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  #611  
Old 01-28-2021, 01:41 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by crystalworks View Post
I'm not saying it's a good thing or bad thing, or that they could not serve competently. I am only speaking to the mindset of individuals serving. As Happy mentions, sexual assaults are an epidemic in the military. Many times gets under-reported or dismissed even when reported. We had 2 homicides locally resulting, one of which garnered national attention.



Yes, they may be adding to an already existing problem by upping the variables/reasons of why an abuser might abuse.
I agree they may be making the problem worse. Some military leaders say it is their number 1 priority but thus far the number of cases reported is still increasing. More focus through education programs hasn't been effective.

Much of the problem stems from younger soldiers in low ranks. And some of increase is due to the increase in the number of women in the military.The biggest problem noted is the disparity in how responsible officers that decide what cases are prosecuted and what they determine constitutes sexual harassment or assault. I can see why officers would not want to take the step to prosecution, as it would reflect on their leadership shortcomings. Collectively it is complex problem.

It seems clear the military hasn't been able to fix the problem on their own. Obama administration made some effort to address the problem. My bet is Biden will pick up the torch.
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  #612  
Old 03-03-2021, 10:47 AM
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Difference Between Uneducated and Ignorant People

On Feb. 23, 2016, Donald Trump said: "I love the poorly educated."
Has any Democrat politician ever said anything this condescending about those who lack college degrees?**Donald Trump and Faux News love the less educated since the less education they have, the better to deceive them into voting against their own interests.

There is a huge difference between being less educated and being willfully ignorant.**Anyone with an ounce of common sense would question why Trump is in the White House…yet they do not…**I will always have disdain for the intentionally, persistent CRUEL and WILLFULLY ignorant, who eschew facts and science and accuse anyone with a college degree of being an "elitist".*People who have no knowledge of a subject but who are 100% confident that their view is correct, who refuse to use critical thinking, logic, dismiss facts, who dismiss science, who dismiss knowledge and have no knowledge of the U.S. Constitution, are the problem.**No one holds anything against the less educated, only against those who use their lack of education as an excuse and cover for racism, bigotry, and the kind of anti-intellectual intentional irresponsibility that gets people killed. THAT is what people have disdain for. You don't have to be educated to understand that science should be paid attention to and one’s lack of scientific education doesn't give them a license to hurt others.**But if you refuse to put in the effort to better yourself, using whatever means necessary, you should be content with your place in life. If you put in the requisite effort, you deserve the rewards that come with it.

Educating oneself means the conscious search for enlightenment and improvement of oneself, not just intellectually and to be a better person, but for the improved economic opportunities if affords.**This is a lifelong process where we learn more as we grow, as we are exposed to more ideas, experiences and perspectives,*resulting in our becoming more knowledgeable and smarter.**A democracy cannot exist without a well-educated and well-read population.

To be clear, I believe that being ignorant is not shameful. But consciously remaining ignorant is. Ignorance is what Trump feeds on.**People who deliberately ignore valid, honest, factual sources of information in order to bathe in obnoxious hate TV and radio are the problem. I have disdain for those who, perhaps despite education, reject science, think only of themselves, and strive to impose their version of 'truth' on others.

Also, uneducated and unintelligent are two different things. There are many people who are well read, well informed and accomplished in many ways, yet who do not have a college education much less an Ivy League education.. On the other hand, many people who have Ivy League educations are as dumb as a box of rocks. I don’t think most Democrats stigmatize uneducated people but they do have issues with ignorant people.

Yet, I have a serious issue when people celebrate a president of profound corruption and stupidity who is not just dumb, self-centered, but also dangerous, with the uneducated or worse yet, uninformed. When their political choices have a major impact on who runs this country, I have nothing but pity for these people.

When Hillary Clinton made her now infamous and politically tone-deaf comment, she was referring to approximately half of Trump supporters as a " basket of deplorables", she was not referring to those who were less-educated, but to those with hateful views and voices.**She further characterized that group as racist, sexist, homophobic, Islamophobic, etc. The other half of Trump's supporters felt frustrated and angry that, in their opinion, the federal government had let them down with their policies and wanted change. They also did not like HRC. All of that is fine, I accept that as valid reasons for why they chose to vote for Trump back in 2016. While HRC was much maligned politically for that ill-considered statement, it was truthful and on target.**Just look at all of Trump’s rallies which can be termed deplorable - filled with lies, ranting, hate and feeding this garbage to a fanatic fan-filled group.

