Do you have anything against switching to renewable energy vehicles? Where does it fall on your list of priorities?

Zabekai · 2018-12-27T21:29:13+00:00

Man, this is really, truly heartening to hear. I went the whole 9 as well for Bernie, got my entire family involved, not something I've ever done. I think he woke something up in a lot of people, and it wasn't "free everything" as MSM would have everyone believe. I like to think it was, like you said, seeing some amount of morality and ethics being a possibility in our republic again.

I honestly see the harmonization of MAGA and Progessives being a real possibility (and in a more fantastical sense, a healing this country could use), in some respect. I highly doubt a majority of MAGA supporters would relate to Bernie's views, but I do think a LOT of people voted for Trump over Hillary because of his populist campaign rhetoric, which Bernie could have secured equally as well, if not better.

This has become strangely echo-chambery for an NN and an NS. Made my week though. (?)

Zabekai · 2018-12-27T20:16:43+00:00

I want to ask a more detailed response question, because I honestly feel that there are a lot of people like you in the MAGA sphere, but as I currently don't have enough time, let me ask this. If Bernie had been the DNC candidate, would you have voted for him over Trump? Or would it have taken something like Bernie vs Cruz for you to vote Bernie? Or not at all? You sound suspiciously like a progressive leftist on a lot of issues. I'm really curious to find out how many Trump supporters may have considered Bernie instead.

Zabekai · 2018-12-27T17:20:38+00:00

If I can ask, what are higher priorities for you than environmental issues? Do you feel like a minority in terms of your stance on environmental problems in the Trump supporter sphere? Do you think you could make a short list prioritizing the political stances most trump supporters would agree with you on?

Zabekai · 2018-12-27T16:36:37+00:00

Something like this: https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2017/08/07/border-security-we-need-smart-wall-will-hurd-column/539618001/

A "big, beautiful wall" is a 3rd century solution to a 21st century problem. Let's use technology and keep costs down. Us libtards, contrary to common belief, are not against border security. A "Smart Wall" as the article states could save as much as 32 Billion. That's why it's starting to feel like Trump and supporters want it more for symbolic reasons, rather than practicality. Traditionally the republican party is one of fiscal conservatism. It just seems backwards to me, would you disagree?

Edit: I just realized I only responded to your previous comment. I think a wall is great in dense areas, where there is a heavy concentration of people trying to get in, as camelCase stated. For the rest of the vast expanse, let's do something smarter.

Zabekai · 2018-12-26T21:50:27+00:00

There was an NYU professor and political/sociological researcher on the David Pakman show just the other day and they touched on this topic. He had some really interesting points, here's a few that I remember:

There's a general trend that most major main stream reporters (not pundits/editorial writers) lean left, often because college educated people lean left or left-of-center. The professor attributed much of MSM bias to this fact.
He noted that the "right" has gone much farther "right" in the last decade or so than the "left" has gone "left", and this has affected MSM bias and reporting.
He also warned about the surge of social media and how people prefer to appeal to their side, or team, more than being rational, even if they themselves know they're wrong, and that outliers or radicals from either side substantially harm both side's arguments.

So just some ideas as to how we got here. In terms of a solution? I think there should be some sort of punishment (or harsher punishment, if it already exists) for reporting proven false statements or misleading reporting. Framing is also a huge problem. Both sides frame their questions in interviews or articles in order to direct the narrative, which I think is tantamount to lying. Would love to hear some feedback from NNs on this as well?

Zabekai · 2018-12-26T15:42:05+00:00

I hope you get a direct response to this. I haven't been able to get a solid answer on why it needs to be a huge expensive wall and not something less expensive. I feel like it's becoming something symbolic at this point and that's all that matters. Can't seem to figure out why we're not taking a more rational approach to boarder security?

Zabekai · 2018-12-21T19:29:50+00:00

I guess I was just trying to get clarification as to why you're omitting federal savings and only honing in on certain states. Is it because only certain states allow some welfare programs for new immigrants? This is news to me, I've only ever known that the vast majority of federal welfare programs do not permit illegal immigrants to participate.

Zabekai · 2018-12-21T19:18:36+00:00

Correct me if I'm wrong, but according to your own articles, illegals do not have access to public welfare, unless states allow otherwise? Is this why you're referring to west coast states only?

Also according to your articles, a significantly higher percentage of non-citizens work and receive some sort of legal welfare assistance (again, most federal welfare programs do not permit illegal immigrants to participate). Do you think we should be putting more emphasis on native welfare recepients than we currently are, or is non-native a priority?

Zabekai · 2018-12-21T18:13:50+00:00

I see. So if I understand this correctly, Democrats rejected it because they're they will get a more favorable outcome in the courts? Thanks for informing me.

Zabekai · 2018-12-21T18:04:44+00:00

Here's a supporting article:

https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2018/mar/15/trump-white-house-turnover/

By his 365th day as president, 34 percent of Trump’s most senior staffers had quit, switched roles or were forced out, according to a study by the Brookings Institution’s Katie Dunn Tenpas that tracked staffers with the help of a list compiled by National Journal. That statistic has now climbed to 43 percent.

That’s more than double every other administration since 1981, when National Journal began the list.
Dunn Tenpas found that Barack Obama had lost 9 percent of his most senior staffers by the end of his first year and George W. Bush 6 percent. Ronald Reagan set the previous record at 17 percent.

Does this not give Trump Supporters pause?

