# Underestimating the number of stupid assholes in America **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 8, 2012, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underestimating-the-number-of-stupid-assholes-in-america/634057 "2012-09-08T01:24:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2016, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underestimating-the-number-of-stupid-assholes-in-america/634057/121 "2016-11-09T23:47:24Z")
> [@Peanut\_Gallery](#): > > And now I shall make a wild and impossible prediction for the next four years! > … drumroll please!!! … > America will look mostly the same in 2020, and Trump will probably be re-elected. I don’t think there’s any “probably” about it. Trump is a shoo-in for 2020. I started another thread a few weeks ago, saying that I thought a Republican victory in 2020 was almost assured, and that was when I thought Hillary would win easily. It’s definitely assured now. Why? Because there will be more jobs, higher income, and lower medical insurance premiums for lots of people. Not because the Republicans are so great, but because they are so bad. With Trump in the White House and the Pubs controlling both houses, Trump will be able to get almost anything he wants. Yes, Obamacare will be repealed. No, it won’t be replaced, except with some ineffectual fig leaf. Yes, premiums will go down, because the policies will be crappy again. People who are happy with their low premiums will find out why Obamacare cost more, when they have a serious illness and their insurance gets cancelled. But most people don’t get serious illnesses, so most people will think repealing Obamacare was great. Every ten-year-old knows that we need a massive infrastructure upgrade, which will create a ton of new jobs. Obama tried very hard to get that going, but the shitass Republicans obstructed it, as they obstructed almost anything that Obama was for, putting the party ahead of the country. When Trump proposes the same thing, of course the Republicans will vote for it, and so will the Dems, because they put the country first. So Trump will succeed in dramatically raising employment. Same thing with drilling, pipelines, etc. Trump will open all that up again, and to hell with the environment. Miami will be under water in 50 years, but in 2020, all people will care about are cheap gas and even more jobs. Last but not least, Trump will appoint another Scalia, and maybe several Scalias, to the Supreme Court. If you think anonymous money and voter suppression were bad this time around, you ain’t seen nothin yet. They will make it so hard for minorities and college students to vote that that alone would ensure a Republican win. So yeah, Dems are fucked in 2020. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underestimating-the-number-of-stupid-assholes-in-america/634057/122 "2016-11-10T01:51:37Z")
> [@penultima\_thule](#): > > On the other hand it has made it a whole lot easier for rest of us to get a handle on America. > > Previously you’d get in a conversation with an American on your travels and they’d be unfailingly polite, articulate, have a passable knowledge of the world outside the lower 48, have a considered views on things they thought should be improved together with an innate understanding of what made America great. And consequently, based on this straw poll of an accumulated cross section, you’d ask yourself again how is it that what is happening is happening? It seemed irreconcilable. > > Now we just need to ask the simple question “Did you vote in 2016” and if the answer is yes it is a 50% chance they are a card carrying member of the United Klans of Dumbasfuckistan. Not really. Many Trump voters are the type of xenophobes who won’t move more than 5 miles from where they were born, let alone visit another country (unless they are buying cheap booze in Canada). From what I can tell, it isn’t an American phenomenon either. There are percentages of these types of xenophobes in every country, with some even percentages even higher than the United States (though mostly lower). However when you meet the stereotypical dumb American who can’t understand why a Parisian McDonalds won’t take American dollars, then you know for sure that he or she came from the United Klans of Dumbasfuckistan. ---
**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:** [November 10, 2016, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underestimating-the-number-of-stupid-assholes-in-america/634057/123 "2016-11-10T02:02:40Z")
> [@Bryan Ekers in 2012](#): > > Hey, I don’t hate [Americans] nearly as much as they seem to hate themselves, the silly self-destructive buggers. Well, at least I feel vindicated by my own consistency. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underestimating-the-number-of-stupid-assholes-in-america/634057/124 "2016-11-10T02:50:01Z")
