# Stupid liberal idea of the day **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 20, 2011, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086 "2011-04-20T15:35:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 293
**Author:** ![eulalia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eulalia/32/457_2.png) [@eulalia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eulalia)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2017, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/5841 "2017-03-16T04:47:05Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Not having a job, either due to displacement by foreign workers or because government regulations closed the mine, is here and now. It’s easy to think longterm when you are privileged, which is why climate change is primarily the #1 issue among the privileged. Immigrants are good for the economy. They create more jobs than they displace. They do a lot of work that others won’t, they start small businesses that employ people, and they pay taxes. Except for the occasional practice of businesses hiring H1b employees for less than they would have to pay a citizen, they aren’t actually displacing workers, and in those cases it makes more sense to go after the employers. With the aging population we need younger people coming in to keep the engine running. I’m more worried about how much the prices on produce are going to go up without the farm workers at this point. Also, the government regulations have little to do with the loss of mining jobs; that’s more down to automation, and the fact that natural gas from fracking is cheaper than coal. We need to find ways to bring other jobs into places that have lost jobs in mining, logging, manufacturing, and things like that, maybe in industries that won’t pollute our air and water while we’re at it. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2017, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/5842 "2017-03-16T05:41:49Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > …when you are privileged, which is why climate change is primarily the #1 issue among the privileged. You seem an unlikely instrument to channel Tom Joad. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2017, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/5843 "2017-03-16T11:10:10Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Not having a job, either due to displacement by foreign workers or because government regulations closed the mine, is here and now. Except that both of those things are miniscule to imaginary in terms of actual causes. Not having a job due to automation and offshoring, or because natural gas is so much cheaper than coal that the coal industry is currently extremely uncompetitive, is far more likely. But admitting that would require placing the blame on the wealthy rather than on immigrants and liberal do-gooders who want fancy things like “drinkable water”, and where’s the fun in that? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2017, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/5844 "2017-03-16T19:32:57Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > You seem an unlikely instrument to channel Tom Joad. Well, wherever some fella isn’t sure the other fellas in the fella’s room were all _born_ fellas, he’ll be there. Wherever there’s a cop not beatin’ up a guy, he’ll be there. He be there in the ways guys yell “snowflake!” when their feelin’s are hurt bad and when people are takin’ Obamacare and sayin’ Obamacare is wrong, he’ll be there, too. He don’t understand it, it’s just somethin’ he’s been thinkin’ about. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2017, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/5845 "2017-03-16T21:30:54Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Except that both of those things are miniscule to imaginary in terms of actual causes. Not having a job due to automation and offshoring, or because natural gas is so much cheaper than coal that the coal industry is currently extremely uncompetitive, is far more likely. But admitting that would require placing the blame on the wealthy rather than on immigrants and liberal do-gooders who want fancy things like “drinkable water”, and where’s the fun in that? Why would automation and the uncompetitiveness of coal and offshoring lead people to hate the wealthy? Offshoring I sorta get, but that’s right there with trade and immigration, issues where people respond to incentives set up by the government. Or is the answer always to blame the wealthy? Is the problem not that people hate, but they don’t hate the people who liberals want them to hate? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2017, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/5846 "2017-03-16T22:30:54Z")
Personally, I don’t hate the rich. I have disdain for the stupid, though. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2017, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/5847 "2017-03-16T23:12:45Z")
That describes a high percentage of the poor. Do you hate the poor? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2017, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/5848 "2017-03-16T23:38:27Z")
I have disdain for the stupid, and stupidity afflicts all socioeconomic levels. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2017, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/5849 "2017-03-16T23:47:09Z")
Depending on how you define it, I agree. If you’re talking lack of education, that’s concentrated at the low end of the economic scale though. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/5850 "2017-03-17T00:02:55Z")
I take for granted that “stupid” and “uneducated” (or undereducated) are not synonymous. I recognize the effort behind your attempt at a “gotcha”, though. You were overconfident. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/5851 "2017-03-17T02:24:11Z")
No, they aren’t the same, but “stupid” is such a vague term otherwise that you could conceivably just make it mean whatever you want to. Might as well just have said you don’t like poopyheads. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/5852 "2017-03-17T02:29:19Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > No, they aren’t the same, but “stupid” is such a vague term otherwise that you could conceivably just make it mean whatever you want to. Might as well just have said you don’t like poopyheads. Poopyheads? Poopyheads??? Christ. Isn’t there one swinging dick left in The Pit? ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/5853 "2017-03-17T02:38:49Z")
