The GOP-led House is in disarray and focused on all the wrong things. They couldn’t even get a bill to fund the Pentagon through a procedural vote because five of their far-right members revolted. And now Speaker McCarthy has pulled the continuing resolution to fund the government, one that was hammered out by the different factions this weekend, from any consideration because it also doesn’t have the votes.

Instead of doing their job and passing a budget—one they already agreed to earlier this year—they are preceding with an impeachment inquiry into President Biden because the Orange Guy insists he shouldn’t be the only impeached candidate up on stage. The hearing will now happen just two days before the government shuts down because they don’t have a budget in place.

This is the GOP in a nutshell, folks. Paralysis, political theatrics, and chaos.

@georgetakei

I have no love for the GOP my friend, but you are criticizing them for doing the one thing the democrats arent doing and should.... Vote their conscious rather than just agreeing with the group.

We **want** politicians who are there to vote whats right, not what their party tells them to vote.

@freemo @georgetakei
Lots of politicians did what they thought was right in the 1930s. Turns out xenophobic, racist fascists have different opinions of what that is than most folks. Also, no American has seen « the left » since the 1970s, center-right democrats don’t count.

@pyranose

Can you list what policies of Biden or Obama's that either of them took action to execute in some way, that is a right-leaning policy stance?

As far as I know every single one of their policy stances and actions have been left side of the fence:

* increased restrictions on guns
* push towards universal single payer healthcare
* pro-abortion
* pro equal oppertunity
* pro free education/loan forgivness.

Literally cant think of a single thing they pushed for that is right.

And yes, obviously we want people to follow their conscious and be a good person... funny that huh, its almost like having a conscious is important, but so are other things.

@georgetakei

@freemo @pyranose @georgetakei Both Biden and obama never did anything but increase military spending. Obama ramped up drone bombing. Biden has continued the border policies of the trump administration, including family separations. GITMO is still open. There is little or no movement on major polluters, curbing drug company monopolies, and a net increase in fossil fuel land leases.

In many cases, it is a lack of action from the Biden and Obama administrations, but that isn't a left position either. It is a pretty far right position. Don't pass a law for federally protected abortion rights...

And I don't think Obama adopting Mitt Romney's healthcare plan is a left wing plan either, and there is no push from Biden for a single payer system. In fact, I believe biden took that off the table in the Dem primaries back in 2020.

I see both Obama and Biden as right wingers. I'm far from the only one (politicalcompass.org/uselectio) :

@freemo @Free_Idealist @pyranose @georgetakei , I am sure someone can come up with a counter to the argument. But I have yet to see it. And without any argument to the contrary, and what I have seen, I tend to agree with the placement of those people on that scale.

Just for an example, there are reasons Biden was called "The Senator from MBNA", a credit card company.

nationalreview.com/2008/08/sen

@JonKramer

> I am sure someone can come up with a counter to the argument. But I have yet to see it.

Which argument? That the plot above sucks and isnt remotely accurate?

Of course someone has, we just spent quite a while doing line by line on policy and decisions and showing how virtually every vote Biden or Obama have ever made has been left leaning with very very few examples of right leaning ones.

Now you may not agree with the argument, which is fine your allowed to be wrong, but to claim you have never even seen an argument formulated, when we just got through with one, is clearly erroneous.

> And without any argument to the contrary,

Except the one I just spent quite some time laying out...

> and what I have seen

Which seems selective...

> I tend to agree with the placement of those people on that scale.

I would expect you would incorrectly draw that conclusion, given your selective eye sight :)

> Just for an example, there are reasons Biden was called "The Senator from MBNA", a credit card company.

Do you think in order to be left you have to be anti-large company or something? I mean sure that starts to develop at the very radicalized extreme ends of the left... but no hating large companies is not a strict requirement barrier to the left. Assuming of course those businesses are well regulated (an unregulated business would be more of a right thing)

@Free_Idealist @pyranose @georgetakei

@freemo @Free_Idealist @pyranose @georgetakei

I would say that you being in the thick of the forest your sight is blinded by the trees. As for selective eye sight, we all suffer from that. No exceptions to that rule.

