Political Discussion and Commentary

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A place to discuss politics and offer political commentary. Self posts are preferred, but links to current events and news are allowed. Opinion pieces are welcome on a case by case basis, and discussion of and disagreement about issues is encouraged!

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Is Donald Trump unstoppable? He has defied laws and norms, thumbed his nose at Congress and foreign allies alike. He has displayed open hostility toward immigrants and American citizens, threatened extreme force against protestors, recently going so far as to mention the Insurrection Act. His ICE thugs roam the streets and are committing atrocities with impunity. We kidnapped the leader of a sovereign nation and are positioning troops for a potential invasion of an allied nation and NATO member. Donald Trump has been one step ahead of the law at every turn and with the courts and Congress in his pocket, many are beginning to wonder if he truly intends to suspend upcoming elections and destroy our democracy once and for all. So let’s talk about it.

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Over on reddit, there's a very active "EndFPTP" subreddit that I post to from time-to-time. It's a place where people can discuss alternatives to "FPTP", which is an initialism for "first-past-the-post voting". There are other methods besides FPTP, such as "RCV" or "ranked-choice voting" promoted by FairVote. There are also many Condorcet methods, not to mention approval voting and STAR voting.

There's a lot to explain and a lot to discuss on this topic. Is this community the right place to post about this sort of thing, or should I be looking for a different community to post in?

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Source


Photo by Pierre Lavie. Yes this is me. And I threw my Leica. It landed on the bass plate with hardly a scratch. Another photographer grabbed it along with my phone and I was able to track him later. I was held face down tear gas deployed right in front of me and pepper sprayed directly into the eye.

-- John Abernathy

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There are lots of reasons to dismantle ICE. There’s a functional argument: We do not need ICE to enforce immigration laws; the U.S. handled this just fine for 227 years prior to the creation of this specific agency. There’s a fiscal argument: ICE is now larger than every other federal law enforcement agency combined. It’s larger than the militaries of all but 15 countries in the world! It’s annual budget, $37.5 billion, could pay for the health insurance of every needy child in the country!

But the core reason for abolishing ICE is that it poses a structural threat to American democracy.

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Given The USA’s ‘2025-‘2028 President ‘Crazy Don’ & his administration has not hidden this, why has Canada & EU or Individual Countries & UN any ACTION, starting with sending in any peace keeping troops in? I know, The EU probably has rules preventing this & I know The UN, under their BS rules that protect the 5-dominate countries, post WW II & surprise, surprise & surprise the 5 are still dominate, has structures preventing this. Now, is the time to ignore those rules-structures & rebuild The EU & The UN, afterwards, using TRULY DEMOCRATIC, COOP & SOCIALIST STRUCTURES!

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The Dem. ‘90+% Capitalist’ Party States Leaders’ Lack of Calling-Out Their National Guards (Let Alone The Rest of The Forces They have Control Over- Police & Etc.) to Deal with The USA’s ‘2025-‘2028 President ‘Crazy Don’s & His Administration’s Federal Army (ICE & Etc.) Arresting, Harming, Killing & Imprisoning People Living in The USA (Immigrants Or Not).

Not just to protect the activist, but protect the people that the targets?

I been asking myself & the elderly female roommate this for weeks now-

Why are they not doing it?
Why are they not asking Canada & EU or Individual Countries & UN to help? Yes, I am serious, like France did during The Revolutionary War.
& Why are there not the people doing activist against these Dem. ‘90+% Capitalist’ Party States Leaders, for not doing-
Both of these together, Asking Canada & EU or Individual Countries & UN to help
or Easier to just call-out their own forces?

Also, do you agree with doing-

Both of these together, Asking Canada & EU or Individual Countries & UN to help
or Easier to just call-out their own forces?

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Last Wednesday, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent shot and killed Renee Good, a 37-year-old American mother. Already, the federal investigation into the killing raises serious concerns, which is why the parallel investigation Minnesota officials are conducting is vital.

