I Kinda Give Up On Politics (Again)

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Politics or Polidicks?

Poll ended at Tue Nov 30, 2021 10:14 pm

But it's fun!!!11
1
25%
They aight
0
No votes
Meh
1
25%
They not aight
1
25%
No.
1
25%
 
Total votes: 4

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I Kinda Give Up On Politics (Again)

Post by Red »

... I've tried to enjoy politics in these past few months, I've really, really tried, and I have enjoyed politics, in varying bits and wavelengths. However, politics for me has become increasingly boring and repetitive, though that's probably because I've done so much of it in a short period of time I just kinda got worn down. Plus I'm fucking tired of hearing about Trump and other politicians every day too.

The way I see it, Politics isn't too much about doing the most good, as much as it is fulfilling a political agenda (which likely is self evident at this point). I don't really see the Democrats and the Republicans as the same, but they have similarities, mostly relating to how their ideology is conducted. Ideologues, not consequentialists.

Ever notice how just about every political issue, whether it be healthcare, education, energy, whatever, is split completely down the middle? It's all ideology, not really about doing the most good.

On a similar note, at least among the populace, the left and the right have their pseudoscientific idea that they subscribe to; I would love to go into detail but I am not, so long story short, the left are the new-agers, the right are the creationists (though to be fair, a lot more Republicans are more creationist than Democrats are new-agerist). They may view the science differently on certain issues, but in principle, they are the same. Lotsa Republicans deny evolution and climate change, in the same way lotsa Democrats support useless renewables and alternative medicine (like Sanders).

Not to mention, politics just brings out the worst in people. As we've already discussed elsewhere, people will defend to the death their ideologies no matter how wrong they know they are, which is why I hate conversations about politics. Everyone is sooooo sure of themselves, and even if there is evidence to support what they say, they usually are ignorant of it (best examples, Republicans supporting Nuclear energy and not raising the minimum wage, Democrats supporting Single Payer and believing in climate change). But seriously, this shit reaaaaaally riles people up.

Look at Trump: I think he's a great example of how much someone's personal politics can motivate and really fire up even a non-politician to become a powerful political figure to further their own political beliefs. It's not just Trump (though he's a great example given his non-political background); This likely applies to like what? 87% of Politicians? Also, Trump is not the only celebrity to fall under this category. Perot, Reagan, Schwarzenegger, the guy who owns Starbucks. Hell, I was in the same boat as these guys a year ago.

Now I don't want to completely bin politics, I still think they are important (though not as important as many make them out to be, at least on most issues), and I will engage in a discussion here and there, and still go out and vote (when I'm eligible), but this is how I view politics overall. Poliscience is also kind of interesting too (though it is a social science), and if we are to implement more science into politics, I think that'd be a huge benefit don't you?

Speaking of which, I'm adding books to my reading list, any good books on poliscience? Looking at you @Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

*I know this post is crappily written, and it is. I put it much more eloquently in my new upcoming book 'In Defense of Man.' Or something. I don't know. Oh yeah I missed a few things. I'll tell you later if this thread gets some traction.
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Re: I Kinda Give Up On Politics (Again)

Post by Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz »

Red wrote: Thu Mar 07, 2019 10:14 pm Speaking of which, I'm adding books to my reading list, any good books on poliscience? Looking at you @Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Why me?

I've read a whole load of books on politics but I don't know if they're entirely relevant to political science.
*I know this post is crappily written, and it is. I put it much more eloquently in my new upcoming book 'In Defense of Man.' Or something. I don't know. Oh yeah I missed a few things. I'll tell you later if this thread gets some traction.
OH BOY OH BOY
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Re: I Kinda Give Up On Politics (Again)

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Re: I Kinda Give Up On Politics (Again)

Post by brimstoneSalad »

Red wrote: Thu Mar 07, 2019 10:14 pmLotsa Republicans deny evolution and climate change, in the same way lotsa Democrats support useless renewables and alternative medicine (like Sanders).
Actually, the alt-med stuff is bipartisan.

Yeah, Sanders is terrible, but you can find that view as common among Republicans too.
Anti-vaxx spans the aisle too.

I think the only thing that the nutty fringe on the left gets wrong that Republicans pretty reliably get right is the science on nuclear power. Mainstream Democrats get that right too, of course, but it's getting harder because the Democratic base seems less friendly to clean energy when it has a scary sounding name.
Red wrote: Thu Mar 07, 2019 10:14 pmnot raising the minimum wage
Economically it doesn't do that much because most prices will just rise with the wages, and it might harm exports, but psychologically people might spend more (short term) if it seems like their wages have been raised. It also might help effectively take a chomp out of the exploitative housing market since rent prices are often controlled and can only rise slowly... so that's one thing people get a brief reprieve from.

There's a good reason to believe it's not much of a solution, but it's popular and probably *mostly* harmless, and it might do enough short term good in terms of morale boost to cancel out the bad.