We know that Trump has a bachelor's degree so he was, at the very least, offered and exposed to a good education. But unfortunately, he seems to not have any intellectual curiously, nor did he apparently learn much while he attended the U. of Pennsylvania. His professors noted that they remember him as a mediocre student. During his presidency, Trump demonstrated to all of us that he has a clear lack of morals and ethics. He chooses to not believe in science even though he knows better because he believes it will help him politically.* So with all of this, we will see if his supporters really will continue to stick with him as we approach 2024.

AVB-AMG
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  #613  
Old 03-03-2021, 01:40 PM
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For someone talking about ignorance...

Trump's comment was made after news commentators said that only the poorly educated and racists support Trump.



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  #614  
Old 03-03-2021, 02:27 PM
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EODguy:

FYI, I was opposed to Donald Trump’s candidacy for POTUS since 2015 and wrote about my reasons why in this forum. Plus, I explained that issue with regard to his still rabid supporters, now even after his election defeat.

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  #615  
Old 03-03-2021, 03:26 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AVB-AMG View Post
Difference Between Uneducated and Ignorant People

On Feb. 23, 2016, Donald Trump said: "I love the poorly educated."
Has any Democrat politician ever said anything this condescending about those who lack college degrees?**Donald Trump and Faux News love the less educated since the less education they have, the better to deceive them into voting against their own interests.

There is a huge difference between being less educated and being willfully ignorant.**Anyone with an ounce of common sense would question why Trump is in the White House…yet they do not…**I will always have disdain for the intentionally, persistent CRUEL and WILLFULLY ignorant, who eschew facts and science and accuse anyone with a college degree of being an "elitist".*People who have no knowledge of a subject but who are 100% confident that their view is correct, who refuse to use critical thinking, logic, dismiss facts, who dismiss science, who dismiss knowledge and have no knowledge of the U.S. Constitution, are the problem.**No one holds anything against the less educated, only against those who use their lack of education as an excuse and cover for racism, bigotry, and the kind of anti-intellectual intentional irresponsibility that gets people killed. THAT is what people have disdain for. You don't have to be educated to understand that science should be paid attention to and one’s lack of scientific education doesn't give them a license to hurt others.**But if you refuse to put in the effort to better yourself, using whatever means necessary, you should be content with your place in life. If you put in the requisite effort, you deserve the rewards that come with it.

Educating oneself means the conscious search for enlightenment and improvement of oneself, not just intellectually and to be a better person, but for the improved economic opportunities if affords.**This is a lifelong process where we learn more as we grow, as we are exposed to more ideas, experiences and perspectives,*resulting in our becoming more knowledgeable and smarter.**A democracy cannot exist without a well-educated and well-read population.

To be clear, I believe that being ignorant is not shameful. But consciously remaining ignorant is. Ignorance is what Trump feeds on.**People who deliberately ignore valid, honest, factual sources of information in order to bathe in obnoxious hate TV and radio are the problem. I have disdain for those who, perhaps despite education, reject science, think only of themselves, and strive to impose their version of 'truth' on others.

Also, uneducated and unintelligent are two different things. There are many people who are well read, well informed and accomplished in many ways, yet who do not have a college education much less an Ivy League education.. On the other hand, many people who have Ivy League educations are as dumb as a box of rocks. I don’t think most Democrats stigmatize uneducated people but they do have issues with ignorant people.

Yet, I have a serious issue when people celebrate a president of profound corruption and stupidity who is not just dumb, self-centered, but also dangerous, with the uneducated or worse yet, uninformed. When their political choices have a major impact on who runs this country, I have nothing but pity for these people.

When Hillary Clinton made her now infamous and politically tone-deaf comment, she was referring to approximately half of Trump supporters as a " basket of deplorables", she was not referring to those who were less-educated, but to those with hateful views and voices.**She further characterized that group as racist, sexist, homophobic, Islamophobic, etc. The other half of Trump's supporters felt frustrated and angry that, in their opinion, the federal government had let them down with their policies and wanted change. They also did not like HRC. All of that is fine, I accept that as valid reasons for why they chose to vote for Trump back in 2016. While HRC was much maligned politically for that ill-considered statement, it was truthful and on target.**Just look at all of Trump’s rallies which can be termed deplorable - filled with lies, ranting, hate and feeding this garbage to a fanatic fan-filled group.

We know that Trump has a bachelor's degree so he was, at the very least, offered and exposed to a good education. But unfortunately, he seems to not have any intellectual curiously, nor did he apparently learn much while he attended the U. of Pennsylvania. His professors noted that they remember him as a mediocre student. During his presidency, Trump demonstrated to all of us that he has a clear lack of morals and ethics. He chooses to not believe in science even though he knows better because he believes it will help him politically.* So with all of this, we will see if his supporters really will continue to stick with him as we approach 2024.

