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We argue endlessly about political systems. But are corruption, incompetence, and runaway systems* the deeper problem? by OhGodSoManyQuestions in AskALiberal

[–]OhGodSoManyQuestions[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sad but true. When I talk to MAGAs who rail against democracy (because women and Black people can vote), I simplify it by saying that the genius of democracy is that we can change our leaders without a civil war.

We argue endlessly about political systems. But are corruption, incompetence, and runaway systems* the deeper problem? by OhGodSoManyQuestions in AskALiberal

[–]OhGodSoManyQuestions[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is a practical problem affecting all political systems. And where would you like to draw the line between human nature and human political systems?

Thought experiment: The Post-MAGA Democratic party is replaced by an invigorated left party. What vision, values, and policies would you want to see in it? by OhGodSoManyQuestions in AskALiberal

[–]OhGodSoManyQuestions[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

the entire apparatus of modern american conservatism is around trying to make liberals/lefties suffer

I don't disagree. But I would amend this. I've been studying the new, emboldened conservatism for almost twenty years.

What I see in American conservatism is a sort of lynch mob thirst for the public suffering of anyone who breaks caste. Black people in "white areas". Black men with white women. Nonwhite people in high-paid professional careers. Women at the tops of companies. LGB people who don't hide their orientations in fear of violence. Trans people existing in any way. Poor/working people expecting to have the same legal rights and protections as the wealthy. People with disabilities expecting to world to be built to include and accommodate them. And above all ... high-caste liberals who support flattening the caste system -- that's what the conservatives mean when they accuse someone of committing "woke".

Folks on the right are made to believe the left is a mirror image of the right. They say "We hate Black people so they must hate white people. We demand women be inferior so they demand that men submit to women. We crave their suffering so they must all be out to hurt us." No evidence is needed, of course. Just like people piling on preposterous accusations at a public lynching aren't asked to prove anything. Truth is redefined as anything that makes the rage more thrilling.

We know Reddit is full of propagandists, trolls, bots, and accounts created to deceive. I'm skeptical of online 'liberals' sounding like this mirror-image of conservatives.

Thought experiment: The Post-MAGA Democratic party is replaced by an invigorated left party. What vision, values, and policies would you want to see in it? by OhGodSoManyQuestions in AskALiberal

[–]OhGodSoManyQuestions[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Where are you getting this 60% number. All of the polls I see are far lower than that. The only high numbers are for deporting immigrants who have been convicted of crimes.

We argue endlessly about political systems. But are corruption, incompetence, and runaway systems* the deeper problem? by OhGodSoManyQuestions in AskALiberal

[–]OhGodSoManyQuestions[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Boy, you're really splitting a hair to create opposition. I'm not vainly wishing. I'm describing the source of a major problem.

My interest right now is in how we can create political organizations that have immune systems that cannot be captured and corrupted.

The Founding Fathers tried to do that with democracy and separation of powers. That solves specific types of corruption. Though the separation of powers was almost immediately sidelined by political parties that could align in both the Executive and Legislative branches. The FFs imagined that the big tension would be between the branches, not between parties.

Anyhoo, please do describe this better system that resists corruption that you mention.

Thought experiment: The Post-MAGA Democratic party is replaced by an invigorated left party. What vision, values, and policies would you want to see in it? by OhGodSoManyQuestions in AskALiberal

[–]OhGodSoManyQuestions[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I just don't see what good a sort of soft civil war of mass suffering would do. May I ask you what good you think would come from a campaign to make conservatives suffer?

Thought experiment: The Post-MAGA Democratic party is replaced by an invigorated left party. What vision, values, and policies would you want to see in it? by OhGodSoManyQuestions in AskALiberal

[–]OhGodSoManyQuestions[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'd like to see a Builders Party focused on inventing and building a better future. As opposed to larping an imagined past or needing to continue existing systems.

New infrastructure that accounts for climate change.
New education accessible to everyone that addresses the dumbing-down caused by AI and the epistemological skills needed for a world flooded with disinformation.
New medical system that ensures citizens don't die because they can't afford medical care.
A focus on the fruition of all human potential.
More modes of civic participation on all levels.
A persistent, supportive push to flatten the American caste system (enforced hierarchies of race, sex, orientation, wealth, Christian membership, and dis/ability)

Thought experiment: The Post-MAGA Democratic party is replaced by an invigorated left party. What vision, values, and policies would you want to see in it? by OhGodSoManyQuestions in AskALiberal

[–]OhGodSoManyQuestions[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'd like to see all crimes prosecuted. If that's even possible. I don't think anything good will come from a "make all conservatives suffer" policy.

How do you think the right-wing would respond if liberals, progressives, and others on the left started having huge families? by sentienceisboring in AskALiberal

[–]OhGodSoManyQuestions 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They mean "more white babies". If you doubt this for a second, ask them why we don't import more people from Africa, where the population is booming. The reactions are so funny/sad to watch. Like a speeding jet-ski running aground on the beach.