Mere hours after Good’s death, the Trump administration prejudged the case before any investigation could begin. The administration was swift to blame the victim, with the president and the DHS secretary making disparaging, accusatory, and prejudicial statements about her motives and conduct

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As President Trump threatens Iran, Venezuela, Mexico, Greenland and more, renowned historian Alfred McCoy says the United States is “an empire in decline,” following a predictable pattern of militarism abroad and political instability at home as it loses power and influence on the world stage. “American politics become increasingly contorted and irrational,” says McCoy. “I think the thing to do is to realize that we are an empire in decline, … and it will continue for another decade or two, until American power finally slips away.”

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To publicly address people like Farron Cousins (the far-left Alex Jones imitator) and Mark Romano, I write to you not as a partisan, but as a British centrist tired of the rancor pouring from your broadcasts and writings. Your post-2024 election commentary has been punctuated by a tone of smug superiority and collective scorn, as if ordinary Americans must share blame for broad political problems. You seem to relish name-calling and sensationalism, treating every headline as an opportunity to beat people down instead of lifting citizens up. The country is weary of this approach, and many of us wonder when empathy or insight will begin to replace the vitriol.

Collective Blame and Voter Shaming

You often treat the entire American electorate like one big guilty party. Millions of voters cast ballots for thousands of different reasons, yet you paint them all with one broad stroke. In your world, anyone who voted for the “wrong” candidate or chose not to vote at all somehow deserves scorn or blame. Other millions of people who sat out may be disillusioned, busy, or disenfranchised - not traitors. On the other hand, for all those who know full well about Donald Trump yet voted for him anyway, deserve all of the blame, while most of those who are wilfully ignorant need to be hammered. BUT, having said that, you lump absolutely ALL Americans together as if they are one giant problem, even though most have been actively opposed to MAGA from the start up to this point. This collective punishment is simplistic and cruel. These tactics only divide society further and discourage any real understanding. MAGA voters are the ones that need to be actively opposed, not the whole entire populace, as they don’t even represent the nation, nor even morality.

But the problem runs deeper. You talk as if non-voters and wavering Americans are fully to blame for everything, as if they all share your views or principles. Anyone who might disagree is instantly tainted. That kind of broad-brush condemnation is not only unfair; it’s lazy journalism. By writing off millions of your neighbours with one swipe, you avoid engaging with real reasons people have for their choices. You drive potential allies into silence instead of explaining your position. In a democracy, such scolding only increases suspicion and wounds trust. America’s diversity of thought cannot be eradicated with collective insults - only embraced with discussion.

Sensationalism and Clickbait

I see the cliched clickbait in your headlines a mile away. Mark, your Romano Report coverage often reads like it’s written by a paranoid blogger, not a seasoned professional offering legal insight. Farron, your videos frequently begin with a shriek of horror and deliver only a thin veneer of facts underneath. Together, you trade in dramatic overstatement - words like “outrage,” “collapse,” “exposed,” and “destroyed” fly off your tongues like carnival rhetoric - all to snag views and clicks.

Viewers tune in for insight, not theatrics. Instead, they feel manipulated rather than informed. This style insults their intelligence and erodes trust. Instead of calmly analysing events, you hand out panic by the spoonful. People come looking for understanding, and your sensationalism only confirms their fear that media now cares more about likes than facts. It’s no wonder your credibility suffers: when every topic is a crisis, nothing feels real.

Hypocrisy and Closed Ears

You present yourselves as progressive truth-sayers, the moral high ground from which all others must be judged. Yet when anyone respectfully disagrees or points out a flaw in your narrative, you dismiss them as trolls or stooges. You ignore reasonable feedback and answer tough questions with contempt and condescension. If someone offers counter-evidence or simply a different perspective, you treat it as a personal insult instead of engaging in dialogue. You preach transparency and honesty, but you apply none of it to yourselves. Demanding accountability from others while giving none in your own commentary is the height of hypocrisy.

