Implanting Bill Gates's Micro-chips In Brains For Over 20 Years!

[Hank Chinaski]

Ty famously said he felt Trump had the brain worms years ago. But now a guy who admits he had them will be in charge of health care? Holy fuck. Did you guys see his tweet about FDA?

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally Posted by sebastian_dangerfield

I am very pro-immigration. I think mass deportations is one of the stupidest ideas imaginable.

However, I have also been schooled on this issue by people who are legal immigrants. And people from states like Arizona.

For you and me, immigration isn’t that big of a deal. For people who came here legally, it really pisses them off to see people in here illegally. I’m not going to try to put myself in their heads. But I do have to respect their position.

Not all of the people who consider immigration a big issue are manipulated rubes.

And on a broader point, the hierarchy of the Democratic Party and the Republican Party, and those of us who are of the “elite,“ have to stop assuming, without basis, that whoever disagrees with us is deluded or stupid.

We are very often just as stupid and deluded as a lot of these people. When you look around this country and see the most grievous policy errors, it almost always comes from technocrats who think they know what is best for everyone.

Humility would win a lot more elections, and a lot more minds. On the other hand, having a pompous and incompetent educated “expert” class repeatedly tell everybody what to do, and fuck it up, degrades the credibility of expertise, and respect for science, logic, and reason.

The main obstacle to any legislation on immigration, legal and otherwise, are Republicans who want to use it as a political issue. You know this, or knew this and forgot. I understand why some people get upset about illegal immigration. But it is 100% clear that a huge part of the reason that it is a problem is that the Republican Party does not want to solve it, in order to exploit it politically. Someone so attuned as yourself to political hypocrisy and policy fecklessness would ordinarily be bothered by this, but, as we were just discussing, hypocrisy only seems to bother you when it comes from Democrats.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally Posted by Hank Chinaski

Ty famously said he felt Trump had the brain worms years ago. But now a guy who admits he had them will be in charge of health care? Holy fuck. Did you guys see his tweet about FDA?

I did not. Not on the Twitter much anymore. What did he say?

I don't give RFK Jr. very long in whatever role he craves, because his usefulness to Trump is over and his thirst for publicity will threaten the Orange One.

eta: A hugely important dynamic going forward will be that Trump will be term-limited, but will try to retain his top-banana status nonetheless, and will feel threatened by all the jockeying among conservatives to position themselves for a post-Trump world. It was a problem for W., too, and he was not nearly as sensitive about threats to his status as Trump is. J.D. Vance will be a big problem for Trump, because he can't fire him.

[sebastian_dangerfield]

Originally Posted by Tyrone Slothrop

The main obstacle to any legislation on immigration, legal and otherwise, are Republicans who want to use it as a political issue. You know this, or knew this and forgot. I understand why some people get upset about illegal immigration. But it is 100% clear that a huge part of the reason that it is a problem is that the Republican Party does not want to solve it, in order to exploit it politically. Someone so attuned as yourself to political hypocrisy and policy fecklessness would ordinarily be bothered by this, but, as we were just discussing, hypocrisy only seems to bother you when it comes from Democrats.

Don’t be a twit. The Democrats did jack shit on immigration until politically forced to do so at the last second. Then in a politics-for-politics move, Trump fucked up their ability to have it both ways (to argue they did something based on a last second move while also having done nothing for three years).

The hypocrisy here was all around. Your party acted perfectly Trumpian on this issue and it got jammed up its ass by Trump. Deservedly.

Is this “both sides-ism”? Yeah. You know what else? Irrefutable facts.

[sebastian_dangerfield]

Originally Posted by Adder

Sure, but many who are concerned about immigration seem to believe that a bunch of nonsense about what happens to immigrants (i.e., we hand them piles of cash), their effect on tax collections (i.e., they don't pay any taxes), housing (drive up rents) and jobs (take their jobs). These beliefs are common, frequently stated and wrong.

As far as "came here legally," well, the history of our immigration policy is long and filled with terrible decisions and guess what, people respond to incentives.

