GOP

Halifax2TheMax

Lindsey Flimsy Flipflop Faloozy raring his fugly face and threatening ass phoopings on national television? Good lord how far has this country fallen? 

Halifax2TheMax

So far that “Drain the Swamp” was like pizzagate and Maria Butina, remember her?, as well as 1/6 and NYC DA plowing forth, and Bull Durham is trying oh so hard. Meanwhile, those damn Dems can’t pass weed normalization nor prescription drug pricing but all fault lies with them?

I love me a Philly cheesesteak.

brianlux

I haven't followed the VA vote as close as some of you but from what I have read, if "wokeness" wasn't the main issue (I can't see how it did anything but do harm, but yeah, that's arguable), then it sure looks like weakness was.  mrussell even mentioned McAuliffe running a weak campaign. 
If Democrats don't start being more proactive and show a lot more energy, spunk, and toughness, they are going to lose more ground, and more and more lawmakers who don't care about the survival of democracy, and about environmental degradation, global warming, and women and minority rights, are going to get voted into office.  And being tough and proactive requires a lot more than just making claims about being "woke" or enlightened or whatever other self-deceiving bullshit lingo people are buying into. That kind of arrogance only turns moderates away away from progressive goals and gives the appearance of people being more trend oriented than informed.  
I saw a lot of the same self deception in the 60's with all the then hip buzz word like "peace, brother", "right on, man", and "we're gonna change the world" talk and, as nice as that all sounds, we still ended up more wars, the continuation of oppression of minorities and women, and a trashed planet.  In our own way, my generation claimed to be "woke".  Yeah, groovy man.  Until it started to interfere with our boomer comforts.  Too much of it was talk, not enough action.  Look at where we are now.
Getting informed and involved is the only way things will get better.  Simply claiming to be enlightened (or whatever the next buzz word is) is simply just more hip lingo that don't add up to nothin'.

tempo_n_groove

Halifax2TheMax said:

tempo_n_groove said:

Halifax2TheMax said:

So explain the white fueled anger and the storming of the capitol to me. What’s their grievance? Because I don’t understand it. Anyone?

Those were also the ones that went out and voted.

What are their grievances? The ones who voted?

In NY bail reform and high taxes as mentioned before.

JeBurkhardt

Halifax2TheMax said:

So far that “Drain the Swamp” was like pizzagate and Maria Butina, remember her?, as well as 1/6 and NYC DA plowing forth, and Bull Durham is trying oh so hard. Meanwhile, those damn Dems can’t pass weed normalization nor prescription drug pricing but all fault lies with them?

I love me a Philly cheesesteak.

They didn't drain the swamp, they just brought in their own alligators.

Lerxst1992

brianlux said:

I haven't followed the VA vote as close as some of you but from what I have read, if "wokeness" wasn't the main issue (I can't see how it did anything but do harm, but yeah, that's arguable), then it sure looks like weakness was.  mrussell even mentioned McAuliffe running a weak campaign. 
If Democrats don't start being more proactive and show a lot more energy, spunk, and toughness, they are going to lose more ground, and more and more lawmakers who don't care about the survival of democracy, and about environmental degradation, global warming, and women and minority rights, are going to get voted into office.  And being tough and proactive requires a lot more than just making claims about being "woke" or enlightened or whatever other self-deceiving bullshit lingo people are buying into. That kind of arrogance only turns moderates away away from progressive goals and gives the appearance of people being more trend oriented than informed.  
I saw a lot of the same self deception in the 60's with all the then hip buzz word like "peace, brother", "right on, man", and "we're gonna change the world" talk and, as nice as that all sounds, we still ended up more wars, the continuation of oppression of minorities and women, and a trashed planet.  In our own way, my generation claimed to be "woke".  Yeah, groovy man.  Until it started to interfere with our boomer comforts.  Too much of it was talk, not enough action.  Look at where we are now.
Getting informed and involved is the only way things will get better.  Simply claiming to be enlightened (or whatever the next buzz word is) is simply just more hip lingo that don't add up to nothin'.

Off year elections are usually about which party is more motivated to vote and almost every year it’s gop voters. Sometimes when a Republican is POTUS the Dems are energized enough in off year elections to vote. 

The reality of the VA race, and MANY others in mid Atlantic and northeast, is the Rs were more motivated to vote. Let’s say in VA the Rs got about 80% turnout (compared to a presidential election) and the Dems got 70% turnout. That’s the issue that matters. Sure winning independents help but these days a huge majority of voters identify as leaning solid R or D

My concern is that this generation was supposed to be different. Millennials were supposed to be passionate about saving the planet and government solutions solving economic problems. What I am seeing, is millennials are just as bad at voting as older democrats, they are too interested in other things like Xbox and insta to be concerned about voting. The blue millennial wave is turning out to be just another hoax perpetrated by democrat strategists

Hobbes

myoung321 said:

Ledbetterman10 said:

The Juggler said:

brianlux said:

Ledbetterman10 said:

Kat said:

It was not directed at any one person. Just trying to keep the peace and spread some love. 
Did you watch what Rachel Maddow said about the election trend with VA and NJ? She found some better news for Dems. 
Then there's the James Carville comment about being woke that I haven't looked into yet...we could discuss that stuff. You decide which thread, ok?  

Carville was spot on. Here's the article...

James Carville Says ‘Stupid Wokeness’ Costs Democrats at the Polls (msn.com)

He went on, saying that what he sees as wokeness “has a suppressive effect all across the country on Democrats.”

“Some of these people need to go to a ‘woke’ detox center or something,” he said. “They’re expressing a language that people just don’t use and there’s backlash and a frustration at that.”

Couldn't agree more.  The whole "woke" attitude simply reeks of arrogant self-righteousness.  It' a major turn-off to the average moderate thinking person and an insult to people sincerely trying to make positive progressive change happen in this country.  It's the kind of attitude that is helping build the radical right.

