Merv's Politically Incorrect Audio Blog

Discussion in 'SBAF Blogs' started by purr1n, Dec 26, 2018.

  1. Senorx12562

    Senorx12562 Case of the mondays

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,274
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Bird-watcher's paradise
    One thing that is not discussed, but explains much nonetheless, is that the Federal govt was not supposed to be involved in the vast majority of policy questions, the 10th amendment was designed to place responsibility for most policy/legislative questions solely in the hands of state and local governments. Now that the Supremes have spent most of the last 90 years making the 10th amendment a dead letter, along with the concommitant expansion of Federal power and the administrative state, the results of elections for Federal office are far more important that they were ever intended to be.
     
  2. tranq

    tranq Friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2018
    Likes Received:
    228
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    US Midwest
    I for one cant stand the EC. Back in high school i wrote an essay about the EC for an American Legion scholarship contest. I didnt win.. haha. The EC was originally established to keep the voting power in the hands of male landowners. It was established to give common folk the perception that their vote for president matters.

    I would love to see the EC written away via an amendment to the Constitution.

    It would force campaigns to advertise everywhere. it would help give rise to third party candidates, and it would increase voter turnout.

    I know California for example has a suppressed Republican party. I believe you'd have more voters come out in CA If Republican votes for president mattered. My state hasn't voted Dem since FDR. I dont vote down a party line, would be nice for my vote to matter/count.
     
  3. Metro

    Metro Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Dec 27, 2016
    Likes Received:
    1,590
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    San Francisco
    He wasn't able to get his signature on the check, but he took it as far as he could.

    [​IMG]
     
  4. ultrabike

    ultrabike Measurbator - Admin

    Staff Member Pyrate MZR
    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2015
    Likes Received:
    8,960
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Irvine CA
    The electoral college might be there to buffer population density impact on elections. Highly rural states without it would have less voice relative to large metropolitan areas that tend to develop around maritime and land ports.

    As far as Borat, he exasperates me. The intro was too ridiculous. The dance part was gross. The crazy exposures where too obvious and crude. Behind it all is a self-righteous Englishman criticizing America for being white supremacist, poorly educated, and highly aggressive. It's a very narrow view of our country. At the same time he is aggrandizing Jewish people, as highly tolerant and friendly. Because Borat is Jewish. Reality is Jewish people, are just people like everybody else. Some are good, some are idiots. This dude purposely goes to the wrong places, at the wrong time to deliver comedy. But to me it was too coarse and obvious to be funny.

    To me broken means it's out of commission, not imperfect. Not a single set of ideals will appeal to everyone, and so there are compromises. That does not mean to me broken. Broken is when a party disappears because it has lost it's base. R and D still have it. But nobody is going to fit in 100%.
     
  5. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,778
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    WRT Electoral College, it's the least of your problems. I'd say two Senators for mega-states like NY, CA, and TX is even more grossly unfair considering that Delaware and New Hampshire with their miniscule populations also get two Senators. Keep in mind that the Senate is more powerful than the House. There are reasons for all of this as anyone has studied American History, which clearly most have not, would know. This doesn't mean the system should not change. The problem is that amending the Constitution will be impossible in a divided America. It is what is it and if you don't like it, sucks to be you. Life's not fair. You can't always get what you want.

    As far as "poor uneducated white people" - that's utter bullshit. I know a lot of people who didn't like to read books, and I'll let you in on a little secret: if the shit hit the fan (wildfires, floods, hurricanes, disaster, etc.) these people have a 2000% better chance of surviving than urban city slickers. People who like to roll up their sleeves and keep to tradition aren't inferior or as Hillary called them "deplorables".

    Remember that Trump got nearly 48% and very easily could have gotten 1 more out of 50 votes had he been able to control his impulsive behavior. Continue to dismiss people who think differently than you rather than trying to understand them, and prepare to suffer the consequences of resentment. Borat may think he's being cute and all, but all he may have done is make more of his targets dislike Jewish people.

    National Vote Compact is bullshit because it's short-sighted. Something the Founders were not. This is something that may work now for one party, and then come back to haunt them 50 years later. Things change, the past does not guarantee the future. The Whig party disappeared. The Republican party used to be the radical party of black people. Perot got Clinton elected. Ralf Nader got GWB elected. Conservative Democrats became Republicans. Also the NVC could potentially be form of disenfranchisement on voters on a state level (although the opposite on a federal level.)
     
