End of the American Republic?

Tim Simmons

So I return to my original question. 

What are the policies that they should be running on?

Tim Simmons

Lerxst1992 said:

Tim Simmons said:

Except



https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/03/19/most-americans-continue-to-favor-raising-taxes-on-corporations-higher-income-households/

From the mamdani perspective , as expressed in that Suozzi op ed, it’s different on the state/local level. If they start raising taxes to pay for an expanded socialist state in NY, many business will start leaving.

His point being, the judge of this, as he said, the blue states will be losing many seats and electoral votes in 2030. There is no clearer expression of opinion than that. Pew can’t touch reality, as good as their polling is. I’ve made that point about declining D State electoral votes  on this forum many times. 

Funny when I get blasted on here for that, incoming (MR) But a highly competent democratic rep makes the same argument? Cmon man.

No doubt the Republicans have gamed the system, but whats the solution? Run to the right. Give up your ideals. Fascism is winning, so offer fascism light? All I read from you is "better things are not possible, so just try a taste of totalitarianism"


I also don't buy the threat of the amorphous "many" businesses will start leaving. Businesses want to attract talent. Cities are where they are at. 

Also, polling is meant to capture reality. Its not perfect, but I don't think pew is really missing much here.

Tim Simmons

Basically I'd rather blow up liberalism, progressivism, the Democratic party, etc... fucking TRYING something. Trying to reach people. rather than just say, 'do what republicans are doing'. If we die into fascism, I'd rather say at least I didn't compromise my morals.

Stove

Tim Simmons said:

Basically I'd rather blow up liberalism, progressivism, the Democratic party, etc... fucking TRYING something. Trying to reach people. rather than just say, 'do what republicans are doing'. If we die into fascism, I'd rather say at least I didn't compromise my morals.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ai6AbEkdG6c

Tim Simmons

Look. I respect the hell out of a person when they admit they were wrong and I’m making this post because I admit that I was wrong. 

Maybe his policies do translate outside of NYC. I was off saying I know NYC Dems aren’t the rest of the country. I apologize.

brianlux

Get_Right said:

I step into this conversation once in awhile. But it is clear no matter which side you are on, that there is much ignorance on how this process works. You want change or a benefit? Write a check, or maybe five. Politicians do not work for free in the US. Sad but true. And even writing that check may not move the needle.

Good idea.  I think I'll write a check to the next Democratic presidential candidate for $288 million like Elon did.  What the hell, it's just pocket change.

But seriously, we did send money.  Too much, I'd say, especially because I believe money should not be such a huge factor in who gets election.  I mean, criminy, $288 MILLION buckaroos?  

Lerxst1992

Tim Simmons said:

Basically I'd rather blow up liberalism, progressivism, the Democratic party, etc... fucking TRYING something. Trying to reach people. rather than just say, 'do what republicans are doing'. If we die into fascism, I'd rather say at least I didn't compromise my morals.

I thought Rep Suozzi laid it out pretty good what to do. NY already has very high taxes, and like he said, people are leaving the large dem states like NY because of the high taxes and COL. More taxes at the local level too much doesn’t work because it’s too easy to leave. The wealthy are very good at tax avoidance. And it doesn’t work on a national level, because high taxes are taboo in too many states. 

We need to reach moderates to win elections in the future, which becomes more difficult with those ten electoral votes heading south. I don’t think socialist policies are the way to go. Mamdani is the byproduct of a low turnout summer primary in an ultra liberal city. Not a visionary for the party at large.

https://www.wsj.com/opinion/for-democrats-mamdani-is-a-wake-up-call-and-a-bad-example-7e43189c

” Democrats must continue to fight for stronger unions, revitalized manufacturing, and a labor market that rewards hard work over wealth accumulation. If we want to raise taxes on the wealthiest—or, at the very least, return to pre-Trump rates for those earning more than $400,000, which we should—let’s let Congress do it. 