No, I don't think to be left you have to be anti large company. I would suggest not being anti large company is a common feature for the right though. I would say being in favor of corporate government enforced monopolies is a strong indication you are pretty far right wing. With almost no room for exceptions to that rule. I would also argue that 'unregulated businesses is not a right wing position. The right loves mountains of regulations that support their major donors, and inhibit competition. That privatize profits, while socializing costs like pollution.

@JonKramer

> I would say that you being in the thick of the forest your sight is blinded by the trees. As for selective eye sight, we all suffer from that. No exceptions to that rule.

I would argue quite the opposite. As someone who has spent his whole live living around the world, often moving from country to country every half a year or year or so... someone who has experienced, been a resident, dealt witht he healthcare and the taxes and almost every aspect of living, and done this in a vast array of different countries in different regions... if anything this gives a perspective outside "the forest" and makes my eyesight less selective.

In fact I'd say you, as someone I presume has mostly only ever lived in one country (or one region like europe) and has only ever heard one countries echo chamber and lived it... you ont eh other hand are more likely to be stuck int he forrest with selective vision so to speak.

That said im not saying I have no bias, clearly i have plenty, just as we all do. What I am saying is that of the two of us, given our expiernce, I am less likely to be indoctrinated to this stuff.

> No, I don’t think to be left you have to be anti large company. I would suggest not being anti large company is a common feature for the right though.

Something being a common property of the left or the right does not make it a proper of the left or the right, nor does beleiving it change where you are on the scale.

Generally the right is older and the left is younger. That doesnt mean I can argue that two people with identical opinions on policy the younger one leans more left than the older one.

I think you are confusing the DNC and GOP with left vs right. There are quite a few things people on either side tend to sharein common that has nothing to do with defining that side.

> I would say being in favor of corporate government enforced monopolies is a strong indication you are pretty far right wing.

I know what monopolies are... I know how lack of monopoly laws has a tendency to result in monopolies forming... but how do you "enforce monopolies" I have never heard of someone in the GOP actively forcing the creation of a monopoly by .. what... forcing smaller companies to merge until they become a monopoly.... I dont even know what this means.

That said I do agree that the left will generally be anti-monopoly, and the right tends to not care so much about monopolies. But just to be clear a monopoly is not a large company, and even when companies become megalarge that doesnt necceseraly mean its a monopoly. A monopoly is only tangentally related to the size of the company.

> I would also argue that ‘unregulated businesses is not a right wing position

Yes. Loosely speaking i would say the right is about individual/entity freedom, and the left focuses on collective welfare. This generally means the right prefers to put as few limitations on people and businesses as possible (unregulated) while the left usually forces (regulates) the individual to act for the greater good even if it harms them as an individual to do so.

> The right loves mountains of regulations that support their major donors, and inhibit competition.

Not really. I mean yea they are corrupt just like the democrats and will take pay to do things that help their corperate buddies, sure.. this is corruption and its on both sides. But in terms of policy they tend to be far less heavy on regulating their donors competition than the democrats would be willing to.

> That privatize profits, while socializing costs like pollution.

Witht he right focusing on individual freedoms and the left focusing on collective welfare then yea. Naturally the right is going to care more about an individuals right to do things that may cause pollution than they will care about the pollution, I'd agree with that.

@Free_Idealist @pyranose @georgetakei

@freemo @Free_Idealist @pyranose @georgetakei

"I think you are confusing the DNC and GOP with left vs right."

Nope, I am saying they are both right wing. And posted a link that I agree with, that shows they are testibly both right wing.

"how do you “enforce monopolies” "

Pretty easy. Licencing.

"Witht he right focusing on individual freedoms and the left focusing on collective welfare then yea."

The right stands firmly against individual freedoms. They are against body autonomy, and that is the very foundation of individual freedom. If you don't own yourself, and have the right to do what you want with your own body, you have no basic freedoms. And, I would say the 'left' in America is not far separated from the 'right.' Because there is no left wing in America.

@freemo @Free_Idealist @pyranose @georgetakei

I should add that the left would be in favor of the collective welfare, absolutely true. So which part is aggressively addressing climate change, and basic living standards, and helping immigrants? Helping to end segregation, racism, etc? Income inequality? Affordable housing? Supporting the expansion of unions??

No American party is on the left.

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