US Politics Thread 2016-2020

[August]

Originally Posted by Oberon

In regards to an earlier post of mine, a little follow up:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-39142831

What does this have to do with US Politics?

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by August

What does this have to do with US Politics?

You don't have to read it.

[August]

Originally Posted by Oberon

You don't have to read it.

It doesn't belong in this thread.

[vienna]

A bit off-topic and, yet, a bit on mark; an interesting idea from Norway:

http://www.niemanlab.org/2017/03/thi...re-commenting/

https://www.engadget.com/2017/03/02/...e-you-comment/




<O>

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by August

It doesn't belong in this thread.

You think that politics has no bearing on it?

[August]

Originally Posted by Oberon

You think that politics has no bearing on it?

I do not. Antisemitism or one persons response to it has nothing to do with US politics.

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by August

I do not. Antisemitism or one persons response to it has nothing to do with US politics.

So US politics does not affect Antisemitism in any way, is that what you're saying?

Originally Posted by August

I do not. Antisemitism or one persons response to it has nothing to do with US politics.

Both the President and the Vice President seem to think it does. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-39082013

[August]

Originally Posted by Oberon

So US politics does not affect Antisemitism in any way, is that what you're saying?

Members of Congress probably drink the majority of the hard spirits in Washington and therefore have an effect on local liquor prices. That does not mean a discussion on the origins of Scotch Whisky is on topic in the US politics thread.

Anti-semitism pre exists the US Federal government. Neither party espouses or condones antisemitism. What is the connection to US politics that you have so far failed to make?

[ikalugin]

https://www.forbes.com/sites/drewhan.../#63eca6827ccc

Look what I have found.

[Catfish]

Originally Posted by August

[...]
Anti-semitism pre exists the US Federal government. Neither party espouses or condones antisemitism. What is the connection to US politics that you have so far failed to make?

I agree that anti-semitism and also racism exist, but certainly not only in the "US Federal government". There are always some people with such views, unfortunately, but it is seldom the official policy of governments outside of the Middle East. Today.

I fail to see the connection to Trump, though. I do believe he has an axe to grind with Mexicans and Muslims, but this is not anti-semitism by definition.

[Bilge_Rat]

Originally Posted by Oberon

You think that politics has no bearing on it?

you think the democrats are behind it?

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by Bilge_Rat

you think the democrats are behind it?

There is probably an element within the Democrat community which associates Jewish people with the mega-rich corporations which they hate, and then there is of course the anti-zionist subsection which I would hesitate slightly to call antisemetic, because although it is targetted against Jewish people it also contains other Jews who are against the decisions of certain members of the Israeli government.

However, the language and the tone of the Alt-Right...well, it's a hard thing for me to be un-biased about because obviously I am left-wing. In my view, the 'under-belly' of the right, the 'Hitler did nothing wrong' sub-section as well as the 'KKK' group, have had their morale boosted by the victory of the candidate that they supported. August is right, the same thing is happening in Europe, right and far-right populist parties have gained power and this victory has emboldened the darker fringes of that movement.
Is it Trumps fault? No, not at all, although his language and the divisionary tone of his campaign, the whole 'Us vs them' is only fuel to the fire, but it was not directly antisemitic. Are there elements of Trumps political group that are antisemitic...that depends on who you speak to really. But are there reasons for Jewish people in America to be concerned about the victory of Trumps campaign? I would say so, and a paragraph in the Chicago Tribune from a Jewish writer made a fair and balanced tone in my opinion.

"Right-wing and nativist violence does not always begin with Jews. But by fixating on attacks against Jews, we are forgetting the cardinal rule of Jewish self-survival: It may not start with us, but it always ends with us."

Words have consequences, and when you run an anti-globalist campaign, some people will view this as being a campaign to target the traditional globalist headliners, and that is stereotypically Jewish people.
It is rather strange though, I will admit, to see the right take on the mantle of anti-globalism which has traditionally over the past decades been a left-wing movement. I mean, I can't see people like Yubba taking part in the 'Battle of Seattle', and traditionally up until the past decade or so the Anti-globalist movement has been a part of the Anti-capitalist movement.
It's one of those confusing moments of political history I think, when things are in a flux, and what has been tradition is changing rapidly.

[ikalugin]

I wonder if we call Far-Right parties Far-Right because the western society went Far-Left.

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by ikalugin

I wonder if we call Far-Right parties Far-Right because the western society went Far-Left.

It's possible, I don't know if I'd say it went Far-left, after all capitalism is still a thing, but it certainly did go left so it could create the impression that what was once not far-right is now so because of the positioning of the centre ground. Of course, even between America and Europe what is left and right varies greatly, Europe has always been more left wing than America.