The New American Politics thread

[2Stonedbirds]

Originally Posted by wittynickname

But you need a means of transitioning away from coal/logging, etc. These are industries that simply aren't sustainable over the long term if we're to leave any kind of livable environment for 100+ years down the road. And that's where education comes in, so that these people have children who get a solid education that gets them employment going forward, not for tomorrow, but for the next 40 years. It's not simple, but we can't go back to 100 years ago when Pittsburgh was covered in smog and smoke from steel mills and all of WVA was coal mines. That's not sustainable, period.

Transitioning from coal to other means is fine, but the issue is there isn't transition. The coal sector has been neutered before any new education programs or development of new energy construction that will bring in new blue and white collar jobs has even started.

The biggest issue is that these are initiatives that should have started 20+ years ago, but they didn't, and now we're hitting a breaking point.

Agreed they should have started earlier. But this is the sinking boat we are in, do we not bail out the boat enough in order to keep people afloat until the boat is no longer needed, or do we simply let the boat sink while we attempt to stay afloat and wait for help that may or may not arrive?

Also: Trump and the GOP aren't going to fix the coal industry dying, the logging industry dying, the steel industry dying. They're industries whose best times were in the past, and we need to transition away from them.

What alternatives to steel and timber are present?

[wittynickname]

Originally Posted by 2Stonedbirds

What alternatives to steel and timber are present?

I'm not saying there are alternatives to steel and timber--I'm saying there are alternatives to American steel and timber, alternatives which are far cheaper, from countries with lower labor standards. While Trump is railing against trade deals, I'd bet good money that he's used foreign produced steel and timber in his building projects, because it's better for his bottom line.

[2Stonedbirds]

Originally Posted by wittynickname

I'm not saying there are alternatives to steel and timber--I'm saying there are alternatives to American steel and timber, alternatives which are far cheaper, from countries with lower labor standards. While Trump is railing against trade deals, I'd bet good money that he's used foreign produced steel and timber in his building projects, because it's better for his bottom line.

Who cares about Trump.

Can you explain why limiting American steel and timber production is either needed or a good thing?

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by 2Stonedbirds

Who cares about Trump.

Can you explain why limiting American steel and timber production is either needed or a good thing?

Agreed. Coal production is separate from those 2 industries. You need steel and timber if you have bridges and other infrastructure that needs to be rebuilt.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by 2Stonedbirds

Who cares about Trump.

Can you explain why limiting American steel and timber production is either needed or a good thing?

I'm probably not alone but I'm missing your point here. What are you trying to get at?

[2Stonedbirds]

Originally Posted by New Era

I'm probably not alone but I'm missing your point here. What are you trying to get at?

I'm trying to get at wittynicknames reasoning for her position.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by 2Stonedbirds

Who cares about Trump.

Can you explain why limiting American steel and timber production is either needed or a good thing?

It's neither good good nor needed. It's happening, and short of long term bad isolationist policy, not coming back.

We can discuss whether the sun rising and setting is either good or necessary, but it's largely irrelevant

[Buster]

Originally Posted by New Era

PhD candidates publish a dissertation, not a thesis. Credibility hit again. Doing so they also have to follow a very rigorous process of vetting their research materials, vetting their method, and proving their work brings value to their field of study. You do not get an opportunity to even begin research until you have proven to your committee that your idea meets all the criteria and expands the body of knowledge of your particular field. But since you obvious have completed your PhD I'm certain this all a basic review for you.

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

I like how you guys let Buster keep baiting you for a page and a half while not responding to this chokeslam of a post.

EDIT: NAw I have no beef.

Just noticed this. You're silly.

In Canada (and elsewhere), especially informally, "thesis" and "dissertation" can be used interchangeably.

In my experience, Americans tend to get a bit more hung up on applying "thesis" to Masters level work, and "dissertation" to doctoral work.

In either case, considering it's in Sociology, and witnessing the quality of the work, I hardly would consider it worthy of either term.

[ResAlien]

Originally Posted by 2Stonedbirds

Who cares about Trump.

Can you explain why limiting American steel and timber production is either needed or a good thing?

I missed where witty advocated limiting American steel and timber or said it was a good thing. Looks like witty said they were dying industries and cheaper non American options were available to builders and suggested Trump himself would use the cheaper option.

Unless I've misread horribly (there's a chance of that, I'm absolutely flying on black tar heroin right now) I don't see your angle.

[Buster]

Originally Posted by wittynickname

60 million Americans being in some way bigoted is probably a low estimate.

I agree with you.

When I lived in the southern US for a couple of years, I was pretty shocked at the level of what I would describe as "casual bigotry."

People who weren't publicly bigoted, or even held strongly held emotional views like "hatred" or "segregationist". It was more about believing in and reinforcing stereotypes, often with a humor bent. That position on the spectrum would not prevent someone for voting for a person they viewed as an actual bigot, if they felt the opposite choice was sufficiently negative.

