TomMcGiverin's Profile

Let's hope this is the end of it!

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 7, 2020:

Not the end of it by any means, just a four year break until the next cycle. By then the Dems will have betrayed the working class whites again with Biden and then Harris finishing his term, so those voters will ping pong back to give the Repubs a narrow win in 2024 even when the Repubs nominate ...

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 8, 2020:

@Paul4747 I never believed Obama either. Time to block.

Biden Wins! Congrats to the Democrats for electing Biden and Harris! It's been a rocky and ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 7, 2020:

Relieved that Trump is going, but sad that liberals will undoubtedly repeat their behavior during the Obama years of going to sleep about America's wars in the Middle East, accepting talk over action on climate change, and not caring about the class war of the 1% against the rest of us. Biden and ...

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 7, 2020:

@Diagoras They are willing to turn out and vote, but only if two conditions are met by the candidate. One, that the candidate credibly supports programs and policies that clearly benefit young people, as well as others, and that those would directly impact the lives of young people, like min. wage, college debt, etc. Second, that the candidate does not speak in generalities and platitudes, like Biden for example, but offers concrete ideas for what they are going to do, because young people are justifiably cynical about politicians and corporate media. They have seen and heard it all before, so they will not turn out and vote if they think the candidate is saying the usual BS or does not offer their demo any specific improvements. Older people continue to vote out of habit, even if they don't believe it will change anything. Younger people are more interested in other things and will only vote if it's convincingly proven to them that it will matter for their demo group.

Biden Wins! Congrats to the Democrats for electing Biden and Harris! It's been a rocky and ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 7, 2020:

Relieved that Trump is going, but sad that liberals will undoubtedly repeat their behavior during the Obama years of going to sleep about America's wars in the Middle East, accepting talk over action on climate change, and not caring about the class war of the 1% against the rest of us. Biden and ...

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 7, 2020:

@Diagoras I don't know if I will be alive to see it, but even now the younger people are immune to the whole tactic of red-baiting of progressives by calling them socialist or whatever. While some young people are still easily suckered by appeals to identity politics of steering them to vote based on the candidate's gender, race, etc., just like other voter groups, the young people that do vote based on policy rather than candidate identity do not care about labels like socialist, etc. Those young people judge the candidate on whether they share their values and policy positions, not on what labels the corporate media or party leaders give the policy or the candidate who promotes the policy. In this respect, they are savvier than their elders, who are still easily swayed by party leaders and the corporate media as well as labels. So, even tho I am very disgusted and pessimistic about the future, in this area I am strangely hopeful. These young people were born long after the Soviet Union fell apart and to them the labels communist or socialist seem like ancient myths or legends that are irrelevant to them or even phony lies. They also don't trust the corporate media or establishment elders of either party. Ranked choice voting is like campaign finance reform that would actually solve the money in politics problem. Both major parties know that public financing of all federal campaigns could be easily done and solve the problem, but they will never really support it because it would break the duopoly's stranglehold on the system and allow third parties to win. Same with ranked choice voting. Neither will happen until third parties have enough power to force it, but without either one they probably never will get that power at the fed level of government.

Biden Wins! Congrats to the Democrats for electing Biden and Harris! It's been a rocky and ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 7, 2020:

Bah, bah, bleat the stupid sheeple who think Biden will be some great improvement on Trump by fighting class warfare on their behalf, reducing deportations, fighting climate change, eliminating student debt, raising the minimum wage, adding paid sick leave, passing Med4ALL, etc. As John Lennon sang,...

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 7, 2020:

@FreethoughtKaty I am not denying any of the three facts you cited at the end of your comment, but, since you continue to insult me about making the claim that I am more informed, smarter, and more aware than most Americans, I am blocking you. I am simply being honest and justifiably proud about my superiority in certain areas. But since you are being an ass, I will block you, as would most people in my position with you.

Biden Wins! Congrats to the Democrats for electing Biden and Harris! It's been a rocky and ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 7, 2020:

Bah, bah, bleat the stupid sheeple who think Biden will be some great improvement on Trump by fighting class warfare on their behalf, reducing deportations, fighting climate change, eliminating student debt, raising the minimum wage, adding paid sick leave, passing Med4ALL, etc. As John Lennon sang,...

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 7, 2020:

@FreethoughtKaty You can think what you like, but I am far more aware than most and most Americans are sheeple. The evidence of the latter is abundant. You don't know me at all and you'll never meet me, so leave it at that. I was reading the newspaper at age 10 and understood all of it. At grade 8 I was reading books at the college level. I am a hell of a lot more informed, intelligent, and aware than most Americans. Believe me or not.

While we were counting the record number of votes, America broke another record: 116,000 confirmed ...

KevinMR comments on Nov 6, 2020:

I think so. I think covid fatigue has taken hold and many people under 50 are tired of living by covid's rules. They're basically saying, if you're old stay home. We can't take it anymore. I don't know to what degree that's true but it's certainly partly true.

