Please explain how a minority of abstainers will positively influence candidates.

I can easily explain how the exact opposite occurs in one sentence.

Conventions receive detailed reports on active registered voters and tailor their next candidate to capture more of that audience.

Just think of all the dropped suits against 3M, Boeing, the Sacklers, and Big Oil, when Project 2025’s plan for Schedule F employees comes to fruition.

I’m guessing you still think the silence of your abstention will “make your voice heard,” even after witnessing all the damage it caused in 2016?

That’s exactly what they’re counting on. The same goes for 3M and Boeing.

It’s both. Sort of an election dependent Schrödinger’s cat. The settlement amount was far too low in relation to the damage caused and the profits earned, so the immunity from future settlements was absurd. However, if Trump wins in the fall, there’s no way his new Project 2025 Schedule F hires will bring appropriate charges against a business doing business.

We’ve already spent $52B in settlement funds on local police departments and cash payouts. Without a federal mandate for investment in rehabilitation programs, it’ll just end up spent the same anyway.

https://www.opioidsettlementtracker.com/

Oh, I completely agree that they made the right decision. My point is that the ruling is a double-edged sword if Trump wins in the fall.

They did, however, a new case won’t be brought and heard before the next presidency. Project 2025’s Schedule F hires won’t be prosecuting businesses doing business. Yet another reason to vote in November.

This is the result of protesting an election by abstention.

Fuck. Well, this is what we get for thinking we can change the government with abstention.

I’m sorry. Same thread, different commenter. My mistake.

Next would be the Mini EV. It starts at $30k. Still far less than your $80k example.

https://www.miniusa.com/2024-models/electric-hardtop.html

It’s thirty counts, but it’s still considered his first offense. They’re not considered consecutive. The only way he’ll see prison for that crime is if he proves to be at risk of committing more crime without “rehabilitative incarceration.” If Merchan reaches too far on his sentencing, it’ll just fuel the bias claim in Trump’s inevitable appeal.

You can buy a Nissan Leaf starting at $28k. It’s made in US, Japan, and Mexico.

https://www.nissanusa.com/vehicles/electric-cars/leaf.html

Do you mean informed?

In Xinjiang, the government is the trafficker. Authorities use threats of physical violence, forcible drug intake, physical and sexual abuse, and torture to force detainees to work in adjacent or off-site factories or worksites producing garments, footwear, carpets, yarn, food products, holiday decorations, building materials, extractives, materials for solar power equipment and other renewable energy components, consumer electronics, bedding, hair products, cleaning supplies, personal protective equipment, face masks, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and other goods—and these goods are finding their way into businesses and homes around the world.

https://www.state.gov/forced-labor-in-chinas-xinjiang-region/

In other words, the U.S. content of “Made in China” is about 55%. The fact that the U.S. content of Chinese goods is much higher than for imports as a whole is mainly due to higher retail and wholesale margins on consumer electronics and clothing than on most other goods and services.

https://www.frbsf.org/research-and-insights/publications/economic-letter/2011/08/us-made-in-china/

It is simply more economical to use forced labor than to pay minimum wage. It results in lower price points on Chinese branded products, and higher margins on US branded products produced in China. This problem is not exclusive to automotive manufacturing, as illustrated in the above research article.

To be clear on my personal opinion, I’m not recommending US industry over foreign. I drive a Hyundai. I’m specifically speaking against Chinese industry, just as Biden’s tariffs are not applicable to imports aside from China.

Electric cars in the US are more expensive mostly due to higher costs of overhead. For example, we have a minimum wage, and China uses forced labor.

Good luck buying anything made in the US for less money than on AliExpress.

Edit: Is this really the same group of people that want US businesses to divest from Israel, defending products made with the slave labor of Uyghurs?

In Xinjiang, the government is the trafficker. Authorities use threats of physical violence, forcible drug intake, physical and sexual abuse, and torture to force detainees to work in adjacent or off-site factories or worksites producing garments, footwear, carpets, yarn, food products, holiday decorations, building materials, extractives, materials for solar power equipment and other renewable energy components, consumer electronics, bedding, hair products, cleaning supplies, personal protective equipment, face masks, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and other goods—and these goods are finding their way into businesses and homes around the world.

https://www.state.gov/forced-labor-in-chinas-xinjiang-region/

I can’t. I was referring to articles that I’ve read in the past. By asking me that, I was prompted to look for a source, and it doesn’t seem like Snowden has directly compromised the safety of anyone. Most of the articles that I’m finding have general government insinuation of risk. That’s not enough for me to form an opinion, so I apologize, and retract my criticism of Snowden.

I still maintain that what Assange did was reckless, especially given his experience as a journalist.

We have a toothless EPA that can determine the problems. Every time they attempt to impose a fine, more power is taken from them. The newly conservative SCOTUS took power plant regulations out of their control just two years ago.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/30/us/epa-carbon-emissions-scotus.html

No one is calling Democrats saviors. They just enact more legislation that benefits people and planet while Republicans support corporations and Christianity. Feel free to pick whatever side is more compelling to you.

Great points. Thank you! I’ll add them to my list.