5 ms·

The Republicans aren't as bad as you think. Trump has said (vague) things about providing health care for everyone. He's said a lot of things that are a big d

The Republicans aren't as bad as you think. Trump has said (vague) things about providing health care for everyone. He's said a lot of things that are a big departure from standard Republican ideology, which is why a bunch of Republicans are calling him "not a real Republican" and the party as a whole is having a major shit-fit about him possibly getting the nomination. The guy isn't really a right-winger, he's a centrist nationalist as far as I can tell. The GOP is pissed at him lately because of his foreign policy stances, because he's voiced support for non-interventionism and staying neutral on Israel. But you're absolutely right about Bernie and Hillary. Hillary, to me, isn't much different from Ted Cruz, and even more like Rubio. They're right-wing war hawks in the pocket of Wall Street, and the only things they differ on are social wedge issues that they use to get people on each side to vote for them. AFAIC, our best hope is Bernie. Cruz and Hillary will both be a disaster and lead us into another war, and Trump is a wild card and highly unpredictable, though I think he's a lot less likely to get us involved in another war than Hillary or Cruz (he royally pissed off the GOP by saying the Iraq war was stupid).

wobbleblob 11y ago
> The guy isn't really a right-winger, he's a centrist nationalist as far as I can tell. There's a word for that: populist. Policy by opinion poll. As most European democracies have found out over the past decades, most voters aren't political idealists. Ideas from all over the political spectrum appeal to them. Many of them end up not voting because every major party comes with a package of political ideals that don't work for them. From time to time, a politician appears who manages to tap that potential, and throws the traditional, ideals-oriented politics into disarray.
xenadu02 11y ago
Trump made that claim about health care. Then when it polled badly with the hardcore Republican base (you see Obamacare = bad because Obama = bad, mumble mumble ~reasons~) he flipped faster than you could blink. Go look at his website now. It's the same old tired Republican canards like selling insurance across state lines (aka gutting your state's insurance commission as all insurance companies relocate to states without meaningful regulation like South Dakota).
ameen 11y ago
Bernie seems like the only sane person on there. Hillary is the worst of them, and I say this as a Muslim. Trump might hate me, but at least it's irrational unlike Hillary who is a first-class warmonger and only exists to sell multi-billion dollar weapons. The world could do a lot more with lesser wars, no unwanted migration, and no terrorism. The vicious cycle of violence killing innocents and following hate attacks are unbearable. I can't take it any more, I don't think anyone can.
- Grishnakh 11y ago
  From what I've read, Trump's anti-Muslim comments seem to basically be along the lines of stopping any of them from entering the country until some better screening measures are instituted, and worst-case, not letting any more in. However, he's been pretty clear about being interested in a more non-interventionist foreign policy, and our military involvement in the middle east is exactly what's created this monster. The establishment politicians, on both sides, by contrast, are warmongers like you say. I think they'll just make things even worse.
- ebfe 11y ago
  What is irrational about blocking Muslim immigration? I could understand an argument that it's mean, racist, or a few other negative things, but from the position of a non-Muslim what about it is irrational?
  - ameen 11y ago
    Because there's nothing else that's different about me from a non-Muslim. I'm a qualified Engineer, who pays taxes, abides by the rules, performs community service, a blood donor, etc. I'm just an average guy looking to live my life, all Muslims are like that except those that have been brainwashed and are used for political reasons. Why discriminate against me for my faith? Isn't the U.S. a secular country?
    - ebfe 11y ago
      For every Muslim immigrant who is a tax-paying engineer, there are a hundred who lack any sort of skill and will spend their entire life dependent on costly social programs. In Germany, for example, the average cost per refugee is 12,000 euros per year. There's simply no reason to bring in populations that require more money to support than they contribute.

wobbleblob 11y ago

> The guy isn't really a right-winger, he's a centrist nationalist as far as I can tell. There's a word for that: populist. Policy by opinion poll. As most European democracies have found out over the past decades, most voters aren't political idealists. Ideas from all over the political spectrum appeal to them. Many of them end up not voting because every major party comes with a package of political ideals that don't work for them. From time to time, a politician appears who manages to tap that potential, and throws the traditional, ideals-oriented politics into disarray.

xenadu02 11y ago

Trump made that claim about health care. Then when it polled badly with the hardcore Republican base (you see Obamacare = bad because Obama = bad, mumble mumble ~reasons~) he flipped faster than you could blink. Go look at his website now. It's the same old tired Republican canards like selling insurance across state lines (aka gutting your state's insurance commission as all insurance companies relocate to states without meaningful regulation like South Dakota).

ameen 11y ago

Bernie seems like the only sane person on there. Hillary is the worst of them, and I say this as a Muslim. Trump might hate me, but at least it's irrational unlike Hillary who is a first-class warmonger and only exists to sell multi-billion dollar weapons. The world could do a lot more with lesser wars, no unwanted migration, and no terrorism. The vicious cycle of violence killing innocents and following hate attacks are unbearable. I can't take it any more, I don't think anyone can.

Grishnakh 11y ago
From what I've read, Trump's anti-Muslim comments seem to basically be along the lines of stopping any of them from entering the country until some better screening measures are instituted, and worst-case, not letting any more in. However, he's been pretty clear about being interested in a more non-interventionist foreign policy, and our military involvement in the middle east is exactly what's created this monster. The establishment politicians, on both sides, by contrast, are warmongers like you say. I think they'll just make things even worse.
ebfe 11y ago
What is irrational about blocking Muslim immigration? I could understand an argument that it's mean, racist, or a few other negative things, but from the position of a non-Muslim what about it is irrational?
- ameen 11y ago
  Because there's nothing else that's different about me from a non-Muslim. I'm a qualified Engineer, who pays taxes, abides by the rules, performs community service, a blood donor, etc. I'm just an average guy looking to live my life, all Muslims are like that except those that have been brainwashed and are used for political reasons. Why discriminate against me for my faith? Isn't the U.S. a secular country?
  - ebfe 11y ago
    For every Muslim immigrant who is a tax-paying engineer, there are a hundred who lack any sort of skill and will spend their entire life dependent on costly social programs. In Germany, for example, the average cost per refugee is 12,000 euros per year. There's simply no reason to bring in populations that require more money to support than they contribute.