this post was submitted on 17 Mar 2024
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[–] NegativeLookBehind 37 points 3 months ago (4 children)

And laws only matter if they’re enforced. Let’s hope they do.

[–] JusticeForPorygon 35 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Laws? Enforced? Against rich people? Against politicians? So naive this one....

I do hope I'm proven wrong...

[–] NegativeLookBehind 5 points 3 months ago

I do hope you are

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[–] [email protected] 33 points 3 months ago (19 children)

Can't Americans do something to change the way elections happen? I still think 81 is too old to run as a politician let alone a president. People say America is one of the greatest democracies but I'm really not seeing it.

Also no offence guys, I'm not into politics. Just a layman question.

[–] [email protected] 27 points 3 months ago

The TL;DR of it is that the people with the power to change that are the same people who benefit from it the most and therefore whose best interests are to prevent it from changing.

And America is the greatest democracy in the same way that corporations find that they did nothing wrong upon investigating themselves.

[–] TheControlled 9 points 3 months ago

Technically yes, but no, not really.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 3 months ago

America is one of the greatest democracies but I’m really not seeing it.

We're not a great democracy at all. We're a world power. Big difference. World Powers have this weird history of being shit governments. Ask Russia and China sometime

Or, as Republicans would remind you, we've never been a Democracy at all, but a Republic.

[–] BaldManGoomba 6 points 3 months ago

We aren't the greatest democracy. The only choice we have is some state ballots and representatives from a 2 party system. It takes decades to get things passed that 70% of Americans want. The largest predictor of something getting passed is if rich donors want it.

[–] FlexibleToast 6 points 3 months ago

In a technical sense, yes. In a practical sense, no.

[–] Olgratin_Magmatoe 5 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

People say America is one of the greatest democracies but I’m really not seeing it.

As an American, I can tell you it's a shitty democracy. Politicians are openly bribed in the form of "lobbying" by corporate interests and the rich. Its a two party system thanks to having FPTP voting everywhere.

Any given legislation has a 30% chance of getting approved regardless of public support, unless said legislation is supported by the rich, then it's far closer to 100% chance.

America is is on the fence post with outright fascism on one side, and milquetoast flawed democracy on the other.

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[–] sYnoxjj 32 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I really don't understand the age argument. One is 81 and the other 77. Like am to to european to understand the logic of freedomlanders in criticizing Biden for his age??

[–] [email protected] 16 points 3 months ago

Yeah, you are. You can criticize a Democrat for anything. Republicans are above reproach.

Obama was criticized on national news for wearing a tan suit. Trump bragged about being able to kill someone on the streets of New York and not lose a vote - to zero criticism. The man has horny audio about being able to walk through the dressing rooms of minors at a competition he ran and anyone who criticizes him for that is seen as too "partisan".

So yeah. It's not about 4 years difference. Trump could be 90, and his side would still criticize Biden for being too old while running Trump for president.

[–] [email protected] 24 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Having 91 criminal charges ahead of you don't matter if you become president and pardon yourself.

Don't forget to vote, please. Saying this as a non US citizen who is just tired of US shenanigans. please don't let Trump become president again

[–] [email protected] 10 points 3 months ago

He can't pardon himself from the State charges. He can however create a Constitutional Crisis for 4 years where nobody is quite sure if they can prosecute or jail him or not.

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[–] Semi_Hemi_Demigod 22 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I like Biden and the Democrats because government is boring with them. Like, he's not gonna threaten to nuke a hurricane, or draw on a damn map with a sharpie.

I've experienced enough to know that boring government is the best we can hope for. And, honestly, it's what I'd really like at this point.

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[–] Anticorp 12 points 3 months ago (12 children)

91 criminal charges don't mean shit when the government refuses to prosecute, and let's you slide right into the most powerful position in the country, where you'll receive complete immunity.

[–] Telodzrum 5 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (3 children)

> Charges 91 felony counts

> some idiot on Lemmy says you aren’t charging anything

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[–] chiliedogg 4 points 3 months ago

What do you think criminal charges are?

He's literally being prosecuted for 91 felonies by governments at the state and federal level.

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[–] [email protected] 9 points 3 months ago (1 children)

not a fan of either, and I agree

[–] 800XL 3 points 3 months ago (1 children)

What's not to like about puppies?

[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 months ago (1 children)

you know, that puppy might be a better candidate than what we have right now

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[–] [email protected] 9 points 3 months ago (7 children)

What i dont get about Biden running again is that there seemed to be like no democratic race to the candidacy? Or did it just completely fall flat in international media? I know Trump went late to the Reps race and then dominated it, but there was already Cruz and some candidates that tried to win on a "Trump is best" kinda position.

But for the Dems there seemed to be not even a real discussion to send anyone but Biden.

How can people be fine with this? How can the "best" both parties have to offer be more or less mentally unstable men that are clearly too old to lead a country and have a realistic chance of dying in office? How come the Dems have not understood after 2016 and 2020 that they need to stop being a right wing neoliberal party that fucks over poor people just slightly slower than the Reps?

[–] cybersandwich 13 points 3 months ago (1 children)

There were primaries for the democratic party, but typically the parties back their incumbent and nominate them. I don't actually remember or know of a time where a sitting president had a meaningful primary challenger.

Tbh, people want to hate on Biden for whatever reason but he's done so much to actually move the needle--and with the cluster fuck he was handed plus a completely divided Congress.

He's been exactly what we needed as a country and I will happily vote for him in November and not just because the alternative is racism...but because he's actually doing great things and I'd love to see him with a democratic Congress to back him.