Thing is...I think it's not the majority of the party. But it's the loudest and since Republicans are better at politics, they're pretty easily able label every dem as a woke, defund the police wantin', socialist pig---And, even though it's bullshit, it wins the argument because it's an easy one to make. 

And I think the "loudest" that you speak of are the talking heads on MSNBC. Joy Reid and Nicole Wallace do more damage to the democratic party's election chances than far-left-leaning elected officials like AOC or Bernie could ever do. Go back and watch them during the Dem primary in 2020. Over and over they'd suggest that the last thing we need is another white man like Biden.....until that's exactly what they needed to beat Trump. 

I think its funny that AOC and Bernie are still considered "Far Left".... They get in line with the establishment dems every time and do zero for the working class. This "take over" by the far left is a joke... When was the last time these so-called "Far Left Leaders" ever went and sat with workers striking or even speak out in a way that actually matters... Leaders? We have no Left Leaders.  

BTW... Corporate paid Cable News talking heads aren't the Left.... 

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez visits the CWA picket line at Mercy Hospital | News 4 Buffalo (wivb.com)
How AOC Rallied Grocery Store Workers on Strike (townhall.com)
AOC Spent Inauguration Day at a Strike (msn.com)
Bernie Sanders to Join McDonald's Workers Striking for Higher Wages (businessinsider.com)
AOC joins ‘striketober’ support as more than 10,000 John Deere workers strike for better wages and benefits (msn.com)
With Millions Unemployed, AOC Calls for a Strike: 'Just Say No' to Returning to Work – PJ Media
AOC and Bernie Sanders back striking Uber and Lyft drivers: 'The greed has got to end' (yahoo.com)
'An equitable, sustainable solution': Taxi drivers win big with city-backed debt relief program after 15-day hunger strike – QNS.com

Let me know if I need to keep going.

brianlux

Lerxst1992 said:

brianlux said:

I haven't followed the VA vote as close as some of you but from what I have read, if "wokeness" wasn't the main issue (I can't see how it did anything but do harm, but yeah, that's arguable), then it sure looks like weakness was.  mrussell even mentioned McAuliffe running a weak campaign. 
If Democrats don't start being more proactive and show a lot more energy, spunk, and toughness, they are going to lose more ground, and more and more lawmakers who don't care about the survival of democracy, and about environmental degradation, global warming, and women and minority rights, are going to get voted into office.  And being tough and proactive requires a lot more than just making claims about being "woke" or enlightened or whatever other self-deceiving bullshit lingo people are buying into. That kind of arrogance only turns moderates away away from progressive goals and gives the appearance of people being more trend oriented than informed.  
I saw a lot of the same self deception in the 60's with all the then hip buzz word like "peace, brother", "right on, man", and "we're gonna change the world" talk and, as nice as that all sounds, we still ended up more wars, the continuation of oppression of minorities and women, and a trashed planet.  In our own way, my generation claimed to be "woke".  Yeah, groovy man.  Until it started to interfere with our boomer comforts.  Too much of it was talk, not enough action.  Look at where we are now.
Getting informed and involved is the only way things will get better.  Simply claiming to be enlightened (or whatever the next buzz word is) is simply just more hip lingo that don't add up to nothin'.

Off year elections are usually about which party is more motivated to vote and almost every year it’s gop voters. Sometimes when a Republican is POTUS the Dems are energized enough in off year elections to vote. 

The reality of the VA race, and MANY others in mid Atlantic and northeast, is the Rs were more motivated to vote. Let’s say in VA the Rs got about 80% turnout (compared to a presidential election) and the Dems got 70% turnout. That’s the issue that matters. Sure winning independents help but these days a huge majority of voters identify as leaning solid R or D

My concern is that this generation was supposed to be different. Millennials were supposed to be passionate about saving the planet and government solutions solving economic problems. What I am seeing, is millennials are just as bad at voting as older democrats, they are too interested in other things like Xbox and insta to be concerned about voting. The blue millennial wave is turning out to be just another hoax perpetrated by democrat strategists

I had shared some of those same hopes but instead of being passionate, millennials seem to be more like deer caught in the headlights.  In a way, I can't blame them.  The problems they are facing in this world are literally as big as a planet.   And I hate to say it, but too many are in sort of a permanent state of shock and, like you say, retreat to their distractions.  So much time spent on iPhones, games and television. 

But there are also activist youth out there and the best hope is that the leaders among them will step up and inspire others to get to work solving problems. 
I feel bad as hell for young people today.  I can't imagine the despair of being young when your life should be filled with hope but instead live in a world where so many people just talk about doom and gloom.  I want to see more of them get angry and get busy with fighting back and restoring some hope.  All the moping around and near ubiquitous ennui is not getting the job done.  We need a resurgence of activist mind set infused with punk rock level energy, not these obsessions with mindless games, and with being neurotic, and wallowing in self doubt.  The new motto of the youth should be "Get off the couch!" 

And I'm not making fun of people with psychological issues.  I have had plenty of my own and I know from experience that the only way to get past them or at least not let them make oneself ineffective and useless is to get moving, get busy, get motivated.  I had to get there and its hard, fucking hard work, but it pays off.

JeBurkhardt

brianlux said:

Lerxst1992 said:

brianlux said:

I haven't followed the VA vote as close as some of you but from what I have read, if "wokeness" wasn't the main issue (I can't see how it did anything but do harm, but yeah, that's arguable), then it sure looks like weakness was.  mrussell even mentioned McAuliffe running a weak campaign. 
If Democrats don't start being more proactive and show a lot more energy, spunk, and toughness, they are going to lose more ground, and more and more lawmakers who don't care about the survival of democracy, and about environmental degradation, global warming, and women and minority rights, are going to get voted into office.  And being tough and proactive requires a lot more than just making claims about being "woke" or enlightened or whatever other self-deceiving bullshit lingo people are buying into. That kind of arrogance only turns moderates away away from progressive goals and gives the appearance of people being more trend oriented than informed.  
I saw a lot of the same self deception in the 60's with all the then hip buzz word like "peace, brother", "right on, man", and "we're gonna change the world" talk and, as nice as that all sounds, we still ended up more wars, the continuation of oppression of minorities and women, and a trashed planet.  In our own way, my generation claimed to be "woke".  Yeah, groovy man.  Until it started to interfere with our boomer comforts.  Too much of it was talk, not enough action.  Look at where we are now.
Getting informed and involved is the only way things will get better.  Simply claiming to be enlightened (or whatever the next buzz word is) is simply just more hip lingo that don't add up to nothin'.