    Last edited: Nov 10, 2020
  6. yotacowboy

    yotacowboy McRibs Kind of Guy

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Feb 23, 2016
    Likes Received:
    10,696
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    NOVA
    Home Page:
    Which may be part of the point? I'm not Jewish, but my local synagogue received an apparently credible threat of mass violence shortly after Trump's inauguration and has since had increased police presence ever since, i.e., local PD parked nightly in the parking lot.

    This simply cuts both ways. And I'm thankful for a lot of what you post in this thread.

    Cheers,

    A City Slicker that dun "grow-ed" up in the kuntry.
     
    Last edited: Nov 10, 2020
  7. wormcycle

    wormcycle Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2016
    Likes Received:
    1,506
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Toronto, ON, Canada
    Change 10 to 3 and you have a perfect picture of Canada.
     
  8. dasman66

    dasman66 Self proclaimed lazy ass - friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2018
    Likes Received:
    2,462
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    NW Pennsylvania
    @crazychile says it best. A pure popular vote might work in smaller countries that aren't as geographically diverse, but I think @crazychile's rationale is the primary modern day reason why the EC should never be abolished.

    As for gerrymandering districts, that really comes into play for the House, & state legislatures where districts are set up for a party win. I'm not sure the district lines matter in a presidential election... do any of the states allocate presidential EC votes based on district? Do any states have an internal EC (based on district) to decide Senate or Presidential winners?
     
    Last edited: Nov 10, 2020
  9. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,778
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    All states except Maine and Nebraska are winner take all with respect to electoral college votes. Maine and Nebraska give 2 votes to winner and then 1 each to each district. States get to decide what they want to do.

    I'm OK with the current system. It's the United States of America. States' Rights isn't dead. if anything, SARSv2 has only reaffirmed the power of the states over the Federal government. It could have been Biden with his Jor'El Council of COVID Advisors and many states, perhaps even more, would have still said F you, we do WTF we want.
     
    Last edited: Nov 10, 2020
  10. dasman66

    dasman66 Self proclaimed lazy ass - friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2018
    Likes Received:
    2,462
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    NW Pennsylvania
    I wasn't sure how NE and ME split their EC vote and was too much of a lazy-ass to google it. :oops:
     
  11. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,778
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    I was one of those kids who paid attention during US History and Civics classes. I also acutely noticed how WSJ broke NE and ME down into separate blocks.
     
  12. dasman66

    dasman66 Self proclaimed lazy ass - friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2018
    Likes Received:
    2,462
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    NW Pennsylvania
    I was the kid snoring in the back row...
     
  13. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,778
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    Our history teacher gave us no choice. He picked on every kid and embarrassed those who didn't know their shit. He even got the kids who snoozed to know stuff. This amazed the smart kids. It was literally history boot camp, but as with such things, all the kids in the class adjusted. The teacher once caught a kid masturbating while the class watched Birth of a Nation. He took a long ruler and loudly whacked it against his desk.
     
  14. Darkstar1

    Darkstar1 Facebook Friend

    Contributor
    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2019
    Likes Received:
    173
    Trophy Points:
    33
    Location:
    Brooklyn, NYC
    "Remember that Trump got nearly 48% and very easily could have gotten 1 more out of 50 votes had he been able to control his impulsive behavior. Continue to dismiss people who think differently than you rather than trying to understand them, and prepare to suffer the consequences of resentment. Borat may think he's being cute and all, but all he may have done is make more of his targets dislike Jewish people."

    What an old fashion knee slapper. Sorry I am not going to invest my time trying to wrap my head around Qanon, Conspiracies or lies about our voting system there is not much to learn. Should I go to "how to support racisms workshop" so I can gain understanding. Dude trust me a lot of right wingers have made it very clear they resent everything including the truth if it does not support Premier Trump. We are suffering the consequences everyday. Borat is a comedian of sorts. Seriously your worried about Borat. Maybe you should be a bit more concerned about the President of the United States saying people march and chanting "Jews will not replace" are good people on both sides. Your venturing in to crazy town.

    "As far as "poor uneducated white people" - that's utter bullshit. I know a lot of people who didn't like to read books, and I'll let you in on a little secret: if the shit hit the fan (wildfires, floods, hurricanes, disaster, etc.) these people have a 2000% better chance of surviving than urban city slickers. People who like to roll up their sleeves and keep to tradition aren't inferior or as Hillary called them "deplorables".

    LOL this is hilarious dude. Yeah these people in rural areas are serious outdoorsmen. Yeah it takes balls to watch Netflix in the AC in a rural area. Or ride a 4 wheeler to sit in a stand and wait for a dear. You are dreaming. Yeah so may people in the city would be so lost while these great outdoorsmen would thrive. 2000% really how did you come up with than......
     
