***Official Political Discussion Thread***

[IATT]

Is it possible a Fox News viewer will ask why Repubs can't find a way to fund these programs, or is grandma dying early to own the libs a new thing now?

Ummm grandma dying to own the libs was the whole Covid move

 

[Public Enemy]

Barack posted a few tweets about his (annual I think) Democracy forum, and about pluralism, and about finding a way to live alongside individuals and groups that are different.

And all the responses I can see are people trolling or saying dumb ****, not even engaging in the topic in the slightest. And I thought Twitter is a cesspool when it comes to meaningful dialogue. And I thought, he shouldn't even bother posting on there anymore.

Then I thought about it some more, and it kind of makes his point to post on there still. Even as some of the responses or even most are bot or bot influenced, or goofballs who possibly don't even live in the US.

Him posting that and getting that response actually makes the point. Better than me, tell you that.

 

[Air Champa]

Bluesky has been nice so far, but you have to wonder what will happen if someone with billions of dollars makes them an offer too good to refuse.

 

[mplsdunk]

My boy went to school for damn near a decade to be a surgeon. He deserves his money.

He does well, it’s not like he’s the 1% or something.

 

[Brownstone]

What?

All of the big insurance companies make profits in the billions by paying out less than they take in from premiums. Billions. Simple as that. CEO's and c-suite types all make salaries in the millions. I can guarantee you your GP making $175k isnt the problem. You'd have a slightly better case if you talked about hospital admins and those types cause that cost has gotten bad too but the doctors salary definitely isnt. And even if you cut the doctors salary, we're not paying them direct, so those savings go to admins and insurance companies. You really think these billion dollar companies are going to pass those savings on to us?

I dont know how much exposure you have with AI but its a long, long way off from being able to do something like even rudimentary medical practice. Half the time, AI will tell you the best way to clean your phone is to spray it with a garden hose. And thats what you want diagnosing your health?

I admittedly am not a healthcare employee but if labor isn't the largest cost it would be the only industry where that is the case. Additionally, if the real issue is admin as you claim, that can go down right along with it. Are you saying there administrative labor makes more on aggregate or average? I find both hard to believe.

I do agree that these potential savings wouldn't be passed on to consumers in the current state. This is not a reason to avoid it with any reform. I am simply stating it should be apart of the conversation. Also, lets not forget the incentives for these doctors to push certain medications on consumers (Sackler ect...)

AI as I insinuated but acknowledge may not have been entirely clear on, is not currently in the place to replace doctors, nor would I ever want that to be the case. I don't want less doctors, I want more and better ones, and I think AI has the potential to improve practitioner performance and as AI integrates into medicine I absolutely would feel comfortable being seen by a machine for minor to routine checkups. I also feel I am not alone in that sentiment.

 

[Air Champa]

My boy went to school for damn near a decade to be a surgeon. He deserves his money.

He does well, it’s not like he’s the 1% or something.

Not only that, but think about how much debt someone has to go into to be a surgeon. This is assuming they don't come from a wealthy background. They need to make good money.

 

[balldontlie206]

Something that doesn't get talked about enough is the fact that a very large chunk of hospitals in the country are operating at a loss. And I am not saying that as a way to stick up for those trying to churn profits. I just want to point out that healthcare providers are not all out here getting rich. In fact, this situation is causing rural areas to be basically care-deserts when facilities close and residents are forced to either do nothing or drive long distances to see a doctor.

And yes, some admins are paid very well. In some cases, like at the hospital I work at, a good c-suite can guide a healthcare organization through crazy storms such as COVID and inflation fallout to stabilize into some sense of normalcy.

Anyways, as someone in the business long enough, the biggest factor as to why things are the way they are is because of insurance companies being greedy. Some doctors game the system, sure. Some admins are useless and overpaid sure...but who incentivizes that behavior?

 

[mplsdunk]

Not only that, but think about how much debt someone has to go into to be a surgeon. This is assuming they don't come from a wealthy background. They need to make good money.

