2024 Presidential Election Thread

posted by Ironman92

Again, just two terrible candidates to actually be the leader of the United States of America

posted by CenterBHSFan

I'd really like to know why Dems are willing cheerleaders for the exploitation of human beings. AKA "cheap labor". Because exploitation is exactly what it is. 

Both parties are complicit…beholden to corporations.  

posted by Dr Winston O'Boogie

Both parties are complicit…beholden to corporations.  

Maybe but you rarely, if ever, see the Dems beating the drum for self reliance or build American.

posted by CenterBHSFan

As somebody who had been in the work force and grew up pre-NAFTA, I can truthfully say that prices were not skyrocketed. I think that is a fear tactic used to justify NAFTA. I know that Ptown will come and say that this expert or that says differently, but you have to be critical of the politics in play at that time. Experts and published papers have a story to tell which doesn't always give the full picture.

I would love to see industry brought back to the country. And guess what? Owners of big industry made a bunch of money pre-NAFTA too. Not only that, but we saw a bigger middle class, healthier children and more homes with a parent who didn't have to work and be able to raise their children instead of relying on daycare.

I have no problems with solar power, either, as long as it doesn't cut too much into places like Forrest or small farms. 

I also have no fear of nuclear power. Caution and safety going forward with that is a good thing. But fear shouldn't be a deterrent imo.

I'd really like to know why Dems are willing cheerleaders for the exploitation of human beings. AKA "cheap labor". Because exploitation is exactly what it is. 

I'm all for whatever works and can be built and managed here. There is a podcast I like called Decouple that kinda focuses on the nuclear power generation sector, mainly in Canada but also focuses global power generation developments. We used to do all our solar project hear until we allowed a bunch of Chinese grad students into our MIT programs and all the Polysicilon generation intellectual property made it to the CCP and now it's one of their largest exports, after years of flooding our market with underpriced material and driving all our manufacturing and innovation out of business. 

Wind doesn't work, living with 3 giant windfarms within 1 hour of me and knowing that they will be locked out for 36 hours because there is a WINDSTORM coming tomorrow and the WINDFARM can't take the high WINDS.

And to your other point, I agree, I wish there was a little Obama to Trump. Obama was a great statesman. Horrible legislator, possibly evil person, but a great speaker.

This biggest problem is it’s not 1940.  US companies don’t only sell to US citizens.  It’s a global market and you can’t compete in a global market with cheaper labor rates.  Hell Americans have proved made in America doesn’t matter to them, price does. How would you possibly sell to other countries then? 

Also… spare me the BS that republicans care about made in the US. Couldn’t be further from the truth.   

posted by BR1986FB

Maybe but you rarely, if ever, see the Dems beating the drum for self reliance or build American.

I hear it.  I also know that Americans like cheap crap from Walmart and Amazon.  The cat’s outta the bag there.

posted by Devils Advocate

We’re not talking stupid, we’re talkin insanity here dammit!

It seems that insanity and TDS are about one-and-the-same.

posted by kizer permanente

Also… spare me the BS that republicans care about made in the US. Couldn’t be further from the truth.   

I don't see anybody making the case that this is a Republican issue. I'd bet that there are millions and millions of Democrats who would love to have a more liveable wage. They would trade in flipping burgers for a better paying industrial job in a second.

And can we please stop acting like no American industry never exported to other countries prior to 1993?

posted by Dr Winston O'Boogie

I hear it.  I also know that Americans like cheap crap from Walmart and Amazon.  The cat’s outta the bag there.

This is a perfect example of shopping according to your cash and not credit.

How many people waiting tables can afford to shop at high end boutiques and Whole Foods? 

THAT is why people shop at places like Walmart. They aren't there for high end silk dresses.

Terrible, terrible lack of understanding.

posted by CenterBHSFan

This is a perfect example of shopping according to your cash and not credit.

How many people waiting tables can afford to shop at high end boutiques and Whole Foods? 

THAT is why people shop at places like Walmart. They aren't there for high end silk dresses.

Terrible, terrible lack of understanding.

I think that is what he was saying. 

posted by CenterBHSFan

This is a perfect example of shopping according to your cash and not credit.

How many people waiting tables can afford to shop at high end boutiques and Whole Foods? 

THAT is why people shop at places like Walmart. They aren't there for high end silk dresses.

