Wow. That does not look good.
Can we have some term limits, please?
Can you imagine how many problems simple term limits would fix?
Term limits empower lobbyists and career staffers and encourage legislators to give less of a shit about their constituents. I know “career politician” is often considered a dirty word, but having competent, knowledgeable elected officials is a good thing.
They are already openly corrupt. Term limits would result in younger candidates in touch with this century. Lobbyists would also have to bribe new people. It might also break up the ridiculous 100% party voting.
Not to mention help with our Supreme Court problems. Randomly giving appointments that last decades to whoever is president in at the time is insane.
I really don’t think we have that many competent elected officials anyway.
Yes, eliminating gerrymandering and citizens united would be more effective, but I wouldn’t kick term limits out of bed.
We have term limits in Florida. They have done nothing to solve any problems, and arguably have made the quality of our officials worse, while giving much more power to lobbyists.
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None of that has happened in the states that have term limits. If you think Republicans, no matter how long they have been in office, are going to start putting anyone other than Federalist Society drones on the courts, I’m not sure I can have a good faith argument with you.
Term limits are as likely as ranked-choice voting, which would also solve a lot of problems but won’t be passed in a significant way in my lifetime
They actually just passed ranked choice voting in my city.
It does seem crazy to have a system where 49% of people preferred the other guy, but he lost so those people now get zero representation.
Term limits would result in younger candidates in touch with this century.
Yes cuz that’s worked so well in places that already have them…
Lobbyists would also have to bribe new people.
No they’d hand pick them, run them on utter lies that they can’t be challenged, then throw them out when the public wises up. You seriously underestimate how far the power dynamic can swing.
On the other hand, the current system of “representatives spend one full year campaigning and one full year fundraising for their party, so any legislation they sponsor in their two-year term is already written by lobbyists” isn’t working out so hot either.
Throw in a law restricting campaigning more than three months before an election and a law limiting campaigns to only spending equally-dispersed public funds, and you might start to see some improvement. Oh, and reverse Citizen’s United and ban Super PACs while you’re at it. And can we all get a free unicorn too?
yeah, because the current batch of politicians are sooooo concerned with their constituents.
On the other hand, lets ignore the fact that the vast majority of senators (and the president, and most presidential canidates,) are so “experienced” that the majority of their experience predates… the internet. Never mind social media or anything resembling the modern world we find our selves in.
A mandatory retirement age is a different suggestion than term limits.
Yep. Why is 65 not a forced retirement for politicians, when it is used in many less important industries?
There is definitely reasonable legislation that can have the best of both worlds here. That’s a poor argument against them
How so?
We have about 25 years worth of experiments with it in various states, so it’s been well studied. Legislating is a skill that needs to be developed, just like anything else, and a bunch of term-limited newbies have no incentive to do anything except get ready for the next thing, which only enhances the possiblity of corruption.
I don’t think term limits will solve anything near what people pitching term limits as a panacea think they will solve.
People that pitch that as a catch-all solution have no idea how democracy works, they’re just understandably angry at the old white men who have ruined all our lives.
All term limits would do is make it middle aged white men ruining our lives.
Like, these people don’t seem to understand where politicians come from or how they get to be where they are.
Mitch McConnell is the Senator from Kentucky. Trump won that state both years by 60%. It hasn’t elected a Democratic Senator since 1992. In fact, that Democratic Senator retired, ya know, as old men should. Then a Republican took that seat.
So who do you think takes Mitch McConnell’s seat if we boot him out for old age? Does it matter who? We know what letter will be next to their name.
It’s the people. The problem is the people. And the structure of the Senate that gives them disproportionate power.
Also, look at the young Republicans like Madison Cawthorn and tell me they’re any better than their seniors.
really, a lot of our problems boil down to “humans are just generally pretty shit”
A better example is Joe Manchin. The thought of primarying him is laughable. Just hand the Republicans a full Seat in the senate why don’t you.
It will definitely solve some problems while causing arguably no new ones, I think that’s enough to push for something to happen.
the tribe wont allow this
Do you think Trump could have beaten Obama in 2016?
