Percentage Wearing a Mask Protects Against Covid

[edwardmurphy]

I know, I know. I'm uselessly banging my head against an impenetrable wall of cognitive dissonance. But I'd still like an honest, reflective response based on things that are real.

[Philip]

What is derangement is when people foolishly reduce our political dilemma and choices down to just one individual, like Trump. Because to reject him also means one is embracing - or at least helping - the far-more dangerous mob of people and political leanings that would otherwise be swept into office. And it's strange that people of otherwise conservative instincts - who greatly despise much about Trump (as I do) - don't similarly have the same level of fears over the crowd that would otherwise be the alternative - because that's the reality. To me, it's not far off from being like those who despise certain terrible actions of individual policemen overacting by helping or encouraging the de-fund / destroy our police departments. Because by rejecting and hyper-focusing upon just one person, you are simultaneously desiring many others and their agenda. It's why God gave us common sense to make difficult decisions amongst highly imperfect choices. BTW, that mob wanting to come in - are they all saints and honorable people? What about THEM / their politics and agenda?

I've said too much, I suppose.

[edwardmurphy]

What are you talking about Phil? What is it that so terrifies you about an utterly innocuous moderate like Joe Biden that you feel like you have to support a dishonest, corrupt, incompetent, ignorant, authoritarian, accused rapist who shows every sign of burgeoning dementia?

As far as your political choices, they're not that complex. A vote for Trump is a vote for Trumpism and all that that entails. A vote for Biden is a vote to take a deep breath, step back from the abyss, regain our composure, and start looking at ways to fix the mess that Trumpism has made of our political system, our economy, and our standing in the world. At this point it's really that simple. You either support Trump or you support America. There's no way to do both.

[Kurieuo]

Trump is flawed, but he's the only option to safekeep the US, its people, and foundational liberal values that allowed it to flourish into the great nation that it is. I've appreciated how your government has really stepped up, and helped Australia, UK and others to realise the threat the China its propagation of socialist communist propaganda that has seeped into our societies via our bought-out educational institutions and it underhanded covert infiltration tactics.

I really hope for the world's sake, Trump is re-elected another term, which I believe he will be. What has been set in motion is something that must be finished, and it requires another term. He's an unlikely defender if you will of freedom not just in the US but around the world, and he may be what people believe to be an egotistical strong-headed buffoon, but that seems to be what is needed.

So it's either Trump or a vote for an American revolution that steers a HARD LEFT away from free liberal values, and towards what I see to be an extremely "woke" form of socialist-communist totalitarianism. If the bastion of democratic values, that is the USA, falls -- then that poses a risk to all democratic freedom loving nations around the world.

Hope I didn't make you choke too much on your coffee Ed.

[edwardmurphy]

As if I spit coffee every time you say something silly...

With all respect, K, anyone who insists that electing Joe Biden would bring about a hard left, socialist-communist-totalitarian revolution is laughably clueless. I'll admit that it's frustrating when otherwise functional adults insist that the communist boogieman is just about to pop out and get us, but I've gotten used to it. These days when people say stuff like that I just mentally file them away with the flat earthers, anti vaxxers, 9/11 truthers, and all the rest. Some folks don't get it and can't be taught.

If you knew anything about US history you'd know that socialism only comes up when the capitalists blow up the economy, millions wind up unemployed and desperate, and the government shrugs and does nothing. Socialism was hugely popular in the US in the early to mid 20th century. There was no organized labor, working conditions were terrible, food was dangerous, there was no safety net, a bunch of irresponsible rich bastards torpedoed the global economy, there was a drought, and Hoover sat on his hands and waited for the free market to fix it all. Know what stopped socialism cold? The New Deal. FDR stepped up and addressed the needs of the common man, thereby defusing the burgeoning socialist revolution before it started and ushering in decades of growth and prosperity.

Today the combination of economic inequality, a global pandemic (that every developed nation but this one has figured out), an economic collapse, and a bunch of other crap has combined to leave a lot of people howling for change. Donald Trump is the direct cause of a lot of our current misery, and if he's re elected he's sure to make all of it far worse. The result of 4 more years of Trumpism might well be a socialist revolution. Biden would calm things down, introduce a few small reforms, and generally move us back toward normalcy. In other words, you've got it ass backwards.

Oh, and regarding your comments about trade, what Trump has actually done in Asia is withdraw us from contention and cede our leadership role to China, which by the by, is Australia's biggest trading partner. We didn't step up, mate, we abandoned you. Sorry.

[abelcainsbrother]

What is derangement is when people foolishly reduce our political dilemma and choices down to just one individual, like Trump. Because to reject him also means one is embracing - or at least helping - the far-more dangerous mob of people and political leanings that would otherwise be swept into office. And it's strange that people of otherwise conservative instincts - who greatly despise much about Trump (as I do) - don't similarly have the same level of fears over the crowd that would otherwise be the alternative - because that's the reality. To me, it's not far off from being like those who despise certain terrible actions of individual policemen overacting by helping or encouraging the de-fund / destroy our police departments. Because by rejecting and hyper-focusing upon just one person, you are simultaneously desiring many others and their agenda. It's why God gave us common sense to make difficult decisions amongst highly imperfect choices. BTW, that mob wanting to come in - are they all saints and honorable people? What about THEM / their politics and agenda?

I've said too much, I suppose.

There is nothing at all to fear about Trump and the agenda he and his followers desire for America. It is all about giving the power back to the people and going by the Constitution that has been ignored by the left for far too long.Philip there is nothing at all dangerous about desiring to get back to going by the Constitution.Sure it is going to be a shock to liberals who are used to bypassing the people and using the courts to force their agenda on to America against its will abortion,same sex marriages,etc because these are really State's rights issues for the people to decide. The days of being dominated by the left are just about over and we are headed for a new political party and revolution going forward. The days of Democrat good,Republican bad are over as both parties are corrupt to the core and betrayed the people. This idea one party is better than the other is a joke. They are both responsible for the sad state America was in before Trump.

