Should we "fight every day to save our democracy?"

[CD Boogie]

Americans have a ton of empathy. A ton. Relative to the world? A ton. Maybe not relative to you. But to the world?

That's a notion that's rather impossible to deny or confirm. How do you quantify empathy? By the philanthropic involvements of our most wealthy citizens? Because by the measure, we definitely do give back much more than Europeans.

https://nypost.com/2021/10/23/americans-are-more-generous-than-europeans-by-a-large-margin/

But it's a much different dynamic when you're ashessing the largesse of the average citizens in the U.S. versus other countries, mostly because of how our systems work. Average Americans forking hate -- HATE -- taxes, which they are often led to believe are simply a means of income redistribution. The rising tides raise all boats angle gets short shrift in comparison with the pick yourself up by your bootstraps tenet.

Besides, Trump's ongoing relevance elevates one long-hidden truism that has been brought into bas relief: A large swath of Americans give fork all about the rules or the truth as long as it benefits them and/or forks their perceived enemies.

That said, him being called to account -- four indictments so far -- is edifying in one regard: We remain a nation of laws, and empathy only comes into the equation during the sentencing phase

 

[Liut]

He sold papers. He drove web traffic. And most importantly, he drove cable news ratings, and still does. CNN's coverage of an empty podium while waiting for Trump during the 2016 campaign was an embarrashment, and they would do it again in a heartbeat. A lot of media members saw their stars rise being the enemy of Trump (Jim Acosta, etc.), and they would gladly do it again.

And if you don't think they want him as the Republican candidate again, even with all of the criminal charges hanging over his head, you're not paying attention. I watched CNN yesterday on and off and just about every time I turned on there was a graphic saying how Trump "overshadowed" DeSantis at the Iowa State Fair. Trump stayed for less than an hour. DeSantis was there all day, and then went to the Knoxville Nationals that night, and drew a lot of attention from the crowds at both. A friend of mine was covering the whole day at the fair. He said people were laughing about Trump. But if you watched CNN, you got a different story.

They wanted him in 2016. They still want him in 2024. He's good for their business.

Well-stated.
Still, many people do not/will not comprehend what really is very simple.
Turn the forking tube off.

 

[Alma]

Nope. Wrong.

Yeah, they do. Especially given the circumstances - that the news media tries really hard, in the name of profit, to be divisive.

the nation just isn't as bad as you think it is.

 

[MisterCreosote]

Yeah, they do. Especially given the circumstances - that the news media tries really hard, in the name of profit, to be divisive.

the nation just isn't as bad as you think it is.

I barely consume news media.

And I didn't say the nation was bad. I said most Americans are incredibly selfish people and we no longer have any concept of or willingness for collective action.

 

[Alma]

I barely consume news media.

And I didn't say the nation was bad. I said most Americans are incredibly selfish people and we no longer have any concept of or willingness for collective action.

You could say that about human nature.

Relative to the most of the world I don't see that being unusually true of Americans.

 

[Octave]

He sold papers. He drove web traffic.

That's what happens when laws are broken every other day.

 

[BTExpress]

we no longer have any concept of or willingness for collective action

Our "collective action" targets are not quite as easily defined as "build a bomb," "beat the Nazis" or "land on the moon***."

Our COVID shutdowns hurt some people, didn't affect others at all and were more of a "well, we gotta do SOMETHING" approach rather than a concrete solution with sacrifice by everyone. Our government spending is so wasteful and kickback dependent that we're convinced that only a fraction of it actually goes to help anyone. Climate change may very well be another money pit where no matter how great our intentions and much money and action you throw at something, actually changing the climate of a celestial body that grows by 200,000 energy-dependent people every day could be utter fantasy.

And our targets change depending on who's in the White House. I suspect climate change and Ukraine will take a backseat to immigration if Biden loses.


***which never even would have been a goal had Shepard beat Gagarin.

 

[MisterCreosote]

Our "collective action" targets are not quite as easily defined as "build a bomb," "beat the Nazis" or "land on the moon***."

Our COVID shutdowns hurt some people, didn't affect others at all and were more of a "well, we gotta do SOMETHING" approach rather than a concrete solution with sacrifice by everyone. Our government spending is so wasteful and kickback dependent that we're convinced that only a fraction of it actually goes to help anyone. Climate change may very well be another money pit where no matter how great our intentions and much money and action you throw at something, actually changing the climate of a celestial body that grows by 200,000 energy-dependent people every day could be utter fantasy.

And our targets change depending on who's in the White House. I suspect climate change and Ukraine will take a backseat to immigration if Biden loses.


***which never even would have been a goal had Shepard beat Gagarin.

You're not really disagreeing with me.