The Common Ground thread
 

I'm taking the inspiration for this from Cred's post. I do believe that 70% of normal Americans have common ground that we can agree over, but for whatever reason our voices get drowned out by the vocal minority of extremists.

Things like term limits - I'm open to the idea not only for Congress (especially for Congress) but for SCOTUS as well, somewhere in the length of 25-30 years.

Even though I am obviously a lib, I support gun rights too. I just believe something needs to be done to make it harder for kids under 21 to buy semi-auto rifles with large capacity mags, and for people who are deemed a violent threat by the court (let's say domestic abusers for instance) to not be able to purchase guns while on probation.

Those are just a couple to start, but I am open to more ideas. There has to be more common ground that we can agree on otherwise we risk the [I]United[/I] States of America turning into the divided states of America. Also if this thread is going to work I'd like to also say we should approach it from the idea of "what is a position of the opposite party that I agree or don't oppose."

Re: The Common Ground thread
 

I've wanted term limits and a "Flat tax" for years..............

Re: The Common Ground thread
 

I agree with legalizing pot, guaranteeing no exclusion for pre existing conditions, and a higher tax on the super rich, which I would define as 6 times yearly average livable wage. Why 6x, that means every year you earn enough money to live an average life for 6 years, which is enough to avoid economic downturns if you are wise with your money, over that should be taxed at a rate needed to sustain the government structure that has given you the ability to "live your dream"

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Re: The Common Ground thread
 

NJ legalized, good news for NY as they will likely follow suit shortly.

I thought this was kinda crazy, I applaud it but it still surprised me

[URL="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/04/us/ballot-measures-propositions-2020.html"]Oregon Decriminalizes Small Amounts of Heroin and Cocaine[/URL]

Re: The Common Ground thread
 

Oregon is a shithole period. Let their children die, who cares

This is said as someone who has worked with heroin addicts in the past who past diseases like hiv, who purpose starved their children for fixes.

It’s disgraceful period

Re: The Common Ground thread
 

To me agreeing isn't even necessarily the issue. Or biggest issue(s) at least.

What are you willing to compromise on and/or give up? This is where everything has gone to shit. No compromises in DC. Just incessant name calling.

Re: The Common Ground thread
 

[quote=sdskinsfan2001;1264282]To me agreeing isn't even necessarily the issue. Or biggest issue(s) at least.

What are you willing to compromise on and/or give up? This is where everything has gone to shit. No compromises in DC. Just incessant name calling.[/quote]

You can approach drug issues with a health based problem strategy...that’s fine. But you are taking a terrible approach to decriminalize. Use the drug courts as avoidance.

When these shitholes gets funding cut bc one issue or the other, that’s really when u see the issues. Falls thru the cracks of society. Oregon has blood on hands also here come all the drug addicts from California

Re: The Common Ground thread
 

[quote=Chico23231;1264283]You can approach drug issues with a health based problem strategy...that’s fine. But you are taking a terrible approach to decriminalize. Use the drug courts as avoidance.

When these shitholes gets funding cut bc one issue or the other, that’s really when u see the issues. Falls thru the cracks of society. Oregon has blood on hands also here come all the drug addicts from California[/quote]

I gotta dig up the article again but I could swear the article I read said that they will issue fines for certain amounts, and if they do get arrested they can get treatment instead of being convicted. So I'm not gonna judge them off the headline alone.

Re: The Common Ground thread
 

Since this is the common ground thread, maybe we can try an exercise in compromise. around drugs. So, rather than focusing on the talking points and extreme stances, what core points do we find that common ground on?

Common ground statements - can you compromise on these points, without contradicting your core values:
Decriminalizing recreational pot -
puts the onus on the individual
could lead to acceptance of harder drugs
could reduce the damage done to minority groups by overly harsh sentences
could still have requirements for treatment, but not criminal records
could have requirements for treatment, and expunge criminal records after short sober period
does not mean all drugs should be legal,
does not mean all drugs should be illegal.