Cities and states need to stop raising taxes and putting themselves at an unsustainable competitive disadvantage. Raise the minimum wage, but do it nationally, since 20 states still cling to the outdated $7.25 federal floor. 

Democrats must also lead with a modern economic industrial policy. That means reshoring high-tech manufacturing, building supply chains with allies, and investing in frontier industries such as artificial intelligence, clean energy and biotech. Let’s cut red tape, reform outdated permitting processes, and rebuild the nation’s infrastructure to create middle-class jobs and boost long-term growth. We should champion labor and focus on policies that encourage job creation, wage growth and economic security. Strengthening collective bargaining and passing laws supporting worker unionization will help lift stagnant wages, enhance job security and ensure fair compensation.”

Halifax2TheMax

All things Brandon's shadow government was doing or proposed doing. Ahhhh, the rubes, "they're eating the cats. They're eating the dogs. They're eating the pets of the people that live there."

The current congress ain't going to do any of that and neither will subsequent congresses. It'll be two, maybe three generations from now. Its got to get worse, waaaaaay worse, before it gets better.

Halifax2TheMax

Good night, ‘Murikkka. We hardly knew ya. From Letter From An American:

At about 10:30 this morning local time,  heavily armed masked agents in trucks, armored vehicles, a helicopter, on foot, and on horseback, accompanied by a gun mounted on a truck raided the MacArthur Park area of Los Angeles. Journalist Mel Buer reported that agents from Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), the National Guard, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) brought what he called a “massive federal presence.”  

Fox News Channel personnel were embedded with the raiders and broadcast throughout the operation, suggesting that it was designed for the media as a show of force to intimidate opponents. CBP brought its own press team, and its people were also taking photos of bystanders. After Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass arrived and spoke with Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino,  the agents left. It is not clear that there was a specific target for the raid, or that anyone was arrested.

Later, Bovino told Bill Melugin of the Fox News Channel, “I don’t work for Karen Bass. Better get used to us now, cause this is going to be normal very soon. We will go anywhere, anytime we want in Los Angeles.”

gotthebottle

Halifax2TheMax said:

Good night, ‘Murikkka. We hardly knew ya. From Letter From An American:

At about 10:30 this morning local time,  heavily armed masked agents in trucks, armored vehicles, a helicopter, on foot, and on horseback, accompanied by a gun mounted on a truck raided the MacArthur Park area of Los Angeles. Journalist Mel Buer reported that agents from Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), the National Guard, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) brought what he called a “massive federal presence.”  

Fox News Channel personnel were embedded with the raiders and broadcast throughout the operation, suggesting that it was designed for the media as a show of force to intimidate opponents. CBP brought its own press team, and its people were also taking photos of bystanders. After Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass arrived and spoke with Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino,  the agents left. It is not clear that there was a specific target for the raid, or that anyone was arrested.

Later, Bovino told Bill Melugin of the Fox News Channel, “I don’t work for Karen Bass. Better get used to us now, cause this is going to be normal very soon. We will go anywhere, anytime we want in Los Angeles.”

War is coming....

Tim Simmons

Lerxst1992 said:

Tim Simmons said:

Basically I'd rather blow up liberalism, progressivism, the Democratic party, etc... fucking TRYING something. Trying to reach people. rather than just say, 'do what republicans are doing'. If we die into fascism, I'd rather say at least I didn't compromise my morals.

Democrats must also lead with a modern economic industrial policy. That means reshoring high-tech manufacturing, building supply chains with allies, and investing in frontier industries such as artificial intelligence, clean energy and biotech. Let’s cut red tape, reform outdated permitting processes, and rebuild the nation’s infrastructure to create middle-class jobs and boost long-term growth. We should champion labor and focus on policies that encourage job creation, wage growth and economic security. Strengthening collective bargaining and passing laws supporting worker unionization will help lift stagnant wages, enhance job security and ensure fair compensation.”

