US US politics 2025

[Second Summer]

Well, well, well. It's 2025 and the second coming of The Orange Menace is soon upon us. Even before he's officially sworn in he's managed to sow fear and create chaos far beyond the US borders.

While his first term will be remembered as chaotic due to the constant firing and hiring of staff in the administration, which meant the administration was therefore thankfully not as effective, the second term is promising to be somewhat better organised, which is bad news for everyone who's not part of the US oligarchy. Although, longer term it's going to hurt them as well, they just prefer to bury their heads in the sand for now.

Will US politics ever recover from this? I have doubts. Not to say the state of US politics was great even before this new era. The MAGA cult and their leader are after all just products of the neoliberal era that preceded it.

 

[KLS52]

 

[Lou]

I'm always the optimist.
And in the long term I believe we can count on the pedulum swings.

The "better organized" and the effective thing are real concerns. For instance he might have done more damage if he was better organized and more effective. It seems like he has every chance to be more effective this time around. but how effective has yet to be determined. early days.
It seems odd to be rooting for more damage but I'm thinking that the American electorate has pretty much proven itself to be superficial. Right? like food and fuel seemed to be their main concern. If Trumps policies don't' work then I can see them turning on him.

Some of the things he is promising we already know doesn't work. Tariffs, deportations, are just going to increase the price of food and fuel.

In fact, in the US there is a history of the public turning on the ruling party at the first midterm.

I am worried about Lasting Damage. Like with life long judicial appointments and losing all of the good people who run the agencies.

 

[KLS52]

@Lou I do admire your optimism. My anxiety gets the better of me and is the reason for a lot of my negativity. Interestingly enough, I attend a mindset group twice a month in the hopes that I can develop a more positive outlook. It's most difficult when things aren't going well, though, but then that's when you need to try to apply the positive mindset the most.

 

[Lou]

One of the things the keeps me optimistic is that we have gone thru bad patches before and come out the other side.
but if you know your history, almost all those bad patches ended only after a war was fought.

A book I read last year used the lens of racism to view all this country's issues. its tempting to over simplify but it seems like that still could be the case. With our country's demographics changing, the electorate is getting younger, more diversified and more liberal. we may see some changes for the better. There is even evidence that we have already gone over the tipping point. The sort of explains why the republicans main efforts seem to be gerrymandering and impeding voter rights.

 

[Tom L.]

Some of the things he is promising we already know doesn't work. Tariffs, deportations, are just going to increase the price of food and fuel.

(bold emphasis mine) Maybe. But wanting a secure border is not unreasonable, and the U.S. is not unique in this. I visited Europe (Irish Republic, England, Wales, and Netherlands) back in 2000. The visa (tourist, not working) stamped in my passport specified a limit as to how long I could stay, and I was forbidden to seek employment while there. I suppose there's a case for issuing more working visas: most of the migrants want and need work (they didn't come here with ill intent), and there are plenty of employers in the U.S. ready and willing to hire them.

In fact, in the US there is a history of the public turning on the ruling party at the first midterm.

Definitely. It's quite common for the opposing/minority party- whichever one it is- to have gains at the mid-term.

 

[Chryssie]

Today one of my co-workers said she was wearing black on Monday. She said she wasn't saying why to anyone but me as we seem to be the only liberal Democrats at work. So I said I will too and we will be in mourning together.

 

[Second Summer]

It seems odd to be rooting for more damage but I'm thinking that the American electorate has pretty much proven itself to be superficial. Right? like food and fuel seemed to be their main concern.

I wouldn't say food is a superficial issue, quite the opposite! The same goes for fuel when you consider how car centric the US is.

 

[Lou]

I wouldn't say food is a superficial issue, quite the opposite! The same goes for fuel when you consider how car centric the US is.

You're right and I didn't mean it like that. What I meant is that those two things were what a lot of Americans were worried about and since Biden was president when those prices went up they wouldn't vote for him. Regardless of what I would consider more important or maybe more weighty issues like voting rights, women rights, democracy, Palestinians, foreign relations, Ukraine, climate change, unemployment, etc.

