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Congress devolves into chaos over border and national security funding (www.npr.org)
submitted 2 years ago by to c/politics@lemmy.world
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After months of bickering Congress remains completely unable to agree on any legislation on border security or aid to Israel and Ukraine — all priorities that a majority of lawmakers agree are needed.

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[–] 18 points 2 years ago* (1 child)

the republican congress is causing all of this chaos, but because their republican congressperson isn't the one making this mess they will be reelected back to congress.

I was once told to never blame the voters, blame the elected people. yeah, no fuck that. I absolutely blame the degenerate regressive voters who intentionally put chaos agents in power. when uvalde in the aftermath of the robb elementary shooting where

  • elementary school kids died
  • the shooter was barely 18 with multiple assault weapons legally obtained
  • the local police stood outside for hours after the shooting started doing nothing

still overwhelmingly votes for abbott, blame the voters because the voters are the problem.

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  • [+] -14 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    Billions of dollars for other countries isn't giving me warm fuzzies about any Democrats either. I get the Republicans aren't blocking it for my benefit but I'm so sick of the bottomless pit of money available for everything but the shit I want to see it go towards like affordable healthcare and housing.

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  • [–] 7 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    Immigration is the only issue the Republicans would even NEGOTIATE on. Specifically because they thought they would never have a real deal. Democrats have proposed plans and have tons of discourse on affordable healthcare and housing. They've proposed expansions to Medicaid/care. They've proposed a public option. They've proposed expanding housing programs. They've proposed banning headge funds from buying single family property. The list goes on. The Republicans have blocked it all from even being discussed. Republicans won't even CONSIDER looking at that stuff.

    The second the Democrats have the actual procedural ability to pass legislation, I will jump down their throat and demand some of the most progressive legislation there is. Until then, I think we should focus on putting them in the position to do so while picking off conservative Democrats at the primary level. If we can maintain control and erase a couple Sinema/Manchins every cycle I think we can get a lot of the stuff the American people (and the world frankly) deserve.

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  • [–] -1 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    Buddy, 44 Democrat senators and Joe Biden blocked the rail workers. Their contract expires at the end of this year meaning they could strike next year. Democrats and Biden fully intend on blocking them again.

    The Democrat party isn't a progressive or leftist party and they refuse to compromise with either.

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  • [–] 2 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 child)

    I don't remember calling the Democratic party leftist or progressive. I said we need to make it more progressive by primarying those members that block progressive policy, and put the party in a legislative position to enact said policy. This means removing Republicans at absolutely every possible position.

    If you have a better idea I'm all ears but I'm not really interested in hearing about how much the Democrats suck when the Republican party is a literal domestic terror cell. There are good progressive people within the Democrats party. A shit load of them. Just because they aren't currently in control doesn't mean the party is a waste of time and it doesn't mean we can't take control. Defeatism and refusal to look at this shit strategically is exactly why progressives don't have enough power.

    We can take the quick path, let the GOP destroy everything and rebuild from the ashes OR we can put in the work and grind out a better life for everyone over a generation. You can't have both. If someone wants to let the GOP sacrifice all the people it will sacrifice in order to have that first option, they are welcome to join the GOP. They have no business being a progressive.

    Eta: how did the rail strike end up working out? They continued working behind the scenes and got them a lot of what they wanted? Oh yeah that's right. So the result was a pay increase they asked for, a good portion the sick days they asked for, and our economy didn't get smashed. All while the GOP opposed literally ANYTHING to help. Sure, the Democrats are the enemy here. https://www.npr.org/2023/02/10/1155763336/freight-rail-workers-union-paid-sick-leave-bernie-sanders-csx#:~:text=One%20of%20the%20largest%20freight,into%20additional%20paid%20sick%20time.

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  • [–] -1 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    a good portion the sick days they asked for,

    Expand on that please. There are 12 rail unions. What is the minimum number of sick days every member of each union has?

    Honestly I think you're larping as a progressive. Like I'm not telling you not to call yourself that but defending a president for blocking a strike and not calling out anyone who voted for Biden in the 2020 primaries as a selfish piece of shit is indistinguishable to me from typical moderates. Lip service has done nothing for us.

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  • [–] 1 point 2 years ago (1 child)

    Yeah larping as a progressive while going up and down Lemmy talking about ways to move progressive causes forward. Definitely a moderate here. What I have a problem with is progressives who feel the need to kneecap the cause by focusing on shit talking the Democratic party nonstop (completely ignoring every solution that doesn't involve the expansion of mass death and poverty by electing conservatives) and killing everyone's motivation to fucking fight.

    Tell me what solution you are offering. I have laid out a specific electoral strategy for progressives to gain control and actually enact progressive legislation. What's your solution? Fight both parties simultaneously and lose? That's exactly what we've been doing.

    There's even a perfect real world example: look at the GOP. Right wing elements have spent 40+ years grinding moderates out of their party and actually enacting policy. The Tea Party/MAGA/Nutjobs didn't just get control over a couple election cycles, it took DECADES. Now they have complete control of the party and have the power to make the crazy shit they want the party platform.

    Yes my personal feelings would prefer that the stroke happened and we shut everything down until the assholes in charge got the message. I am never in favor of blocking a work action and would prefer every single workplace be unionized/worker owned. My exact position was "nationalize it all". But if I need to make a strategic concession to put myself in the position to make significantly more progress in the future, I don't think that's an unreasonable position. If you do, maybe you don't care about progressive causes as much as you think and would rather feel good about yourself over helping people.

    I think I'm good here. Hope you have a good day and that anyone who reads this conversation really considers what I've said.

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  • [–] -2 points 2 years ago* (1 child)

    I have laid out a specific electoral strategy for progressives to gain control and actually enact progressive legislation.

    That's the same plan that's been in place for decades. The needle hasn't moved. Biden is to the right of Clinton. And you refuse to consider any alternative that comes with a hint of risk.

    I say again, your lip service has done nothing. You have accomplished nothing. You will continue to accomplish nothing. And worst of all, you're fighting those of us who could actually make some changes.

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  • [–] 0 points 2 years ago* (1 child)

    "You won't consider alternatives!"

    Won't provide any alternatives or explain how any of what they are doing is productive whatsoever.

    "You're fighting against those of us wanting to make changes!"

    Won't explain what those changes are, how they want to make the changes, or even talk about a strategy.

    Talk about "lip service". Holy shit that's all you are. Thank you for the productive conversation. Have a nice day.

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  • [–] -1 points 2 years ago*

    Here's the alternative:

    1. Biden immediately stops aiding Israel.
    2. Biden publicly states he will veto any legislation attempting to block a rail strike in 2025.

    If he refuses we refuse to vote for him in the general election. In addition, we begin describing anyone who voted for him in the 2020 primaries as a selfish piece of shit. Make people embarrassed to admit they did that.

    Amplify the general strike plans in 2028. Continue pushing anti-work sentiment. Bring U.S. productivity down.

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