Maybe there are other core value statements that have to be worked in to a final solution. What would your redlines be around drug use decriminalization?

Re: The Common Ground thread
 

Legalize all drugs. Make crimes committed while high on drugs very very stiff, with required treatment prior to going to prison (if convicted).

Re: The Common Ground thread
 

[QUOTE=sdskinsfan2001;1264293]Legalize all drugs. Make crimes committed while high on drugs very very stiff, with required treatment prior to going to prison (if convicted).[/QUOTE]Even that makes a lot of sense, i can't see a legalize all drugs platform gaining traction in the common ground. To easy to be decried by one side of the argument.

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Re: The Common Ground thread
 

[quote=CRedskinsRule;1264295]Even that makes a lot of sense, i can't see a legalize all drugs platform gaining traction in the common ground. To easy to be decried by one side of the argument.

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Yeah. Probably not. And I haven't always felt that way myself, so I can understand the arguments against it. But I believe if people want to do drugs like heroin they're going to do it regardless.

Military intervention and drug laws are where I have changed the most since my younger days.

Re: The Common Ground thread
 

Finding approaches to drugs that doesn't involve locking people up is just smart. The war on drugs has been a colossal failure. No way to argue that. Need more money and resources directed towards treatment and recovery, and mental health.

Re: The Common Ground thread
 

[quote=Chico23231;1264280]Oregon is a shithole period. Let their children die, who cares

This is said as someone who has worked with heroin addicts in the past who past diseases like hiv, who purpose starved their children for fixes.

It’s disgraceful period[/quote]

Lost my dad to Heroin last yr, he sold it for years and did time for it... Dope took him away from my brother and I leaving my single mom (who worked as a elementary school cafeteria worker) to raise us alone.. I saw it all at a very young age, fuck that heroin shit and I have no sympathy for anyone who uses it

Re: The Common Ground thread
 

[quote=CRedskinsRule;1264292]Since this is the common ground thread, maybe we can try an exercise in compromise. around drugs. So, rather than focusing on the talking points and extreme stances, what core points do we find that common ground on?

Common ground statements - can you compromise on these points, without contradicting your core values:
Decriminalizing recreational pot -
puts the onus on the individual
could lead to acceptance of harder drugs
could reduce the damage done to minority groups by overly harsh sentences
could still have requirements for treatment, but not criminal records
could have requirements for treatment, and expunge criminal records after short sober period
does not mean all drugs should be legal,
does not mean all drugs should be illegal.

Maybe there are other core value statements that have to be worked in to a final solution. What would your redlines be around drug use decriminalization?[/quote]

I have a hard time seeing a con. I am not trying to get in an argument of police defunding. There are obviously idiots like AOC that literally mean defund the police but most politicians I have asked about this issue it is doing things such as decriminalizing pot so the police can actually focus on more important community issues. That could be a compromise for both parties. How would you and SD being more libertarian handle legalizing pot knowing the government would regulate it to prevent it from being the low standard "imports" we see today? To me regulation makes products be it consumer, energy, food cleaner.

Re: The Common Ground thread
 

[quote=BaltimoreSkins;1264310]I have a hard time seeing a con. I am not trying to get in an argument of police defunding. There are obviously idiots like AOC that literally mean defund the police but most politicians I have asked about this issue it is doing things such as decriminalizing pot so the police can actually focus on more important community issues. That could be a compromise for both parties. How would you and SD being more libertarian handle legalizing pot knowing the government would regulate it to prevent it from being the low standard "imports" we see today? To me regulation makes products be it consumer, energy, food cleaner.[/quote]

As long as the federal government is not regulating it, I'm fine with it. Let each state handle that individually, as they see fit.

Re: The Common Ground thread
 

Let states and/or local governments handle it, is my solution to 90% of all issues, give or take.

Re: The Common Ground thread
 

[quote=sdskinsfan2001;1264311]As long as the federal government is not regulating it, I'm fine with it. Let each state handle that individually, as they see fit.[/quote]

Agreed. And treat driving while high the same as you would DUI, with harsh penalties.