> [@Alice\_The\_Goon](#): > > … I can’t put half my friends and family on ignore. Why the hell not? ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underestimating-the-number-of-stupid-assholes-in-america/634057/125 "2016-11-10T03:27:25Z")
n.b. calling everyone else stupid doesn’t make you smart. it just means you don’t know how stupid you are. ---
**Author:** ![excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e8c25b/32.png) [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/excavating_for_a_mind)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underestimating-the-number-of-stupid-assholes-in-america/634057/126 "2016-11-10T04:02:42Z")
> [@somepumpkin](#): > > Thank you, **PeanutGallery**. I too, underestimated that number. Though I could agree with most everything you said, it’s these (above, quoted) issues that stand-out. I’ll not lose any sleep over it though. I’m an old, straight, above-poverty honkey, so I’ve got it pretty-good. I grow weary of it staying fucked-up for the less-fortunate, though. > > And I grow especially weary of this God shit. Jesus-fucking-tapdancing-Christ. I can’t wait until he’s really, truly, and deservedly dead and gone from the US political dialog. I find this a great example as to why so many liberals are so blind to what has gone on. First, the issues quoted (which I have omitted) are pretty much irrelevant. If it wasn’t for those issues, there would be others that would make you call those had opinions that differed from you assholes (or, racists, or homophobics, or whatever other insult you can think of that makes you feel superior). As long as you [del]want[/del] feel the need to put people who don’t think like you do down, you are not seeing the problem. Perhaps the hardworking guy in Wisconsin (or Pennsylvania, or Florida, or wherever) doesn’t really care who some gay guy in Ann Arbor wants to marry, but is a little pissed that our country had decided to devote more legal resources to that issue than to why it costs more for his wife to have a baby than it does to build a new car. Yeah, we are much better off to reduce the problems 5-10% of the population faces than those that 80% of us face. It’s good that, being an old, straight, above-poverty honkey that you won’t lose any sleep. I lost a lot of sleep last night (as did my wife). I am also old, white, well-off and (pretty) straight. I was not worrying about how fucked-up it was (or will be) for the less-fortunate, however, since things are always fucked-up for the less-fortunate. That is what makes them less-fortunate. If you fix things for one group, there will be another. No, what kept me awake was how much we seem to vilify those that don’t think like we do. It happens on both sides, and it is destructive to all with no constructive benefit. Yeah, it might \*you \*feel superior, but it doesn’t help. What helps is understanding that people are different, but, together, we can improve things for everyone. We aren’t going to do that if we aren’t together. As far as growing weary of “this God shit”, my only response is that if you separate Church and State and then reject the Church so much so the State has to take control of those issues typically handled by the Church (charity, compassion, morality), it seems the State has become the Church. How do you separate Church and State when Big Government is your religion? ---
**Author:** ![salmo89](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@salmo89](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salmo89)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underestimating-the-number-of-stupid-assholes-in-america/634057/127 "2016-11-10T05:22:48Z")
Hi all! Someone can help me here please?? :smack:[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=19768711#post19768711](http://hiphopstyle.freeforumzone.com/d/11326297/Testo-Salmo-Don-Medell%C3%ACn-Hellvisback-Platinum-/discussione.aspx) Thank you!! 🙂 ---
**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:** [November 10, 2016, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underestimating-the-number-of-stupid-assholes-in-america/634057/128 "2016-11-10T05:24:20Z")
> [@salmo89](#): > > Hi all! Someone can help me here please?? :smack: spammy spammy spammy > Thank you!! 🙂 Reported ---