The hysteria over immigrants is of course overblown. But that’s not the whole story. Not even close.

The Ds need to be careful not to make the same mistake again that they’ve been making since 2016:

“Everyone who disagrees with us is dumb…

Or manipulated by Russians, or if not that, social media, or if not that, right wing legacy media…

Or if none of those, surely reaching their views as a result of subconscious or conscious racism, sexism, transphobia etc…

Because no smart person could disagree with our views!”

These delusions may work anywhere fellow travelers will give Ds who just don’t understand how society can reject their obvious brilliance “atta-boy” pats on the back, but in the arenas where it matters, this stuff is seen as the bullshit it is.

The problem with Ds isn’t hatred of elites. It’s lack of actual elites. The Rs are dumb and know it. The Ds are just as dumb and don’t.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally Posted by sebastian_dangerfield

Or if none of those, surely reaching their views as a result of subconscious or conscious racism, sexism, transphobia etc…

Because no smart person could disagree with our views!”

You understand a day or so ago Adder posted this exact thing?

[sebastian_dangerfield]

Originally Posted by Hank Chinaski

You understand a day or so ago Adder posted this exact thing?

There was a time this country had actual elites. Smart people who passed things like Roe, which was legally imperfect, but took an unresolvable issue away from state and local politicians who are simply too stupid and petty to have sway over such things.

These were true elites. And these elites died off or gave up years ago.

In their place we now have False Elites. Credentialied screwballs who talk to themselves, tell each other how smart they are, embrace radical chic nonsense and elevate minor issues like trans stuff to the level of major national concerns.

I know them. If you're a professional or upper middle class or above, how can you not know them? They're the wingnuts who'll talk about pronouns, stake out an almost religiously unrealistic argument about climate, pervert good ideas like justice reform into bizarre "anti-racist" screeds, obsess over JK Rowling's alleged "sins," and insist they're both the most enlightened of any group that's existed.

They are not serious people. And, appropriately, they've got deeply unserious people countering them: MAGA.

The difference is, the Unserious Left had some power. Because govt is filled with people who do not wish to actually have to work hard for a living, make a payroll, or be subjected to metrics, and those who've studied frivolous things in college which private sector employers do not value, these people flooded govt, and thinktanks, and changed their branding from that of "Silly Liberal Arts Major" to "Policy Wonk" or "Technocrat."

And then they started telling everyone what to do. And they royally fucked it up, alienating and annoying everyone around them. Instead of critically examining whether they were incompetent, however, they instead became siloed, talking to each other in their little enclaves, and telling themselves that nothing was their fault. Everything was the fault of "others."

Well, MAGA appeared in 2016 and shocked them. Inflection point? Nope. They doubled down. "Everyone who doesn't agree with me is racist! Is dumb! Is sexist! It's the Russians!"

2024 rolled around and this wasn't enough. Now it's "Facist! Nazi!"

This worked out brilliantly for them.

What we have right now is two groups of know-it-alls, MAGA/Whatever the GOP Has Become and "Academe Faux Intellectuals"/Whatever the Democratic Party Has Become, fighting each other.

We in the middle have been telling both sides that down this road lies ruin. Compromise is essential. But the parties have abrogated their duty to control the crazies in their tents. The media have embraced division because it makes them money. And academia have lost their minds, embracing extremist left-wing fringe positions on everything.

To anyone asserting that this was all racism, or sexism, and that it's the country's fault, or Russia's fault, or disinformation's fault, please look in the mirror:

It is indeed, in part, those things. But more than all of them combined, It's You. You think you know a lot. And you don't. Your radical chic views have never held purchase beyond college campuses. And your strategy of shaming and guilting anyone who doesn't agree with you is a pitch any competent salesperson will tell you is assured to fail.

Feel superior to these know-nothings of MAGA. It's fun, I understand. I do it myself. But those of us in the middle are also laughing at you. Because you're the other side of this tango of idiot tribes. Without you, there is no MAGA.

[Did you just call me Coltrane?]

