DocWatts

False equivalency is the Maple Syrup that MAGA pours on thier Authoritarian pancakes.

Just look to the United States for a case study of how dangerous it is to not Integrate the lower Stages into your Society in a healthy and non-destructive way.

And probably broke as well.

About %65 - 70 percent of eligible Voters participated in the most recent election (the highest turnout in decades). Slightly less than half of them supported Trump. So if we extrapolate that to the rest of the country, we can conservatively say that roughly a third of the country is at level of development where they find Trump's authoritarianism and white supremacy appealing. So even if they're not a majority, a third of the country with that sort of mindset and worldview is enough to destabilize the country, and at the very least cause widespread and long lasting Civil Unrest (even if it doesn't spiral into Civil War). To say that America is a fractured and fragmented society is undeniable at this point. How we begin to heal these divisions over a 20 or 50 year time span, well that's a much bigger question that I don't have the answer to.

David Pakman hit the nail on the head as far ad the implications of Trump gaining six million votes despite everything that's happened over the past four years.

https://ijr.org/biden-calls-americans-stop-treating-opponents-as-enemies/ Just the fact that Biden's not intentionally trying to steer the country off a cliff, and seems to be a halfway decent human being, will be a breath of fresh air even if he doesn't end up accomplishing much in Office. Also we should keep in mind that even if Trump loses, his Cult isn't going away. America has some enormous challenges ahead.

Biden is on record saying that one of his his first acts in Office will be to renew the Paris Climate Deal. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.marketwatch.com/amp/story/biden-vows-to-rejoin-paris-climate-accord-on-day-one-if-he-wins-11604549000

Interesting; I suppose while that's better than what we have in the rest of the country, it's not a silver bullet, so to speak. I would think proportional representation would also be a step in the right direction as well, but don't see that realisticallylly happening in our system. Even of you got rid of all the structural unfairness against third parties in America, I'd be the first to admit that they would still be at a significant disadvantage compared to the Two Parties.

@Husseinisdoingfine Agreed, but what they can do is shift the Overton window Left and lay the groundwork for Social Democracy, and also make room for Socialist voices to have at least some influence in US politics. Bernie never would have had the impact he did if he were running as a Green Party candidate (or as an Independent). Also I think the harm reduction aspect of being strategic with your Vote cannot be understated; considering that the Republican Party has moved from neo-liberalism to what can arguably be called fascism (or at the very least Authoritarianism). Socialism can work within a liberal/neo-lib framework, but loses whatever pull it has when operating under a fascist framework.

@Husseinisdoingfine Former long time Green Party voter myself. Until First Past the Post Voting is abolished and something like Ranked Choice Voting is adopted, the obstacles for a third party winning a national election are such that I see little point in supporting the Green Party until a more fair system is in place. Changing the Democratic Party from within by supporting Progressive/Socialist Democrats like AOC or Bernie seems like a more realistic path forward in my view.

While the power structures themselves were certainly Red, most of the people living under them were at Purple. So point well taken.

The first proto-governments began to emerge roughly 10,000 years ago coinciding with the widespread use of agriculture, and were roughly at a Red level of development in the SD model.

You would think even from their limited vantage point, Libertarians would see the Authoritarianism in Trump (that runs against their professed principles) and be strategic with their votes, at least for this one election when the stakes are so goddamn high. Guess I can't really rag on the Green Party in the same way, with their candidate getting %0.1 of the popular vote.

Psilocybin will probably follow in marijuana's footsteps as far as a path to legalization; clinical studies show a good case for medical legalization, shifting the Overton window to open the way for public acceptance of broader legalization across the country.

Lame Duck Donnie supporting calls for a Civil War is something in the realm of possibility. And that's scary.

https://www.opb.org/article/2020/11/04/oregon-measure-109-psilocybin/ Looks like it's going to be legalized for Clinical use for psilocybin assisted therapy. What this measure won't do is make it so that you can walk into a shop and make a purchase, like you can with weed.

Looking so far like the Republicans will still maintain control of the Senate; or am I mistaken?

As for Oregon, does legalization mean 'recreational' use? Or is it more of a medical thing where it's legalized but only in a clinical setting?

Keep in mind that a best case scenario Lame Duck Trump between now and January is still dangerous; can still sow chaos and harm over the next two months.

Very much so; the Democratic Republican demographic divide is in many ways a divide between urban and rural areas. In the US political system, rural areas have a disproportionate amount of political influence compared to thier population. If presidential elections were decided by popular vote rather than the Electoral College, Republicans might conceivably never win another election. Which is why they defend the E.C., as they benefit from it politically in a big way.

Masks are mandated here in Michigan as well, but it's not uncommon to see people proudly and flagrantly violating that mandate as a 'Fuck You' statement.

Don't disagree, but four more years under a pro-fascist would be far, far, far worse than another neo-lib Democrat. Like the concept of democracy itself being in big trouble if Trump gets another four years. At least a Biden presidency would be a breather, so to speak.

Coming out of the woodworks lol. Interesting to note the difference in reactions between the two camps: Supporters of Biden if he wins : Relieved, cautiously optimistic Supporters of Trump if he wins :GLOAT GLOAT GLOAT GLOAT GLOAT

If the Biden leads in Nevada, Wisconsin, and Michigan hold, this will put at Biden at 270.

Thank you.