[edwardmurphy]

Howdy Abe. You're still factually wrong about everything you wrote there. I could explain why, but you say that exact same thing all the time and no evidence that I've provided has ever changed your mind about any of it. SAD!

[abelcainsbrother]

As if I spit coffee every time you say something silly...

With all respect, K, anyone who insists that electing Joe Biden would bring about a hard left, socialist-communist-totalitarian revolution is laughably clueless. I'll admit that it's frustrating when otherwise functional adults insist that the communist boogieman is just about to pop out and get us, but I've gotten used to it. These days when people say stuff like that I just mentally file them away with the flat earthers, anti vaxxers, 9/11 truthers, and all the rest. Some folks don't get it and can't be taught.

If you knew anything about US history you'd know that socialism only comes up when the capitalists blow up the economy, millions wind up unemployed and desperate, and the government shrugs and does nothing. Socialism was hugely popular in the US in the early to mid 20th century. There was no organized labor, working conditions were terrible, food was dangerous, there was no safety net, a bunch of irresponsible rich bastards torpedoed the global economy, there was a drought, and Hoover sat on his hands and waited for the free market to fix it all. Know what stopped socialism cold? The New Deal. FDR stepped up and addressed the needs of the common man, thereby defusing the burgeoning socialist revolution before it started and ushering in decades of growth and prosperity.

Today the combination of economic inequality, a global pandemic (that every developed nation but this one has figured out), an economic collapse, and a bunch of other crap has combined to leave a lot of people howling for change. Donald Trump is the direct cause of a lot of our current misery, and if he's re elected he's sure to make all of it far worse. The result of 4 more years of Trumpism might well be a socialist revolution. Biden would calm things down, introduce a few small reforms, and generally move us back toward normalcy. In other words, you've got it ass backwards.

Oh, and regarding your comments about trade, what Trump has actually done in Asia is withdraw us from contention and cede our leadership role to China, which by the by, is Australia's biggest trading partner. We didn't step up, mate, we abandoned you. Sorry.

You were propagandized by communist propaganda over time,many Americans were. We were taught to desire socialism to fix all of our problems with capitalism. Instead of being taught how to keep capitalism strong by controlling and breaking up monopolies we were taught socialism is the cure,when it is'nt and never was. And breaking up monopolies is something I think could unite both the left and right because of the rich.We could break up monopolies when needed. But as long as the left tries to propagandize us to accept socialism we will not agree.

[abelcainsbrother]

Howdy Abe. You're still factually wrong about everything you wrote there. I could explain why, but you say that exact same thing all the time and no evidence that I've provided has ever changed your mind about any of it. SAD!

Yeah,you're still stuck in the left-right political paradigm while most everybody else has moved on to a new political party and ways of doing things.

[abelcainsbrother]

Look for class-action lawsuits against the mainstream media for pushing fake news about how hydroxychloroquine is not a cure,is dangerous and causes heart problems. Look for the MSM to be sued out of existence for reporting fake news that has led to the death of many Americans.

[edwardmurphy]

You were propagandized by communist propaganda over time,many Americans were. We were taught to desire socialism to fix all of our problems with capitalism.

Nope. What I believe is that there are some things that capitalism does extremely well, and others that it does extremely poorly. For example, capitalism is great for fostering innovation and generating wealth. In its best form it rewards intelligence, dedication, hard work, and creativity. But that doesn't make it the best options in all cases. Sometimes we need to kick in together in order to create and maintain systems that work for all of us.

That's not communism, Abe. It's working together for the common good. It's America.

Instead of being taught how to keep capitalism strong by controlling and breaking up monopolies we were taught socialism is the cure,when it is'nt and never was. And breaking up monopolies is something I think could unite both the left and right because of the rich.We could break up monopolies when needed.

I'm fine with breaking up monopolies, but if that's your only solution then sorry, but it's not enough. And what makes you think that Donald Trump has any interest in breaking up monopolies?

But as long as the left tries to propagandize us to accept socialism we will not agree.

Please define "socialism" and give me an example of how the left is trying to propagandize "us" to accept it. Then explain why the policy that you've identified is bad policy without using the word "socialism." For example, if you were to select universal healthcare you'd need to reject it based on costs or something, rather than just saying "Duh, that there's socialism!" If you can't come up with a better reason to reject a seemingly sound policy than "it's socialism" then I submit that you're the one who's been propagandized.

[RickD]

Ed wrote:
What are you talking about Phil? What is it that so terrifies you about an utterly innocuous moderate like Joe Biden that you feel like you have to support a dishonest, corrupt, incompetent, ignorant, authoritarian, accused rapist who shows every sign of burgeoning dementia?

You’ve literally described Joe Biden to a T.

How you don’t see that is beyond me.

[edwardmurphy]

You’ve literally described Joe Biden to a T.

How you don’t see that is beyond me.

You tend to say stuff like that. You don't tend to support it. So why do you believe those things? What are your sources? Where's your evidence?

[RickD]

You’ve literally described Joe Biden to a T.

How you don’t see that is beyond me.

You tend to say stuff like that. You don't tend to support it. So why do you believe those things? What are your sources? Where's your evidence?

Cognitive dissonance indeed!

[edwardmurphy]

Cognitive dissonance indeed!

If the things that you're saying are true it should take you about 90 seconds to list a bunch of evidence to support them, yet you always seem to reply with a snappy one liner rather than evidence. I can easily support every single one of my criticisms of Donald Trump, and I've often done so. Why don't you support your criticisms of Joe Biden?