Originally Posted by sebastian_dangerfield

I agree, 100%.

For the past couple of years, I have been quick to say I don’t see inflation. I also happen to live in a neighborhood where everybody drives a very expensive car, and lives in a big house. My reality is hanging out with people who all have college and graduate degrees, and earn a lot of money.

Back in the early 2000s, I would write, often here, that the little people just have to adjust themselves to globalization, and that they will lose jobs until the price of labor abroad reaches parity with that of domestic labor.

What an outrageously arrogant person I was. And how deluded, as well. I thought these people would just disappear. They would simply take their lumps, and fade away.

Inflation is very real for the average Joe. Things are more expensive, regardless of whether you or I notice.

The biggest lesson of this election is that the upper echelon of the Democratic Party need to stop engaging in a giant circle jerk where they analyze everybody outside their bubble using their own favored metrics. Apparently, navel gazing, and talking back back-and-forth with your affluent and frequently maleducated friends does not give you a clue as to what the rest of the country has in its head.

How shocking.

That's why I'm sending the kids to Swarthmore...to get out of this bubble.

[Adder]

Originally Posted by Tyrone Slothrop

I did not. Not on the Twitter much anymore. What did he say?

I don't give RFK Jr. very long in whatever role he craves, because his usefulness to Trump is over and his thirst for publicity will threaten the Orange One.

eta: A hugely important dynamic going forward will be that Trump will be term-limited, but will try to retain his top-banana status nonetheless, and will feel threatened by all the jockeying among conservatives to position themselves for a post-Trump world. It was a problem for W., too, and he was not nearly as sensitive about threats to his status as Trump is. J.D. Vance will be a big problem for Trump, because he can't fire him.

I have a hard time thinking RFK and Trump make it through a single meeting in which the latter enjoys a Big Mac and Diet Coke.

[Adder]

Originally Posted by sebastian_dangerfield

Don’t be a twit. The Democrats did jack shit on immigration until politically forced to do so at the last second. Then in a politics-for-politics move, Trump fucked up their ability to have it both ways (to argue they did something based on a last second move while also having done nothing for three years).

The hypocrisy here was all around. Your party acted perfectly Trumpian on this issue and it got jammed up its ass by Trump. Deservedly.

Is this “both sides-ism”? Yeah. You know what else? Irrefutable facts.

Dems have been proposing comprehensive immigration reform for decades at this point, but sure.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally Posted by sebastian_dangerfield

Don’t be a twit. The Democrats did jack shit on immigration until politically forced to do so at the last second. Then in a politics-for-politics move, Trump fucked up their ability to have it both ways (to argue they did something based on a last second move while also having done nothing for three years).

The hypocrisy here was all around. Your party acted perfectly Trumpian on this issue and it got jammed up its ass by Trump. Deservedly.

Is this “both sides-ism”? Yeah. You know what else? Irrefutable facts.

I don't understand what you're talking about, or how it responds to what I said. I said the main obstacle to legislation on immigration is Republican opportunism. That is undeniably true. When was the last significant legislation on immigration? The law has been stuck in stasis for ever.

Without new legislation, both parties try to do immigration policy by changing enforcement of existing law. That's not legislation.

Enough with your both-sidesism. Democrats have been ready to deal on immigration for a long time. Republicans would rather have the issue than do a deal.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Daren Acemoglu's take speaks to me:

