News American Politics

[Friday]

The other thread was closed... But just as a heads up for those from other countries... All kinds of crazy OMFG news stories are going to be churning out of our country for the next year or so.

Expect : Race, Sex, Guns, Religion, Denying of Rights to (pick any group of your choice) as the Usual Suspects.

***
We have an election cycle happening here, @Saelben ... Which means that all kinds of fringe splinter crazies (as well as every special interest group under the sun) are going to be very well funded & advertised & beating their drums over here until next November.

Happens every 4 years. It's part of our "bread & circuses" giant distraction from real issues in politics. Some of it is legitimate... Groups have been saving up for the past 4 years to try and get a voice in the upcoming elections... Others are just red herrings that political groups fund & promote to clog up the news cycle, or to make for easy campaign speeches for their candidate (Water IS wet! And here's my position on that! Love me.) It's not that race, sex, guns, religions, & constitutional rights are not legitimate issues... Is that the fringe groups take on these issues -and getting any airplay at all- outside of their dark slimy rock they usually lurk under, with their squelching band of idiots, is the distraction from real & present concerns and issues.

Shrug.

I just ignore it, by & large.

The things I rabidly disagree with, however, I ignore on purpose. I refuse to be part of their viral advertising campaign.

 

[ladee]

I will not vote this time, as there is no one to vote for. Not from what i have seen so far. I do not own a TV, Thank goodness. So can go for days and days on the internet without running into politics.. I ignore all of it. I listen at the beginning... and then it just get crazier and crazier. I have my own crazy, don't need any of theirs.

 

[Justmehere]

The peaceful transition of power every 4 years... comes at the cost of a lot of crazy sketch people acting out for attention.

They are not the norm. Please know that. They get so much attention in part because they are not the norm. They are shocking. If they were the norm, they would not be news.

 

[Stickler]

...Dunno, the Men's Wrongs...er...Rights Movement/ Pickup Artist culture has been bubbling away rather unpleasantly for a while.
They are not nice people.

America seems to have generally gone nuts. Like...I can't broach a conversation without finding out someone believes a whacked-out conspiracy theory, an Obama is Communist/Muslim/Socialist, Jesus will be back in 10 years or less, white supremacy, or is advocating for secession. Maybe that's just Texas? We do kinda crank it up and rip the knobs off here...
I am inclined to doubt it though, I think America's nuttier than a Christmas fruitcake, topped with nuclear weapons and maraschino cherries, soaked in high-test booze and closet dysfunction.
We're just fiiiiiiiiiine....

 

[Deleted member 28403]

@FridayJones
I suspect that Donald Trump (the main crazy irrational politician being shown everywhere as that) is also a sort of a distraction, sot hat something bad is accepted, just so it isn't him. Pushing forth a worst case scenario to pass through only a tiny bit milder solution...

That is also about the same tactic Drug Tito used here in the Balkans, interestingly enough.

 

[ladee]

I am still very proud to be an American.. just not so proud of the craziness that has been running rampant for years now. And it seems Americans only hear what they want to hear. Doesn't matter what the persons past actions were and possible still are, it's ok.... uh, no, it's not !!! Trying to save money to move to Switzerland.... ya, uh huh !!!

 

[Justmehere]

I suspect that Donald Trump (the main crazy irrational politician being shown everywhere as that) is also a sort of a distraction, sot hat something bad is accepted, just so it isn't him.

Yeah, people will accept a less bad option just to avoid the really bad option.

Even more so, I think the Donald Trump effect is also desensitizing the American culture to craziness. Things that would have shocked most Americans prior to Donald Trump now seem like no big deal now... We have been basically Overton Window-ed, and the general spectrum of what people will accept now has shifted.

Except, that most Americans are actually still appalled by many things that are going on.

As an American who has lived outside of the US, please know that the media doesn't represent the average American well.

 

[Ed Norton]

Switzerland looks good. If I had some money and could speak German then that's what I'd do. I am not proud of this country though at one point I was :yuck:

 

[Ocean5]

Also agree as an American who has lived outside the U.S. This doesn't represent average Americans. Grateful I don't get US News right now since I am outside country, I hate logging into Facebook since it's become so political with some relatives.

I even messaged one, telling her I loved her deeply, but there is other side of story from personal experiences. She understood, but still post things I don't like at all. But her right. Now I just try to avoid FB since I have enough to deal with.

Interesting article I saw today, "Why are Americans so Angry?" on BBC.

 

[ladee]

I would adapt in Switzerland, I would probably isolate like I do here, so it wouldn't matter if I can speak German or not.:roflmao:

 

[Ed Norton]

@ladee I believe that fluency in German is required to pass the citizenship test.

 

[ladee]

NOOO, @Ed Norton, you just mess up all my dreams :p !!
Ok, I will pick another country easier to get into... and be able to stay. deep sigh..:yuck: