US Politics Thread

[Trevor Morley's Tache]

 

[FogBlueInSanFran]

I don’t blame them for not wanting to be forced to vote. But they’re going to be. And they have no idea which way the winds will blow in the next week, the next day or the next hour.

They are scared shitless. But of course they always were.

 

[roman totale]

For the last 15 years or so, I’ve been an occasional lurker at freerepublic.com, one of the original proto-MAGA, Tea Party, right-wing nut job sites. As you can imagine, it’s hilarious and terrifying in equal measure and I don’t recommend you go there.
I took a little look just now and found one of the best quotes I’ve seen there for some time,
“So basically Apple, Amazon, Twitter, Google, and Facebook are trying to turn America into 1984, where they get to play the part of the pigs”
It reminded me of a great tweet I saw today (maybe on here) that said the top 3 things that right wingers always talk about, but have never read are 1984, The First Amendment and the Bible.

 

[super_city_si]

That is of no importance to me, it is the over reach of corporate power that i find disturbing.

If they can use that power to ban a President, who knows where the use of said power will end. If they can ban a President what is stopping them banning anyone that disagrees with their corporate stance. It doesn't have to be against the code of conduct it can be just the corporate entity pushing boundaries to see how far their influence on democracy can go.

I am not comfortable with what they have done, because I believe Democracy is far more important than a corporation's desires.

Ironically the corporation was the one upholding democracy when it banned the ****.

 

[I'm With Stupid]

I took a little look just now and found one of the best quotes I’ve seen there for some time,
“So basically Apple, Amazon, Twitter, Google, and Facebook are trying to turn America into 1984, where they get to play the part of the pigs”

I laughed, but it did take me a few seconds to realise what was wrong with it.

 

[FogBlueInSanFran]

This, folks, is a scary thread. Make of it what you will.

 

[Rascal]

Neither was Trump this time. It's worth mentioning that Twitter only banned Trump after he failed to be elected and then tried to effectively seize power regardless, basically sending in thugs to attack elected officials doing their job. Obviously the fact that he's still technically president two months after losing is a flaw in their system.

Absolutely spot on, but my concern is not about that

My concern is the growth of corporate power.

What if twitter's CEO gets on to Biden and says we will ban you and your party officials and everyone associated with you unless you give us a a Billion pound tax break. After all as it has been pointed out it is there platform and they don't have to go a reason why they ban you. Same here, it is Ric's platform, he has a code of conduct but doesn't have to give a reason to unleash the banhammer.

I really do think some of you are far too trusting of these corporate entities, after all they exist to make money out of you not be your friend and I do believe it is bad for democracy that corporate power has the ability to influence politicians.

People are intent on making this about Trump, who i have repeatedly said i think is a ****, but it is bigger than that and if they can use their power to silence a President where does it end?

 

[Vic]

Absolutely spot on, but my concern is not about that

My concern is the growth of corporate power.

What if twitter's CEO gets on to Biden and says we will ban you and your party officials and everyone associated with you unless you give us a a Billion pound tax break. After all as it has been pointed out it is there platform and they don't have to go a reason why they ban you. Same here, it is Ric's platform, he has a code of conduct but doesn't have to give a reason to unleash the banhammer.

I really do think some of you are far too trusting of these corporate entities, after all they exist to make money out of you not be your friend and I do believe it is bad for democracy that corporate power has the ability to influence politicians.

People are intent on making this about Trump, who i have repeatedly said i think is a ****, but it is bigger than that and if they can use their power to silence a President where does it end?

If we're doing "what if", what if Reichsführer Hitler was on Twitter extolling the benefit of death camps?

Or what if Twitter allowed a president to call for attacks on unreconstructed Marxists?
(Oh wait, half his crazies think that's what he was doing.)

 

[SWP's back]

Neither was Trump this time. It's worth mentioning that Twitter only banned Trump after he failed to be elected and then tried to effectively seize power regardless, basically sending in thugs to attack elected officials doing their job. Obviously the fact that he's still technically president two months after losing is a flaw in their system.

This is a great post.

 

[Rascal]

If we're doing "what if", what if Reichsführer Hitler was on Twitter extolling the benefit of death camps?

