Politics

[M70375!]

As a retired farmer from the border state of North Dakota when I was still farming. Nafta was a disaster for us. One thing that really hurt me as a sugar beet farmer, Mexico was allowed to dump their sugar on our markets. What was for many years a very profitable crop, was that it completely destroyed that industry. No the guys farming the land that I used to farm are loosing hundreds of dollars per acre every year. I saw the writing on the wall got completely out of it, and to this day,I just don't understand why the guys continue to raise beets at a loss.
So much for nafta.
What I can't understand now is the 100,000 plus troops we lost in Korea and Vietnam , supposedly to stop the spread of communism. Those troops died in vain.Why are we now allowing America hating communist to run for and hold office and spread the hate America agenda.
Commies should be deported or executed as a threat to our national security.
My 2 cents worth.

 

[rigbymauser]

One element that doesn't seem to be covered much by social scientists that I believe is a real factor: shame and embarassment. The concept of "have you no shame?".

I remember growing up lower middle class and there was a lot of shame and stigma in society. Mothers of the poorer kids were obsessed that shoes were shined and girl's dresses were spotless for Sunday church. Discipline was stricter for the poor kids than the rich kids, because there was social-stigma trying to prove the lesser means people were just as good, just as ordered, and with equal earned dignity.

The midwest has always been Scandinavian and Dutch culturally influenced. The mindset that "if you have to stoop in your dignity to ask for welfare, you must surely need it". It is this shame/dignity concept of Northern Europeans.

People of all stripes today have less shame. Less embarrassment. A child's guest misbehaves at a private club...no big deal. A kid lies or steals...not a big deal. Dirty clothes or inappropriate attire for an event...no big deal.

Back in the day, fear of being ostracized due poor protocol was a very, very real threat. Those trying to socially climb (most people) were acutely aware of social queues and were very careful to avoid shame.

My point is that in the name of tolerance and acceptance, society has accepted really bad behavior overall. As pertains to multi-generational African-Americans, they are typically a bellwhether of bad things that hit their demographic first, and then migrates to Caucasians second. (e.g. unwed pregnancy)

African-American male youth culture is a culture without any shame. Their role models they emulate are undignified thugs and harlots, which does them no favors. Their tolerance for deviating from social norms has altered the clientele of major businesses like Carnival Cruise lines, Popeyes Chicken, and Red Lobster which is now struggling to regain decorum and re-appeal to other races as clients to no avail.

My hypothesis is that since it is proven that African-American youth have the highest self-esteem of any racial group, coupled with the phenomenon of no social stigma for modest infractions of societal norms, things are in a death-spiral that is unchecked.

My evidence is the dignity and propriety of the African American family circa 1950-1960 when racial issues were very real, poverty was far more profound, yet their dignity and propriety was far more noteworthy. (e.g. men in hats, proper church attire, just look at any of the old photos and video of their gentile nature)

Well said!. No shame is often=no moral principal. Just like the leftwing.

We had some social studies some years back(2010) in regards to people comming from the 3rd world(primarly muslims) in regards to cognition and empathy. Here the muslim male fall behind already from early childhood. Their ability accumulate knowledge and problemsolving by the age of 7 was 3 years behind the average ethic dane of same age. By the age of 14 their ability to feel compassion was just about zerro. It was measured in their behavior plus an overrepresentation in diciplinary sanctions from school and in police incounters. By the age of 18 some 87% of muslim males have in one way another been in contact with the courtsystem. The ability to abide law and social structures is reduced with this group of people.

Karen Blixen well describe in her book "my african farm"(1937) the blacks of africa. They all mature sexually much faster than the europeans but when they reach the teenage stage all maturity stops.

 

[Killingtime]

I was looking at and comparing the whole of Europe. Primarily the EU. Its 14% in the EU, vs. 23% in the US. Since Europe spends almost 2x on social welfare programs, this heavily debunks the claim that welfare is solely to blame for the rise in single-parent homes, or even a primary factor.

1 in 8 EU households with children rely on one adult - News articles - Eurostat

EDN-20260601-1

ec.europa.eu

This article breaks it down by country. The wealthier ones have higher rates. But not as high as we do.