**Author:** ![somepumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@somepumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/somepumpkin)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underestimating-the-number-of-stupid-assholes-in-america/634057/129 "2016-11-10T17:50:42Z")
> [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](#): > > I find this a great example as to why so many liberals are so blind to what has gone on. > > First, the issues quoted (which I have omitted) are pretty much irrelevant. If it wasn’t for those issues, there would be others that would make you call those had opinions that differed from you assholes (or, racists, or homophobics, or whatever other insult you can think of that makes you feel superior). As long as you [del]want[/del] feel the need to put people who don’t think like you do down, you are not seeing the problem. Perhaps the hardworking guy in Wisconsin (or Pennsylvania, or Florida, or wherever) doesn’t really care who some gay guy in Ann Arbor wants to marry, but is a little pissed that our country had decided to devote more legal resources to that issue than to why it costs more for his wife to have a baby than it does to build a new car. Yeah, we are much better off to reduce the problems 5-10% of the population faces than those that 80% of us face. > > It’s good that, being an old, straight, above-poverty honkey that you won’t lose any sleep. I lost a lot of sleep last night (as did my wife). I am also old, white, well-off and (pretty) straight. I was not worrying about how fucked-up it was (or will be) for the less-fortunate, however, since things are always fucked-up for the less-fortunate. That is what makes them less-fortunate. If you fix things for one group, there will be another. > > No, what kept me awake was how much we seem to vilify those that don’t think like we do. It happens on both sides, and it is destructive to all with no constructive benefit. Yeah, it might \*you \*feel superior, but it doesn’t help. What helps is understanding that people are different, but, together, we can improve things for everyone. We aren’t going to do that if we aren’t together. > > As far as growing weary of “this God shit”, my only response is that if you separate Church and State and then reject the Church so much so the State has to take control of those issues typically handled by the Church (charity, compassion, morality), it seems the State has become the Church. How do you separate Church and State when Big Government is your religion? Okay, your points are valid and well received. I’m not calling names, btw, but this is The Pit. Oh, maybe I did… blasting out at Jesus like that. And I do like that term “homophobics”. Can I use that? Either way, you’re right about those with different situations than mine and that they have a different system of values. And in a snarky way, that’s what I was saying with my straight honkey comment. I realize I don’t have the same problems as many of us do. In fact, I agree with your guy in Wisconsin and understand his healthcare plight. Gays marrying in Ann Arbor doesn’t even show up on my radar of concern (though I wish them the best). The fact that either Hillary or Don is president won’t change the fact that gays want to be free to do as the rest of us. And if you want a positive change in healthcare, why would you vote for an R? But my rant’s not against anyone’s policy, so I should digress. Oh, I lost some sleep on Tuesday. There was a lot of anticipation -paired with trepidation- in the air that night. I slept like a log last night, though. And note that I’m not vilifying people because they want what’s best for THEM and not me. I’m calling them out for choosing a proven buffoon over an actual and professional adult. I don’t want a self-proclaimed, pussy-grabbin’ xenophobe representing me on the international stage. That’s mostly what it comes down to. I understand the masses wanting something different. I even understand that they think Hillary is a piece of shit. I get that they want someone who’s not “the establishment”. But we all had the chance with Ross Perot and Ralph Nadar and -to some extent- with Ron Paul. Had either of those been chosen, I’d have never stepped into this thread. Sorry no apologies for the god comment I made. Keep your god out of my government. But let me clarify; I’m not rejecting the church, simply by default. I want all people to be free to practice their religion(s) and I think humanity is stronger\* because of it. But that shit weakens our government. \*for various definitions of stronger. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underestimating-the-number-of-stupid-assholes-in-america/634057/130 "2016-11-10T19:11:03Z")
I want "all this god shit’ gone from politics too. Why? Because the “politicians” and “culture warriors”, the ones who keep bringing it into politics don’t give a fuck about compassion or charity, or morality. It’s just a weapon to fuck other people over. That’s why. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underestimating-the-number-of-stupid-assholes-in-america/634057/131 "2016-11-11T15:06:49Z")
Well played, \*\*Peanut Gallery \*\*, well played indeed … The 2000 election was kinda “meh” for me … it was the election of 2004 that drove the point home … gun wielding neo-Nazi’s vote as well … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underestimating-the-number-of-stupid-assholes-in-america/634057.md?page=6)