then you agree they discriminate.@goat what is this. Are you really saying civics tests and an age raise doesn’t select for more informed voters?
Neither are unattainable by the average American even if English is their second language.
They discriminate against poorly informed. Which I thought was the purpose of this discussion? Giving them less influence on our politics.
then you agree they discriminate.@goat what is this. Are you really saying civics tests and an age raise doesn’t select for more informed voters?
Neither are unattainable by the average American even if English is their second language.
They discriminate against poorly informed. Which I thought was the purpose of this discussion? Giving them less influence on our politics.
I didn't say anything about the poorly informed. I can see why that's where you think we overlapped. But I didn't actually go there myself. But I do think there are other forms of discrimination that will undoubtedly come with it, and that's a problem. That's why I said, make the bottle-neck at the candidate selection level, not at the general election level. Let everyone vote. Just make sure the choices are well-vetted by smart, invested individuals.
Not all discrimination is bad. Tests are designed to discriminate.then you agree they discriminate.@goat what is this. Are you really saying civics tests and an age raise doesn’t select for more informed voters?
Neither are unattainable by the average American even if English is their second language.
I concur. I'd be good with going back to having the conventions decide the Presidential candidates. We wouldn't have had the horrible choices we had on both sides the last three elections.
Reminds me of a joke I heard today:
We used to have empires run by emperors.
Then we had kingdoms run by kings.
Now we just have countries.
At the very least, voting rights need to be taken away from people who don't understand how to trim their quoting boxes.
Anyone want to second the motion?
Not all discrimination is bad. Tests are designed to discriminate.then you agree they discriminate.@goat what is this. Are you really saying civics tests and an age raise doesn’t select for more informed voters?
Neither are unattainable by the average American even if English is their second language.
I know.
The civics test should first be required of candidates. That will thin the herd. Then we can talk limiting voting rights.
.
How far do you think we've gotten?
In her "10 Steps to Autocracy" framework, Stacey Abrams outlines how democracies can be dismantled from within by authoritarian leaders. Abrams has shared this framework in interviews, on her Substack, and on her podcast, drawing parallels to recent political events in the United States. She has also launched a "10 Steps" campaign to help citizens recognize and resist these developments.
Stacey Abrams's "10 Steps to Autocracy"
- Use a free and fair election to gain power, then ensure it's the last one. A leader wins through a democratic process, but has no intention of relinquishing power.
- Exceed executive power. The leader issues a flurry of executive orders that claim authority far beyond constitutional limits.
- Weaken competing powers. This step involves undermining or ignoring the legislative and judicial branches, either by making them complicit or irrelevant.
- Gut the government. The leader dismantles agencies, fires experts, and removes those with opposing views, breaking public trust in institutions.
- Install loyalists. Positions across the government are filled with individuals whose primary allegiance is to the leader, not the public or the Constitution.
- Go after the media. The leader demonizes and discredits legitimate journalism to erode public trust in truth, replacing it with propaganda.
- Create scapegoats. The regime targets certain marginalized groups, such as women, people of color, immigrants, or the disabled, to turn people against each other.
- Target civil society. Organizations that defend rights, like non-profits and universities, are attacked to stifle dissent.
- Incentivize private violence. The leader encourages violence, or uses militarized federal agents against citizens, to intimidate opponents.
- Achieve the endgame. The authoritarian consolidates power, and civic participation, such as voting, is made to feel pointless, unsafe, or simply ceases.
wake me up when Stacy writes a cook book.
How far do you think we've gotten?
In her "10 Steps to Autocracy" framework, Stacey Abrams outlines how democracies can be dismantled from within by authoritarian leaders. Abrams has shared this framework in interviews, on her Substack, and on her podcast, drawing parallels to recent political events in the United States. She has also launched a "10 Steps" campaign to help citizens recognize and resist these developments.
Stacey Abrams's "10 Steps to Autocracy"
- Use a free and fair election to gain power, then ensure it's the last one. A leader wins through a democratic process, but has no intention of relinquishing power.
- Exceed executive power. The leader issues a flurry of executive orders that claim authority far beyond constitutional limits.
- Weaken competing powers. This step involves undermining or ignoring the legislative and judicial branches, either by making them complicit or irrelevant.
- Gut the government. The leader dismantles agencies, fires experts, and removes those with opposing views, breaking public trust in institutions.
- Install loyalists. Positions across the government are filled with individuals whose primary allegiance is to the leader, not the public or the Constitution.
- Go after the media. The leader demonizes and discredits legitimate journalism to erode public trust in truth, replacing it with propaganda.
- Create scapegoats. The regime targets certain marginalized groups, such as women, people of color, immigrants, or the disabled, to turn people against each other.
- Target civil society. Organizations that defend rights, like non-profits and universities, are attacked to stifle dissent.
- Incentivize private violence. The leader encourages violence, or uses militarized federal agents against citizens, to intimidate opponents.
- Achieve the endgame. The authoritarian consolidates power, and civic participation, such as voting, is made to feel pointless, unsafe, or simply ceases.
wake me up when Stacy writes a cook book.
We desperately need laughing emojis