted by jmcslob

First off we don't include them.
Who is going to listen to people that never ask for help on the things you specialize in or on.
The things you've done to adapt for your life conditions that can help then in times of need.
Because of this virus we should be asking for their help on educating our kids in this situation.
Hiw to provide for ourselves when our supply chains run low.
Nothing... We just get mad at them for not doing what we think.
We belittle them.. These people make our civilized society possible and nobody cares what they think.
Of course there's a divide.
The solution is as simple as treaitng them as fellow citizens instead dessert people.

Originally Posted by donquixote99

There is something in what you say, jmc. I've long been of the basic belief the just as conservatives need liberals to keep them from beind too authoritarian and nasty, liberals need conservatives to keep them from being too pie-in-the-sky and silly. But we are now far from the level of civility that could make such synergy possible.

[toast.gif]

That's how it worked until circa 1992.

[donquixote99]

1992 was Clinton elected pres because Perot was determined to torpedo Bush, and did. But why you mention that date?

I do think looking back that the first of the famous 'derangement syndromes' kicked in here, the Republicans succumbing to one re Clinton.

[FordGT90]

The pattern. For decades up to the 1992 election, presidential race was almost always a landslide. Example, 1988 election, it was 426 delegates to 111. 1992 established the "red state"/"blue state" trend. Many states that voted Democrat in that election have never voted Republican again. Many states that voted Republican in that election have never voted Democrat again.

The states that did manage to change since then are "swing states." Delegates to the victor is usually ~300 instead of ~400 like it was prior to 1992.

[donquixote99]

Very interesting, thanks.

[Chicks]

[Waggs098]

Originally Posted by donquixote99

There is something in what you say, jmc. I've long been of the basic belief the just as conservatives need liberals to keep them from beind too authoritarian and nasty, liberals need conservatives to keep them from being too pie-in-the-sky and silly. But we are now far from the level of civility that could make such synergy possible.

This i can actually agree with. The fact is we are all being divided by government and politicians and media. The way I see it is the left has become the hard left. The right has become the hard right. There is no in between. When you try to have a conversation with someone from the other side it seems like your instantly shut down since you don't agree with their view. Instead of listening and trying to have a respectable conversation things go to snotty statements and name calling. This happens on both sides. It's quite rediculious.

[RickeyM]

Originally Posted by Waggs098

The way I see it is the left has become the hard left. The right has become the hard right. There is no in between.

Actually there is far less hard-left than the hard-right would have you believe. The right needs the left to be seen as undesirable as possible to maintain the hold on their followers. Ever notice how tRump always uses the term "radical-left"? If the entire Democratic party was that radical Sanders or Warren would have cinched the primaries.

[Waggs098]

Originally Posted by RickeyM

Actually there is far less hard-left than the hard-right would have you believe. The right needs the left to be seen as undesirable as possible to maintain the hold on their followers. Ever notice how tRump always uses the term "radical-left"? If the entire Democratic party was that radical Sanders or Warren would have cinched the primaries.

You can try to point out who there are more of but that's not what I was saying. And are you telling me the hard left doesn't need the right to be seen as undesirable?

[Pio1980]

There is most definitely a 'middle' that is exasperated with the antics of the extremes, and this unqualified incompetent vicious narcissist fraud in the WH most of all.