“What’s going to happen in this next election? I’m terrified about what could possibly happen, because our leaders matter. Who we select, who speaks for us, who holds that bully pulpit, it affects us in ways sometimes I think people take for granted,” Obama told Jay Shetty on his podcast “On Purpose.”

“The fact that people think that government — ‘eh, does it really even do anything?’ — and I’m like ‘Oh my God, does government do everything for us, and we cannot take this democracy for granted.’ And I worry sometimes that we do. Those are the things that keep me up,” she said.

“The bars are different for people in life. That I’ve learned,” she said.

Without naming Trump, she continued: “Other people can be indicted a bunch of times and still run for office. Black men can’t. You just learn to be good. And in the end, you benefit from that extra resilience.”

  • Passerby6497@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    I agree with most of what you said, but they’re not wrong when they say America has no left. Our “left” wing party is still right of center. The handful of actually left wing politicians are drown out by the rest of the party.

    I hate that the Democrats aren’t actually a left wing party, but I’m pragmatic enough to understand that it’s the best use of my vote that has any chance of actually winning / not helping TFG get back in office.

    • fidodo@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      There’s no economically left wing party, but it is pretty left wing about a lot of social things. Gay marriage and marijuana legalization happened in some states before much of the rest of the world for example.

    • Ð Greıt Þu̇mpkin@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      Ok but really objectively consider that statement though.

      Policy by policy the Dems flank left of most of Europe’s old guard of social democratic and socialist parties. Dems tend to be more in favor of new and expanded welfare programs compared to their European counterparts, they’re less likely than said counterparts to adopt right wing policy and talking points to try and appease alt-rightified voters, and on social issues there is no contest, just say the word “Roma” and watch Europeans range from saying that pulling that card isn’t fair because “that’s different” to saying that what the fascists did wrong was lose before they finished the job on the Roma.

      The metric by which America has no left is one by which the western world at large has no left, and at that point what value is gained at all by insisting on it?

      • Eldritch@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Policy by policy the Dems flank left of most of Europe’s old guard of social democratic and socialist parties.

        In what bizzaro world!!? We don’t have basic singles payer health care like all other major western nations. Not to mention millions of other things.

        Dems tend to be more in favor of new and expanded welfare programs compared to their European counterparts,

        Not even. They’ve passed maybe one thing in nearly the last century that approached it. As flawed as it was. And on top of that. Large amounts of Dems have happily voted for eligibility exclusion on even pre existing social welfare programs. Making them more and more useless.

        they’re less likely than said counterparts to adopt right wing policy and talking points to try and appease alt-rightified voters,

        Hello, last 40 years? Hello, third way Democrats? Hello, bipartisanship over principles. Even to this day Biden still waxes poetically about how we need Republicans and how they are good.

        and on social issues there is no contest, just say the word “Roma” and watch Europeans range from saying that pulling that card isn’t fair because “that’s different” to saying that what the fascists did wrong was lose before they finished the job on the Roma.

        There are multiple groups who would elicit similar reactions throughout the United States. Including black, Muslims, trans, gays, and even Democrats. Oh and by the way those fascists and Nazis you were talking about. They got their start by checks notes oh, they literally got their start by emulating the United States. Not only that, around topics of which the United States still hasn’t resolved properly yet to this day. You’re batting 0 here.

        • Ð Greıt Þu̇mpkin@lemm.ee
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          1 year ago

          You seem to have mastered the art of using many words to not say a thing, except maybe for how little you understand European politics compared to American other than “but their actual fascist parties that have elected seats have healthcare.”

          • Eldritch@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            You seem to have mastered the arts of deflection and not being able to address a single point made. I’ll take my skills over yours any day.

      • go_go_gadget@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        at that point what value is gained at all by insisting on it?

        Make this argument in the other direction to prove your sincerity.