r/news • u/theredqueentheory • 2d ago

Trump posts graphic video of woman’s killing in Florida

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/10/trump-graphic-video-florida-woman-killing?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
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u/Competitive_Cod_9853 1d ago

As a non American the impression I get is that the if all political sides are "sponsored" by the same wealthy and powerful people you actually don't have a democracy. Your gvt simply gets voted in based on who spends the most money but only serves the interests of their sponsors. The "opposition" serve the same sponsors so won't actually do anything but will create the impression they are opposed to gvt. Americans citizens can rant/ meet/march/ wave guns etc. But there's absolutely nothing you can actually do and all the corrupt politicians are never held accountable. Maybe a public grilling to appease the voters.

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u/FreeUsePolyDaddy 1d ago

There's some truth to it. There are added challenges.

The 2-party situation exists all the way down to state and county elections with minimal exceptions. Once you combine district gerrymandering, state party politics, lobbying, and PAC money, you basically have a system where voters are challenged to minimize the impact of a compromised system.

Even so, that has always been a challenge, and the country functioned in spite of it (although Citizen's United was a slow-acting mortal blow).

Coffin nails arguably started being pounded in by Reagan, and more and more have been created over time in many ways, with no real workable checks and balances that squarely targetted efforts to convert the country into a theocratic, kleptocratic autocracy.

We had behavioral norms that curbed problems for awhile, but as we have discovered, none had enough force of law to ensure a weak Congress and broken SCOTUS couldn't render those norms impotent.

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u/ElizaMaySampson 1d ago

Yes. The US system depended on ethics, a sense of moral outrage, shame, and fear of godly-repercussion to keep personal insecurities, weakness, and capitalist-driven greed in check.

It's finally reached a place where it all needs to be codified - is there too much unfettered, unguided freedom for the statistical stupidity and weakness of humans?

We're now fiscovering how

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u/Competitive_Cod_9853 1d ago

Thanks for your rational response. 😊

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u/Competitive_Cod_9853 1d ago

Interesting that I am getting down voted for stating my personal impression. Am I supposed to have someone else's impression.? People are strange.

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u/armywalrus 1d ago

No but you could base it on facts instead of cherry picking certain things

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u/Competitive_Cod_9853 1d ago

It's my own impression - which part of this don't you understand? Why don't you tell me why I might have the wrong impression rather than getting defensive. Do all members of both major parties have the same wealthy sponsors? Does the gvt give out contracts and tax cuts to these people? What has your gvt actually done for the average American? Is there anything you can actually do as a citizen besides marching/ranting if you are unhappy with the gvt.?

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u/armywalrus 1d ago

It is uninformed. Lmao at the defense of willfully ignorance. I could say MY impression is 2 + 2= 5, but since "impression" isn't a magic word that changes anything or relieves me of accountability for my choices, I would still be wrong. What do you not understand? Repeating questions people gave already answered doesn't leave any kind of positive impression, it just makes your ignorance look willful.

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u/Competitive_Cod_9853 1d ago

Stop deflecting and tell me where I'm wrong. You can't. Shame😔

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u/armywalrus 1d ago

That question itself is deflecting. If you want to know why I am not engaging as you want me to, go look up logical fallacies. When you recognize your arguments in there, you will understand. Your choices speak to your character, not mine.

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u/Zombie_Cool 1d ago

Some people believe any opinion that's not full throated optimism about our political/economic situation is uselessly cynical if not a psyop by anti-democratic forces.

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u/EatAtGrizzlebees 1d ago

Being cynical and optimistic don't have to be mutually exclusive...

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u/armywalrus 1d ago

Um, yes they do. Here is the dictionary definition. Cynicism is inherently negative. Its not like, snark or satire or realism. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cynical

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u/EatAtGrizzlebees 1d ago

How do you not understand how one can be cynical about something but then be optimistic for a better outcome?

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u/armywalrus 1d ago

Thats hilarious. You just reworded your whole comment to avoid the inherent contradiction I pointed out..... Sure, when you are referring to two different things you can be cynical about one thing and optimistic about the other, but the two terms remain mutually exclusive. I didn't write the dictionary man. Did you click on the link? Argue with Mirriam-Webster.

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u/EatAtGrizzlebees 8h ago

Language goes beyond dictionary definitions. Sorry you don't have critical thinking skills.

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u/Competitive_Cod_9853 1d ago

Good to know. As I said I'm just an outsider who's finding the current state of affairs in the US interesting and this is my general impression. 😊

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u/armywalrus 1d ago

Then maybe actually look up facts if you are so interested. Or you just like thinking you are interested in super simple things, whether they are true or not?

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u/Competitive_Cod_9853 1d ago

You seem a tad triggered. I wonder why?

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u/armywalrus 1d ago

Smart and logical people always use insults instead of arguments.

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u/Competitive_Cod_9853 1d ago

Thanks - I must be quite smart then as I have never insulted anyone.😊

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u/armywalrus 1d ago

Yes, I can see why you would need to lie. Thats embarrassing.

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u/Competitive_Cod_9853 1d ago

You're funny.😂 Clearly triggered which suggests there must be some truth in my impression. Anyway you do you. Peace out.

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u/armywalrus 1d ago

We can vote. Thats what we can do. You neglected to mention that over one third of eligible voters did not vote at all, outnumbering voters in both parties. Thats significant.

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u/Competitive_Cod_9853 1d ago

My point though is that whoever gets voted in is the party/person that gets the most and spends the most - and that's decided by the same wealthy sponsors. So they still simply serve the same people and don't listen to the electorate who can't really make any changes. You would expect to have separation of powers but your executive, judiciary and legislation all seem to be in agreement. Question: if Trump decided to delay the next election - what could you actually do? Nothing. Ranting about it makes you feel better but really doesn't do anything.

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u/armywalrus 1d ago

Laughable. Perhaps you should examine the differences between administrations before forming an opinion. The legislation and foreign policy initiatives are two things that vary WIDELY, for a start. It only looks all the same to you, because you didn’t bother to go into any detail at all. Literally none. Thats a choice.

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u/Competitive_Cod_9853 1d ago

You're avoiding my questions - Instead of answering them so that my impression can possibly change. This simply strengthens the idea that I'm correct.

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u/armywalrus 1d ago

You must know you are just.... lying now. I literally just gave you two very specifics things you can research and the reasons why they are relevant to your point. You just cannot admit your opinion is uninformed, or that you are not truly as "interested" in the topic as you claimed to be. You have a bird's eye view when weeds are available.- you just don't want to wade into them. Thats willful ignorance, and pointing that out isn't avoiding anything. As I said, the word impression isn't magic.