r/politics • u/slaysia • Dec 19 '17

Democrat wins Va. House seat in recount by single vote; creating 50-50 tie in legislature

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/democrat-wins-va-house-seat-in-recount-by-single-vote-creating-50-50-tie-in-legislature/2017/12/19/3ff227ae-e43e-11e7-ab50-621fe0588340_story.html?utm_term=.82f2b85b50fa
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u/[deleted] Dec 19 '17

There's nothing inherently ignorant about an animation. I think any medium of communication has the potential to teach real concepts in a thoughtful way.

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u/lashfield Dec 19 '17

There is a structural difference between a cartoon and a book/policy research/engaging in political philosophy. I'm fine with adding perspectives, but the problem with getting your political beliefs from South Park is that I have far too often encountered people disengaging from actually forming political beliefs because things like the South Park giant turd episode sold them an ideology that confirmed their own laziness in an entertaining way, making that pill go down all the more smoothly. Politics is deep, difficult, and dirty. Research should form the basis for those political beliefs, not entertainment. Trust me, I'm a huge fan of satire, but I'm also a fan of doing the fucking work required.

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u/MaximumEffort433 Maryland Dec 20 '17

Or just the short, trumpian thinking of "Well if a billionaire says it, it must be true! Look how successful he/she/they is/are!"

All of us, to some degree, let other people do out thinking for us. Confession: I've never actually read over the hundreds of pages of data gathered during a climate study, I take the scientist's word on the conclusion they come to. The problem, in part, is where one attributes authority. Climate scientists are trusted authorities on climate science, Trey Parker and Matt Stone are not, or should not be trusted authorities on politics. One can listen to them all they want, just double check the data afterwards.

It's arrogant of me, I know, but there are times where I worry that people might think I'm an authority on all this shit, which is why I try to flood my posts with links: So that other folks can check my work.

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u/lashfield Dec 20 '17

I'm not saying you have to be an expert on every topic to speak on it. Thomas Aquinas proved that. It's okay to read things charitably. What it's not okay to do is not do anything, not read anything, not give a shit, because South Park giggles told you that all politicians are the same.

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u/MaximumEffort433 Maryland Dec 20 '17

Thomas Aquinas proved that.

Yeah, old Tom, he was good at proving one doesn't have to be an expert at stuff. What was that thing he said and/or wrote on the subject? I mean I know it, I just want to hear you say it. I totally know it though.