American Politics Thread VI: Can't We All Just Get Along?

[Proctopeo]

Wasn't the mask thing the official stance in early 2020, and then was never (publicly) corrected? I distinctly remember hearing that from... someone with authority. I don't recall if it was Fauci, the WHO, or someone else.

Anyways, I'm waiting for the Pfizer™ Twice-Daily COVID-19 Pills™ so I can crush them up and mix them with Ivermectin powder and snort the result

Masks were never official under 45.

That's not what I'm saying. I'm saying that the stance of "only N-95 masks are effective" was an initial stance of... someone, and that I don't think there was ever an official update given to this specific bit of information.

Notably, while trying to find exactly who said this and when, I found this interesting article from the EPA. N-95 are objectively the most effective by a large degree, though other options do work to varying degrees. Just not as well, which I suppose is where the meme of "double-masking" arose?

Wasn't the mask thing the official stance in early 2020, and then was never (publicly) corrected? I distinctly remember hearing that from... someone with authority. I don't recall if it was Fauci, the WHO, or someone else.

Anyways, I'm waiting for the Pfizer™ Twice-Daily COVID-19 Pills™ so I can crush them up and mix them with Ivermectin powder and snort the result

The N-95 was singled out early on because the supply was low at the time and they were urging people to save the N-95 for hospital staff and first responders. Yes, there was like a month where Fauci and others were telling people not to mask up because healthcare workers needed them and the supply chain hadn't caught up yet. But for anyone who's looked at the news since May of last year, the supply chain has caught up and they quickly changed their stance now that they were readily accessible to everyone.

Though it's still recommended for civilians to not use them, even though they are the most effective option. Fauci did say in early 2020 that there's "there's no reason to be walking around with a mask," and emails from around this time say that the official stance (at the time, at least) was that store-bought face masks don't do anything. "Only N-95 masks work" was possibly a statement from around that time, but I'll look for it later.

Wasn't the mask thing the official stance in early 2020, and then was never (publicly) corrected? I distinctly remember hearing that from... someone with authority. I don't recall if it was Fauci, the WHO, or someone else.

Anyways, I'm waiting for the Pfizer™ Twice-Daily COVID-19 Pills™ so I can crush them up and mix them with Ivermectin powder and snort the result

Don’t forget the anti depressants

Yes, of course. And drink a mix of Pepsi and the vaccine for good measure.

[The Black Forrest]

Wasn't the mask thing the official stance in early 2020, and then was never (publicly) corrected? I distinctly remember hearing that from... someone with authority. I don't recall if it was Fauci, the WHO, or someone else.

Anyways, I'm waiting for the Pfizer™ Twice-Daily COVID-19 Pills™ so I can crush them up and mix them with Ivermectin powder and snort the result

Don’t forget the anti depressants

Isn’t that what the bourbon chaser is for?

If you are refearing to the Proxic cousin which was mentioned a day or two ago, they guys who mentioned it at least said this was not a cure it’s a more of a “this is interesting”. That could very well change if 45, DeSantis and a few others decide to buy stock…..

[Galloism]

Wasn't the mask thing the official stance in early 2020, and then was never (publicly) corrected? I distinctly remember hearing that from... someone with authority. I don't recall if it was Fauci, the WHO, or someone else.

Anyways, I'm waiting for the Pfizer™ Twice-Daily COVID-19 Pills™ so I can crush them up and mix them with Ivermectin powder and snort the result

The N-95 was singled out early on because the supply was low at the time and they were urging people to save the N-95 for hospital staff and first responders. Yes, there was like a month where Fauci and others were telling people not to mask up because healthcare workers needed them and the supply chain hadn't caught up yet. But for anyone who's looked at the news since May of last year, the supply chain has caught up and they quickly changed their stance now that they were readily accessible to everyone.

Let's not reinvent history.

Fauci recommended against masks because the average person fiddling with and touching them would likely have a greater risk of infection than if they weren't wearing masks at all. Now that's ridiculous, but it was what was said at the time.

