Can we unify beyond our differences?

[Akita Suggagaki]

Russia, China, North Korea, Iran and number of countries love to see the United States divided and have become pretty effective at manipulating our "information" to divide us. We seem to gobble it up and let hatred and fear divide us.

Can we here commit to supporting whichever candidate gets elected? I don't mean supporting their policies. I mean acknowledge that the candidate has been duly elected and has the right to office. This is America where we have right to nonviolent protest. How about we look for what we have in common.
We all want infrastructure security. We all want safety. We all want opportunity to thrive., etc

We may have very different ideas about how to accomplish our goals. But I think we are all glad we are citizens of the United States.
Our problem is the extreme right and left. We need more moderation, more compromise, more agree to disagree without getting personal.

 

[Fantine]

On 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012 yes.

Since then the Republican candidate has been so narcissistic, delusional, ignorant, hate-filled, rabble rousing, etc. that it's impossible.

If our candidate said he was going to jail his "enemies," become a dictator, deport tens of millions, say Harris and Biden should be shot in the head, say peaceful protesters should be shot, etc. Who could support a presidency like that?

A replica of the Hitler rally in MSG!

I would never support a candidate like that. I try to forgive my friends who would vote for such a person. Maybe they're gullible or think he's joking.

I could visit the homeless shelter at the edge of town and find more worthy candidates.

 

[mourningdove~]

Our problem is the extreme right and left.

I know who are the extreme left (= Harris, AOC, etc.).

Who do you consider to be the far right? (Anyone who votes for Donald Trump???)

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

I know who are the extreme left (= Harris, AOC, etc.).

Who do you consider to be the far right? (Anyone who votes for Donald Trump???)

How about Marjorie Taylor Greene, Josh Hawley, Tommy Tuberville for starters?

 

[mourningdove~]

How about Marjorie Taylor Greene, Josh Hawley, Tommy Tuberville for starters?

.... and all other Trump voters, too?

I'm really curious to know how you separate Trump voters ... the 'okay' ones from the 'far right' ones?

(I'll admit that Marjorie is abit of 'a live wire' ... she's fighting hard ... but I haven't yet seen her posting on CF! lol!)

 

[Fantine]

I kind of divide Trump voters into the aware and the unaware. The aware are those who know exactly how dangerous he is but who believe that either 1) he will blow up government and bring about an anarchy they crave; or 2) he will end abortion and punish the demographic groups they hate. Perhaps LGBTQ, or blacks, or immigrants who don't look like them, legal or illegal.

The unaware think he's a harmless entertainer but will surround himself with workerbees who will do his bidding.

They will both wind up.empty-pocketed and disappointed.

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

I'm really curious to know how you separate Trump voters

Adults need to be able to compromise and get the work done.

 

[mourningdove~]

I kind of divide Trump voters into the aware and the unaware. The aware are those who know exactly how dangerous he is but who believe that either 1) he will blow up government and bring about an anarchy they crave; or 2) he will end abortion and punish the demographic groups they hate. Perhaps LGBTQ, or blacks, or immigrants who don't look like them, legal or illegal.

The unaware think he's a harmless entertainer but will surround himself with workerbees who will do his bidding.

They will both wind up.empty-pocketed and disappointed.

I don't know the 1 or 2 types you've described.

But what about the Trump voters who have confidence in Trump's abilities to try to make America strong again, safe again, wealthy again, healthy again, great again? Do you see those voters as being 'far right'?

 

[mourningdove~]

Adults need to be able to compromise and get the work done.

That's really a very vague answer. Doesn't tell me much.

So how much compromise have you seen expressed here on CF, between Democrats and Republicans?
Do you really think there is such a group, and that it is large?

 

[mourningdove~]

They will both wind up.empty-pocketed and disappointed.

Most weren't, when Trump was President before.
(Why should they expect to be disappointed this time??)

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

That's really a very vague answer. Doesn't tell me much.

So how much compromise have you seen expressed here on CF, between Democrats and Republicans?
Do you really think there is such a group, and that it is large?

Here are a few more

https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/03/politics/republicans-vote-remove-mccarthy-house-speaker/index.html

 

[Fantine]

I don't know the 1 or 2 types you've described.

But what about the Trump voters who have confidence in Trump's abilities to try to make America strong again, safe again, wealthy again, healthy again, great again? Do you see those voters as being 'far right'?

No disrespect, but I see them as far out.

I cannot picture any mentally sound individual really believing that.

Now that I know Fox News has doctored up.his videos to make him sound marginally borderline normal, I suppose some mentally sound people could be fooled because that was their source. I guess..

 

[Fantine]

Most weren't, when Trump was President before.
(Why should they expect to be disappointed this time??)

I believe Wall St. and economists. Tariffs will bring high inflation, hurting the poor the most.

This time him they know him to be a criminal, anti-democracy, and violent--in addition to.the hundreds of faults he had first term.

 

[mourningdove~]

Here are a few more

https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/03/politics/republicans-vote-remove-mccarthy-house-speaker/index.html

These persons get elected by their constituencies.
As long as we have 'free' elections, voters will decide who best represents them.
In his case, they chose Congressman Gaetz, etc.

Is the purpose of this thread to convince Republican voters to vote for more moderate candidates?

 

[mourningdove~]

No disrespect, but I see them as far out.

I cannot picture any mentally sound individual really believing that.

Now that I know Fox News has doctored up.his videos to make him sound marginally borderline normal, I suppose some mentally sound people could be fooled because that was their source. I guess..

Well, we see it differently.

Note: I know nothing about Fox News doctoring up anything, but I've frequently watched Trump in the 'raw' ... at his rallies ... and what he proposes for America sounds like a pretty good plan to this gal!

 

[mourningdove~]

This time him they know him to be a criminal, anti-democracy, and violent--in addition to.the hundreds of faults he had first term.

That is how Democrats see Trump, but apparently you don't personally know many actual Trump supporters.

 

[Fantine]

That is how Democrats see Trump, but apparently you don't personally know many actual Trump supporters.

I live in a red state. I don't talk about guns or Trump to people I know feel differently.
And being Catholic I know some people who would vote for Vladimir the Impaler if he claimed to be pro-life.
Pope Francis says both have bad positions and Catholics should use their consciences.
So of course I know people in both camps.
Pope Francis in 2016 said the Church should inform consciences, not replace them.
I think it all goes back to Jonathan Haidt's theories of morality. Lots of Catholics embrace authoritarianism, and lots have embraced collegiality, synodality. The synod has concluded, and America Magazine reported that on dioceses, parishes, etc. The people should be involved in decisions. Also that more women were needed in leadership positions.
Haidt said that one moral template is not better than the other, just different.
So I try hard to.entertain that possibility.

 

[Laodicean60]

Russia, China, North Korea, Iran and number of countries love to see the United States divided and have become pretty effective at manipulating our "information" to divide us. We seem to gobble it up and let hatred and fear divide us.

These guys easily can take advantage of us because our house is divided and we will not stand.

How about we look for what we have in common.

This would be an interesting thread, but it will be derailed and return to tit-for-tat attacks. Unfortunately, we may be too far gone because of our media manipulation.

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

These persons get elected by their constituencies.
As long as we have 'free' elections, voters will decide who best represents them.
In his case, they chose Congressman Gaetz, etc.

Is the purpose of this thread to convince Republican voters to vote for more moderate candidates?

NO.

It is to encourage ALL OF US to be less extreme in our views and more willing to compromise in more civil discussions.

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

Lots of Catholics embrace authoritarianism, and lots have embraced collegiality, synodality.

That is authoritarianism as long we we agree with the authority.