General Discussion

Cosmocat

(15,479 posts)

169. Unfortunately I agree

Sat Nov 16, 2013, 01:18 PM

Nov 2013

I have pretty much given up hope.

The problem is the people who vote/not vote.

We collectively have no capacity to make sober and solid decisions in the voting booth.

We repeatedly elected people who clearly are unsuited for government/re-elect people who are not doing a good job.

And, what has been proven over time is that the electorate simply does not respond to facts and a call for good government, it will elect people for all kinds of senseless reasons, and "going negative" will win more often than not, all of which serves to incentivize candidates and politicians to not operate from a standard of good government.

Somehow, the "policy" and political discourse in this country is such that people are itching to have SS cut.

THAT is how fucked up this country is now.

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80% of the US Population is at or below the POVERTY line - WHY is this NOT a National Emergency??? [View all] FirstLight Nov 2013 OP

Can't get to the article Chuuku Davis Nov 2013 #1

trying to see why the link isn't working FirstLight Nov 2013 #3

Worked for me. n/t RebelOne Nov 2013 #6

Near poverty is when average cost of living expenditures are equal or close to total income. haele Nov 2013 #23

Thank you for that. Bohunk68 Nov 2013 #45

Yeah, it's more accurate to say that 80% of Americans aren't all that financially secure, at best. nomorenomore08 Nov 2013 #112

Poverty is everywhere now billhicks76 Nov 2013 #132

Yes, not one branch or one party. merrily Nov 2013 #2

Because we live in a plutocracy. Rex Nov 2013 #4

so we just give a simple one sentence answer and forget about it? FirstLight Nov 2013 #5

There is no critical mass, people will get used to living with far far less. Rex Nov 2013 #12

Sadly, this is the way I see it too, constant adjustment to disaster capitalism. Also, I think RKP5637 Nov 2013 #72

Unfortunately I agree Cosmocat Nov 2013 #169

Who says a one sentence post = forgetting about anything in real life? merrily Nov 2013 #21

We need that smilie here at DU. Brigid Nov 2013 #91

I hate it when I hear 'Both sides are at fault' Iwasthere Nov 2013 #7

nope FirstLight Nov 2013 #11

The record shows aggressive pursuit of a corporate agenda. woo me with science Nov 2013 #17

FUCK yeah! FirstLight Nov 2013 #20

Exactly what is happening, the surveillance noose is tighting all of the time, every minute RKP5637 Nov 2013 #80

People look at me funny Kelvin Mace Nov 2013 #41

It's absurd, isn't it. woo me with science Nov 2013 #49

+++ 1,000,000,000 +++ n/t RKP5637 Nov 2013 #83

That is the essence of it, apparently, in the USA. Ghost Dog Nov 2013 #109

It's time for the rise of the socialist party passiveporcupine Nov 2013 #190

In short, R=D when it comes to $$$$$, but many live in denial of that fact. n/t RKP5637 Nov 2013 #76

Your video link is no longer available Oilwellian Nov 2013 #116

Thank you for the heads up. I've replaced it. woo me with science Nov 2013 #117

I agree with your sentiments. merrily Nov 2013 #141

Great post and it's exactly what you say it is. truedelphi Nov 2013 #185

the corporatists, D and R, are to blame. HooptieWagon Nov 2013 #32

Maybe we are, too. merrily Nov 2013 #143

I love PBO. Still, the Presidency is a very well-paying, lifetime position. It pays much better libdem4life Nov 2013 #53

I hope that what you posted is simply your opinion. sabrina 1 Nov 2013 #133

I didn't say that. It is a job and it pays very, very well, as it should. It holds historical libdem4life Nov 2013 #137

Well, I don't disagree with most of what you said, including that he was never sabrina 1 Nov 2013 #181

Funny, I just wrote a post that helped me clear up that war vote...I strongly opposed that. But libdem4life Nov 2013 #186

Well, I live in Ny and did at that time. Most NYers did not want a war in Iraq and those who sabrina 1 Nov 2013 #195

Thank you for your reply of experience and your thoughts. I was in the Flower Power Generation on libdem4life Nov 2013 #199

+1 merrily Nov 2013 #138

It's that a second term does not turn a President back into a Populist. He has a legacy to build libdem4life Nov 2013 #187