[The Black Forrest]

The N-95 was singled out early on because the supply was low at the time and they were urging people to save the N-95 for hospital staff and first responders. Yes, there was like a month where Fauci and others were telling people not to mask up because healthcare workers needed them and the supply chain hadn't caught up yet. But for anyone who's looked at the news since May of last year, the supply chain has caught up and they quickly changed their stance now that they were readily accessible to everyone.

Let's not reinvent history.

Fauci recommended against masks because the average person fiddling with and touching them would likely have a greater risk of infection than if they weren't wearing masks at all. Now that's ridiculous, but it was what was said at the time.

That was Azar who said that. Even in your article it mentions it and Fauci directing people to the CDC. 45 was more interested in politics and the pandemic.

[Genivaria]

Wasn't the mask thing the official stance in early 2020, and then was never (publicly) corrected? I distinctly remember hearing that from... someone with authority. I don't recall if it was Fauci, the WHO, or someone else.

Anyways, I'm waiting for the Pfizer™ Twice-Daily COVID-19 Pills™ so I can crush them up and mix them with Ivermectin powder and snort the result

The N-95 was singled out early on because the supply was low at the time and they were urging people to save the N-95 for hospital staff and first responders. Yes, there was like a month where Fauci and others were telling people not to mask up because healthcare workers needed them and the supply chain hadn't caught up yet. But for anyone who's looked at the news since May of last year, the supply chain has caught up and they quickly changed their stance now that they were readily accessible to everyone.

That was also when they were telling most people to not gather in groups and that was constantly violated.
Basically 2020 is one long string of why we can't have nice things.

[Antipatros]

The fact that this guy is even a Congressman is an embarrassment to our country. He's 26 years old, doesn't have a college degree (since he dropped out), and doesn't have much in the way of professional experience. He knows how to write stupid inflammatory bullshit on Twitter, that's about it.

I don’t have a college degree either ya know

You don't necessarily need a college degree if you have a significant amount of practical experience.

The fact that he was nominated and elected despite having neither shows that something is very wrong with our primary system. He worked at a Chick-fil-A as a teenager, and then did a part time job as a congressional staffer. The guy also got Ds in school and then withdrew.

[Cannot think of a name]

If the wealthy would like to reduce the welfare burden perhaps they could start paying their employees enough to not require public assistance.

Not to put to fine a point on it, but welfare isn't taking rich people's money and giving it to poor people, it's rich companies taking money from average tax payers to subsidize their own labor forces.

The rich are taking money off you to subsidize their own labor while trying to tell you that it's the poor taking your money. And you're fucking falling for it.

It's not even entirely about saving themselves a buck at your expense, but also literally keeping you dependent. The rich, not the welfare system itself which actually strives to balance out the effects of concentrating wealth at the top, benefit (in the short term at least) from enforcing poverty.


Increasing money at the top helps perpetuate inequality, not magically allow the rich to disperse it at will.


You want more economic growth and activity, don't give money to people who already have it, give it to people who don't. Fucking duh.

If you think that increased wages or public welfare spending is hindering growth, you have been bamboozled. You have fallen for a lie to be a shill to the very people draining you dry. The rich and corporations are stealing from you and you're thanking them for the privilege, shilling for the plunderers. To belabor an earlier used cliche by someone peddling this lie, you've been tapdancing in a shower of urine while being told it's a spring shower by those peeing on you and accusing the person trying to hand you an umbrella of wanting to do that.

Tell me another fairy tale about how letting the rich get richer will solve fucking anything.

I don't care if the rich get richer or not. I care about the immorality of taking someone else's property by force.

My utopia is for some of the middle class to become rich, and for the 'poor' to come up to the standard of living that use to be 'middle-class'. The way to due this is to remove the regulations and taxes that are impeding growth. Make it easier for people to start a business. Stop inflating the F***ING money supply so that workers wages aren't devalued. All the issues you are concerned with are caused by the governments, and national banks. The very institutions you want to give more power.