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 7, 2020:

@Paul4747 Then I hope she gets infected and dies from it, as long as she doesn't infect anyone else. It's natural for some forms of stupidity to have consequences and our species could use fewer stupid people.

Biden Wins! Congrats to the Democrats for electing Biden and Harris! It's been a rocky and ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 7, 2020:

Relieved that Trump is going, but sad that liberals will undoubtedly repeat their behavior during the Obama years of going to sleep about America's wars in the Middle East, accepting talk over action on climate change, and not caring about the class war of the 1% against the rest of us. Biden and ...

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 7, 2020:

@DenoPenno I fucking promise it will happen again in four years if the Dems nominate another corrupt corporate neoliberal again then, and yes, Harris qualifies as that, unless by then we have a viable third party that can nominate a well known progressive and get into the general election debates. Right now, I have way more faith in a third party prez candidate getting us out of this than in the Dem party dropping its corporate donors and nominating a progressive. And for those who say a third party could never win, this time around a third of eligible voters sat this election out, about 70 million voters. So if a progressive third party candidate could get those voters excited and hopeful, get into the prez debates, and then pull in even ten million votes away from the Dem candidate, you've got a win the same way Slick Willie did in 1992.

How much do you expect "payback" to influence Democrat policy?

M12bfree comments on Nov 7, 2020:

https://youtu.be/c0LEcLLBJ2s The democrats failure to win this in a landslide is a testament to their utter failure to connect with the working-class or offer any policies to help the millions of people who are suffering in this country. And they don't care. Peoplesparty.org

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 7, 2020:

You notice when you watch the vid that the interviewer is really kind of hostile or unfriendly to Dore. That's why I don't watch RT. You can see the interviewer has an agenda and is constantly trying to put words into Jimmy Dore's mouth or get a particular response from him. Jimmy doesn't fall for it, but the guy is clearly trying to get Dore to bash Trump or give Biden props rather than criticize Biden or say Biden is worse than Trump on anything.

Biden declared projected victory. Congratulations America!!!☀️☀️☀️

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 7, 2020:

I feel only relief rather than joy, because I know how lame, corrupt, and status quo Biden will be, but seeing Trump leave will be the best thing since Nixon had to resign.

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 7, 2020:

@Triphid So, asshole, you want a block or not?

Biden declared projected victory. Congratulations America!!!☀️☀️☀️

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 7, 2020:

I feel only relief rather than joy, because I know how lame, corrupt, and status quo Biden will be, but seeing Trump leave will be the best thing since Nixon had to resign.

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 7, 2020:

@Triphid You get the point, you overreact..

Biden declared projected victory. Congratulations America!!!☀️☀️☀️

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 7, 2020:

I feel only relief rather than joy, because I know how lame, corrupt, and status quo Biden will be, but seeing Trump leave will be the best thing since Nixon had to resign.

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 7, 2020:

@Triphid Mis typed. Biden is less dangerous than Trump, but..... You need less caffeine...

Biden declared projected victory. Congratulations America!!!☀️☀️☀️

Triphid comments on Nov 7, 2020:

YEA, the King of Fools and Clowns is gone, no more rants and raves, no more seeing his ugly twisted face on news bulletins. I hope for the sake of ALL decent Americans that Biden decides NOT to give that rank, egotistical, self-absorbed, spoiled little brat a Presidential Pardon that he DOES NOT ...

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 7, 2020:

I will be shocked if Biden does not pardon Trump and then excuse with the same bullshit as Obama about how "We have to move forward", etc.

Biden declared projected victory. Congratulations America!!!☀️☀️☀️

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 7, 2020:

I feel only relief rather than joy, because I know how lame, corrupt, and status quo Biden will be, but seeing Trump leave will be the best thing since Nixon had to resign.

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 7, 2020:

@Triphid Biden is less dangerous than Trump, but I'm not dumb enough to think Biden will be that much of an improvement on policies. Policies always matter the most to me, more than character or personality. LBJ was an devious SOB, but he did more good for the working class, the poor, and minorities than any prez after him.

Pat Robertson to Pregnant Woman: Give Baby Up for Adoption and Dump Boyfriend | Beth Stoneburner | ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 6, 2020:

I've got an even better idea. If Robertson is so keen on adoption, why doesn't he adopt the baby? I'm sure he has the bucks to spend on it.

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 7, 2020:

@JeffMurray Sheesh, you must be a lot of fun at parties...

Pat Robertson to Pregnant Woman: Give Baby Up for Adoption and Dump Boyfriend | Beth Stoneburner | ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 6, 2020:

I've got an even better idea. If Robertson is so keen on adoption, why doesn't he adopt the baby? I'm sure he has the bucks to spend on it.

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 6, 2020:

@JeffMurray Don't think I agree with that last phrase about choice. We all have free will and I don't believe in determinism. We always have choices in what we do, even if sometimes the only ones available are bad ones. We can always decide to choose the one involving the least harm to others.

