Just normal American Utopia...

[funhusker]

We have a "Democrat Utopia" thread and a "Republican Utopia" Thread.  Both of these threads collect the extreme thoughts from "both sides" and it becomes easy to become an antagonist.  Maybe antagonists are needed for entertaining discussion, but I think we can all agree nothing ever moves forward.  It just devolves to "why are you dodging the question?".

 

These threads are made up of events or statements that really only the fringes support.  Most of us, if given a moment to think objectively, would agree that "yeah, that's a bit nuts."

 

I know we have a "Better America of Our Dreams" thread that collects heartwarming stories between politicians and folks of different backgrounds.  But this thread is for policy.  Is there anything at all that we can agree on?  Is there any legislation going through now that we won't be outraged if it passes?  I hope there is.

 

This board is where I collect a lot of my resources when I form opinions on topics.  There generally isn't a shortage of passion or objective thinking.  But I rarely see a thread where our most passionate posters make comments like "yeah, I agree.  this [policy] could be good." when talking with "adversaries". 

 

I wish I had a topic or tweet to start this thread, but I don't.  Do any of you?

[Danny Bateman]

Interesting question, fun.

 

One topic I think is generally agreed upon (by voters) that is topical is infrastructure spending. Congress finally looks posed to send an infrastructure bill to Biden's desk now that squabbling is done and it passed the House. I think most Americans who aren't being performatively partisan agree this is needed. It's puzzling Trump never actually addressed this - he talked a lot about it and it's an easy W. I guess it ranked lower in GOP priorities than tax cuts?

 

But on a national scale, our infrastructure is badly outdated and in need of repair or replacement. It's exciting to think about something like more real investment in broadband - my understanding is ISPs collected government subsidies to improve broadband availability but not delivered their end of the deal. And good internet is so vital to the modern workforce.

 

I think disagreement just appears to be centered around the size and scope of investment. Which the Senate appears to have legitimately moderated.

[Scarlet]

On 11/7/2021 at 1:23 PM, Danny Bateman said:

Interesting question, fun.

 

One topic I think is generally agreed upon (by voters) that is topical is infrastructure spending. Congress finally looks posed to send an infrastructure bill to Biden's desk now that squabbling is done and it passed the House. I think most Americans who aren't being performatively partisan agree this is needed. It's puzzling Trump never actually addressed this - he talked a lot about it and it's an easy W. I guess it ranked lower in GOP priorities than tax cuts?

 

But on a national scale, our infrastructure is badly outdated and in need of repair or replacement. It's exciting to think about something like more real investment in broadband - my understanding is ISPs collected government subsidies to improve broadband availability but not delivered their end of the deal. And good internet is so vital to the modern workforce.

 

I think disagreement just appears to be centered around the size and scope of investment. Which the Senate appears to have legitimately moderated.

Even something that has overwhelming support among the American people is being gaslit to the base as "socialism".  I'm not sure how there can ever be any agreement when part of the equation is so out in left field.  

[Danny Bateman]

3 hours ago, Scarlet said:

Even something that has overwhelming support among the American people is being gaslit to the base as "socialism".  I'm not sure how there can ever be any agreement when part of the equation is so out in left field.  

 

Gonna hazard a guess people getting their takes from Hitler Jr. and Trump's Chief of Staff aren't exactly straight shooters.

 

The conservative media apparatus is super duper toxic.

[B.B. Hemingway]

Uhhhhh. No.

 

 

 

[BigRedBuster]

23 minutes ago, B.B. Hemingway said:

Uhhhhh. No.

 

 

 

What kind of idiot creates this type of thought?

[VectorVictor]

1 hour ago, B.B. Hemingway said:

Uhhhhh. No.

 

 

 

 

45 minutes ago, BigRedBuster said:

What kind of idiot creates this type of thought?

 

A Brain Surgeon or Rocket Scientist that has trouble with dating because of the intimidation factor. 

[BigRedBuster]

2 minutes ago, VectorVictor said:

 

 

A Brain Surgeon or Rocket Scientist that has trouble with dating because of the intimidation factor. 

The Rocket Surgeon is the one with the real brains obviously.

[RedDenver]

1 hour ago, B.B. Hemingway said:

Uhhhhh. No.

 

 

 

 

55 minutes ago, BigRedBuster said:

What kind of idiot creates this type of thought?

I am an aerospace engineer, and I can tell you anyone of average intelligence can make it a career by applying themselves.

[B.B. Hemingway]

16 minutes ago, RedDenver said:

 

I am an aerospace engineer, and I can tell you anyone of average intelligence can make it a career by applying themselves.

 

Your definition of average intelligence is probably much different than most people's when considering the kind of individuals you're around on a day to day basis. The people I employ? Half of them have trouble getting a tree in the ground properly, or keeping a wheelbarrow upright. I doubt some of them would be qualified to get your coffee in the morning.

 

Congratulations on a cool career, though! 

[sho]

2 minutes ago, B.B. Hemingway said:

 

Your definition of average intelligence is probably much different than most people's when considering the kind of individuals you're around on a day to day basis. The people I employ? Half of them have trouble getting a tree in the ground properly, or keeping a wheelbarrow upright. I doubt some of them would be qualified to get your coffee in the morning.

 

Congratulations on a cool career, though! 

 

Everybody is a Genius. But If You Judge a Fish by Its Ability to Climb a Tree, It Will Live Its Whole Life Believing that It is Stupid--Albert Einstein

 

Maybe you just have a lot of fish in trees?   lol

[B.B. Hemingway]

5 minutes ago, sho said:

 

Everybody is a Genius. But If You Judge a Fish by Its Ability to Climb a Tree, It Will Live Its Whole Life Believing that It is Stupid--Albert Einstein

 

Maybe you just have a lot of fish in trees?   lol

 

Maybe that's it. Haha

[BigRedBuster]

37 minutes ago, RedDenver said:

 

I am an aerospace engineer, and I can tell you anyone of average intelligence can make it a career by applying themselves.

I will agree that there are a lot of people who have the capability to do better than they are, but they don't apply themselves and try.  But....as much as it pains me to say it, you and your co-workers are above average with intelligence.  

[RedDenver]

14 minutes ago, B.B. Hemingway said:

 

Your definition of average intelligence is probably much different than most people's when considering the kind of individuals you're around on a day to day basis. The people I employ? Half of them have trouble getting a tree in the ground properly, or keeping a wheelbarrow upright. I doubt some of them would be qualified to get your coffee in the morning.

 

Congratulations on a cool career, though! 

Just as likely your definition of average intelligence is much different than most people's when considering the kind of individuals you're around on a day to day basis.

 

The key is are those people actually invested in doing those things? I've tipped over a wheel barrow - usually because I'm doing a half-a$$ job. If you're smart enough to get into college (which I think the average person is capable of doing), then someone that really wants to be an aerospace engineer and invests the time and energy into learning can do it. 

[B.B. Hemingway]

15 minutes ago, RedDenver said:

Just as likely your definition of average intelligence is much different than most people's when considering the kind of individuals you're around on a day to day basis.

 

The key is are those people actually invested in doing those things? I've tipped over a wheel barrow - usually because I'm doing a half-a$$ job. If you're smart enough to get into college (which I think the average person is capable of doing), then someone that really wants to be an aerospace engineer and invests the time and energy into learning can do it. 

 

There are a lot more hourly worker/day laborer folks in the world than there are aerospace engineers or brain surgeons. I've got a hunch that I'm hanging with the group that resides closer to the mean.