You can lead a horse to water...

[Proctopeo]

The N-95 was singled out early on because the supply was low at the time and they were urging people to save the N-95 for hospital staff and first responders. Yes, there was like a month where Fauci and others were telling people not to mask up because healthcare workers needed them and the supply chain hadn't caught up yet. But for anyone who's looked at the news since May of last year, the supply chain has caught up and they quickly changed their stance now that they were readily accessible to everyone.

That was also when they were telling most people to not gather in groups and that was constantly violated.
Basically 2020 is one long string of why we can't have nice things.

Humans are naturally communal, so trying to prevent us from gathering in groups (especially for certain events, such as funerals) is like trying to make a fish climb a tree.

I don’t have a college degree either ya know

You don't necessarily need a college degree if you have a significant amount of practical experience.

The fact that he was nominated and elected despite having neither shows that something is very wrong with our primary system. He worked at a Chick-fil-A as a teenager, and then did a part time job as a congressional staffer. The guy also got Ds in school and then withdrew.

You need to be at least 25 years old, a US citizen for at least 7 years, and an inhabitant of the state in which you're running. As far as I can tell, he easily meets all those requirements. Demanding college degrees or "practical experience" (which comes off as vague and arbitrary) is classist.

[Antipatros]

That was also when they were telling most people to not gather in groups and that was constantly violated.
Basically 2020 is one long string of why we can't have nice things.

Humans are naturally communal, so trying to prevent us from gathering in groups (especially for certain events, such as funerals) is like trying to make a fish climb a tree.

You don't necessarily need a college degree if you have a significant amount of practical experience.

The fact that he was nominated and elected despite having neither shows that something is very wrong with our primary system. He worked at a Chick-fil-A as a teenager, and then did a part time job as a congressional staffer. The guy also got Ds in school and then withdrew.

You need to be at least 25 years old, a US citizen for at least 7 years, and an inhabitant of the state in which you're running. As far as I can tell, he easily meets all those requirements. Demanding college degrees or "practical experience" (which comes off as vague and arbitrary) is classist.

I'm sorry if I come off that way, but he's a man-child. A job with a real company would demand more in the way of qualifications, in many cases.

I don't know how much this has been documented, but his family (specifically his father) has some close connections to Mark Meadows. Mark Meadows nominated him for the US Naval Academy, but he was rejected on academic grounds. After that, he helped him get into Patrick Henry College, which he withdrew from.

I find it more classist that people like this exist and get elevated to leadership positions in our society. I can think of plenty of people who are smarter, harder working, and more deserving of a seat in Congress than Madison Cawthorn.

[Odreria]

That was also when they were telling most people to not gather in groups and that was constantly violated.
Basically 2020 is one long string of why we can't have nice things.

Humans are naturally communal, so trying to prevent us from gathering in groups (especially for certain events, such as funerals) is like trying to make a fish climb a tree.

You don't necessarily need a college degree if you have a significant amount of practical experience.

The fact that he was nominated and elected despite having neither shows that something is very wrong with our primary system. He worked at a Chick-fil-A as a teenager, and then did a part time job as a congressional staffer. The guy also got Ds in school and then withdrew.

You need to be at least 25 years old, a US citizen for at least 7 years, and an inhabitant of the state in which you're running. As far as I can tell, he easily meets all those requirements. Demanding college degrees or "practical experience" (which comes off as vague and arbitrary) is classist.

what class is it that fails upward into the house of representatives

[Antipatros]

It doesn't help that he says repulsive bullshit like "If our election systems continue to be rigged and continue to be stolen, then it’s going to lead to one place — and it’s bloodshed, followed by "I will tell you, as much as I am willing to defend our liberty at all costs, there is nothing that I would dread doing more than having to pick up arms against a fellow American." Bitch please.

[Proctopeo]

Humans are naturally communal, so trying to prevent us from gathering in groups (especially for certain events, such as funerals) is like trying to make a fish climb a tree.