Why wasn't there a landslide: [theguardian.com]

Canndue comments on Nov 6, 2020:

I feel Most voted to oust trump, not to support Biden. Nation is fed up with neoliberalism, which gave rise to trump, which is even worse. It’s amazing how the DNC is stuck in that mode.

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 6, 2020:

The DNC and establishment Dem pols do not want to offer something better than Trump to working class voters on the economic issues that really matter to those voters. Why? Because it would anger their corporate and fat cat rich donors. The donors matter, working class voters don't. The Dems can only con and ignore those working class voters and win when they have an exceptionally skilled liar with a convincing working class identity with those voters, like Obama and Slick Willie did. But they can't count on those types coming along every cycle, because they don't.

Pat Robertson to Pregnant Woman: Give Baby Up for Adoption and Dump Boyfriend | Beth Stoneburner | ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 6, 2020:

I've got an even better idea. If Robertson is so keen on adoption, why doesn't he adopt the baby? I'm sure he has the bucks to spend on it.

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 6, 2020:

@JeffMurray Overall, I don't feel that way about myself, but there are some days that I feel like the hulking guy in The Green Mile, that I feel so tired of living in this world.

Pat Robertson to Pregnant Woman: Give Baby Up for Adoption and Dump Boyfriend | Beth Stoneburner | ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 6, 2020:

I've got an even better idea. If Robertson is so keen on adoption, why doesn't he adopt the baby? I'm sure he has the bucks to spend on it.

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 6, 2020:

@LucyLoohoo I was being sarcastic, as well as calling out Robertson's hypocrisy on advocating adoption over abortion, as long as people like him are not obligated to back it up by personally adopting the unwanted kids.

So Happy It’s Thursday.

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 5, 2020:

You are one freckled kid. Where's you grow up, Australia?

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 5, 2020:

@GwenBFree Sheesh. That is hardly the sunbelt..

Heckuva job, DNC. /s

Hages comments on Nov 4, 2020:

The Gravel Institute is right. Maybe they could make a video about the history of the Democratic Party and how it has failed working people for decades.

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 5, 2020:

@Hages The difference between Trump and Bernie is that Bernie actually cares about changing the system from being rigged. Trump doesn't care about doing that. Like Obama, he just lies to people about what he would do if elected. Like Obama, people believed him. Trump won last time because working class people were desperate to believe someone would help them and Hillary did not even say she would help them, so they took their chances with Trump and believed him. If Biden wins, and does nothing to help the working class against the system, which is what I expect from him, those people will again feel betrayed and pissed off, which will set up another Repub demagoge running in four years as a populist and winning, as once again the Dems will run a neoliberal instead of a progressive. Rinse, lather, repeat...

Heckuva job, DNC. /s

Zoltans_Queen comments on Nov 4, 2020:

There's still hope! They are counting the mail in ballots in Michigan and Pennsylvania. But I think you're right that it shouldn't be this close. I think if it had of been someone other than Biden, we would be in a much better position right now.

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 4, 2020:

@RoboGraham That has long been my dream as well. But the older I get, the less likely it seems that it will ever happen before I die. I've seen so many attempts at it during my life, but they have always failed. When you combine people's feelings of demoralization combined with the mass media constantly working against it, it's not surprising that the movements fail. Occupy was one of the last and best ones that failed.

Tweet from Ben Shapiro

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 4, 2020:

Who is Shapiro?

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 4, 2020:

@Hages I don't bother much with listening to conservative or Repub commentators, because they are usually like a broken clock, being right twice a day and only when they feel that being truthful will serve some other agenda they have up their sleeve. They share none of my values or goals, so why should I listen to them?

Heckuva job, DNC. /s

prometheus comments on Nov 4, 2020:

More a massive indictment of the American people. A huge moral and intellectual failing. Or maybe somewhere someone calculated the civil war that would be caused by Trump losing would have cased more deaths than COVID through 2021. So they pulled the switch to have more virus deaths and fewer...

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 4, 2020:

Unfortunately, most Americans are either brainless idiots or sheeple.

Heckuva job, DNC. /s

Zoltans_Queen comments on Nov 4, 2020:

There's still hope! They are counting the mail in ballots in Michigan and Pennsylvania. But I think you're right that it shouldn't be this close. I think if it had of been someone other than Biden, we would be in a much better position right now.

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 4, 2020:

@Zoltans_Queen The whole "a socialist can't win" is just self-fulfilling propaganda from the DNC and the corporate media because they are secretly terrified of one winning. And unfortunately, most Americans are sheeple that fall for it. How would anyone really know? We haven't had a progressive Dem nominated for prez since 1972 with McGovern, and a lot has happened since then. Voters, esp, younger people, don't really care that much about labels like socialist or moderate. They care more about the candidate's policies. And opinion surveys consistently show that voters support the kind of socialist or progressive policies that Bernie promoted. So the "Can't win" argument is phony and dishonest. The whole " electability" argument is used every time against progressives by the DNC and corporate media to kneecap progressive candidates. But the funny thing is that some of them continue to win anyway, so it proves that the argument is phony when they say they can't ever win.

