What Would It Take for You to Vote for Biden?

[Rusozak]

High profile because incidents with assault rifles tend to have a lot of victims. I agree handguns are an issue too, but the assault rifle problem isn't negligible. Assault rifles are made for killing a lot of people very quickly. No one needs one for self defense or hunting.

No one? That's a pretty bold claim.

It's also worth noting that rather someone needs one isn't the point, the point is they're specifically targeting weapons which have minimal impact on murder numbers, discounting the idea that they're legitimately trying to reduce murder numbers. Which leaves us with two reasonable explanations, they're either woefully unfit to draft legislation, or they have a sinister motive for the legislation they do draft.

And what sinister motive would that be?

[Telconi]

No one? That's a pretty bold claim.

It's also worth noting that rather someone needs one isn't the point, the point is they're specifically targeting weapons which have minimal impact on murder numbers, discounting the idea that they're legitimately trying to reduce murder numbers. Which leaves us with two reasonable explanations, they're either woefully unfit to draft legislation, or they have a sinister motive for the legislation they do draft.

And what sinister motive would that be?

Civilian disarmament.

[Rusozak]

And what sinister motive would that be?

Civilian disarmament.

I don't think these politicians are smart enough have any kind of evil plan. Grossly incompetent and narrow sighted maybe, but they're not evil masterminds.

[Telconi]

Civilian disarmament.

I don't think these politicians are smart enough have any kind of evil plan. Grossly incompetent and narrow sighted maybe, but they're not evil masterminds.

I mean, either way it really doesn't matter, if they promote "assault weapon" bans because they're just stupid, or because they're evil, it's still a harmful policy, and ought to be opposed. Someone is no less hurt because they're hurt by a well meaning idiot.

[Steppe Khanate]

I can understand why Bernie Sanders would become popular among younger people with little experience in the real world, economic populism has always relied on a sense of naivety and idealism.

I do have a question for the Sanders supporters here, when economic populists like Bernie Sanders say they will “tax the rich,” who do you think has their taxes raised?

The irony here is that Scandinavian countries raise taxes on both the rich and the poor to pay for their programs. Sales tax in those nations are through the roof.

Sanders and his ilk can raise taxes on the topmost brackets without having too much impact on the poor. When I ask the question in my post, I do acknowledge that there have been strides made in taxing wealthier people instead of the poor. The thing is, the people who control most of the money in the country aren’t taxed when people like Bernie Sanders "raise taxes on the rich"

The people who have to pay more taxes in that case, are upper middle class and lower upper class people, you know, doctors, lawyers, middle management, etc. You know whose taxes aren't raised? Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, the highest 1% in general. The reason for that isn’t because the tax legislation is badly written, or the rich are exploiting some loophole or doing anything illegal, in fact, the way they avoid paying extra taxes is 100% legal. They use their debt to write off high taxes, then directly use the profits from their sources of income to pay off that debt, whilst maintaining a minimum in liabilities so that they are making a huge net gain in money.

[Diopolis]

The overwhelming majority of gun violence in this country is committed with handguns, which no one seems to want to regulate. Assault rifles are a tiny irrelevant drop in the bucket that happens to be high profile.
Quite frankly it's a red flag that dem politicians refuse to do the basic research necessary to know this before making policy proposals. Not that Trump is any better, though.

High profile because incidents with assault rifles tend to have a lot of victims. I agree handguns are an issue too, but the assault rifle problem isn't negligible. Assault rifles are made for killing a lot of people very quickly. No one needs one for self defense or hunting.

Even with that being true(but less true than you say), people killed with assault rifles are a miniscule drop in the bucket of total gun violence victims(who are overwhelmingly killed with handguns, even if you include mass shootings), and there's no real reason to think getting rid of assault rifles will actually reduce the number of high fatality attacks.

[Diopolis]

I can understand why Bernie Sanders would become popular among younger people with little experience in the real world, economic populism has always relied on a sense of naivety and idealism.

I do have a question for the Sanders supporters here, when economic populists like Bernie Sanders say they will “tax the rich,” who do you think has their taxes raised?

At the end of the day there simply aren't enough rich people, and rich people have better lawyers and accountants, to fund a robust social safety net by mostly taxing the rich.
Social security is actually regressive. And it could be flat, but a highly progressive system just wouldn't raise enough funds.

[Kowani]

The irony here is that Scandinavian countries raise taxes on both the rich and the poor to pay for their programs. Sales tax in those nations are through the roof.

