What is happening?

[redsturgeon]

I do think both sets of voters were intelligent enough to understand the technical rules under which they were participating.
I do hope both sets of voters are mature enough to cherish the fact they can participate in a democratic process, and accept the results.

Really! I think it is practically irrelevant since all people could do was register their vote yes or no (or abstain) or in the US case vote Trump /Clinton or other. They had no say in how that voted would then be collated to register the final decision.

I think that accepting the results is all that can be done. However accepting and saying nothing is not the only option in a democracy.

John

[Slarti]

I'm just guessing here but lets say that leaves 20% as the percentage of the electorate who are Christian straight white males.

You can't win an election with 20% of the voters. Not even close. So clearly that doesn't explain things and Trump has much broader support.

Well you can if all that 20% turn out to vote and large swathes of those opposing you either don't bother or are excluded by various "Voter identification" scams.

Was reading this morning that only 53% of registered voters actually voted.

[Slarti]

I reckon that the lesson here is that when you put your mind to something and against all odds persevere regardless you can do it. It would be an inspiration to us all, were it not for the socialists telling us it's not!

It would be an inspiration to us if it were not for the way that he did it, with lie piled upon lie, with insults to disabled reporters, with insults to women, with insults to people of religions other than Christian, with insults to people of other races.

The lesson here is that bullshit Trumps everything

[redsturgeon]

The lesson here is that bullshit Trumps everything

Or even Trump bullshits everything!

John

[simoan]

It would be an inspiration to us if it were not for the way that he did it, with lie piled upon lie, with insults to disabled reporters, with insults to women, with insults to people of religions other than Christian, with insults to people of other races.

The lesson here is that bullshit Trumps everything

This is the point made in the Adam Curtis documentary, lies and bullshit rule in 2016 whether you're Trump or Putin. I urge anyone asking themselves how this can happen to watch Hypernormalisation on iPlayer - it's brillianty made, thought provioking and if that's not enough, the music is great too!

All the best, Si

[nigelpm]

At the really high level.

We'll move between Right and Left politically until the end of human's existence on earth. Better to accept it and move on than protest in the streets.

[Lootman]

I think democracy and the right to protest are not mutually exclusive.John

True, and of course the US has that pesky first amendment free speech thing.

At the same time, a protest is usually to achieve some specific change or action. In this case what are they asking for? Another election? Impeachment?

It does look a lot like a cross between being a bad loser and generic whining.

[brightncheerful]

Might I suggest that those of you that think the outcome of the voting for the USA President-elect (the people of America only vote indirectly, ultimately the Electoral College decides, the next meeting is on 19 December 2016) should have been different had it not been for if only… get your for and against reasoning/opinions lined up for the forthcoming elections in France and Germany.

Following RS's cryptic remark about my tome, bullet points should suffice

[mswjr]

I think that accepting the results is all that can be done. However accepting and saying nothing is not the only option in a democracy.

John

Whining after the event is not democracy.
It is indicative of a free society, but that's not the same thing.

Either the moaning is a harmless indulgence on the part of individuals with too high a regard for their own outrage and too much time on their hands, or it forms part of an attempt to replay the result.

Whilst both are ok in a free society, only the first is democratic. What next? Ballot by bullet? An armed uprising if a group don't like the result?
Democracy has produced both Brexit and Donald trump; the mature thing to do in both cases is accept the outcome, be grateful for democracy, and make the best of it- for the common good.
The left should just learn to accept democracy in all its messy glory.

[ElectronicFur]

From that you need to subtract white male athiests and also gay white males who hate Trump.

But do you really? http://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/nov/2/donald-trump-holds-high-flag-gay-equality/

[ElectronicFur]

I think that accepting the results is all that can be done. However accepting and saying nothing is not the only option in a democracy.

Yeah, my whole Facebook feed is virtue signalling self-proclaimed fair-minded liberal losers crying. The vitriol is even worse than after Brexit or the re-election of the Tories. What fun.

[Lootman]

From that you need to subtract white male athiests and also gay white males who hate Trump.

But do you really? http://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/nov/2/donald-trump-holds-high-flag-gay-equality/

There was a candlelight vigil in the Castro neighbourhood of San Francisco last night to mourn Trump's election. That's probably the gayest place in the planet. And Trump will "seriously consider" abolishing same-sex marriage, presumably planning to select a SCOTUS justice who thinks that way:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/don ... 033aafb496

[nigelpm]

I think that accepting the results is all that can be done. However accepting and saying nothing is not the only option in a democracy.

