We're dying down here. Not just from Covid. And our failure to address those problems hurts your state too.

Too much state control over matters of life and death. Because our governors don't care of we live.

It's time to stop just mocking and whining and actually do something about it.

Margaret Renkl has summarized the problems exceptionally well, and offered some solutions here.

Southern Republicans Cannot Be Trusted With Public Health [nyti.ms]

Thanks for posting this - a good (if damning) read.

I can’t help but feel, unfortunately, that the folks who really need to read this will dismiss it because it’s the NYT.

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pdq
Thanks for posting this - a good (if damning) read.

I can’t help but feel, unfortunately, that the folks who really need to read this will dismiss it because it’s the NYT.

I view it as a call to arms for both liberals and the less crazy conservative thinkers and activists, and we do have those down here.

Take her framing and translate as needed. ")

Unless the "less crazy" conservatives start voting for someone without an R next to their name, nothing will change. I don't see that happening.

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“No persons are more frequently wrong, than those who will not admit they are wrong.” -- François de La Rochefoucauld

"Those who cannot accept the past are condemned to revise it." -- Geo. Mathias

The German word for contraceptive is “Schwangerschaftsverhütungsmittel”. By the time you finished saying that, it’s too late

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In tha 360. MRF User Map

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Ombligo
Unless the "less crazy" conservatives start voting for someone without an R next to their name, nothing will change. I don't see that happening.

She's calling for the feds to help ensure we are not at the mercy of these crazy elected people.

That's how we got voting rights, desegregation, environmental laws, special ed, etc..

They're acting like they know democracy's gone. No consequences for themselves!

They're probably right, too.

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p8712
They're acting like they know democracy's gone. No consequences for themselves!

They're probably right, too.

Just sticking with South Carolina, where I live, Rs dominate and we have very high voter registration. It's tough to see how Ds win statewide even with high turnout. But we'll keep trying of course.

From what I understand we are the only state where college educated voters primarily go R. And our percentage of college educated folks is about the national average. Politically it's an odd place. Women are not well represented in govt.


So I do think Rs think they are safe in normal elections and can do what they want. That's why we need help from the feds.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/06/2021 12:27PM by Lemon Drop.

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That's why we need help from the feds.

I know this is the hope. But in many cases the 'feds' are as tied up as the red state folks because of the crazy. Personally, I am getting tired of all the arguments of the form 'Biden should change the votes of Manchin and Sinema with his green lantern super power.'

It is the same crap that Obama suffered during the ACA debate about Lieberman and Ben Nelson.

I watch folks on Rachel saying this over and over about choice, DACA, taxes, DC statehood, and whatever their personal thing is.

It does not work that way. The only way forward is to get votes from crazy people. No matter how much AOC and her ilk (with whom I am personally very sympathetic) whine, it does not change votes in the Cali central valley.

Remember, white women voted for Trump, and Joe Biden barely won the election against the worst president in history in a horrible economic situation during a pandemic.

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Ombligo
Unless the "less crazy" conservatives start voting for someone without an R next to their name, nothing will change. I don't see that happening.

So you are saying there aren't any Republicans fit for public office?

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********************************************
“A sword never kills anybody; it is a tool in the killer's hand.” Seneca the Younger

The police have no duty to respond. See Castle Rock v. Gonzales, 545 U.S. 748 (2005) or Warren v. District of Columbia[1] (444 A.2d. 1, D.C. Ct. of Ap. 1981)

Judge Lee wrote that “we cannot jettison our constitutional rights, even if the goal behind a law is laudable." 9th Circuit Court of Appeals

[www.youtube.com]

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Racer X

Quote
Ombligo
Unless the "less crazy" conservatives start voting for someone without an R next to their name, nothing will change. I don't see that happening.

So you are saying there aren't any Republicans fit for public office?

Right now in statewide races across the South, only the GOP primary race really matters. And turnout for those is very low, only the most partisan show up. So to win the primary and know they are a shoo-in for the general, GOP candidates have to go far right MAGA. So nobody reasonable is going to win. It's just where we are.

now you all know how I feel. Being conservative and living in Seattle. No vote I cast will ever matter. And the liberals have done such a great job here in King County over the past few decades........

---

********************************************
“A sword never kills anybody; it is a tool in the killer's hand.” Seneca the Younger

The police have no duty to respond. See Castle Rock v. Gonzales, 545 U.S. 748 (2005) or Warren v. District of Columbia[1] (444 A.2d. 1, D.C. Ct. of Ap. 1981)

Judge Lee wrote that “we cannot jettison our constitutional rights, even if the goal behind a law is laudable." 9th Circuit Court of Appeals

[www.youtube.com]

Quote
Racer X
now you all know how I feel. Being conservative and living in Seattle. No vote I cast will ever matter. And the liberals have done such a great job here in King County over the past few decades........

Seems to me LD's in a somewhat unique position to hold forth on the differences/disparities between Washington and South Carolina county and state governance.

