penningtron wrote: Wed Nov 06, 2024 12:15 pm

Wood Goblin wrote: Wed Nov 06, 2024 12:10 pm

Krev wrote: Wed Nov 06, 2024 12:07 pm

It's amazing how labor unions will now endorse the most anti-labor politicians. They're headed by capitalist shills who direct their members to vote against their own interests. I guess it's on them for buying it.

It’s totally on them. Maybe it’s just post-election bitterness, but I can’t imagine supporting striking Teamsters right now. I have only so much time, energy, and money to give, and there’s none to spare for them.

People deep in that world who I used to follow on Bluesky were not happy with O'Brien's moves, and his seat is already being challenged. But as it stands, that's how it worked out and effectively endorsing Team Musk is beyond shitty.

How about a three cheers for Gen Z men! Who could've foreseen raising you on Youtube and toxic podcasts would've turned you into such pieces of shit.

we cut them off from society during the pandemic so yes social media and iPhones are a big factor on top of everything else that is causing them to be more depressed.

It’s not just that. My oldest child has confirmed that the toxic bullshit gets shoved your way whether you want it or not. It’s engineered to elicit strong reactions, which makes it talked about, which makes it viral, which means that social media thinks you need to participate in the conversation.

Speaking of which, it’s heartening to see how many people finally decided to cancel their Twitter accounts this morning.

If you haven’t yet, what’s the holdup?

Wood Goblin wrote: Wed Nov 06, 2024 12:40 pm Speaking of which, it’s heartening to see how many people finally decided to cancel their Twitter accounts this morning.

If you haven’t yet, what’s the holdup?

Or Amazon

Anyway...

Proposition 6 failed in California. Forced labor in prisons is still permissable.

ErickC wrote: Wed Nov 06, 2024 1:49 am

Gramsci wrote: Wed Nov 06, 2024 1:21 am We’re about to see what Maga with no restrictions looks like. This is where the US is lucky to have a federal system where States have real power… assuming you live in a blue state.

The right doesn't respect state's rights in the slightest, unless it's the state's right to oppress minorities. And what happens when enough people move out of red states that they consolidate power, call a constitutional convention, and really fuck things up?

I'm actually okay with the prospect of a constitutional convention because--and this is why it'll never happen--it could quickly spiral out of control, just like the convention to replace the Articles of Confederation did, but I also believe it would be the only way for some states to negotiate an exit from the union without civil war.

Wood Goblin wrote: Wed Nov 06, 2024 11:48 am Jesus Christ, nobody gave the tiniest shit about the Cheney endorsement. Are you people high? That didn’t cost Kamala one single vote.

Not saying this swung the election. Rather, it's an indicator of how hapless and uninformed the Dems are.

GuyLaCroix wrote: Wed Nov 06, 2024 1:22 pm

Wood Goblin wrote: Wed Nov 06, 2024 11:48 am Jesus Christ, nobody gave the tiniest shit about the Cheney endorsement. Are you people high? That didn’t cost Kamala one single vote.

Not saying this swung the election. Rather, it's an indicator of how hapless and uninformed the Dems are.

Yep. It’s about bandwidth. It seemed like they really spent a lot of airtime talking about how Republicans were supporting Harris.

If you’re talking about that, you’re not talking about other things.

I think the Dems would have needed the endorsement of some rapey, toxic UFC type to court the Gen Z male vote.

GuyLaCroix wrote: Wed Nov 06, 2024 1:22 pm

Wood Goblin wrote: Wed Nov 06, 2024 11:48 am Jesus Christ, nobody gave the tiniest shit about the Cheney endorsement. Are you people high? That didn’t cost Kamala one single vote.

Not saying this swung the election. Rather, it's an indicator of how hapless and uninformed the Dems are.

exactly. Vibes—-> turnout ——-> win

zorg wrote: Wed Nov 06, 2024 9:38 am I've been doing some thinking on this, because I do get a lot of questions from colleagues in other countries curious about the cult of personality in American politics. The best I can equate it to is that the average American (of late) regards their political candidate the same way that a football club supporter might. Win at all costs. Cheat, brag, threaten, wear the colors, fight at the pub. Was it a good game? Is the striker a rapist? Did the club get sold to the Saudis? Did they deserve to win? It's not even a question, blind loyalty is all.

This stubbornness is something we have to reckon with. It's been exacerbated in the social media age, and it doesn't just extend to politics. Such a mentality can also be found in the tech/entrepreneurial sphere, among influencers and podcasters, in band culture, lit circles, the entertainment industry, and so on. There's just a tendency to put a premium on swagger, and often times bluff. There's a louche cattiness. It can serve to cut through the noise in many cases. It gets attention and can override logic, and good taste, and quash the need for accountability, and sometimes the need for the person in question to possess actual abilities. It can render irrelevant cold hard facts that should be evident to anyone who's been paying attention, anyone who can soberly read between the lines.

In Trump's case, he's already shown us who he is, countless times, and it doesn't paint a good picture. But the staunch refusal to care, among his followers, means that . . . none of this matters . . . in the slightest. At least to them. Things that would tank someone's career under normal circumstances are brushed off as nothing. Pundits in the wake of an election like this will rush to rationalize the majority of voters' decision to pull the lever for him. Among liberal types, it's often just damage control, too little too late.

I'm pretty much DONE with political takes for a while. Won't be reading a lot of op-eds this week or next. And I don't care to see what late night comedians on television make of all this. These election results don't come as a total shock, but they are disappointing, a poor reflection of the country at present.

Boo!