Heckuva job, DNC. /s

Zoltans_Queen comments on Nov 4, 2020:

There's still hope! They are counting the mail in ballots in Michigan and Pennsylvania. But I think you're right that it shouldn't be this close. I think if it had of been someone other than Biden, we would be in a much better position right now.

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 4, 2020:

@Zoltans_Queen You make two excellent points. One, is that working class people will vote for whoever says they will offer them something better than the status quo, even if (as in Trump's case) the offer is a lie. Biden and Hillary offered no improvement on the status quo, so most working class people decide to take their chances with Trump and vote for him. The other thing is that neither party even talks about poor people anymore or offers them anything to vote for economically, so the poor just sit out the election every time for the last couple decades. And why shouldn't they? I'd bet my life that the poor make up the vast majority of eligible non-voters. But the Dem leaders don't want to offer those poor non-voters anything because it would anger their big donors, the rich and corporations. Hell, they don't even give a damn about the unions anymore because the unions donate peanuts compared to the corporate and fat cat donors for the Dems. The Dems could win in a landslide with someone like Bernie as the nominee with all the poor non-voters that would turn out for him. But the Dems don't care about winning, just about keeping their corporate and rich fuck donors. So they continue the strategy of losing and hoping to win a razor thin victory by threading the needle each time with only votes from the middle class, a group that is becoming smaller and closer to extinction each year. The Dems get too much money from health care industry groups, so they don't want to offer M4all or single payer. They lucked out with Obama as a candidate because he was so charismatic and smart that people voted for him out of fatigue with W. and because he was also one of the smoothest liars in a generation. Hillary and Biden don't even come close to him on charisma and lying ability, so they lose.

Finish the sentence: America is a...

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 3, 2020:

A plutocracy inhabited by an idiocracy of much of the voting electorate resulting in a system that pretends to be a democracy.

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 4, 2020:

@Hages We do. Plutocracy and that are pretty much the same thing.

I just came here count the liberal tears.

Pedrohbds comments on Nov 4, 2020:

So at least post in the correct section of politics...

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 4, 2020:

@BD66 Wouldn't know it from your behavior here...

Heckuva job, DNC. /s

Zoltans_Queen comments on Nov 4, 2020:

There's still hope! They are counting the mail in ballots in Michigan and Pennsylvania. But I think you're right that it shouldn't be this close. I think if it had of been someone other than Biden, we would be in a much better position right now.

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 4, 2020:

@Zoltans_Queen Most people who would vote for a Dem don't want a return to normal, as in a repeat of Obama. They want an improvement on Obama instead of the lies about hope and change Obama offered. If Bernie was the nominee, not only would there be more excitement and enthusiasm, but there would also be tens of millions of poor and working class white people who currently DON'T vote (but are eligible voters) but WOULD vote for Bernie because he would offer them something other than not being Trump and a return to the lack of change under Obama. But the DNC doesn't care about that or winning the White House. All they care about is maintaining neoliberal economic policies and endless wars for empire and oil. We need a new party that actually represents the 99%. The Movement For A People's Party appears to be our best chance.

Heckuva job, DNC. /s

Hages comments on Nov 4, 2020:

The Gravel Institute is right. Maybe they could make a video about the history of the Democratic Party and how it has failed working people for decades.

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 4, 2020:

The Dem Party threw working people under the bus after the 1988 election, about the same time the DLC was created. The latter group succeeded in making the party totally about serving corporations and getting their campaign donations. The group succeeded so well that it was dissolved after Obama was elected.

Heckuva job, DNC. /s

RoboGraham comments on Nov 4, 2020:

Looks like the same failed strategy of running a neoliberal from the Obama administration who has a lot of political baggage and isn't running on popular policy wasn't the slam dunk they were hoping for. Who could have seen that coming?

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 4, 2020:

I know you're being sarcastic here, but I, for one, sure saw it coming. In fact, I bet this would happen and will win a steak dinner out of it.

Heckuva job, DNC. /s

Zoltans_Queen comments on Nov 4, 2020:

There's still hope! They are counting the mail in ballots in Michigan and Pennsylvania. But I think you're right that it shouldn't be this close. I think if it had of been someone other than Biden, we would be in a much better position right now.

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 4, 2020:

Even tho the corporate media would have all been against him, I still say that if Bernie had been the nominee, this would have been a landslide. But the DNC would rather lose with a corrupt corporate centrist than win with a progressive. Their strategy of doing this the last two times is not working, but they don't care, so they won't change their policy on this.

I just came here count the liberal tears.

Pedrohbds comments on Nov 4, 2020:

So at least post in the correct section of politics...

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 4, 2020:

@BD66 Asshole... I'll bet that if you ever played sports, you're the kind of guy that could never resist trash talking and taunting..

I just came here count the liberal tears.

Deb57 comments on Nov 4, 2020:

Thanks for removing all doubt that the hate is, actually, the point.

