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Justice Alito Caught on Tape Discussing How Battle for America 'Can't Be Compromised'
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this post was submitted on 10 Jun 2024
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Get these fairy-tale-believing cunts out of government.
I will do my part by not voting in protest! That will surely work! (/s)
Politicians famously consider the opinions of people who don't vote. /s
Maybe they ought to? There's quite a lot of potential votes out there. Also want to add that I always vote, and politicians never consider my opinion anyway.
Reliable demographics or voting blocks get preferential treatment over fair-weather voters. If you want to know why even the GOP won't overtly kill social security or medicare (unless they include a way to keep current recipients on benefits), it's because old people vote very reliably. Though with the modern day cultists this isn't as true anymore since MAGAs will happily let the GOP take everything from them if they think it will hurt their perceived political enemies.
This is just useful expenditure of political capital. As a politician you want to stick your neck out for groups that are definitely showing up.
Seems like a good way to ensure you have low turnout elections, with only die-hard party-heads participating. That way, elections are won or lost on how jazzed up you can get your base, and you never have to attract anyone new. That sounds bad enough, but I think who the politicians actually listen to are their donors. Anytime there is a conflict between what the donors want, and what the constituency wants... voters can get fucked.
Believe it or not, there are people in the center that switch votes. That's who they go after.
Still the same small pool of voters.
It's not die hards as you put it. They are swing voters. Every one counts double because you get a vote and take one away from the other party. Elections are won from the centre.
Sure, but I'm saying that in addition to the 'swing' voters, there is a huuuge pool of people that never or rarely vote. These are potential voters, many of whom could be energized by the right policies.
Ok let's say you gamble and try to get those guys by say doubling gas taxes.You just lost the center (worth double) on the hope that some of the people who never vote magically vote. See the problem?
I see a lot of problems.
Sounds like you're avoiding the point. I'll take that as a concession.
I'm not avoiding anything. I'm saying, look this system is so shitty that half the people don't even bother participating in it. You've taken a pretty bad example of a policy to point out why neither party could possibly attract disengaged citizens. How about taxing billionaires out of existence to fund QOL upgrades for the rest of us? I bet that would gain more votes than it would lose, but something tells me the billionaire segment of the electorate is the one that matters most.
"Taxes! They want to raise taxes! They're coming for your hard earned money! That's all they do is raise taxes!"
And you just lost the center. We both know that's how they're going to spin it. In the HOPE (I choose that word very carefully) that the people that never vote will magically vote. You lose the guaranteed vote (which counts double) from people that are engaged, in the HOPE that some others maybe, possibly, hopefully, perhaps, show up. I think they'll just say "still not enough, so I'm still not voting in protest". The math does not work. Elections are won from the center.
"We've tried nothing, and we're all out of ideas!"
Funny because that's exactly what I think of these protest non-voters. They've tried nothing (literally nothing because they don't vote) and they're all out of ideas.
Is this the point where I point out that the dems have had all 3 (house, senate, presidency) for 4 years of the last 24 years? They need all 3 to actually pass anything progressive. But the non-voters never try to give them any real control.
What about the ones that vote every single time, and still never get what they wanted?
Edited my comment, so you probably didn't see. And we are at that point.
Is this the point where I point out that the dems have had all 3 (house, senate, presidency) for 4 years of the last 24 years? They need all 3 to actually pass anything progressive. But the non-voters never try to give them any real control.
Want to include Bill Clinton? Then it's 6 years of the last 32 years. Want to go further? Then it's 6 years of the last 44 years. Read that again, 6 years of the last 44 fucking years dems have had control of all 3.
And that can still be filibustered. If you want filibuster proof majority then it's 4 MONTHS of the last 44 years. Not 4 years, 4 MONTHS out of the least 44 fucking years.
That's why it's tried nothing and all out of ideas.
So we're back to the point where the system is hopelessly broken? Because what you just described is the system. You want to fantasize about non-voters just suddenly deciding to vote blue in overwhelming numbers. I fantasize about genuine, inspiring leaders and policies bringing more participation to the process. They're both just fantasies though.
What? That's you.
I'm the one saying that elections are won from the center, from swing voters that you know vote. And that the center vote is worth double. You are the one waxing poetically about the fringes, and the non-voters, and how the fringes are going to come out in droves to replace the double loss of centre voters. I'm the one saying you need twice as many (more than twice actually) to replace the center votes. But you think these droves and hordes of people are going to magically appear. You're officially making no sense when you try to pin that on me.
Winning elections from the center is reality, not fantasy. It's literally what happens.
And I'm saying, that it's a shitty system. You described how this very system has kept the democrats from getting anything done for decades. There are not enough swing voters to give them sustained control over those institutions. You also make an error in assuming that every non-voter you energize would mean losing one swing voter. There are also more than double the non-voters as there are swing voters.
And what keeps them from power? Besides votes, it's particularly these people that say "I'm not gong to vote in protest".
Not every, but the vast majority of people that don't vote are the ones on the fringes. That yes would mean losing the centre vote in order to appeal to.