AVB-AMG
It's pretty clear that Trump has a lot of supporters.

What's hard to understand is why. There are many reasons been given; ignorance, media manipulation, strategic grooming of cult like following (Qanon, right wing radio talk show, etc), evangelical backing, white supremacy backing. The list goes on.

I don't know for sure that any of these reasons given by the news outlets today is the actual reason.

But i'm very concerned, like AVB is, that people like Trump could actually accend to the most powerful position in our country.

Tells me this country has a serious problem.
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  #616  
Old 03-05-2021, 05:19 AM
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See this view you have about Trump supporters is way off. People supported him because he was doing things that helped the economy and America in general. If you care to look at the actual results of his tariffs, tax cuts, etc. and not go off of some slipknot that says "It's all bad!! It's for White supremacists, rednecks, poorly educated people and orange man bad."
You will see what the people were supporting. It's not Trump, it's the results we liked and the being called racists, kooks and so forth that we hated. You wouldn't like to be denigrated daily for wanting better for your Country and your family would you? Because that's what was done to us. I personally liked how the stock market was booming, unemployment was the lowest in 50 years, oil was becoming an export item, Middle Eastern countries weren't trying to destroy Israel, North Korea had pulled their horns in and the USA had lowered emissions faster/lower than the signatories to the Paris accord.

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  #617  
Old 03-05-2021, 09:39 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EODguy View Post
See this view you have about Trump supporters is way off. People supported him because he was doing things that helped the economy and America in general. If you care to look at the actual results of his tariffs, tax cuts, etc. and not go off of some slipknot that says "It's all bad!! It's for White supremacists, rednecks, poorly educated people and orange man bad."
You will see what the people were supporting. It's not Trump, it's the results we liked and the being called racists, kooks and so forth that we hated. You wouldn't like to be denigrated daily for wanting better for your Country and your family would you? Because that's what was done to us. I personally liked how the stock market was booming, unemployment was the lowest in 50 years, oil was becoming an export item, Middle Eastern countries weren't trying to destroy Israel, North Korea had pulled their horns in and the USA had lowered emissions faster/lower than the signatories to the Paris accord.

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You maybe right. But this is not my view. It’s the views of countless news outlets. Who’ve interviewed, investigated, studied countless Americans through various media sources.

The foundamental mistake in your post is you think this is my view.

I gave no indication that I believe these are the kind of people who supported trump.

I simply stated that I am concerned that a person with Trumps caliber can become a president.

The end does not justify the means, and while I like all the good things you are attributing to the Trump administration ( personally I think it’s more the result of a well established republican agenda under the control of Mitch McConnell)

I still think I would not have voted for him knowing well enjoy 3 good years of stock market success, but one lousy and completely failed response to a world wide pandemic.

It’s not the party that I have a problem with. But you seem to tie yourself to that party regardless of who’s steering it.
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Last edited by Maruzo; 03-05-2021 at 09:44 AM.
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  #618  
Old 03-05-2021, 10:10 AM
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Qanon as a group of conspiracy believing people exist, and many of its member are Trump supporters.

That’s not to say I believe all supporters of Trump are Qanon.

I think, the vast majority of People who voted and supported Trump did so because they believe in Republican ideals. Not necessarily because they believed in Trump.

That said, let me tell you about a person I’ve recently spoke to whom I’ve known for 2 years.

A guy I play tennis with on and off since 2019 is a late stage cancer survivor, a lawyer by trade, a fighter both on and off court.

We met for breakfast after tennis one day, and I learned of his propensity to listening to YouTube videos about Qanon. He believed that the Top Democrats are laundering money by Passing the stimulus bill. He believed that the election was rigged by the democrats and Trump won the election, by a landslide.

He continued on with a few more hyperbolis and I just had to excuse myself from listening to any more of his rants.

So that’s the first Qanon believer I’ve ever met in person.

Not a good experience, I can tell you that.
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  #619  
Old 03-05-2021, 02:39 PM
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A vital element of a democracy is disagreement. However, it is not disagreement without compromise seeking betterment for all. It is not disagreement that escalates to violence. When that becomes the norm of a democracy it is in crisis.

Any individual that incessantly lies, lacks empathy, is obsessed with themselves, one that will sacrifice human lives trying to keep the economy flourishing and the stock market thriving is not fit, not qualified, to be the leader of the free world or any organization or government. It doesn't matter what their name is.