I see. I thought it would be more relevant since it was Europe and social programs that I thought was being discussed. To pick the ethnic equivalent in America to the more homogeneous Scandinavian countries that had higher percentages of social programs. I only did that because in America the single parent household is quite different based on race. From worst to best it’s blacks, native Americans, Hispanic, whites, Asian, and Jewish. The interesting observation I have is while poverty increase does have some link to race and percent of single parent households in America. Why is that not observed in the world at large. The world has a single parent rate roughly 1/3 of America and half of Europe. How is it that we have the highest standards of living and consumption but also the highest single parent household rates if poverty is the only issue . Same with Europe?

 

[Big_Easy]

Everyone is screaming trades today, and I agree; the problem is that public education in this country has done every thing possible to destroy trades classes in school, while at the same time telling every student that if they didn't go to college "for any degree" then they would end up poor and flipping burgers.

You're partially correct. My school district shut down those programs at my old high school as well. But not because the educators or administration asked them to. The politicians did that. The politicians in charge decided that they no longer wanted to spend money on them. It looked good to all of their voters when they told them how much money they were saving.

My senior "life skills" teacher Mr. Cosper told us........
"You MUST get a degree, get a degree in ANYTHING and you will make more money; figure out how to pay for it later because you'll be making MORE MONEY!"

Every baby boomer told our generation that, spend less time blaming teachers and more time blaming the boomers.

 

[KJE81]

I guess it might be the only way for Trump to get an aircraft carrier named after himself...he doesnt seem to care about optics in anything he does...

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/08/20/politics/navy-weighs-renaming-carrier-black-war-hero-to-trump

 

[Foxi]

"The U.S. Navy may name an aircraft carrier currently under construction in honor of Trump"

Probably because he ended all the wars "within 24 hours" ??
And because there's already a “Burger King in Teheran”.

Why does everything about him always feel like he's sick?


" " direct quotes

 

[KJE81]

"The U.S. Navy may name an aircraft carrier currently under construction in honor of Trump"

Probably because he ended all the wars "within 24 hours" ??
And because there's already a “Burger King in Teheran”.

Why does everything about him always feel like he's sick?


" " direct quotes

Perhaps its because of this: https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116769142648175922 apparently Trump is the greatest conqueror in history

 

[Altitude sickness]

Hopefully the black voters of Detroit turn out for the midterms. There is a long standing tension between Muslims in the greater Detroit area and Black residents.

122K views · 8.9K reactions | WATCH: A Detroit pastor blasts the Muslim-majority Dearborn City Council, claiming the city "look(s) down" on black people and accusing the council of following Sharia law. "It is my people that have funded you. It is m

WATCH: A Detroit pastor blasts the Muslim-majority Dearborn City Council, claiming the city "look(s) down" on black people and accusing the council of following Sharia law. "It is my people that...

www.facebook.com

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

"The U.S. Navy may name an aircraft carrier currently under construction in honor of Trump"

Probably because he ended all the wars "within 24 hours" ??
And because there's already a “Burger King in Teheran”.

Why does everything about him always feel like he's sick?


" " direct quotes

The city of Baton Rouge, in Louisiana, desperately needs another bridge over the Mississippi River to alleviate traffic congestion along Interstate 10. This is a huge bridge, price tag of a couple billion dollars. A wise and/or shrewd Louisiana politician came up with the idea to name the bridge the "Donald J Trump" bridge and surprise surprise it now might get funding.

Louisiana House approves bill to name new Mississippi River bridge after President Donald Trump

| WWL

www.audacy.com

 

[HookMeUpII]

I don't know but I think I speak for a lot of people: I am politically "tired."

 

[Aaron N]

I don't know but I think I speak for a lot of people: I am politically "tired."

Like Buffalo Springfield said,

“Nobody’s right if everybody’s wrong”

 

[PARA45]

Pastor unleashes on Dearborn as religious tensions erupt at city council meeting: 'Enough is enough' — Fox News

Pastor Sewell accused Dearborn of operating under Sharia law at a town hall meeting as anti-Islam protests intensify over Muslim community influence.

apple.news

 

[HookMeUpII]

Like Buffalo Springfield said,

“Nobody’s right if everybody’s wrong”

I put people into 5 camps:

1) GOP and GOP is right all the time, no matter what.
2) GOP but fully transparent in how they evaluate their leader(s).
3) Dem and Dem is right all the time, no matter what.
4) Dem but fully transparent in how they evaluate their leader(s).
5) Politically agnostic/uninterested.

#5 is kind of rare. Can't say I disagree because it's all tiring. 2 and 4 are becoming rare. I fall under 2. I did not vote for what this admin is doing.