Most of this is empty nonsense. Its either stuff Democrats already support (so...stay the course?) or its unworkable (mainly re-shoring high tech manufacturing). Agree on cutting red tape in regards to building and permitting. YIMBY all day.

Lerxst1992 said:

We need to reach moderates to win elections in the future, which becomes more difficult with those ten electoral votes heading south. I don’t think socialist policies are the way to go. Mamdani is the byproduct of a low turnout summer primary in an ultra liberal city. Not a visionary for the party at large.

Wasn't this the highest turnout for a Mayoral primary in decades? He reaches lapsed and unmotivated voters and the young. Thats who dems need to capture and if you offer them kitchen table issues, moderates will follow too. I think this dude misses the mark in his piece. Glad he's respected, but this piece an't it. An op-ed in the nations largest business newspaper aimed at the wealthy saying taxes on the wealthy are bad rings hollow as a blueprint for what Dems should do. 

Tim Simmons

I think the grain of slat you need to take with the Mamdani pushback is, establishment Dems are scared of his grassroots success. It basically exposes the man behind the curtain. THIS is what Dems need. Flush out the establishment. They have failed us.

Halifax2TheMax

Tim Simmons said:

I think the grain of slat you need to take with the Mamdani pushback is, establishment Dems are scared of his grassroots success. It basically exposes the man behind the curtain. THIS is what Dems need. Flush out the establishment. They have failed us.

Gee, sounds like AOC.

Lerxst1992

Tim Simmons said:

I think the grain of slat you need to take with the Mamdani pushback is, establishment Dems are scared of his grassroots success. It basically exposes the man behind the curtain. THIS is what Dems need. Flush out the establishment. They have failed us.

The “fear” is that his type of policies just don’t sell nationwide. IF they did id be jumping for joy…If NYC wants free transit, daycare and trans treatments, and rent freezes, and many more goodies, and pay for it with tens of billions in new funding, great for them it doesn’t hurt anyone outside the city…but it’s just too easy for businesses/wealthy to leave. The movement is going nowhere outside its borders and doesn’t even sell in staten island or many of the suburbs, let alone PA or other swing states.

The turnout for this primary may have been up, but summer elections in general have low turnout compared to the fall. It’s one of the things we complain about, that primaries allow extremes of each party to select extreme nominees. Now we get a socialist and all of a sudden it’s a good thing?

When AOC types start winning senate seats or electoral votes in swing states, then we can jump for joy together. The trend unfortunately, (and hopefully Dems saw this in the election) is the exact opposite.

Tim Simmons

Policies for NYC may not work nationwide, but that op ed notes that he tapped into the economic anxiety and offered policy that could help relieve that. THAT will work nationwide, certainly for regional elections. It will be a good blueprint for 2028. 

Halifax2TheMax

Sure, we can’t possibly raise taxes or provide for a higher minimum wage. Impossible. There’s just not enough to go around.

Tim Simmons

The pushback on him seems so cynical especially when there are stories like this:

https://archive.is/20250708172330/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/07/nyregion/mamdani-cuomo-adams-democrats.html


you can say stuff like, ‘well we don’t think it’s a viable path forward’ which would be fair, if they were actually fucking winning shit. 

Halifax2TheMax

Tim Simmons said:

The pushback on him seems so cynical especially when there are stories like this:

https://archive.is/20250708172330/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/07/nyregion/mamdani-cuomo-adams-democrats.html


you can say stuff like, ‘well we don’t think it’s a viable path forward’ which would be fair, if they were actually fucking winning shit. 

He’s a threat to the establishment and they’ll do anything and everything to destroy him. Hell, COOTWH has already threatened to deport him. Welcome to the dystopian future.

Tim Simmons

All because he wants to take care of people at the expense of [checks notes] people who have lots of money

josevolution

Halifax2TheMax said:

Sure, we can’t possibly raise taxes or provide for a higher minimum wage. Impossible. There’s just not enough to go around.

Not one woman!