A Deeply Fractured US

[Altair]

Because the political narrative in the US has become and is that your political competitors are your enemy.

Don't fool yourself.

That same sentiment is alive and well here in Canada.

 

[brihard]

I'm not too worried about this.

The founders of the USA didn't allow for the right to bear drones.

You very much should be.

 

[Remius]

Don't fool yourself.

That same sentiment is alive and well here in Canada.

Nowhere near the same level. But we are talking about a deeply fractured US.

 

[Altair]

Nowhere near the same level. But we are talking about a deeply fractured US.

True.

It's something the west as a whole needs to grapple with however.

The USA is on the leading edge of this, due to their specific socio-economic factors, but that same undercurrent can be seen in the UK, France, and here in Canada.

The Internet doesn't respect borders.

 

[McG]

It's something the west as a whole needs to grapple with however

“The West”? Or maybe the last few hold-out countries running elections with FPTP? The real world is not a single binary choice; our elections shouldn’t force things into such a paradigm.

 

[Altair]

“The West”? Or maybe the last few hold-out countries running elections with FPTP? The real world is not a single binary choice; our elections shouldn’t force things into such a paradigm.

Germany is going through its own rupturing, especially with the rise of the AFD, and they are not FPTP.

But interesting food for thought.

 

[Furniture]

“The West”? Or maybe the last few hold-out countries running elections with FPTP? The real world is not a single binary choice; our elections shouldn’t force things into such a paradigm.

Rather than blame a voting system, why not place the blame on political parties that are captured by their most extreme elements?

Creating PR isn't going to magically change America into a multiparty system, it will just change the way the two parties get voted into power.

 

[Halifax Tar]

Germany is going through its own rupturing, especially with the rise of the AFD, and they are not FPTP.

But interesting food for thought.

From what I understand the French Gov collapsed this week. Not sure what system they use.

 

[Altair]

From what I understand the French Gov collapsed this week. Not sure what system they use.

2 round FPTP.

First round those who get 50 percent of the vote wins, second round those who get the most votes wins but would have needed 12.5 percent of the vote or more in the previous round to qualify.

 

[dapaterson]

From what I understand the French Gov collapsed this week. Not sure what system they use.

Anarchy, but not quite that well organized.

 

[Altair]

Anarchy, but not quite that well organized.

A recent phenomenon.

The French have been very good at either one party having the presidency and the Parliament or cohabitation, where one party has the presidency and and a seperate party has the Parliament.

The French system however was not designed for minority parliaments, and the French have zero history in how to compromise and work together in Parliament. So when Macron won his second term but was 20-30 seats short of a majority government, the opposition refused to work with him and the government refused to compromise with the opposition. The snap elections making it a 3 way tie only compounded the issue and now France, for all intents and purposes, no longer has a functioning legislative branch.

The issue for the French, and the French people is they are just as polarized as the rest of the west, and it's showing up in their elections in a system not designed for it. It's the political equivalent of putting gasoline in a diesel engine. It won't run long and it won't go far.

France, unfortunately, needs to coalesce around two of the competiting factions , so they can go back to a winner and a loser, not 3 kind of winners who also lost, or make a 6th Republic that can navigate the new normal.

Just another example of a society barely keeping it together. Less in terms of assassinations though, for reasons I have already expressed ad naseum

 

[KevinB]

So private plane leaves the area 10 min after the shooting. 15min later it turns off its transponder. Transponder is off for 2 hrs. Then it goes on and lands back where it took off from. Doesn’t seem like a random act. Seems more like state sponsored. Given the time frame I suspect it is Russians. Trying to distract an and divide Americans after their attack on Poland.

 

[McG]

Rather than blame a voting system, why not place the blame on political parties that are captured by their most extreme elements?

FPTP incentivizes this behaviour. It rewards polarizing speech & policies.

Creating PR isn't going to magically change America into a multiparty system

PR is not the only alternative to FPTP, but changing the voting system will change the US because it will change outcomes and rewards. It will change how voters vote. It will change how parties & politicians behave, campaign, and govern. It will change how & which association is established between politicians and parties.

 

[Swampbuggy]

So private plane leaves the area 10 min after the shooting. 15min later it turns off its transponder. Transponder is off for 2 hrs. Then it goes on and lands back where it took off from. Doesn’t seem like a random act. Seems more like state sponsored. Given the time frame I suspect it is Russians. Trying to distract an and divide Americans after their attack on Poland.

If that’s true, and I have no reason to doubt otherwise, it may be the only silver lining from this terrible incident. I’ve been long suspecting the only thing that could force Americans to put being American first (ahead of political affiliation) is some kind of attack from an outside actor. Again, if true, it is absolutely astounding that it happened on the eve of September 11, really the last time we witnessed a similarly pivotal event. It would take one hell of an optimist to see light come out of current US climate, but if it was some ham handed attempt by a foreign power to pour gas on the partisan fire, it ultimately could wind up being a positively cathartic event…though likely also another step towards a global armed conflict.

 

[KevinB]

Apparently a rifle was recovered in the woods near the school, the shooter is a male in their 20’s.
Potentially authorities have facial images, but are not releasing it yet pending confirmation.

I’m still betting on Russia, either direct or hiring it out.

 

[Lumber]

Apparently a rifle was recovered in the woods near the school, the shooter is a male in their 20’s.
Potentially authorities have facial images, but are not releasing it yet pending confirmation.

I’m still betting on Russia, either direct or hiring it out.

Or, it was pro-Ukrainian Democrats executing a false-flag operation in order to frame Russia and get Republicans on the pro-war pro-Ukrainian train.

See how far we can make this go?

 

[KevinB]

Video of the shooter after the shot.

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[Haggis]

Video of the shooter after the shot.

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I get the message "The video is not available in your country." Trying to watch it at work in Québec.

 

[Remius]

Or, it was pro-Ukrainian Democrats executing a false-flag operation in order to frame Russia and get Republicans on the pro-war pro-Ukrainian train.

See how far we can make this go?

Sadly, given the current climate any fantastical explanation could actually be possible…

 

[Halifax Tar]

I get the message "The video is not available in your country." Trying to watch it at work in Québec.

I get the same in NS.