There is plenty to hate about the right, but the left is totalitarian. We need to be able to express dissenting views, even if some of the dissenters are wrong. Yes, as private companies, Apple, Google , and Amazon had the right to “cancel” Parler, but they are not virtuous for doing so.
george c wrote:
That's one of the true shames in this whole trump-era political sway. It is getting tougher and tougher on both sides to be moderate. So your friends run and are branded something that may or may not be true. Seek health care for all and you are a socialist, far-left liberal. Want less goveernment control and you are lumped with the minority trump idiots.
I am not sure how we dig out of all of this. I do know the time is right for a an attempt at a third party run. It will take the right person. I can see a Romney or Amash attempting it but it will be an uphill battle no matter who it is. The U.S. population like to cling to their R or D and justify their every move while ridiculing the other party. The moderate middle is all but gone.
We moderates are still here. We see both parties being hijacked by extremists. We're the ones decrying the violence this summer and the violence now. It doesn't matter what ways the violence was similar or dissimilar, justified or unjustified, it's all wrong.
Atlantis2 wrote:
We need a platform where it's OK to disagree with leftist views. The left does not want such a platform to exist, so they concoct bullshit rationalizations to ban us such as that we promote racism, "hate," violence, etc. The left is a medeival church of orthodoxy.
the dude guy7 wrote:
There is plenty to hate about the right, but the left is totalitarian. We need to be able to express dissenting views, even if some of the dissenters are wrong. Yes, as private companies, Apple, Google , and Amazon had the right to “cancel” Parler, but they are not virtuous for doing so.
Fun line of thinking; it's not as if the rest of the internet and in-person communication and public discourse might allow you to discuss things normally, barring that they aren't racist, violent or hate-filled (ie the main energies within Parler and Gab). Facebook, Twitter, hundreds of other online spaces (including here) are full of conservative talk of all colors and haven't been shut down. Unless you're advocating for the ability to engage in hate speech, advocating for violence or racism then why are you whining about it here, like "snowflakes?" Wasn't that the left's role?
But while we're on the topic of orthodoxy and totalitarianism, give this a read for me and explain whose motives are to establish a world where their views and beliefs are the ruling law and anything else is wrong, both in the face of their church and their co-opted government:
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/11/opinion/josh-hawley-religion-democracy.htmlAnd, I know I know... fake news, biased media, leftist propaganda.... Unfortunately Hawley is on the record stating all his views and beliefs, so it's not up for interpretation. Why is it that the most powerful voices of the Right (the supposed pro-rights, pro-freedom, pro-my-self-interests party) are constantly calling for restrictions to be imposed on someone else's life? Why is the agenda and discussion always tied to their political and/or religious views? A country founded on the principal of separating church and state, sure seems to be easily duped by the lust for power from its religious opportunists.
It's always very interesting to see who presents themselves as a model for Jesus Christ in name but can't QUITE get themselves to follow him in action.
The number of people here saying "Conservatives don't have a voice" when the most watched news is FOX and like 5 out of the top 10 radio shows are conservatives AND you can literally host your own website for dollars a month to say whatever crap you want.
How willfully ignorant do you have to be... or are you just dumb?
trollism wrote:
The Unkle wrote:
We are full on 1984 now
Seems very cool at the moment for Trump lovers (you're not kidding anyone) to say '1984' when private businesses make business decisions.
Yeah, and the Nazi party used private newspapers and filmmakers to spread their propaganda, and silence their political enemies. I'm not surprised that mongoloid liberals can't see what is going on.
politically homeless wrote:
We moderates are still here. We see both parties being hijacked by extremists. We're the ones decrying the violence this summer and the violence now. It doesn't matter what ways the violence was similar or dissimilar, justified or unjustified, it's all wrong.
But much fewer of us. Among other things this trump-era will convey is the push for people to move heavily left or right or be left behind. I hope not, but fear this.
I said "us" because doesn't 90% of the people consider themselves moderate? I considered myself a left-leaning R. Since this disaster the past 4 years I am firmly D hoping for the party to rid itself of the stink or a third party alternative.
Paradoxical wrote:
I'm not surprised that mongoloid liberals can't see what is going on.
Great point! Those mongoloids don't need health care or social security. The world needs minimum wage ditch diggers too!
Paradoxical wrote:
trollism wrote:
Seems very cool at the moment for Trump lovers (you're not kidding anyone) to say '1984' when private businesses make business decisions.
Yeah, and the Nazi party used private newspapers and filmmakers to spread their propaganda, and silence their political enemies. I'm not surprised that mongoloid liberals can't see what is going on.
So daddy government has to be the one in charge of the media or we will turn in to Nazis?
Didn't think this one through, did you?
politically homeless wrote:
george c wrote:
That's one of the true shames in this whole trump-era political sway. It is getting tougher and tougher on both sides to be moderate. So your friends run and are branded something that may or may not be true. Seek health care for all and you are a socialist, far-left liberal. Want less goveernment control and you are lumped with the minority trump idiots.
I am not sure how we dig out of all of this. I do know the time is right for a an attempt at a third party run. It will take the right person. I can see a Romney or Amash attempting it but it will be an uphill battle no matter who it is. The U.S. population like to cling to their R or D and justify their every move while ridiculing the other party. The moderate middle is all but gone.
We moderates are still here. We see both parties being hijacked by extremists. We're the ones decrying the violence this summer and the violence now. It doesn't matter what ways the violence was similar or dissimilar, justified or unjustified, it's all wrong.
