Duke wrote: In reply to GameboyRMH: Hrm, a number of MY non-American friends haven't held back from voicing their opinions... repeatedly.

And I would do the same, but in an appropriate setting

Just tell them that both are wrong.

No good choices this go-around anyway. Been this way the past several elections. Which is the lesser of the evils.

Wait, there is an election coming up? What's it for?

The main thing that this election has proven to me is that I live in the America I was afraid I lived in, not the America I hoped I lived in. If we, as a nation, are supposed to be the high point in political discourse and represent the actualization of the belief that everyone has a right to make choices as a group, then my faith in humanity in general is slipping even further. I've read some compelling studies on the rise of social media contributing to decreasing empathy and narrowing world views, and the "I'm right - you deserve to die" ethos of our current political climate seems like a reasonable extrapolated result.

I'd say something about moving elsewhere after this election no matter who wins, but I don't really think it's better anywhere else. I think as a species we've just reverted back to following our base desires as human animals. It seems like mental evolution is in retrograde. It's the victory of the Id over the Ego.

I hate rhetoric. Arguments for the sake of having arguments.

Intellectual conversation about the real issues that impact the country are rare anymore.

I will admit that I have been selecting to not see posts from a few people politically opposed to me, mostly because I am sick and tired of non-objective views being spewed with such regularity that I am sick of it. I do the same thing to people to start with multi-level marketing, conspiracy theories, and many other things.

I do have a few people politically opposed to me that I still have. The difference is that they will think critically about things and intellectually address pros and cons of the different candidates.

Goes back to the same reason we dont have a political section, there just isnt a widespread ability to objectively discuss politics these days.

ultraclyde wrote: The main thing that this election has proven to me is that I live in the America I was afraid I lived in, not the America I hoped I lived in.

This.

pinchvalve wrote: Wait, there is an election coming up? What's it for?

I hope it's not for dog catcher, no one running is qualified.

In reply to ultraclyde:

what you are actually saying is the movie Idiocracy is a documentary and not fiction?

JohnRW1621 wrote:

So good it needs to be shared with the world.

My mother was a marching feminist ERA charter member. She would have had a stroke at what I was just told by a 50ish woman at work. "A woman has no right running this country." Not anything about the person, just her gender. And being held against her BY A WOMAN! Sigh

feminismfail

All of the rhetoric has confused people.

There is only so much a president can do or can't do.

For one can't do, change the Constitutuion

also, thanks to this thread, I know what I'm watching when I come home from work tomorrow! Thanks GRM!

As long as you dont forget to vote tomorrow!

iceracer wrote: All of the rhetoric has confused people. There is only so much a president can do or can't do. For one can't do, change the Constitutuion

But they can ignore it.

I just realized this thread makes just as much sense if you read it backwards as forwards.

I had a brother in law that was a relentless troll about politics and just about everything else. I tried to reason with him. I tried to explain that this wasn't acceptable behavior if he wanted to continue to be on speaking terms.

Then I laid down the law in no uncertain terms. I may have been a little harsh in my delivery.

We haven't spoken in 5 years. My wife hasn't spoken to him is several years as well.

Good luck. I obviously don't have the answer you are looking for. Some people just can't help themselves.

In reply to Toyman01:

Sounds like you aren't losing anything. Several of my relatives and I were on opposite sides, but it was always good natured fun.

I am amazed and disappointed at the number of people I know, seemingly educated bright people on both ends of the spectrum that believe everything the see in a Facebook meme. I don't like either side this time and post a lot of things I find funny knowing it will drive someone I know to the edge of a breakdown. I had a cousin stop taking to me over something The Onion said about Hillary. This is a thirty year old woman with two masters degrees that should have at least slight knowledge that it is satirical.

This election cycle people have lost their damn minds. Completely jumped the shark, jumped into the deep end, whatever you want to call it. BatE36 M3 crazy. Unrationally melodramatic hyperbole spewing craziness.

I'd get into why I think we've gotten here, but I think Margie's porch is large enough.

wlkelley3 wrote: Just tell them that both are wrong. No good choices this go-around anyway. Been this way the past several elections. Which is the lesser of the evils.

Voting for a lesser of the evils, is still voting for evil.

Appleseed wrote:

wlkelley3 wrote: Just tell them that both are wrong. No good choices this go-around anyway. Been this way the past several elections. Which is the lesser of the evils.

Voting for a lesser of the evils, is still voting for evil.

Time to Answer The Call!

I listened to a popular Los Angeles morning radio show while driving into work today.

The twelve California ballot measures were the main topic and although I’m not aligned with the three co-host’s general political affiliations, I was in agreement with all but one of their consensus positions.

My take-away was that when the populous is presented with a set of specific options, they tend to be in surprisingly strong agreement…it’s when they have to choose based on vague generalities that they square off into their respective camps and start loathing the other team.

Just an observation.

In reply to Appleseed:

That thought process just means you don't vote, which could be the equivalent of voting for the greater of two evils.

If you don't support any of the candidates you need to vote against the person that conflicts with your beliefs/morals the most.

NEALSMO wrote: In reply to Appleseed: That thought process just means you don't vote, which could be the equivalent of voting for the greater of two evils. If you don't support any of the candidates you need to vote against the person that conflicts with your beliefs/morals the most.

what makes this election tolerable.... there's a third option.