American Politics, in the words of an elected California Dem

[CaddoPuma]

The USA has a dysfunctional way to distribute wealth...

Which way would you prefer? Cuba's? North Korea's? Russia's? China's? Argentina's? Have you taken a look at their economies lately? Have you noticed the way their average citizens are forced to live? Wealth was never meant to be distributed. It was meant to be earned.

[borka]

Libya in the good old days ...

Wealth was never meant to be distributed. It was meant to be earned.

Wealth had been there everywhere and there was nothing to distribute ... and don't tell me that the grabbing hands earned it ... and btw. if it was true the rich and wealthy would be the ones that died young in the mines ... or the lady that scrubs the toilet ...

Repeating lies over and over doesn't make them truth ...

[CaddoPuma]

Libya in the good old days ...

When were "the good ole days" for Libya?

[sMartins]

Libya in the good old days ...

When were "the good ole days" for Libya?

Pretty much all the time until about 1000 years ago.

[MagicManICT]

Which way would you prefer? Cuba's? North Korea's? Russia's? China's? Argentina's?

Typical Fox News crowd method of arguing: Fallacy of extremism. Why not something more reasonable for your argument like Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, France, UK, Canada?

The difference between their free markets and ours: an educated public.

[CaddoPuma]

Which way would you prefer? Cuba's? North Korea's? Russia's? China's? Argentina's?

Typical Fox News crowd method of arguing: Fallacy of extremism. Why not something more reasonable for your argument like Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, France, UK, Canada?

The difference between their free markets and ours: an educated public.

I dont know a whole lot about any of their economies. But I do know a little about the UK and Canada's. Brexit mean anything to you? The UK economic system is in shambles because just like in every socialistic society, those who can't or wont produce enough to sustain themselves expect to ride on the coattails of those barely scrapping by and it's unsustainable. And if that "free health care" Canada "enjoys" - free to everyone except anyone who pays exorbitant taxes- were so great, why are so many Canadians coming to US for higher quality, more timely health care?

[dageir]

The entire economical system is a farce from beginning to the end. First of all are all currencies just a symbol. Its worth is based on whatever trust people put in it, nothing material.
Second, most economies are based on borrowing shittons of money without the intention of ever paying it back. How big is the U.S national debt? Then there is the system of compound interest. If you let a loan run long enough the accumulated debt will end up consisting of more money than is in existance no matter how small the loan was in the beginning. I do not think any of this seems very sound. And then there are people who need to hold 3-4 jobs to pay for rent. What is the sense in that? Also there are people who are too big to fail who has so much money and so many/good connections they and their families never will end up poor no matter what they do. Whatever is keeping the U.S public from revolting I do not know, but most likely it is the mantra they have heard since they were little. If you work hard enough and is smart enough you will be a millionaire. If you fail it is your own fault. If you have sympathy for and try to explain other peoples misfortune as bad luck or downtrodden in any way, you are a communist. The world may not be so black and white. People are dealt different cards in life. Not everyone is made up to be an entrepeneur/self made man.

I also can see why 30-40% of the americans are pissed off. They are relatively poor compared to others. Less education. They feel let down, but not by their employers or corporate america, that culd not compete with foreign business, but by Washington and the coastal elites and media.
The media seems to be polarizing things alot and wants numbers, not necessarily the truth. I have mostly been watching CNN intl. and they seem obsessed by Trump. They also run commercial/infomercials for horseriding, sailing, F1 and other posh "sports". Why? If I was a poor rural guy in the U.S I would be pissed off by that focus alone. (Not sure CNN sends the same commercials in the US.) Yes, Trump is funny but for petes sake you are giving him what he wants and plans for.. Rant over..

[CaddoPuma]

...I ... can see why 30-40% of the Americans are pissed off. They are relatively poor compared to others...

Really? Color TVs, Smart phones, internet enabled devices, air conditioning, indoor plumbing, over-abundant food... what "others" in the world enjoy the luxuries that a huge percentage of the American "poor" have?

They feel let down...by Washington and the coastal elites and media.
The media seems to be polarizing things alot and wants numbers, not necessarily the truth. I have mostly been watching CNN intl. and they seem obsessed by Trump...