Somewhere along the way he became a millionaire too 7962 Nov 2013 #75

I am sorry but BOTH SIDES ARE AT FAULT. truedelphi Nov 2013 #176

Because the median net worth of a US Congress person is $6.5 million. Agnosticsherbet Nov 2013 #8

true, historically and psychologically FirstLight Nov 2013 #14

We've been in a Class War with Republicans at least since Reagan, Agnosticsherbet Nov 2013 #25

Americans are held in a financially repressive society, nothing akin to jacquerie among the poor RKP5637 Nov 2013 #88

As a species, we've probably been in class warfare with the rich and/or powerful merrily Nov 2013 #140

The most recent Woody Allen movie featured a grocery store LibDemAlways Nov 2013 #54

You're absolutely right .. even these renowned film makers can't get it right .. they're too rich. YOHABLO Nov 2013 #131

$3000 a month or more. In reality she'd be commuting in from Oakland or Concord. diane in sf Nov 2013 #139

Way MORE than $1500 a month in San Francisco SoCalDem Nov 2013 #158

That's what gets me about Modern Family fasttense Nov 2013 #166

The Honeymooners. Sognefjord Nov 2013 #198

$1,500? Beacool Nov 2013 #197

As long as very rich people get richer, all is right with the world. valerief Nov 2013 #9

Reminds me of the line from Lear...Replace "gods" with "rich." Arugula Latte Nov 2013 #24

Old school. Now they do it because they think the "takers" deserve to die. merrily Nov 2013 #144

It's shocking how coldly indifferent to suffering and death so many rightwingers are. Arugula Latte Nov 2013 #172

At, below, or near gollygee Nov 2013 #10

I salute your outrage, but question your stats Proud Public Servant Nov 2013 #13

not my stats, but you are going to turn away just because it isn't *that* bad? FirstLight Nov 2013 #19

Nobody's turning away from anything Proud Public Servant Nov 2013 #29

Errr, correction needed dreamnightwind Nov 2013 #114

Fair enough Proud Public Servant Nov 2013 #123

You literally said you didn't say exactly what you said - enough said dreamnightwind Nov 2013 #125

Really? That's what you're hanging your hat on? Proud Public Servant Nov 2013 #126

OK, sorry dreamnightwind Nov 2013 #128

Facts matter. I'm poor and I was questioning those stats cali Nov 2013 #30

And that was my point Proud Public Servant Nov 2013 #47

The median household income in 2012 was over 50,000, pnwmom Nov 2013 #69

a $50K income anywhere in Maine is very high. In NYC, San Francisco, Honolulu... magical thyme Nov 2013 #163

And the median is much higher in those cities. It still doesn't work out pnwmom Nov 2013 #175

Agreed. And I followed the links to the source, which is a study that showed that 80% struggled... magical thyme Nov 2013 #184

Poverty line is different in each community dickthegrouch Nov 2013 #43

Agree on all points Proud Public Servant Nov 2013 #50

You missed the point entirely..... llmart Nov 2013 #78

You've got a curious definition of "middle class" Proud Public Servant Nov 2013 #121

oh, I think it can be a decent life hfojvt Nov 2013 #164

...actually OmahaBlueDog Nov 2013 #98

Agree, doesn't seem quite right treestar Nov 2013 #182

What is meant by "4th quintile of US household income" truedelphi Nov 2013 #188

A quintile is 20% Proud Public Servant Nov 2013 #193

Got it. truedelphi Nov 2013 #201

That 80% number simply isn't true. Captain Stern Nov 2013 #15

Uhhhhhhh....what exactly is your definition of "Near"? jeff47 Nov 2013 #16

+1 CountAllVotes Nov 2013 #40

+ a lot. I imagine almost everyone has been unemployed at some point in their lives 7962 Nov 2013 #81

Single payer zipplewrath Nov 2013 #18

Huge K&R. It should be an emergency. But what is on the horizon? woo me with science Nov 2013 #22

I am so right there with you... FirstLight Nov 2013 #31

Hey, woo me with science, here's some math. pnwmom Nov 2013 #73

Because the GOP controls Congress and want to see non-GOPers suffer and blame Obama AND kelliekat44 Nov 2013 #26

