Republican civil unrest, after the Democratic win.

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This is where it all starts getting a bit weird. The Democrats typically believe in taxing the ultra-rich more heavily, and using that money to help the poorest in society. So why would the monied "establishment", and particularly big business, support that? With some individuals there is perhaps an element of philanthropy, but how many businesses operate in that way? As for academics, maybe they have a greater awareness of social history, and also a greater awareness of their own personal privaledge as a consequence? To get the full picture here you also need to look at major party contributions, because they carry more weight when it comes to dictating policy. Contributions of over $200 are more likely to be calling the shots, I would say. If you happen to pursuade individuals to support those same goals, well that's just icing on the cake, if we're being cynical.

For the Republicans the reverse is true, they're traditionally been the party of giving multi-nationals free rein to exploit workers with low wages, poor terms and conditions, dangerous work practices etc. etc. The argument seems to be that free enterprise benefits everyone through trickle-down, but there's very little evidence to support that. In fact, the overall trend has been for the rich to get richer at everyone else's expense - the wealth doesn't trickle down, it congeals at the top. And yet people buy into the myth. Trump's rhetoric has been very anti-establishment, but his actions have been consistently pro-big business / big money, which by definition means anti-everyone else. The logic seems to be that "They" are taking your rights and your freedoms and your money away, but if you vote Republican that will stop. How, exactly? The GOP is the establishment, it's not doing anything any different. The answer to fixing America's significant socio-economic problems doesn't lie in doing the same things, but perhaps to a slightly greater extent, and then expecting radically different results.

I find the whole situation bizarre, and I'm amazed so many people believe black is white and will continue swearing so until the grave. You would think people might start looking at actual results, rather than "spin", but there's no sign of that. Basic measures of success in a civilised society. Standards of living, quality of life, life expectancy, wealth equality, a benevolent and all-embracing culture, fairness, justice....

To my mind the Democrats have come to represent middle class interests. They're progressive but in a slightly snobbish way, more paternalistic than philanthropic. Quite happy to have a charity bake sale for the homeless, but if an actual hobo turned up on the doorstep they'd get worried about property values and shoo them away. A kind of detached, stifling niceness. The Truman Show, perhaps? Ok I am stereotyping but there is some truth in this. If you shifted the Democrats further left you'd end up with Scandanavian politics which are liberal, but with a big stick if you disobey. They have the highest quality of life ratings in the world, and a very inclusive culture, but it's also VERY conformist. I don't think many Americans could cope with that, to be honest.

The Republicans, meanwhile, are a curious mixture of big business interests, old fashioned conservatism, and working class "Get Out Of The Way, Grandad!" aggression. The latter group are in ascendancy at present. Helping other people out is just SO old fashioned. We want stuff, and we want it now, and we'll believe anything that's promised. It's the loadsamoney, get-rich-quick, American Dream party. Look at Bezos, look at the Waltons, look at Trump, we want to be like that!! Yes they're as*holes who looked after no.1 all the way, and trod on people to reach the top, but that's how we're forced to live anyway. So we get it, climbing the greasy pole is what we aspire to. Even though our chances of getting there are nil, because the deck is so heavily loaded against us, by the very people we support. But who cares? Rather be lying in the gutter admiring the stars than stuck in the middle being nice.

I'm amazed the whole U.S. political system hasn't imploded yet, it seems to be carrying an unsustainable load of both irony and nonsensical BS.

Perhaps that's why things haven't kicked off to the extent some people predicted? What's happening now is just a blip, the people have long been used to accepting contradictions without question, BLM and Trump trying to stir up trouble are mere small change in the general scheme of things. Here today, gone tomorrow.....

We're not out of the woods just yet, though.
"Protecting the vote"

And yet, America's roads are falling apart, America's buildings are falling apart, And there is no end in sight! Just face it, dude. The poor will stay poor and the rich will get richer. Several Democratic politicians and Republicans were caught red handed not wearing a mask in public or a social gathering. Their mentality is rule for thee, Not for me.