Off year elections are usually about which party is more motivated to vote and almost every year it’s gop voters. Sometimes when a Republican is POTUS the Dems are energized enough in off year elections to vote. 

The reality of the VA race, and MANY others in mid Atlantic and northeast, is the Rs were more motivated to vote. Let’s say in VA the Rs got about 80% turnout (compared to a presidential election) and the Dems got 70% turnout. That’s the issue that matters. Sure winning independents help but these days a huge majority of voters identify as leaning solid R or D

My concern is that this generation was supposed to be different. Millennials were supposed to be passionate about saving the planet and government solutions solving economic problems. What I am seeing, is millennials are just as bad at voting as older democrats, they are too interested in other things like Xbox and insta to be concerned about voting. The blue millennial wave is turning out to be just another hoax perpetrated by democrat strategists

I had shared some of those same hopes but instead of being passionate, millennials seem to be more like deer caught in the headlights.  In a way, I can't blame them.  The problems they are facing in this world are literally as big as a planet.   And I hate to say it, but too many are in sort of a permanent state of shock and, like you say, retreat to their distractions.  So much time spent on iPhones, games and television. 

But there are also activist youth out there and the best hope is that the leaders among them will step up and inspire others to get to work solving problems. 
I feel bad as hell for young people today.  I can't imagine the despair of being young when your life should be filled with hope but instead live in a world where so many people just talk about doom and gloom.  I want to see more of them get angry and get busy with fighting back and restoring some hope.  All the moping around and near ubiquitous ennui is not getting the job done.  We need a resurgence of activist mind set infused with punk rock level energy, not these obsessions with mindless games, and with being neurotic, and wallowing in self doubt.  The new motto of the youth should be "Get off the couch!" 

And I'm not making fun of people with psychological issues.  I have had plenty of my own and I know from experience that the only way to get past them or at least not let them make oneself ineffective and useless is to get moving, get busy, get motivated.  I had to get there and its hard, fucking hard work, but it pays off.

I think a lot of them think they are doing something, but in reality are not. When something comes across their news feed, liking it or sharing it is easy and probably makes people feel like they are contributing somehow. It feels good and doesn't require any real energy or ownership of the situation. Somehow they need to get motivated like you said to take the next step of actual action. Maybe it is activists doing more face to face outreach and not so much fleeting posts on social media. It is more labor intensive, but might spur better results.

brianlux

JeBurkhardt said:

brianlux said:

I had shared some of those same hopes but instead of being passionate, millennials seem to be more like deer caught in the headlights.  In a way, I can't blame them.  The problems they are facing in this world are literally as big as a planet.   And I hate to say it, but too many are in sort of a permanent state of shock and, like you say, retreat to their distractions.  So much time spent on iPhones, games and television. 

But there are also activist youth out there and the best hope is that the leaders among them will step up and inspire others to get to work solving problems. 
I feel bad as hell for young people today.  I can't imagine the despair of being young when your life should be filled with hope but instead live in a world where so many people just talk about doom and gloom.  I want to see more of them get angry and get busy with fighting back and restoring some hope.  All the moping around and near ubiquitous ennui is not getting the job done.  We need a resurgence of activist mind set infused with punk rock level energy, not these obsessions with mindless games, and with being neurotic, and wallowing in self doubt.  The new motto of the youth should be "Get off the couch!" 

And I'm not making fun of people with psychological issues.  I have had plenty of my own and I know from experience that the only way to get past them or at least not let them make oneself ineffective and useless is to get moving, get busy, get motivated.  I had to get there and its hard, fucking hard work, but it pays off.

I think a lot of them think they are doing something, but in reality are not. When something comes across their news feed, liking it or sharing it is easy and probably makes people feel like they are contributing somehow. It feels good and doesn't require any real energy or ownership of the situation. Somehow they need to get motivated like you said to take the next step of actual action. Maybe it is activists doing more face to face outreach and not so much fleeting posts on social media. It is more labor intensive, but might spur better results.

Excellent point, Je. 

I think the same can be said about "signing" on-line letter and petitions.  On-line signing does very little.  And even though I have, and still occasionally do sign them, I'm actually glad I don't see as many of them.  I think some organizations are beginning to acknowledge how little useful they are.  It's a lot more effective to write personal letter and make phone calls.

I would love to see Activism 101 classes taught in high school and college.  Get kids motivated to do things that really make a difference, that get the message across more directly, that get social movements real and on the ground instead of simply floating around in the airy world of social media.

Hobbes

brianlux said:

JeBurkhardt said:

brianlux said:

I had shared some of those same hopes but instead of being passionate, millennials seem to be more like deer caught in the headlights.  In a way, I can't blame them.  The problems they are facing in this world are literally as big as a planet.   And I hate to say it, but too many are in sort of a permanent state of shock and, like you say, retreat to their distractions.  So much time spent on iPhones, games and television. 

But there are also activist youth out there and the best hope is that the leaders among them will step up and inspire others to get to work solving problems. 
I feel bad as hell for young people today.  I can't imagine the despair of being young when your life should be filled with hope but instead live in a world where so many people just talk about doom and gloom.  I want to see more of them get angry and get busy with fighting back and restoring some hope.  All the moping around and near ubiquitous ennui is not getting the job done.  We need a resurgence of activist mind set infused with punk rock level energy, not these obsessions with mindless games, and with being neurotic, and wallowing in self doubt.  The new motto of the youth should be "Get off the couch!" 