Of course this means we need a reliable test, but that's out of my league lol. I think we all agree on decriminalization of weed though.

Re: The Common Ground thread
 

[quote=sdskinsfan2001;1264312]Let states and/or local governments handle it, is my solution to 90% of all issues, give or take.[/quote]

I'm a southerner by birth so I can have some appreciation for letting states and local governments handle most things. (I do draw the line on protection of our common resources). My dad worked in the White House during the Reagan administration and we have this discussion all the time about military spending. He has convinced me that we could cut military spending by half and use that at the state level for policing and mental health and we would easily save more American lives annually.

Re: The Common Ground thread
 

[quote=BaltimoreSkins;1264323]I'm a southerner by birth so I can have some appreciation for letting states and local governments handle most things. (I do draw the line on protection of our common resources). My dad worked in the White House during the Reagan administration and we have this discussion all the time about military spending. He has convinced me that we could cut military spending by half and use that at the state level for policing and mental health and we would easily save more American lives annually.[/quote]

If it was up to me, I'd eliminate a lot of departments, agencies, etc., altogether. And all the ones remaining would get a 10% cut in 2022, including military spending.

Re: The Common Ground thread
 

will the Republican Party nominate a respectable person with conservative value (Kasich, Romney) or will the Republican base nominate the loudest racist again?

No common ground till both parties take care of their own issues internally.

Re: The Common Ground thread
 

Didn't really know exactly where to place this.

Troops are being taken out of the middle east. IMO, fucking awesome.

Cutting the troops in Afghanistan from 4500 down to 2500 and in Iraq from 3500 down to 2500 is progress. I'd go 0 in both, but still progress.

And here comes The Turtle calling this a rapid withdrawal. Only a politician thinks 19 years is rapid.

Geez Louise.

Re: The Common Ground thread
 

[quote=sdskinsfan2001;1265568]Didn't really know exactly where to place this.

Troops are being taken out of the middle east. IMO, fucking awesome.

Cutting the troops in Afghanistan from 4500 down to 2500 and in Iraq from 3500 down to 2500 is progress. I'd go 0 in both, but still progress.

And here comes The Turtle calling this a rapid withdrawal. Only a politician thinks 19 years is rapid.

Geez Louise.[/quote]

All our Military Leaders think it's a mistake.

Re: The Common Ground thread
 

Bump.

[url]https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/pro-pharma-democrats-kill-bill-to-lower-drug-costs-%e2%80%94-advocates-ask-%e2%80%9cwhat-did-they-get-for-that%e2%80%9d/ar-AAQ5Q1g?li=BBnb7Kz[/url]

I'm happy to shit on Dems who prioritize big pharma ahead of their constituents. Also happy to shit on any lawmaker that allows private companies to write laws benefitting the company and then accepts a job lobbying on behalf the company that paid the lawmaker to pass the law.

Re: The Common Ground thread
 

I didn't think things could get this serious! What is the world coming too?

[url]https://www.marketwatch.com/story/canada-releases-50-million-pounds-from-maple-syrup-reserve-amid-global-shortage-11637952230[/url]

"Canada releases 50 million pounds from maple syrup reserve amid global shortage.

Canadian maple syrup producers are tapping the country’s emergency reserve of the sticky sweet stuff as it looks to meet demand amid a global shortage.

The Quebec Maple Syrup Producers — a group known as the world’s maple syrup cartel and sometimes compared to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries grip on oil — announced this week that it’s pulling some 50 million pounds of syrup from its strategic reserve.

That’s the most the group has released from the reserve in a single season since 2008 and amounts to about half of the entire stockpile....."

Re: The Common Ground thread
 

[QUOTE=nonniey;1300897]I didn't think things could get this serious! What is the world coming too?



[url]https://www.marketwatch.com/story/canada-releases-50-million-pounds-from-maple-syrup-reserve-amid-global-shortage-11637952230[/url]



"Canada releases 50 million pounds from maple syrup reserve amid global shortage.