I am with you 100% on this, but it's becoming more and more apparent that the political situation in the US has very little to do with actual politics and much more to do with certain groups coming into power, and the politicians (which are really just mouthpieces for global corporations) just use political ideology to sway the useful idiots to their side. This is not just Democrats vs Republicans, Trump vs. Biden. This country is more of an oligarch than a democracy at this point, with Americans being sold out to China (think where all of our products come from, and who the biggest consumers are of our movies, sports and other media are) and other global oligarchs.
Don't believe me? Look at Joe Biden and his son's business dealings overseas
https://nypost.com/article/hunter-biden-china-timeline-business-ties/“I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend with my life your right to say it.” When I was a kid that quote was brought up quite a bit in school as an example of how great America was and how freedom worked etc etc. People could be idiots and say stupid things and that was okay. Things have changed and I can’t decide if it’s for the good or bad.
I will also add that you have to be naive beyond belief to think the Amazon, Google and Apple, some of the richest companies in the world, give a single flying f!ck about "riGhT wInG exTrEMiSm" on a social media platform, or a riot on the capitol. The movie to ban Parler was purely to silence Trump and prevent him and his allies from whistleblowing, which is why they also removed Gen. Flynn and Sidney Powell from Twitter as well.
"To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize"
Paradoxical wrote:
"To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize"
Says the guy criticizing the Democrats on a public forum.
Old Timey Guy wrote:
“I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend with my life your right to say it.” When I was a kid that quote was brought up quite a bit in school as an example of how great America was and how freedom worked etc etc. People could be idiots and say stupid things and that was okay. Things have changed and I can’t decide if it’s for the good or bad.
It's clearly bad that things are moving away from free speech. The tech companies read all of our messages and spy on our data then sell our data. Now they are colluding to prevent viewpoints and even facts that they don't like from speaking out. Perfect example is the stopped the Hunter Biden laptop story which was true but actively helped spread the fake russian dossier to hurt Trump.
And before you liberals get too excited about this, remember THEY USED THIS SAME POWER AGAINST BERNIE SANDERS. Bernie was obviously the best choice for progressives but they robbed it from him the same way they are targeting conservatives now. You can celebrate it's being used against people you don't like, but it's ALREADY been used against people on your own side to hurt you.
Old Timey Guy wrote:
“I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend with my life your right to say it.” When I was a kid that quote was brought up quite a bit in school as an example of how great America was and how freedom worked etc etc. People could be idiots and say stupid things and that was okay. Things have changed and I can’t decide if it’s for the good or bad.
I know what you mean. Maybe we need to think about the content of what is being said, and when it crosses over the line into threatening the ability of others to pursue their rights to free movement and their right to not be harmed or threatened. But i share your sentiment, it is refreshing to see others willing to look beneath the surface and ask the tougher questions.
It is fun to wax on poetic about free speech when your Qanon twitter account is suspended, but what about this hypothetical:
Trump wins reelection by a razor thin margin in FL that is significantly less than the number of felons who were not allowed to vote because they could not pay the court costs and restitution requirements of their parole. Dems claim this is an illegal poll tax and litigation is ongoing at the time the electoral college meets. To make the hypothetical more fun, Bernie Sanders was his Dem opponent.
Antifa followers start organizing on twitter, facebook etc. to storm the US Capitol building and overthrow the US government so they can install Bernie Sanders as the president. Bernie Sanders goes full on Marxist and starts posting about the need for a working class revolution that followers all understand as implicit support for storming the Capitol.
The plans are foiled after Antifa briefly takes over the capitol building. Bernie continue to urge a working class revolution and Antifa announces plans to take a second attempt during the inauguration.
Does Bernie and Antifa get to continue to use social media to plan an execute an overthrow of a hypothetical second Trump administration? If not, then what if anything should happen to them?
If it is ok to plan the overthrow of the US government on social media, is it ok to discuss child pornography? Rape? Human trafficking? Is criminal activity ok on the internet if it touches upon political opinion? Where do you draw the line? And how do you enforce the line?
Slogans are fun to post and make you sound like some great champion of free speech. But what would you actually do if you were in charge?>
Harambe wrote:
Paradoxical wrote:
"To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize"
Says the guy criticizing the Democrats on a public forum.
It ain't the Dems who rule over us.
You can get kicked off of Letsrun if you say who it is.
seattle prattle wrote:
Old Timey Guy wrote:
“I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend with my life your right to say it.” When I was a kid that quote was brought up quite a bit in school as an example of how great America was and how freedom worked etc etc. People could be idiots and say stupid things and that was okay. Things have changed and I can’t decide if it’s for the good or bad.
I know what you mean. Maybe we need to think about the content of what is being said, and when it crosses over the line into threatening the ability of others to pursue their rights to free movement and their right to not be harmed or threatened. But i share your sentiment, it is refreshing to see others willing to look beneath the surface and ask the tougher questions.
Except they allow BLM and antifa continue to use the apps despite those groups causing FAR more trouble, harm, death, violence. They allow the damn ayatollah to post.
Nobody on the other side of the political spectrum ever gets censored or banned, despite saying MUCH worse stuff.
Targeting them runs the risk of making them even more mad and more dangerous. These actions make all of us LESS safe because in their mind it's proof of the consipracies they believe in. It gives them a reason to act.
Bro... Really. Imagine blaming "THEM" for your miserable life.
Das Unkle wrote:
Harambe wrote:
Says the guy criticizing the Democrats on a public forum.
It ain't the Dems who rule over us.
You can get kicked off of Letsrun if you say who it is.
Harambe wrote:
Paradoxical wrote:
"To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize"
Says the guy criticizing the Democrats on a public forum.
If I was a public figure on Twitter, Youtube or Facebook I could be banned or demonetized for saying the same things. You really do just like the taste of boot, don't you?