FDC, I use to love your post man. I really did, you always had a great voice on things but the last few years you've really become the most opinionated close minded person on this site. Outside of a few ghost posters on here you call more people names than anyone else. I'm not sure what happened in your life but once your mind closes to other people's voices you stop growing. Not everyone has had the same life as you and because of that some people see things from the other side and it doesn't make either person wrong. Most people that voted for Trump aren't racist or homophobic or whatever else is popular to call them. I voted for him but I voted for him because I'm tired of what we've had in office and that includes Republicans and Democrats.
You guys think his choice for Sec of Education is bad. What did Duncan do for education? It's a broken system that doesn't serve the kids at this point. It serves people who want "good" test scores. Yes, DeVos has been against public schools but that doesn't make her bad. What if her way is better? What if because you're close minded on the issue you're not seeing what might be best for the kids. IMO the kids that are going to do well are going to do well no matter what. It's the group that isn't doing well and really nothing is being done about it other than making sure they get to the next grade. That system is working for them. There is proof that public charter schools close the achievement gap for students of color. Do I know for sure what will work, hell no but I'm willing to look at other options. Too high of a % of kids have been failed by our current system, why would I want to keep doing the same thing then?
I don't post as much as I used to. I appreciate your post.
I don't think everyone that voted for Trump is a racist or homophobe or anything of that nature. I do think Trump has displayed prejudiced tendencies throughout his public life and his campaign. I also believe he targeted, pandered to, empowered, maybe gave a voice to, a significant contingent of whites that now feel free to express their own tendencies or maybe feel that "political correctness" is no longer something to be regarded. He was openly demeaning to women, muslims, and people of color. His behavior and certainly his rhetoric, in my opinion, was egregious and falls far short of presidential. I am also very troubled by his failure to pay taxes or release his return as well as his refusal to divest himself from holdings which would benefit by his decisions. In short, I think he's an incredibly poor choice and I personally believe an irrational one.
I will admit that I struggle to understand why so many people that I consider intelligent would support his candidacy in any way. I really can't understand how people reconcile within themselves that he does and says things that are absolute lies or at the least delusional, his Twitter feed for example, yet they readily excuse or dismiss it and still think he's going to do anything other than what he's always done. I just don't get it. He's stolen money from students through a fake university, admittedly accosted women, refused to pay thousands to contractors, stolen from a veterans charity, and has never ever ever ever shown himself to be anything other than an egomaniacal, selfish, conceited, buffoon. His history of sending jobs overseas is somehow going to suddenly translate into a domestic job creator? How does that even make even a tiny bit of sense to anyone? When did leopards start changing their spots? How is someone that has shown nothing but disdain for those he considers beneath him going to suddenly bolster the same? So far I have seen nothing from him other than a tax plan that would crush the middle class while lining his pockets.
While I don't like him or some of his cabinet choices, I do hope all are successful. If he fails, we all suffer. The same goes for his appointments.
I'd like to believe I'm a very open minded individual and always have been. I would ask that you consider that there was no "wait and see" approach from conservatives when Obama was elected and he encountered the most obstructive, opposition from the right than any president in history. The outright refusal of Congress to do their appointed duty should have outraged all citizens, including those that are now saying they voted for Trump to get rid of the "status quo" and "same old politicians", as it is a constitutional directive and they flat out refused to do so.
When people say things like "it will take time to undo the last 8 years", I generally dismiss them as unreasonable and ignorant. When people have no regard for facts or truth I generally dismiss them. When people consistently make statements or posts denigrating other races, religions, or culture, I consider them to be bigoted and racist and dismiss them.
I try to be open minded and respond in kind to those that treat me with the same. I know I'm not perfect and I get shitty sometimes and am not the only one whose opinion matters. I will be more cognizant of it going forward.
Hope this helps,
FDC
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