Yeah, my whole Facebook feed is virtue signalling self-proclaimed fair-minded liberal losers crying. The vitriol is even worse than after Brexit or the re-election of the Tories. What fun.

Mine has been remarkably quiet but then I had started to unfollow those kinds of people as I kept upsetting them by stating facts.

It's amazing how much they hate facts and analysis if it doesn't fit their beliefs.

[redsturgeon]

I am not on facebook...am I missing something.

BTW who was it who recommended I watch Adam Curtis's HyperNormalisation...I am 2 hours in and it is brilliant...a must watch for anyone.

John

[nigelpm]

I am not on facebook...am I missing something.

John

Depends how much you desire to see people stating that they are breaking down and crying because of a democratic decision made by the American people.

Just a few of the comments I saw :

"In Democratic terms, Clinton technically won.
Democracy; control of an organization or group by the MAJORITY of its members
Clinton: 59,814,018 votes Trump: 59,611,678 votes"

"This isn't how stories end.
Things are supposed to look dark for a while. Hope can seem pointless and the future can look bleak, but after the dark night of the soul, things are supposed to turn around.
Love and justice are supposed to win, not hate and fear. The hero learns a lesson and grows, he doesn't sink back into his dark and shameful past. The hateful, vile, fear-mongering villain is defeated, not crowned.
This story is wrong.
HATE DOESN'T WIN.
I'm waiting for the next turning point. It's not over."

"Oh dear what is happening in the world. The future is looking very scary just now."

"Another day of sorrow for disappointing and unbelievable election results"

"Utter horror..."

"Close to tears here"

[stooz]

Interestingly only 4% of black women voted for Trump, is this because most black women are dependent on the taxpayer?

Vision25

Do you have a reference if that fact? Because currently to me it seems like a racial stereotype?

[Lootman]

Interestingly only 4% of black women voted for Trump, is this because most black women are dependent on the taxpayer?

Do you have a reference if that fact? Because currently to me it seems like a racial stereotype?

Here is a reference:

"A striking 82 percent of black households with children receive welfare–double the white rate. Hispanic families are not far behind blacks."

"A majority of native black and Hispanic households are on some form of means-tested welfare, compared to just 23 percent of native white households."

http://www.amren.com/features/2015/10/w ... -whos-not/

Of course, it depends what you mean by "welfare". The definition they use appears to include getting healthcare from MediCaid. That would be like saying that someone in the UK who uses the NHS is on welfare.

Also, being "dependant on the taxpayer" is a broader term than just being on welfare. If you have a government job are you "dependent on the taxpayer"? I recall a statistic saying that more than 50% of Scots receive at least some money from the taxpayer.

[simoan]

I am not on facebook...am I missing something.

BTW who was it who recommended I watch Adam Curtis's HyperNormalisation...I am 2 hours in and it is brilliant...a must watch for anyone.

John

Twas me John. I agree that it should be more widely watched and not hidden away on iPlayer. Truly brilliant documentary film making. If you like it, his 2015 documentary Bitter Lake is also worth watching on iPlayer. It traces the history of Afghanistan from post second world war involving the US, Saudi's and Russia. Some amazing footage and great editing.

All the best, Si

[zico]

To attempt to answer the thread question, it seems there is increasing paranoia about the 'biased MSM' (main stream media) so ironically, people go to Twitter and Facebook seeking out groups that support their opinions, and it becomes a vast echo chamber of like-minded folks telling each other things which they take as gospel.

When I was in USA recently, I saw a dispiriting pie chart of a survey which showed only 20% of Trump/Clinton supporters agreed on basic facts, but disagreed with policies to pursue.
A staggering 80% didn't even agree on basic facts!

[brightncheerful]

It would be an inspiration to us if it were not for the way that he did it, with lie piled upon lie, with insults to disabled reporters, with insults to women, with insults to people of religions other than Christian, with insults to people of other races.

Insulting to whom? Outsiders such as yourself or the actual voters?

Generally, people ate inhibited by a desire to be popular. Rather than speak their mind.

In a democracy where the right of free speech is upheld, it is open to some people to impose their opinions - advocates of political correctness?, fairness and equal rights - and for others not to take any notice.

Essentially,, it is the difference between one's persona in public and in private. You and others like-minded are wanting congruence, which is all very nobel, but it's not going to happen until each and every individual is and equally is allowed to always be themselves. And for that to happen any imposition on individual attitudes would have to cease.