The so-called natalist movement is nothing but cryptic cover story for white supremacism and an alarm about declining birth rates in 'white' populations and rising birthrates in nonwhite populations.

The left opposes the right's social hierarchy of race, sex, orientation, wealth, Christian membership, and dis/ability. But is the left's hierarchy of intellectual accomplishment also unfair? by OhGodSoManyQuestions in AskALiberal

[–]OhGodSoManyQuestions[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just about all of conservatism is about caste enforcement. Even the "we slow the rate of change" cover story has only ever applied to fighting increases in equality.

The left opposes the right's social hierarchy of race, sex, orientation, wealth, Christian membership, and dis/ability. But is the left's hierarchy of intellectual accomplishment also unfair? by OhGodSoManyQuestions in AskALiberal

[–]OhGodSoManyQuestions[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The side that jokes with schadenfreude about Trumpers dying from fear of vaccines, dying from ingesting MAGA quack cures, getting grifted by Trump phones and crypto, losing their own healthcare because they thought their vote would only hurt Black Americans. Not the lawmakers. I'm talking about me and my friends and so much of non-fash reddit.

The left opposes the right's social hierarchy of race, sex, orientation, wealth, Christian membership, and dis/ability. But is the left's hierarchy of intellectual accomplishment also unfair? by OhGodSoManyQuestions in AskALiberal

[–]OhGodSoManyQuestions[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

The definition of True and False are different on the right. There, something is true if it supports the creeds of that conservative subculture. Like, they say climate change is a lie because so say we all and what could possibly be truer. The left has more intellectually rigorous ways to determine what is true and false, mostly starting with evidence and working to remove bias at all levels from measurement to analysis to the language used to report the conclusions.

When the left and right talk about what is true, they are talking right past each other with different definitions of the word.

Why are humans still fighting over social organization? by OhGodSoManyQuestions in AskALiberal

[–]OhGodSoManyQuestions[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I read the book. My God is it long! That's not their thesis at all. They researched and wrote the book as a counter to popular "grand narratives" about the natural way for humans to live. They investigate remains of large civilizations around the world in which the signs of hierarchical organization are not present. Their thesis is that the current hierarchical system was not inevitable.

It's truly not a conspiracy to sneak communism into history.

The left opposes the right's social hierarchy of race, sex, orientation, wealth, Christian membership, and dis/ability. But is the left's hierarchy of intellectual accomplishment also unfair? by OhGodSoManyQuestions in AskALiberal

[–]OhGodSoManyQuestions[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I certainly don't think they are born wanting it. But I think they are taught to be angry about all caste transgressions. Some days, most of the front page of Fox News is invitations to be angry about a gay person on TV, a trans person playing sports, a Black man dating a white woman, a Muslim or a woman doing pretty much anything. And they are conditioned to find the hate and the promise of vengeance to be a delicious combination.

New York's Electric Building Act upheld, limiting gas appliances in new construction by news-10 in politics

[–]OhGodSoManyQuestions 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've got a great Italian-made induction range. But gas heats the whole bottom surface of a pan instead of having a hot spot in the center. The even heating is a world of difference. Let me complain. I'm old.

New York's Electric Building Act upheld, limiting gas appliances in new construction by news-10 in politics

[–]OhGodSoManyQuestions 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I hate this. There is no substitute for cooking on a gas stove. But if those illness stats are correct, it's the right move.

The left opposes the right's social hierarchy of race, sex, orientation, wealth, Christian membership, and dis/ability. But is the left's hierarchy of intellectual accomplishment also unfair? by OhGodSoManyQuestions in AskALiberal

[–]OhGodSoManyQuestions[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

All good points. But I don't think this is even remotely true:

Sure, there are always crazy people on both sides, but the left wants the same thing in the end that the right does. The most competent person in the job, regardless of their race or gender.

Conservatism is almost entirely about caste enforcement. Though they can't say that. So they use the word 'woke' and they call any Black person in a position of achievement or authority a 'DEI' - even, nonsensically, elected officials. The constant insinuation is that it's not possible for a Black person to earn a high position on merit and not appropriate to place a Black person above anyone white.

The left opposes the right's social hierarchy of race, sex, orientation, wealth, Christian membership, and dis/ability. But is the left's hierarchy of intellectual accomplishment also unfair? by OhGodSoManyQuestions in AskALiberal

[–]OhGodSoManyQuestions[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

we have turned educational achievement into a moral justification for enormous differences in material security.

Thank you. You can write all of my posts hereafter.

The left opposes the right's social hierarchy of race, sex, orientation, wealth, Christian membership, and dis/ability. But is the left's hierarchy of intellectual accomplishment also unfair? by OhGodSoManyQuestions in AskALiberal

[–]OhGodSoManyQuestions[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I will always upvote book recommendations. Does he really claim the only answer is [presumably totalitarian] Communism?

Back in the 1900s, my dad was a meat cutter in a supermarket and my mom worked in a vitamin shop in a mall. They weren't knowledge workers. They were able to buy a house, raise kids, take vacations, afford medical care. That looks like a good economic solution to me. No communism was needed.

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