You need to be at least 25 years old, a US citizen for at least 7 years, and an inhabitant of the state in which you're running. As far as I can tell, he easily meets all those requirements. Demanding college degrees or "practical experience" (which comes off as vague and arbitrary) is classist.

I'm sorry if I come off that way, but he's a man-child. A job with a real company would demand more in the way of qualifications, in many cases.

Government isn't a company. It's hardly even on the same level as a college debate club.

I don't know how much this has been documented, but his family (specifically his father) has some close connections to Mark Meadows. Mark Meadows nominated him for the US Naval Academy, but he was rejected on academic grounds. After that, he helped him get into Patrick Henry College, which he withdrew from.

Meadows doesn't seem to have had much involvement in his political career, though it's unclear how much impact being a staff assistant in his district office mattered. Further, apparently he was suffering from injuries due to a car crash during his time at Patrick Henry, hence his poor grades and withdrawal.

I find it more classist that people like this exist and get elevated to leadership positions in our society. I can think of plenty of people who are smarter, harder working, and more deserving of a seat in Congress than Madison Cawthorn.

He's squarely in the strange category of politicians who are young, say stupid shit, and got into office mostly due to luck - I'd wager he forms a Republican parallel to "the squad" in this regard. It's pretty cool that he's possibly the youngest person to get elected into the House of Representatives in US history.

He's also paralyzed from the waist down, can't neglect to mention that.

what class is it that fails upward into the house of representatives

The very lucky.

Overall, what the point here is: further qualifications beyond what are officially established are arbitrary. Personally, someone who quite possibly doesn't know what he's doing is preferable to a career politician; they're exactly the type of people we need to shake the ladder and upset the system. We just need more of them at a time, lest they get subsumed into the establishment.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

It doesn't help that he says repulsive bullshit like "If our election systems continue to be rigged and continue to be stolen, then it’s going to lead to one place — and it’s bloodshed, followed by "I will tell you, as much as I am willing to defend our liberty at all costs, there is nothing that I would dread doing more than having to pick up arms against a fellow American." Bitch please.

Who's saying this again?

[Antipatros]

It doesn't help that he says repulsive bullshit like "If our election systems continue to be rigged and continue to be stolen, then it’s going to lead to one place — and it’s bloodshed, followed by "I will tell you, as much as I am willing to defend our liberty at all costs, there is nothing that I would dread doing more than having to pick up arms against a fellow American." Bitch please.

Who's saying this again?

Madison Cawthorn.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

Who's saying this again?

Madison Cawthorn.

Oh, that person... He drank the same KoolAid Taylor Greene did.

[Proctopeo]

It doesn't help that he says repulsive bullshit like "If our election systems continue to be rigged and continue to be stolen, then it’s going to lead to one place — and it’s bloodshed, followed by "I will tell you, as much as I am willing to defend our liberty at all costs, there is nothing that I would dread doing more than having to pick up arms against a fellow American." Bitch please.

Saying "people will take up arms if this continues" and "taking up arms against my countrymen isn't something I'd like to do" aren't contradictory. Nor does it come off as especially sinister, no more so than the politicians who came out in support of riots.

It doesn't help that he says repulsive bullshit like "If our election systems continue to be rigged and continue to be stolen, then it’s going to lead to one place — and it’s bloodshed, followed by "I will tell you, as much as I am willing to defend our liberty at all costs, there is nothing that I would dread doing more than having to pick up arms against a fellow American." Bitch please.

Who's saying this again?

US Representative from North Carolina David Madison Cawthorn. He's a cheeky young upstart.

[Senkaku]

That was also when they were telling most people to not gather in groups and that was constantly violated.
Basically 2020 is one long string of why we can't have nice things.