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 4, 2020:

Always leave it to a Repub to win or lose without showing any class...

I just came here count the liberal tears.

Charles1971 comments on Nov 4, 2020:

When there's a real chance that a pathological liar, racist, bigot, adulterer, crook who has spent the last four years dividing this country, alienating our allies, and doing nothing to help the middle class or poor might get re-elected for four more years... yea... some of us have tears of anger....

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 4, 2020:

In my case, I would call it tears of rage, rather than tears of anger..

I already know who is going to win the election today go ahead and ask me the answer is simple.

tinkercreek comments on Nov 3, 2020:

I'll just wait here.

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 3, 2020:

@azzow2 As Hannibal Lecter said to Clarice, " Your problem is, you need to have more fun in your life"..

Greenwald’s Intercept Resignation Exposes The Rot In All Mass Media Well Glen finally reacted ...

BitFlipper comments on Nov 2, 2020:

Are you suggesting that there was a time that mass media wasn't compromised?

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 3, 2020:

@William_Mary Mass media in the US was way more fair and balanced before the 1980s. But after that the huge amount of monopolization in media sources, combined with the elimination of the Fairness Doctrine, meant that alternative viewpoints on the left were pretty well marginalized and eliminated. Anybody remember labor news being covered as a regular part of the business news? I do, it was a dedicated part of it back in the 60s and 70s. The media also gave plenty of coverage and detailed stories about trade deals. Nowadays there is nothing about it the vast majority of newspapers, even tho it's a huge thing impacting everyone's life. But nowadays, trade deals are a hush hush secret that the peasants are not supposed to hear about.

Greenwald’s Intercept Resignation Exposes The Rot In All Mass Media Well Glen finally reacted ...

Piece2YourPuzzle comments on Nov 1, 2020:

There are a lot of people out there that think Glenn Greenwald is the hack and someone like Rachel Maddow is the great journalist. 90+% of mainstream media is owned by 6 corporations, and they're working on the other 10% or so lol. Also, there is a portion of the 10% that are just batshit crazy ...

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 3, 2020:

Anyone who has doubts that taking big bucks from corporations or fat cat donors corrupts a news source just has to look at what happened to NPR since they began accepting corporate "underwriting" as in advertising, for their programs. Nowadays their reporting and commentary on news and politics are no different than CNN.

Drew and Sharon Discuss Men

Deb57 comments on Oct 27, 2020:

Sharon Stone was very tactful and charitable with her wording, and I agree with her 100%. Shortly after my divorce I did a coffee date with an old classmate. I explained I was not eager to jump into a relationship and, knowing he was religious, was very frank about my atheism. He assured me he ...

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 3, 2020:

@thinkwithme I like your wicked humor about the dating game and married men. You tell it like it is and are nobody's fool. That is admirable.

Do girls date guys that are fat

BitFlipper comments on Oct 26, 2020:

Of course! Fat girls date fat guys. It has long been an issue for women to feel objectified and valued only for their "looks". But now women are demanding perfection from men. And they spell it out clearly in their dating profiles, whereas men would be admonished for doing the same.

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 3, 2020:

In other words, you are observing some hypocrisy on the part of women on dating sites. I am so shocked, shocked I tell you, to hear that....

I met someone on Match with promise.

TomMcGiverin comments on Nov 2, 2020:

Ten years is no problem if you two click together and his health is ok. You appear to be in your mid 60s or so and at that age ten years is ok if the older person's health is reasonably ok. Then you shouldn't have to worry that much about him dying soon.

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 3, 2020:

@UUNJ Sorry I estimated your age to be a little older than you are. Your posts and comments on here suggest an emotional maturity greater than most women your age. Maybe that influenced my estimate.

ELECTION 2020: Democracy Calls Us to Fight ‘Lesser of Two Evils’ Argument Yet the truth is ...

callmedubious comments on Nov 3, 2020:

the average American has the illusion of freedom & that their vote matters. really quite funny when you think about it.

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 3, 2020:

As long as they keep limiting themselves to voting only for the pre-selected candidates of the two major parties, who are always corrupt and owned by the ruling class, their votes don't matter. If only most Americans would wake up to that and dump the duopoly.

Pseudo-left apologists for Biden and the bankruptcy of “lesser-evil” politics Joseph ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 31, 2020:

No surprise there. Wall Street is happy they will get the certainty of Biden over the chaos of Trump and more stability for the economy while at the same time they get promise that Joe will not change anything about the status quo of inequality and corporate rule as well as continued American ...

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 1, 2020:

@Willow_Wisp And, it's time for the block....

Pseudo-left apologists for Biden and the bankruptcy of “lesser-evil” politics Joseph ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 31, 2020:

No surprise there. Wall Street is happy they will get the certainty of Biden over the chaos of Trump and more stability for the economy while at the same time they get promise that Joe will not change anything about the status quo of inequality and corporate rule as well as continued American ...