Yes. In fact, I believe Hillary would have beaten him without that idiotic final weekend FBI announcement.
Dude went full Beaker.
I hope y’all remember this when you ask for Bernie Sanders geriatric ass again
Bernie, Joe, and the other guy are all within 4 years of age with each other. Bernie is the only one in that group who’s decided NOT to run, so I’m not sure why you’re singling him out. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Generally the opinion I’ve seen from his supporters is that he can do better from his current position and that his chance at the presidency has passed.
When there’s only one politician of any consequence out there who represents your views…
Oh goodness, I hope it’s nothing minor.
I generally don’t wish ill will on people. That being said, this asshole isn’t a human in my book. He’s just an evil hate filled pile of shit, and it will be a great day for democracy and America when he does die.
I am not going to openly condemn anyone. That said, Mitch opens himself up to some interesting ethical questions.
Is it ok to sacrifice one man to save 300 hundred million?
How about to reduce the medium / long term risk to billions?
Is that man Mitch McConnell? Then hell yeah, this isn’t a trolley problem, it’s more of trolley party
I don’t wish harm on anyone, well except Mitch McConnell. Oh, and Steve Bannon. Oh, and Bobo and … Oh, well I guess I do wish plenty of harm.
Fucking Kissinger. Wishing death upon that man makes you a better person.
It is a highly moral position.
I don’t want him dead. I want him to live a long life in excruciating pain.
I’m convinced that McConnell is human, but an agent controlled by the Reptilians to destroy us from within. As evidence, I submit the nauseated look on his face most of the time. The real Mitch is still in there, and is horrified at the terrible things he’s forced to do. Obviously, this latest incident occurred because the radio signal to the control chip in his brain got disrupted.
Ted Cruz is the one who is not human. He’s their next attempt, a Reptilian in a (bad) human suit. As evidence, well, just look at him. Their later iterations have gotten a little better, like Taylor Greene, Bannon, and Boebert, but still firmly in the Uncanny Valley. Some of them are so convincingly human, though, that I’m not sure if they’re Reptilians in disguise, or some sort of latter-day Sonderkommando.
I have to believe this, because it’s the only way that the GQP makes any damn sense.
I want to be very clear: I will never support or condone violence. But when this parasite dies (from natural causes), the entire country will be massively better off for it.
All violence is not equal. Unjustified and unprovoked violence is not the same as justified violence in self defense, for example. To say that one does not support violence is to paint with a very large brush and over important nuance and context
I don’t believe self-defense is violence. For example, I believe Ukraine has every right to capture, injure, kill, and drive out all Russian invaders as they protect their country.
I get what you’re saying, but believe me: I understand how broad my brush is, yet I still don’t like violence. In my opinion some things are just black and white… 🤷♂️
A little surprised that you’re getting downvoted for this, but I suppose your opinion on what constitutes violence is a value judgment rather than a dispassionate definition. Ukraine driving out Russian invaders from their homeland using whatever means necessary, including violence to the fullest extent allowed by the Geneva Convention, is absolutely justified in my book.
Remember, one of the biggest instances is Lemmy.ml, run by Tankies. Fuck fascism.
being justified or not has nothing to do with whether something is violent. if someone is getting hurt, maimed, or killed, that’s violence, no matter how much they deserve it.
Sounds like the end justifies the means, which is itself a tricky statement. Though I think I know what you’re saying.
Not even close to what I’m saying. But I’m glad you’re listening…
I think it is what you’re saying but not what you are intending to say. It sounds like there are conditions under which violence is ok, though violence itself is something to be avoided. Eg. Ukraine can defend itself using violence because violence in defence is ok, which in my mind sounds a lot like the end (self preservation) justifies the means (war).
Before you commit to that statement remember that peaceful protests work about 1% of the time.
I know it’s frustrating, but some things are more important than the end result. People who have to kill someone are often traumatized. For life. We weren’t built to destroy each other, and by doing so, we also lose some of our humanity…
If you go out and kill a murderer… the net total of murderers in the world remains the same.
I think we are lucky to not have to make those choices.