Terrible, terrible lack of understanding.

You’re making it a Walmart vs Whole Foods alternative.  That’s a little extreme of an example.

Once cheap goods started getting imported, people adjusted their lifestyle and expectations accordingly.  Wages are stagnant, true.  But people live in way bigger houses, with more cars, more tvs, more of everything than before widespread importing of goods started.  Once that Pandora’s box was opened, there was no putting it back.

Yes, poor people shop at Walmart.  But so do millions of middle and upper class people.  People like cheap, readily available stuff.

posted by geeblock

I think that is what he was saying. 

"like cheap crap"

posted by Dr Winston O'Boogie

You’re making it a Walmart vs Whole Foods alternative.  That’s a little extreme of an example.

Once cheap goods started getting imported, people adjusted their lifestyle and expectations accordingly.  Wages are stagnant, true.  But people live in way bigger houses, with more cars, more tvs, more of everything than before widespread importing of goods started.  Once that Pandora’s box was opened, there was no putting it back.

Yes, poor people shop at Walmart.  But so do millions of middle and upper class people.  People like cheap, readily available stuff.

And mountainous debt that the same people you speak of now want everybody else to pay for, starting with student loan forgiveness.

As a side note, I never buy food at Walmart. Their produce looks like old beat up whores and it just turns me away from all of their foods.

When I go there it's for things like maybe cat litter or toilet paper. Never food lol

posted by CenterBHSFan

And mountainous debt that the same people you speak of now want everybody else to pay for, starting with student loan forgiveness.

That may be a subset, but people like cheap stuff - they just do.

posted by iclfan2
Solar and wind are trash. Nuclear is the only real way forward.

As someone who works adjacent to that industry you are 100% correct.

posted by CenterBHSFan

And mountainous debt that the same people you speak of now want everybody else to pay for, starting with student loan forgiveness.

It’s funny people always bitch that we spend money helping people in other countries and always say we should support American people but then no matter who people want to help, Vets, Homeless, Teachers, Poor Americans, the answer is always “No not like that” 

posted by CenterBHSFan

As a side note, I never buy food at Walmart. Their produce looks like old beat up whores and it just turns me away from all of their foods.

When I go there it's for things like maybe cat litter or toilet paper. Never food lol

The Walmart by my house has surprisingly good beef and even good briskets at times. I would never buy produce outside of maybe potatoes or corn if it’s fresh in the summer. I did really want to buy this 70in Tv they had for like 300$ the other day and I don’t even need a tv. When people say cheap stuff at Walmart this is what I think of. That tv probably will last 4-5 years and you would easily have your moneys worth lol 

posted by geeblock

It’s funny people always bitch that we spend money helping people in other countries and always say we should support American people but then no matter who people want to help, Vets, Homeless, Teachers, Poor Americans, the answer is always “No not like that” 

Straw man.

But just to be clear, there is a difference between sending money to fund wars to another country and spending our money to help Americans. If you, geeblock, cannot differentiate between the two, there is not much anybody can say to help you along.

I, myself, have said before that if the choice was before me, I would keep that money here and help so many people who need it.

And to further my thoughts on that, I would much rather help the homeless get on their feet again to be able to live a productive and meaningful life rather than help people with student loan forgiveness. Blame it on working in an ER environment and the necessity of triage. Whatever. 

This deserves its own thread. I won't hijack this one any further. 

posted by geeblock

The Walmart by my house has surprisingly good beef and even good briskets at times. I would never buy produce outside of maybe potatoes or corn if it’s fresh in the summer. I did really want to buy this 70in Tv they had for like 300$ the other day and I don’t even need a tv. When people say cheap stuff at Walmart this is what I think of. That tv probably will last 4-5 years and you would easily have your moneys worth lol 

My dude and I go halfsies on a cow every year. We would never eat that much beef on our own, so we give some cuts and ground beef to family or friends we know that have kids. We also do the same with pork.

We also frequent farmers markets a lot for some fruit/veggie staples. Also there are some Amish roadside stands that are a shortish drive away where we can pick up whatever else we want. Living in our area has its uses lol! 

I do buy poultry from stores, though. I get my eggs from a cousin. 

I've had my TV for about 10 years now. I don't really watch too much tv. Mainly football season. But with my working at a hospital and weird hours, I usually just watch highlights on my phone now.