FEDIT POLITICS Thread

The point I was trying to make was broader and less specific than many of the individual issues we talk about in here.
Americans have become so ridiculously sensitive that everything is a microagression and being offended is almost a way of life. It's a cultural intolerance of free expression.
Snowflakes are the people that are hurt by even the most inoffensive of language. Are you sure you're a snowflake?

The Milo thing is an extreme example. He's an asshole and he says stupid stuff, but let him say his shit, don't get all buthurrt about it and move on. His words can't hurt you, unless you let them, or you empower them by drawing more attention to him than he deserves. Some might argue it's hate speech, and it probably is, but so what. As far as I'm concerned, if the KKK, or the Communist Party, Black Block or Antifa want to have a voice and people want to see them, they should be allowed their voice, no matter how repulsive it may be.

As for the TPP, it's actually a much bigger deal there than it is here. Australia depends very heavily on free trade in the pacific, and especially with America. It's significant threat to their economy if they can't get free trade deals.

I wasn't trying to say people there don't care or aren't engaged, because they are, I was trying to say they have a less temper tantrumey way of going about things.
Americans act like a bunch of spoiled children.

 

That's not at all what I meant. I was talking about a broader behavior (see previous post).

 

And when they melt they become a deluge.

 

Life is a state of mind.

 

If you fail to precipitate the portents in the clouds you will end up all wet.

 

Perhaps a mixed metaphor because I'm too lazy to type a ruven style paragraph.
There's a cultural difference there.
There's also a group of people here (especially on college campuses) that seem to be making a career of being offended.

 

They attack us at our weakest. Our kids.

 

You mean the conservatives.
Because the ACA is now conservative. Regardless of the rhetoric.
Once a boon is given to the people it cant easily be taken back.
Social Security was liberal. Then once it became implemented it was conservative. Conservatives want to protect SS and medicare and other such establishments.
Or like how Bush was a Nazi war criminal to liberals a decade ago when he said "history will judge me rightly" or something to that effect.
History/Time is conservative. The patriot act and all the other 'draconian' measures we railed against look like virtues compared to the way things are being done now and will be done in the future.
Hindsight is judging Bush pretty leniently.

 

I think the thing most detractors of the ACA have issue with is the individual mandate, and the associated fine.
I think there's a bunch of things that can be done in the short term that allow people to not buy insurance if they don't want to and still keep prices from spiraling out of control any more than they already are

1. Remove restrictions on high deductible plans, allow more flexible plans in general
2. Make all medical expenses tax deductable (you can use your HSA on anything, not just a high deductible plan)
3. Allow insurers to sell across state lines (more competition, better markets)
4. Allow individuals (and businesses that represent them) to pool together for plans.

In the long term you can look at tort reform and reducing (or at least bringing sanity) to regulation to push costs down even more.

 

That's not what I'm talking about. Protesting war, civil rights and even drug laws is one thing.
Protesting microagressions and demanding shelter from ideas is another.