this post was submitted on 19 Dec 2024
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Pleasant Politics

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Politics without the jerks.

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[–] [email protected] 111 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

It's really very simple:

On one side, there's integrity and convictions and serving the interests of the American people.

And on the other side, there's a handful of corporations and wealthy individuals who will give them money in exchange for protecting their privilege.

And the Democrats have chosen the money

[–] [email protected] 76 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

As have the republicans. So now there are no political options for addressing the material concerns of the working class.

BOLD MOVE COTTON

[–] [email protected] 30 points 2 weeks ago

At least it's on-brand for R. D still tries to pretend otherwise.

So now there are no political options for addressing the material concerns of the working class.

BOLD MOVE COTTON

Good point, that didn't go well last time did it? Those who forget history...

Looks like our politicians are going to be doomed to repeat it.

[–] Xanis 7 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Oh there are options. We just have to add a little checkbox beneath A or B ourselves. After all, revisions exist for a reason.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Hippity hoppity abolish private property

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[–] homesweethomeMrL 4 points 2 weeks ago

I'm sure that's part of it, but I also think there's a fair bit of rolling over to protect whatever power they get left with.

I'm sure we'll see lots of press releases expressing deep concern again.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

And the Democrats have chosen the money

and we will vote for them anyways in 2028

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

No, no, not all of us will.

I'm done with them. I'll either find a party or individual I can support in each seat, or I'll stay the fuck home. Not wasting my fucking time if I can't find someone that actually aligns with my views any more. Those circles will just stay blank, and I'll only vote in local elections, and even that only if I actually support the candidate.

Soap and ballot boxes have failed too hard.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Not wasting my fucking time if I can't find someone that actually aligns with my views any more.

As the DNC is unlikely to ever allow that, and with no sign of approval voting ever being implemented to break the 2 party death grip, it would seem that the only option left is solving problems ourselves collectively with mutual aid and direct action, without waiting for the DNC to purge itself of corpos.

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[–] [email protected] 46 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Honestly, Pelosi has been a non-stop blight. It's time to cut out the cancer, here.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 2 weeks ago (6 children)

I’m not sure USA politics can be solved by replacing individuals. Seems to be an institutional issue

[–] SlopppyEngineer 22 points 2 weeks ago

You have to replace individuals to change the institutions

[–] ChicoSuave 12 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

Let's start with people and see what changes. "Institutional issue" is often a product of just a handful of people. Remove the entrenched old money Dems and watch progressives flood the party.

The left is now "business focused" and the right is "money focused" with no room for the problems of us normal people. If CEO and business are determined to set a line between us and them, then "us" will unite to become"we" and they don't that. Let's get rid of the people who are a problem and use the organization they use to promote those who care about other people.

[–] darthelmet 5 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

The institutional part of it is WHY it's difficult/impossible to get rid of the corporate politicians. You can say we should vote out x or we should support y policy, but it doesn't really matter if the entire electoral system is set up to stop that from happening.

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I think we need to sacrifice a few more CEOs to the money gods just to test this theory. For science.

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[–] enbyecho 34 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I'm one of those people who spent a lot of time cheer-leading the Democratic party and the Harris campaign before the election. I still think it was the right thing to do given the alternative. AND I still think that anyone who stayed home or voted for Trump is a moron. But now that the worst possible thing has come to pass and we're gonna have to spend the next couple of decades dealing with the consequences anyway: Fuck the Democrats. I'm done.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Fuck the Democrats. I’m done.

the only thing that matters to them is that you vote for them in 2028 and people will be calling you a moron for not falling in line.

[–] enbyecho 10 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

I live in California. My vote doesn't count for sheeet.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 weeks ago

not california; but i'm also in a blue state

i vote swapped so that i can vote 3rd party to give them the middle finger; it's not much, but it's the only thing i can do.

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[–] BabyVi 6 points 2 weeks ago (4 children)

Gavin Newsom 2028 here we come..

[–] enbyecho 3 points 2 weeks ago

Newsom isn't the worst option but that's not saying much. He's basically a neocon in mildly progressive clothing when it's convenient for him. But Republicans have spent years vilifying him and disparaging California as some kind of socialist haven (I wish)... meaning he pretty much doesn't stand a chance. But I'm certain he will run.

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[–] LovableSidekick 32 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Failing to cultivate younger politicians is exactly why people are disillusioned with the party, and why they had to keep running Biden in the first place. SMH

[–] [email protected] 18 points 2 weeks ago

It should have been Bernie in 2016, yet here we are.

[–] [email protected] 22 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (9 children)

When the right wing voters didn't like what their elected leader were doing, they primaried them with more ideologically pure leaders.