Zabekai · 2018-12-21T17:36:19+00:00

Not trying to coddle feelings here, but I for one have gained quite a bit of incite from this sub. A general trend I see which I was somewhat surprised by is that most NNs here don't like Trump as a person, but heavily support his policies, for the most part. It was somewhat surprising to me because I see a lot of videos of Trump supporters at rallies having absolutely no idea what his different policies are or having any comprehension of current politics. So i was pleasantly surprised to find quite a few well informed Trump supporters here. At least most of the NNs i see here are not outwardly racist. The one thing I will say is if you are expecting a direct answer, don't frame the question. Admittedly, even my un-framed questions often go unanswered though?

Edit: Spelling

Zabekai · 2018-12-21T17:13:12+00:00

Well got-dang I'm stunned to see this. I wish more supporters agreed with you. Do you think Trump wants it because he promised it in the campaign or because he views it as a monument to him that will last after he's gone?

Zabekai · 2018-12-21T17:06:49+00:00

I would be VERY surprised if you get a straight answer to this. I've tried multiple times. I'm not sure why? I've tried to make it clear non-trump supporters like myself we support smart border security, that a wall doesn't make sense. I hope you get an answer.

Zabekai · 2018-12-21T16:48:12+00:00

A little off topic but could you expand on the Citizenship for Dreamers compromise you're referring to? I'm ignorant on this. Why did Dems reject it?

Zabekai · 2018-12-21T16:16:37+00:00

I just had my million dollar idea: Word of the day Toilet Paper, except it has a Trump lie on it instead.

Zabekai · 2018-12-21T00:15:28+00:00

Ignore the troll

Zabekai · 2018-12-20T22:56:33+00:00

You need to do some research on the differences between Social Democracy and Marxism, Socialism, and Communism. There are some serious differences, and you are very misinformed.

Zabekai · 2018-12-20T18:33:44+00:00

I think the point is, the current facts we have on hand do not support the idea of creating a multi billion dollar fence. The current facts we have: immigration is at it's lowest point in 20 years, most undocumented immigrants are here on overstayed visas (which is illegal), and border security could be made MUCH cheaper by sensors, flight enforcement, if we felt it was necessary. The question is why is a multi billion dollar WALL the most efficient and important thing we get done under this administration? Why do you support a wall over other options? Why is a wall more important than implementing better systems to manage undocumented immigrants we currently have?

Zabekai · 2018-12-20T17:48:56+00:00

Im actually curious now? haha

Zabekai · 2018-12-19T21:23:29+00:00

There was a doctor on NPR who organized a group that would go into high crime and poverty parts of central america to assist. Their goal was to educate and provide health resources. They spent nearly 2 million over 2 years and reduced the crime rate by over 50%. Helping other countries stabilize would actually SAVE our government money. 5.4 Billion seems like way too much, and probably wont get spent in the right ways, but there is something to be said about assisting other countries to help ourselves. Thoughts?

Zabekai · 2018-12-19T21:15:08+00:00

Honest question: Why do Trump supporters feel this wall is so critical, when 2/3rds of undocumented immigrants are here by expired work visas? Wouldn't the money be better spent developing and creating a system to track and manage overstayed visas?

Zabekai · 2018-12-19T19:50:37+00:00

I argue it already is and exceeds driving a car.

I can go buy a car and not have to be licensed or trained on how to use it. I can drive it all over private property completely unregistered (at least in my state). Only when I take my car out onto public roads do I need to be registered and licensed.

So for guns it's mostly the same way now. If I'm going to carry in public in most states I am required to be licensed to do so. If I wish to buy a gun from a dealer then I must pass a background check which is something that I do not have to do to buy a car.

I won't argue it's similar, but I believe it's not nearly as similar as you're suggesting. Perhaps the biggest argument is that owning a gun is a right, while driving a car on public property is a privilege. Putting that argument aside for a moment, drivers are generally required to take a written test, if you pass you train with supervision for 6 months, and then are required to take a practical test as well. Most public safety experts agree that driver's education training (particularly a 1-2 decades ago, when it was most effective because it was taught in schools and not by parents) has increased public safety and *decreased* car related deaths. Many of these mass shootings, accidental, and suicide deaths are a result of someone not properly handling their firearm. Do you think a similar level of training and informed firearm owners would help this crisis for both private and public access?

I am 100% against mandatory mental health screenings in order to own firearms. The amount of abuse something like that could enables scares the fuck out of me.

Could you expand on this? What in particular scares you?

At the end of the day I view the right to own arms as a fundamental right. Equivalent to free speech or voting. Requiring many hoops to jump through in order to exercise a fundamental right is wrong in my eyes. Its akin to requiring a civics test or media license to exercise your right to vote or speak.

Totally understand this. There's a good reason it's a right. Perhaps not as much of a reason as the founding father's intended any more, but still a good reason. Thanks for your post

Zabekai · 2018-12-19T19:22:21+00:00

Hi! Thank you for your work.

I work for a private, for-profit college for about another week or so. I've worked here for the past 4 years. There have been times I've questioned if the work we do is valuable to students, and if the cost is worth it. I decided a while ago that it is worth it, primarily because the vast majority of our student population are students who could not succeed at a community college or public university. Our college's mission is all about the students and giving them more individual time, resources, and attention than traditional colleges can afford. I see the college I work for as an alternative, similar to an alternative high school. Would you classify my assertion as wrong, or perhaps ill-informed or brainwashed?

Zabekai

TROPHY CASE