Canadian maple syrup producers are tapping the country’s emergency reserve of the sticky sweet stuff as it looks to meet demand amid a global shortage.



The Quebec Maple Syrup Producers — a group known as the world’s maple syrup cartel and sometimes compared to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries grip on oil — announced this week that it’s pulling some 50 million pounds of syrup from its strategic reserve.



That’s the most the group has released from the reserve in a single season since 2008 and amounts to about half of the entire stockpile....."[/QUOTE]Oh no[emoji3062][emoji3062]

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Re: The Common Ground thread
 

[quote=nonniey;1300897]I didn't think things could get this serious! What is the world coming too?

[url]https://www.marketwatch.com/story/canada-releases-50-million-pounds-from-maple-syrup-reserve-amid-global-shortage-11637952230[/url]

"Canada releases 50 million pounds from maple syrup reserve amid global shortage.

Canadian maple syrup producers are tapping the country’s emergency reserve of the sticky sweet stuff as it looks to meet demand amid a global shortage.

The Quebec Maple Syrup Producers — a group known as the world’s maple syrup cartel and sometimes compared to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries grip on oil — announced this week that it’s pulling some 50 million pounds of syrup from its strategic reserve.

That’s the most the group has released from the reserve in a single season since 2008 and amounts to about half of the entire stockpile....."[/quote]

That was very nice of them .

Re: The Common Ground thread
 

[url]https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/amazon-privacy-lobbying/?utm_source=reddit.com[/url]

This is pretty damning - Jay Carney (ex-comms director for VP/Biden and Obama press secretary) has been working for Amazon the last 6 years and he's been leading the charge to eliminate privacy protections for American citizens worried about how companies collect and sell their data.

I think both sides can agree this is less than ideal for everybody.

Re: The Common Ground thread
 

[quote=BaltimoreSkins;1264323]I'm a southerner by birth so I can have some appreciation for letting states and local governments handle most things. (I do draw the line on protection of our common resources). My dad worked in the White House during the Reagan administration and we have this discussion all the time about military spending. He has convinced me that we could cut military spending by half and use that at the state level for policing and mental health and we would easily save more American lives annually.[/quote]

Well, the issue is we are the world hegemonic power. That is expensive. Would you want to cede that? We already are seeing the ramifications of our surrender in Afghanistan cutting the defense budget in half would be pouring gas on a fire.

Re: The Common Ground thread
 

[quote=jamf;1264328]will the Republican Party nominate a respectable person with conservative value (Kasich, Romney) or will the Republican base nominate the loudest racist again?

No common ground till both parties take care of their own issues internally.[/quote]

There is always some common ground - otherwise the Infrastructure bill and the debt ceiling raise would have failed.

Re: The Common Ground thread
 

[quote=nonniey;1307137]Well, the issue is we are the world hegemonic power. That is expensive. Would you want to cede that? We already are seeing the ramifications of our surrender in Afghanistan cutting the defense budget in half would be pouring gas on a fire.[/quote]

That is the challenge right? And if so who takes the mantle of power. I would say as a typical American citizen my individual safety would be better served at the local and state level for safety. If we are spending $2,000 per capita annually on military expenditures, I would prefer if half of that was used directly toward my regional safety, but I do not work in an area or industry that is impacted by foreign terrorism and far more likely to be impacted by someone domestically.

In terms of Afghanistan I fail to see how our withdrawal is bad. Instability in that region makes China worried and focus on their backyard and thus means they are less focused on us.

Re: The Common Ground thread
 

In the letter, which Greenberg wrote after his indictment in late 2020 as part of an effort to land a presidential pardon, the Orlando-area tax official claimed that he, Gaetz, and others had sex with a minor they believed to be 19 at the time. Greenberg first learned she was underage after receiving an “anonymous tip” on Sept. 4, 2017, he wrote. He then confirmed her age by improperly querying the teen’s personal information in the Florida state drivers’ license database, which he had access to as a local tax collector.