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Racer X
now you all know how I feel. Being conservative and living in Seattle. No vote I cast will ever matter. And the liberals have done such a great job here in King County over the past few decades........

What are your conservative ideas for King County?

(One of the nation's most successful counties by economic growth and business measures.. people are well educated and healthy...you do need to be rich to live decently there.)

VOTERS!

It ALWAYS comes down to VOTERS. Sadly, the number of people who COULD vote simply DON'T (and of course they complain bitterly as to how bad things have become).

We're in the state we currently find ourselves in because people are NOT held accountable for THEIR ACTIONS. Reverse that "do whatever you please attitude" and conditions WILL start to improve. Welfare was NEVER intended to allow people to live the "Good Life". It was supposed to be a helping hand to give them time to get "back on their feet" as PRODUCTIVE members of society.

As for too many children living in poverty caused by unwanted / unplanned pregnancies, the "government" PAYS women to have MORE babies. That said, FAR TOO MANY women have NO WAY of paying for all those mouths that need to be fed. That HAS to stop! As far as I'm concerned, people can have ALL the CONSENSUAL sex they want AS LONG AS they're SUPER careful re unwanted / unplanned pregnancies. The "baby daddies MUST be held responsible too. If ANY person is unfit / unable to reasonably care for babies they've made, remove that child from said irresponsible parent. If said parents continue their irresponsible behavior, MANDATORY STERILIZATION should be applied (both to mommies AND daddies).

Let the Liberal Flaming begin.....

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testcase
VOTERS!

It ALWAYS comes down to VOTERS. Sadly, the number of people who COULD vote simply DON'T (and of course they complain bitterly as to how bad things have become).

We're in the state we currently find ourselves in because people are NOT held accountable for THEIR ACTIONS. Reverse that "do whatever you please attitude" and conditions WILL start to improve. Welfare was NEVER intended to allow people to live the "Good Life". It was supposed to be a helping hand to give them time to get "back on their feet" as PRODUCTIVE members of society.

As for too many children living in poverty caused by unwanted / unplanned pregnancies, the "government" PAYS women to have MORE babies. That said, FAR TOO MANY women have NO WAY of paying for all those mouths that need to be fed. That HAS to stop! As far as I'm concerned, people can have ALL the CONSENSUAL sex they want AS LONG AS they're SUPER careful re unwanted / unplanned pregnancies. The "baby daddies MUST be held responsible too. If ANY person is unfit / unable to reasonably care for babies they've made, remove that child from said irresponsible parent. If said parents continue their irresponsible behavior, MANDATORY STERILIZATION should be applied (both to mommies AND daddies).

Let the Liberal Flaming begin.....

Do your solutions also apply to rape, incest and risk to the life of the patient?

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Saint Cloud, Minnesota, where the weather is wonderful even when it isn't.

The only people enjoying "the good life" from government welfare are the wealthiest, who pay less taxes than middle and lower income people. And that's for life, it's permanent, and not contingent on working. In fact, passive income from your inheritance is the best welfare deal of all!

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Lemon Drop

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Racer X
now you all know how I feel. Being conservative and living in Seattle. No vote I cast will ever matter. And the liberals have done such a great job here in King County over the past few decades........

What are your conservative ideas for King County?

(One of the nation's most successful counties by economic growth and business measures.. people are well educated and healthy...you do need to be rich to live decently there.)

The elected officials in Seattle REFUSE to do as they promise, and REFUSE to do what the voters wish. The city council has lost touch with the majority of the populace, only doing what is best for businesses, and ignoring the issues that effect the majority. Been this way for decades.

Every time there is turn over in the City Council, the newly elected council members get elected based on promises to change the status quo, and act on the will of the voters. And they DON'T. This has gone on for decades.

Our departing mayor ORDERED the Precinct Captain of the SPD East Precinct to abandon it last summer to the CHOP disruptors, despite the fact that the Mayor didn't have the authority to give that order, and the precinct captain acted on that unlawful order. The Police Chief was eventually ousted because she dared call the Mayor on it, and other decisions. Now, Chief Carmen Best is an advisor in DC for Pres Biden. Must know how to do her job well if she landed there.

The city cries poor CONSTANTLY, despite property values, and taxes, go up @10% each year. So the city gets a roughly 10 percent boost in property tax revenue every year. Where the F is all that money going? Where is all the business tax collected from Amazon, Google, Facebook, Apple, and countless other large to huge corporations with HQs or a large presence here going?

We have a Councilwoman up for recall. 5 of the 6 recall issues have been certified by the State Supreme Court, and she even confessed to doing one, which was to let unvetted, unescorted civilians into the City Office Building after hours, into the secure areas. That is in direct violation of city policy, and a fireable offense right there. Yet the City Council won't do the right thing and get rid of her. They have that power. So the voters and the State Supreme Court have to do that for them.

