Tornado Alley (PROG)

[fuagf]

B402, it's about time you understood that all of us to different extents, in our own self interest. That goes for all of us. Key is though, to different extent.

'Individuals with a superiority complex typically come across as supercilious, haughty, and disdainful toward others."

Your video held some truths, though why such a narrow focus. Why be soooo lacking in balance. Some liberals in some areas, the video is right, act and legislate against the encroachment of more housing density. You do understand, i hope, that some liberals are more hypocritical about much, including professed values, than others. You must accept the same situation exists in the conservative camp. In both moderates and extremes exist. Right. California got a brief conciliatory crumb at the end of your video, i do have an article on tab on that. Yes, i do have it when i say i have it. In California some Democrat legislators are doing their best to help ease the housing shortage.

And on taxation, again the vast majority of US states have a regressive tax system Florida the worst according to some. California among the least regressive the data says. Again yes i have evidence, in spite of the Trumpian accusation you made against me a couple of days ago.

Thing is we all live in capitalist countries. The U.S. arguably the toughest form of capitalism. Australia somewhat less severe. It's the system.

So you - start with the fact that we all act in our own best interest. Then accept some more than others. Then ask, in America do blue states aid red states more in terms of financial aid, or vice versa. You know the answer. Then why.

Then - ask, from a genuinely open and caring perspective - is it Democrats or Republicans as two big tents who work harder, and who legislate better, to preserve the safety net which helps to support those in the most need. To make things more equitable, as you profess is important to you. You know the answer.

And ask, is it Democrats or Republicans who nationally, on balance, work harder to create a more equitable and usefully informative and valuable education system. You know the answer there too.

Your video had one tiny focus, and though it holds much truth to most it would appear to be no more than ta hit on hypocritical Democrats. On hypocritical liberals. Could they have approached their concern in a more useful manner.

I say, looking at the bigger picture it is unarguable that it is Democrats/liberals more than Republicans/conservative who are making the greater effort to 'fix' the system of government you have. To make America more equitable as you say you would like it.

On balance Democrats are way out ahead.

Soooooo to Times picked comments at the top of the comments list of the Times article on your video:

Kevin McCloy commented November 9, 2021
Kevin McCloy
Long Beach, Ca.Nov. 9, 2021
Times Pick

1-There are more empty houses in California then there are homeless people, meaning the problem is that people hold on to housing as a commodity. We don't necessarily have to build more.

2-Most Californians don't live in Palo Alto. There is a class element you have forgotten. Yes the rich yuppie types are hypocrites, but most Californians live in places like Long Beach or Richmond, not Palo Alto, or Santa Monica

Diego commented November 9, 2021
Diego
South America Nov. 9, 2021
Times Pick

The US is a country that rewards economic success and punishes economic failure. The system is tailored to protect the interests of the middle class, which embodies the so-called American Dream, and punish, or at least ignore, the poor. This has always been the case, and it transcends political parties. The Republican party is just worse, while the Democratic party is just more hypocritical. That being said, many of the problems of Democratic states are of national scale, and don't lend themselves so easily to local solutions. A more successful local economy is going to create more jobs and migration, leading to housing crises, regardless of policies. But the video is right in pointing to the disgraceful hypocrisy of Democrats. The really taboo subjects of American politics are those that affect the interests of the middle class, or the military-industrial complex. Good luck in finding politicians with the courage to talk about them.

Bruce commented November 9, 2021
Bruce
Los Angeles Nov. 9, 2021
Times Pick

@Matt The editorial addresses hypocrisy. Californians who vote Democratic in many locations say they support the creation of more housing, but their actions betray what they say. In Chicago, Illinois, Democrats say they support equal education opportunities, but their behavior days otherwise.

It is hypocrisy that denies fair taxation in America, fair provision of public services, and adequate, quality housing for everyone—what Democrats SAY they want, but they support the opposite.

Look in the mirror blue states' liberal Democrats.