So you are the one that thinks the hordes and droves of non-voters will come out. You think that. Not me, you. Get that right.
So I think we're back to me saying you win elections from center. The people that vote, and not the ones that maybe, possibly, perchance, could, HOPEfully magically show up. You take the guarantee, not the vain hope.
I'm saying we're both fantasizing. You keep talking about winning elections from the center, but it keeps resulting in gridlock and inability to deliver even on tepid, centrist policies. Yay. Also, there's no way that most non voters are on the fringes lol. Most of them are absolutely disengaged from politics almost entirely.
Lol winning elections from the center is not fantasy. It's literally how elections are won from both sides. That's how Trump won imo, he appealed to the so-called Middle class manufacturing jobs (and because Hillary no vote protest).
Sounds very much like you want to justify your non-voting protest, so you have to denigrate the center win as "fantasy", when it is in fact reality. Just so you can throw your hands up and say it's all fantasy. Sounds familiar? This is the "I tried nothing and I'm all out of ideas" non voter which you sure sound like.
What are you even on about. Are you missing the entire point that there are central swing voters? These are voters. They are Central voters. They are swing voters. They vote. They are not non-voters. Is that what this whole problem is, you refuse to see the existence of central swing voters? JFC. That does explain things. Yeah it seems you refuse to see the real existence of central swing voters that actually vote. JFC. These voters, that exist, are the ones that decide elections.
And for this group that you think will come out when they are presented with some big, I'm going to say extreme left, platform for them to fall in love with are exactly the ones on the fringes. Like by definition. Disengaged people are by definition disengaged. The protest voters in waiting, waiting for some big platform are not the central disengaged ones. They are the fringe ones waiting for some big extreme left platform, and withholding their vote until they get that big extreme platform. They are fringe by definition. To appeal to the fringe ones waiting for some big platform you are going to lose the central voters that exist, that vote, that show up. JFC. I really wonder if you're trolling at this point.
Btw this is the horde (the fringe horde waiting for big extreme platform and until then they're withholding their vote) that you think will show up. Not me, you You think that this big horde will show up, so big that they will override the central voters that are lost. By definition this big horde of yours will have to be over twice the size of the central voters (the ones that exist) that you will lose.
Goddam. I am saying the fantasy is that this system of winning elections by fighting over the center doesn't really lead anywhere good. You talked about how the dems haven't had solid power for decades. So yes, they "win" elections sometimes, but then what? They haven't won enough to get much done. The fantasy is that they ever will. Blame whoever you want for that, but it is what it is. I might blame the people who do politics professionally for not being good enough at it. You like to think that I don't vote, but I have never said that, so you are just assuming.
You have this garbage system, and yet you totally write off disengaged voters as totally unworthy of any political attention. Don't you think that just maybe, it is possible that a lot of people look at a system that just seems like bullshit to make rich richer and otherwise cause misery, and they just don't see the point?
”I've tried nothing and I'm all out of ideas!"
Like bravo.
For the sake of making this easier I'm going to just assume you want things further left. So how do you get things further left? By giving Dems consistent and overwhelming victories. Because when they lose they have to go to the center, because that's where elections are won.
So what do you as the informed left voter, that wants things to go further left, do? You vote for the Dems. You give them consistent and overwhelming victories. You don't withhold your vote in protest thinking that the platform is magically going to go left. Because it's not. When dems lose it's going to go into the center. Because that's where you win elections.
And when I say this you want to throw your hands up and say it's all a fantasy. Seems very, very much like you just want to justify your non-voting. I hear this all the time from leftists on this platform, you (you didn't actually say you vote for Dems) and many, many, many people that talk exactly like you.
I'm saying you win elections from the middle.
Wait you're doing it again. You're mixing up disengaged voters and the fringe protest non voters that are waiting for some big extreme left platform and are withholding their vote until that comes. Disengaged voters are by definition disengaged, they are effectively not voting ever. The protest non-voters we are discussing, the ones that are withholding their vote until they get some big extreme left platform are by definition on the fringe. JFC this couldn't be clearer. Pretty much by definition going after these voters means you will lose the central voters. You are trading the central voters (the ones whose vote counts double because it's a vote taken away from the other party and a vote for your party. And remember these are voters that actually exist, that actually vote, they are real). Okay start that again, you are trading the central voters (whose vote counts double) for this Fringe that maybe, possibly, perhaps, hopefully, perchance, could, mayyyyyybbbbbbeeeeeee show up. Do you understand that math? The math does not work out.
Do you want some recent history on that? Look at Hillary Clinton. She just went a little bit of tiny itsy bitsy left with the map room to address climate change. Trump came in and grabbed the center vote. Bam she lost the election. Btw so what happened to the horde of left voters that you think will materialize? They said "not extreme left enough, I will continue to withhold my vote in protest!" Yeah they didn't materialize. So what do you think Biden did? Do you think he or any other politician will court these voters that didn't show up? No they won't, they learnt that it's a losing proposition. They learnt that you win elections from the center, and that's where they went, and that's where they won.
Lmao and you wonder why I talk like you're the non-voting individual to make things easier. See what I said above about you the informed left voter can do.
