politics
Welcome to the discussion of US Politics!
Rules:
- Post only links to articles, Title must fairly describe link contents. If your title differs from the site’s, it should only be to add context or be more descriptive. Do not post entire articles in the body or in the comments.
Links must be to the original source, not an aggregator like Google Amp, MSN, or Yahoo.
Example:
- Articles must be relevant to politics. Links must be to quality and original content. Articles should be worth reading. Clickbait, stub articles, and rehosted or stolen content are not allowed. Check your source for Reliability and Bias here.
- Be civil, No violations of TOS. It’s OK to say the subject of an article is behaving like a (pejorative, pejorative). It’s NOT OK to say another USER is (pejorative). Strong language is fine, just not directed at other members. Engage in good-faith and with respect! This includes accusing another user of being a bot or paid actor. Trolling is uncivil and is grounds for removal and/or a community ban.
- No memes, trolling, or low-effort comments. Reposts, misinformation, off-topic, trolling, or offensive. Similarly, if you see posts along these lines, do not engage. Report them, block them, and live a happier life than they do. We see too many slapfights that boil down to "Mom! He's bugging me!" and "I'm not touching you!" Going forward, slapfights will result in removed comments and temp bans to cool off.
- Vote based on comment quality, not agreement. This community aims to foster discussion; please reward people for putting effort into articulating their viewpoint, even if you disagree with it.
- No hate speech, slurs, celebrating death, advocating violence, or abusive language. This will result in a ban. Usernames containing racist, or inappropriate slurs will be banned without warning
We ask that the users report any comment or post that violate the rules, to use critical thinking when reading, posting or commenting. Users that post off-topic spam, advocate violence, have multiple comments or posts removed, weaponize reports or violate the code of conduct will be banned.
All posts and comments will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. This means that some content that violates the rules may be allowed, while other content that does not violate the rules may be removed. The moderators retain the right to remove any content and ban users.
That's all the rules!
Civic Links
• Congressional Awards Program
• Library of Congress Legislative Resources
• U.S. House of Representatives
Partnered Communities:
• News
view the rest of the comments
America, when are you going to stop this? You finally have a chance to exercise the second amendment, to defend your freedom and to show the world you aren't the bad guys; And you do nothing...
Trump/Musk are literally following the steps laid out by Hitler and they aren't even hiding it.
I see this sentiment a lot. "Why aren't Americans doing anything? Why aren't leftist militias rising up to take back the capital? Etc. Etc. Etc."
First of all, asking "why aren't Americans doing anything" is a highly unaware question. We are doing things, but they aren't going to give any airtime to the protests, marches, boycotts, and legal efforts taking place, because the media is now firmly on the side of those with power, not the common people.
Second of all, it's pretty heartless of you to just casually ask us to "exercise the second amendment", because when you ask that, you're asking for at least some of us to die. Put yourselves in our shoes, and be honest - if you were in our position, would it be so easy and casual to just pick up a gun and join a violent revolution? Would you be willing to risk death in that situation? Personally, I'm not a soldier, I've never had an interest in guns, I'd be less than useless in that capacity. So I'm looking at other things we can do before escalating to that.
I get that everyone's scared because the nation with the most powerful military on earth is falling into fascism. That's terrifying to most Americans as well, and I think a lot of us are still frozen with that fear. I understand and agree that this problem is on Americans to fix. But I hope the rest of the world will be willing to help when we call on them, instead of just sitting idly by wondering when that magical second amendment is gonna kick in.
Yeah the people making 2A arguments are seemingly asking people to murder people on their behalf with zero regards to how that plays out. Not surprisingly most gun owners are in fact not looking to murder people.
Also, even if they were, who do they have access to murder? It's almost begging people to take their frustrations out on their neighbors, which will only make things so much worse.
Exactly, the people in the Trump sphere Im closest to is I knew some people whose fathers knew Trump. They are/were nice and decent people. I would he really sad if anyone hurt them and would have a hard time seeing how it would improve anything.
We should be amassed outside the homes of our legislators and judges demanding they stop this.