Humans are naturally communal, so trying to prevent us from gathering in groups (especially for certain events, such as funerals) is like trying to make a fish climb a tree.

they have the labyrinth organ, we have FaceTime

Demanding college degrees or "practical experience" (which comes off as vague and arbitrary) is classist.

classism is when you say you want federal officials to have any kind of qualification for their position, and the less specific you are about what kind of qualification you want them to have the more classism it is

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

It doesn't help that he says repulsive bullshit like "If our election systems continue to be rigged and continue to be stolen, then it’s going to lead to one place — and it’s bloodshed, followed by "I will tell you, as much as I am willing to defend our liberty at all costs, there is nothing that I would dread doing more than having to pick up arms against a fellow American." Bitch please.

Saying "people will take up arms if this continues" and "taking up arms against my countrymen isn't something I'd like to do" aren't contradictory. Nor does it come off as especially sinister, no more so than the politicians who came out in support of riots.

Who's saying this again?

US Representative from North Carolina David Madison Cawthorn. He's a cheeky young upstart.

If he wants a future in politics, he should stop hanging with Taylor Greene. That woman sniffed something that left her brain damaged.

[San Lumen]

Saying "people will take up arms if this continues" and "taking up arms against my countrymen isn't something I'd like to do" aren't contradictory. Nor does it come off as especially sinister, no more so than the politicians who came out in support of riots.


US Representative from North Carolina David Madison Cawthorn. He's a cheeky young upstart.

If he wants a future in politics, he should stop hanging with Taylor Greene. That woman sniffed something that left her brain damaged.

I fear there will be more people like her in politics. The fact that almost every Republican refuses to remove her committees shows where the party is headed.

[Senkaku]

He's a cheeky young upstart.

he's a dunce and an infamous creep

[Thermodolia]

It doesn't help that he says repulsive bullshit like "If our election systems continue to be rigged and continue to be stolen, then it’s going to lead to one place — and it’s bloodshed, followed by "I will tell you, as much as I am willing to defend our liberty at all costs, there is nothing that I would dread doing more than having to pick up arms against a fellow American." Bitch please.

I mean he’s not wrong. Just his way of getting there is highly incorrect.

Yes there will be bloodshed but not because of the education system or voting democrat, it’s going to be because right wing terrorists have gone nuts

[Proctopeo]

Humans are naturally communal, so trying to prevent us from gathering in groups (especially for certain events, such as funerals) is like trying to make a fish climb a tree.

they have the labyrinth organ, we have FaceTime

Demanding college degrees or "practical experience" (which comes off as vague and arbitrary) is classist.

classism is when you say you want federal officials to have any kind of qualification for their position, and the less specific you are about what kind of qualification you want them to have the more classism it is

He does meet all the qualifications.

If he wants a future in politics, he should stop hanging with Taylor Greene. That woman sniffed something that left her brain damaged.

There needs to be an equal and opposite force to counterbalance the lunacy of "the squad". Still, I'm of the mind that her actual lunacy (or supposed brain damage?) is exaggerated by sensationalists in pursuit of ratings and clicks.

He's a cheeky young upstart.

he's a dunce and an infamous creep

Our public school system needs improvement.

Also >buzzfeed
Opinion discarded.

It doesn't help that he says repulsive bullshit like "If our election systems continue to be rigged and continue to be stolen, then it’s going to lead to one place — and it’s bloodshed, followed by "I will tell you, as much as I am willing to defend our liberty at all costs, there is nothing that I would dread doing more than having to pick up arms against a fellow American." Bitch please.

I mean he’s not wrong. Just his way of getting there is highly incorrect.

Yes there will be bloodshed but not because of the education system or voting democrat, it’s going to be because right wing terrorists have gone nuts

Who do you refer to when you say "right wing terrorists"? Actual terrorists? People you don't like? Something in-between?

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

they have the labyrinth organ, we have FaceTime


classism is when you say you want federal officials to have any kind of qualification for their position, and the less specific you are about what kind of qualification you want them to have the more classism it is

He does meet all the qualifications.

If he wants a future in politics, he should stop hanging with Taylor Greene. That woman sniffed something that left her brain damaged.