I agree 100% with these points. People repeatedly mock Conservatives as being locked in a "Fox News Bubble" - even those of us who dont even watch Fox News and have repeatedly made that clear - but fail (or refuse?) to acknowledge the Anti-Trump, Anti-Conservative, Anti-America bubble that sources their news. You are also correct that we are fed up with the status quo of the Dems and the Establishment Reps telling us exactly what we want to hear to get our votes then doing the exact opposite once they are in office. That's exactly why we voted for President Trump. We knew he was a crude, rude, socially unacceptable butt-hole when we voted for him. But he's a rude, crude, socially unacceptable butt-hole that says what he means and means what he says, no matter what anyone thinks of the message, the messenger, or the manner of delivery.

[dageir]

Having a few gadgets and roof over your head does not make you well off in western society. And it does not make you not poor. Everything is relative.
Yes, the poor people of the U.S are well off compared to a village in Zambia, but not compared to the majority of western Europe.
Can most of these people travel the world months at a time, have their own cabin in the woods with water, electricity, a sizeable boat/yacht? No?
Can they take a year off from work and still make ends meet? Have help in the house? I believe the middle class of the U.S is shrinking and the "lower" class is increasing. This is also happening in Europe leading to
more votes for the far right and left (to a smaller degree). People compare themselves to their neighbour, not to the villagers in Zambia (just and example, Zambia is maybe not so bad).

[CaddoPuma]

Yes, there is a very clear and consistent message coming from the American Left. Let's see if we can discover together what that is:

• Exhibit 1

  Let's make friends with the Dictator of Cuba, drop sanctions, give concessions, and ask for nothing in return, because; Those poor people.

  Yay! Do the wave with Castro. Open up tourism and trade. He kills his political opponents and economically depresses his people, but those people shouldnt suffer for his evil.

  
  
  

  Let's ease up on North Korea a little in return for denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula because; Fewer nuclear powers = less risk of nuclear war

  BOO! How can you legitimize such a vile, evil, oppressive dictator by talking with him?

  
  
• Exhibit 2

  We won't be intimidated by your threats. We have a bigger button which controls more, bigger missiles with more, bigger warheads; and all of ours work!

  BOO! How can you use such hawkish rhetoric? You're going to start a nuclear war!

  
  
  

  Let's ease up on North Korea a little in return for denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula because; Fewer nuclear powers = less risk of nuclear war

  BOO! How can you legitimize such a vile, evil, oppressive dictator by talking with him?

  
  
  

  You won't talk about denuclearization? Then there's nothing to talk about, the summit is off.

  BOO! You can't pull out of peace talks. You're going to cause a nuclear war!

  
  
  

  You are willing to talk about denuclearization now? Ok. The summit is back on; because; Fewer nuclear powers = less risk of nuclear war

  BOO! How can you legitimize such a vile, evil, oppressive dictator by talking with him?

  
  
  

  North Korea is going to work with us to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula

  BOO! President Trump has achieved nothing. North Korea's missile program and nuclear weapons production was already in shambles and absolutely no threat to anyone. North Korea has never been capable of nuclear strikes and never will be, in spite of our frequent alarmism about President Trump being on the edge of inciting North Korea into a nuclear strike of which they are not and never will be capable.

  
  
• Exhibit 3

  Stop spending so much taxpayer money on the military! Stop being the world police!

  We are going to stop these meaningless, expensive, threatening war games off the Korean Peninsula saving taxpayer money, reducing the cost of the US Military, and incentivizing North Korea to give up their nuclear program

  BOO! We are giving up the farm! Too many concessions to an evil, oppressive dictator!

(Do I have to remind you of how much President Obama gave to Cuba and Iran for nothing while you all cheered?)

So what is the consistent message?

President Trump can do no good. The enemy of President Trump, no matter how vile, is my friend. The friend of President Trump, no matter how pure of intent or righteous of action, is my enemy. If he does what we wanted President Obama to do, we no longer want it done. If he does what we said he should do, we no longer want it done. President Trump is the ultimate evil!

That is the only consistency in any of the American left's positions.