Author Topic: The Politics Thread v2 (Read 181193 times)

MrWolfe · « **Reply #720 on:** January 13, 2016, 01:57:10 PM »

Quote from: Raineh Daze on January 13, 2016, 12:15:10 PM

Wow, I'm voluntarily supplying data? The horror.

Yeah, it is pretty horrifying how blasé people are about it.

Aside from the massive privacy issues surrounding giving out personal info online, "political surveys" like this are particularly worrisome, because they're often run/used by partisan groups who manipulate the data and then use it to push policy. Politicians are notoriously ignorant of how statistics actually work, so if a group throws a chart in front of them that appears to show a certain demographic or percent of the population supporting or opposing a given policy, that politician is likely to back or oppose it as well in hopes of boosting their popularity with the voters.

Filling out shit like this just gives ammunition to groups looking to influence the political process, and there's zero guarantee that their goals and ideals align with your own.

Raineh Daze · « **Reply #721 on:** January 13, 2016, 02:46:38 PM »

If they're using my responses to push an agenda, either it's something that I have tacitly approved, or and infinitesimally small push against their agenda. There's only so much it can be distorted. I'm not gonna get stressed over it.

Plus, in this case, I'm on another continent, so it doesn't hugely concern me to do that one.

MrWolfe · « **Reply #722 on:** January 13, 2016, 07:16:53 PM »

Right, because the stupid shit my country gets up to doesn't affect anyone else, ever.

Raineh Daze · « **Reply #723 on:** January 13, 2016, 07:19:36 PM »

Said stupid shit is not something that my involvement in internet questionnaires is going to impact.

MrWolfe · « **Reply #724 on:** January 13, 2016, 07:36:27 PM »

That's debatable, but whatevs.

Personally I don't like supporting shit like that on principle even if I don't think it's likely to have much of an effect.

Besides, I don't need a website to tell my what my political views are.

Raineh Daze · « **Reply #725 on:** January 13, 2016, 07:38:15 PM »

Neither do I, but I do need a website to get an idea of how they align with all the candidates in general, including on policies that don't get discussed much.

MrWolfe · « **Reply #726 on:** January 13, 2016, 07:44:01 PM »

Oh, well then here's a handy rundown of every U.S. politician's priorities, ever:

1) Get elected
2) Get elected
3) Get elected
4) Get re-elected

Notice a pattern?

Raineh Daze · « **Reply #727 on:** January 13, 2016, 08:19:20 PM »

Undiluted cynicism will get you nowhere.

KellKheraptis · « **Reply #728 on:** January 13, 2016, 08:34:15 PM »

Quote from: Raineh Daze on January 13, 2016, 08:19:20 PM

Undiluted cynicism will get you nowhere.

Other than elected, as at least in that regard he's right (though it's really "Make money, make money, make money, leave politics if the payout from a former constituent is high enough, continue making money by lying, etc")

Raineh Daze · « **Reply #729 on:** January 13, 2016, 08:38:03 PM »

My statement remains unchanged. Cynicism on its own isn't going to do anything.

MrWolfe · « **Reply #730 on:** January 13, 2016, 09:40:37 PM »

Quote from: KellKheraptis on January 13, 2016, 08:34:15 PM

Quote from: Raineh Daze on January 13, 2016, 08:19:20 PM
Undiluted cynicism will get you nowhere.

Other than elected, as at least in that regard he's right (though it's really "Make money, make money, make money, leave politics if the payout from a former constituent is high enough, continue making money by lying, etc")

It's really about power for that type of personality--whether that power takes the form of political clout or financial gains isn't all that important. That's why you always see so much overlap between wealth and politics.

Quote from: Raineh Daze on January 13, 2016, 08:38:03 PM

My statement remains unchanged. Cynicism on its own isn't going to do anything.

Nor will willful ignorance and blind optimism.

Raineh Daze · « **Reply #731 on:** January 13, 2016, 09:46:08 PM »

I'm not advocating blind optimism. I'm saying that assuming the worst about everyone involved in politics is bad. XD

MrWolfe · « **Reply #732 on:** January 14, 2016, 03:06:39 AM »

I'm merely extrapolating from the available evidence. When the same patterns are observed over and over, it's less reasonable to assume an exception than a continuation of the trend.

awaken_D_M_golem · « **Reply #733 on:** January 16, 2016, 04:03:16 PM »

Quote from: MrWolfe on January 13, 2016, 07:44:01 PM

Oh, well then here's a handy rundown of every U.S. politician's priorities, ever:

1) Get elected
2) Get elected
3) Get elected
4) Get re-elected

Notice a pattern?

Some of them tag on at the end a :
5a) Get a way better paying Lobbyist job
5b) Get a hedge fund "face" position
like https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Quayle#Private_life

MrWolfe · « **Reply #734 on:** January 16, 2016, 04:57:36 PM »

"Quayle authored a 1994 memoir, Standing Firm, which became a bestseller."

It's the book Bob Dole could never have written.

Keldar · « **Reply #735 on:** January 17, 2016, 10:19:46 AM »

You're telling me that pen was just for show?

MrWolfe · « **Reply #736 on:** January 17, 2016, 12:33:56 PM »

I find it interesting that Bob Dole's wikipedia page barely mentions his stint as a spokesman for Viagra. I always thought it was the most memorable part of his career.

awaken_D_M_golem · « **Reply #737 on:** January 17, 2016, 03:12:34 PM »

The Who _{coloring their gray hairs}

Gramma's got a squeeze box , Grampa never sleeps at night !!

It's goes in and out and in and out and in and out ...

SolEiji · « **Reply #738 on:** January 18, 2016, 04:50:07 AM »

This last Dem Debate... be still my beating heart!

bhu · « **Reply #739 on:** January 18, 2016, 05:53:30 PM »

In an interview governor Kasich admitted he had o idea the Oregon thing was going on. Apparently he doesnt watch the news at all.

News:

Author Topic: The Politics Thread v2 (Read 181193 times)