I have plenty of guns and ammo to use for the defense of myself and family. As a disabled vet I can barely feed my family, let alone March alone from Colorado to overthrow the President.
When they come to me, then I can fight. I can't afford to join a secessionist movement because we still have a group of people that still are supposed to fight using the law and wors before the guns come out. The 1st Ammendment is 1st for a reason. The 2nd is the last resort which most sane gun owners don't want to have to use.
There's supposed to be an opposition party to fight the executive encroachment.
Probably because they expect your military to start murdering them with zero regards to how it plays out within the next 4 years.
This is essentially what happened within Nazi Germany before World War 2
I think the second amendment is pointed out so readily, because most of the world has watched America and their guns and ridiculous gun problems, and that is usually what is pointed at in some kind of gotcha defence. Second, we do see the protests and legal efforts, and honestly looking in, seems like that's pissing into the wind.
As for myself committing violence in an situation similar to America's? Can't honestly answer one way or the other until I am in the situation myself, but don't think it would be a hard no, I'm not opposed to violence in the correct situation, and boy you guys are, if not there already, very very close to that correct situation.
The answer is no, most of these people calling for violence are cowards themselves.
Not cowards just have sense, better someone else dows the violence rather than your own life get ruined the end goal is you having a better life if you do the violence your own life gets worse objectively.
We all want luigis, but none of us are desperate enough to be luigis, because we obviously dont want our own lives to goto shit? There is no happy ending for them
You can try to justify it any way you want. If you call for someone else to commit violence in your stead, you are a coward.
Or not an idiot with a sense of self preservation, you call it coward, I call it not a dumbass who was born to die
You can be that, without calling for violence. The moment you do otherwise, you are a coward unless you're fighting yourself.
There's also the fact that people with consumer grade weapons aren't going to be doing shit against the military, which is what would be brought out against them. If I knew there was even a good chance that I could do something leading to my death that would do a damn bit of good, I'd do it. But there isn't.
That's the whole argument after every school shooting.
Uhh, what? The argument is to arm ourselves after a school shooting?
Let me know when clever chants and signs held by a few hundred people bring about change
It has before. Women didn't get the right to vote from a massive war. Martin Luther King wasn't an army general. You're being just as dismissive and ignorant as the other guy.
MLK would get nothing done without Malcolm X. Imagine thinking the civil rights movement was a peaceful protest! That's wild you would try to retcon the history of that fight.
Women's suffrage groups used the slogan "Deeds not words." They committed arson and bombings.
I'd argue you're being naive. Every American movement has to have violence attached to it. That is sadly how everything gets done in this shithole.
Lol ok, since you want to be pedantic, let's really get into some details, because you're just wrong about MLK to start.
Civil Rights Act of 1964
How did it happen? The Civil Rights Movement itself was largely nonviolent, with most of the violence happening towards protestors. Figures like Martin Luther King Jr. emphasized civil disobedience, boycotts, and peaceful protests.
Women suffrage
Though some suffragettes engaged in civil disobedience, the broader movement relied on lobbying, protests, and legal appeals. That was the bulk. What you're calling out is one offs and trying to act like that was the norm or bulk of the movement. It was not.
Marriage Equality
Obergefell v. Hodges Supreme Court decision legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. No violence needed.
Disability Rights Movement, also known as the ADA
Advocates lobbied for equal rights through demonstrations and legal battles. This resulted in the ADA being passed in 1990
The Fair Labor Standards Act (1938) – Ending Child Labor & Establishing Minimum Wage
Labor unions and activists pushed for reforms through strikes, negotiations, and legal battles.
The Voting Rights Act (1965) – Protecting Minority Voter Rights
The Selma to Montgomery March and other efforts, led by MLK and civil rights groups, put pressure on the government.
Title IX (1972) – Gender Equality in Education & Sports
Women’s rights activists lobbied for equal educational opportunities. This endned gender discrimination in schools receiving federal funding, revolutionizing women’s sports and education.
Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal (2011) – Allowing Open LGBTQ+ Military Service
LGBTQ+ advocates, veterans, and lawmakers worked for repeal.