My uncle was murdered and my grandma ended up spending a lot of time talking with the murderer. That’s one way. There is also no shortage of stories about people killing those who have traumatized family members (rape and murder). In my case the murderer was troubled, but in other cases (Mitch) they are psychopathic people who I think should be removed from society one way or another. That’s my sentiment towards Mitch and his health problems. I am completely ambivalent about his well being. To be completely anti-violence is a position, but it is a hard one to hold in reality.
I want to be very clear: I will never support or condone violence. But when this parasite dies (from natural causes), the entire country will be massively better off for it.
Why? Violence inflicted by pen is still violence. He’s killed thousands.
proof that old fuckers shouldn’t be allowed in politics due to a literally dysfunctioning brain
His birth is closer to Lincoln’s assassination and the abolition of serfdom in Russia than to 2023.
I’ve had some relatives reach a very old age and this kind of thing is just part of the territory.
However my aged relatives were not in positions of great power. Neither should this man be.
TBH, I’m ok with ageism, we already do it. It’s clear a 6 year old can’t run the country, it should be just as clear a 76 year old can’t either for the same reasons, mental development stage.
I find it interesting in the US that discriminating against the young is socially acceptable, while discriminating against the elderly is social suicide. Shows how much political power the Boomers wield.
Feinstein and now McConnell. It shouldn’t be necessary but it’s now bipartisan proof that maybe we should force people of a certain age into retirement.
I’ll happily admit to being ageist. I don’t care. Once you hit the mid 70s (arguably earlier) you should be ordered to go the fuck home by Congress.
if it’s ageist to say that people can be too old to be in government, then it’s definitely ageist to say they can be too young, too.
Imagine having a toddler command the nuclear football. (oh wait. we already had that.)
Unfortunately, ageism in the US is only illegal against older adults. I really struggled with this when I was overseeing young volunteers, one of whom was being treated like crap just because he was young by the older people he was volunteering for. Totally legal for them to outright speak of his age as making him useless (and he was a good worker! and kind!). I was so angry that I couldn’t do much of anything to help him.
I don’t think it should necessarily be a hard age cap (which is illegal in the US, anyway), but I do think all politicians and judges should have to be able to pass cognitive function tests annually with absolutely no concerns raised by them. I’d require it probably as low as age 50 or 55, because dementia can come early.
And they should not be allowed to choose their own doctors for these exams. They should all see the same handful of doctors, randomly assigned each year, so as to reduce bias.
The really annoying part is that I’ve seen people on the right already telling people to respect his health issues. Except when Biden stumbles over one word he should be removed from power and hospitalized for life. They don’t even pretend with the hypocrisy anymore
I worked in congress in 2002 after I graduated. The congressman I worked for was old to me then. I saw him on tv the other day and the guy looked one foot in the grave. I hadn’t thought about him in years and then I saw him and I’m like dude wtf why are you still working?! It’s shocking.
This is a reminder that Dianne Feinstein is still in office, too. She’s not even lucid anymore.
I live how you guys say this, while also demanding Bernie, a fucking dinosaur himself
If there was another candidate who held the same values, but was of a younger age. I’d go for the younger one for sure.
It’s not Bernie because he’s amazing. It’s because he’s the best we got.
Same how I vote for x party, not because they are good. But because they are less bad.
Ageism, like all bigotry, is always wrong.
We limit responsibility for youth, is that bigotry?
No. Bigotry is when you assign a presumption to a group based on a completely unrelated parameter associated with that group. It would not be bigotry to limit the age of those serving in congress. It is bigotry to say that every old person’s brain doesn’t work.
“proof that old fuckers shouldn’t be allowed in politics due to a literally dysfunctioning brain”
So by and large young brains don’t work as well as adult brains. The same is true for the elderly. Your argument makes no sense except you’re biased against the young. During Vietnam would you rather have had Nixon and
Kissinger in charge or some wicked smart 17 year old hippies. I know what most people would choose these days.
Conservatives when Biden does something like walk the wrong direction: omg he’s senile and clearly has dementia!
Conservatives when McConnell (maybe) has a fucking legit seizure: everything’s fine, nothing to see here.