And some would rather shout "It's not Obama's fault" than to face the actual problem Doctor_J Nov 2013 #33

Owned? How can you say owned? Ace Acme Nov 2013 #93

I think the country has been mortgaged dreamnightwind Nov 2013 #115

Well stated. Ace Acme Nov 2013 #127

Food Stamps were cut recently. That's House, Senate and Oval Office. merrily Nov 2013 #145

Probably not a national emergency because your numbers are way off.... cbdo2007 Nov 2013 #27

again, not MY numbers...but hey, that's a good enough reason to NOT care, right? FirstLight Nov 2013 #34

actually it is....nobody wants to have a discussion with someone with incorrect facts. cbdo2007 Nov 2013 #38

They aren't? lumberjack_jeff Nov 2013 #59

...except that the OP isn't about income equality... brooklynite Nov 2013 #67

If the claim is that "80% of americans are below poverty" how could it not be about inequality? lumberjack_jeff Nov 2013 #94

+10000 Valid numbers that illustrate the emergency have been posted all over this thread. woo me with science Nov 2013 #108

Those numbers are HUGELY off - it's more like 15-16% Yo_Mama Nov 2013 #120

This is the callous, dismissive garbage we have come to expect from the Third Way. woo me with science Nov 2013 #39

Facts are now "callous, dismissive garbage"??? That is exactly the problem. cbdo2007 Nov 2013 #71

Facts are not dismissive, but your post was dismissive. merrily Nov 2013 #146

+1000 Katashi_itto Nov 2013 #113

It is! The PTB want to get it up to 95% or so. Doctor_J Nov 2013 #28

In a country where money is speech, the poor are voiceless. eShirl Nov 2013 #35

you win - sums it up perfectly FirstLight Nov 2013 #37

+10000 woo me with science Nov 2013 #52

Well said!!! Exactly!!! n/t RKP5637 Nov 2013 #92

100% of Americans cannot walk*! alcibiades_mystery Nov 2013 #36

OK, that one almost made me spit out the drink....... 7962 Nov 2013 #89

You win the thread... SidDithers Nov 2013 #124

sorry, forget I said anything FirstLight Nov 2013 #42

Oh please. jeff47 Nov 2013 #58

... FirstLight Nov 2013 #60

Reading beyond the first sentence might be a good idea. (nt) jeff47 Nov 2013 #61

Sure. So would some empathy for a fellow DUer on food stamps who just had them cut and merrily Nov 2013 #152

Except that's not what she was doing in this thread. jeff47 Nov 2013 #168

Yes, that is what she was doing in this thread. Just not explicitly. merrily Nov 2013 #170

don't let them get to you questionseverything Nov 2013 #173

the medium income is bs since the millionaires and billionaires are averaged into that passiveporcupine Nov 2013 #191

Wow. merrily Nov 2013 #151

Poverty sucks and our system is lacking in fairness and safety nets Matariki Nov 2013 #44

Because rich people own every media source in the country Taitertots Nov 2013 #46

not shiny and new, not newsworthy, won't sell products (what the media thinks) NRaleighLiberal Nov 2013 #48

In a historical context, this nation is ripe for signficant social unrest. 1000words Nov 2013 #51

Wish I did and you'd never know it from this thread. merrily Nov 2013 #147

that's it right there FirstLight Nov 2013 #179

A real national emergency is when some pop star shakes her butt on TeeVee. Tierra_y_Libertad Nov 2013 #55

Yeah. And our pop stars can't even do that right agent46 Nov 2013 #68

Since when is 50 million people 80% of the population of over doc03 Nov 2013 #56

"At or near." The near part must suck up a lot of people. pnwmom Nov 2013 #63

I am a retired person and own my home. It's a mobile home, RebelOne Nov 2013 #79

The other thing I realized is that the national median household income pnwmom Nov 2013 #86

Median on wage income is a different statistic than median on population. haele Nov 2013 #105

The groups you listed are included in median household income figures. pnwmom Nov 2013 #107

The stat in the actual article is 80% are at or near poverty at some point in their lives jeff47 Nov 2013 #90

Well, that explains it. Probably 80% depends on a regular job to get by. pnwmom Nov 2013 #96

Exactly. Doesn't mean it isn't a problem, but it does require a different fix. (nt) jeff47 Nov 2013 #97