Those on the left who hoped you would build bridges see the gap widening instead. You act entitled to ratchet up outrage, yet you won’t tolerate a moment of push-back. A genuine discussion requires listening, but you seem deaf to anything that doesn’t echo your own echo chamber. By refusing to acknowledge any nuance or admit any mistake, you lose the respect of everyone who expected a serious conversation. It’s jarring to see you scold others for what you do yourselves - using outrage instead of evidence, punishing questions instead of answering them. That is not the noble praxis of journalism; it’s the tantrum of petulant analysts.

Ignoring the Vulnerable and Disenfranchised

Consider your non-voting, disabled, and marginalised compatriots. Many Americans face real obstacles to voting - disabilities, chronic illness, poverty, long work hours, or even legal disqualification - and some simply feel disenfranchised by the system. Yet you have the gall to write these people off as irresponsible or complicit in the outcome. It is jarring and insensitive.

You claim to champion the underdog, but you conveniently ignore or belittle those who could not participate in the very process you claim to care about. To lump them into a pile of “you get what you deserve” is simply cruel. There are veterans, people with chronic health conditions, caretakers and teachers who have enough on their plates without being scolded for politics. If you truly cared about justice, you would acknowledge these struggles instead of sneering at them. Turning a blind eye to the systemic barriers some citizens face - while lecturing the rest on what to do - is not just hypocritical; it is unkind. I will also go on record, that the democrat party is also to blame, because they pander to divisive ideological aspects that poison societal norms; from pushing identity politics, pandering and favouring Wokism, add fuel to culture wars, and are obsessive with microaggressions. What I can’t stand is that people like you, being cogs in the machine of the democrat party, are never critical of the party you go for unlike the Republicans, and even if you do, you very seldom do it. You people need to get out of your bubble and look at the vital aspects of both parties in full with objectivity, and to not overlook crucial nuances within society and governmental aspects.

The world is not as black and white as you think it is Romano and Farron. The democrats, during the 2024 election campaign, at the time when no party has ever won yet, they threw parties and acted as if they had taken the victory, when that has not happened yet. America is not a stupid country, but if you really want to label a party a stupid party in terms of the people in charge, the democrat party are not just hypocritical and arrogant, but they are also downright idiotic, and doesn’t have any ounce of sensibility at all. While I can say the same for the MAGA GOP but to a worse extent, the democrat party in terms of its leadership, is no better either.

The problem is NOT “the people” as you proclaim, it is the system, the media, the educational system (because the end result with civics as a field being left in the rear-view mirror, that caused so many societal problems as a result), the MAGA supporters specifically, as well as the foundation of democracy. Democracy is a failure, so what I am going to share to you, may be triggering and upsetting, but it is the truth, and that democracy, is a very bad idea in accordance to the famous Greek philosopher named Plato, and the ship analogy he makes is inarguable. Imagine a vessel at sea. The owner is strong, but hard of hearing and short-sighted - that’s most of the public. The sailors - that’s the politicians - all fight for control of the helm. None of them have actually studied navigation, but they shout the loudest, promise the most, and manipulate the owner into letting them steer.

Meanwhile, the real navigator - the philosopher, the one trained to read the stars and currents - is ignored, mocked, or thrown overboard. Plato’s point was simple: democracy, far too often than not, puts the wheel in the hands of the most persuasive, not the most competent.

The crowd chooses charm over skill, and then that’s how disaster strikes with the boat (being the democracy), crashes and sinks. That’s why it needs to be replaced with a better system other than either autocracy or democracy, whether that would be a Technocratic Constitutional Democracy, or a Civic-Republican Meritocracy, though what they are and how they can be implemented, will be for another time here.

Squandered Potential and Failed Leadership

I admit, some of your comments brush up against valid frustration - the sense that democracy is under threat, the anger at corruption and lies. These feelings are understandable. But you squander them by morphing that frustration into constant scorn. Instead of helping Americans solve problems, you drive many away with nonstop finger-wagging and pointing. That is not being a leader, that is being a mini-tyrant and a bully.

Imagine if you took a different approach: sparking dialogue rather than slamming your gavel of judgement on every dissenting voice. A responsible commentator would unite thoughtful people from different backgrounds with constructive criticism, rather than push them into an echo chamber. You miss the chance to lead thoughtful change by focusing on attacks. Instead of expanding your influence, you have ended up preaching to a narrower choir. Your potential as sharp-minded voices is wasted when your style pushes people into defensive corners.