> [@Little\_Pig](#): > > Poopyheads? Poopyheads??? Christ. Isn’t there one swinging dick left in The Pit? Maybe **ckalli** will come by with someone else’s thoughts on the matter. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/5854 "2017-03-17T09:53:45Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Why would automation and the uncompetitiveness of coal and offshoring lead people to hate the wealthy? Offshoring I sorta get, but that’s right there with trade and immigration, issues where people respond to incentives set up by the government. > > Or is the answer always to blame the wealthy? Is the problem not that people hate, but they don’t hate the people who liberals want them to hate? Spectacular projection there, kiddo. “Nothing to see here, it’s just business, but incidentally the reason you’ve lost your job isn’t because automation and offshoring increase our bottom line but because the mean old government is forcing us to maintain a safe working environment and to reduce pollution (which otherwise the taxpayer would have to pay to clean up). Oh, and something something immigrants.” Qui bono? Who is making the money here while the workers lose their jobs? Who is benefiting from decreased regulation of coal and government support of fracking? Those jobs being “saved” in Indiana - the taxpayers are effectively subsidizing the automation of the Carrier plant, so who is benefiting from that money? Not the workers who will still be losing their jobs. And finally - the big question - if it’s all “just business”, _why do the Republicans persistently scapegoat immigrants and the government for the consequences?_ And why do you continue to repeat their lies? Could it be because “we cut your jobs because it means more money for us and the shareholders” isn’t a politically popular position? ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/5855 "2017-03-17T17:32:59Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > … As an example, one of those detained was an interpreter for our military for 10 years. He’s given a visa to immigrate but when he lands, he’s detained and told he’s going back as he’s lo longer welcome. > Great way to treat people, make a promise and then break it in a rather spectacularly assholish way. > Think if it happened to you. Would you be inclined to offer more help after something like that?.. It makes me too angry to do any more than skim these threads, so tell me: Did **Derek** ever address this question? Did **Bone**? Any of the Trumpists? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/5856 "2017-03-17T22:29:02Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > No, they aren’t the same, but “stupid” is such a vague term otherwise that you could conceivably just make it mean whatever you want to. Yeah, I saw you trying to make it mean “the poor” and inviting me along for the ride. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2017, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/5857 "2017-03-18T00:07:41Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > It makes me too angry to do any more than skim these threads, so tell me: > > Did **Derek** ever address this question? Did **Bone**? Any of the Trumpists? It has been addressed [by **Fuckface von Clownstick**](http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/16/politics/donald-trump-defense-budget-blueprint/). ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2017, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/5858 "2017-05-04T23:25:41Z")
[6 Dead After Truck Collides With Anti-Trump Protesters On Freeway](http://dailyusaupdate.com/breaking-news-6-dead-truck-collides-anti-trump-protesters-freeway/) > [@](#): > > By the time the protesters were visible to Porter – he didn’t have enough time to fully stop and though he did slam on his breaks and attempted to swerve, he ultimately ran into the group of protesters with the side of his delivery truck. > > Porter was estimated to have been traveling at a speed of approximately 45-MPH when he collided with the group of Anti-Trump protesters. Several of the protesters were able to get out of the delivery truck’s path, however, 6 protesters were not able to move quickly enough and were ultimately struck and run over by the vehicle. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2017, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/5859 "2017-05-04T23:28:48Z")
> [@Projammer](#): > > [6 Dead After Truck Collides With Anti-Trump Protesters On Freeway](http://dailyusaupdate.com/breaking-news-6-dead-truck-collides-anti-trump-protesters-freeway/) > > Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. [Fake news.](http://www.snopes.com/anti-trump-protesters-killed-on-freeway/) Sad! ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2017, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/5860 "2017-05-04T23:29:59Z")
> [@Projammer](#): > > [6 Dead After Truck Collides With Anti-Trump Protesters On Freeway](http://dailyusaupdate.com/breaking-news-6-dead-truck-collides-anti-trump-protesters-freeway/) > > Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. > [@](#): > > It was at this time when Richard L. Porter, a 32-year-old Seattle resident employed by Waldrum Brother’s (a local appliance store) as a delivery driver quickly approached the chain of Anti-Trump protesters. **According to Porter, he was driving with the current flow of traffic (around 80-MPH)** when the obstruction created by the protesters seemed to appear out of nowhere. > > By the time the protesters were visible to Porter – he didn’t have enough time to fully stop and though he did slam on his breaks and attempted to swerve, he ultimately ran into the group of protesters with the side of his delivery truck. > > **Porter was estimated to have been traveling at a speed of approximately 45-MPH** when he collided with the group of Anti-Trump protesters. Several of the protesters were able to get out of the delivery truck’s path, however, 6 protesters were not able to move quickly enough and were ultimately struck and run over by the vehicle. Bit of a discrepancy there. If he was doing 80, that was way the hell too fast for even a car, let alone any kind of truck. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086.md?page=292) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086.md?page=294)