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Zohran Mamdani wins the New York mayoral race

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Re: Zohran Mamdani wins the New York mayoral race

#531

Post by drstewart »

voidhorse wrote: post #143
TheAceOfHearts wrote: post #117

I'm noticing that this election result has made a lot of people I know really hopeful. It's apparent that many people are fed up with the status quo so they're pushing towards more experimental candidates. If anyone here is well-read on his policies and they have specific opinions I'd love to hear what you think. Do you think Zohran will be successful with his agenda or will he get blocked by pushback from other poli…

The biggest takeaway to me is how ridiculous it is that the US considers Mamdani somehow "experimental" or even radical. His campaign revolves around three policies: 1. Universal Child Care 2. Fast and Free Busses 3. Freezing Rent for certain Rent Controlled Units In any other context these would be policies that basically every citizen, except for a handful of people making buttloads of money off the privatization o…

I'd love to read more on the cheap rent controlled units and free buses in Paris or London when you have a second to link them. Thanks!

Re: Zohran Mamdani wins the New York mayoral race

#532

Post by fruitplants »

wakawaka28 wrote: post #310
rhcom2 wrote: post #306

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Comrade" didn't begin with the USSR.

So what? It is used almost exclusively by communists, in Hollywood and in real life.

In a lighter vein, let me suggest reading the Psmith series by Wodehouse. If not the entire series then Leave It To Psmith, at least.

Re: Zohran Mamdani wins the New York mayoral race

#533

Post by tartoran »

Workaccount2 wrote: post #282
seydor wrote: post #165

The fact that people in here (who are richer than average) disagree with his policies makes his election more hopeful

The reality, which kinda sucks and is boring, is that generally people with money understand how money works, and why things like rent control, government grocery stores, and free [expensive service], are financially brutal policies.

> is that generally people with money understand how money works,

In their favor

Re: Zohran Mamdani wins the New York mayoral race

#534

Post by arcticbull »

macNchz wrote: post #447
marricks wrote: post #276

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> ACA was the most radical package that could have passed, and it still cost Democrats the Congress. People aren’t excited by half measures that let health insurance companies generate tons of money and CONTINUOUSLY raise premiums. People still go bankrupt receiving cancer care here. The person who gets free healthcare and cuts overall costs by destroying health insurance middle man will be massively popular and, onc…

> once the effects are borne out, win congress in a landslide. There is a deep, foundational information problem that would need to be overcome for this to ever actually happen. Medicare, for example, is viewed incredibly favorably, but tons of people don’t even know it’s a government program! This survey found only 58% of people over 65 recognized that: https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/insurance/medicare/medica...…

A lot of Americans don't even realize that Obamacare and the ACA are the same thing -- even in 2017 it was 1/3. I believe the skew is even worse today.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/07/upshot/one-third-dont-kno...

Re: Zohran Mamdani wins the New York mayoral race

#535

Post by timr »

idle_zealot wrote: post #460
timr wrote: post #412

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

> About the only response to this stuff a reasonable person can muster is "he doesn't believe that now" He clearly still believes in police reform. In some places that includes reducing police budgets in favor of more effective public safety programs. That's what "defund the police" means. Not "abolish", reduce funding. In NYC he's running on maintaining police funding at current levels and adding additional nonviole…

> Not "abolish", reduce funding.

Yeah, I understand that's what people are saying to rationalize it. And like I said: we'll find out! But see my reply to the sibling comment, where I link directly to his words:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45820126

He's well-documented, saying many times, in many different variations, in many different places, that he wants to eliminate prisons, "dismantle" the police, and so on. One or two comments you might be able to brush aside, but this is a consistent pattern.

Re: Zohran Mamdani wins the New York mayoral race

#536

Post by woodpanel »

michaelbarton wrote: post #13

I hope this win signals (to both parties) that voters are receptive and will get engaged when a clear message is presented about cost of living and quality of life issues. Some of which are taken for granted in most other western countries. I’m no political wonk, and I’m curious what others with more insight might say about his ability to fund and implement his polices. I’m reminided of Obama and his hopeful message…

I have some confrontational views about this, but in good faith I’d like to invite some discussion with it (not an American).