The Real Role of Journalism

Good journalism should do something powerful: inform and guide citizens, not merely incite or demoralise them. A responsible journalist should:

Explain complex issues clearly, rather than oversimplify or sensationalise every detail.

Engage respectfully with different opinions, rather than shutting down critics with insults.

Highlight context and nuance, acknowledging that problems rarely have a single cause or solution.

Show empathy for all productive communities, including those who struggle to vote, rather than dismiss them.

Encourage constructive dialogue, rather than fanning the flames of anger for clicks.

Citizens deserve honest analysis and compassion. People should walk away feeling more informed and motivated to participate - not demeaned or hopeless.

A Call to Non-Partisan Reason and Dialogue

So I implore you: curb the sloganeering and stop treating voters like scapegoats and abandon partisanship. Think of the listeners and readers tuning in seeking truth, clarity, maybe even a dose of hope. Start speaking like actual journalists again, publicly apologise to all those you wrongly crowded over, and stop being so-called champions of your own outrage. Listen more, assume less. Because in the end, your preachy, mean-spirited style only fuels the polarisation you claim to despise. It pushes moderate Americans further to the sidelines.

People deserve analysis and empathy, not knee-jerk insults and lectures. It may not be sensational or viral, but it’s time for true dialogue.

Addendum

When confronted with sharp yet legitimate criticism, a public figure’s response often reveals more about their integrity than their initial commentary. Such was the case when I privately reached out to Mark Romano of The Romano Report, confronting him about his divisive rhetoric and his use of collective blame against the American public. In addition to this private exchange, I also engaged with his audience in the comments, and published my critiques in this very Substack opinion piece. Rather than respond with openness or a willingness to defend his views, Romano’s reaction was simple: he blocked me. This action, though seemingly minor in the age of social media, is profoundly revealing.

Romano has no issue lambasting so many millions of Americans collectively, dismissing voters and non-voters alike as the root of the problem. Yet, when directly confronted with detailed moral and logical counterpoints, he retreats. He demonstrates the classic trait of the demagogue: capable of dishing out sweeping condemnation, but utterly incapable of standing in the heat of intellectual scrutiny.

A commentator who claims to stand for truth, justice, or accountability must be prepared to test their ideas in open dialogue. Blocking a critic rather than addressing the critique reveals moral cowardice. It is easier to shut out dissent than to admit error or nuance, but in doing so Romano exposes himself as fragile and unwilling to uphold the very standards he demands of others.

Romano positions himself as a voice against corruption, dishonesty, and cowardice. Yet his own conduct is defined by these same traits. He is quick to shame and condemn, but refuses accountability when the mirror is turned on him. This is the essence of hypocrisy: he expects others to face his rhetoric, while shielding himself from fair criticism. It is a double standard that undermines his credibility entirely.

Blocking a critic is not a sign of strength, but of weakness. It is the digital equivalent of plugging one’s ears, a behavior more fitting of an immature personality than of a commentator who seeks to shape public discourse. It suggests that Romano’s priority is not honest engagement, but ego-preservation.

Mark Romano’s choice to block me rather than engage is more than a personal slight - it is proof of the larger case against him. He can give but cannot take. He attacks others but shields himself. He demands accountability from the masses but refuses it for himself. His rhetoric is divisive, his tone incendiary, and his behavior cowardly. In this, he confirms what his critics have long argued: that far from being a voice of truth, he is another sensationalist commentator lacking the moral fortitude to defend his own words.