And I'm not making fun of people with psychological issues.  I have had plenty of my own and I know from experience that the only way to get past them or at least not let them make oneself ineffective and useless is to get moving, get busy, get motivated.  I had to get there and its hard, fucking hard work, but it pays off.

I think a lot of them think they are doing something, but in reality are not. When something comes across their news feed, liking it or sharing it is easy and probably makes people feel like they are contributing somehow. It feels good and doesn't require any real energy or ownership of the situation. Somehow they need to get motivated like you said to take the next step of actual action. Maybe it is activists doing more face to face outreach and not so much fleeting posts on social media. It is more labor intensive, but might spur better results.

Excellent point, Je. 

I think the same can be said about "signing" on-line letter and petitions.  On-line signing does very little.  And even though I have, and still occasionally do sign them, I'm actually glad I don't see as many of them.  I think some organizations are beginning to acknowledge how little useful they are.  It's a lot more effective to write personal letter and make phone calls.

I would love to see Activism 101 classes taught in high school and college.  Get kids motivated to do things that really make a difference, that get the message across more directly, that get social movements real and on the ground instead of simply floating around in the airy world of social media.

There's a term for this: Slacktivism.

'Slacktivism': Legitimate Action or Just Lazy Liking? (citizenlab.co)

cblock4life

brianlux said:

JeBurkhardt said:

brianlux said:

I had shared some of those same hopes but instead of being passionate, millennials seem to be more like deer caught in the headlights.  In a way, I can't blame them.  The problems they are facing in this world are literally as big as a planet.   And I hate to say it, but too many are in sort of a permanent state of shock and, like you say, retreat to their distractions.  So much time spent on iPhones, games and television. 

But there are also activist youth out there and the best hope is that the leaders among them will step up and inspire others to get to work solving problems. 
I feel bad as hell for young people today.  I can't imagine the despair of being young when your life should be filled with hope but instead live in a world where so many people just talk about doom and gloom.  I want to see more of them get angry and get busy with fighting back and restoring some hope.  All the moping around and near ubiquitous ennui is not getting the job done.  We need a resurgence of activist mind set infused with punk rock level energy, not these obsessions with mindless games, and with being neurotic, and wallowing in self doubt.  The new motto of the youth should be "Get off the couch!" 

And I'm not making fun of people with psychological issues.  I have had plenty of my own and I know from experience that the only way to get past them or at least not let them make oneself ineffective and useless is to get moving, get busy, get motivated.  I had to get there and its hard, fucking hard work, but it pays off.

I think a lot of them think they are doing something, but in reality are not. When something comes across their news feed, liking it or sharing it is easy and probably makes people feel like they are contributing somehow. It feels good and doesn't require any real energy or ownership of the situation. Somehow they need to get motivated like you said to take the next step of actual action. Maybe it is activists doing more face to face outreach and not so much fleeting posts on social media. It is more labor intensive, but might spur better results.

Excellent point, Je. 

I think the same can be said about "signing" on-line letter and petitions.  On-line signing does very little.  And even though I have, and still occasionally do sign them, I'm actually glad I don't see as many of them.  I think some organizations are beginning to acknowledge how little useful they are.  It's a lot more effective to write personal letter and make phone calls.

I would love to see Activism 101 classes taught in high school and college.  Get kids motivated to do things that really make a difference, that get the message across more directly, that get social movements real and on the ground instead of simply floating around in the airy world of social media.

I realize that it’s difficult to deny your children screen time, cell phones, etc. but you can thank the parents of millennials for not being the adult/parent in the family.  I’ve said it before I was lousy at teaching my kids about climate change but they waited till the were 16 to use the internet and cell phones were purchased before college.  They hated me for it but they got over it and actually survived.  We were raising children when technology increased dramatically.  We didn’t know what we were doing or the effects it would have on kids so how could we know what they were doing?  Not an excuse, I just think more will come around once they have kids of their own, hopefully. I have more faith in the younger ones (whatever their generation is called) then in the millennials. 

mrussel1

cblock4life said:

brianlux said:

JeBurkhardt said:

brianlux said:

I had shared some of those same hopes but instead of being passionate, millennials seem to be more like deer caught in the headlights.  In a way, I can't blame them.  The problems they are facing in this world are literally as big as a planet.   And I hate to say it, but too many are in sort of a permanent state of shock and, like you say, retreat to their distractions.  So much time spent on iPhones, games and television. 

But there are also activist youth out there and the best hope is that the leaders among them will step up and inspire others to get to work solving problems. 
I feel bad as hell for young people today.  I can't imagine the despair of being young when your life should be filled with hope but instead live in a world where so many people just talk about doom and gloom.  I want to see more of them get angry and get busy with fighting back and restoring some hope.  All the moping around and near ubiquitous ennui is not getting the job done.  We need a resurgence of activist mind set infused with punk rock level energy, not these obsessions with mindless games, and with being neurotic, and wallowing in self doubt.  The new motto of the youth should be "Get off the couch!" 

And I'm not making fun of people with psychological issues.  I have had plenty of my own and I know from experience that the only way to get past them or at least not let them make oneself ineffective and useless is to get moving, get busy, get motivated.  I had to get there and its hard, fucking hard work, but it pays off.

I think a lot of them think they are doing something, but in reality are not. When something comes across their news feed, liking it or sharing it is easy and probably makes people feel like they are contributing somehow. It feels good and doesn't require any real energy or ownership of the situation. Somehow they need to get motivated like you said to take the next step of actual action. Maybe it is activists doing more face to face outreach and not so much fleeting posts on social media. It is more labor intensive, but might spur better results.

Excellent point, Je. 

I think the same can be said about "signing" on-line letter and petitions.  On-line signing does very little.  And even though I have, and still occasionally do sign them, I'm actually glad I don't see as many of them.  I think some organizations are beginning to acknowledge how little useful they are.  It's a lot more effective to write personal letter and make phone calls.

