Comment on Senate Republican leader defends Musk’s efforts as a ‘scrub’ of federal government

• cm0002@lemmy.world ⁨4⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

  But if you make more than me, and have for a long time. then you could have even more assets than I do. Correct?

  You’re the one who bragged about your assets, then tried to pivot to wages when called out. I’m not playing this game of one-upmanship. The point is about systemic issues, not personal finances.

  And nothing says you have to stop doing that. In fact, you can even donate more and cut your lifestyle if it means that much to you. I won’t be doing that, but you certainly can.

  Again, missing the point entirely. Individual actions don’t fix broken systems. That’s like saying “just use less water” during a drought while corporations drain aquifers. We need collective action and policy change, not performative personal sacrifice.

  Ok, so did Biden reverse that in his 4 years he was in office and controlled both the house and the senate?

  Democrats had a razor-thin majority with Manchin and Sinema blocking major reform. Despite that, the Inflation Reduction Act implemented a 15% corporate minimum tax for large corporations and a 1% tax on stock buybacks. This doesn’t fully reverse Trump’s corporate tax rate cut from 35% to 21%, but it does ensure the biggest companies pay at least 15%. Not perfect, but a step in the right direction.

  But if that’s true and if more people believed that as you do, you should have easily won the election.

  Elections aren’t won on policy merits anymore (unfortunately). They’re won on emotion, propaganda, and increasingly, misinformation. Most voters can’t even name what policies they’re voting for. Plus, our system structurally advantages rural conservative voters through the Electoral College.

  So how come the Democrats didn’t work on that?

  They have been. From campaign finance reform to voting rights, Democrats consistently push against a system rigged by gerrymandering, voter suppression, and dark money. All of which Republicans fight to preserve.

  But Democrats have been in office for plenty of years. Why can’t the just do the same things the Republicans do, but make it their agenda and get it done?

  Because Democrats try to govern responsibly while Republicans obstruct then blame Democrats for not fixing the problems. Look at McConnell blocking Merrick Garland then ramming through Barrett. Look at Republicans tanking infrastructure bills under Obama then crying about crumbling bridges. The asymmetry is the point.

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  • DonaldJMusk@lemmy.today ⁨4⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

    You’re the one who bragged about your assets, then tried to pivot to wages when called out.

    I wasn’t bragging. Someone asked me about my “self-reliance bs” and I explained to them how and why I think I live up to my version of that

    The point is about systemic issues, not personal finances.

    That Democrats still haven’t fixed, despite all their years in power. And if Trump is doing such terrible thigns, then in 4 years, you all can change everything back the way you want it.

    This doesn’t fully reverse Trump’s corporate tax rate cut from 35% to 21%, but it does ensure the biggest companies pay at least 15%. Not perfect, but a step in the right direction.

    Great! Then again, in 4 years, you guys can get voted back in and fix all that. So there ya go!

    Because Democrats try to govern responsibly while Republicans obstruct then blame Democrats for not fixing the problems.

    But if that was such a great idea, they they should have won the election. So maybe that’s now what people were wanting.

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    • cm0002@lemmy.world ⁨4⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

      That Democrats still haven’t fixed, despite all their years in power. And if Trump is doing such terrible thigns, then in 4 years, you all can change everything back the way you want it.

      Classic bad faith argument. You’re ignoring the structural hurdles I just explained about Manchin, Sinema, and GOP obstruction. As for “just wait 4 years” – that’s exactly the problem. The damage Trump did in 4 years will take decades to fix. You can’t just “change everything back” when you’ve gutted regulatory agencies, stacked courts with ideologues, and sold off public resources to private interests.

      Great! Then again, in 4 years, you guys can get voted back in and fix all that. So there ya go!

      Notice how you’ve completely abandoned defending Trump’s policies on their merits? You’re basically admitting they’re harmful but saying “who cares, we won.” This is exactly what I meant by “fuck you, I got mine” politics. You don’t care about making things better for everyone, just “winning.”

      But if that was such a great idea, they they should have won the election. So maybe that’s now what people were wanting.

      Again with this circular logic. Winning elections doesn’t prove your policies are better for people – it proves your messaging resonated emotionally. Most Trump voters can’t even name his specific policy positions beyond vague “make America great” rhetoric.

      You’ve consistently dodged every substantive point about actual policy impacts. Instead, you fall back on “we won, so we must be right” – which is exactly the kind of shallow, tribal thinking that’s destroying any hope of productive political discourse in this country.

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      • DonaldJMusk@lemmy.today ⁨4⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

        You’re ignoring the structural hurdles I just explained about Manchin, Sinema, and GOP obstruction

        So how come the Democrats don’t create that sort of “obstruction” for the GOP?

        The damage Trump did in 4 years will take decades to fix.

        Seems like a better Dem presidential campaign should have fixed that. Seems like they may have failed you a bit in that respect.

        Notice how you’ve completely abandoned defending Trump’s policies on their merits?

        I’m not a fucking political strategist with a degree in political science. I don’t give a fuck. I like him. I like what he’s doing. And enough other people do, that they voted for him. Maybe take that into consideration

        Instead, you fall back on “we won, so we must be right” – which is exactly the kind of shallow, tribal thinking that’s destroying any hope of productive political discourse in this country.

        Says the guy who wants to turn a conservative community into a meme community and make fun of Republicans. So why would I take anything you are saying seriously? I mean, did making fun of republicans work for you all in the election?

        All I see is you mocking people who don’t agree with you or who you deem to be too stupid to make the right choices.

        I’ve seen some democrat strategists stay that the Dem downfall started by not taking republican voters seriously, and indeed mocking them, as a strong root cause of why you lost.

        So do you think advocating making fun of Republicans rather than strengthing democratic community building is the best way to go?

        Get the fuck outta here with you “Oh you’re not having serious political discourse” bs, when you have made it your mission to make fun of republicans in a conservative community.

        Now just becaue I point that out, don’t that you have really had a “gotcha” moment with me. Because I don’t really care THAT much.

        IN fact, I am exactly one of those who went by their gut, voted for Trump with glee just got get back and you all for mocking republicans.

        Lemmy jerks making fun of every conservative was the in the forefront of my brain when I voted.

        And no regrets at all. I’m happy to see it all burn down and start from scratch.

        I’m not even a fucking republican. I’m an anarchist.

        You all deserve Trump.

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