I think it's actually in the Democrats power to move large swaths of the undecideds into their camp. For people who believe terrorism and security is a massive issue (I don't think it is on a domestic front, but that's beside the point), Hillary could come out with a less ambiguous/pandering viewpoint on Islam, and she would probably gain a lot of ground. Her actual views on Islam are almost certainly more critical than she allows in her speeches. If the people are craving authenticity, that's a good place to start for her.

[corporatejay]

Originally Posted by Buster

Just noticed this. You're silly.

In Canada (and elsewhere), especially informally, "thesis" and "dissertation" can be used interchangeably.

In my experience, Americans tend to get a bit more hung up on applying "thesis" to Masters level work, and "dissertation" to doctoral work.

In either case, considering it's in Sociology, and witnessing the quality of the work, I hardly would consider it worthy of either term.

I assume you you have a PHD in Astrophysics then?

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by Buster

Just noticed this. You're silly.

In Canada (and elsewhere), especially informally, "thesis" and "dissertation" can be used interchangeably.

In my experience, Americans tend to get a bit more hung up on applying "thesis" to Masters level work, and "dissertation" to doctoral work.

In either case, considering it's in Sociology, and witnessing the quality of the work, I hardly would consider it worthy of either term.

Wut?

I have never heard that before, with the exception of francophone universities. The thesis is used to describe the master's paper, because it focuses on making a research statement and conduction a literature review to support the thesis statement. There is seldom original content nor actual research on test subjects conducted during a thesis project. The dissertation, on the other hand, has a much greater scope and stringent process to follow. There is normally a requirement for original research, and a requirement of expansion of the knowledge base of the science of study. The two terms are not interchangeable.

Since you are such an expert and have read the paper, Can you please summarize the content of Aslan's dissertation? Should be pretty simple for someone that is an accomplished Reddit academic like yourself.

[Buster]

Originally Posted by New Era

Wut?

I have never heard that before, with the exception of francophone universities. The thesis is used to describe the master's paper, because it focuses on making a research statement and conduction a literature review to support the thesis statement. There is seldom original content nor actual research on test subjects conducted during a thesis project. The dissertation, on the other hand, has a much greater scope and stringent process to follow. There is normally a requirement for original research, and a requirement of expansion of the knowledge base of the science of study. The two terms are not interchangeable.

Since you are such an expert and have read the paper, Can you please summarize the content of Aslan's dissertation? Should be pretty simple for someone that is an accomplished Reddit academic like yourself.

Are you American, by chance?

[Lanny_McDonald]

This is all irrelevant.

[Buster]

Originally Posted by New Era

Canadian, born and raised. Only relocated to the US to get away from the cold and snow. Have since become a citizen.

Then you should know that academia in Canada is much more fluid with the terminology.

In a formal setting or one where I knew Americans were present, I would probably default to using "dissertation". But in this case, I'm not concerned with formality.

Probably good idea for you to read up on the usage of words before getting all uppity, though.

[Buster]

Originally Posted by New Era

This is all irrelevant.

"I'm going to be pedantic!....oh, I'm wrong?....This is all irrelevant!"

haha.

[ResAlien]

Originally Posted by New Era

This is all irrelevant.

Correct it is. If you've been following along that's the strategy though. Buddy is basically using the Trump playbook to troll this thread constantly. He will never address your questions. Mayhaps he fashions himself some type of Kaufman-esque character actor but it's best to not bother engaging.

Read that now Trump has also threatened to take away the NYT credentials. It's looking more and more likely that watching his campaign's inevitable descent into a dumpster fire of chaos will be a beautiful mixture of sadness and entertainment.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by Buster

"I'm going to be pedantic!....oh, I'm wrong?....This is all irrelevant!"

haha.

I'm correct, but it is irrelevant because you won't provide anything anyone asks of you. You're a troll and get off on people asking you to back up your ####, then laugh as you run away. I seriously don't understand how you've managed to survive here as long as you have. I find you to be worse than moon.

[Buster]

Originally Posted by ResAlien

Read that now Trump has also threatened to take away the NYT credentials. It's looking more and more likely that watching his campaign's inevitable descent into a dumpster fire of chaos will be a beautiful mixture of sadness and entertainment.

As absurd as it is, it's probably a good strategy in terms of speaking to the people he wants to speak to.

I doubt there is a single NYT supporter that would vote for Trump, and a good portion that hate it. It's just #29 on a list of items that seem foolish to normal people, but actually end up benefiting him.

[Buster]

Originally Posted by New Era

I'm correct, but it is irrelevant because you won't provide anything anyone asks of you. You're a troll and get off on people asking you to back up your ####, then laugh as you run away. I seriously don't understand how you've managed to survive here as long as you have. I find you to be worse than moon.

You could spend literally the next ten seconds on google and discover that you are wrong.