Both of them need to get the hell out of politics as should anyone over the retirement age.
Seriously. Enough with the septuagenarians and octogenarians in the government. If you’re going to drop dead from old age at any moment, you shouldn’t be in any government position, especially not a national/federal one, IMO.
How about hemberders? Or Tim Apple? Trump talks and walks like he’s have constant brain aneurism, yet not a single peep form his idiot base.
Or covfefe. Or falling down a 5-degree decline. Or desperately gripping a bottle of water with two hands to carry it to his Queller Demon mouth.
Tim Apple is intentional. It’s smart and effective. It communicates who he is talking about to people who have absolutely no clue who the CEO of Apple is. Simplified language like that is trump’s specialty because it works with his base.
Edit, well, looks like this is just as bad as reddit. Not sure what I expected.
It absolutely was not intentional
What makes you say that? Like truly, why are you so confident?
Why would you run a business if your name wasn’t plastered all over it? Tim Apple isn’t stupid.
Regarding your edit - yes, completely made up bullshit also doesn’t fly here.
What makes you think it’s made up? The dude has brainwashed 1/3 the country. Do you think he did that on accident? Unfortunately for you and I, trump is an expert communicator.
Edit, well, looks like this is just as bad as reddit. Not sure what I expected.
Can you people just stop fucking whining? You made a dumb fucking comment and got downvoted for it. Its doesnt matter, its not the end of the world, you dont have to edit your comment to cry about the fact that people didnt agree with your extreme reach to defend a dumb comment Donald Trump made.
Is it extreme reach though? He’s whipped up 1/3 the country into a frenzie. That’s effective communication even if it is awful and hateful.
He could also have done a Nazi salute or just dropped trou and shat on the floor and it would have whipped up most the country into a frenzy, that doesnt means its some mastermind play.
Shifting goal posts. I’m just saying he communicates well. Hitler also communicated well. It doesn’t mean we agree with trump (or Hitler) it’s just an acknowledgement of charisma.
Edit, well, looks like this is just as bad as reddit. Not sure what I expected.
Try truth social, that is where you will find your people.
Yes, acknowledging trumps ability to communicate makes me a republican.
But in all seriousness, people always talk about how trump benefits so much from Twitter and wields social media in a dangerous and effective way. So how is my argument any different?
I call him Tim Apple all the time. I just think it’s funny and he probably hates it. I just hate Apple as a company in most ways, so being annoying is fun. Not like hell see anything I say anyway, but it makes me chuckle.
I didn’t see any pre edit comment, but I agree here.
I’m no trumpy by a hell of a long shot. A whole political spectrum away. But I don’t condemn him for using the name. At least not if he’s using it intentionally. I’m not convinced he is, though.
I don’t believe that it’s discriminatory when I say that people with severe neurological disorders and dementia shouldn’t be making laws.
The US of A is governed by dying greedy geriatrics
He is 85. What the fuck drives you besides greed and power to stay in Congress past your 70th? He will probably die in a couple of years, but still clings to this power trip with bare hands. Just illustrates how fucking greedy and corrupted that mf is.
The issue is seniority rules. You only get the real power (committee seats, etc) after you’ve been in the senate for decades. Giving that up is probably hard if you’ve spent decades climbing that ladder.
Oh, no, those poor old fucks. I hope they die in their piss instead of ruining our world any more.
Like go fishing, or whittle some shit on a porch. Youre gonna die soon and you want to spend your final days on the hill with the lizards and cockroaches?
Good people do to too. Ruth Bader Ginsberg clung to office and died two months too early.
Ribbit
I keep saying that the fact that Trump has made it to 77 is a testament to modern medical science.
Nah, his longevity is from decent genes and the fact that he’s never had to worry or stress about anything real his entire life. Poverty is the number one killer of Americans. The lack of access to healthcare, having to overwork your body and mind to make ends meet and the constant stress of wondering if your next paycheck will be enough to feed and house you and your loved ones is killer on the heart. Shitty people don’t live long lives because they’re shitty. It’s because they’re rich. IT just so happens, all rich people are also shitty people. But I’ve met some poor shitty people that die early because their heart just gives out from overwork.