This place is infected with die-hard democrats! They always attack the Republicans but never their own. Multiple Democratic politicians have been caught red handed not wearing masks in public or social gatherings. Covid-19 is to control the population.

Hillary Clinton was absolutely correct. The MAGAs were deplorables.

A war mongering, corrupt piece of s**t like Hillary has no right to call anyone else "deplorable." That's like Michael Jackson calling someone "crazy."

Regardless of what she's accused of, she's correct in surmising that Trump inspires the worst traits in people to come up to the fore. Any wonder really, his hand picked chief strategist Steve Bannon is far-right with known sympathies for neo-Nazi groups. Trump's legacy will be always enshrined by his choices.

It would be nice if you actually had a f*****g clue what the Democrats have gotten up to, but you don't. Stick to Australian politics.

Ah the joys of marginalizing.

Actually, he may have a point...


You may have noticed this doesn't specifiy whether it was "Trump supporters" who were being described...It is quite possible that the targetted group was the "Trump detractors", which would seem entirely plausible based on their actions leading since his election in 2016 (Russia interference, riots, etc.). When you look at their actions since the results of the vote counting came in this year, it certainly seems to reinforce this as the likely group being discussed.

It's a fact that white nationalist hate groups have grown since Trump has been in office. It's a fact that they believe he's on their side - - they've even said so. That's unless you're into Trump's conspiracy theories about the FBI being against him.
Cyberdad is a very astute observer of American politics. His conclusions are on the mark.
Just what exactly are the Democrats supposed to have "gotten up to?"

That sounds as plausible as someone claiming to be a "Professional (technical) writer", then stating that something they typed was "misunderstood"...

No, just some irresponsible Democrats hadn't worn masks in public, and that was just mainly early on.
Just how is Covid being used to control the population? People who mask up rarely contract the virus, yet those who don't catch it. So how is that at all false?

If I have to explain to you for the thousandth time, then I'm wasting my time.

Yet the Republicans are supposed to be the paragons of honesty and transparency?

Why did you feel the need to start with "And yet.."? I agree America's national debt is increasing while the country falls apart. I believe that's largely down to wealth extraction by the ultra-wealthy who have politicians in their pockets looking for the biggest crumbs.

From that point of view the biggest problem is that Democrats and Republicans are too alike. There's very little choice in U.S. politics. What I do find amusing is Trump reinventing the GOP further on the right as though that somehow makes them edgy and alternative. No it doesn't, it's just more of the same shite. The Democrats are slightly more generous, in that they allow bigger crumbs to fall from the top table and might actually flick one or two of them towards those in greatest need, but it isn't significant enough to make any significant, lasting change, as you yourself have noted.

It isn't helped by basic human psychology, either. We all like to think we're special:- that trends, averages and highway speed limits are for others, not for us. As a consequence voters would rather gamble on the American Dream of hitting the big time, despite knowing it's next to impossible, than accept smaller but perfectly achievable gains. By which I mean modest improvements that would give a better quality of life but not in the champagne, yachts, coke and hookers league. All still holding out for that big win. It makes the "Me first!"culture appealing, even though the reality is, you have to be exceptionally talented AND in the right place at the right time, all the time, to make it big. Or be born rich, as Trump was.

I'm not a communist, or a socialist, but I am a social democrat. That means still rewarding entrenpreneurship where it's appropriate, but with upper limits to prevent gross excess. It also means using alternatives where capitalism doesn't work - healthcare for example. That's viewed as dangerously revolutionary by most Americans, which is strange, as it works very well in other parts of the world.

No no no, we can't possibly do that. Why not? Greed is good, American Dream, "Me first!".

It's not working, though, is it? You've got two parties who both promote pretty much the same thing, and nothing is changing for the better. Maybe consider other options?

Both parties are bought and paid for by the same corporate interests. Again, I'm wasting my time.