A Political Thread pt. 2

[ncurd]

Just for the record I have a straight up policy of removing anyone who votes for or post in favor far right groups (of which I definitely consider Trump one) from my social media.

My life is too short to bother engaging.

 

[ChicagoKid]

Wasn't that because he inherited a strong economy from Obama, and it started slipping through 2019 before he had the excuse of COVID, though?

No. The Obama economy was stuck at 2 percent or sub-2 percent growth. Real wages for the bottom 50 percent were stagnant.

For the first time in my lifetime, under Trump people in the bottom 50% saw their wages grow faster than the top 20%.

 

[ChicagoKid]

You voted for a man who bragged about committing sexual assault. Who is a convicted felon and tried to overthrow a democratic election.

Your now on my ignore list, your opinion isn't worth anything if you can ignore all that and still vote for a person of that calibre regardless of the polices of ANY other indivdual.

It's a free internet. Have a good one.

 

[Which Tyler]

For the first time in my lifetime, under Trump people in the bottom 50% saw their wages grow faster than the top 20%.

Citation is most definitely needed

 

[Saintjay]

Privatisation of the NHS just seems a bit big bang to me. Reform makes more sense.

In Sweden, people pay £15 to visit a GP or consultant if they've been referred. As soon as they've paid £150 in a calendar year any treatment received on top of that is free. Not saying it's perfect but I think adopting a similar model would save a fortune and ease the burden on the system. I'd also scrap free prescriptions across the UK due to the abuse and wastage. Special exemptions for certain groups like children, pensioners, disabled people etc.

Am I right in thinking they are free in Scotland and Wales but not in England. Apart from certain exceptions.

I've always wondered why if so and is it the Scottish and Welsh goverments that pick up the cost.

 

[ChicagoKid]

Citation is most definitely needed

This was a press release the Trump administration put out before COVID: https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/articles/blue-collar-labor-boom-reduces-inequality/

You can go through the economic data they cite to confirm. Here is a link: https://www.bls.gov/webapps/legacy/cpswktab5.htm

The posts I read on here about America is disconnected to what's happening on the ground.

 

[ChicagoKid]

Citation is most definitely needed

Also, Trump ran hard on immigration. In many states, it was the #1 issue.

Here is the most recent data on migrants headed for the US: https://www.axios.com/2025/03/13/migrant-traffic-darien-gap-falls-pandemic-levels

 

[Sour Patch Kid]

It's very unlikely. People move for two reasons: persecution and economics. In his previous term, there was no widespread persecution against American citizens, and the economy was roaring. The European economies -- along with the UK -- are struggling and most Americans would take a 50-70% pay cut to move.

Full disclosure: I joined the majority of Americans in voting for Trump. If you don't live here, it's impossible to articulate how frustrated people are with the multi-decade wars, rising costs, and drug problem.

Here's a great example: In the late 60s'/early 70s, this country about ripped itself apart because of the Vietnam war which totaled roughly 70,000 deaths. These days we are losing 100,000+ to drug overdoses. It's a major issue that is rarely discussed in international media.

Don't you DARE tell the Europeans on this board why Americans who actually live here voted for Trump! They know better than us. Racism, misogyny or transphobia, take your pick

 

[BrokenWing]

You forgot stupidity

 

[Which Tyler]

This was a press release the Trump administration put out before COVID: https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/articles/blue-collar-labor-boom-reduces-inequality/

You can go through the economic data they cite to confirm. Here is a link: https://www.bls.gov/webapps/legacy/cpswktab5.htm

Cheers - so IF you believe the lies told by a known liar who lies, then...
Yeah, that's a pretty big if

Trump's Final Numbers - FactCheck.org

Statistical indicators of President Trump's four years in office.

www.factcheck.org

Trump’s Half True claim: Earnings rising faster at low end

One of President Donald Trump’s central promises was to produce a rising economy that lifts all boats. At a rally in Wil

www.politifact.com

Trump's State of the Union claimed workers have benefited most. Not quite

Wages are finally rising for workers, but the the top 1% are still benefiting the most — not quite a "blue collar boom."

www.cbsnews.com

Also, Trump ran hard on immigration. In many states, it was the #1 issue.

