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Colbert: The World Unites in Laughing at Trump

86
Belafon9/26/2018 7:17:44 am PDT

re: #84 Old Liberal

I have been reading Robert Sapolsky’s book “Behave” and in it he addresses aspects of the Prisoners Dilemma from game theory. I know that many say it is important that we not be like the Republicans, that we must be “better than them”. But the Prisoners Dilemma illustrates that until the non-cooperating party is hammered back, they will continue to refuse to cooperate. In human behavior, this is the regrettable reality— if we ever want to return to some level of normal cooperation and compromise, when the Democrats retake power (most likely 2020), they need to show in no uncertain terms that there will always be a price to pay for a power grab. The other side will understand nothing less, and anything less will not have the necessary effect. The Republicans have shown that they care nothing for public opinion, Democrats need to have the same resolve to return our democracy to functionality. Pack the court, prosecute all Republican offenses fully, hold effective fast hearings that report the full depravity, levy taxes on the wealthy to pay down the deficit, push through Medicare for All. And when the media criticize, ignore them. When the Republicans scream tyranny, double down. I wish I did not have to advocate for this, but science informs me that this is true. We are not doing this for revenge, but for the re-establishment of a functioning democracy.

Add to that suggestions from the other day: Increase the number of House seats, which will reduce gerrymandering, and make our territories states.