So while you'd argue I'm being naive, I'd argue that you're not informed enough about the topic to make such statements. Especially such absolute statements like "every American movement has used violence" when that is objectively wrong. I don't remember the great Marriage Equality rioters killing people, or the War of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.
Please stop spreading misinformation.
Edit: lol some people are mad that facts don't line up with their world view.
You think only killing each other is violence
No I'm not?
The comment was made that violence is needed for any change. Violence happens because of issues, but violence did not help move these forward. Unless you can explain how.
The labor movement was a very bloody fight. Blair mountain, and Triangle Shirtwaist was a lot of death.
There were bombings during the Civil rights era, it wasn't just sit-ins. Lots of people died due to lunching.
Also anything during the 30's was filled with bodies due to the Geat Depression and fights like the Battle of Central Park.
Only when the President had enough bad blood did they decide to push changes against their own interests. No US political changes came without bloodshed.
Blair Mountain? These are entirely different. The labor rights I mentioned were 17 years after that. Blair mountain was in 1921, fair labor standards was 1938. They are not the same thing. And triangle shirtwaist was 10 more years before that and had nothing to do with workers rights, it was an accident that exposed safety issues, not some attack. This is more dishonesty. The incident I mentioned move forward without violence. Other instances having violence doesn't change that.
Yes there were bombings, sure. There are always radicals, tell me how it moved the needle. Doesn't prove anything.
See, the problem with the statement that there always has to be violence is that it's an absolute statement. One instance to the contrary proves it wrong. This idea also puts forward this idea that violence is the ONLY way to make progress. So if you want change, start hurting people. That's so wrong, factually.
Then you bring in deaths from the depression? What? This is all over the place, those deaths were not the result of people acting for change, those are victims of the economy. Not every death ever is for a cause.
But maybe I'm wrong, how many people died or got hurt in attacks for marriage equality? Because I remember it all being very legislative in nature. Sure there were hate crimes, but that's not violence effecting change, it was the thing that needed to change.
You've either fallen for the propaganda, or you're purposely being dismissive of the efforts currently taking place. Either way, your participation in this discussion is not helpful.
Most of the people who are so in favor of the 2nd amendment are actively supporting this.
And people ask why we aren't doing anything about it as if people can just pick up a gun willy nilly and go join a violent revolution as easily as joining your local church group. What are people supposed to do? Walk up to the Capitol with an AK-47 and start firing while shouting "DOWN WITH TRUMP?". That's a great way to end up dead, in a psych ward, or in ADX-Florence. Trying to organize armed resistance of any size that matters in an era where everybody is carrying around a tracking device in their pockets is a great way to have the whole group rounded up and sent to Gitmo on treason charges.
This isn't the movies.
On top of this. It isn't just Dump. It's the entire GOP. Plus the douche crew and his nazi youth that have been ransacking shit that they don't understand. Yeah, going in armedmay get you 1 person. It won't do any good. You're cutting a small scale off of a large shit snake.
The best we can do is arm ourselves (and I fucking hate that I have to resort to this option) and prep for when shit goes south. I suspect that will be mid terms. We'll see armed yokels "guarding" vote drop off locations and polling locations. If there is any sign of a dem win anywhere, all hell will break loose with diaperdon claiming fraud. He'll probably pull some shit like his attempted coup and we'll see the polling station yokels going nuts.
I think you're right, but the chance is very high they will cancel midterms shortly before the date.
Probably spouting some excuse. Either in the line of it undermining "democracy" because Trump was already chosen, or they'll go the way of it being a plan to block the current path for the USA so it will be postponed until the plan is on more solid grounds, "for the good of the country".
If they do let the midterms proceed, Trump will dismiss the results whatever they are, citing that by then he only has governing power.
He already has made an executive order that only he and a sole AG decide what the law is...
A promise was made that when he was chosen he'd make it so that there would be no need to vote again...
Everybody seems to hold on to the midterms as the slot where things will turn around again, but the project 2025 camp has plans to close this window for sure. And frankly, it feels by then fear will rule all and the slippery slope has shifted to a freefall.