I would love to see Activism 101 classes taught in high school and college.  Get kids motivated to do things that really make a difference, that get the message across more directly, that get social movements real and on the ground instead of simply floating around in the airy world of social media.

I realize that it’s difficult to deny your children screen time, cell phones, etc. but you can thank the parents of millennials for not being the adult/parent in the family.  I’ve said it before I was lousy at teaching my kids about climate change but they waited till the were 16 to use the internet and cell phones were purchased before college.  They hated me for it but they got over it and actually survived.  We were raising children when technology increased dramatically.  We didn’t know what we were doing or the effects it would have on kids so how could we know what they were doing?  Not an excuse, I just think more will come around once they have kids of their own, hopefully. I have more faith in the younger ones (whatever their generation is called) then in the millennials. 

Gen Z.  I have more faith in them too.  My older ones are Z's and they are 'normal'. 

myoung321

Hobbes said:

myoung321 said:

Ledbetterman10 said:

The Juggler said:

brianlux said:

Ledbetterman10 said:

Kat said:

It was not directed at any one person. Just trying to keep the peace and spread some love. 
Did you watch what Rachel Maddow said about the election trend with VA and NJ? She found some better news for Dems. 
Then there's the James Carville comment about being woke that I haven't looked into yet...we could discuss that stuff. You decide which thread, ok?  

Carville was spot on. Here's the article...

James Carville Says ‘Stupid Wokeness’ Costs Democrats at the Polls (msn.com)

He went on, saying that what he sees as wokeness “has a suppressive effect all across the country on Democrats.”

“Some of these people need to go to a ‘woke’ detox center or something,” he said. “They’re expressing a language that people just don’t use and there’s backlash and a frustration at that.”

Couldn't agree more.  The whole "woke" attitude simply reeks of arrogant self-righteousness.  It' a major turn-off to the average moderate thinking person and an insult to people sincerely trying to make positive progressive change happen in this country.  It's the kind of attitude that is helping build the radical right.

Thing is...I think it's not the majority of the party. But it's the loudest and since Republicans are better at politics, they're pretty easily able label every dem as a woke, defund the police wantin', socialist pig---And, even though it's bullshit, it wins the argument because it's an easy one to make. 

And I think the "loudest" that you speak of are the talking heads on MSNBC. Joy Reid and Nicole Wallace do more damage to the democratic party's election chances than far-left-leaning elected officials like AOC or Bernie could ever do. Go back and watch them during the Dem primary in 2020. Over and over they'd suggest that the last thing we need is another white man like Biden.....until that's exactly what they needed to beat Trump. 

I think its funny that AOC and Bernie are still considered "Far Left".... They get in line with the establishment dems every time and do zero for the working class. This "take over" by the far left is a joke... When was the last time these so-called "Far Left Leaders" ever went and sat with workers striking or even speak out in a way that actually matters... Leaders? We have no Left Leaders.  

BTW... Corporate paid Cable News talking heads aren't the Left.... 

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez visits the CWA picket line at Mercy Hospital | News 4 Buffalo (wivb.com)
How AOC Rallied Grocery Store Workers on Strike (townhall.com)
AOC Spent Inauguration Day at a Strike (msn.com)
Bernie Sanders to Join McDonald's Workers Striking for Higher Wages (businessinsider.com)
AOC joins ‘striketober’ support as more than 10,000 John Deere workers strike for better wages and benefits (msn.com)
With Millions Unemployed, AOC Calls for a Strike: 'Just Say No' to Returning to Work – PJ Media
AOC and Bernie Sanders back striking Uber and Lyft drivers: 'The greed has got to end' (yahoo.com)
'An equitable, sustainable solution': Taxi drivers win big with city-backed debt relief program after 15-day hunger strike – QNS.com

Let me know if I need to keep going.

Yes,,, they showed up for mainstream media photo op...then left..

The fact that you or anyone still sees AOC as far left is hilarious?   

myoung321

mrussel1 said:

myoung321 said:

mrussel1 said:

myoung321 said:

mrussel1 said:

myoung321 said:

mrussel1 said:

myoung321 said:

mrussel1 said:

Ya'll don't understand what happened here in VA.  This is a centrist state and the center has been repulsed by Trump.  Youngkin didn't talk about guns, abortion, the border, China... none of it.  Not one commercial or rally on those topics.  He promised to pass the largest education budget in our history.  He stayed on kitchen table issues.  He also promised to repeal the grocery tax (which is fucking annoying). 

You can ask me what Terry's key issue was.. I honestly couldn't tell you.  He ran a bad campaign.  It was lethargic and it felt like he was phoning it in.  It was very poorly done.  The result is that independents when from +19 Biden to -9 Terry.  And it didn't help that Terry said something stupid about parents and what is taught.. and that turned into a commercial I saw 50x while watching football.  Literally.  

So it wasn't necessarily wokeness, but they made education (and CRT) an issue.  But it goes further than just that.  It was a bad campaign. 

This will happen again and again across the country, especially now they know its a winning strategy.

Simply saying Biden or the Dems are the "better of two evils" isn't going to cut it again. 

Also...these Covid Mandates will sink the Democrats in mid-terms and for President... The party that has always been Pro-Choice is now the party of Medical Mandates? No hypocrisy here folks.. keep it moving..  

v You can choose not to get vaxxed, just don't come around me.  Big difference.  
 

Big Difference?   The vaccine does NOT prevent you from shedding the virus and spreading it to others. If it worked like other vaccines then that would be true..The latest studies are showing declining protection after a few months.. so where's the Big Difference? 