It’s like Eugenia Cooney. How is she still alive? How do you treat your body with absolute disdain and survive?
Mick Jagger just turned 80.
I eat pretty well, exercise daily and I doubt I’m making it that long…
As it turns out, a boatload of money is the best thing for your health.
Even if we are going to continue to let the elderly rule us, an event like this should result in an instant resignation. But no, he has to claw onto the reins of power until they’re taken from his cold, dead hands.
Isn’t that the type of incident you should be immediately going to the hospital for? And to maintain some shitty image of power they just yank him to the back line and have him stand there?
Man it took waaay to long before someone even reacted and even then they didn’t focus on his well being but on the press conference.
What a sad sight, zero empathy
Not like the man is known for his empathy himself. So it’s a bit of a FAFO situation I feel.
He’s one of the few people in this world on my “no empathy for him” list. I would’ve just sat back and had some popcorn
I’d agree with Mark Twain on this one, I don’t exactly wish anyone to die but I’ll read some obituaries with satisfaction, paraphrased.
what a sad sight /s
(I have) zero empathy.
If it makes you feel any better, he would have done the exact same or worse to anyone else in his place.
They were torn between wanting to help him but also wanting to minimize the appearance of the episode for him. Both of which are valid concerns for him.
Thoughts and prayers that he has some incurable medical condition.
He’s been a piece of human garbage all his career, so let’s not sugar coat things now.
There’s no cure for being a cunt. - Bronn
Sure there is. An incurable medical condition.
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Controlling the future of a world they no longer have any meaningful stake in.
Their voters too. It’s hilarious that the greatest rage about the direction of the country comes from ancient conservative fucks that are circling the drain and won’t even be alive to feel the effects. And it isn’t even anger for the sake of the well being of their descendants, as their policy positions are almost always to cut everyone off from societal help when they need it just to revel in the pain of anyone outside their in-group.
It’s just very important for Old Republicans to know that Americans that don’t look or act like them will continue to be kicked while they’re down after they’re gone. It’s like they think heaven will just sitting on a cloud with popcorn watching police murder black teenagers and poor women getting declined for abortions.
That’s what blows my mind. What is motivating these people? If you’re in your 80s, surely you have enough money to just fucking retire already. Is their greed for even more money and power that strong that they have to continue ruining our country well after the average person is deep into their retirement years?
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Anyway, remember how hard he worked to take away benefits from 9/11 first responders?
I have no sympathy for this man, anybody else want to just reminisce about the horrible shit he’s done instead?
I hope he just dies. He isn’t a human being.
What else is there?
Republican, Democrat, Independent, Goat-Sacrificer, Whatever; we all need to vote in people that are actively working to improve the future. You know, the one boomers don’t even believe in…
For now, that’s democrat. I know I know two party system sucks etc etc but we need to stop the bleeding before we try to walk again.
Trump and the GQP have set us all back 2 decades and they aren’t done dragging us down.
100% agree. We have to halt and try to undo the damage they are actively doing to our country (Supreme Court, anyone?), then we can focus on our antiquated “first-past-the-post” system…
Is it bad that I hope this is a sign of medical issues that will force him into retirement? I’m sick of a misogynist turtle calling the shots.
I hope he never unfreezes
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Like, I generally wouldn’t wish this type of thing on someone, but I think about how many people are going to die as a result of him stealing a SC seat and ramming ACB through, or even just his stonewalling anything an Obama tried to do just so Obama couldn’t get the W regardless of how many people’s lives were hurt, ruined, or ended, and I gotta say, I really wonder what I’m having for dinner tonight. I think I’ll have a dessert though, maybe ice cream, but open to suggestions.
Have you not decided yet? Have pasta. Or if you want dessert, vanilla ice cream is pure bliss.
We did go with pasta, but it turns out I was out of ice cream and didn’t bother to get it. There’s always today!
Next day follow up: how was dinner? Did you have dessert?
I ended up skipping dessert, but hey, today is a new day!
