• @[email protected]
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    124 months ago

    So… the idea that we’ll potentially lose democracy altogether if they split the Democratic Party vote isn’t really a big deal?

    • @[email protected]
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      4 months ago

      It takes two to tango. Moderates steamrolled the primaries and got a geriatric establishment candidate elected knowing full well progressives and leftists would have a problem with it. Moderates backed Biden while he shredded the BBB. They backed Biden when he reverted on his campaign promise for $50k in student loan forgiveness. They backed Biden when he increased the defense budget. They backed Biden when he blocked the rail strike. They backed Biden when he told federal workers to return to the office. They backed Biden as he tasked Powell and Yellen with going to war with American workers. And they continue to back Biden as he continues sending weapons to Israel.

      You could possibly make a case that both moderates and the farther left movements are to blame. But the fact is moderates are the majority and thus they hold the majority of the responsibility. Plus it’s a bit absurd that moderates accuse farther left movements as being unwilling to compromise when the compromises made by the moderates have been immaterial.

      the idea that we’ll potentially lose democracy altogether

      Would you rather lose Democracy or use the reconciliation bill as a bargaining chip to get the BBB passed?
      Would you rather lose Democracy or follow through on the promise of $50k student loan forgiveness?
      Would you rather lose Democracy or reduce the defense budget?
      Would you rather lose Democracy or stay out of the rail strike?
      Would you rather lose Democracy or allow federal workers to continue working remotely?
      Would you rather lose Democracy or stop sending weapons to Israel?

      When the former is chosen time, and time, and time, and time again the question has to be asked. Is Democracy all that important to you? Because all of these choices sound like a bargain to me.

      • @[email protected]
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        124 months ago

        I think you are casually forgetting all the times that the Biden administration tried to pass good stuff and it was blocked by the GOP ‘just because’ or SCOTUS because they are captured by the Sith.

        • @[email protected]
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          -54 months ago

          No. Everything I listed was a choice Biden made and had nothing to do with Republicans. Take a breath, drop your proconceptions and read my comment again.

      • @[email protected]
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        34 months ago

        The thing I don’t understand here is just - do you expect Trump to go pass BBB, forgive student loans etc? In the primaries, sure, go out and vote for more progressive candidates. But if I’m asked if I want a tooth filling or a root canal, I don’t bitch about the filling material and hope to go get a root canal.

        Like, practically, what do you expect to get better if Biden loses?

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          4 months ago

          You just sailed right over all my questions.

          Is Democracy important to you? Then encourage moderates, establishment Democrats, the DNC and Biden to compromise with the leftists and progressives in order to get the votes he needs to win the next election. If you’re not willing to do that then accept the consequences.

          • @[email protected]
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            14 months ago

            Biden isn’t the one saying he wants to be dictator, that seems to be Trump. As far as I am aware, we needed to run a different candidate in the primary, that’s where you push people to come more to the left. Going hard right because Biden wasn’t left enough for you is kind of insane to me. That’s all.

            Do I love what the Biden admin does 100%? No.

            But you seem to be saying you’re rather have Trump than Biden, which is a position someone can take, but a very strange one for someone who’s left of Biden. To me it’s like saying It’s 70 degrees in here and I’m cold. One person says I will set the thermostat to 72 degrees, the other says I’ll set it to 60 degrees, and you would like it to be 75 degrees. Because the 72 degrees isn’t hot enough, you’d prefer the 60 degrees. Weird way to express your preferences to me.

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              4 months ago

              you seem to be saying you’re rather have Trump than compromise with leftists and progressives.

              That accusation cuts both ways.

              And you still haven’t answered any of my questions.

              • @[email protected]
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                14 months ago

                I don’t think I understand your questions to be honest. I’d strongly prefer to keep democracy, and to reverse the course of our system so it’s getting more democratic. I’d prefer not trying to make the point being cruel to outgroups or anyone.

                Specifically I would never make the case that we’d lose democracy from trying to do any of the things you listed as “or”. The “Might lose democracy” is about Trump’s actual statements about wanting to be a dictator, and the republican party that seems to be all for that.

                The first 3 questions are to congress or maybe the supreme court - Biden tried to do loan forgiveness, it wouldn’t pass congress, and the supreme court struck down his ability to do it in an executive order. This is not something that Biden can change, it’s something that needs more people to vote in democratic congressional representatives. So these questions seem completely irrelevant to me in terms of the presidential election. I’m in NY, we vote in democratic senators and a lot of democratic representatives. I’m not sure what else you’re asking me to do.

                The last 3 questions are more salient to Biden, and I personally would not have done any of that. I don’t know how the government can actually block a strike if the people were really serious they could all quit and let the companies deal with that.

                If I was president knowing only what I currently know now - I’d have told the companies to fricken pay up, not say the strike can’t happen. I’d channel that FDR meme where he hauled the one company away from the person not coming to an agreement so stuff kept running.

                I would tout federal workers working remotely as both something good for labor, and good for the environment with less car pollution, and potential for a broader recruiting base. If I was feeling snarky I might also try and throw in it might let the government recruit more people from low cost of living areas and save money.

                On the Israel issue I’d probably throw it to congress at this point. I just don’t really know what the stance to take is because I don’t know enough about our alliance terms, the strategic goals, etc.

                I have to point out - theres presumably a lot the President / Government knows that I do not about each issue. There may be things that if I knew it, I’d change my position. One thing I think Biden needs to do is get on TV or whatever and explain to people why he’s sending arms to Israel at this point, and why he’s not strongly pressuring Israel to get out of Gaza and stop this war.

                Given the above - I’m not really sure what compromise you’re talking about that I’m “not willing to make”? I didn’t choose Biden - no one else was running in the primaries that I’m aware of. It’s not that people didn’t hear that no one was excited about Biden running again, it’s that whoever makes the political decisions didn’t choose anyone else even hearing that. And TBH, politically, other than maybe John Stewart (as I’ve said elsewhere, and who they obviously didn’t get), I don’t know anyone who’s even as well known as Biden on the Democratic side that also would have any chance in a general election. The swing voters who decide elections seem to be very resistant to anyone who’s not an old white man. I wish we didn’t have the electoral college that even makes swing states TBH, but it’s what we have to go by. Pretending that it’s not is not engaging with reality.

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                  4 months ago

                  Specifically I would never make the case that we’d lose democracy from trying to do any of the things you listed

                  In order for that to be true that would mean people those people would refuse to vote for Biden if he did those things yes?

                  Lecture them on the merits of compromise and the importance of democracy. Tell them to vote blue no matter who. Stop focusing those lectures on one group.

                  I don’t know how the government can actually block a strike if the people were really serious they could all quit and let the companies deal with that.

                  Sounds like you don’t know what you’re talking about then and should keep quiet.

                  no one else was running in the primaries that I’m aware of.

                  Plenty of people were running in the 2020 primaries.