Character traits of leaders are contagious. Take Texas for instance. After over a year of proof concerning the benefits of masks and COVID 19 guidelines our governor has decided that the conditions in Texas are such, though pretty much the same as the July surge peak, it is time that Texas is 100% open despite over 70% of Texans disagreeing. It appears to be for personal gain and a diversionary tactic to take the focus off of our storm debacle. He can't even keep our lights on. He accepts no blame and has had several press conference stating adamantly that the failure was unacceptable and he is going to fix it. He says the reason why it happened was due to solar and wind power. When in fact only around 12% is derived from those methods and less than 7% were down. Sound familiar?

Perhaps hope against hope but I don't believe Trump can win in 2024, IMO the tide is very slowly changing. More Americans are embracing the truism that facts matter.
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  #620  
Old 03-05-2021, 11:38 PM
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bcredliner:

As a resident of Texas, thank you for your astute, first-hand observations conveyed in your post.
I agree with your sentiments regarding your Governor Greg Abbott, as well as your speculation about Donald Trump.... The disaster in TX that resulted by the extreme cold weather spell highlighted the shortcomings of how that state runs their deregulated energy industry. I hope that the state will re-evaluate how they should run that vital industry, spending the money to fortify their electric grid to address the now very real possibility that their could be more frequent single digit winter temperatures in the future. Also, revise their service agreements with their customers to prevent the outrageous expensive electricity bills that some customers were charged. I agree with you that Governor Abbot's bizarre claim that part of the reason for the failure of the electric grid was attributable to the renewable energy sources of wind and solar, was shocking, laughable and ultimately a sad realization that he is not the person to lead the great state of Texas. My guess is that he will not be reelected, that is unless Beto O'Rourke decides to run against him. Then who knows...? I find it interesting that we are now learning and seeing just how so many state Governors, regardless of political party affiliation, are turning out to be not what we thought, have made awful choices and decisions that have harmed their constituents, have ugly personal traits leading to scandals', and like so many politicians, just put the proverbial "finger up to the wind" of public opinion, to see what they should do that would also be in their personal best interest. Maybe we should not be so shocked, but just saddened.

EDOguy:

I think your description of some Trump supporters may be accurate for some of them, (i.e.you?), but I think they constitute less than half of the people who voted for him. Also, I do not accept that "the ends justify the means...", in that it was acceptable to support someone who was was/is a pathological liar, lacking any moral or ethical character and who was so spectacularly unfit to be POTUS, just because in your opinion, he promoted the causes you believe in. For a very long time I have questioned why do Trump supporters hold on to their beliefs so strongly and stick by Trump, even now that he lost the election. I think part of the reason is that it is fair to say that we all live in an information ecosystem, but Trump supporters are nearly exclusively connected to the intravenous drip of anger, grievance, and look to blame someone else, that is spouted by Trump and then amplified and reinforced by the right-leaning Fox News purveyors and stokers of sensational controversy: Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham, Ann Coulter, Tucker Carlson, in addition to the alternative sources of information of social media outlets, web sites and television networks, including Breitbart, InfoWars, NewsMax, One American News Network, Parler, etc.. The people who listen to and/or watch these people and sources exclusively, or participate in these social network blogs, are just looking to have their views and pre-existing beliefs affirmed, not informed of the truthful facts. They derive comfort inside those echo chamber bubbles and are most hesitant, if not totally against hearing, let alone considering other contrary points of views.

FYI, my take on the so-called Trump Delusion Syndrome (TDS) is that it is either the conscious denial of, or the total inability to find any fault with Donald Trump, regardless of all the readily available clear evidence, due to the fact that a person may have voted for him in 2016 and voted for him again in 2020. Also, TDS may be a factor when someone is so supportive of a lying, narcissistic, self-centered Donald Trump that anything he says, tweets or does is automatically good or part of some greater plan, no matter how bad it is or how often he lies about it or changes his position on it. The person suffering from TDS can no longer tell right from wrong, fact from fiction or puppet from patriot. Eventually, they become so delusional they say and write things that are totally deranged and may have mental issues of cognitive dissonance and constantly seek confirmation bias in their information sources and religious faith.

Maruzo:

I share your concern about the people who, for various reasons, are giving more credence to the outlandish QAnon conspiracy theories. Defying all logical, rational reason, they seem to be growing in numbers, which does not say much about our country's education system, nor how we have dealt with people who have been left behind by the effects of globalization, advancements in manufacturing technology and efficiency and migration to less polluting forms of energy. All of which have reduced the need for labor jobs. I can see how their frustration, depression, anxiety, desperation and anger make them susceptible to both a charismatic con man, (Donald Trump), as well as the lies and fake news that spread these ridiculous conspiracy theories. It allows them to blame most of their problems and focus their wrath on others.

AVB-AMG
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