Left wing voters just bitch and moan but take no action proving that some of the qualities the right claims of the left, like being lazy and entitled are true.

[–] Maggoty 11 points 1 week ago (3 children)
[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)

The primary every congressional district has. The right ran some crazy fucks against some well established right wing politicians so where is the left's version of this.

Everyone hung up on the presidential primary is failing to heed our own advice to the people who vote for a third party as a protest against the Democratic Party.

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[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 week ago (2 children)

I'm sure it has nothing to do with multiple billionaire backers like Trump and Thiel pushing their candidates.

Must just be that the left doesn't care in comparison.

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[–] TankovayaDiviziya 9 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (3 children)

When the right wing voters didn't like what their elected leader were doing, they primaried them with more ideologically pure leaders.

I've been thinking the same thing. The current form of the Republican party that is MAGA is clearly influenced by the Tea Party movement. The Wikipedia entry say the movement dissolved and doesn't say what legacy it left. But in hindsight, it is clear that it made the Republican party evolve into MAGA that it is today.

The Democratic Party should have its own MAGA movement but from the left. The American left only seem to be animated if the candidate or leader is deemed progressive enough. They don't seem to actively try to influence the Democratic Party themselves unlike what the right did to the Republican Party.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 week ago (1 children)

The tea party was astroturfed. There's no wealthy PACs propping up a movement of soc dems like AOC

[–] TankovayaDiviziya 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I don't know. It's not directed at you but I think anyone who disagrees with a movement would always find ways and angles to smear it.

Nonetheless, many of what had been advocated by the Tea Party movement-- both social and economic policies-- are still visibly present and implemented by MAGA. So I think even with astroturfing, the goals of those involved in Tea Party had their way.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 week ago

even with astroturfing

That's basically the point though, right? Without astroturfing the tea party probably wouldn't have grown into maga. Compare the occupy wall st movement (as mentioned below)-- there was no corporate backing so it fizzled as soon as popular support couldn't sustain it. But money kept pumping into the tea party and it eventually metastasized into maga.

[–] Fandangalo 8 points 1 week ago

Growing up with these movements, it felt like the Occupy Movement could have been that, but it was smeared by The Powers That Be alongside infighting or a focus on strange parliamentary procedure. It helps with cops also are on your side (Tea Party).

I don’t think the left makes enough persistent noise at their leadership compared to the right. I’m really proud of the recent strike announcements from Unions & hope they stick through the tough shit.

I volunteer in municipal work on a town board local to me. It’s not much, but there’s a few chuckleheads “from the private sector” that think they know everything in five minutes. If you put hard facts and actually argue them in proper settings with conviction, you can at least have a voice in the bullshit around you.

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[–] Badeendje 5 points 1 week ago

The magas have no problem voting for good enough.. Dem base consistently let perfect get in the way of good... And various factions have a different definition of perfect.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 week ago

Did you read the article? They’re saying that’s possibly what lost AOC some favor with the dem leadership, that she was supporting progressive primary challengers.

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[–] khannie 16 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

Too soon to expect that. They still haven't learned their lesson from 2016. A lesson from 2024 never stood a chance.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 2 weeks ago

They haven't learned their lesson since 1980.

[–] Jimmycakes 15 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

They don't care if they protect their party or the people they represent. They care about getting as much personal wealth as possible for themselves. Exactly the same as Republicans but they at least represent a portion of their voters by passing crazy laws for them.

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[–] kelseybcool 12 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

AOC Snub Shows How Democrats Refuse to Learn Lessons of ~~2024~~

~~2020~~

~~2016~~

~~2004~~

~~2000~~

~~1996~~

~~1992~~

~~1988~~

~~1984~~

1980

FTFY

[–] [email protected] 11 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

America is dead. It just doesn't know it yet. Its corpse will continue to twitch for a little while longer while it proceeds to bleed out and each of its neurons fire their last time one by one. We are not America; we're the microbiome that was living inside it. And the infection has won. It's starting to rot and there's nothing we can do to stop it.

[–] homesweethomeMrL 5 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

The hell it is.

Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?! Hell no!

And it's not over now.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Is this a reference I’m not recognizing?

[–] bitjunkie 9 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

John Belushi in Animal House

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[–] redhorsejacket 3 points 2 weeks ago

Let him go, he's on a roll.

[–] workerONE 10 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (2 children)

I think it's important to realize that there is corruption in the Democratic party (too). We need a left wing party. People paint left wing ideas as crazy but the opposite is true.

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[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

The US democracy is so fucked by the winner-takes-it-all system. In a healthy political system, AOC and the other real progressives would just fuck off and do their own party that would end up with house seats the next election.

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[–] billwashere 5 points 2 weeks ago

I’m 54 and I’m tired of this old guard. We need some new blood and energy.

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