<h3>&nbsp;</h3><h1><b>Pfizer’s Vaccine Protection May Wane After 2 Months</b>&nbsp;</h1>

Oct 8, 2021 — For some people who got the vaccine, protection dropped as low as 20% between 5 and 7 months after the second dose.

https://www.webmd.com/vaccines/covid-19-vaccine/news/20211008/pfizer-vaccine-protection-may-wane-after-2-months 

Yes, you can spread the disease if you catch it.  However, you have to catch it to spread the disease.  Therefore if you have a 90% immunity in M2 that drops over time, you are still less likely to spread something that YOU DID NOT CATCH.  It's pretty simple math.  And yes, it drops but that's why there are boosters.  And that's why the CDC recommends an influenza shot yearly as well, because immunity drops.  This isn't new or rocket science here.  

Oh and nice use of conditionals all over that article.. "may, could, as low as, some people"  These are all so scary.  I can't believe I got the vaccine.  

90% immunity? I wish.....     I read every day about "Break Through" cases.... When are they just going to be called CASES? 

I copied the article of the study on WebMD... not Trump .com

https://www.webmd.com/vaccines/covid-19-vaccine/news/20211008/pfizer-vaccine-protection-may-wane-after-2-months

That was the clinical study numbers of PHizer for the Alpha strain.  We are now on delta strain and the number is lower, but it's still in the 70's to start.  Second, the article was ONLY about Phizer.  

And if the alpha is 90 at peak, as an example, and wanes into the 60's which has been documented, then you are going to see plenty of cases.  But at either number, your chance of spreading the disease is far less likely than if you are not vaxxed.  Surely you can see how having a say.. 70% immunity response is better for public health than having a 0% immunity response.  

Either way, the point I made stands.  You can't argue that COVID isn't a public health crisis.  750k dead is a crisis.  Abortion is a personal issue.  A woman's choice to keep or abort a baby, and you don't know the woman, has no effect on you personally.  

 Unvaxxed are have 0% immunity?? really......hmmm...So those the have had the virus and have natural antibodies have 0% immunity? and they should be Mandated for ..what did you say... Public Health?  So we should just ignore this part of the Science for Public Health?

How is it you simply can't see why Mandates are as Unamerican as it gets?... period. and please don't accuse me of being a Trumper or Anti-Vaxxer... I'm neither.. I'm anti-Mandates. 

Just amazes me how much trust is put in Big Pharma, especially after the Opioid lies... OxyContin is only addictive to 1% of people..RIGHT? haha

Yes, you're correct.  Someone that is post COVID has some immunity.  

No,, that is the point..  Because someone that has been vaccinated also have SOME immunity..

You can spread Covid regardless of vaccination status. Right?


Bottom Line: It shouldn't be anyone's business weather you've been vaccinated to not...

and WTF about Hippaa Laws (The Privacy Rule, a Federal law, gives you rights over your health information and sets rules and limits on who can look at and receive your health information)

I guess if the law doesn't fit the mainstream media and big pharma narrative or the WOKE then they must be ignored.. 




--- ya ya I know... This is the part where you say .. "You don't have to work for or.....blah blah blah..."  


Making people wear Arm Bands to indentify them has never worked out well....

 

 

static111

mrussel1 said:

cblock4life said:

brianlux said:

JeBurkhardt said:

brianlux said:

I had shared some of those same hopes but instead of being passionate, millennials seem to be more like deer caught in the headlights.  In a way, I can't blame them.  The problems they are facing in this world are literally as big as a planet.   And I hate to say it, but too many are in sort of a permanent state of shock and, like you say, retreat to their distractions.  So much time spent on iPhones, games and television. 

But there are also activist youth out there and the best hope is that the leaders among them will step up and inspire others to get to work solving problems. 
I feel bad as hell for young people today.  I can't imagine the despair of being young when your life should be filled with hope but instead live in a world where so many people just talk about doom and gloom.  I want to see more of them get angry and get busy with fighting back and restoring some hope.  All the moping around and near ubiquitous ennui is not getting the job done.  We need a resurgence of activist mind set infused with punk rock level energy, not these obsessions with mindless games, and with being neurotic, and wallowing in self doubt.  The new motto of the youth should be "Get off the couch!" 

And I'm not making fun of people with psychological issues.  I have had plenty of my own and I know from experience that the only way to get past them or at least not let them make oneself ineffective and useless is to get moving, get busy, get motivated.  I had to get there and its hard, fucking hard work, but it pays off.

I think a lot of them think they are doing something, but in reality are not. When something comes across their news feed, liking it or sharing it is easy and probably makes people feel like they are contributing somehow. It feels good and doesn't require any real energy or ownership of the situation. Somehow they need to get motivated like you said to take the next step of actual action. Maybe it is activists doing more face to face outreach and not so much fleeting posts on social media. It is more labor intensive, but might spur better results.

Excellent point, Je. 

I think the same can be said about "signing" on-line letter and petitions.  On-line signing does very little.  And even though I have, and still occasionally do sign them, I'm actually glad I don't see as many of them.  I think some organizations are beginning to acknowledge how little useful they are.  It's a lot more effective to write personal letter and make phone calls.

I would love to see Activism 101 classes taught in high school and college.  Get kids motivated to do things that really make a difference, that get the message across more directly, that get social movements real and on the ground instead of simply floating around in the airy world of social media.

I realize that it’s difficult to deny your children screen time, cell phones, etc. but you can thank the parents of millennials for not being the adult/parent in the family.  I’ve said it before I was lousy at teaching my kids about climate change but they waited till the were 16 to use the internet and cell phones were purchased before college.  They hated me for it but they got over it and actually survived.  We were raising children when technology increased dramatically.  We didn’t know what we were doing or the effects it would have on kids so how could we know what they were doing?  Not an excuse, I just think more will come around once they have kids of their own, hopefully. I have more faith in the younger ones (whatever their generation is called) then in the millennials. 

Gen Z.  I have more faith in them too.  My older ones are Z's and they are 'normal'. 

I think the machine eventually destroys all generations.  It becomes very frustrating watching the slow creep of progress when everytime there is a minor step forward there are several steps immediately pulling back.  It's one thing to say change comes slow, its another to see the same pattern played out generation after generation hard not to be disillusioned. The ballot box has not been a very effective weapon against generations of power in pursuit of arresting social change through all means necessary including but not limited to lies, fabrication, deceptions etc.

