Political Discussion - Please keep it civil

The purpose of this thread is to encourage open discussion about politics, in particular the US election. This is a subject I'd rather have avoided in order to keep the peace, but it seems there is a need for it so here we go. I do ask that people keep things civil and avoid attacking each other personally.

There were some points made on another thread and I would like to start by addressing them. Davrille shared the following about President Trump in saying that he:

1) Ignored the coronavirus while knowing it was deadly and lying about it
2) Decided COVID would be a good thing politically because it would only affect blue states and kill off Democratic voters
3) Condoned the plot to kidnap and kill a Democratic governor
4) Announced months ahead of time that if it lost, the election was rigged.
5) Slowed down the USPS in order to disenfranchise people voting with absentee and mail-in ballots
6) Sent in unmarked federal troops against US citizens.
7) Admitted they couldn't reunite 545 children separated from their parents because they couldn't find them.

As you have brought these subjects to our attention, please provide well documented sources for each of all seven of the above discussion points. Three or four for each talking point is ideal as it represents good research. And we will need sources not just from major news outlets - we will need direct sources such as reports by experts in the field that have been well researched and verified.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2020/nov/09/the-donald-trump-presidency-in-numbers

Source: The Guardian/UK

My only addition to this thread will be this.



Discussing politics on a forum is ill advised, in my opinion. People are going to have their beliefs - and won't be swayed. Opposing opinions will gradually lead to escalated posts, as tone quickly becomes lost.

Just my two cents.

The mods will be watching, and if it degenerates from discourse into mudslinging, this topic will be locked.

IceTooth wrote:

The purpose of this thread is to encourage open discussion about politics, in particular the US election. This is a subject I'd rather have avoided in order to keep the peace, but it seems there is a need for it so here we go. I do ask that people keep things civil and avoid attacking each other personally.

There were some points made on another thread and I would like to start by addressing them. Davrille shared the following about President Trump in saying that he:

1) Ignored the coronavirus while knowing it was deadly and lying about it
2) Decided COVID would be a good thing politically because it would only affect blue states and kill off Democratic voters
3) Condoned the plot to kidnap and kill a Democratic governor
4) Announced months ahead of time that if it lost, the election was rigged.
5) Slowed down the USPS in order to disenfranchise people voting with absentee and mail-in ballots
6) Sent in unmarked federal troops against US citizens.
7) Admitted they couldn't reunite 545 children separated from their parents because they couldn't find them.

Type these in your Google search bar:

trump knew about covid in feb
Covid only affecting blue states
Trump on plot to kidnap Gov Whitmer
Trump if I don't win it's because the election is rigged
USPS slow down on purpose
unmarked federal agents in portland
We can't find 545 children


Facts are facts. They exist regardless of your ham-handed attempt at a "gotcha!" moment. That you choose to ignore the facts because they interfere with your desire to defend people who chose Trump over the well-being of the country is is appalling but expected.

Well, we have a family friend who is a US Postal worker. When DeJoy came in, the mail was on time. Since then it got slower and slower. My friend and his colleagues are heart sick at what is happening with the USPS. They understand their mission better than DeJoy. DeJoy is a known donor to the Republican Party. So with that said, I feel Trump was planning to screw up the mail in ballot process, so everyone will have to vote in person. People would have to wait in long lines and he was probably hoping many would leave and not vote.

In California this would be a near impossible situation to handle. We not only have 40 million residents, but we have a little over 22 million registered voters. Gov Newsom, ordered all registered voters to receive absentee ballots this year due to Covid. We can vote by mail, vote and turn our ballot in at a local voting center, or take our ballot and vote in person. This system works well, with virtually no voter fraud.

Trump is a wanna be Dictator, he forget it is not I, the President. It is We, the People. I'll be so very happy when they leave the White house.

Seen from France, Donald Trump was just a billionaire put in direct command of the biggest plutocracy in the world ( the glorious United States of America ). No wonder he didn't care about politics or geopolitics agreements. No wonder he behaved as he did.

This to express how little I care about that electoral circus between donkeys and elephants, happening each and every four years, over there..

But our medias, here, just love blabbering about it all, because..
..we're all living in America!

[quote="Tymber"
Discussing politics on a forum is ill advised, in my opinion. People are going to have their beliefs - and won't be swayed. Opposing opinions will gradually lead to escalated posts, as tone quickly becomes lost.
[/quote]

I see your point. Besides, somebody already started a thread on political commentary, entitled "Trump Sucks."

2024 begins another Presidential election year in the USA, and I dread it.

Even the most non-political social media pages and threads will be loaded with self-righteous character attacks.

During one election cycle, my expat association was planning a reunion. One expat was terrified of attending the reunion because of all the comments that the others posted regarding her political opinions.

I don't think the problem is parties or candidates. It's laziness and incivility.

First of all, leadership starts at the local level. Voters should not stay home for four years, ignoring all candidates and issues, voting only for national leaders.

Second, there are many decisions to be made at the four-year mark. It isn't all about the President. Issues ranging from imminent domain abuse to fire department funding may have impact that lasts much further than four years.

Third, there are countless ways in which to influence leadership at the local, state and national level. Even those adults who can't vote, and those kids who are too young to vote, can influence leadership. Write letters, make phone calls, circulate petitions, get a permit and organize a civil demonstration, and put up signs on your own property. Join Toastmasters International and learn to be an effective speaker. Volunteer for political fundraisers.

Finally, I wish people would show some class and humility. They delude themselves into thinking that they are influential by attacking others and making themselves feel special. We've seen far too much of this lately.