“Immediately I called the congressman and warned him to stay clear of this person and informed him she was underage,” Greenberg wrote in a handwritten draft of the letter, adding that Gaetz was “equally shocked and disturbed by this revelation.”

“There was no further contact with this individual until after her 18th birthday,” he added.

[url]https://www.yahoo.com/news/witness-confirm-matt-gaetz-told-004539530.html[/url]

Give the guy his due process ... but I think its common ground that no one is going to bat for Matt Gaetz. Cant imagine many Rs or voters will champion him or stand by him.

Re: The Common Ground thread
 

[quote=SunnySide;1309109]In the letter, which Greenberg wrote after his indictment in late 2020 as part of an effort to land a presidential pardon, the Orlando-area tax official claimed that he, Gaetz, and others had sex with a minor they believed to be 19 at the time. Greenberg first learned she was underage after receiving an “[B]anonymous tip[/B]” on Sept. 4, 2017, he wrote. He then confirmed her age by improperly querying the teen’s personal information in the Florida state drivers’ license database, which he had access to as a local tax collector.

“Immediately I called the congressman and warned him to stay clear of this person and informed him she was underage,” Greenberg wrote in a handwritten draft of the letter, adding that Gaetz was “equally shocked and disturbed by this revelation.”

“There was no further contact with this individual until after her 18th birthday,” he added.

[url]https://www.yahoo.com/news/witness-confirm-matt-gaetz-told-004539530.html[/url]

Give the guy his due process ... but I think its common ground that no one is going to bat for Matt Gaetz. Cant imagine many Rs or voters will champion him or stand by him.[/quote]

So it was that kind of party

Re: The Common Ground thread
 

Scooby Axson, USA TODAY
Thu, February 3, 2022, 5:06 PM
Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas broke multiple records in a meet last month, renewing debate around LGBTQ+ equality in sports.
Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas broke multiple records in a meet last month, renewing debate around LGBTQ+ equality in sports.

Days after some members of the University of Pennsylvania women's swimming team issued a statement supporting a transgender teammate, more than a dozen others sent a letter to the school and the Ivy League stating that Lia Thomas should not be allowed to compete.

The school said last month that it would comply with the NCAA, who adopted new standards for transgender athletes. The determination for transgender participation in sports will be made by a national governing body but are subject to reviews and recommendations by the NCAA.

The letter was sent by Nancy Hogshead-Makar, a three-time Olympic swimming gold medalist and Founder and CEO of Champion Women.

The letter stated that if Thomas were allowed to compete she could break "Penn, Ivy, and NCAA Women’s Swimming records; feats she could never have done as a male athlete.”

“We fully support Lia Thomas in her decision to affirm her gender identity and to transition from a man to a woman. Lia has every right to live her life authentically,” the letter, obtained by the Washington Post, read. “However, we also recognize that when it comes to sports competition, that the biology of sex is a separate issue from someone’s gender identity. Biologically, [B]Lia holds an unfair advantage over competition in the women’s category, as evidenced by her rankings that have bounced from #462 as a male to #1 as a female."[/B]

[url]https://www.yahoo.com/sports/penn-swimmers-transgender-teammate-lia-220619318.html[/url]

Re: The Common Ground thread
 

[quote=SunnySide;1310035]Scooby Axson, USA TODAY
Thu, February 3, 2022, 5:06 PM
Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas broke multiple records in a meet last month, renewing debate around LGBTQ+ equality in sports.
Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas broke multiple records in a meet last month, renewing debate around LGBTQ+ equality in sports.

Days after some members of the University of Pennsylvania women's swimming team issued a statement supporting a transgender teammate, more than a dozen others sent a letter to the school and the Ivy League stating that Lia Thomas should not be allowed to compete.

The school said last month that it would comply with the NCAA, who adopted new standards for transgender athletes. The determination for transgender participation in sports will be made by a national governing body but are subject to reviews and recommendations by the NCAA.

The letter was sent by Nancy Hogshead-Makar, a three-time Olympic swimming gold medalist and Founder and CEO of Champion Women.