TomMcGiverin replies on Nov 1, 2020:

@Willow_Wisp I didn't say that and there was no reason to assume that. Biden is marginally better than Trump and if people accept Biden as being adequate after being elected this time, it will do nothing to address the problems that led to us getting Trump four years ago. In fact, if people just fall asleep and accept Biden's return to the status quo of Obama, we will get someone worse than Trump in four years as the voters continue to ping pong between the two corrupt major parties offering them nothing but an endless string of corrupt neoliberal candidates.

Pseudo-left apologists for Biden and the bankruptcy of “lesser-evil” politics Joseph ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 31, 2020:

No surprise there. Wall Street is happy they will get the certainty of Biden over the chaos of Trump and more stability for the economy while at the same time they get promise that Joe will not change anything about the status quo of inequality and corporate rule as well as continued American ...

TomMcGiverin replies on Oct 31, 2020:

@Willow_Wisp You don't fight the system if all you ever vote for is corrupt people like Biden.

Pseudo-left apologists for Biden and the bankruptcy of “lesser-evil” politics Joseph ...

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 31, 2020:

No surprise there. Wall Street is happy they will get the certainty of Biden over the chaos of Trump and more stability for the economy while at the same time they get promise that Joe will not change anything about the status quo of inequality and corporate rule as well as continued American ...

TomMcGiverin replies on Oct 31, 2020:

@Willow_Wisp Whatever... As L. Cohen used to say, the fight will stay fixed, the poor stay poor, the rich get rich...

Greenwald’s Intercept Resignation Exposes The Rot In All Mass Media Well Glen finally reacted ...

rogerbenham comments on Oct 31, 2020:

I used to read much more Common Dreams than I do now. It has become almost entirely USA centric.

TomMcGiverin replies on Oct 31, 2020:

@rogerbenham I almost never read the articles, just go straight to the comments. The commenters usually seem to be more aware and insightful about what's really going on than the so-called experts that write the articles. They sure as hell are more honest and candid about what's wrong and what needs to happen.

Greenwald’s Intercept Resignation Exposes The Rot In All Mass Media Well Glen finally reacted ...

rogerbenham comments on Oct 31, 2020:

I used to read much more Common Dreams than I do now. It has become almost entirely USA centric.

TomMcGiverin replies on Oct 31, 2020:

Common Dreams used to be way more left and radical than now. These days it has mostly apologists for the Dems and Dem Party cheerleaders. Once in a while they will publish essays by Chris Hedges, but that's about it for radicals.

If you are an American worker, this may be of interest to you. [youtube.]

dermot235 comments on Oct 30, 2020:

The Video is accurate. Over here in Europe we can't believe how bad working conditions are in the US. Everyone here in Ireland gets 29 days of paid leave a year. It's the Law. If an employer does not give that to his workers it's a criminal offence

TomMcGiverin replies on Oct 31, 2020:

@RoboGraham It's like the character said in Office Space, " My only motivation is to work just hard enough to not get fired".

The socialism debate...

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 29, 2020:

Confuse not the minds of the ignorant, they'll only hate you for it. In other words, you won't reach or be able to change their minds any more than you could a simple dog or cat. All you'll get for it is grief and possibly assault. I also agree with prometheus below, the political thinking of most ...

TomMcGiverin replies on Oct 29, 2020:

@RoboGraham To be honest, I think the major two reasons they don't, besides those who are born poor and stay that way, is laziness and not having the courage explore changing themselves.

They've voted, have you?

Barnie2years comments on Oct 29, 2020:

I have voted by mail and my ballot has been registered. But I may take my legal firearm for a drive around on November 3rd just to show that being a Democrat, Liberal and supporter of logical gun laws does not mean I don't believe in defending the right to vote against the Right Wing Fascist armed ...

TomMcGiverin replies on Oct 29, 2020:

I applaud you for not getting suckered like must gun owners into voting against their own economic interests and the rest of their freedoms. Too many gun owners are more about making up in guns what they lack in brains and manhood or dick size. I also like that you get the fact that you can't convert all that Repub rhetoric or gun ownership into being able to feed your family or buy them health care. It only gives them a feeling of a false sense of superiority or security that leaves them instead more vulnerable and a slave to the rich.

They've voted, have you?

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 29, 2020:

If it weren't for Covid, I would be voting in person like usual. Since Iowa is not an open carry state, I don't need to worry about armed idiots like these showing up in public trying to intimidate people. But if it were different here and there wasn't Covid, I would not be afraid of them showing up...

TomMcGiverin replies on Oct 29, 2020:

@Lorajay I believe I am, at least about Iowa. There was a murder by shooting many years back in my hometown, which had a rep as a rough place a lot of the time. There was a well-known local bully and bar brawler that was shot to death in a bar while unarmed by a guy he had been bullying, among other people, for years. This guy was taunted by the bully, left the bar, came back shortly with a handgun, and then shot the guy (in the back, no less) while he was unarmed and continuing to taunt him. Needless to say, the local cops didn't give a damn or shed any tears about the bully being shot to death, and most of the town wanted to give the shooter a medal, but in the end the shooter was prosecuted, convicted by a jury, and sent to prison for 20 to life for 2nd degree murder. So, at least in Iowa, you can't shoot an unarmed adult to death, even if they are taunting you (it helps that both guys were white trash). But in Texas or the South, I bet, it would be a different story. Iowans may be mostly idiots who vote for Repubs, but at least our criminal justice system is relatively sane and fair.