Should I go on with other cities, and the County as a whole?

The liberals are doing a real stellar job here.

---

********************************************
“A sword never kills anybody; it is a tool in the killer's hand.” Seneca the Younger

The police have no duty to respond. See Castle Rock v. Gonzales, 545 U.S. 748 (2005) or Warren v. District of Columbia[1] (444 A.2d. 1, D.C. Ct. of Ap. 1981)

Judge Lee wrote that “we cannot jettison our constitutional rights, even if the goal behind a law is laudable." 9th Circuit Court of Appeals

[www.youtube.com]

Sounds like you want to be on the Council.

RacerX, thanks for your response.
Honestly those are relatively minor, kind of belly-button gazing, humble bragging issues.

You can look at the city's budget, which is public, to see how revenues are spent.

So many cities would gladly take a wacky city council member and some annoying protestors in exchange for the economic base that Seattle has.


Seattle is America's protege but also our spoiled brat.

(I still love it though)

FWIW 3 Los Angeles City Council members are facing recall - here it's over housing homeless (called tiny home villages) in NIMBY areas.

the problem is that none of the councilmembers listen to their constituents unless it furthers the councilperson's personal agenda.

I have gone to a number of smaller, local meet and greets and asked some direct questions, and got nothing in return but bewildered looks and non-answers.

When our current mayor was elevated from deputy mayor to mayor, she was asked what her plan for dealing with the traffic issues, her response was, I kid you not, this is verifiable "Don't look at me, I just got here"

Oh, I forgot to mention if the Powers that Be in Seattle don't like state law, they just chose to ignore it and never enforce what they disagree with.

---

********************************************
“A sword never kills anybody; it is a tool in the killer's hand.” Seneca the Younger

The police have no duty to respond. See Castle Rock v. Gonzales, 545 U.S. 748 (2005) or Warren v. District of Columbia[1] (444 A.2d. 1, D.C. Ct. of Ap. 1981)

Judge Lee wrote that “we cannot jettison our constitutional rights, even if the goal behind a law is laudable." 9th Circuit Court of Appeals

[www.youtube.com]



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/08/2021 12:56AM by Racer X.

Quote
testcase
VOTERS!

It ALWAYS comes down to VOTERS. Sadly, the number of people who COULD vote simply DON'T (and of course they complain bitterly as to how bad things have become).

We're in the state we currently find ourselves in because people are NOT held accountable for THEIR ACTIONS. Reverse that "do whatever you please attitude" and conditions WILL start to improve. Welfare was NEVER intended to allow people to live the "Good Life". It was supposed to be a helping hand to give them time to get "back on their feet" as PRODUCTIVE members of society.

As for too many children living in poverty caused by unwanted / unplanned pregnancies, the "government" PAYS women to have MORE babies. That said, FAR TOO MANY women have NO WAY of paying for all those mouths that need to be fed. That HAS to stop! As far as I'm concerned, people can have ALL the CONSENSUAL sex they want AS LONG AS they're SUPER careful re unwanted / unplanned pregnancies. The "baby daddies MUST be held responsible too. If ANY person is unfit / unable to reasonably care for babies they've made, remove that child from said irresponsible parent. If said parents continue their irresponsible behavior, MANDATORY STERILIZATION should be applied (both to mommies AND daddies).

Let the Liberal Flaming begin.....

No flames necessary. Some facts:

Quote

While many programs are welfare programs, the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program is the one most often called "welfare."

In June 2020, TANF provided income to more than 2.1 million Americans. Most TANF recipients are children. The June 2020 figures include 505,487 adults and over 1.6 million children.

Those adults would represent around 0.15% of the US population (who obviously have an average of about 3 kids each). Altogether, it’s around 0.6% of the population who get TANF benefits at any particular time.

The “T” stands for “temporary”. There’s a lifetime five-year limit on these benefits, which amount to less than $500 a month (median). But two-thirds of TANF recipients are on TANF benefits for only 1-12 months. The “welfare queens” of Reagan are largely a myth.

In the fiscal year 2019, a total of $30.9 billion was dedicated to providing TANF support. This included amounts for child care, pre-K and kindergarten, work education and training, and administration. The latter, at $2.2B, was 7% of the total. In comparison, in 2019, the government paid out $1T in Social Security, over 32x as much as TANF costs in it’s entirety.

There are other things we provide to poor people, like Medicaid. Since we have decided as a nation we won’t refuse health care to genuinely sick people if they have no money, this is really mostly payments to doctors and hospitals who would otherwise get little or nothing from such patients. And it helps keep them out of the hospital, which is really expensive.

And then there’s SNAP benefits (“food stamps”), which is, y’know, food.

That’s the reality of “welfare” today. It’s not some cushy life for lazy people. But myths die hard.

Facts can't stand in the way of a good "catch phrase". Evil bastid that he is, David Frum knew exactly where he was going when he coined the phrase Cadillac Queen.