Exactly

I am friends with a few actually. I swear I have a better quality of life than the girl I know who is a brain surgeon.

She had to pick up everything a move multiple times for jobs, debt out the *** and doesn’t even really know if she wants to keep doing it.

Then my other friend is delivering inbred babies whose mothers got no pre natal care because religion with the tops of their skulls missing.

Not everyone sits around writing prescriptions for ozempic and oxy.

 

[rexanglorum]

Last month was a huge W for online lumpens

December is here and they’re back to their losing ways.

 

[Air Champa]

This might belong in the Crypto thread, but to piggyback off that

 

[mplsdunk]

rug tuah

Might be a top signal.

 

[rexanglorum]

There absolutely are people in rural Northern Michigan who could become surgeons, airline pilots, or accountants.

And those who do and already have done so, rarely have been questioned on their fitness for the job, even though they got access to the requisite education due to DEI.

Racists believe that white kids from rural Michigan can be educated to the point that they have enough technical competence to be trusted with your life and your money. But racists believe that other groups, such as Black kids from Detroit or Flint are uneducable and untrainable and therefore cannot produce a competent professional, no matter how much education the state gives them.

 

[Based Jesus]

They will never stop at just erasing trans people from public life.

They want to undo decades, and in some cases, centuries of progress.

Racism polls well amongst non-college educated whites. Dems would do well to copy some of this messaging, learn to appeal to normal americans

 

[Lizakers]

Coleman Hughes is an intellectual heavyweight

 

[Lizakers]

 

[letsgetit22]

If hyper-policing my posts is what you have planned for the next four years, there’s no need to wait to revoke my access. You can do it now and stop with the pretext.

For the record, as a black man in America over-policing is not new to me. You’re free to run your website however you wish, but don’t pretend that you are moderating fairly when you quote my posts with threats of revoking access and give a general warning about literal threats of violence. You’re using your authority to bully.​

 

[Methodical Management]

If hyper-policing my posts is what you have planned for the next four years, there’s no need to wait to revoke my access. You can do it now and stop with the pretext.

For the record, as a black man in America over-policing is not new to me. You’re free to run your website however you wish, but don’t pretend that you are moderating fairly when you quote my posts with threats of revoking access and give a general warning about literal threats of violence. You’re using your authority to bully.

This is truly pathetic.

It is utterly shameless and bereft of self-awareness, even by your standards. It is a characteristically recycled diversion and doesn’t even deserve an original reply.

Your feigned offense and whataboutism have been accepted.
goto workmode;


You say you "support" Joe Biden, but you post bad news for dems almost exclusively. Those "great policies" you didn't vote for? You only want to mention them if it looks like they won't come to fruition due to gerrymandering and anti-democratic obstructionism. Jobs numbers? Not if they're positive for the politician you "support!"

Rarely do you actually discuss any of these issues. When pressed, you merely perform listless evasive gestures.

I can't remember the last time I saw you even attempt to present a cogent point about policy.

Why are you here, if not to antagonize? The people you accuse of acting in bad faith at least discuss the issues. They tag you for that purpose.
Your default is to toss out provocations, maybe fire off a threadbare cliché from your empty cupboard of boilerplate rejoinders if someone takes the bait, and scamper off. aepps in character engages in better faith than you do.

This is the behavior one would expect of a person who purchased apparel bearing a White nationalist slogan to "spark conversations." You're dying for people to ask you about your hat, but then you have nothing to say.
How would one describe that if not "attention-seeking?"


"Over-policing?" You've been trolling this thread for years and I've given you the benefit of the doubt.
This is not the "political antagonism thread." If you're not interested in discussion, you're in the wrong place.

You’ve spent nearly a decade of your adult life taunting and antagonizing those who’ve opposed stop and frisk policies while expressing “support” for a candidate who ran on that very platform. Yet you being held accountable for your own behavior on a message board is crossing the line?


On what basis have you been “over-policed?” Do you think you’re the only conservative to have posted here? How many posters here have been banned over this span?