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 3 months ago

How come the Dems have not understood after 2016 and 2020 that they need to stop being a right wing neoliberal party that fucks over poor people just slightly slower than the Reps?

That's exactly what they want to be. Politicians and billionares don't give a fuck about poor people, they are in for profits. As long as red and blue keep winning the elections they aren't going to change anything, why they should? They always win...

[–] TropicalDingdong 6 points 3 months ago

I mean I'm not.

Going into this we was that it's best to just go with the incumbent. Then when we saw how weak and shitty the incumbent was doing we're being told it's too late and we already have a candidate.

The DNC is maybe one of the least democratic institutions in a western democracy. It's ridiculous to not consider primaries a fundamental part of the process, but then the apologists come out and defend them as private institutions that cand o whatever they want. They rat fucked Bernie, twice, and we just keep getting told we better vote right or else we get the hose again.

They out progressive policies on the platform but it's only lip service. They simply don't pursue them once elected. Even worse they take our donations and fund Republican candidates to further rat fuck progressives.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Running against Biden meant throwing out the biggest indicator for success against a "worst case scenario" opposition candidate. Incumbency is worth all the young guns waiting 4 years for their shot. Despite what you may have heard, nobody in DNC is more likely to win 2024 than Biden despite all the baggage and Republican hate.

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 3 months ago (4 children)

I gotta ask the "I'm not a fan of Biden" crowd. Why? And not who he is, or what he hasn't done. What's something you don't like that he has done in this presidency, and then hasn't tried to correct?

I would then ask, did you watch the entire State of the Union?

[–] BaldManGoomba 12 points 3 months ago (2 children)

He keeps supplying Israel with weapons. He didn't challenge the government and fully cancel student loans. Marijuana isn't legalized yet. He hasn't changed tax cuts. He Essentially moved the whole democratic party right on the border and immigrants. He originally was suppose to be a one term president.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 months ago (2 children)

OK but US military support for Israel hasn't dropped below $3,000,000,000 since 1975 (source: https://www.cfr.org/article/us-aid-israel-four-charts )

Why aren't you mad at Trump for militarily supporting Israel? Why aren't you upset at Obama? Why no anger for Bush? Was Clinton's sax solo THAT good? What about Bush, Reagan, Carter and Ford? ALL of them, without exception, have supplied weapons to Israel.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 months ago

None of them are actively president.

Nor were any of them so during such a globally recognised instance of genocide. Many people have been disliking the US for supporting Israel for so long, but its gone from apartheid South Africa to Nazi Germany in the past few months, so the reaction and need for adequate response from the US is far higher than under previous presidents.

[–] BaldManGoomba 5 points 3 months ago (4 children)

I was upset at our military funding under Obama and Trump also. I Couldn't do anything about Bush, Clinton and half of Obama since they don't let children vote even though I had to be an adult for 2 years under Obama's reign with no representation. 80% of America's military budget could be cut if not more. I have been against Israel funding since 2008 despite being 16. I have been against the military industrial complex since then too.

Previous presidents hold no power right now. I have no choice but to vote democratic if I don't want people to lose rights in my state. I am lucky I can vote 3rd party against Biden and not worry that Trump will win my state. So I can at least protest vote a little bit.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 months ago (2 children)

He Essentially moved the whole democratic party right on the border and immigrants

While I agree, it is with regret I have to inform you that those of us who want immigration reform are a minority in the Democratic party at this time :-/

He originally was suppose to be a one term president.

In fairness, he would have been if it weren't for Trump running in 2024. I think EVERYONE was sure Trump would be forgotten in his jail cell by now with the combination of his blatent criminal activity alongside the fact the GOP really wanted to get rid of him anyway.

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[–] dtjones 8 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

Lifelong blue-voter. Watched the SotU. He did a good job and certainly shut down the age argument a bit. I would still prefer to see younger candidates - I think Biden is out of touch.

My thoughts are that we just haven't made any progress on issues that affect the largest demographics of the population. A couple off the top of my head:

  • Corporate greed is driving inflation for food and homes while wages have stagnated.
  • College is prohibitively expensive and student loans are predatory (even federal loans). We are robbing our youth of a future.
  • Gun control progress is basically non existent despite more school shootings.

A lot of my feelings can be summed up as the middle class is being squeezed too hard. We need more money or less expenses (school, healthcare, childcare, mortgage, rent, food, etc). I don't see Biden doing anything here except ask nicely "pretty please snack companies stop gouging us" during the Superbowl. I also feel very gaslit because every day I see articles and press releases claiming how great the economy is, but my eyes and ears tell a very different story.

Maybe Biden can't fix these things without a functional Congress but I wish Dems wouldn't lie and instead give us a real plan to fix the country. It's really hard to get excited about voting blue when all we see is more aid for Israel and corporations instead of the people.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (3 children)

Unfortunately, with Republicans voting overwhelmingly even against bills they want with the goal of shutting down Democrats at every turn, there's no such thing as a plan to fix the country until the Republican manacles are removed.

But that's hard to say eloquently, especially with a trailer trash MTG in her MAGA hat screaming "boooooo" at you.

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[–] Duamerthrax 6 points 3 months ago

Because I'm tired and cynical. He's a career politician who's always saying what he needs to say to stay in office at the time, but often ages poorly given enough time, example two. He's being praised for his economic policy, but all that means to me is more consumption and pollution.

I'm also cynical that any politician could get elected on an effective climate change platform as that would be the voting public would have to give up too much shit they were brainwashed into believed that they deserve.

Did I watch the State of the Union? Have you seen the CO2 concentration levels? Speeches are theater.

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 months ago

Not gonna lie, Biden cooked with this one

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