Here's an idea. If McConnell wants found money, why doesn't he go after military pensions?

[Baitball Blogger]

Let's see how popular Republicans will be when they float that idea.

[itsrobert]

1. Too late, they already been cutting military pensions

over that last couple decades. And they are looking to cut more.

[IllinoisBirdWatcher]

2. Cut Congressional salaries and pensions. eom

[Baitball Blogger]

3. Yes!

Take away their medical!

[Eyeball_Kid]

26. A 60% tax on income over 2 million

ought to do the trick. Bleed the fuckers dry.

[Hortensis]

30. Exactly. Republicans abandoned genuine concern for "our boys"

long ago, in the period when their party was taken over and corrupted by Big Money, because their leaders instructed them to. They're currently working on destroying the VA in addition to future pensions.

Unfortunately for them, the percentage of the population who've served is very low, 7.3%, and thus vulnerable to exploitation and abuse as any other minority, lying between blacks at 13.2% and Jews at around 2%.

Currently protected only by the Democratic Party that is out of power, and thus all too helpless to stop it, like other minorities their own power to protect themselves lies critically in their own votes, and too many are not fighting to protect that from also being taken away.

[fescuerescue]

4. Why would you encourage that?

The only person floating that idea is you ya know.

[Baitball Blogger]

5. I think it's a great idea.

Since the Republicans have used the military as a loyal base forever, let them feel the pain and let's see if they think it's a good idea to vote for Republican policies.

[fescuerescue]

8. Well we can't exactly say it's their idea

If its really our ideal.

Don't worry. They'll do something dumb anyway.

[qazplm135]

9. Right

So that includes me then right? I don't get the same pension because SOME of my compatriots vote Republican?

I mean fuck me right so long as you can stick it to them.

[Baitball Blogger]

10. I'm sure you'll all figure it out before it gets that far.

That's the point, isn't it? If the Republicans can't buy their voter blocks, people will begin to peel away from conservative identity politics. And it's not just the vote. It's the bullying and the overreaches from autocrats in these organizations. As long as they claim the military branch as their own, there is no other way.

You see, within the military there might be a belief that rank has its privilege, but that has no place in civilian life. Inequality is anti-thesis to American ideals. How do you teach grown men and women who are part of the military branch that teach them otherwise? Come up with an idea better than mine and I will take it into consideration.

[qazplm135]

12. Nonsense

And gobbledygook you just typed right there.

Waste of my time.

[Baitball Blogger]

14. It's an opinion that is knocking an American sacred cow.

That's why it feels so strange to you.

Give it time.

[qazplm135]

16. if that makes you feel

like your opinion is more special, or you are somehow smarter than most, knock yourself out.

[Baitball Blogger]

17. Are you calling me uppity?

[qazplm135]

18. LMAO

Am I, an African-American, calling you, a person who's race I have no idea, a derogatory term for African-Americans?

No...plenty of names come to mind, but "uppity" was not one of them.

[Baitball Blogger]

19. And I am an American of Latin American heritage who has a fresh perspective on autocracy.

I don't care if it's coming from the church, or the military. I will call it out.

[qazplm135]

20. well at least one of us

thinks very highly of you. That has to count for something.

[Baitball Blogger]

21. Sounds like you're calling me uppity.

Hey, just because you're a member of a minority group doesn't mean you're immune to these improper communication slips.

It would be much more respectful just to say that you disagree, and leave it at that.

[qazplm135]

22. You keep using words

that you clearly don't understand the meaning of.

[Baitball Blogger]

23. We will agree to disagree.

You don’t get to decide for me how I respond to your insulting comments.

[qazplm135]

24. you can respond however you want to

just like I can respond that your proposed ideas are ridiculous.

If you find that insulting, I suggest you have better ideas.

[Baitball Blogger]

25. Now you're trying to reframe this disagreement.

You were attacking me directly, not my "proposed ideas."

In case you haven't read the terms of service on DU, personal attacks are not allowed.

Now, let's talk about my "proposed idea." Anyone who reads my thread in its entirety can see that my purpose was to turn the tables on the Republicans and focus on a voter block that they like to call their own: The military. Because, let's face it. If military retired officers were to have their $100,000 a year pensions challenged you know there would be hell to pay.

Read some of my responses to other posters and it was clear that this thread was meant to take a jab at their sacred cow, but I made it clear that it would never happen. This wasn't a thread to take direct action at the pensions. Astute readers would understand that it was meant to make people think. Republican leaders have cut to the bone safety nets for people who were once loyal Democratic voters. What would happen if they began to do the same thing to an organization that they love to think is their exclusive domain?

See if you can respond, without breaking the TOS.

[qazplm135]

28. then hit

the alert button if you think it was a personal attack.

It wasn't. I didn't call you stupid, I called your idea stupid. Which you then veered off into more nonsense.

A stupid proposal that you apparently understand is a stupid proposal that you know would never happen is nevertheless a stupid proposal.

Calling it a stupid proposal does not violate the TOS.

But like I said, there's an alert button...hit it.

[Baitball Blogger]

34. Let's review what you said:

16. if that makes you feel

like your opinion is more special, or you are somehow smarter than most, knock yourself out.

-
To which, I asked if you called me uppity.

Which by definition: up·pi·ty


self-important; arrogant.
"an uppity sister-in-law"
synonyms: arrogant, snobbish, hoity-toity, snooty, pretentious, bumptious, full of oneself, puffed up, conceited, pompous, self-assertive, overbearing, cocky, cocksure, impertinent, haughty, self-important, superior, presumptuous, overweening, uppish, high and mighty

This is exactly what you meant when you stated, "...like your opinion is more special, or you are somehow smarter than most, knock yourself out.

