guillaumeb

guillaumeb's Journal

November 10, 2018

61.4% of people voted in 2016. Think about that.

A record 137.5 million Americans voted in the 2016 presidential election, according to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Overall voter turnout – defined as the share of adult U.S. citizens who cast ballots – was 61.4% in 2016, a share similar to 2012 but below the 63.6% who say they voted in 2008.
A number of long-standing trends in presidential elections either reversed or stalled in 2016, as black voter turnout decreased, white turnout increased and the nonwhite share of the U.S. electorate remained flat since the 2012 election. Here are some key takeaways from the Census Bureau’s report, the data source with the most comprehensive demographic and statistical portrait of U.S. voters.

http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/05/12/black-voter-turnout-fell-in-2016-even-as-a-record-number-of-americans-cast-ballots/

So when we write about Sanders voters, or Clinton voters, or Stein voters, we must acknowledge that 38.6% of voters did not vote at all.

Some of it was due to ignorance, some due to deliberate and targeted GOP voter suppression directed at likely Democratic voters.

My personal view is that the Democratic Party does have a winning message, but that the conservative corporate media generally ignores that message to better focus on Trump's lunatic raving and lies.

My prescription is that we must treat 2018 as the first small wave, the precursor to a larger 2020 wave.

And to better insure that the 2020 wave happens, we must force the media and our elected representatives to focus on voter suppression. Stacey Abrams is showing how to do it. She refuses to concede, and continues to focus on Kemp's deliberate cheating. But she cannot be the only one. Democratic voters and politicians must focus on the undeniable fact that the GOP can only win by suppressing the vote and cheating on counting ballots.

November 10, 2018

These 14 Democrats Are at Core of What Bernie Sanders Calls the 'Most Progressive Freshman Class'

These 14 Democrats Are at Core of What Bernie Sanders Calls the 'Most Progressive Freshman Class' in Modern US History

From the article:

As conservative pundits and self-interested corporate Democrats predictably attempted to spin this week's midterm election results as a win for so-called moderates and proof that the Democratic Party should tack to the center, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) dismissed this "absurd line" in an interview on Thursday and called the incoming crop of newly elected House members "the most progressive freshman class in the modern history of the United States."

"Many of these folks are not just women, not just people of color, who campaigned on Medicare for All, raising the minimum wage to 15 bucks, campaigned on making public colleges and universities tuition-free, on undoing Trump's tax breaks for billionaires," Sanders told Rolling Stone's Matt Taibbi in response to one Washington Post columnist's claim that Sanders-style progressives "scare" voters.

To read more:

https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/11/09/these-14-democrats-are-core-what-bernie-sanders-calls-most-progressive-freshman?cd-

Far from "scaring voters", progressive politics energize voters.

November 10, 2018

Two views on theism:

In the first quote, we have a man who, while progressive in his political opinions, exposes his extreme intolerance as he attacks theists. He reveals much about himself, but nothing about those whom he obviously hates.

The quote:

There is something feeble, and a little contemptible, about a man who cannot face the perils of life without the help of comfortable myths. Almost inevitably some part of him is aware that they are myths and that he believes them only because they are comforting. But he dare not face this thought, and he therefore cannot carry his own reflection to any logical conclusion.

Bertrand Russell

In the second quote, we have a man who acknowledges his own limitations and reserves judgment because he recognizes those limitations.
The quote:

"I do not share the crusading spirit of the professional atheist whose fervor is mostly due to a painful act of liberation from the fetters of religious indoctrination received in youth. I prefer an attitude of humility corresponding to the weakness of our intellectual understanding of nature and of our own being."

- Albert Einstein

Personally, I find the intolerant progressive to be far the intellectually inferior of the two in attitude, but that attitude of contempt seems to be much in favor among some.

My own view is that, while I have faith, there is no proof. And as long as both sides recognize the essential unprovability of both positions in the theism versus non-theism debate, we can share our progressive politics while understanding that we do not agree on all things.