So I don't really care. We need to fix the underlying problems (like rent is too damn high), but raising the minimum wage may be a popular wash so there's no point fighting it if campaigning on that will get somebody more progressive into office.
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Re: I Kinda Give Up On Politics (Again)

Post by Red »

brimstoneSalad wrote: Fri Mar 08, 2019 3:59 am Actually, the alt-med stuff is bipartisan.
You got to be kidding what the fuck

I thought the Republicans aren't really into this crap? Are you referring to alt med in general or just things like Faith Healing? I can see how both sides would be into things like chiroquackdick, but the left seems to be more into things like Reiki or something. Or is this another issue divided along the middle?

Well, just more reason to be pissed off then.
brimstoneSalad wrote: Fri Mar 08, 2019 3:59 amYeah, Sanders is terrible, but you can find that view as common among Republicans too.
Anti-vaxx spans the aisle too.
I know that. Is Sanders anti-vax? I'm not sure about that.
brimstoneSalad wrote: Fri Mar 08, 2019 3:59 amI think the only thing that the nutty fringe on the left gets wrong that Republicans pretty reliably get right is the science on nuclear power. Mainstream Democrats get that right too, of course, but it's getting harder because the Democratic base seems less friendly to clean energy when it has a scary sounding name.
I don't like these newer younger Democrats for this reason.
brimstoneSalad wrote: Fri Mar 08, 2019 3:59 am Economically it doesn't do that much because most prices will just rise with the wages, and it might harm exports, but psychologically people might spend more (short term) if it seems like their wages have been raised. It also might help effectively take a chomp out of the exploitative housing market since rent prices are often controlled and can only rise slowly... so that's one thing people get a brief reprieve from.

There's a good reason to believe it's not much of a solution, but it's popular and probably *mostly* harmless, and it might do enough short term good in terms of morale boost to cancel out the bad.

So I don't really care. We need to fix the underlying problems (like rent is too damn high), but raising the minimum wage may be a popular wash so there's no point fighting it if campaigning on that will get somebody more progressive into office.
Would it cost jawbs though?

Would it create more jobs abroad though? That may work.
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Re: I Kinda Give Up On Politics (Again)

Post by brimstoneSalad »

Red wrote: Fri Mar 08, 2019 8:57 pm I thought the Republicans aren't really into this crap? Are you referring to alt med in general or just things like Faith Healing? I can see how both sides would be into things like chiroquackdick, but the left seems to be more into things like Reiki or something. Or is this another issue divided along the middle?
The bills that promote alt-med tend to have bipartisan support. Now the exact breakdown from left to right I'm not sure of.

Basically homeopathy, non-evidence based herbal stuff, accupuncture, whatever.

I would not be surprised if the Republicans favor Christian faith healing and disfavor "energy" style healing from other religions.
Red wrote: Fri Mar 08, 2019 8:57 pmIs Sanders anti-vax? I'm not sure about that.
No, I don't think he's strongly anti-vaxx. Just all the other stuff. And he doesn't have any problem pandering to those people.
Red wrote: Fri Mar 08, 2019 8:57 pmWould it cost jawbs though?

Would it create more jobs abroad though? That may work.
It might relocate jobs abroad. Which doesn't really matter, or may even be beneficial on a global scale. People in less developed countries need the jobs more. Could hurt some local economies that are export based.
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Re: I Kinda Give Up On Politics (Again)

Post by Red »

brimstoneSalad wrote: Sat Mar 09, 2019 3:36 am It might relocate jobs abroad. Which doesn't really matter, or may even be beneficial on a global scale. People in less developed countries need the jobs more. Could hurt some local economies that are export based.
Well how many jobs would it create elsewhere? I think Free Trade would go much further in creating jobs abroad.

But hey, let's let the nationalistic liberals support raising the minimum wage. :twisted:
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Re: I Kinda Give Up On Politics (Again)

Post by Red »

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz wrote: Fri Mar 08, 2019 2:47 am Why me?
You're a Political guy!!
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz wrote: Fri Mar 08, 2019 2:47 amI've read a whole load of books on politics but I don't know if they're entirely relevant to political science.
Examples? I'm listening.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz wrote: Fri Mar 08, 2019 2:47 am OH BOY OH BOY
What?
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Re: I Kinda Give Up On Politics (Again)

Post by Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz »

You're a Political guy!!
I'm not a science guy though. You'll need to crossbreed me with Bill Nye if you want to know about political science.
Examples? I'm listening.
The Candidate by Alex Nunns
The Rise and Fall of The Third Reich by William Shirer
The Autobiography of Malcolm X (reading currently)
DARK HORSE: The Surprise Election and Political Murder of President James A. Garfield by Kenneth D. Ackerman
In Place of Fear by Nye Bevan
Evolutionary Socialism by Eduard Bernstein
Don't Let My Past Be Your Future by Harry Leslie Smith
What?
Looking forward to reading your book.

Okay, I'm now going to go for a wee and then I'm going to continue writing the post that I said I was working on.
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