There needs to be an equal and opposite force to counterbalance the lunacy of "the squad". Still, I'm of the mind that her actual lunacy (or supposed brain damage?) is exaggerated by sensationalists in pursuit of ratings and clicks.

he's a dunce and an infamous creep

Our public school system needs improvement.

Also >buzzfeed
Opinion discarded.

I mean he’s not wrong. Just his way of getting there is highly incorrect.

Yes there will be bloodshed but not because of the education system or voting democrat, it’s going to be because right wing terrorists have gone nuts

Who do you refer to when you say "right wing terrorists"? Actual terrorists? People you don't like? Something in-between?

For our sake, I hope you're right. But all I've seen of her screams ''nutter'' rather loud.

[Thermodolia]

they have the labyrinth organ, we have FaceTime


classism is when you say you want federal officials to have any kind of qualification for their position, and the less specific you are about what kind of qualification you want them to have the more classism it is

He does meet all the qualifications.

If he wants a future in politics, he should stop hanging with Taylor Greene. That woman sniffed something that left her brain damaged.

There needs to be an equal and opposite force to counterbalance the lunacy of "the squad". Still, I'm of the mind that her actual lunacy (or supposed brain damage?) is exaggerated by sensationalists in pursuit of ratings and clicks.

he's a dunce and an infamous creep

Our public school system needs improvement.

Also >buzzfeed
Opinion discarded.

I mean he’s not wrong. Just his way of getting there is highly incorrect.

Yes there will be bloodshed but not because of the education system or voting democrat, it’s going to be because right wing terrorists have gone nuts

Who do you refer to when you say "right wing terrorists"? Actual terrorists? People you don't like? Something in-between?

Actual terrorists. As in right wing nutters who think the only way to protect their way of life from the “globalists” is to blow up the local post office

[Antipatros]

I'm sorry if I come off that way, but he's a man-child. A job with a real company would demand more in the way of qualifications, in many cases.

Government isn't a company. It's hardly even on the same level as a college debate club.

I don't know how much this has been documented, but his family (specifically his father) has some close connections to Mark Meadows. Mark Meadows nominated him for the US Naval Academy, but he was rejected on academic grounds. After that, he helped him get into Patrick Henry College, which he withdrew from.

Meadows doesn't seem to have had much involvement in his political career, though it's unclear how much impact being a staff assistant in his district office mattered. Further, apparently he was suffering from injuries due to a car crash during his time at Patrick Henry, hence his poor grades and withdrawal.

I find it more classist that people like this exist and get elevated to leadership positions in our society. I can think of plenty of people who are smarter, harder working, and more deserving of a seat in Congress than Madison Cawthorn.

He's squarely in the strange category of politicians who are young, say stupid shit, and got into office mostly due to luck - I'd wager he forms a Republican parallel to "the squad" in this regard. It's pretty cool that he's possibly the youngest person to get elected into the House of Representatives in US history.

He's also paralyzed from the waist down, can't neglect to mention that.

what class is it that fails upward into the house of representatives

The very lucky.

Overall, what the point here is: further qualifications beyond what are officially established are arbitrary. Personally, someone who quite possibly doesn't know what he's doing is preferable to a career politician; they're exactly the type of people we need to shake the ladder and upset the system. We just need more of them at a time, lest they get subsumed into the establishment.

To me, it's less of a lucky fluke and more of a sign of how dysfunctional our political system has become over time.

Partisan polarization and geographic sorting (either through gerrymandering or just as a function of where people tend to live) has led to a situation where the main hurdle to being elected in many places is winning a political primary. There is also a culture of corruption and nepotism in America that emphasizes connections over merit.

I don't know who mentioned it (I think Therm?), but America is more similar to Latin America than it is to Western Europe in a lot of ways.

With regard to Cawthorn's disability: I don't really care. Whether or not it explains his failure in college, I'm not sure. In my experience, colleges try to be accommodating to those with disabilities. He tried to say that his injuries derailed his attempt to go to USNA, but that was later shown to be a lie.