Sanders and his ilk can raise taxes on the topmost brackets without having too much impact on the poor. When I ask the question in my post, I do acknowledge that there have been strides made in taxing wealthier people instead of the poor. The thing is, the people who control most of the money in the country aren’t taxed when people like Bernie Sanders "raise taxes on the rich"

The people who have to pay more taxes in that case, are upper middle class and lower upper class people, you know, doctors, lawyers, middle management, etc. You know whose taxes aren't raised? Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, the highest 1% in general. The reason for that isn’t because the tax legislation is badly written, or the rich are exploiting some loophole or doing anything illegal, in fact, the way they avoid paying extra taxes is 100% legal. They use their debt to write off high taxes, then directly use the profits from their sources of income to pay off that debt, whilst maintaining a minimum in liabilities so that they are making a huge net gain in money.

Well...we can actually look at Bernie's plans and see he had plans to close tax loopholes for the years.

[Washington Resistance Army]

I can understand why Bernie Sanders would become popular among younger people with little experience in the real world, economic populism has always relied on a sense of naivety and idealism.

I do have a question for the Sanders supporters here, when economic populists like Bernie Sanders say they will “tax the rich,” who do you think has their taxes raised?

At the end of the day there simply aren't enough rich people, and rich people have better lawyers and accountants, to fund a robust social safety net by mostly taxing the rich.
Social security is actually regressive. And it could be flat, but a highly progressive system just wouldn't raise enough funds.

I have to disagree on that. Some of the wealthy people in our nation have more net wealth than a number of nations have total GDP.

[Diopolis]

Sanders and his ilk can raise taxes on the topmost brackets without having too much impact on the poor. When I ask the question in my post, I do acknowledge that there have been strides made in taxing wealthier people instead of the poor. The thing is, the people who control most of the money in the country aren’t taxed when people like Bernie Sanders "raise taxes on the rich"

The people who have to pay more taxes in that case, are upper middle class and lower upper class people, you know, doctors, lawyers, middle management, etc. You know whose taxes aren't raised? Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, the highest 1% in general. The reason for that isn’t because the tax legislation is badly written, or the rich are exploiting some loophole or doing anything illegal, in fact, the way they avoid paying extra taxes is 100% legal. They use their debt to write off high taxes, then directly use the profits from their sources of income to pay off that debt, whilst maintaining a minimum in liabilities so that they are making a huge net gain in money.

Well...we can actually look at Bernie's plans and see he had plans to close tax loopholes for the years.

Oh, I'll believe that congressman sanders, assuming he gets elected general secretary of the politburo and not president of the United States(hey, the presidency has been trending more towards executive power), could with his plans significantly increase the tax liabilities of the very rich without destroying the economy.
But the thing about canada, scandinavia, etc is that taxes are noticeably higher including for the poor and working to middle classes- and their definition of the middle class is a lot less wealthy than ours is. That's a necessary prerequisite to a system of comprehensive cradle to grave entitlements.
Unless you decide to say fuck it, we control the world's reserve currency, if our debt gets out of hand we'll print money and no one will dare to devalue our currency cause it'll hurt the oil trade. You could do that, but it's a riskier gamble than anything Trump's done.

[Diopolis]

At the end of the day there simply aren't enough rich people, and rich people have better lawyers and accountants, to fund a robust social safety net by mostly taxing the rich.
Social security is actually regressive. And it could be flat, but a highly progressive system just wouldn't raise enough funds.

I have to disagree on that. Some of the wealthy people in our nation have more net wealth than a number of nations have total GDP.

https://www.ssa.gov/budget/FY19Files/2019BO.pdf
According to this, total annual costs for social security- which bear in mind is much less than what Sanders wants- were north of a trillion back before the economy imploded. You could confiscate Gates' and Bezos' entire fortunes and still be able to pay for less than 20% of it. For one year.
And that's a drop in the bucket compared to the comprehensive cradle to grave entitlement programs the left wing of the democrats are pushing for.

[Kowani]

Well...we can actually look at Bernie's plans and see he had plans to close tax loopholes for the years.

Oh, I'll believe that congressman sanders, assuming he gets elected general secretary of the politburo and not president of the United States(hey, the presidency has been trending more towards executive power), could with his plans significantly increase the tax liabilities of the very rich without destroying the economy.
But the thing about canada, scandinavia, etc is that taxes are noticeably higher including for the poor and working to middle classes- and their definition of the middle class is a lot less wealthy than ours is. That's a necessary prerequisite to a system of comprehensive cradle to grave entitlements.
Unless you decide to say fuck it, we control the world's reserve currency, if our debt gets out of hand we'll print money and no one will dare to devalue our currency cause it'll hurt the oil trade. You could do that, but it's a riskier gamble than anything Trump's done.

