American Politics 3.0 - Back to Brunch

[opendoor]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

Really? Is there a stat that shows this? If so that is bonkers.

It's not that crazy. Real wages (i.e. after inflation) went up 4.3% from the start of Trumps term until COVID. Whereas right now they're actually lower than they were pre-COVID.

And then there's inflation. The Consumer Price Index went up about 2.2% a year under Trump, while it has gone up about 5.5% a year while Biden has been in office.

And house price to income ratios were relatively stable during Trump's time in office, whereas now they're up about 30% from 2021. Combine that with the dramatic increase in interest rates, and housing has gotten significantly less affordable in the last few years.

That's not to say that Trump's policies were behind the economic stability while he was in office, and you could even argue that his policies are actually a source of a lot of the problems under Biden, given that economic policies often have a very delayed effect. But voters don't look at it from that perspective. They see their wages stagnate and the price everything going up dramatically, and then they consider voting for a guy they don't particularly like just for the sake of change.

[BigThief]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Most voters think the economy was better under Trump.

The right wing in America (and Canada) have done a bang up job convincing voters they're the fiscal hawks of finance and only they can be trusted for decades now.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Major Major

All that needs to be said about Trump is that he did not submit to the peaceful transition of power. That's it.

If you don't understand that this is the foundation upon which democracy is built, there is likely no helping you.

Do I want a guy who mixes up words, is in clear mental decline, often stares at the camera like a deer in headlights? No.

But is it better than someone who has shown that they will turn any and every lever to stay in power after losing an election? Obviously.

Like it's not even close, and it's the only thing you need to think about.

Imagine a world where Trudeau claims that he won in the wake of losing an election... And then pressures law makers, members of Parliament and cabinet, provincial legislators and premiers, the military to make it so.

He consolidates power. Uses state run media to float his lies and then claims that all that has to happen in order to stay in power is have Christia Freeland declare it and it will be so.

#### Trudeau? Nah, it would be worse than that.

But it's truly unimaginable. Even you don't hold him with that little regard.

Right. But if the Democrats were running someone who wasn't in cognitive decline their chances of preventing this would be a lot better. I think it's really sad what's happened to Biden, and that it's scary it might result in Trump 2.0. They really need to replace him.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Doctorfever

This may not be the best time to tell everyone, but I alone control the sky laser that can start forest fires and can also take anyone out at any time.

Prove that I don’t.

Stop being ridiculous

This is serious.

You have Power Brokers working behind the scenes to potentially usurp the democratic process through staged emergencies.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Stop being ridiculous

This is serious.

You have Power Brokers working behind the scenes to potentially usurp the democratic process through staged emergencies.

The Deep State works in mysterious ways. Best not to peer in too closely. Trust the process.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

The Deep State works in mysterious ways. Best not to peer in too closely. Trust the process.

Sheeple Trust

Sheep Dog's ask questions to protect the Sheeple from the Wolves.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

I'm old enough to remember when Musk said months ago he wouldn't donate money to either Trump or Biden. He's kissed the ring as well, should be wearing the red hat any day now.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1813010710265237654

A lot of these people are just cowards trying to cover their butts in the event Trump wins. As it becomes more likely, we will see more open support for him kind of like a feedback loop.

Trump talks a lot of retribution against his enemies and he can really screw with some people if he gets in again, so guys like Musk are trying to get in on the ground floor and suck up. It's kind of like Roko's basilisk.

To be honest, it reminds me of people I knew who lived in communist dictatorships and listening to them describe how open support for the regime could get your rewards, or at the very least, not punished. Indifference or opposition however could mess up your whole life. That's why the wealthy tycoons from those countries supported the regime despite living outside of their rules.

[KelVarnsen]

Nah. Musk is a fellow fascist.

[Cappy]

Originally Posted by Doctorfever

This may not be the best time to tell everyone, but I alone control the sky laser that can start forest fires and can also take anyone out at any time.

Prove that I don’t.

Dude, im pretty sure UCB is ####ing with this thread.

let the pearls go.

[Doctorfever]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Stop being ridiculous

This is serious.

You have Power Brokers working behind the scenes to potentially usurp the democratic process through staged emergencies.

Who are the Power Brokers?

What are the staged emergencies? Covid?

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Doctorfever

Who are the Power Brokers?

What are the staged emergencies? Covid?

Come on, how can you not know?

I'm not going to feed this to you.

You sheeple just like having it all provided for you

[Doctorfever]

Haha. Thanks for the laugh.

I will have to do m own research.

[Firebot]

Originally Posted by Doctorfever

I do not follow American politics closely, but have been trying to keep up with this thread for a few days.

The amount of conspiracy theorists in this thread is crazy. Unreal that people can throw on the foil hats and regurgitate information like that.

Do we really think this shooting was “staged” ?

So obviously some posters are currently making comments in jest, but a few other were definitely serious earlier.

#Teleprompterglassgate was getting so ridiculous Snopes had to make a fact check to squash it. Even 3 days later, and the staged conspiracy theory still rages on.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/bu...s-trump-wound/

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime...es/ar-BB1pVVKz

https://www.dailygazette.com/news/na...12e88920a.html

X is a complete cesspool of "why were there photographers, why did he ask for his shoes" etc

Extremists nutjobs are extremists nutjobs whether left or right where the lines get skewed and all start sounding the same.

[powderjunkie]

Why did he ask for his shoes?

[darockwilder]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

Why did he ask for his shoes?

I want to know this as well. It's extremely important, I mean it was his main concern right after being winged by a bullet. Why?

[Doctorfever]

Originally Posted by darockwilder

I want to know this as well. It's extremely important, I mean it was his main concern right after being winged by a bullet. Why?

That is where he hid the blade.

[opendoor]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

Why did he ask for his shoes?

Didn't want to be seen without his lifts.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by KelVarnsen

Nah. Musk is a fellow fascist.

Not saying that's not part of it. I still think he likely expects Trump to win though, and money buys power. Trump has spoken out against electric cars which is a threat to his business. Getting Trump in his pocket early certainly works to his benefit. If the Democrats were poised to run away with this election, I doubt he would be spending the same amount of money.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by opendoor

Didn't want to be seen without his lifts.

Or to see that he has micro feet.

[blender]

Originally Posted by BigThief

The right wing in America (and Canada) have done a bang up job convincing voters they're the fiscal hawks of finance and only they can be trusted for decades now.

Indeed.
Labeling anyone who supports social spending or tax increases as "socialist" is one of the more overt strategies.
I've seen the word socialist popping up on the internet and in general conversation more and more frequently over the last couple years than ever before. Only last week, someone here was raving about "commies"! As if that's a thing in Canada in 2024.