Enjoy the ocean floor.  I hear it is lovely.   ðŸ˜€ 

I've said my peace.  I don't support debt forgiveness.  I'm entitled to my opinion.

Edit

Biggerboat1 I think it 100% spot on.  Lots of middle aisle people feel that way.  A few years ago I was a hardcore  Democrat, not so much anymore.  Largely because Democrat's force assimilation, you can't even think slightly out of party lines...  see this thread for example.  I've gotten next to no respect despite valid points and agreeing on most other topics.  Democrats are all or nothing these days.  A shame to see free thought be discouraged.

I think you’re getting overly sensitive, who is discouraging free thought or saying you aren't entitled to your opinion? You’re acting like we are trying to get you banned. This is a forum, it survives by having discussion and naturally disagreements create more discussion than agreements.

Free thought and opinions go both ways, you are allowed to share your views and others are allowed to share their opposing views and explain why they think you are wrong. I’ve noticed when people talk about free speech being repressed, what they actually mean is “I want to share my views and I don’t want anybody to disagree or point out any flaws!”

Enjoy the ocean floor.  I hear it is lovely.   ðŸ˜€ 

I've said my peace.  I don't support debt forgiveness.  I'm entitled to my opinion.

Biggerboat1 I think it 100% spot on.  Lots of middle aisle people feel that way.  A few years ago I was a hardcore  Democrat, not so much anymore.  Largely because Democrat's force assimilation, you can't even think slightly out of party lines...  see this thread for example. 

Chrkeller said:

I've gotten next to no respect despite valid points and agreeing on most other topics.  Democrats are all or nothing these days.  A shame to see free thought be discouraged.

Being called a "hypocrite" and being told I have a "fuck you" attitude isn't exactly encouraging open dialogue. 

Either way, doesn't change the larger point that people in the middle feel a bit forced towards the right because if someone doesn't 100% with the pre-assigned talking points they are viewed as a bad person.  

I’m pretty sure neither of those things are any meaner or any more hostile than the things you have said to Soundwave while arguing about video game graphics, something that is far less important in the grand scheme of things.

If someone feels they are being pushed to the right, the side that wants to take away reproduction rights, LGBT rights, voting rights, labor rights, pretends racism doesn’t exist, denies science & climate change, ignores gun violence, views immigrants as lesser humans, attempts to erase history, and wants to defund education, healthcare, social security and other safety net programs, all because leftists sometimes say mean things online then idk what to tell you, maybe that person was looking for an excuse to move to the right or maybe they are a snowflake who can’t handle any form of criticism.

These seem like random gotchas but I’ll reply.

What other major purchases do 17-19 year olds make? Things like vehicles and housing are the other common major life purchases people get loans for where the cost can rival that of college tuition but you need proof of income and credit history to prove you can pay them back. Also we are talking about federal loans so things personal loans, credit cards and car loans don’t really apply to the discussion. When it comes to public transportation and affordable housing, I do fully support the government significantly expanding these areas. I don’t think the government really has the authority to forgive private debt but I believe they should do things that help bring down the cost of living for all Americans so they can better repay these debts or not get into debt in the first place.

As for crimes, it depends on what the specific crime was but I don’t think young people (or people of any age for that matter) doing dumb things should ruin their entire lives. Of course, people should have to serve out their punishment whether that’s a fine, community service or jail time but in general I feel the government should do more to help rehabilitate and integrate former criminals back into society. Even after serving out their sentence, many face discrimination when it comes to employment, housing and other services which leads them back to a life of crime.

I don’t think it matters what category you bring up, it can be healthcare, housing, infrastructure, education, child care, labor rights, public safety, equality, criminal justice, environment/climate, etc. my answer will probably be that the government could & should have a more active role.

Bit of a straw-man don't you think and perhaps an example of what he was talking about.  Taking all those issues and implying the other side's stance on them is a school yard reaction ....

How is it a strawman? That’s literally what he’s saying, he feels pushed to the right because we disagreed on a specific issue and I said a few mean things.

Obviously not every single conservative/Republican agrees 100% with all of those issues but it’s predominantly people on the right who have those stances and is where the Republican Party as a whole is trending.

This is not something that is exclusive to the left.

Right wingers have on multiple occasions basically made it illegal to be left wing. 

Most people think of themselves as being morally upright, and frequently think that people who disagree with them must be immoral. 

Pro-choice people are baby killers, don't you know? 

They're communists/socialists/liberals coming for your guns, your freedom, your knives, your religion, your cars, etc.

Or recently "no one wants to work anymore"

Maybe young people today are left wing, because right wingers villainize them?

I don't have time to respond to every point unfortunately, the dishes aren't going to do themselves haha, but re. the above, I wanted to expand.

Of course elements of the right regularly demonize the left and caricatures it's positions relentlessly. But the left seems to be a lot more prone to eating it's own. There's an appetite to shame & scold others on the left, who's positions fall even marginally to the right of theirs.

As an example, and I know this is a can of worms, but it's the best example I can think of. I'd quite like to discuss what's going on with the trans debate. I have no issue with using any individual's preferred pronouns & genuinely want trans people to feel accepted, valued & included. However I do have some reservations around legal definitions and rights that I view as potentially infringing on those of biological women...

My position isn't fixed and I'm still trying to figure it all out, but I'd say that my stance overall sits on the general left.

However I'm very cautious in regards to with whom & where I bring this topic up, as it seems to be the case that if you're not 110% on board with every aspect of the trans argument that you can expect to be hit with being 'anti-trans', or if I was a female, a 'terf'.

I always associated the left with empathy, compassion & respect, but more and more I feel that these values are extended to everyone except those who dare to have a divergence of opinion...