Any one of those synonyms could explain your message.

- - - - - - - -
18. LMAO

Am I, an African-American, calling you, a person who's race I have no idea, a derogatory term for African-Americans?

No...plenty of names come to mind, but "uppity" was not one of them.
- -
Yes, it is seen as a racist, derogatory term, but it's not exclusive to racial interactions as the definition is generic. If anything, you should have recognized what you were doing, for the reason you mention. And your comment, "No, plenty of names come to mind..." exposes your frame of mind. You are not here for a productive discussion.


- - - - - - - -

qazplm135 (769 posts)
20. well at least one of us

thinks very highly of you. That has to count for something.

-

There you go again, referring to me as uppity. "...at least on of us thinks very highly of you."

That comment has nothing to do with my opinion. The purpose is to insult me.

- - - - -

qazplm135 (769 posts)
22. You keep using words

that you clearly don't understand the meaning of.

-
And I showed you that it did apply, as you intended. You stated that I thought my opinion was special or that I was somehow smarter than most. Or that I thought highly of myself. That falls right into the definition, as stated by the definition:

self-important; arrogant.
"an uppity sister-in-law"
synonyms: arrogant, snobbish, hoity-toity, snooty, pretentious, bumptious, full of oneself, puffed up, conceited, pompous, self-assertive, overbearing, cocky, cocksure, impertinent, haughty, self-important, superior, presumptuous, overweening, uppish, high and mighty

I am just a woman who is being assertive, and that seems to put you off. I'm sorry for whatever experiences you have had in your life that has led you to believe that this is an appropriate way to communicate your disagreement.

[qazplm135]

37. uppity is almost exclusively used for one scenario

and we both know it.

I certainly think you think you have somehow hit on something folks like me just don't quite get.

You said as much in your opening response to me.

But somehow my response is a personal attack and yours...not.

got it.

[Baitball Blogger]

39. No, we don't both see it that way.

The U.S. is composed of many universes. Many small universes that sometimes converge, where there is common understanding, and other times, unfortunately, it goes through phases of polarization.

As a Latina, I find myself on the edge of several of these communities. Forty of my sixty years were spent, trying to fit in, and ready to make excuses for others for their offensive infractions. Now, at the age of sixty I realize I did no one any favors. No one learned anything, because I kept quiet. And their offensive behavior only escalated.

So, yes, the words you chose did come across as offensive and a personal attack.

I would have rather spent the morning exchanging posts to help you conceptualize the point I was making. No one expects there to be changes to the military pensions. But, maybe, for those in the hard right who use the military as a safe house, maybe they would become more empathetic to democratic programs if they felt like they were in the same boat.

[qazplm135]

40. I see

You still haven't hit the alert button.

I'm thinking that's because you know it's not going to be viewed by a panel as a personal attack.

I'm done with this silliness.

[Baitball Blogger]

41. In all the years I have been here, I have hit the alert button less than five times.

Why should I allow you to change my pattern?

[Armymedic88]

27. Punish me

For repukes inability to grasp that trickle down economics doesn't work?!

[qazplm135]

29. don't worry

apparently he knows it's a dumb idea that will never happen, but he thinks proposing it somehow is a good idea.

[LanternWaste]

36. Seems your "knock yourself out" sentiment can be as accurately applied to yourself as well.

Seems your little "knock yourself out" sentiment can be as accurately applied to yourself as well.

[qazplm135]

38. I don't think my opinion is more special than most

considering most agree with me on this one.

Pretty much the opposite of that.

But if you want me to count you as number 2 in the, no this is really a good idea camp..."knock yourself out."

[Baitball Blogger]

31. What I would love to see is Democrats with military service turning back

the image that the military is pro conservative and pro Republican.

I know that will take time. But my father was a Liberal, who loved military service. He was defined by it. So I know it is possible.

The military should never be treated as a sacred cow.

Do I think that there will be cuts to pension? No. But I think it might help to build empathy for other programs.

[LanternWaste]

35. I'd imagine it's simply a Compare and Contrast scenario

I'd imagine it's simply a Compare and Contrast scenario to see how it's rationalized by the RW... ya know.

[Baitball Blogger]

42. It requires the ability to conceptualize to see it, and I'm afraid that taking jabs at the

military sacred cow is too much for some people who are too close to those udders.

But, yes, you're right. Compare and contrast is a good way to look at it.

[ProudLib72]

6. How about they not bail out big agri to the tune of 12 billion?

Tell the farmers real Americans don't like welfare queens, so farmers don't get shit! They voted for the fucking tariffs that put them in this position. Now they can suck it up. Get a real job, fuckers!

[Baitball Blogger]

7. Yeah, let's do that!

[CharleyDog]

11. how about, "the tax cuts were a mistake, and we see now they must be repealed." nt

[Voltaire2]

13. No instead we should support fucking over veterans.

[Baitball Blogger]

15. You know it will never get that far.

But, maybe people will begin to understand the importance of calling out autocracy, wherever they find it.

[benld74]

32. ROLL BACK that LAST tax cut,,,

THEN

GO back to W's time in office

AND

ROLL BACK THAT tax cut too


POOF!!!! INSTANT $$$$$

[dlk]

33. Better Yet, Why Doesn't McConnell Go After Military Contractors and Their Budget-Busting Projects?

[Baitball Blogger]

43. I have seen Republicans go after military bases, as in support of closing them, in a way

that I never thought was possible. Never looked into the nuts and bolts how that happened. But, the Republicans were never smeared in a negative way for those closings. In fact, I think they were commended as fiscal conservatives.

So, I don't know why they wouldn't go after military contractors and budget busting projects.