Political Hippo Circle Jerk - America, farg YEAH!

[Rome]

The world isn't getting better.  It's getting demonstrably & irretrievably worse by the moment.  Sorry, that's my world view and we will just have to agree to disagree here.

Yes I am aware that that is your worldview. It's slathered all over every one of your posts. My point is that you're wrong. You're wrong in a measurable demonstrable way.

But even still, I get it. You are bombarded nonstop with the most horrific news, because that's what generates clicks. You live in a state from which seemingly 90% of humanity's horrific bullshtein seems to emenate. But there is no denying that life is better and safer and healthier than it has ever been. It flies in the face of everything that our corporate overlords want you to believe, but it's a fact.

I'm not about to list what's awful about this world and society we've created.  I'm not sure why you refuse to accept that this world is heading on a downward spiral that we simply can't pull out of anymore.  I hope you're right for my child's sake, but I don't see it happening. 

[General_Failure]

Because you're old enough to know you won't live to see any drastic improvements.

[Rome]

I saw Barack Obama elected President twice and I saw the Phillies win a World Series.  It's not like I haven't seen miracles happen.  I've also seen some awesome natural wonders that also give me a glimmer of hope but not enough to dispel my cynicism. 

[Diomedes]

It's a slippery slope pre-supposing that people's ignorance is willful. It isn't a big logical leap to insist that people's poverty or life situation in general is willful and that the government shouldn't be tasked with assisting those who have chosen to be lazy and slothful.

I'm sympathetic to the points you're making and I do see a lot of willful ignorance, I just think it's intellectually tricky to argue that one kind of person is willfully ignorant while another is in need of assistance through no fault or will of their own.

Trump supporters are not powerless, impoverished people descended directly and recently from dozens of generations of slaves.  These are not people who have been disenfranchised from society by design.  They weren't barred from schools, jobs, property rights, etc.  They've had if not every opportunity in the world, then certainly no fewer than I have had, for example.  And certainly a great, great deal more than others.

I don't have any qualms about asserting that these folk have chosen ignorance. 

[rjs246]

I'm not sure why you refuse to accept that this world is heading on a downward spiral that we simply can't pull out of anymore.

I don't accept it because I've actually done research on it and I know it isn't true. So, pretty straightforward.

I hope you're right for my child's sake, but I don't see it happening. 

I can't predict the future. Maybe someone will insult President Trump's stupid face and he'll nuke the planet. But right now, the multi-millennium trend is towards longer life, safer societies, better health and less religion.

[Diomedes]

The health of the planet looms over all to me.   shtein is farged up and we are doing it.  Only way humans survive themselves on Earth is if they can manage to establish a colony on another suitable planet.   Seriously...this one is cooked, it's time to move on.

[rjs246]

Hey, waddya know! An almost reasonable counterpoint!

You know I won't argue with you on this point. The planet has been raped and the rapists are arguing over whether she asked for it or merely enjoyed it. It may be beyond fixing and I tend to think that it is. If that's your only criteria, then yes, we've failed and have rapidly accelerated our failure over the last few decades.

If your criteria for the improvement of the human scene include the points I've been talking about, though, I find it hard to argue with the fact that humanity has it a lot better now than they ever have. The trick is getting people to recognize that life is good and worth preserving and turn their energy toward fixing our biggest problem. Survival.

[ice grillin you]

half the congress doesn't believe we are doing anything to the planet and half of that half doesn't believe the planet is getting warmer period and a significant portion of the ones who do believe are beholden to big business and wont do anything about it...so even if we aren't past the tipping point we will inevitably be one day soon

[Rome]

Does anyone else think it's funny that the guy with the miserable attitude is espousing the Sunshine Sally position here?

We're farged so shut up and drink what you want, eat what you want, and live it up to its fullest. 

[SD]

Does anyone else think it's funny that the guy with the miserable attitude is espousing the Sunshine Sally position here?

We're farged so shut up and drink what you want, eat what you want, and live it up to its fullest.

A-farging-men

What a bunch of whining women

[rjs246]

So you're saying "A-farging-men" to the guy who's whining and then calling everyone else a bunch of whining women? Get your story straight.

And the whole miserable attitude thing is farging 15 years old. Completely played out. But if it makes you more comfortable I'll keep pretending that my online persona from when I was in my early 20s is my real personality.

[SD]

I'm referring to the save the planet rhetoric.

[smeags]

SD, is that SUV of your's a diesel ?

[SD]

SD, is that SUV of your's a diesel ?

No, unfortunately. I want to do as much damage to the planet before I go.

[smeags]

I hear ya, you want that carbon footprint you leave to be memorable.