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Biden wins White House, vowing new direction for divided U.S.

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Re: Biden wins White House, vowing new direction for divided U.S.

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OK, so the transition from Make America Great Again slogan to Make America Decent Again (and Better) reality is inevitable and welcome. It is easy to get overjoyed by results of the U.S. Presidential Election (and some celebration certainly is in order). Uniting the country is definitely a commendable goal, though it is easier said than done. The election results across all levels clearly illustrate just how divided…

Please don't assume that 'one side' has the unilateral moral authority to 'make things better and less divided'. This implication directly contradicts the part about 'unity'. 'One side' having the run of the system will absolutely lead to greater divisions. Trump is gone, I think most reasonable people will take solace in that. Now that he is gone, having regular checks and balances is a 'good thing'. Having the 'oth…

I don't make any assumptions about any unilateral moral authority on issues. That is why I call for a constructive dialog at all levels and across all groups of our society.

As for your argument on checks and balances - yes, generally, it is definitely a very good thing. However, when one side uses their position of chamber majority not to collaborate and compromise, but to throw a wrench into "wheels of democracy" and gridlock the Congress (especially, considering the voting record of the current majority in the Senate and essentially zero breaking ranks history), which might be extremely unproductive and even damaging to the lives of the American people, that IMO does not represent the "checks and balances" that you're talking about.

Re: Biden wins White House, vowing new direction for divided U.S.

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As far as I know the votes still need to be counted again. And, you can probably forget about that stimulus package if Biden really wins.

Unless the democrats win the Georgia special elections and do away with the filibuster. The former seems like a coin flip, but if it happens the latter seems like a certainty.

Re: Biden wins White House, vowing new direction for divided U.S.

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post #659

OK, so the transition from Make America Great Again slogan to Make America Decent Again (and Better) reality is inevitable and welcome. It is easy to get overjoyed by results of the U.S. Presidential Election (and some celebration certainly is in order). Uniting the country is definitely a commendable goal, though it is easier said than done. The election results across all levels clearly illustrate just how divided…

Is there really any common ground? My experience talking to the other side during this administration is that they are completely unable and often unwilling to consider any argument or information that conflicts with their views. How do you debate with people who don't care about facts or reason? In addition their leadership appears to be completely unwilling to act and good faith and the rank in file appear unwillin…

> Is there really any common ground?

Florida Amendment 2.

That's right, on the same ballot where Florida solidly selected a republican president, republican legislature and republican house delegation, they went >60% on a $15 minimum wage.

Progressive legislation is popular. Progressives are not, because of branding and demagoguery (and no small amount of bald-faced lying).

That's common ground. It may not look like it, but it's there.

Re: Biden wins White House, vowing new direction for divided U.S.

#776

On the data nerd side I continue to be shocked at how people misinterpret the certainty of polls/forecasts. Forecasts give us probability distributions based on historical polling error data. Not infallible predictions the expected value will 100% happen. It’s fairly revealing of society’s general innumeracy, just as it was 4 years ago when Trump won.

I am pretty certain Facebook has the data to crunch very accurate predictions in elections large and small.

Based on what? I think part of the problem with our politics these days is confusing social media engagement / metrics (specifically twitter) with national sentiment. Seems like there's a large mass of unobserved "silent" Americans out there.

Re: Biden wins White House, vowing new direction for divided U.S.

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post #730
post #659

OK, so the transition from Make America Great Again slogan to Make America Decent Again (and Better) reality is inevitable and welcome. It is easy to get overjoyed by results of the U.S. Presidential Election (and some celebration certainly is in order). Uniting the country is definitely a commendable goal, though it is easier said than done. The election results across all levels clearly illustrate just how divided…

Please don't assume that 'one side' has the unilateral moral authority to 'make things better and less divided'. This implication directly contradicts the part about 'unity'. 'One side' having the run of the system will absolutely lead to greater divisions. Trump is gone, I think most reasonable people will take solace in that. Now that he is gone, having regular checks and balances is a 'good thing'. Having the 'oth…

How often do senators break ranks? The Hastert rule and Senate majority leader rules have effectively neutered both chambers to rubber stamps for deals and bills negotiated out of public eye.

The playing field need to be leveled here so that party leadership doesn't have a stranglehold on what comes to a vote via backroom deals. Legislators need to have skin in the game, with real debate and actual votes to show where they stand.

Re: Biden wins White House, vowing new direction for divided U.S.

#779
post #659

OK, so the transition from Make America Great Again slogan to Make America Decent Again (and Better) reality is inevitable and welcome. It is easy to get overjoyed by results of the U.S. Presidential Election (and some celebration certainly is in order). Uniting the country is definitely a commendable goal, though it is easier said than done. The election results across all levels clearly illustrate just how divided…

Anyone read a practical 20 year plan to decrease divisiveness in the US (say, to 1990s levels)? Or: Ignoring funding, what would you do? An example year 1 goal: "Get X million people to watch 10 hours/year of strangers who they would normally not encounter or agree with, and to see them as real people." To do that, produce and televise + stream a long-form TV show, like a version of Braver Angels' Red/Blue Workshops[…

Compulsory national service to prevent people from living their entire lives within the bubbles into which they were born. Compulsory service erases geographic distance along with racial and class divides.
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