Hobbes

myoung321 said:

mrussel1 said:

myoung321 said:

mrussel1 said:

myoung321 said:

mrussel1 said:

myoung321 said:

mrussel1 said:

myoung321 said:

mrussel1 said:

Ya'll don't understand what happened here in VA.  This is a centrist state and the center has been repulsed by Trump.  Youngkin didn't talk about guns, abortion, the border, China... none of it.  Not one commercial or rally on those topics.  He promised to pass the largest education budget in our history.  He stayed on kitchen table issues.  He also promised to repeal the grocery tax (which is fucking annoying). 

You can ask me what Terry's key issue was.. I honestly couldn't tell you.  He ran a bad campaign.  It was lethargic and it felt like he was phoning it in.  It was very poorly done.  The result is that independents when from +19 Biden to -9 Terry.  And it didn't help that Terry said something stupid about parents and what is taught.. and that turned into a commercial I saw 50x while watching football.  Literally.  

So it wasn't necessarily wokeness, but they made education (and CRT) an issue.  But it goes further than just that.  It was a bad campaign. 

This will happen again and again across the country, especially now they know its a winning strategy.

Simply saying Biden or the Dems are the "better of two evils" isn't going to cut it again. 

Also...these Covid Mandates will sink the Democrats in mid-terms and for President... The party that has always been Pro-Choice is now the party of Medical Mandates? No hypocrisy here folks.. keep it moving..  

v You can choose not to get vaxxed, just don't come around me.  Big difference.  
 

Big Difference?   The vaccine does NOT prevent you from shedding the virus and spreading it to others. If it worked like other vaccines then that would be true..The latest studies are showing declining protection after a few months.. so where's the Big Difference? 

<h3>&nbsp;</h3><h1><b>Pfizer’s Vaccine Protection May Wane After 2 Months</b>&nbsp;</h1>

Oct 8, 2021 — For some people who got the vaccine, protection dropped as low as 20% between 5 and 7 months after the second dose.

https://www.webmd.com/vaccines/covid-19-vaccine/news/20211008/pfizer-vaccine-protection-may-wane-after-2-months 

Yes, you can spread the disease if you catch it.  However, you have to catch it to spread the disease.  Therefore if you have a 90% immunity in M2 that drops over time, you are still less likely to spread something that YOU DID NOT CATCH.  It's pretty simple math.  And yes, it drops but that's why there are boosters.  And that's why the CDC recommends an influenza shot yearly as well, because immunity drops.  This isn't new or rocket science here.  

Oh and nice use of conditionals all over that article.. "may, could, as low as, some people"  These are all so scary.  I can't believe I got the vaccine.  

90% immunity? I wish.....     I read every day about "Break Through" cases.... When are they just going to be called CASES? 

I copied the article of the study on WebMD... not Trump .com

https://www.webmd.com/vaccines/covid-19-vaccine/news/20211008/pfizer-vaccine-protection-may-wane-after-2-months

That was the clinical study numbers of PHizer for the Alpha strain.  We are now on delta strain and the number is lower, but it's still in the 70's to start.  Second, the article was ONLY about Phizer.  

And if the alpha is 90 at peak, as an example, and wanes into the 60's which has been documented, then you are going to see plenty of cases.  But at either number, your chance of spreading the disease is far less likely than if you are not vaxxed.  Surely you can see how having a say.. 70% immunity response is better for public health than having a 0% immunity response.  

Either way, the point I made stands.  You can't argue that COVID isn't a public health crisis.  750k dead is a crisis.  Abortion is a personal issue.  A woman's choice to keep or abort a baby, and you don't know the woman, has no effect on you personally.  

 Unvaxxed are have 0% immunity?? really......hmmm...So those the have had the virus and have natural antibodies have 0% immunity? and they should be Mandated for ..what did you say... Public Health?  So we should just ignore this part of the Science for Public Health?

How is it you simply can't see why Mandates are as Unamerican as it gets?... period. and please don't accuse me of being a Trumper or Anti-Vaxxer... I'm neither.. I'm anti-Mandates. 

Just amazes me how much trust is put in Big Pharma, especially after the Opioid lies... OxyContin is only addictive to 1% of people..RIGHT? haha

Yes, you're correct.  Someone that is post COVID has some immunity.  

No,, that is the point..  Because someone that has been vaccinated also have SOME immunity..

You can spread Covid regardless of vaccination status. Right?


Bottom Line: It shouldn't be anyone's business weather you've been vaccinated to not...

and WTF about Hippaa Laws (The Privacy Rule, a Federal law, gives you rights over your health information and sets rules and limits on who can look at and receive your health information)

I guess if the law doesn't fit the mainstream media and big pharma narrative or the WOKE then they must be ignored.. 




--- ya ya I know... This is the part where you say .. "You don't have to work for or.....blah blah blah..."  


Making people wear Arm Bands to indentify them has never worked out well....

 

 

You should really look into what HIPAA is before attempting to use it to support your argument.

Hobbes

myoung321 said:

Hobbes said:

myoung321 said:

Ledbetterman10 said:

The Juggler said:

brianlux said:

Ledbetterman10 said:

Kat said:

It was not directed at any one person. Just trying to keep the peace and spread some love. 
Did you watch what Rachel Maddow said about the election trend with VA and NJ? She found some better news for Dems. 
Then there's the James Carville comment about being woke that I haven't looked into yet...we could discuss that stuff. You decide which thread, ok?  

Carville was spot on. Here's the article...

James Carville Says ‘Stupid Wokeness’ Costs Democrats at the Polls (msn.com)

He went on, saying that what he sees as wokeness “has a suppressive effect all across the country on Democrats.”

“Some of these people need to go to a ‘woke’ detox center or something,” he said. “They’re expressing a language that people just don’t use and there’s backlash and a frustration at that.”