What's the difference between republicans and democrats? Lip Service

Bobbyzen comments on Oct 29, 2020:

Pretty much. But don’t tell it to the Vote Blue No Matter Who crowd. It super pisses them off!

TomMcGiverin replies on Oct 29, 2020:

@RoboGraham Same with me, either I blocked them or they blocked me. I don't miss any of them on the boards. Not surprised that idiot asshole Varn showed up.

Nothing Will Fundamentally Change: Notes From The Edge Of The Narrative Matrix ...

rogerbenham comments on Oct 26, 2020:

I wonder why she left

TomMcGiverin replies on Oct 28, 2020:

@William_Mary I blocked her a while ago. As far as her political viewpoint and why she seems to have no business in a group for progressives, she is a trust fund baby, or so she told me, and that by itself should explain why she appears to be a typical liberal, rather than a true progressive. The usual conflict where the person is all for PC, the identity politics of the liberals, and multiculturalism, but no support at all for socialism and economic equality.

Corporations Doling Out Millions to Executives Before Filing Chapter 11 New data indicate that ...

Willow_Wisp comments on Oct 26, 2020:

Figures, CEOs are the Nobility of the 21st century. Which is to say they’re fucking crooks that contribute nothing while taking all the profits while their employees struggle to feed their families. They say the poor will rise to eat the rich, they mean CEOs.

TomMcGiverin replies on Oct 27, 2020:

That's why gulliotines would the appropriate retro solution to eliminating them.

More good news out of Latin America.

dermot235 comments on Oct 26, 2020:

All this populist alt-right bullshit, Trump, Brexit, Balsenaro etc etc is coming to an end. And a move to the left is on the way. Not just a pipe dream. You can see the signs everywhere. And the world can get back on a path to progress and change.

TomMcGiverin replies on Oct 26, 2020:

I think you're overly optimistic here, but I hope I'm wrong about that.

The side that gets violent is the side that loses. What Can You Do If Trump Stages a Coup?

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 25, 2020:

We on the left have been losing every prez election since 1964, but the radicals on our side soon gave up armed struggle in the late Seventies. On the other hand, the violent radicals on the right have been active most of the time ever since the left gave up violence.

TomMcGiverin replies on Oct 25, 2020:

@Paul4747 You can't seriously say those presidents actually represented the left in the US or were anywhere near as left in their domestic policies as LBJ was....

Some of the best songs to sing along with everybody else in the bar... RIP Jerry Jeff Walker !

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 24, 2020:

Sorry, but I hate all country music. He was probably a good guy, in spite of being a country singer.

TomMcGiverin replies on Oct 24, 2020:

@FrostyJim Nope, this is an open forum for intelligent people to express their feelings. I won't censor my feelings about what I like and what I loathe for you or anyone else here. I am not attacking any other members here, so I don't and won't stifle my view for the comfort of you or anyone else. I live in a red area and I have to keep my opinions to myself enough as it is to avoid harassment, so I sure won't do it here when it's not required by the mods. As far as being a dick, I see way more of that behavior among country fans than those that like my kinds of music, not the least of which is their empty-headed, rah-rah patriotism.

This is what I picked up from the debate last night.

mischl comments on Oct 23, 2020:

Naaah, your old car will be grandfathered. So will mine.

TomMcGiverin replies on Oct 23, 2020:

So you are saying I am safe to buy a 2017 Ford Fusion from my friend, with only 16K miles on it, and a 4 year extended warranty? I know it's not a green car, but it's a great deal, so I want to buy it and get ten years or so out of it. As long as regular unleaded gas was around and affordable, I'd like to go with that for my next car.

[rockfans.net] Janis Joplin singing Bobby Mcgee-written by Kris Kristofferson?

TomMcGiverin comments on Oct 20, 2020:

Even tho I have always been big on Joplin, I have always loathed that song and Mercedes Benz, her two worst songs. The latter because it's merely a trite a capella ditty that she composed herself, little that there was to it. The former song because it was not at all like the rest of her songs, ...

TomMcGiverin replies on Oct 20, 2020:

@sassygirl3869 My late wife attended Woodstock and saw Joplin there singing the other, much better songs she usually sang. Like me, she really liked Joplin, but hated that song for the same reasons as me. My wife had mostly the same music tastes as me and disliked most mainstream, popular music, esp. country. Altho Bobby McGee was her biggest chart hit, released after her death, she actually had already become famous after her appearance at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967.