I don't remember anyone claiming that Trump doesn't hate immigrants

 

[McTallshort]

Before COVID, the economy was strong. Unemployment was down, real wages were up, inflation was at 2 percent.

You can argue all day long about his record, but the economy was doing very well.

The two biggest issues for 2024 were the economy and immigration. Trump dominated Kamala on both. Do you think that's because a majority of Americans misremember his economic record?

I'm not thinking anything I was just interested in your perspective which differs from mine but I'm in the UK not America

 

[ChicagoKid]

Don't you DARE tell the Europeans on this board why Americans who actually live here voted for Trump! They know better than us. Racism, misogyny or transphobia, take your pick

It’s a very one-sided conversation. If you ask 1,000 Americans what they think about the UK elections, I’d bet less than 20 would have a strong opinion one way or another.

 

[ChicagoKid]

I'm not thinking anything I was just interested in your perspective which differs from mine but I'm in the UK not America

The last administration was abysmal and then lied about the cognitive decline of the president. They lost the trust of millions of Americans who voted for them.

Im pretty centrist and my wife is center-left. The Democrats shifted too far left and lost. The republicans will do the same thing and lose.

It’s a pendulum.

 

[Sour Patch Kid]

It's a very one-sided conversation. If you ask 1,000 Americans what they think about the UK elections, I'd bet less than 20 would have a strong opinion one way or another.

As an American, I would bet you that 20 is a very high number.

 

[Deleted member 90256]

It's a very one-sided conversation. If you ask 1,000 Americans what they think about the UK elections, I'd bet less than 20 would have a strong opinion one way or another.

When they played an nfl game here, one player didn't know we spoke English...

 

[Sour Patch Kid]

When they played an nfl game here, one player didn't know we spoke English...

Not surprised to hear that.

 

[ChicagoKid]

When they played an nfl game here, one player didn't know we spoke English...

A majority of Americans don't think about Europe unless they are planning their vacations.

You forgot stupidity

For most of my life, Europeans and their cultures held an aura of sophistication for most Americans. Then Americans got richer and international travel became possible for the middle-class to travel overseas. Once that happened, people realized how European culture had both pluses and minuses compared to the US. People learned that while universal healthcare was possible, their wages would drop by 50%+ to live there.

Comparatively, Europeans have gotten poorer relative to Americans in the last 10-15 years and that has limited their ability to travel here. I recall traveling to San Diego in 2004 and the city was filled with Brits. But the pound was $1.90 to the USD. Now, it's below $1.30.

Not saying travel is some anecdote to ignorance, but it's certainly better than watching the BBC.

 

[AlRums]

And please stop linking to Newsweek. It's pure online ragebait. They make Wales Online look like Der Spiegel.

The all done, that's one reason I post a sprinkling from a variety of sources left and right.

Besides, Newsweek do make some excellent points which should be shared. I also used to work with Newsweek years ago.

 

[Flankers' paradise]

Trump's big thing last time was U.S Steel and how he was going to make 'it' great again, which he boasted about. The actual data shows that the sector flatlined during years 1-3 before declining in the fourth year. This time it's tariffs again. Tariffs are just taxation. At the same time reducing taxes for the highest earners. all he's doing is extracting as much capital from the economy as possible

 

[General Melchett]

Am I right in thinking they are free in Scotland and Wales but not in England. Apart from certain exceptions.

I've always wondered why if so and is it the Scottish and Welsh goverments that pick up the cost.

Yup, free in Northern Ireland too. I know health is devolved but it's completely unfair that most adults in England have to stump up. Taxes are a bit higher in Scotland but I would still like to see the same policy across the UK.