Because another 10 percent TBF Nov 2013 #57

It's not a national emergency agent46 Nov 2013 #62

This is what FREEDOM feels like..... DeSwiss Nov 2013 #64

+100000 woo me with science Nov 2013 #84

Just checked census site jehop61 Nov 2013 #65

The US public has been dumbed down so much that . . . aggiesal Nov 2013 #66

It would be an emergency if it were TRUE, but it isn't. pnwmom Nov 2013 #70

Then lower the line for Gods sake. Bonhomme Richard Nov 2013 #74

Message auto-removed Name removed Nov 2013 #77

50 million is 16% of the population Boom Sound 416 Nov 2013 #82

Really? ananda Nov 2013 #85

It is a simple answer, too many of those in poverty votes for candidates who take good care of the Thinkingabout Nov 2013 #87

It starts with deciding who are the candidates, though. merrily Nov 2013 #148

I don't have time to read the whole thread now...but passiveporcupine Nov 2013 #95

I hope that when you do read the whole thread, you will cut the OP some slack. merrily Nov 2013 #149

You are correct Merrily passiveporcupine Nov 2013 #192

I didn't think is was that bad Jack Rabbit Nov 2013 #99

"What will it take?".... Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2013 #100

Because the rich rule the world liberal N proud Nov 2013 #101

That...just...isn't...true. Throd Nov 2013 #102

Why? ReRe Nov 2013 #103

I agree it's higher than it should be in this great country.. Chakaconcarne Nov 2013 #104

It's pretty simple why LittleBlue Nov 2013 #106

Shocking Study: 4 out of 5 in USA Face Near-Poverty and Unemployment < Is the headline jtuck004 Nov 2013 #110

Message auto-removed Name removed Nov 2013 #111

I don't think your statistics are correct. BlueToTheBone Nov 2013 #118

Because it isn't true!!! Try 15 - 16% Yo_Mama Nov 2013 #119

Its not a national emergency because the information is bogus bhikkhu Nov 2013 #122

But I love how certain posters are determined to K&R even though these numbers are way off Number23 Nov 2013 #129

115 recs for this turd... SidDithers Nov 2013 #156

Stupidity knows no political boundary Android3.14 Nov 2013 #162

Neither does insenstivity. merrily Nov 2013 #171

Your right, of course Android3.14 Nov 2013 #180

Legal double standards are a fact of American life now, too. Until Wall St. cons go to jail, that's ancianita Nov 2013 #130

The Oligarchs And Corporations Own And Control The Politicians That Own And Control Us cantbeserious Nov 2013 #134

The title is misleading BainsBane Nov 2013 #135

It is where our political/corporate leaders want us. ronnie624 Nov 2013 #136

Because the 1% owns everything, including DC and the Media. blkmusclmachine Nov 2013 #142

First Light, I am sorry that you are in this situation and also sorry merrily Nov 2013 #150

thanks FirstLight Nov 2013 #183

The real numbers are bad enough scheming daemons Nov 2013 #153

Exactly DFW Nov 2013 #155

Nailed it...nt SidDithers Nov 2013 #157

When we dig down into the report, we learn the magic phrase "for at least parts of their lives..." MADem Nov 2013 #177

Reminds me of The Hunger Games Clear Blue Sky Nov 2013 #154

This message was self-deleted by its author Android3.14 Nov 2013 #159

The 80th percentile has an income Progressive dog Nov 2013 #160

Uh...no. Android3.14 Nov 2013 #161

Will we have to reach critical mass and be on the brink of starvation before we 'storm the bastille' CrispyQ Nov 2013 #165

It is always so amazing to come in contact with people in their early twenties. truedelphi Nov 2013 #189

Trickle Down is Buy-Partisan. Octafish Nov 2013 #167

The headline is so false that this OP is highly counter-productive cthulu2016 Nov 2013 #174

It is a cherry pick of this story from back in July... MADem Nov 2013 #178

"reliance on government assistance" = S.S. and Medicare, for example. Govt pensions, maybe. WinkyDink Nov 2013 #194

There's something wrong with that figure, 80% of Americans are not at or below the poverty level. Beacool Nov 2013 #196

Message auto-removed Name removed Nov 2013 #200

What? hrmjustin Nov 2013 #202