Comment on Why does the USA have so few legal protections for ordinary people, and how can we change that?

AA5B@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

• UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  One party creates things like cfpb

  Putting warning labels on predatory lending. Spending more time fighting various right-wing interests in the right-wing dominated courts than doing any actual regulating. Does nothing to deliver actual money to the people who need it - all they can do is regulate the extent to which a private loan is shitty and extortionary.

  net neutrality
  

  Tries to regulate the ISP monopoly rather than breaking it up. Doesn’t actually guarantee internet access to anyone. Doesn’t extend high speed internet or establish public internet access points. Also constantly under fire in the right-wing dominated courts, such that they can’t effectively deliver on their function.

  ACA
  

  The best thing about the ACA is the extension of who qualifies for Medicaid. Everything else is a band-aid on a band-aid. Just open up Medicaid as the Public Option and you’d have done more good for more people in the long run.

  education assistance
  

  Doesn’t limit the total cost of education. Can’t even extend loans at the Prime Rate, because some private middle man always needs to get a cut. Doesn’t improve access to education by setting up new public schools or vocational programs. Doesn’t increase teacher pay, reduce student housing costs, or mitigate the cost of living while pursuing an education.

  Blah blah, the Republicans Are Worse. But the Democrats only ever seem capable of operating through the private sector via subsidies and civil penalties. Where is the actual public infrastructure? What does the public sector actually own and operate? What is being delivered at cost rather than as a profit-center for a third party?

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  • faltryka@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    I once got screwed by my mortgage provider and was helpless. I submitted a complaint to the CFPB and they contacted my mortgage provider and made them make things right. That directly translated to significant money back in my pocket.

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    • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      I once got screwed by my mortgage provider

      This is the root of the problem. You shouldn’t need to borrow money from a private third party in order to purchase a home.

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  • SoJB@lemmy.ml ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    And for the cherry on top, the party in the 2-party system that claims to be the “good” side trying to implement all these citizen-friendly policies have enjoyed multiple majorities in the last 40 years that would have allowed them to do these with the snap of a finger using well documented legal mechanisms.

    And yet, they do not.

    That liberal sneer about leftists just wanting to complain rather than fix things? Also projection.

    Really weird how everywhere I turn, the “good” side is doing the same fucking thing as the bad orange side.

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    • rbesfe@lemmy.ca ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      “both sides are the same” is exactly what republicans want everyone to think

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      • djsaskdja@reddthat.com ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

        They’re not the same. They’re just different shades of shit.

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    • Cryophilia@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      allowed them to do these with the snap of a finger

      Fuck your bullshit propaganda.

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  • Buttflapper@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    All of these are really important policy changes that have positively impacted our society. How do you spark change to the effect of all these? I recently reached out to the Federal trade commission on one company that has some extremely predatory practices but don’t think that’ll do anything. What other methods can I use? Email congressman or something?

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  • FierySpectre@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    It’s sad that this is the best option for y’all.

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