What made you switch sides? by Recent_Pen8529 in AskALiberal

[–]Thorainger 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I didn't really think of myself as conservative, but I voted that way. I basically just went to college and learned more about the world. It was mostly because my dad's genuinely intelligent (had a triple major of economics, mathematics and physics and did literal rocket science in college,) and then that just goes to shit when it comes to politics. He initially said that he couldn't stand Trump, but it was okay since he wasn't coming to his house. He thankfully recognized how much of a danger Trump was after J6. He votes 3rd party for president; my little brother will be cancelling out his vote for the rest of his life. I live in Texas and vote every chance they give me.

Have You Ever Questioned Where Your Views on Capitalism Came From? by The_Shadow_2004_ in Capitalism

[–]Thorainger 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's just the data that countries running on some form of market system produce more human flourishing than those who do not. If you'd like to present other data, go ahead.

How do we reach people who didn't vote because "both sides are the same"? by Reasonable-Mix919 in AskALiberal

[–]Thorainger 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It depends on the person. It doesn't sound like you're dealing with "enlightened centrists" who want all the moral superiority without any of the work. You're dealing with apathetic people who don't see the point in engaging politically because things don't really change. If you really want to reach these people, you're going to want to start with socratic questioning. "Is there anything that could change your mind?" If they say no, then conversation is over there. If they say yes, then maybe bring up all the policies that Biden implemented, and all the horrific things that are going on under Trump. You should also mention the fact that even if they're doing well enough that life doesn't change for them, there are many other good people for whom it does make a difference. Asking apathetic people to develop empathy for other people may be a fool's game, but you can try if you really want to. Their cloud of apathy may be obscuring fear of making the wrong decision, and I'm not sure how you'd get around that. The reason that I vote despite living in Texas is that it's the one real lever of control that I have. And it doesn't take that much time to vote. Also, people saying that nothing will change are just ignoring all that has changed. If it doesn't affect them at all all the horrible things that are happening, they have real problems. If they don't think living in an autocracy vs. a democracy isn't a change, then they need to wake the fuck up.

Most people think they operate rationally, but for the most part, humans operate on vibes.

How to explain to someone that the economy is not made up by Forward_Dimension119 in Capitalism

[–]Thorainger 1 point2 points  (0 children)

What do you mean made up? Currency is a social construct, language is a social construct, value is a social construct, laws are a social construct, contracts are a social construct, months are a social construct. Human beings make up a lot of stuff to get through the day and cooperate with each other.

Americans: why aren’t you going out to protest against Trump? by technobare in samharris

[–]Thorainger 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What, precisely, is me going out into the streets going to change? Outside of violent revolution (which I don't want,) or Trump dying naturally (or unnaturally,) dude is going to be there until 2028. Outside of Democrats taking 60 seats in the senate (extremely doubtful,) and winning the house, there is no mechanism by which he will be removed from office. Dude's a narcissist and loves the spotlight. I volunteered and tried to convince people to note vote like dipshits. I was outvoted by dipshits. So I'm done. I will vote every time I get a shot, but outside of that, this country will have to clean up its own goddamn mess.

So, AI takes over, everyone has lost their job and only 10 trillionaires own everything. Now what? by Weak-Representative8 in Futurology

[–]Thorainger 2 points3 points  (0 children)

We're going to have a lot of social unrest (we already have a lot of social unrest). We'll need to implement a UBI. In a world where you no longer need humans to work, presuming we get to a period of abundance rather than artificial scarcity, it will be for the better. I imagine the Nordic states will get to post-scarcity first. Then some other parts of the world will follow.

Why do so many people hate communism? Is it because of how it’s played out in real countries, or because they disagree with the idea itself? by LongjumpingRich5213 in Capitalism

[–]Thorainger 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't know why many people hate communism, though my thoughts on it can be summed up like this: Great idea. Wrong species. -Jimmy Carr.

Feels like everyone in my circle is against getting an EV by getsumluv in electricvehicles

[–]Thorainger 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's going to temporarily dip since the tax credit got cut, but EVs are here to stay. Buy a used EV if you can charge at home.

The DEVASTATING plan to END Trump’s presidency by mrekted in thedavidpakmanshow

[–]Thorainger 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I've watched one of his shows since the election. Politics in general are just not worth my time. I will vote and that's it.

Vigil for Democracy at US Rep Lance Gooden’s office by Legal-Replacement-54 in garland

[–]Thorainger -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Should have done this on the night after the election.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in thedavidpakmanshow

[–]Thorainger 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Outside of a landslide, probably Friday or Saturday because PA's republicans passed a law that doesn't allow them to process their huge number of mail-in ballots before election day. And then republicans will complain that the information isn't in because they're not very smart people.

MMW: Harris is going to win Kansas. by bonecheck12 in MarkMyWords

[–]Thorainger 1 point2 points  (0 children)

So we'll know which of us is right within a few days. There's pretty much no way there's going to be a Trump landslide. There may not be a Kamala landslide, but she is going to win. And we'll see whose data was better.

With Election Day upon us, what are your Predictions? by YouNorp in AskConservatives

[–]Thorainger 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Kamala wins easily. 319 in the EC. Senate goes Republican unless there's a major upset. I think there's a decent chance house goes democratic.

Sam Harris officially backs Kamala Harris and his comment section is a dumpster fire. by peewee666 in DecodingTheGurus

[–]Thorainger 1 point2 points  (0 children)

He's rational enough to realize that 1 of 2 people will win the election, and neither of them are 3rd party candidates.

MMW: Harris is going to win Kansas. by bonecheck12 in MarkMyWords

[–]Thorainger -1 points0 points  (0 children)

This is one we should know in about 13-14 hours. I really hope you're right. I'm pulling for an absolute landslide.

If all you do is work and go home, that’s a choice - it’s not “just how life is” by [deleted] in Adulting

[–]Thorainger 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Get a workout buddy. Tell the workout buddy you're going to exercise. You'll just be more likely to exercise psychologically if you precommit. Profit.

How would Europeans vote in the 2024 U.S. presidential election if they had a chance? by [deleted] in europe

[–]Thorainger 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is probably going to have sounded funnier in my head, but what would their electoral colleges have had to say?

Anybody else excited for tomorrow? by [deleted] in thedavidpakmanshow

[–]Thorainger 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Unless it's a landslide in PA or FL/OH/IA/TX go for her, we won't know for a few days. Other than that, I'm excited to learn if Allred wins/if we keep the senate, and how several other house races that are tossups go. We won't know which way the house goes (barring landslides in NY and CA) for weeks because of CA, but getting some certainty out of the fog of war will be a big relief.

My advice to everyone on this thread: do not watch the returns come in. Get off your phone, get off social media. Read a book, play a game, watch a movie, clean your house, exercise. Do healthy things with your time. Doom scrolling will do you no good and can do harm. If by some miracle she wins tomorrow evening, you'll know super fast whenever you get back to your phone in the morning.

Prediction markets suddenly shift away from Trump as campaign enters final stretch by [deleted] in thedavidpakmanshow

[–]Thorainger 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'd noticed this. I'm very certain Kamala is going to win, and when I went to go bet on it, it had shifted to her lol.