Epstein files: Botched
War: Well, we have more of it.
Failing Geopolitical Diplomacy: Definitely have that.
Garbage Economy: Yup

I am just tired. The housing market where I am is a disaster. Rates are way, way too high (which is not all Trump's fault). Gas prices are biting away slowly at the excess money supply. Wait until winter when home heating oil bills are $600 a month.

And there are a lot of people like me. I have 4-5 buddies who feel the same way. Still GOP, but not happy with this admin. A lot of them, like me, have become really disappointed with the decisions as of late.

 

[wesheltonj]

. . .
Epstein files: Botched
War: Well, we have more of it.
Failing Geopolitical Diplomacy: Definitely have that.
Garbage Economy: Yup

I am just tired. The housing market where I am is a disaster. Rates are way, way too high (which is not all Trump's fault). Gas prices are biting away slowly at the excess money supply. Wait until winter when home heating oil bills are $600 a month.

And there are a lot of people like me. I have 4-5 buddies who feel the same way. Still GOP, but not happy with this admin. A lot of them, like me, have become really disappointed with the decisions as of late.

I have a different take on those:
Epstein files: Yes, not the best look, but Biden did not to anything for 4 years.
War: My hope is after the mid-terms, Trump will get down to business and finish Iran. This should have happened 47 years ago, but Carter would not do it. And Regan did not help when he cut and run from Lebanon.
Diplomacy: If you mean going back to Georgetown & Tufts (Fetcher) graduates running the show, not interested.
Economy: Not sure where you are (says NJ), but my state we are still booming. Yes, gasoline is too high. But it goes up and down and always will. $80+ WTI, certainly helps Texas oil & gas jobs.

 

[Tanks]

#5 is kind of rare.

Actually, considering the number of people that do not vote, I'd say it is the majority.

Epstein files: Yes, not the best look, but Biden did not to anything for 4 years.

They were under seal while Biden was POTUS and did not become available until after the passage of "Epstein Files Transparency Act" which Trump opposed until he realized he'd lose.

Economy: Not sure where you are (says NJ), but my state we are still booming. Yes, gasoline is too high. But it goes up and down and always will. $80+ WTI, certainly helps Texas oil & gas jobs.

People vote with their wallets. What they see is high gas prices, high grocery prices, rent etc. while wages stay stagnant. There is that disconnect between Wall street and Main street as the cliche goes. Not many voters take the macro view. The beef I buy have gone up in price by 29%. My Medicare Part B payments have almost doubled as well.

 

[wesheltonj]

. . . People vote with their wallets. What they see is high gas prices, high grocery prices, rent etc. while wages stay stagnant. There is that disconnect between Wall street and Main street as the cliche goes. Not many voters take the macro view. The beef I buy have gone up in price by 29%. My Medicare Part B payments have almost doubled as well.

I used to believe that people voted with their wallets too. But, the elections I've seen Texas from 2010 and beyond says otherwise.

 

[Boyd Brooks]

I tend to think people only fit into 3 groups,
1. People with common sense
2. People without common sense
3. People with full blown mental illness!
I will let you decide who fits where.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

I put people into 5 camps:

1) GOP and GOP is right all the time, no matter what.
2) GOP but fully transparent in how they evaluate their leader(s).
3) Dem and Dem is right all the time, no matter what.
4) Dem but fully transparent in how they evaluate their leader(s).
5) Politically agnostic/uninterested.

#5 is kind of rare. Can't say I disagree because it's all tiring. 2 and 4 are becoming rare. I fall under 2. I did not vote for what this admin is doing.

Epstein files: Botched
War: Well, we have more of it.
Failing Geopolitical Diplomacy: Definitely have that.
Garbage Economy: Yup

I am just tired. The housing market where I am is a disaster. Rates are way, way too high (which is not all Trump's fault). Gas prices are biting away slowly at the excess money supply. Wait until winter when home heating oil bills are $600 a month.

And there are a lot of people like me. I have 4-5 buddies who feel the same way. Still GOP, but not happy with this admin. A lot of them, like me, have become really disappointed with the decisions as of late.

Bingo. This is me. And a bunch of people I know.

 

[Tanks]

I tend to think people only fit into 3 groups,
1. People with common sense
2. People without common sense
3. People with full blown mental illness!
I will let you decide who fits where.

Except all 3 depends on the worldview of the people doing the fitting.

 

[Brent in Az]

Ouch....