I don't know if I'm going to keep responding, it takes longer and longer to sort out your confusion, mixing, and refusal to see the actual central voters that actually exist. Everything has been said many times and I'm just repeating myself.
You probably shouldn't respond anymore, since we are never going to understand each other. I assume that you are basically happy with the center and the political status quo.
If you can't understand what I'm saying... Then you are sticking your head in the sand.
I understand what you're saying, I just think it's dead wrong and have explained why.
ah strawmans. That's where you are huh. This is my thanks for explaining things. Is this where I address and explain even more? See how this just gets longer and longer? You are so mixed up and refuse to see what's being explained.
Spend some time reading and rereading what I've said over the next few days. This is something you need to learn.
*Last line because mayyyybeeee you still can't see it. When dems lose the go to the center, because that's where they can win after they've lost. That's why withholding votes does not work. And in contrast, when Dems win, they can go to the left. You want Dems to go left? Give them consistent and overwhelming victories.
I understand what you're saying, I just don't understand you. What strawman? I'm assuming that you're happy in the center because that's kind of how you're talking. If you're not happy in the center then ok. You and me consistently voting for centrists is not going to pull the democrats left.
The money (and the swing voter, apparently) is happiest with center-right policies, and if we vote "blue no matter who" that's all we'll get. So if the center (and the money) decide the elections, how will things ever move left? The minute some future dems start going left, they'll lose the center, and with it the election.
There's no way out of that dynamic without a lot of new voters to ensure victory for left policies, which I'm saying, dems are unlikely to attract with their center-right candidates and policy. Is this a chicken and the egg problem? Maybe, but it also seems like a lot of people are perfectly happy the way it is.
Whose idea was it to appoint Supreme Court justices for life? That seems like asking for trouble.
Blame the conservatives for abusing the system.
Honestly as much as the lifetime appointment wasn't the worst idea the drafters had in terms of something for long term stability when the positions in every other branch have varying degrees of volatility, not having some process baked into the Constitution to deal with bad actors in the judiciary was a gross oversight.
The Constitution seems to have been written with the idea that politicians will have good intentions. The checks and balances seem to be just to enforce compromise and prevent a single bad actor.
It doesn't have any protections about and entire political party colluding to grab power. I don't know how we fix this without amendments or a brand new constitution
There is. The Military. Its why they swear to the constitutio to protect against all threats foreign and domestic. not a person.
Now, The real question is, how to deal with it if the Military is at best indifferent, or at worst, complicit, and either way refusing to act.
Which should also help shine a worrying light on why the right never wanted the military to investigate and purge white supremacists/fascists/etc
If by "the military," you mean the well-regulated militia (every able-bodied adult male) exercising their 2nd Amendment rights, then sure.
'Cause otherwise you could only be talking about the Navy, as (from the founding fathers' perspective) a permanent standing army was very explicitly and intentionally Not A Thing. (That's why the Constitution limits for appropriating money to raise and support an army to a term of two years or less.)
All democratic government relies on some amount of good faith. Many of the rules are set up to be guidelines for resolving disputes in a civilized manner, and preventing any single bad actor.
The place where this was most respected was in the transfer of power between presidencies.
That goodwill benefits everyone. If you break it, all hell comes loose. It's why the Dems have worked so hard to stick to the good faith, even though the other party clearly hasn't.
I'm not so sure the reason is quite so principled. I'm more inclined to believe the explanation in this video starting at about the 6:40 mark: the difficulty building a coalition in the Democratic Party (and especially the conflicting aims of Democratic voters and Democratic donors) causes the party to avoid policy and focus on process instead.
And at the time people involved generally did. The only reason we perceive things differently these days is because we expect different outcomes easing a system designed for something else. Our system of government initially was drafted to protect the rights of white land owning males. And it still does this really well. We've scaffolded a lot of other things on top of that trying to make it more Equitable for everyone else. But it can't seem to stop giving preferential treatment to White land owning males.
The thing is the founders knew that they were going to be ignorant about the future. The further out you try to speculate the more wrong you'll be. They knew that they wouldn't be able to understand the needs of future generations. They expected things to change. They also expected the Constitution to be heavily amended or completely written every few decades. Instead the status quo has largely ignored their wishes instead deifying them and their original creation as perfect and infallible.
Originalism is fairly new i thought? But your explanation makes sense.
I suppose I was a bit small in the scope of what were dealing with today and entire party willing to disregard democracy to accumulate power.
There is a process. They can be impeached just like the President.
It's more than just the Judicial branch that's broken.
They can be impeached. That requires both houses of Congress to be on board with it though, and most people wanting a solution to that problem currently don't want a solution that requires both houses of Congress or a supermajority of state legislatures to be on board because that's not a kind of support they can get. the only other way to remove a justice from SCOTUS is one casket at a time.
There's a funny thing about lifetime appointments.
You can end them whenever you want.
Especially religious ones. Maybe we should have religious tests, just not the way xtianists want them.
The framers of the constitution. But to be fair, back then they did not expect people to live this long. If anything, blame science. It’s all their fault!