Democratic Party - Clueless & Feckless - is the D party done?

[pmv]

If the Dems are done, why are magats and big money so scared of this guy?

What's that from? I mean, obviously Twitter didn't exist in 1986 (I assume that's the joke) but is that your joke or someone else's or did an idiot right-winger actually cook that up in an attempt to claim it's real? Needs context!

 

[pmv]

Free public transport - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Yes, there are cities that have free transit, but how many of them are at the size of NYC? The fares in NYC cover at least 1/3 of the MTA budget if I recall. And there are just better ways to spend the money than to make the system free as if it was so form of welfare for the poor. Service quality is far and away more important than fares when it comes to subways and buses.

Yeah, the 'free' aspect seems a marginal side-issue. If you get it all working, it could be the cherry on the top, but it's not critical. Main thing is to not make it so prohibitively-expensive that people decide it's cheaper to drive.

 

[Brainonska511]

Yeah, the 'free' aspect seems a marginal side-issue. If you get it all working, it could be the cherry on the top, but it's not critical. Main thing is to not make it so prohibitively-expensive that people decide it's cheaper to drive.

Also, you need to look at why people may choose to drive instead and make transit more appealing. Driving is expensive; a free fare instead of $3 isn't going to be the primary reason someone opts for the bus. At the end of the day, transit must hit 3 main things: be fast, come frequently, and feel safe.

 

[K1052]

Isn't that basically the idea of the 15 minute city?

A pretty innocuous and reasonable idea, that spawned a million RWNJ - and petrol head - conspiracy theories.

Yes, they basically accused the planners of building concentration camps.

Which is funny since the far right is now building actual concentration camps. Another win for the "everything is projection" crowd.

 

[Brainonska511]

Yes, they basically accused the planners of building concentration camps.

Which is funny since the far right is now building actual concentration camps. Another win for the "everything is projection" crowd.

As they say, pedocons (and the other associated things they scream about) is a theory like gravity is a theory.

 

[Indus]

Yes, they basically accused the planners of building concentration camps.

Which is funny since the far right is now building actual concentration camps. Another win for the "everything is projection" crowd.

First post back after saying we need more authentic politicians and media!

I mean just listen, don't they sound so much better than corporate and lobbyist lapdogs?

 

[pmv]

Also, you need to look at why people may choose to drive instead and make transit more appealing. Driving is expensive; a free fare instead of $3 isn't going to be the primary reason someone opts for the bus. At the end of the day, transit must hit 3 main things: be fast, come frequently, and feel safe.

The argument for 'free' public transport is simply that it might get to the point where the costs of collecting fares (and policing fare-dodging, and administering various types of subsidy schemes for different groups) exceeds the money collected that way. I agree that it's not a major issue.

But it can go the other way, being far too expensive. the London Underground, for example, that has been expected to fund itself through fares collected, long ago priced itself out of being affordable for me. Every time I venture on to it again I'm shocked at how much more horrendously expensive it's become since the last time.

A while ago I had to make a journey with a couple of other people and we found it was cheaper to pay to share a minicab than to take the tube.

 

[K1052]

The argument for 'free' public transport is simply that it might get to the point where the costs of collecting fares (and policing fare-dodging, and administering various types of subsidy schemes for different groups) exceeds the money collected that way. I agree that it's not a major issue.

But it can go the other way, being far too expensive. the London Underground, for example, that has been expected to fund itself through fares collected, long ago priced itself out of being affordable for me. Every time I venture on to it again I'm shocked at how much more horrendously expensive it's become since the last time.

A while ago I had to make a journey with a couple of other people and we found it was cheaper to pay to share a minicab than to take the tube.

It has been a long time since I rode the underground in London and was curious about this. Zone 1-9 month pass is over $600?

Monthly pass in NYC is $132. Even layering on a monthly zone 1-14 LIRR pass (which can take you to Montauk 115 miles away) doesn't quite beat it.

 

[Brainonska511]

The argument for 'free' public transport is simply that it might get to the point where the costs of collecting fares (and policing fare-dodging, and administering various types of subsidy schemes for different groups) exceeds the money collected that way. I agree that it's not a major issue.

But it can go the other way, being far too expensive. the London Underground, for example, that has been expected to fund itself through fares collected, long ago priced itself out of being affordable for me. Every time I venture on to it again I'm shocked at how much more horrendously expensive it's become since the last time.

A while ago I had to make a journey with a couple of other people and we found it was cheaper to pay to share a minicab than to take the tube.

Yeah, that cost is moving into the outrageous side of things.

 

[Indus]

The argument for 'free' public transport is simply that it might get to the point where the costs of collecting fares (and policing fare-dodging, and administering various types of subsidy schemes for different groups) exceeds the money collected that way. I agree that it's not a major issue.

But it can go the other way, being far too expensive. the London Underground, for example, that has been expected to fund itself through fares collected, long ago priced itself out of being affordable for me. Every time I venture on to it again I'm shocked at how much more horrendously expensive it's become since the last time.

A while ago I had to make a journey with a couple of other people and we found it was cheaper to pay to share a minicab than to take the tube.

Don't forget the UK is so out of touch.. even free to air TV isn't free to air.. you have to pay the BBC a fee to receive TV.. where as in the US you can just put up a rabbit ears or large antenna.

So basically people are paying for idiotic viewpoints being tutored to them.