#demagogues #collectivevilification #exposed #theromanoreport #dyingempire #partisanship #dyingcountry #antipartisan #demagoguery #division #rant #alienation #recklessness #cybergoguery #collectivepunishment #degeneracy #bullying #extremism #dyingnation #farleftalexjones #cybergogues #doubehypocrisy #opinionpiece #farroncousins #corruption #hypocrisy #farleftdemagoguery #cowardice #theringoffire #condemnation #collectiveshaming #farleftcybergoguery #evil #politics #divisionfuelling #flamethrowers #nuances #flamethrowing #cognitiveblindspots #anticollectivepunishment #anticollectivevilification #anticollectiveshaming #2020s #farronbalanced #dividednation #america #unitedstates #gop #sensationalism #callousness #2025 #2026 #cynicism #anticynicism #unitedstatesofamerica #hypocrites #doublehypocrites #maga

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A post by Trump on Truth Social of a doctored image of his Wikipedia page adding that he is the Acting President of Venezuela

Donald Trump recently made a Truth social post with a doctored Wikipedia page that added he was the Acting President of Venezuela.

What are some examples of past leaders making similar claims?

I assume empires did it a lot, and that it's been done a lot as a pretext for war, but I'm pretty ignorant of historic examples.

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Since Good got shot i saw a lot of call to protest and also a lot of call to violence. First while she definetly didnt deserve to die, she was in the wrong for goign after ice operators and bloking them. I dont see any universe where the justice system doesnt take that in count and doesnt find ground for justifying the actions of the ice operative. Taking that into account what are you hopping to accomplish with protest ( or with violence ) While you have different polls that will say majority of ppl disagree with ice actions you have to take into account that the majority still agree that undocumented immigrant should be deported. So now what s gonna heppen ? What do u think you can obtain by mobilysing ?

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Lies that go unopposed tend to stick, and the rewriting of the history of January 6 demonstrates that Trumpists will be relentless in making everyone repeat them, as they become part of a political loyalty test. Impeachment is one way of creating a truthful record.

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That is all.

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Democratic Party leadership will not allow ICE or DHS to be disbanded. They serve the same wealthy individuals and corporations as the Republicans, and those factions need a paramilitary force to quell the inevitable uprising(s) that will result from the collapse of the American economy and constitutional order. It could not be more obvious that the role of the Democratic Party has been to act as a honeypot to attract and neutralize any progressive policies and politicians. Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries are not inept, they are accomplishing every goal they set out to. Joe Lieberman spearheaded the creation of DHS, and no matter what any Democrat or Republican says about “superseding authority”, understand that it is functioning exactly as intended.

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I'm no lawyer, constitutional scholar, or political scientist. I don't expect people here are either. But those people exist. It's time to organize them and make a new constitution.

What're the first steps?

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I almost want to say wrong answers only but I'm curious if anyone knows

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It will start with the 600,000 Venezuelans under Temporary Protected Status (revoked Jan 2025).

Then anyone that speaks Spanish.

Then everyone.

(Not necessary to complete each one before going to the next, but this will be the order it hits the news.)

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He does something illegal on a practically daily basis and everyone just kisses his ass. Now I guess he can just continue on and conquer the whole world and kidnap world leaders. Why doesn’t anyone stand up to this asshole?

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I come for a civil discussion. Sorry, my question is a bit complicated.

Note: I am not asking people to argue whether Maduro is a dictator or not. You are free to do so and I will engage, but that's not my main question.

What I'm asking is, how come most people, especially uninformed people or those who know very little about Venezuela, call Maduro a dictator? Even well-meaning critics of the abduction?

I'm not looking for "well they're uninformed" answer. I am, sincerely curious how such an opinion is so, widespread?

I would expect uninformed people to take a simplistic, reductive approach of "well there were elections so I guess he can't be a dictator". That is assuming they speak on the matter at all.

A simplistic, surface level investigation reveals: there were elections. They were internationally monitored. Highly automated voting system. Etc. It would also reveal they're challenged by international community, but I imagined most people would be skeptical of that.

I am not denying the presence of arguments against the validity of the elections, but none those arguments are the result of surface level investigation.

What are your thoughts?

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We have Nazis and Nazi-lite -> MAGA

We have brown shirts -> ICE.

We are blaming immigrants and believing white people are somehow superior.

Now we just invaded a country, and say we will invade others.

What's happening here.. It feels strange. Is anyone else seeing this?

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This is completely for funsies, satire, and 1st amendment approved. ✅

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