(28 Aug) - Republicans Are Wrong on Abortion—and They Know It https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/republican-debate-wrong-abortion/ #RepublicansAbortion #PoliticalDebate #AbortionRights #ReproductiveJustice #RepublicansKnow #ProChoice #Politics #News https://mastodon.sdf.org/@uspolitics/110968331237342976

This is what happens when the dog catches the fire engine…

#RepublicansAbortion #PoliticalDebate #AbortionRights #ReproductiveJustice #RepublicansKnow #ProChoice #Politics #News

https://mastodon.sdf.org/@uspolitics/110968331237342976

On President's Day, controversial Presidential visit to Ukraine incites strong opinions. #PresidentsDay #Biden #Ukraine #PoliticalDebate #Loyalty #PuertoRico https://www.GPTrending.com/#/?date=2023-02-20&topic=President Biden

Some people attack others who can't see things that seem obvious to them; they dismiss the majority in elitist terms, alienating them, giving them an excuse to turn a deaf ear and to walk away; or in social media terms, blocking or muting. But when I think I'm a bit more farsighted than others, I feel luckier, not better. I respect their right to convince me I'm wrong and that's all I ask of them. #PoliticalDebate is a really good thing. It's not in the least confrontational. Not if done right.

When politicians/journalists realize they can use Mastodon the way they used to use #birdsite - to engage with their readers/viewers/listeners and voters - the quicker they'll pull the plug on Elon Musk's hideous monstrosity, taking all advertisers with them. That will humiliate if not bankrupt him. And it will certainly limit the damage he can do to society. So let's not tell people that #PoliticalDebate is unwelcome here. Patient, logical, respectful debate using facts is what everybody needs.

No matter how fast Mastodon grows it will never be fast enough for me. In saying that I should be speaking for all of us. We should all consider it our duty to help grow this site, rather than be satisfied with growing our individual accounts. I've no problem sharing ideas for getting followers. And I don't care if my follower/followee ratio remains very much less than average. The bigger everyone's account the faster we get journalists/politicians here. And we need both, asap. #PoliticalDebate

@gtrd1960 I've barely watched #PMQs since Jeremy Corbyn stepped down as Labour leader. But I want to help Mastodon become a source of #PoliticalDebate and using the PMQs hashtag may accelerate that process.

The vast majority of those who are given airtime on television or radio when it comes to #PoliticalDebate make me feel ill. #PMQs

It is certainly true that some #TwitterMigration refugees will carry baggage from bird site. There may be bitter disputes we got into there, and I'm talking about those whose politics generally concur. People sometimes divide over the smallest things. I suggest we try to agree an amnesty and let bygones be bygones. When differences emerge, let's be patient with one another. When we can't agree, agree to differ. End exchanges as friends. We can return to #PoliticalDebate at a later date.

Mastodon doesn't need any complicated algorithm to herd us into silos. We'll find what we want by choosing who we follow. We'll find more via discovering Boosts of other people and then following them too. And hashtags will help us find what we want. But #PoliticalDebate can't be banned on this site. Individual topics are going to trend her under #Explore, #Local, #Federated etc. And that, as far as I'm concerned, is a good thing. This will attract journalists and we need to get them here asap.

Everyone who dislikes politics has the option of unfollowing, muting or even blocking others who engage in #PoliticalDebate. But you have no right to stop the rest of us regardless of what your private politics are. Elon Musk is extremely dangerous and everyone on this site needs to recognize that. Then we need to unite against him and all the reactionaries who further his creepy agenda. Those telling us to shut up make me suspicious. Could they share the same agenda as Musk and Trump? Possibly.

What do I say to those on Mastodon who dislike politics? Firstly, I'm not going to tell them they're not entitled to their opinion. However, since they're reluctant to tell us what they think, we've no way of knowing if they're making the world a better or worse place. None of us can abstain from politics. Professional politicians and the owners of the msm want the rest of us to be reduced to spectators. But we're not gonna take that anymore. #PoliticalDebate

I am surprised, and disappointed, by how many on Mastodon have contempt for many #TwitterMigration refugees. I'm sure they're in a tiny minority. But we refugees found something worthwhile in #birdsite. And we want this site to replicate what was once good there. If you think it was always crap you're entitled to your opinion. But if Mastodon becomes hostile to those who want political engagement it will end up as a footnote in the history of social media. I don't want that. #PoliticalDebate

@jpkeates Who should build a replacement for #birdsite? And which #birdsite are you talking about? The one owned by Elon Musk or the one that existed before he owned it? Maybe you can't see a difference, but most people on Mastodon can. That's why it's been growing so fast and will continue to unless those on the other site are told we're not welcome. And if you abstain from politics you're supporting the status quo. That's also a political decision. And it's not my choice. #PoliticalDebate

Something that's related to some of the other things about #PoliticalDebate I've been posting is in recent days I've seen toots about how server moderators are facing huge bills due to accommodating such higher volume of traffic. This must be a concern for all of us. I want us to replace #birdsite soon in terms of members and reach; without that this site won't be enough. But this will add to costs exponentially. So how do we pay for all this? I'm not ruling out advertising. Others probably are.

When I got round to entering a Mastodon bio I admitted some of my engagement on this site will be political but added that's just the tip of the iceberg: adding my diagnosis of #adhd and interest in #music #science #literature and a lot more. I won't vet followers on a narrow political basis if I share other interests. If you don't like politics that's okay. But you need to permit the rest of us to make our case, persuading each other with respect, facts, logic and patience. #PoliticalDebate

@MostlyTato Thank you. And I feel the same way about you. We need to encourage as many people as possible to contribute to how to make #PoliticalDebate civilized and a welcome place for everyone. When individuals disagree, they can choose to unfollow, mute or even block. We'll all probably have to do that from time to time.

Different individuals will have a different set of tolerances when it comes to political differences. If I agree with someone on some issues but not on others I'm going to keep following them unless we get into a terrible flame war which damages both of us. I hope that never happens. We can Boost political toots we like and ignore those we dislike. One day one of us may feel confident enough to try to persuade the other. And if we can't agree, let's keep agreeing to disagree. #PoliticalDebate

While I see no open right wingers on Mastodon, I am following and being followed by some who disagree with me on some political issues. As my bio stresses, I won't veto who I follow based on politics except in extreme circumstances. But when I disagree with someone should I tell them? Not necessarily. If I don't think either of us will persuade the other we can focus on what does unite us. That way we build Mastodon and erode #birdsite's monopoly of political debate in the msm. #PoliticalDebate

As far as I can see there are possibly no open right wingers on Mastodon. Some may be in the closet and too scared to come out. I don't think they'll be successful at driving most who want freedom to be political off this site. Some may wish to hide their politics behind Content Warnings. But how do we maintain a civilized regime of debate? I'd like us to debate how to get a better balance than there ever was on the birdsite. #PoliticalDebate