Basically a form of de-schooling. (counter-schooling/ anti-schooling/ brainwashing)??

Anyone have a better word??

 

[pmv]

Don't forget the UK is so out of touch.. even free to air TV isn't free to air.. you have to pay the BBC a fee to receive TV.. where as in the US you can just put up a rabbit ears or large antenna.

Off topic, but God, that's something I was considering ranting about - just yet again had the TV licence people pestering me to prove I didn't have a TV.

At this point the licence system makes very little sense. There's now a long, complicated, list of things you have to sit down and think about in order to work out whether you need a TV licence for or not (even YouTube, it seems _if_ you watch a 'live stream' - don't think I've ever seen a 'live stream' on there)

The system _did_ once make sense.

Interestingly the BBC originally came into existence because there was a need to provide some 'content' so the manufacturers of radios could sell the things, as there was a situation where nobody would buy a radio as there was nothing to listen to with it, and not enough people had radios to justify a private company making broadcasts.
Hence the licence was introduced in order to fund program making in order to give people something to listen to on their radios, so they'd buy the things.

 

[Brainonska511]

Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona.bsky.social)

Here's John Fetterman complaining to CBS News' Alan He that the votes on the "One Big, Beautiful Bill" are eating into his vacation time. "Oh my God, I just want to go home. I've already my I've missed our entire trip to to the beach!"

bsky.app

Fetterman crying because his little weekday beach vacation plans got messed up by this voting schedule. You're a US Senator ffs.

I think Connor Lamb is owed an apology.

 

[K1052]

Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona.bsky.social)

Here's John Fetterman complaining to CBS News' Alan He that the votes on the "One Big, Beautiful Bill" are eating into his vacation time. "Oh my God, I just want to go home. I've already my I've missed our entire trip to to the beach!"

bsky.app

Fetterman crying because his little weekday beach vacation plans got messed up by this voting schedule. You're a US Senator ffs.

I think Connor Lamb is owed an apology.

If he hates his job so much he should quit.

 

[iRONic]

Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona.bsky.social)

Here's John Fetterman complaining to CBS News' Alan He that the votes on the "One Big, Beautiful Bill" are eating into his vacation time. "Oh my God, I just want to go home. I've already my I've missed our entire trip to to the beach!"

bsky.app

Fetterman crying because his little weekday beach vacation plans got messed up by this voting schedule. You're a US Senator ffs.

I think Connor Lamb is owed an apology.

Eff that guy! Pepperidge Farms remembers when he was actually useful…

 

[MrSquished]

Fetterman should quit the senate. So should Chucky Schumer. And this guy Jeffries should resign as majority leader, but stay in office.

 

[K1052]

Old guard slowly but surely getting the memo.

 

[MrSquished]

Old guard slowly but surely getting the memo.

View attachment 126474

What memo? They have shown that they are still just a feckless and corrupt establishment that is more for neoliberal corpo consultant class center right policies, so an apology for straight up Islamic bigotry does nothing to fix their core corruption. Come on, have higher standards. An apology for straight up Islamophobia is a very low bar to clear.

Let's see some core and fundamental actions happen, which none has.

 

[K1052]

What memo? They have shown that they are still just a feckless and corrupt establishment that is more for neoliberal corpo consultant class center right policies, so an apology for straight up Islamic bigotry does nothing to fix their core corruption. Come on, have higher standards.

She reversed herself and apologized without him having to do anything. He's got the wind at his back and Trump attacking him is gonna pick up the speed.

 

[MrSquished]

She reversed herself and apologized without him having to do anything. He's got the wind at his back and Trump attacking him is gonna pick up the speed.

An apology by a Democrat for straight up racist/bigoted Islamophobia is a very low bar to clear. We need to see some actual fundamental changes to the Dem establishment to give them any credit. This apology is the lowest of the low bars. I mean she apologized for literally sounding like Fox News. Woo-hoo. Such progress!

 

[Indus]

Old guard slowly but surely getting the memo.

View attachment 126474

Not enough.

She needs to be replaced.

 

[K1052]

Not enough.

She needs to be replaced.

She's not up till 2030. We have some other fish to fry between now and then.

 

[MrSquished]

She's not up till 2030. We have some other fish to fry between now and then.

I mean honestly we should demand her resignation but besides that, giving credit to a Democrat for an apology for saying a TRUMPER-level bigoted comment is just ridiculous. I mean like I said, that is the absolute lowest bar. I mean congrats, you apologized for literally sounding like Trump himself. They don't get credit for that low of a bar, especially considering for how long the same Dem establishment has fucked us, and helped Trump win too.

Higher bar man, higher bar.

 

[Indus]

I mean honestly we should demand her resignation but besides that, giving credit to a Democrat for an apology for saying a TRUMPER-level bigoted comment is just ridiculous. I mean like I said, that is the absolute lowest bar. I mean congrats, you apologized for literally sounding like Trump himself. They don't get credit for that low of a bar, especially considering for how long the same Dem establishment has fucked us, and helped Trump win too.

Higher bar man, higher bar.

New York needs to be able to recall senators!

 

[Paratus]

Old guard slowly but surely getting the memo.

View attachment 126474

A first domino has to fall. Lets see if a few others do now.

 

[Indus]

A first domino has to fall. Lets see if a few others do now.

I wouldn't mind Pelosi 26, Fetterman/ Schumer 28, Gillibrand 30

But it depends on if there are still elections..