Lotzapappa commented November 9, 2021
Lotzapappa
Wayward City, NB Nov. 9, 2021
Times Pick

Absolutely wonderful & hard-hitting video. Since forever, the Democratic Party has been the kinder & gentler face of American capitalism, and its hypocrisy is rampant. This is in no way to excuse the even worse Republican Party, just to note the realities of liberal double-talk. It's why I hold my nose when I vote for Democrats, and why I hope, even as I know it won't happen any time soon, that another party that actually represents working and middle-class Americans will come along to challenge our two existing parties.

Matt commented November 9, 2021
Matt
Rochester Nov. 9, 2021
Times Pick

As a middle class renter, I'll never live in a red state again. Very few worker protection rights, very few renter protection rights. (And I'm sure there's others that relate to minotires or women, but I'm neither so I can't vouch for that.)

Having said that, you can't really compare Dem agenda on a national level with Dem agenda on a state level, every state has different needs and a different mix of constituents demanding different things that the state level reps must answer for. Liberals in California are different than liberals in Oregon. It's apples and oranges.

David commented November 9, 2021
David
California Nov. 9, 2021
Times Pick

What nonsense. There is no perfection in this world. Here in California we are well aware of the problems we face. We have one of the most robust economies in the world from agriculture to tech to Hollywood. Many of our problems stem from this success. I wouldn't think about living anywhere else.

Carr Kleeb commented November 9, 2021
Carr Kleeb
colorado Nov. 9, 2021
Times Pick

Boulder CO is one of the bluest cities in the US. We just voted down an amendment to allow more people to rent bedrooms in town. We banned all homeless people from downtown thru various laws and zoning so now they stay in areas prone to flooding. People proudly live 2 or 3 in a 5000ft home. Red or blue, Americans hate poor people and non-white people, and our government reflects that.

greg commented November 9, 2021
greg
Upstate New York Nov. 9, 2021
Times Pick

Maybe the problem is amount of our tax dollars that go to support red states? How about we keep our tax dollars here in the blue states and y'all in the red states learn to get by with the share of federal tax money you actually put in the national pot?

Sue commented November 9, 2021
Sue
CT Nov. 9, 2021
Times Pick

As a retired Bridgeport teacher, I’m glad you showed one of ours testifying to the problems we’ve worked with for years.

Kent Kraus commented November 9, 2021
Kent Kraus
AlabamaNov. 9, 2021
Times Pick

Not all Dems "share" the values that the progressive wing espouses. The party is a big tent.

Andrew commented November 9, 2021
Andrew
New York CityNov. 9, 2021
Times Pick

The Democratic Party is a big tent. Many of whom are center right, but love gay people, so they call themselves liberals.

I've been excoriating San Francisco for years as the biggest den of hypocrisy in the country regarding housing policy. What should be done there is what has been done in New York. Designate a few small historic districts to keep some of the old character and then densify densify densify. I suspect though that SF 'liberals' would rather keep their Victorians than watch their city grow and prosper in a sustainable and equitable way.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/09/opinion/democrats-blue-states-legislation.html#commentsContainer

The article with your video: Blue States, You’re the Problem

Why do states with Democratic majorities fail to live up to their values?

By Johnny Harris and Binyamin Appelbaum

It’s easy to blame the other side. And for many Democrats, it’s obvious that Republicans are thwarting progress toward a more equal society.

But what happens when Republicans aren’t standing in the way?

In many states — including California, New York and Illinois — Democrats control all the levers of power. They run the government. They write the laws. And as we explore in the video above, they often aren’t living up to their values.

In key respects, many blue states are actually doing worse than red states. It is in the blue states where affordable housing is often hardest to find, there are some of the most acute disparities in education funding and economic inequality is increasing most quickly.

Instead of asking, “What’s the matter with Kansas?” Democrats need to spend more time pondering, “What’s the matter with California?”

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/09/opinion/democrats-blue-states-legislation.html

The video could be a wake-up call to some, but i don't see there is much in it
which has not been posted about in similar vein on this board. Or course
to duplicitous conservatives as you it's a tonic. I understand that too.