Fictional Bannermen

I'm starting to think there's merit to the idea of mandatory civil service specifically in government agencies. Maybe if everybody spent a year or two working in one of the many agencies that allow us to have the standard of living we've come to expect as Americans they would understand how important those agencies are and how much work goes into it.

Unironically agree with this, but from a libertarian perspective. Maybe if everyone got to see a little slice of the bullshit, office politics, and waste that their taxes pay for, they would understand how important those agencies are and how much respect their hard work is due.

Disagree with both of the above, because Federal civil servants are both beneficial and competent on average, and replacing dedicated professionals with conscripts would damage that.

my imagined, ideal version of this also ships you across the country. You have to work for the government, get a better understanding of everything that gets done and NEEDS to get done, gwt some valuable work experience and connections, and see more kf the diversity this country has. Send rural kids to live in a city for a year. Send city kids to live in the country. Send folks out to the prairies or the south or whatever. Make them see more of the country and how its different. And how its the same! I understand all the problems with this and that it will never happen, but I want mandatory service so bad

Fiscal hawks recognize that running government programs cost money, and since they don't want to pay that money, they want to cut the program. I disagree with the latter (I don't think we should cut most programs) but (in general) that means we need to pay for it. This is where I take issue with certain campaign promises. The paying for it part is critical. You cannot say 1) government programs for all and 2) only the uber wealthy will have to pay for it. Universal childcare, healthcare, investments in infrastructure, social security, basic income... these can't be paid for by taxes on the ultra wealthy alone. Or even by cutting spending you don't like. Or even if you add in the wealthy. You need to be willing to say "you, middle class America, your taxes will go up, they will go up a lot, and I think the program is worth it." Anything less than that is not the truth. And if that turns off voters then whatever you're proposing was never happening. It may not happen even if people say they're okay with higher taxes. People said for years that they'd be okay with slightly higher prices in exchange for higher wages across the board and guess what. They fucking weren't. The lowest earners incomes' rose the most under Biden and people lost their goddamn minds over it. That's the electorate. Figure out your pay fors and persuade people to accept them, really truly accept them, or admit you can't deliver what you're promising. Because if you don't they elect Republicans to come in and gut your precious program.

also you can't just say "we'll tax the ultra rich more" like that isnt a tax policy! Thats a dream! What are you actually going to do to get more money from them? How are you going to tax wealth stored in unsold stocks? What do you do if your tax policy changes behavior? For example, a Pied-à-Terre tax works more like a sin tax, encouraging people to sell surplus property, not to pay more taxes. Im not saying these things dont have answers and Im definitely not saying we can't tax rich people more. But you need to have an actual PLAN.

Miss Piggy tied to the mast while Statler and Waldorf heckle her from the sea

I feel like in the past ten years, boycotting has stopped being a tool for forcing action on specific policies and become a form of harassment and monastic self-denial. Less “I will not be giving my money to you until you improve these specific conditions” and more “don’t touch the contaminated thing, lest you also become contaminated.”

My two wishes right now are that these numbers are reflected on election day, and that every fascist gets to experience this level of public humiliation.

Sadly, this is a poll of the general UK public. Not Clacton specifically. That said, please please please

I'm not too familiar with British politics. Is Clacton a really conservative area?

In the 2024 election, Farage won 46% of the vote against real candidates. The Conservative party candidate got another 27% and Labour got 16. Lib Dems and Greens got 4% each then a bunch of other minor parties filling out the rest. 2019 election the Conservatives got 72% of the vote and Reform didn't run. Farage isn't from the area or anything, he is running there because it is a safe seat

My two wishes right now are that these numbers are reflected on election day, and that every fascist gets to experience this level of public humiliation.

Sadly, this is a poll of the general UK public. Not Clacton specifically. That said, please please please

I refuse to concede America and what it can be and what we still have.