My statement about calls for violence applied to postings that I would not quote, because they warranted removal. You can see one user complaining about this, warning others that the thread was being heavily moderated. You were treated with comparative lenience - but I am letting you know that lenience has reached its limit.

You’ve been shown 8 years of patience to evolve beyond shallow taunts and discuss these issues, which you claim to care about, in good faith.

You’ve failed miserably.


If you’re truly here to discuss these issues on the merits, and not just play “keep away” with those who might want to bring up your dismal posting history after yet another low-effort provocation, it is time to put up or shut up.

 

[doublemesh96]

Idk about you guys but I’m a big, HUGE Doug M hoff guy and I hope he runs in 2028

 

[dmbrhs]

At this point, I hope the GOP follows through and guts all of the programs that Boomers banked on carrying them through to their final days. You get what you vote for. The collateral damage will be felt by their children and grandchildren, who may want to take note after watching their parents die in agony, and destitute.

 

[rexanglorum]

Ramaswamy recently said that RTO mandates were designed to get federal workers to quit.

They are trying to make government less effective.

gry60 called that one from a mile away.

The goal is to make federal jobs de facto at will and then use that as leverage and as a way to hire and fire for patronage purposes,

 

[rexanglorum]

California is rich in many things.

What we do not lack are moronic trust fund douche bags who think they know everything.

 

[rexanglorum]

For those whomst know…

Go outside for a few days…

 

[dwalk31]

You’ve spent nearly a decade of your adult life taunting and antagonizing those who’ve opposed stop and frisk policies while expressing “support” for a candidate who ran on that very platform. Yet you being held accountable for your own behavior on a message board is crossing the line?

I supported President Obama and I also supported President Biden and Vice President Harris. You allowed me to be taunted and antagonized over supporting President Trump during one election cycle, even after I admitted the mistake.

On what basis have you been “over-policed?” Do you think you’re the only conservative to have posted here? How many posters here have been banned over this span?

You literally skipped over posts saying “Shut up, Delk” prior to chiding me about alleged trolling—despite name-calling being against forum rules. Numerous gifs are aimed at me, with no warning, but it’s trolling worthy of revoking access If I mention that gun reform is not brought up during the killing of the United CEO, in the political discussion thread? I’m not even a conservative. I supported arguably the least truly conservative Republican candidate during one election cycle and then said it was a mistake and went back to openly supporting the Democratic candidate—as I had done for years prior. Your personal politics and beliefs impact not only how you respond to posts but also how you moderate the forum.

You’ve been shown 8 years of patience to evolve beyond shallow taunts and discuss these issues, which you claim to care about, in good faith.

You’ve failed miserably.

Shallow taunts aren’t allowed in the political discussion thread? When did that start? Also, you think I’m the violator of that “rule?” Seriously? Most things are not debated in good faith in here. There are drive-by gifs, jokes, memes, name-calling and more in this thread. Calling out a failed opportunity to discuss gun reform in the political discussion thread is hardly the taunting you suggest.

If you’re truly here to discuss these issues on the merits, and not just play “keep away” with those who might want to bring up your dismal posting history after yet another low-effort provocation, it is time to put up or shut up.

If you’re truly here to moderate this thread fairly and not just bully post against posters you feel have different politics than you, it is time for you to show that. You don’t need to announce revoking my access—you can just do it. The ONLY reason to announce it, and post these long messages to just me, is to chill speech from posters you feel you disagree with. Unlike a lot of posters on here, I’m not going to simply capitulate to that. Like I said, run your forum however you want. But you aren’t operating honestly if you feel that you treat my posts the same as others. I received no warning for my post. I rarely even post in this thread anymore due to the taunts I’ve received. Your entire schtick is disingenuous and any objective viewer can see that.

 

[p0tat0 5alad]

Your entire schtick is disingenuous and any objective viewer can see that.

 

[DripNick]

Numerous gifs are aimed at me

There are drive-by gifs, jokes, memes