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Joe BidenCongratulations to our presumptive Democratic nominee, Joe Biden!
 

Jedi Guy

(3,171 posts)
29. Sadly this isn't exactly what I'd call a rare phenomenon.
Thu Feb 27, 2020, 08:16 PM
Feb 2020

During the 2012 election when Obama was going for a second term, I had a friend who was a single-issue voter, with the issue in question being marriage equality. I admired her dedication to marriage equality, but she had this notion that if re-elected, Obama could simply... declare that marriage equality was a thing, and it would be so.

I had to explain to her that a President has a great deal of influence, both on his or her own party and through the power of the bully pulpit, but he or she can't simply declare that X is legal/illegal by fiat.

There is a lot of misunderstanding about how our government functions, on the left, the right, and the unaffiliated. Go on Youtube sometime and watch those videos where they quiz college students or randos on the street about US history and civics. The results are depressing as all hell.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
I need new glasses. For one quick second, I thought I read "civility" instead of "civics"... NurseJackie Feb 2020 #1
This is kind of common. Sadly. Squinch Feb 2020 #2
Cool story, bro. nt RandiFan1290 Feb 2020 #3
Glad you liked it, Randi.. It's an Important story, too. Cha Feb 2020 #49
Why cost is so important frazzled Feb 2020 #4
This is not about how to pay for it BUT about how ignorant our young (and old) are about govt. Moderateguy Feb 2020 #17
Bu that's the point frazzled Feb 2020 #22
#2 only requires an executive order dumptrump1 Feb 2020 #5
I don't think so. TomSlick Feb 2020 #43
I mean for only federal loans. dumptrump1 Feb 2020 #45
Even for direct federal loans, there would have to be a change in the law and an appropriation. TomSlick Feb 2020 #46
. dumptrump1 Feb 2020 #47
No..... AncientGeezer Feb 2020 #59
#theneveryonestoodupandclapped Cuthbert Allgood Feb 2020 #6
#arealthingthatreallyhappened melman Feb 2020 #44
I've witnessed the same dynamic in real life and here HarlanPepper Feb 2020 #7
I bet there is another side to the story Bradshaw3 Feb 2020 #8
Going to be interesting if we get a brokered convention ripcord Feb 2020 #9
You might then instruct them on the rules of the contest ? If he's OnDoutside Feb 2020 #35
There is an awful lot of ignorance in this country about how our government actually works, The Velveteen Ocelot Feb 2020 #10
So cool that you could educate those dummies. Maybe we should only let the landed gentry vote. Nanjeanne Feb 2020 #11
Or do a better job of educating our young about it in school Moderateguy Feb 2020 #13
Or do a better job of making our stories sound more plausible. LanternWaste Feb 2020 #18
Is the implausible part... TwilightZone Feb 2020 #23
Comeon. YOU, of all people wouldn't want just the land gentry to vote. I totally agree with you on Blue_true Feb 2020 #37
I thought you just got some crooks to do things and then ignored all subpoenas bucolic_frolic Feb 2020 #12
I'm sure ignorant Bloomberg supporters exist as well jimlup Feb 2020 #14
It is a widespread problem not limited to any one candidates' supporters Moderateguy Feb 2020 #20
I am a Bernie Supporter jimlup Feb 2020 #24
I get where you're coming from Moderateguy Feb 2020 #25
You should look again at Bernie jimlup Feb 2020 #34
We shall soon find out Moderateguy Feb 2020 #36
I have seen that level of ignorance among Trump supporters. Blue_true Feb 2020 #38
What I learned from a valuable civics lesson SCantiGOP Feb 2020 #15
This message was self-deleted by its author zackymilly Feb 2020 #19
Scary. This is why udeliverable promises and the promisee are dangerous. brush Feb 2020 #16
Post removed Post removed Feb 2020 #21
RIP your mentions greenjar_01 Feb 2020 #26
Did they respond with MontanaMama Feb 2020 #27
Ok Bloomer LaurenOlimina Feb 2020 #28
😄 Moderateguy Feb 2020 #30
That was just cruel. Blue_true Feb 2020 #39
DUzy!!! aikoaiko Feb 2020 #50
Sadly this isn't exactly what I'd call a rare phenomenon. Jedi Guy Feb 2020 #29
Being an immigrant I am a bit mad about it Moderateguy Feb 2020 #31
Yes DavidDvorkin Feb 2020 #42
Bloomberg is the greatest threat to democratic party. bar none. Kurt V. Feb 2020 #32
That's been my experience with Sanders supporters, too. Most of them have no idea highplainsdem Feb 2020 #33
None of sanders proposals can be adopted in the real world Gothmog Feb 2020 #40
This is why Elizabeth Warrens response at the last debate was,worrisome. boston bean Feb 2020 #41
Free tuition and debt forgiveness are the biggest pandering scams NYMinute Feb 2020 #48
Cool story bro. Berniesbiggestfan Feb 2020 #51
In your civics lesson did you explain how Bloomberg tried to tell people former9thward Feb 2020 #52
These *naive* young Bernie supporters... Duppers Feb 2020 #53
Note: I said "Bernie's campaign people's messaging" Duppers Feb 2020 #57
Meanwhile Sanders got $15/hr from the largest employer in the US Apollo Zeus Feb 2020 #54
#2 can be done by executive order Tweedy Feb 2020 #55
Party pooper oasis Feb 2020 #56
No magic wand involved. You just have to yell and flap your arms just right. Hermit-The-Prog Feb 2020 #58
Latest Discussions»Retired Forums»Democratic Primaries»Gave some Sanders support...»Reply #29