Why do people spread fake news about the American election on here?

[stratford]

From the outside world (which has it's own problems), it seems like political comment on here is just about slandering the presidential candidates and their running mates.

Wouldn't it be better to look at their and their party's commitments for where they want to focus when elected?

Don't fall for and amplify the traps being set for you by the media and on social media - get out there, read a broad cross section of information from credible sources and make up your own mind.

The world's future is in your hands - it's time to stop the infighting :-)

Updates

1 y

Echo chambers are rife.

Updates

1 y

I almost wish I hadn't posted this now. Most of the opinions just proove my point.

[WindAtMyBack]

First of all, you probably mostly hear about the presidential elections, which is VASTLY over-rated. The US president doesn't have anywhere near as much power or authority as all the hoopla makes you think. As an individual, the president has a lot of power. But his power is not nearly as much as the US Congress. The entire US government as a whole does not have as much power as state and local governments. (In terms of number of employees, it's about 10% of the government in the US.)

The presidential election has become even more of a shit-show than ever. It's gotten a lot worse with the Internet. It's never-ending. We used to have a break of 2 - 2.5 years between election rhetoric. Now it's non-stop.

Anyway. the presidential election is a combination of real issues, and "feelings". People are already pretty much aware of the real issues. A very large percentage of the population will for "their" party regardless of who the candidate is. So the focus is on feelings, not issues. Feelings subtly sway people who are not solidly with one party or another. But for the people who are already strongly behind one party or another, feelings affect voter turn-out, which has a dramatic affect on the outcome.

The US is very large in both population and geography. National campaigns cost a fortune. A 30 second national ad on TV costs a LOT. Traveling around the country campaigning also costs a lot. National campaigns have crossed the billion dollar point and beyond. The campaigns are about slogans and emotions. A campaign to really explain the real issues is out of the question. That would require major education, which doesn't work with 30 second ads and slogans.

Think about any kind of marketing, which is what this is. Marketing is about swaying perception, whether or not it's grounded in reality.

[exitseven]

Democrats have to lie to win. Their record is so abysmal that they probably will not win anyway but maybe if the fake news media and big tech pull out all the stops and run a 24/7 propaganda machine they might be able to pull Kalama across the finish line.

[stratford]

You've just proved my point. This is happening on both sides.

[exitseven]

@stratford Trump exaggerates, the democrats out and out lie.

[stratford]

You're doing it right now - not sure where you are getting your facts from, but from the outside it's obvious. Perhaps you are on Trump's payroll.

[exitseven]

@stratford Everything that come out of Kamalas mouth is a lie. She talks about her economic policy. The first thing she said that President Trump will only cut taxes for billionaires/ . Then she outright steals Trump's proposal to end taxes for tips and increase the child tax credit.

[Anonymous]

It's weird how "fake news" and "alternative facts" never existed before 2016. That's his campaign strategy along with childish nicknames. His followers take their cues from him. I don't blame the other party from taking up the practice. One side shouldn't have a monopoly on misinformation. I am glad I'm not American or interested in politics but even here it is difficult to avoid. I can't wait for their election to be over.

[DrPepper12]

Not true! Hitler ROUTINELY used the phrase "lügenpresse" (lying press) during his rise to autocracy. MAGA is using the Nazi playbook

[chrissykerdock]

harris doesn't give press coferences nor states anything truthful so what are you talking about

[Anonymous]

In this case both candidates have a record demonstrating not only their actual agenda but their ability to implement it so there is no real point in paying attention to the lies they say.

[Anonymous]

The people that post the bullsh*t believe it is true. Want to take them all aside and explain to them its not? Good luck.

[NamerOfStars]

Probably because most political commentary within the US is just slandering (well, usually libeling, but defamation of some kind) the candidates and their running mates.

[ProbablyClueless]

People want to believe whatever bullshit matches their narrative. They don't care about the truth at all.

[Telekinetic-Potato]

The problem is kamala doesn't really have any and the progressives don't actually care to know what trump wants to do

[DrPepper12]

False. Some of us progressives read Breitbart, Drudge, OAN, Daily Stormer, Washington Examiner, GOP website so I Know what's being proposed through the eyes of the "conservative" media. It's mostly AP articles cut and pasted with wisht washy words like "might, could have, may, if,".

Besides, do you really trust a network (Fox) that admits in open court "no reasonable person would take that {broadcast} seriously" and pays a 3/4 of a BILLION DOLLAR fine?

[Telekinetic-Potato]

@DrPepper12 the only way to know anything is by watching interviews, reading direct quotes. Dissecting propaganda from both sides and analyzing who is involved in the policy decisions each party supports.

Talking about fox CNN or any mainstream source is... We already all know. None of them are trustworthy.

If you want to be able to speak intelligently about politics, really it starts with understanding our economy and it's ties with the military industrial complex as well as corperate conglomerates.

[DrPepper12]

I understand it all too well as TSwift would say

[Telekinetic-Potato]

@DrPepper12 she's like, one of their favorite handlers.

[lorenzomichael]

I believe if you lived in the land of monopoly, somebody will be talking shit about something or another. I also believe people in general like to spread gossip and talk shit just to get the pot churning.

[gorydetails]

Yup. Most of this sounds good:

https://www.donaldjtrump.com/platform

[DrPepper12]

The self selected media echo chambers make it difficult.

[NathanDavis]

it happens everywhere... so why not here

[Jennz6]

Cause they can