...This relies on a fundamental misunderstanding on how currency works. taxes don't fund anything at the federal level. We have a fiat currency and our monetarily sovereign. We could fund a fully comprehensive social safety net tomorrow (once we built up the infrastructure), without substantial increases in taxing the middle and working class.
I don't have data on hand to see if we could do it without taxing them more at all, but it's technically feasible.

Also...printing currency doesn't cause inflation outside of specific circumstances, none of which apply to the US.

[Cisairse]

It will be Gwyneth Paltrow v Phil Robertson with Kanye stirring shit up again.

Welcome to US 2024, and it's Paltrow vs Robertson vs Musk vs West vs Biafra vs Meme Man vs Lenin vs Jesus vs Bread Santa.

Better luck next time Sanders.

I will happily vote for Biafra

[Cisairse]

I'd vote for Biden if he'd switch out Kamala Harris for Tutsi Gabbard.

Considering the chances of that happening between zero and nothing I'm voting for Trump.

Hilarious that you want to vote for a candidate you can't even spell the name of

[Cisairse]

I'd vote for Biden if he'd switch out Kamala Harris for Tutsi Gabbard.

Considering the chances of that happening between zero and nothing I'm voting for Trump.

im still disgusted that the DNC CLEARLY rigged it's own nomination process and people have the balls to say that the GOP cheats.

Post any evidence that this is true

Oh right you can't because it's not

[The Black Forrest]

I can understand why Bernie Sanders would become popular among younger people with little experience in the real world, economic populism has always relied on a sense of naivety and idealism.

I do have a question for the Sanders supporters here, when economic populists like Bernie Sanders say they will “tax the rich,” who do you think has their taxes raised?

At the end of the day there simply aren't enough rich people, and rich people have better lawyers and accountants, to fund a robust social safety net by mostly taxing the rich.
Social security is actually regressive. And it could be flat, but a highly progressive system just wouldn't raise enough funds.

The one percenters have about 40-50 percent of the national income. Seems reasonable to tax them.

[Kowani]

I'd vote for Biden if he'd switch out Kamala Harris for Tutsi Gabbard.

Considering the chances of that happening between zero and nothing I'm voting for Trump.

im still disgusted that the DNC CLEARLY rigged it's own nomination process and people have the balls to say that the GOP cheats.

When was the last time we had to redo an election 'cause the Democrats cheated too much? "Cause for the Republicans, it was the last midterms.

[Nuroblav]

I will happily vote for Biafra

Who wouldn't?

[Freiheit Reich]

1. Support a govt. healthcare system that is based on an income tax (similar to Chile or Taiwan)

2. State that all races should be treated equally and that any affirmative action based laws/scholarships/admissions/etc... are immoral.

3. Criticize the rioters/looters and state this can't be tolerated

4. State he will build a border wall and stop illegal migration and deport all illegal migrants

5. End the Patriot Act and increase civil liberties in the USA

6. Close all US military bases on foreign lands and bring all troops back to the USA

7. Reduce welfare for able-bodied people (to help pay for the healthcare costs)

8. Support reducing the national debt and balancing the budget

If he does all these things then he would likely get my vote.

[Elwher]

1. Support a govt. healthcare system that is based on an income tax (similar to Chile or Taiwan)

2. State that all races should be treated equally and that any affirmative action based laws/scholarships/admissions/etc... are immoral.

3. Criticize the rioters/looters and state this can't be tolerated

4. State he will build a border wall and stop illegal migration and deport all illegal migrants

5. End the Patriot Act and increase civil liberties in the USA

6. Close all US military bases on foreign lands and bring all troops back to the USA

7. Reduce welfare for able-bodied people (to help pay for the healthcare costs)

8. Support reducing the national debt and balancing the budget

If he does all these things then he would likely get my vote.

With the exception of #1, that would make him an excellent Libertarian Party candidate, and I could accept that one in order to get the others accomplished. Unfortunately, that gives him two votes, yours and mine.

[Kowani]

1. Support a govt. healthcare system that is based on an income tax (similar to Chile or Taiwan)

2. State that all races should be treated equally and that any affirmative action based laws/scholarships/admissions/etc... are immoral.

3. Criticize the rioters/looters and state this can't be tolerated

4. State he will build a border wall and stop illegal migration and deport all illegal migrants

5. End the Patriot Act and increase civil liberties in the USA

6. Close all US military bases on foreign lands and bring all troops back to the USA

7. Reduce welfare for able-bodied people (to help pay for the healthcare costs)

8. Support reducing the national debt and balancing the budget

If he does all these things then he would likely get my vote.

3 of these are good ideas. He’s already condemned riots and looting.