Unfortunately, probably not. Reminder that there’s a rep that’s practically at the point of being Weekend at Burnie’s-ed
Someone will take his place and do the same stuff. He’s just the focus for blame. He offers cover to others.
If we’re being honest, the replacement senator will be even worse. And the Republican Senate leader will be worse.
Which is a horrible thought
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Just need mandatory retirement at 70 maximum. Term limits have too many downsides. We just need to make them ineligible when they’re too old to think clearly.
We have term limits!
They’re called elections.
But people are too lazy to go vote. Last election cycle only around HALF the registered voters could be bothered to go vote. If the other half voted, they could overturn pretty much any election in this country. But they can’t be bothered. They rather complain about a lack of term limits online.
We have term limits!
They’re called elections.
Term limits and elections are not synonymous. A term limit restricts the number of times that a politician can run, it puts them out of office regardless of whether or not they could win another election. They teach this in like the third grade.
Unless Biden decides not to run, I’m almost certainly going to vote for him. Not voting or voting third party puts us closer to authoritarian leaders.
Although at this point, I’m kind of wondering if the GOP has it right on climate change. If climate change is a giant volcano, humanity is free-falling directly into it. The GOP wants to point headfirst and tuck our arms by our side to speed towards it. The DNC wants to deploy a parachute that will ensure we slow down, but still fall into the volcano much more slowly and painfully.
Sorry Earth. Humanity fucked it up. We were too stupid to figure out fossil fuels and greenhouse gasses early in industrialization. When it was realized at first, greedy business executives hid it from society. When society at large became aware of it, we were too selfish to give up fossil fuels. By the time green energy was made feasible, it was too late to avoid 2C, which may trigger positive feedback processes that humans have no hope of controlling.
I’m not falling into the trap of “it’s too late so let’s not do anything and drill, baby, drill”, but some days I wonder if the radical energy policy will extend the suffering.
Anyways, hope everyone has a great Thursday!
I live in a solid red state. I’ll vote third party.
Ya, some people are in a position to vote third party safely to send a signal.
Even the harshest climate scientists don’t share the same doom and gloom narrative that you do. I think you should watch fewer hollywood movies. Maybe go outside for a bit and disconnect yourself from the internet for a few hours.
At one point in time, the goal was to remain below 1.5C heating (I forget over which time frame), with the worst effects kicking in at 2.0C. I believe one of the recent IPCC reports suggest to stay near 2.0C, we have to sequester carbon using a process that’s not invented yet.
I believe that current thought is that we will reach 2.0 C of heating even if we stop fossil fuel usage, entirely, tomorrow.
My post was pretty pessimistic, but the reality is pretty bad. The reason that all that carbon was sequestered prior to burning it is that plant life existed before fungi for a significant amount of time. Plants would sequester carbon, die and fall, then remain and not rot.
Today, sequestering carbon can only be done by adding biomass. Trees sequester carbon until they die, then release all of the carbon back into the atmosphere (either quickly in a forest fire or slowly as they rot). Existing forests really aren’t doing much sequestering once they reach steady-state biomass (growing trees balanced by rotting trees).
I have no idea what the cycle is in the ocean, though. I know it’s 70% of Earth’s photosynthesis. Maybe the situation is not quite as dire.
The future is uncertain, perhaps humanity will figure out methods to mitigate things. There are thoughts that injecting synthetic volcano ash into the atmosphere might be feasible with today’s technology. This would emulate the cooling effect seen with volcanic eruptions that reach high enough. The effect can last a couple of years.
I’m not sure that would actually fix anything. These old fucks would simply arrange for puppets to take their place. Young yes men who do anything they say. At any time it would be unclear who is actually in power.
This is already the case with big companies controlling politicians. When it comes to money and power, the scum always find a way.
NEW CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
No person shall hold an elected or appointed position past the age of 10 years younger than average life expectancy, to be updated each census year. A special election is held to replace the person when this age is reached in the case of elected office. A new appointment required in 30 days for appointed positions.
No wonder America’s laws are so outdated, they’re made by guys who still think the 20’s were the “good ol’ days”
It’s so weird to me that we’re currently defining what people will refer to as “the 20s” for the next century
The good ol days, obviously
