A Political Thread pt. 2

[Bada-Bing!]

Comparatively, Europeans have gotten poorer relative to Americans in the last 10-15 years and that has limited their ability to travel here. I recall traveling to San Diego in 2004 and the city was filled with Brits. But the pound was $1.90 to the USD. Now, it's below $1.30.

Has North America really improved/changed in the last 10-15 years? My sister just got back from Vancouver and Boston and complained about the drugs and homelessness there, especially Vancouver (yeh I know Canada not America). She'd been there last way back in the 1990s.

But it chimes with my experience of America from California, NYC, Chicago, Washington DC, Florida. The inequality was still truly shocking, including the segregation back then. Still, never forget our Trek America tour guide decided to take us to this supermarket just outside of DC as the all Black shoppers and staff stopped as they stared gawp Eyed at this group of mostly white people walking through their supermarket. Felt really uncomfortable.

 

[ncurd]

My sister just got back from Vancouver and Boston and complained about the drugs and homelessness there, especially Vancouver (yeh I know Canada not America). She'd been there last way back in the 1990s.

On a Canada scale the amount of homeless in Ottawa and Vancouver is absolutely shocking to my English eyes.

During the pandemic I'm told it dropped massively when the governement wanted/needed to do something. But its returned quite quickly.

 

[General Melchett]

Trump took credit for the stock market boom during COVID even though the real reason was that COVID pay cheques (funded by Govt initiated QE) were being pumped straight into the stock market as people worked from/were stuck/bored at home and didn't need to spend money on travel, eating out etc.

I don't see him owning the current dip which he caused with his trade war. He's just an entitled disingenuous classless piece of ****.

 

[McTallshort]

The last administration was abysmal and then lied about the cognitive decline of the president. They lost the trust of millions of Americans who voted for them.

Im pretty centrist and my wife is center-left. The Democrats shifted too far left and lost. The republicans will do the same thing and lose.

It's a pendulum.

Yeah get that to a point. The democrats are a bit of a shambles they seem to have gone MIA at the minute.

Different question: how do you think Trump is doing now he's gotten into power?

Again a genuine question I'm interested to hear your perspective.

 

[ncurd]

Again a genuine question I'm interested to hear your perspective.

I know you acting i good faith here but anyone who describes themselves as center or center-left and votes Trump and thinks the Democrats are anything other than a Center party is bananas.

The Overton window shifting massively to the right is the only way that happens.

 

[Sour Patch Kid]

Has North America really improved/changed in the last 10-15 years? My sister just got back from Vancouver and Boston and complained about the drugs and homelessness there, especially Vancouver (yeh I know Canada not America). She'd been there last way back in the 1990s.

But it chimes with my experience of America from California, NYC, Chicago, Washington DC, Florida. The inequality was still truly shocking, including the segregation back then. Still, never forget our Trek America tour guide decided to take us to this supermarket just outside of DC as the all Black shoppers and staff stopped as they stared gawp Eyed at this group of mostly white people walking through their supermarket. Felt really uncomfortable.

When you mention states and cities like California, NYC, Chicago, Boston, Washington DC you have to remember that these are cities that have abandoned solid, proactive policing and criminal justice enforcement in favor of restorative justice and the decriminalization of different offences. They have given up on the Broken Windows theory of policing and voted for progressive prosecutor's that have favored criminals over the law abiding citizens of their communities. This has led to greater crime and the fudging of crime reporting to make it seem like crime is down when it is up.

 

[Yulia]

My sister just got back from Vancouver and Boston and complained about the drugs and homelessness there, especially Vancouver

I have relatives who live in Vancouver and also those who were in Vancouver for some time and got back home (they are all Ukrainians btw), and they are all shocked about drug addicted people literally laying on streets there....

 

[General Melchett]

Cutting off the supply of drugs is unlikely to be a long term solution. People will just commit more crime in order to feed their addiction with other substances.

The American Govt should be addressing the real root causes behind why these people can't cope & need to escape from reality on a daily basis whether it be societal issues, lack of prospects etc. it's easy to blame Canada and Mexico but Tangoman needs to look a bit closer to home.

 

[Sour Patch Kid]

I know you acting i good faith here but anyone who describes themselves as center or center-left and votes Trump and thinks the Democrats are anything other than a Center party is bananas.

The Overton window shifting massively to the right is the only way that happens.

When you look at the policies that the Democrats pushed in the last administration, it is impossible to call them a center party.

 

[Weldit]

On a Canada scale the amount of homeless in Ottawa and Vancouver is absolutely shocking to my English eyes.

During the pandemic I'm told it dropped massively when the governement wanted/needed to do something. But its returned quite quickly.

House prices in Canada (even the crap parts) are ridiculous. The government are scared to act though as it's a huge part of their income.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Cutting off the supply of drugs is unlikely to be a long term solution. People will just commit crime in order to feed their addiction with other substances. Govt should be addressing the real root causes behind why they need to escape from reality on a daily basis whether it be societal, lack of prospects etc. it's easy to blame Canada and Mexico but Tangoman needs to look closer to home.

Pretty much. That BBC article I posted up yesterday said the same. Cut the supply of one drug it'll get replaced by another. It's a disease. Middle America voting for Trump will solve it by building a wall and imposing tariffs are deluding themselves.

