NegativeApproach wrote: Wed Oct 21, 2020 11:20 am
Choosing to participate in a broken and rigged system is NOT the way you institute change. It's not even close.
Then what
is? How would
you,
NegativeApproach, fix this? What are your suggestions? I'm all ears (eyes, whatever)! Please, enlighten me with your solution to the problem of the United States. Teach me something. I'm not unwilling to change my stance or reform my opinion, but you're going to have to work for it. You're going to have to substantiate your claims. And you have no reason to believe this, but I'm genuinely interested. But, I don't want to read more complaints and more about how powerless/not rich you are. I want to read your exact ideas (even in the absence of wealth) how you or anyone would solve this problem. That said, what's your perfect world? How does any of your "I'm taking my ball and going home!" solve the problem of this election?
NegativeApproach wrote:
Telling me that I need to come up with solutions is a red herring. First off, I don't have power to institute any changes. Second off, establishment statist apologists will tell me that I'm wrong and make excuses for the systems of oppression that they're voting for (as you are). Thirdly, it's not my job.
Not what I suggested. Thinly veiled in my response was this: You're either part of the problem or you're part of the solution. So, which are you?
NegativeApproach wrote:
I participate in my community. I vote in every election. I'm a poll worker, and an election judge in most elections (sitting this one out due to Covid). I volunteer and I donate money to decent causes. I advocate and engage when and where I can.
As do I. Well, not the poll worker bit, but the rest... And your point is
what exactly? That you're a cog in the machine, too -just like everyone else?
NegativeApproach wrote:
But I'm not a corporation. I'm not a plutocrat.
Oh, was
this the point? I'm not either. And??? None of us are corporations or plutocrats. Welcome to the world.
NegativeApproach wrote:
Have you ever read Ender's Game? It's a decent book, but the flawed premise in it is that the ideas that are the best will somehow get the most airplay on the internet and that the best ideas will win out in the end. It's a complete and utter fallacy. The internet (and our politics) are funded by those with the most money. That's what dictates policy.
No, I haven't read it. I don't care. It's a work of fiction. It's not representative of reality. Just like the Harry Potter. Is the premise you described loosely akin to our society? Yes, absolutely. So is "1984". So is "The Handmaid's Tale". So are dozens of works of fiction. What's the point? What's your point?
Yes, rich people
do fund candidates, I'd be without any integrity if I didn't grant that; but you don't think they're not hedging their bets? You think they don't throw money at multiple candidates to see which sticks? C'mon! Their interest is in one thing: the amassing and continued amassing of wealth. They'll go with whomever wins, so long as they get what they want.
The point is, the rich don't dictate policy. They can't be
bothered with policy -unless it affects their bottom line. You really, honestly think they'd climb down from on high to set forth a policy that doesn't and won't affect them? You think they care whether or not you have a job? healthcare? happiness? Hahahahaha!
Shiiiiiiiiiiiit.
NegativeApproach wrote:
What you're asking me, in effect, to do, is "be rich". That's the way that policy gets written and determined in this country.
LOL WUT? Nope. Whole lotta nope. Not even a little. Although I'm surprised the motorcycle cleared that shark completely.
Again, I'm stating that you're either a part of the problem or you're a part of the solution. You'll either vote for a candidate who gives us all the greater chance of a less-dreary future, or you will not. You've made your point clear and you fall under the latter. Cool. Not cool. Whatever. The rest of us will do our civic duty and carry you because you're too tired or bored or can't be bothered or are in such a state of absolute malaise that you
can't even. Fine. You do you, boo.
NegativeApproach wrote:
Biden is NOT going to move the needle towards a Utopia. He's going to keep going with the same failed ideas that got us Trump in the first place. But those that have money and power will continue to accumulate money and power under Biden. You realize that, I'm sure.
This was acknowledged in my initial response. Please go back and read it. Furthermore, I wasn't talking about Biden, specifically, moving the needle. I was talking about YOU moving the needle; US moving the needle -in small, seemingly insignificant, but modest degrees, over time. I even went so far as to acknowledge that, conceptually, it's not likely to happen with immediate effect. But, while I'm here,
technically Biden does move the needle. He moves from the needle away from the RIGHT and the continuation of disaster under a Trump second term. In that regard, Biden is a metric shit ton better than Trump.
NegativeApproach wrote:
The wealth divide and lack of social mobility, lack of 1st world health care, and the fact that yes, he's coming for your guns, are a recipe for disaster.
You can vote for that garbage if you want, but I won't participate in a charade of democracy.
So, to your mind: Biden == Trump? Have I got that right? It doesn't matter to you at all? Who would? Burnie? Or is he a broken puppet of wealthy interests, too? Warren? Budeg--- however you spell his name? ANYONE running for office in the US?
And, so that I'm sure that I completely understand you, I'll ask: It doesn't matter to you that Trump knew about the dangers of the pandemic and chose,
CHOSE to deliberately mislead the people of this country (well, the ones that believed him anyway), then deny it to save face? It doesn't matter to you that he is a boastful, arrogant, broke-ass narcissist who really only wants attention and to be 'Liked' and retweeted in the hearts and minds of the under/uneducated? It doesn't matter to you that (whether you like them or not), the people around you have been mislead and manipulated?
Don't want to participate? That's your prerogative. Go for it. Or don't. However that works.
Though, I will suggest that you're likely to be better off elsewhere - like Finland, Norway, - hell, any country that made the "Happiest Places to Live" list. Clearly, the US isn't going to change, so why do you remain? Why, in all that you enumerate is wrong with this country, do you even bother sticking around? Serious question.
NegativeApproach wrote:
Choosing not to play in a rigged and broken game is very much my right, and I'd argue its my duty as an American.
Well then! Take your toys and go home. Also, this is a cop-out and hardly American.