Makes a lot of sense to me...? [youtu.be]

RonWilliam53 comments on Oct 17, 2020:

Dating an older person is like buying a used car or older house. You HAVE to be cautious and expect a few surprises. Some are beat up on the outside but great on the inside (mentally). Some are primo on the outside but junk on the inside. And lots of us have some "bondo", duct tape other patchwork ...

TomMcGiverin replies on Oct 18, 2020:

@RonWilliam53 I think that I have encountered some of both types in online dating and I agree with you that most of them are probably women who aim too high rather than ones who are just playing around with the dating sites. No doubt most of us, men and women, are often guilty of aiming too high for what we have to offer compared to our competitors in the dating field. And make no mistake, even tho compatibility is always important, in the end the number and quality of competitors a man or woman faces in their local dating market greatly affects who someone of the opposite sex will decide is worth meeting in the first place, as well as who they might be willing to settle for. It seems like everyone on Agnostic says they would never "settle" in their relationship choices, but I'm sure from looking around at couples in my personal experience that the vast majority of people DO settle in who they end up with, whether they know and/or admit it or not....

Makes a lot of sense to me...? [youtu.be]

RonWilliam53 comments on Oct 17, 2020:

Dating an older person is like buying a used car or older house. You HAVE to be cautious and expect a few surprises. Some are beat up on the outside but great on the inside (mentally). Some are primo on the outside but junk on the inside. And lots of us have some "bondo", duct tape other patchwork ...

TomMcGiverin replies on Oct 18, 2020:

@RonWilliam53 Sir, I think you have it exactly right. I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of women out there on the dating sites sort of treat it like a form of entertainment, same as reading romance novels or watching reality shows like The Bachelorette. They join the sites for entertainment and fantasy of seeing all the profiles of guys that are hot and interesting, so it isn't really that important to them that they actually meet and end up dating anyone. I'm not saying that's true of most women on dating sites, but my experience makes me wonder if some of them really are that way, more interested in the fantasy and entertainment than in being serious about meeting someone that's actually in their league to meet, date, and have a relationship with.

Makes a lot of sense to me...? [youtu.be]

RonWilliam53 comments on Oct 17, 2020:

Dating an older person is like buying a used car or older house. You HAVE to be cautious and expect a few surprises. Some are beat up on the outside but great on the inside (mentally). Some are primo on the outside but junk on the inside. And lots of us have some "bondo", duct tape other patchwork ...

TomMcGiverin replies on Oct 18, 2020:

@RonWilliam53 I'm financially comfortable and average-looking, but still I'm far from being considered a hot prospect among the single women in my area that are my age on dating sites. Most of them are still appearing to be holding out for men who are above average-looking and worth more than a million, as well as having kids in their background and being a believer.

Chance encounter with a troubled lady more engaging than two months of online dating.

twill comments on Oct 15, 2020:

I hear ya about the "normal" dates the high, very high, expectations that the American ladies have. It's odd to see the low acceptance they have, mish mash with their high expectations. What a screwed up mess many of them are.

TomMcGiverin replies on Oct 18, 2020:

@DaisyMaeNot I wish you were the norm, rather than the exception.

Makes a lot of sense to me...? [youtu.be]

RonWilliam53 comments on Oct 17, 2020:

Dating an older person is like buying a used car or older house. You HAVE to be cautious and expect a few surprises. Some are beat up on the outside but great on the inside (mentally). Some are primo on the outside but junk on the inside. And lots of us have some "bondo", duct tape other patchwork ...

TomMcGiverin replies on Oct 17, 2020:

I also like his blunt statement about profile photos, namely that the only photo anyone really wants to see of you is one of you naked, standing on a scale and holding a copy of your financial statement. Granted, that is exaggerated somewhat for comic effect, but there is a lot of truth in it. I know that sounds sexist or misogynist, but I've met too many women thru online dating that really do seem to only care about looks and money in what men they will date. No doubt it also applies to many or most men, at least the parts about a naked photo of the woman on a bathroom scale. Another thought on the thrift store analogy... I know a good-looking woman in her 40s, a karaoke friend of mine, that is married and absolutely loves shopping at thrift stores for clothes and accessories. She probably needs to buy most things at discount price, so she buys about all her clothes there. But she's been married for a long time and I've got a feeling if she became single again she would not see dating at her age with the same enthusiasm and enjoyment as she does her thrift store shopping. I hope she doesn't have to find out.

Trump Is 'Helping To Crowdsource Domestic Terrorism,' Warns Former DHS Official | HuffPost

Willow_Wisp comments on Oct 17, 2020:

It’s almost as if the safeguards we put up to defend ourselves as a free people enjoying democracy have been weaponized against us. However we always knew this was possible because we refused to see how it has been this way from the start when we consider the poor, and minorities, and women ...

TomMcGiverin replies on Oct 17, 2020:

Nice to see someone as disillusioned as myself.

Sadly, a coordinated effort by third parties could topple the duopoly in a single election cycle.

RoboGraham comments on Oct 16, 2020:

The divine right of kings wasn't overcome by voting and I doubt the duoploy will either.