Or what if Twitter allowed a president to call for attacks on unreconstructed Marxists?

Yes what ifs

But this "what if" already has form.

The trust people have in these corporations is worrying. They do not exist for the good of society, they exist to make profit and they will stop at nothing to make profit. If they can use their influence with politicians to make profit they will.

If people are happy to have their content controlled by the likes of Zuckerberg and Dorsey, neither of whom have ever stood to represent peoples views then it is a very slippery slope.

I reiterate, people are making this about Trump, it is not about Trump, it is about Corporate power.

 

[Brightwell’s left peg]

Is that like Ironside?

I see what you did there

;-)

 

[BlueNomad]

Absolutely spot on, but my concern is not about that

My concern is the growth of corporate power.

What if twitter's CEO gets on to Biden and says we will ban you and your party officials and everyone associated with you unless you give us a a Billion pound tax break. After all as it has been pointed out it is there platform and they don't have to go a reason why they ban you. Same here, it is Ric's platform, he has a code of conduct but doesn't have to give a reason to unleash the banhammer.

I really do think some of you are far too trusting of these corporate entities, after all they exist to make money out of you not be your friend and I do believe it is bad for democracy that corporate power has the ability to influence politicians.

People are intent on making this about Trump, who i have repeatedly said i think is a ****, but it is bigger than that and if they can use their power to silence a President where does it end?

Twitter is NOT the “Bully Pulpit” of which Americans speak when they say the President has one. Rather, it is a propaganda tool that “people” laughed at until it turned to tears. Your Mum was right all along!

Biden doesn’t NEED Twitter!

 

[PinkFinal]

 

[Mike Cledford]

Is that all? I had you pegged at a much higher rate. So you’re basically a paralegal then?

Big money for small claims though?

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

People are intent on making this about Trump, who i have repeatedly said i think is a ****, but it is bigger than that and if they can use their power to silence a President where does it end?

It would be far more concerning if they didn’t have the power to silence a President who was acting like this. That‘s called tyranny. Hitler was democratically elected, but it didn‘t stop him trampling all over the rule of law, partly because the press were neutered by him and his party - and there was no-one in the media who challenged him or held him to account.

 

[Hart of the Matter]

Absolutely spot on, but my concern is not about that

My concern is the growth of corporate power.

What if twitter's CEO gets on to Biden and says we will ban you and your party officials and everyone associated with you unless you give us a a Billion pound tax break. After all as it has been pointed out it is there platform and they don't have to go a reason why they ban you. Same here, it is Ric's platform, he has a code of conduct but doesn't have to give a reason to unleash the banhammer.

I really do think some of you are far too trusting of these corporate entities, after all they exist to make money out of you not be your friend and I do believe it is bad for democracy that corporate power has the ability to influence politicians.

People are intent on making this about Trump, who i have repeatedly said i think is a ****, but it is bigger than that and if they can use their power to silence a President where does it end?

More twisted logic. You have a problem with silencing a perpitrator of violence. I think it is brilliant that, despite being President, he is, at last, being held to some standard.
Why does him being President make him so above this in your view?

 

[Rascal]

It would be far more concerning if they didn’t have the power to silence a President who was acting like this. That‘s called tyranny. Hitler was democratically elected, but it didn‘t stop him trampling all over the rule of law, partly because the press were neutered by him and his party - and there was no-one in the media who challenged him or held him to account.

Oh Michael.

Hitler was not democratically elected President, he was appointed as Chancellor by Hindenburg who was the President.

I reiterate, this is not about Trump, it is about how far Corporate power should be allowed to influence politics.

 

[r.soleofsalford]

This, folks, is a scary thread. Make of it what you will.

Said from the start that Trump would try and pull the walls down.

 

[Rascal]

More twisted logic. You have a problem with silencing a perpitrator of violence. I think it is brilliant that, despite being President, he is, at last, being held to some standard.
Why does him being President make him so above this in your view?

Because it is not my view. This is not about Trump.

It is about corporate power and there influence.

 

[Hart of the Matter]

Because it is not my view. This is not about Trump.

It is about corporate power and there influence.

So, perhaps in a thread about American politics and Trump your posts are not relevant?