 

[Reiser99]

Cutting off the supply of drugs is unlikely to be a long term solution. People will just commit more crime in order to feed their addiction with other substances.

The American Govt should be addressing the real root causes behind why these people can't cope & need to escape from reality on a daily basis whether it be societal issues, lack of prospects etc. it's easy to blame Canada and Mexico but Tangoman needs to look a bit closer to home.

Most governments should be addressing the root causes of poverty, crime and drug addiction, many of which are linked.

America won't though because prisons are a business there and the more people they lock up, the more profit they make. Why help people get out of poverty when it makes them less likely to commit a crime.

 

[Saintjay]

When you mention states and cities like California, NYC, Chicago, Boston, Washington DC you have to remember that these are cities that have abandoned solid, proactive policing and criminal justice enforcement in favor of restorative justice and the decriminalization of different offences. They have given up on the Broken Windows theory of policing and voted for progressive prosecutor's that have favored criminals over the law abiding citizens of their communities. This has led to greater crime and the fudging of crime reporting to make it seem like crime is down when it is up.

I don't think the US is alone in fudging crime reporting stats. It certainly has gone on in the UK.
There are also a number of papers published that dispute broken windows policing. Personaly I'm of a belief that broken windows policing alone doesn't work. It has it's place but needs a multi agency approach. That's for here in the UK, the US policing system is different i think with more levels, city police, state, national etc and it's certainly more political.

 

[ChicagoKid]

Yeah get that to a point. The democrats are a bit of a shambles they seem to have gone MIA at the minute.

Different question: how do you think Trump is doing now he's gotten into power?

Again a genuine question I'm interested to hear your perspective.

Well it's only like 60 days in or something. So very early.

Good:
* Dismantling bureaucratic institutions
* Driving illegal border crossings to record lows
* Forcing Europeans to meet or exceed 2% GDP military spending targets

TBD:
* Lack of ceasefire in Ukraine
* Tax Bill likely to increase debt burden if passed in current form
* The Canadian 51st stuff, while funny to us, has royally ****** off America's tophat.


On the European front, I cannot tell how annoying it is for millions of Americans to hear how great the social safety net is across the pond while we provide your security guarantees. You are rightfully seeing America's foreign interest shift to Asia (Started by Obama which was a great move on his part) and leave Europe to the Europeans.

 

[Reiser99]

Pretty much. That BBC article I posted up yesterday said the same. Cut the supply of one drug it'll get replaced by another. It's a disease. Middle America voting for Trump will solve it by building a wall and imposing tariffs are deluding themselves.

War of drugs has been raging since what? The 70s? You'd have thought they'd have won after nearly 60 years if cracking down was going to work.

 

[ncurd]

Cutting off the supply of drugs is unlikely to be a long term solution. People will just commit crime in order to feed their addiction with other substances. Govt should be addressing the real root causes behind why they need to escape from reality on a daily basis whether it be societal, lack of prospects etc. it's easy to blame Canada and Mexico but Tangoman needs to look closer to home.

I mean evidence clearly shows decriminalisation and support is the most cost effective factor. People just don't want to fund it and prefer punishment because they "feel" it works better.

Europe which in general is more left wing and liberal has smaller issues with these factors compare to NA.

Canada is an odd one they are more left wing in mindset than the USA but has an issue I think it might be more due highly concentrated population spots with huge gaps between those populations centers. But that's a guess.

House prices in Canada (even the crap parts) are ridiculous. The government are scared to act though as it's a huge part of their income.

I'm aware I lived in Ottawa for 7 months and have to go out there regularly.

 

[ChicagoKid]

War of drugs has been raging since what? The 70s? You'd have thought they'd gave won after nearly 60 years if cracking down was going to work.

Yea the war has been a major victory...for the cartels.

I'd bet good $$ we see American special forces deployed to Mexico in the next 1-5 years to attempt to destroy the major leaders and operations.

The death & destruction from drugs is overwhelming our system.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

War of drugs has been raging since what? The 70s? You'd have thought they'd gave won after nearly 60 years if cracking down was going to work.

It's probably always been there in some form. Remember they tried Prohibition and look how that turned out.

 

[Welsh Exile]

 

[Reiser99]

Yea the war has been a major victory...for the cartels.

I'd bet good $$ we see American special forces deployed to Mexico in the next 1-5 years to attempt to destroy the major leaders and operations.

The death & destruction from drugs is overwhelming our system.

I won't get into the legality of using them in another country in this way as I'm not 100% even though it sounds dodgy as ****.

However, what would deploying special forces actually solve? While it may be illegal, these cartels are technically still a business. They operate on supply and demand and there is a huge demand in the US. Not only will you have your crackheads, but many middle and upper class also taking drugs recreationally.

No matter how much you crack down, people will find a way. You take out one leader, another will take their place. You might slow it down, but only temporarily.

How about making drugs legal at approved medical facilities from approved manufacturers? This way the drugs would be cleaner, you would have trained medical staff to deal with emergencies. It would cut the demand for the cartels and it would be taxable.

Unfortunately, the way lobbying works, prisons are a bigger business in the US and contribute to the economy more. Like poverty, most American politicians don't actually want to solve the problem, but are happy to use it as a political football to get what they want.