Couldn't agree more.  The whole "woke" attitude simply reeks of arrogant self-righteousness.  It' a major turn-off to the average moderate thinking person and an insult to people sincerely trying to make positive progressive change happen in this country.  It's the kind of attitude that is helping build the radical right.

Thing is...I think it's not the majority of the party. But it's the loudest and since Republicans are better at politics, they're pretty easily able label every dem as a woke, defund the police wantin', socialist pig---And, even though it's bullshit, it wins the argument because it's an easy one to make. 

And I think the "loudest" that you speak of are the talking heads on MSNBC. Joy Reid and Nicole Wallace do more damage to the democratic party's election chances than far-left-leaning elected officials like AOC or Bernie could ever do. Go back and watch them during the Dem primary in 2020. Over and over they'd suggest that the last thing we need is another white man like Biden.....until that's exactly what they needed to beat Trump. 

I think its funny that AOC and Bernie are still considered "Far Left".... They get in line with the establishment dems every time and do zero for the working class. This "take over" by the far left is a joke... When was the last time these so-called "Far Left Leaders" ever went and sat with workers striking or even speak out in a way that actually matters... Leaders? We have no Left Leaders.  

BTW... Corporate paid Cable News talking heads aren't the Left.... 

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez visits the CWA picket line at Mercy Hospital | News 4 Buffalo (wivb.com)
How AOC Rallied Grocery Store Workers on Strike (townhall.com)
AOC Spent Inauguration Day at a Strike (msn.com)
Bernie Sanders to Join McDonald's Workers Striking for Higher Wages (businessinsider.com)
AOC joins ‘striketober’ support as more than 10,000 John Deere workers strike for better wages and benefits (msn.com)
With Millions Unemployed, AOC Calls for a Strike: 'Just Say No' to Returning to Work – PJ Media
AOC and Bernie Sanders back striking Uber and Lyft drivers: 'The greed has got to end' (yahoo.com)
'An equitable, sustainable solution': Taxi drivers win big with city-backed debt relief program after 15-day hunger strike – QNS.com

Let me know if I need to keep going.

Yes,,, they showed up for mainstream media photo op...then left..

The fact that you or anyone still sees AOC as far left is hilarious?   

AOC has in fact stood with workers on strike and spoke out on their behalf. You claimed she had not. I provided evidence to the contrary. You then purport it was merely a photo op. Predictable response. Should AOC have joined the 15 day hunger strike? What criteria need met in your mind to necessitate worthiness of her actions?

dankind

brianlux said:

Lerxst1992 said:

brianlux said:

I haven't followed the VA vote as close as some of you but from what I have read, if "wokeness" wasn't the main issue (I can't see how it did anything but do harm, but yeah, that's arguable), then it sure looks like weakness was.  mrussell even mentioned McAuliffe running a weak campaign. 
If Democrats don't start being more proactive and show a lot more energy, spunk, and toughness, they are going to lose more ground, and more and more lawmakers who don't care about the survival of democracy, and about environmental degradation, global warming, and women and minority rights, are going to get voted into office.  And being tough and proactive requires a lot more than just making claims about being "woke" or enlightened or whatever other self-deceiving bullshit lingo people are buying into. That kind of arrogance only turns moderates away away from progressive goals and gives the appearance of people being more trend oriented than informed.  
I saw a lot of the same self deception in the 60's with all the then hip buzz word like "peace, brother", "right on, man", and "we're gonna change the world" talk and, as nice as that all sounds, we still ended up more wars, the continuation of oppression of minorities and women, and a trashed planet.  In our own way, my generation claimed to be "woke".  Yeah, groovy man.  Until it started to interfere with our boomer comforts.  Too much of it was talk, not enough action.  Look at where we are now.
Getting informed and involved is the only way things will get better.  Simply claiming to be enlightened (or whatever the next buzz word is) is simply just more hip lingo that don't add up to nothin'.

Off year elections are usually about which party is more motivated to vote and almost every year it’s gop voters. Sometimes when a Republican is POTUS the Dems are energized enough in off year elections to vote. 

The reality of the VA race, and MANY others in mid Atlantic and northeast, is the Rs were more motivated to vote. Let’s say in VA the Rs got about 80% turnout (compared to a presidential election) and the Dems got 70% turnout. That’s the issue that matters. Sure winning independents help but these days a huge majority of voters identify as leaning solid R or D

My concern is that this generation was supposed to be different. Millennials were supposed to be passionate about saving the planet and government solutions solving economic problems. What I am seeing, is millennials are just as bad at voting as older democrats, they are too interested in other things like Xbox and insta to be concerned about voting. The blue millennial wave is turning out to be just another hoax perpetrated by democrat strategists

I had shared some of those same hopes but instead of being passionate, millennials seem to be more like deer caught in the headlights.  In a way, I can't blame them.  The problems they are facing in this world are literally as big as a planet.   And I hate to say it, but too many are in sort of a permanent state of shock and, like you say, retreat to their distractions.  So much time spent on iPhones, games and television. 

But there are also activist youth out there and the best hope is that the leaders among them will step up and inspire others to get to work solving problems. 
I feel bad as hell for young people today.  I can't imagine the despair of being young when your life should be filled with hope but instead live in a world where so many people just talk about doom and gloom.  I want to see more of them get angry and get busy with fighting back and restoring some hope.  All the moping around and near ubiquitous ennui is not getting the job done.  We need a resurgence of activist mind set infused with punk rock level energy, not these obsessions with mindless games, and with being neurotic, and wallowing in self doubt.  The new motto of the youth should be "Get off the couch!" 

And I'm not making fun of people with psychological issues.  I have had plenty of my own and I know from experience that the only way to get past them or at least not let them make oneself ineffective and useless is to get moving, get busy, get motivated.  I had to get there and its hard, fucking hard work, but it pays off.

To woke, or not to woke: that is the question....

The Juggler

Imagine our grandparents saying "nope" to the polio vaccine....