I feel anxious and saddened by Trump’s election. Years of turmoil and uncertainty await us. I have also come to believe that this is not Trump’s win. It is the Democrats who have lost this election.
This is not because Biden stayed on as a candidate despite his age. It is not because Kamala Harris is not qualified (I believe she’s amply qualified). It is because of Democrats’ campaign. Dems have been losing the American workers and did nothing to regain them in this election.
Dems have ceased to be the workers’ party long ago, owing to their support for digital disruption, globalization, large immigrant flows, and “woke” ideas.
The transformation is really striking, as I have argued before: now it is the highly educated, not manual workers that vote for Democrats, and if the center-left does not become more pro-worker, it and democracy will suffer: https://project-syndicate.org/commen...emoglu-2023-11
For a while it looked like Dems could still win elections with support from Silicon Valley, minorities, some portions of organized labor and the professional class in large cities. But this was never a healthy coalition, and even organized labor wasn’t going to remain faithful for long.
This coalition made Dems increasingly alienated from workers and the middle class in much of the country, especially in smaller cities and the South.
The message was loud and clear in 2016, and all of the soul-searching that followed was healthy. It was part of the reason why Biden adopted a pro-worker industrial strategy.
Biden’s economy delivered for the working class in terms of jobs and strengthening the industrial base of the country. Wages at the bottom rose rapidly. Policy started moving towards the views of the American workers on immigration, protectionism, support for unions and public investment.
And yet, I fear that Dem activists and the establishment never fully internalized the woes of the workers and never made enough of an effort to bring them back to the fold. They sounded distant and detached.
My test is the following: if stranded in an unknown city, would a Dem elite (typically a professional or bureaucrat from a coastal city, with postgraduate education) prefer to spend the next four hours talking to an American worker with a high school degree from the Midwest?
Or would he or she prefer to spend it with a professional with postgraduate education from Mexico, China or Indonesia? Or name your country? I asked this question to colleagues and friends, they all think is the latter --- as do I. Most Dem elites are now alienated from American workers.
It seemed at first that Harris-Walz may try to change that, emphasizing bolstering up the middle class and patriotism, in an effort to appeal to the working class deserting the party. A true effort in that direction would have been commendable, and if credible, perhaps win the election.
But at the end, the campaign focused on abortion and other issues appealing to the base. The main effort to broaden the base came from using Liz Cheney to appeal to suburban women *--- on abortion.
Of course, abortion is a critical issue. But focusing on it was never going to win the working class, and certainly not the working-class men.
On the economy, Dems can talk about opportunity and jobs (which they need to do). But they never distanced themselves from the Silicon Valley and the global business elite (but ironically, Silicon Valley started leaving them!)
I fear that, now, Trump and Vance’s Republican Party will be the main home for workers, especially manufacturing workers and those in smaller cities.
I am saddened and fearful for the United States, and I am deeply saddened about the Democratic Party --- unless this time it gets the message can truly change.
This is not just essential for the Democratic Party but for US democracy, which needs to refocus more on egalitarianism and voice for everybody, as I have argued recently: https://project-syndicate.org/commen...emoglu-2024-06 and https://nytimes.com/2024/07/19/opini...solutions.html
What is tragic is that Biden’s agenda had started paying off for workers already (and also proving that it was possible to adopt policies that would help workers and disproving the claim that globalization and inequality were acts of nature that could not be influenced).
What is even more tragic is that the Trump-Vance policies are likely going to be for the plutocrats and not for the American workers.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally Posted by Tyrone Slothrop

Daren Acemoglu's take speaks to me:

How many Trump commercials have you seen? Politics today is sound bytes.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally Posted by Hank Chinaski

How many Trump commercials have you seen? Politics today is sound bytes.

Those of you who live in the seven swing states get to see the commercials and have a vote that matters. I did see a few commercials, but whoever paid for that was squandering money.

[Adder]

Originally Posted by Tyrone Slothrop

Those of you who live in the seven swing states get to see the commercials and have a vote that matters. I did see a few commercials, but whoever paid for that was squandering money.

Maybe Dems have lost workers, but they've definitely lost Silicon Valley billionaires. I'm much more concerned about those people's ability to shape "worker's" beliefs than I am whether Dem policy and messaging appeals to "workers."

More than two decades ago, anti-immigration nonsense was standard fodder for the comment sections of econ blogs, even while the authors of those blogs held more sophisticated views. Watching how the most base of those opinions has become the majority view of the right has been frustrating and confusing.

Elon, Thiel, Ellison, Andreesen, Zuck, Bezos el all know that's nonsense, but it helps them elect the guy who won't bother them and apparently do not care who it hurts.