They don't need to cancel the mid-terms, they already fired everyone at CISA who is responsible for securing state elections. The elections will absolutely happen and miraculously the republicans will win across the board with a higher vote percentage than they've ever won by before, and they'll claim that this means the US population is 100% in support of the fascist policies of the GOP and accelerate the descent.
Elections just for show. To keep the masses thinking they live in a democracy.
We'll be no better than Russia or any other shithole nation that runs elections just for show. This country is cooked. And it wasn't taken from us. We gave it all away. Utterly shameful. Our entire generation will be viewed as pathetic in the context of world history.
To be honest, this fascist autocracy was inevitable once the loathsome Newt Gingrich got the GOP to sign on to the idea that anyone who opposed the GOP's plans was an enemy to be destroyed, not a loyal opposition to persuade or with whom to compromise.
You're right in that, I just did not want to put that in words yet :-]
I wonder how much another overwhelming fraudulous win for MAGA would be ignored, because it definitely is a clear sign bridges were burned.
American Democracy is dead. Thanks to a corrupt GOP and their lackeys in the SCOTUS
Everyone's quality of life would have to drastically decline and a significant number of citizens would have to start openly expressing the desire for rebellion, then leaders would materialize, and it would go from there.
But we aren't even close to having enough people's quality of life declining enough for that to happen. If our oligarchs are smart, they'll keep us near that red line, without allowing us to go over it. But I'm starting to think their greed outweighs their intelligence.
We're too complacent with our TV and Doritos. We need to start losing some material things before we wake up. Here's hoping it happens.
I'd describe this as the strategy since the Great Depression. The New Deal was a bandaid for capitalism to make it palatable enough for enough people to prevent revolution.
But our oligarchs aren't smart, or at least they think they're smarter than their predecessors. They're dismantling the things that keep the masses mollified and more people are realizing it.
Our oligarchs aren't as smart as they are greedy.
That didn't wasn't effective in Hitler's Germany, and it won't be in Trump's US. Not with Putin, the GOP, and Xi helping Trump keep power.
I also feel like a lot of people have a lot of barriers to plotting an assassination, besides the obvious "it's illegal" and "they'll kill you for trying" and "who has the time and money to plan an assassination." To give people some ideas of these barriers, I personally:
In conclusion, the most convenient person to plot a political assassination is a 25-35 yo straight white man well trained in firearms with tons of money, mentally healthy enough to get a firearm yet crazy enough to throw their life away, ideally recently unemployed so they have nothing to lose.
So... a security guard affected by the mass government downsizing?
Personally I'd resort to sabotage. It's incredibly easy to fabricate explosives in today's world compared to the rest of history.
Hell, in America I'd imagine you could just buy explosives outright.
Start with the CIA's Simple Sabotage Field Manual. Less likely to land you in prison or dead. Should be utilized before more extreme measures are taken.
Explosives aren't necessary. There are all sorts of ways to wreck things without the risks to innocents posed by explosives.
There were multiple assassination attempts.
No one wants to impress Jodie Foster anymore.
There were 2 confirmed assassination attempts on Donald Trump last year and potentially one more where an armed and suspicious individual was trying to get into a location where Trump was but the individual claims he wasn't planning anything malicious.
Wikipedia reports ~8 more incidents during the years where he was involved in his first presidential term.
I think Biden only had the one with the box truck.
Yeah unfortunately the gun crazies fully support what's happening, and it's a PITA to get a registered firearm if you aren't already a gun nut.
Hey if anyone has a line on unregistered Kalashnikovs, hit me up. I just want it for "display purposes."
Move to West Virginia, we need more people like you. I just got a beautiful Serbian made AK, all I had to do was wait for it to be shipped over and pick it up at my local gun shop. 15 minutes for the background check which is essentially no felonies, because I have an extensive misdemeanor record from when I was young and wild. All I had to do was listen to the workers and customers spout bullshit conspiracy theories and talk about the latest Joe Rogan episode. Small price to pay.
Even my wife, who was previously anti-gun, bought a 9mm. Interesting times.
The time to have stopped him was long ago. But our law enforcement entities lacked the courage to do their jobs. Especially Meritless Garland.
*Hey look, this guy brought a rifle to a drone fight. *
Americans only punch down, sorry.