 

[PTree15]

Today one of my co-workers said she was wearing black on Monday. She said she wasn't saying why to anyone but me as we seem to be the only liberal Democrats at work. So I said I will too and we will be in mourning together.

I'm going to wear black as well in solidarity! I don't know if I'm going anywhere that day, but I sure as heck won't be watching the inauguration. I used to love watching the pomp and whatnot of the transfer of power, but I have no desire to watch that man take office.

I don't know what to think about long-term impacts. I guess my biggest concern, aside from the U.S. turning into a dictatorship, is the Supreme Court. The court could do a lot of damage to the rights of women and everyone who isn't a rich white guy, not to mention the continuing erosion of consumer and environmental protections. I used to feel that people had at least a fighting chance with the Supreme Court, but I don't anymore, and that's sad.

 

[silva]

Today one of my co-workers said she was wearing black on Monday. She said she wasn't saying why to anyone but me as we seem to be the only liberal Democrats at work. So I said I will too and we will be in mourning together.

It's also Martin Luther King Day!
As if not respecting the funeral of Carter wasn't bad enough for these racist fascists

 

[Lou]

I think we might get some Supreme Court reformation. God knows we need it.
Biden proposed term limits and an ethics code. That would be a good start.

 

[KLS52]

I think we might get some Supreme Court reformation. God knows we need it.
Biden proposed term limits and an ethics code. That would be a good start.

How optimistic are you about that happening?

 

[Lou]

How optimistic are you about that happening?

Well.... of course not for at least 2 years. but I guess I think (hope) in 5

 

[PTree15]

I think we might get some Supreme Court reformation. God knows we need it.
Biden proposed term limits and an ethics code. That would be a good start.

It would, but I don't see that happening as long as the repubs control the Senate. And even if the Dems take control in the next election, that evil man will still be president (I refuse to put "president" with you-know-who). The best that I see is maybe the Dems block a nomination or two, should one come up. Also, the Dems don't always vote as a bloc, the way, say, House repubs do. So reform might be tricky to accomplish. One can dream.

 

[Lou]

It would, but I don't see that happening as long as the repubs control the Senate.

I agree.

And even if the Dems take control in the next election, that evil man will still be president (I refuse to put "president" with you-know-who).

yes.

The best that I see is maybe the Dems block a nomination or two, should one come up.

yeah but even that is a long shot.

Also, the Dems don't always vote as a bloc, the way, say, House repubs do. So reform might be tricky to accomplish. One can dream.

I don't think that statement is right. There have been numerous times where the dems all voted for the same thing. And there are also numerous times there the republicans didn't.
I don't even know if someone keeps score but my guess is that the dems have voted together more often than the republicans.
And not what Manchin is gone and the opposition is in power - it think the senate will be unanimous more often.

 

[PTree15]

I agree.

yes.

yeah but even that is a long shot.

I don't think that statement is right. There have been numerous times where the dems all voted for the same thing. And there are also numerous times there the republicans didn't.
I don't even know if someone keeps score but my guess is that the dems have voted together more often than the republicans.
And not what Manchin is gone and the opposition is in power - it think the senate will be unanimous more often.

I didn't say all the time. Manchin made my blood boil on more than one occasion, lol.

 

[KLS52]

I wish there was a pill I could take to make me go to sleep for the next four years and wake up when it's over.

 

[Emma JC]

I am not watching any of the inaugrrrrration, instead I am watching Meidas Touch LIVE: Puppy and Kitten Inauguration - they are raising money for the Humane Society by playing puppies and kittens - and hoping to have more views than the mainstream media... tune in and watch if you can.

Emma JC
Find your vegan soulmate or just a friend. www.spiritualmatchmaking.com

 

[PTree15]

I, too, am skipping the inaugurrrrration (I like that with the extra r's, lol), and will don black and do my best to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s memory, along with the memory of people like John Lewis and his "good trouble" crew. I will spend the day doing things that make me happy.

I haven't watched any news channels since Election Day. I will continue that boycott, as MSM refuses to tell the whole truth and instead falls in line with the evil one and his cronies. I'm following columnists who tell it like is.

Right now, I'm watching a crochet livestream.