[Cordel One]

1. Support a govt. healthcare system that is based on an income tax (similar to Chile or Taiwan)

2. State that all races should be treated equally and that any affirmative action based laws/scholarships/admissions/etc... are immoral.

3. Criticize the rioters/looters and state this can't be tolerated

4. State he will build a border wall and stop illegal migration and deport all illegal migrants

5. End the Patriot Act and increase civil liberties in the USA

6. Close all US military bases on foreign lands and bring all troops back to the USA

7. Reduce welfare for able-bodied people (to help pay for the healthcare costs)

8. Support reducing the national debt and balancing the budget

If he does all these things then he would likely get my vote.

#5 and #6 sound good, the rest would just make me hate him even more. #3 has already been done.

[Freiheit Reich]

1. Support a govt. healthcare system that is based on an income tax (similar to Chile or Taiwan)

2. State that all races should be treated equally and that any affirmative action based laws/scholarships/admissions/etc... are immoral.

3. Criticize the rioters/looters and state this can't be tolerated

4. State he will build a border wall and stop illegal migration and deport all illegal migrants

5. End the Patriot Act and increase civil liberties in the USA

6. Close all US military bases on foreign lands and bring all troops back to the USA

7. Reduce welfare for able-bodied people (to help pay for the healthcare costs)

8. Support reducing the national debt and balancing the budget

If he does all these things then he would likely get my vote.

With the exception of #1, that would make him an excellent Libertarian Party candidate, and I could accept that one in order to get the others accomplished. Unfortunately, that gives him two votes, yours and mine.

Yes, I am libertarian leaning but think basic healthcare should be a right, not a privilege for the wealthy. Biden supports Romneycare/Obamacare which hurts lower income people. The mandate 2.5% penalty hurts the lower working class and offers nothing in return. The Obamacare model charges high premiums with high deductibles and still bases health insurance on employment (COBRA is horrid and should not even count as a realistic option).

I should add #9: Support the right to bear arms and criticize restrictions that states have added such as limits to magazine capacity. I think Biden will support more restrictions on gun rights.

#10: Support the right of ex-felons to vote and support the 'ban the box' idea. Employers should have no right about someones criminal record. If they are not in prison, the govt. feels they are safe to be integrated back in society.

#11: Simplify the tax code. In Sweden, the govt. calculates how much taxes are owed and sends you a form to sign. In the USA, it is a complex process. Get rid of tax loopholes and just have 4-5 levels of income taxed at varied rates. Ex. first $10,000 exempt, $10-25,000 at 5%, etc... No deductions for children because this encourages poor people to have more kids.

[Nuroblav]

1. Support a govt. healthcare system that is based on an income tax (similar to Chile or Taiwan)

2. State that all races should be treated equally and that any affirmative action based laws/scholarships/admissions/etc... are immoral.

3. Criticize the rioters/looters and state this can't be tolerated

4. State he will build a border wall and stop illegal migration and deport all illegal migrants

5. End the Patriot Act and increase civil liberties in the USA

6. Close all US military bases on foreign lands and bring all troops back to the USA

7. Reduce welfare for able-bodied people (to help pay for the healthcare costs)

8. Support reducing the national debt and balancing the budget

If he does all these things then he would likely get my vote.

3 he's already done (as mentioned already lol). 2, 5, 6 (and 9 and 10 as you mentioned later, although personally I'm not the biggest fan of guns but oh well) sound decent. 1 sounds alright, though government-provided healthcare isn't my ideal way of doing this. Not a fan of the others.

Sorry it was just that others were giving their thoughts on them so I thought I may as well join

[Kowani]

1. Support a govt. healthcare system that is based on an income tax (similar to Chile or Taiwan)

Good goal.

2. State that all races should be treated equally and that any affirmative action based laws/scholarships/admissions/etc... are immoral.

I've never understood the right-wing fascination with affirmative action, since a much larger quotient of unequal entry to higher education is through legacy admissions and doesn't actually cause a flood of unqualified people.

3. Criticize the rioters/looters and state this can't be tolerated

Already happened.

4. State he will build a border wall and stop illegal migration and deport all illegal migrants

...Why? It's a net benefit and a wall wouldn't stop it anyway

5. End the Patriot Act and increase civil liberties in the USA

6. Close all US military bases on foreign lands and bring all troops back to the USA

This is good. He should do this.

7. Reduce welfare for able-bodied people (to help pay for the healthcare costs)

This is nonsense. The government doesn't have a limited fund to draw from.

8. Support reducing the national debt and balancing the budget

This is directly harmful.

If he does all these things then he would likely get my vote.

That would make the country an objectively worse place.