The letter stated that if Thomas were allowed to compete she could break "Penn, Ivy, and NCAA Women’s Swimming records; feats she could never have done as a male athlete.”

“We fully support Lia Thomas in her decision to affirm her gender identity and to transition from a man to a woman. Lia has every right to live her life authentically,” the letter, obtained by the Washington Post, read. “However, we also recognize that when it comes to sports competition, that the biology of sex is a separate issue from someone’s gender identity. Biologically, [B]Lia holds an unfair advantage over competition in the women’s category, as evidenced by her rankings that have bounced from #462 as a male to #1 as a female."[/B]

[url]https://www.yahoo.com/sports/penn-swimmers-transgender-teammate-lia-220619318.html[/url][/quote]

Imagine being so dumb to think biological men don’t hold a physical advantage over women. Along with the morally corrupt thought men can be pregnant.

Re: The Common Ground thread
 

[quote=Chico23231;1310040][B]Imagine being so dumb to think biological men don’t hold a physical advantage over women.[/B] Along with the morally corrupt thought men can be pregnant.[/quote]

Especially after fully going through puberty.

Obviously this doesn't need to be a partisan issue. I'm all for LGBTQ rights - but I'm anti-unfair advantages in sports. If the science supports the argument that she has an unfair advantage over her competitors I'm all for leveling the playing field.

Re: The Common Ground thread
 

[quote=mooby;1310044]Especially after fully going through puberty.

Obviously this doesn't need to be a partisan issue. I'm all for LGBTQ rights - but I'm anti-unfair advantages in sports. If the science supports the argument that she has an unfair advantage over her competitors I'm all for leveling the playing field.[/quote]

Unfortunately seems like everything is made into a partisan issue nowadays. I personally think the positions western civilization is taking with the T part of LGBTQ are insane.

Re: The Common Ground thread
 

[quote=nonniey;1310048]Unfortunately seems like everything is made into a partisan issue nowadays. I personally think the positions western civilization is taking with the T part of LGBTQ are insane.[/quote]

The main problem and it’s an acute problems is the transitioning of kids under the age of 16. Also the fact social media pushes up posts of lies, false narratives of gender to children is sickening.

Parents allowing their kids to be raised by social media…this is the results. We are promoting Suicides and mental illness.

Re: The Common Ground thread
 

[url]https://www.nationalreview.com/2022/02/why-interest-rates-could-drive-a-debt-crisis/[/url]

Why Interest Rates Could Drive a Debt Crisis

Good article here on rising debt and interest rates. But this article addresses a couple narratives often avoided:

The fact that America “owes the money to ourselves” due to domestic lending does not mean the debt is free. The people and businesses lending the federal government tens of trillions must be repaid, and those future repayments (and the interest costs) will have to paid out of significantly higher taxes, reduced federal benefits, higher inflation, or more borrowing until the markets stop lending.

No, Japan’s 200 percent of GDP debt does not prove that debt does not matter. Its past three decades of deficit spending have been accompanied by sluggish economic growth. Japan’s debt has not been inflationary because much of it has been funded by substantial domestic savings — such as corporate retained earnings equaling 89 percent of GDP. America’s entitlement-driven annual deficits are projected to far exceed — and prove more politically difficult to reverse than — Japan’s smaller annual deficits that financed flexible priorities such as stimulus and infrastructure.

Re: The Common Ground thread
 

[quote=mooby;1310044]Especially after fully going through puberty.

Obviously this doesn't need to be a partisan issue. I'm all for LGBTQ rights - but I'm anti-unfair advantages in sports. If the science supports the argument that she has an unfair advantage over her competitors I'm all for leveling the playing field.[/quote]

I think the most equitable would be to have four divisions instead of two especially at youth and collegiate levels. I like the IAAF standards of requiring hormone levels of testosterone and estrogen to be at above below levels to compete professionally. That shouldn’t be done at high school levels though. My opinion is biological sex should determine your competitive division but that seems to be a lightening rod and I don’t care enough to argue in favor of that on a public platform.