TLDR: You will see more Mamdanis in other cities. This is a treasure trove for MAGA. Expect at least 12 years of secure nationwide wins for whoever is championing that platform

> I’m reminided of Obama and his hopeful message

This is the gist of the PR campaign, voters fell for. It goes in line with him getting away with being “grassrootsy” when in fact he got tremendous funding from the typical NGOs (Open Society etc) and is a son of a Professor who was/is basically paid to tell American and African Top 5% why white people are bad.

His win also shows the effect migration has on elections. Immigration inherently is a deal where incumbent residents define the terms, and when the other party returns the favor by electing anti-incumbents into office some incumbents will have profound buyer’s remorse.

Fertile soil for the right.

Mamdani’s success also puts a spotlight on foundational problems of the democrats.

After all Mamdani is charismatic, yes, but more importantly he appealed on the issues. His policies will be abysmally failing to resolve the problems he criticized, yes - but that is unimportant to the voter. Important is that he believably criticized them.

How is it, that these well-established circles of the democrats, these well oiled machines, where in states like CA or NY (or most US cities) mayorships, senatorships, congressional seats, and governorships are basically handed out by the DNC, fail to win on those issues? It’s not like making life affordable is not a core branding of the party.

Well, it appears that the DNC gerrymandered itself to death. The dissolution of political contest from the public into internal primaries has stymied the platform’s vitality to a point where it can be easily hijacked by radicals.

Expect many more Mamdani-esque wins locally. Which will mean many wore wins for MAGA nationally.

Re: Zohran Mamdani wins the New York mayoral race

#537

Post by blackqueeriroh »

terminalshort wrote: post #255
JumpCrisscross wrote: post #135

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Nothing, absolutely nothing, in the ACA brought down costs Source for that claim?

Given that the ACA forced insurance companies to sell insurance to people they previously found unprofitable to sell insurance to, basic economics suggests that the ACA probably raised the cost of insurance. That's not to say it makes it a bad thing. I would actually argue the opposite. Also the ACA requires insurance companies to make a max gross margin of 20%. This looks like a cost saving measure at first glance,…

So, no source?

Re: Zohran Mamdani wins the New York mayoral race

#539

Post by Taek »

kelnos wrote: post #403
Taek wrote: post #137

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not clear to me why a multigenerational dynasty specifically is a bad thing? Presumably the kids can learn from the parents, get connected, etc. Also, Mamdani's policies are incredibly controversial, that's why it's such big news. Lots of people predicting that Mamdani's criminal policies, economic policies, and lack of experienced staffers will lead the city to dark days.

> It's not clear to me why a multigenerational dynasty specifically is a bad thing? Because they're undemocratic. Concentrating political capital within a family means raises barriers to entry. People with new -- possibly better -- ideas don't get a meaningful chance to see those ideas implemented. These sorts of setups destroy the idea that politics and elections can be a meritocracy, but instead are determined by b…

It's a tradeoff between new ideas and operational effectiveness. Yes, there are benefits to rotating out a dynasty, but there are also benefits to keeping one.

A dynasty is only undemocratic if people aren't voting for them. If they are winning elections, it's still a democracy.

Re: Zohran Mamdani wins the New York mayoral race

#540

Post by blackqueeriroh »

koolba wrote: post #194
JumpCrisscross wrote: post #135

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Nothing, absolutely nothing, in the ACA brought down costs Source for that claim?

It’s basic economics, supply and demand. To lower prices you need to either increase supply or decrease demand. The reverse shifts the curves the other way and costs go up. The ACA did nothing to increase supply. There were no new doctors or clinics. And the subsidies and mandates to purchase insurance increase demand for medical care. So it causes prices to rise.

So, no source!
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