November 9, 2018

As #TreeofLife Shows, Trump's Mainstreaming of Hate Puts All Minorities in Danger

From the article:

……….Trump’s mainstreaming of hate — and the resulting violence by an extremist minority —
is made possible by the silence of politicians like Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Paul Ryan, who wish to reap the gains of Republican control of the executive branch while avoiding repudiation of Trump’s constant promotion of bigotry.

November 9, 2018

330,000+ Sign Petition Calling on White House Press Corps to 'Stand Up and Fight Back' After Acosta

330,000+ Sign Petition Calling on White House Press Corps to 'Stand Up and Fight Back' After Acosta Blacklisted

From the article:

An online petition is surging towards its goal of 350,000 signatures on Thursday as it called on members of the White House Press Association to stand in solidarity against the Trump adminstration's decision to strip credentials from CNN report Jim Acosta.

Posted on MoveOn.org's platform, but coordinated by the watchdog group Media Matters for America, the petition reads:
If Trump blacklists or bans one of you, the rest of you need to stand up. Instead of ignoring Trump's bad behavior and going about your business, close ranks and stand up for journalism. Don't keep talking about what Trump wants to talk about. Stand up and fight back. Amplify your colleague's inquiry or refuse to engage until he removes that person/outlet from the blacklist.

"In response to a man who treats his Presidency as if it's a series of a particularly bizarre reality-TV show, the entire White House press corps should walk out." —British journalist Jane Merrick

November 9, 2018

As Christians split over Trump, minority faiths make their mark

From the article:

Muslim women were elected to Congress for the first time. The number of non-religious elected officials expanded. And for the first time in memory an incumbent senator mentioned the upcoming Hindu holiday of Diwali in an acceptance speech.
Religion was not the story in yesterday’s midterm elections, but the national vote was not without some compelling — and telling — stories with implications for faith in American politics.

To read more:

https://religionnews.com/2018/11/07/election-roundup/

November 9, 2018

"A People's Wave" Rebukes Trump: Democrats Retake US House With Mandate...

"A People's Wave" Rebukes Trump: Democrats Retake US House With Mandate to Chart Bold Progressive Course

From the article:

After massive energy driven by two years of tireless grassroots organizing nationwide, ambitious left-wing platforms, and sheer revulsion at President Donald Trump's plutocratic and racist agenda wrested control of the House from the GOP in Tuesday's midterms, celebration quickly transformed into pressure on the new House Democratic majority to heed the demands of the progressive forces that swept them into power and deliver on the bold policy promises that carried dozens of working class champions to victory.

November 8, 2018

Defending free speech is also the best way to defend Muhammad

From the article:

…...Rather than ban speech critical of Muhammad, Muslims should meet arguments with arguments and silence claims with counterclaims. Advocating for free speech and critical thinking, not fighting against them, is what gives Muslims the greatest chance of defending Islam.

November 8, 2018

Trump's presidency, 'Christian supremacism' criticized at Parliament of World Religions

From the article:

Speakers from around the world — and especially the U.S. — often refer to the situation in that country, expressing disappointment at the anger dividing Americans...
A number of workshops are also addressing U.S. issues, such as the Nov. 2 session titled “Faith, Secularism and Democracy.”
The session was billed as a look at the threats to religious freedom and secular democracy in the U.S. by an “aggressive, oppressive majority.” Presenter Jaideep Singh wasted no time in naming the source of that threat: Christian supremacy.

November 7, 2018

The GOP is the party of values.

The primary value is winning at any cost. So, in support of this value, the GOP actively suppresses the minority vote.

The second value is serving the rich. So, in support of this value, the GOP showers an endless series of tax breaks on the rich, while shifting the tax burden to the workers.

The third value is shameless lying in support of the first 2 values.

Did I miss any GOP values?

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Member since: Mon Jan 26, 2015, 06:15 PM
Number of posts: 42,641

About guillaumeb

bilingual, bipedal homo sapien

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