  15. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2018
    Likes Received:
    10,517
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Palms Of The Coasts, FL
    NE is also the only state in the union with an Unicameral legislature. Fact of the day.
     
  16. Senorx12562

    Senorx12562 Case of the mondays

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,274
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Bird-watcher's paradise

    CEO now, right?
     
  17. ultrabike

    ultrabike Measurbator - Admin

    Staff Member Pyrate MZR
    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2015
    Likes Received:
    8,960
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Irvine CA
    Many folks appreciate your concern. That's likely why Darth Viden won and Emperor Dump didn't.

    Borat is not a concern. It's just a bad movie, that didn't make me laugh. Seems you are from NYC. What do you think will happen if a person that doesn't belong starts doing stupid stuff in the wrong Brooklyn neighborhood. Looking at that exasperates me. For 80% of the movie I was like, No duh! WTF do you think is going to happen idiot!
     
  18. LetMeBeFrank

    LetMeBeFrank Won't tell anyone my name is actually Francis

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Aug 4, 2017
    Likes Received:
    3,758
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Jackson, Mi
    You don't have to be rural to hunt. I grew up in Detroit and every year we drove up to Glenny for bow and rifle season. Most people wouldn't know their ass from a hole in the ground when it comes to hunting and dressing a deer, or even small game. Ironically it's easier to harvest enough meat to feed your family than veggies, so big city vegans would be doubly screwed.

    People in rural areas in general have better self sustainability than people in the city. My closest neighbors have bees, chickens and goats and we get fresh eggs from them weekly. We are building a chicken coop next spring and probably a goat pen in 2022.
     
  19. Psalmanazar

    Psalmanazar Most improved member; A+

    Pyrate Slaytanic Cliff Clavin
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    5,345
    Trophy Points:
    113
    All the criticism of democracies getting it wrong because they didn’t perform democracy the right way is the same argument that communism failed because communism wasn’t performed the right way. Direct democracy failed horribly in Athens. Plato and Aristotle thought democracy was mob rule. Thucydides pointed out just how ignorant the average Athenian was. If the average Athenian didn’t know anything about Sparta, what does the average American know about the governance of non-English speaking countries? Would you want 5,000 specially chosen average people from across the US to vote where to send the cruise missiles? Athens pulled that shit. They lost, lost their empire, and butchered just as many cities as the Spartans did.

    Nobody from the 18th century you know the name of wanted the Senate to be directly elected. The Senate had to be directly elected in the 20th century because state legislatures, being the shit shows they frequently were, couldn't get peoples' asses in the seats in DC. They were fighting over it.

    Democracies are great at resiliency. They're not great at reacting to insane crises instantly at whatever the cost. Meanwhile they survive the stuff that would doom any autocracy or oligarchy. Like losing their empire (the UK), losing to Sparta (Athens, who kept electing Archons long past when the Roman Empire fell), going broke (Greece is still there while the USSR pulled the plug). When the poorest autocracies go broke, people get shot, eg Ceaucescu, Gaddafi, Emperors from failing Chinese dynasties, African generalissimos, loser English kings. Those guys died horribly. We vote people out of office. They lose, they live. When they lose, they don't hole up in a city waiting for the winner to come out, kill them, and put their head on a stick or parade around their mutilated corpse. That's medieval shit. We got rid of that because thousands of people died making sure the loser went away. Trump isn't going to get dysentery and crap himself to death like King John. It's over. He'll walk out eventually, go home, and crap in his golden toilet in Trump Tower.
     
    Last edited: Nov 11, 2020
  20. ultrabike

    ultrabike Measurbator - Admin

    Staff Member Pyrate MZR
    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2015
    Likes Received:
    8,960
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Irvine CA
    Most of my family from my father's side is from a town near Monterrey NL, Mexico. We city folk are used to buying our chicken and pork at the supermarket.

    There, you pick a chicken by the neck, given a few swings above your head, and drop it a few feet. Chicken will run with it's head on the ground until it collapses. Then you put it in hot water and proceed to remove the feathers. And then you remove the insides and save them for other dishes. As far as the pig. If it's a small one, you grab one of the front legs, and put your knee on its back with your full weight behind it. Then you stab it through the heart on the side that you grabbed the leg. It won't squeal for long.

    For hanging out in the wild, the night is pitch dark, and people tend to panic when they get lost.

    I'm a city boy.

    EDIT: I mean, yes you can buy stuff in the market there as well. But the old timers still do it that way. The descriptions above is what I saw the brother of my grandpa do sometimes.
     
    Last edited: Nov 10, 2020

Share This Page