Some people seem to have an inability to understand the importance of coalition building in a democratic society. That’s kind of the whole thing.

Like, sure there’s a time and place for us to argue differences, but how productive is it to just lead in with calling someone a class traitor? Regardless of whether someone feels that’s true, is that a helpful approach? What purpose does that really serve?

I work in the public sector and part of my work sometimes involves budgeting for personnel. When an agency is accounting for the cost of their employees, they include all direct and indirect expenses. So, obviously salary, health coverage, various types of leave, pension - these are all direct costs. We also calculate agency indirects in some proportion - the marginal cost of having more payroll staff, HR staff, IT support, facilities, etc., to cover the additional employee.

I wouldn’t be surprised for the total cost to an agency being about 40-60% higher than salary cost. The rate reported here is high and could be very well padded, but it’s not entirely out there to me.

This aligns well with Clarence Thomas seeking to get rid of his wife by setting the stage for interracial marriage to become illegal.

It sounds like you just don’t like parliamentary systems? If voters don’t like the party leader, they still have recourse to select other MPs in the upcoming election in a month, right?

As a lifelong student of politics, I think there are trade-offs to presidential vs parliamentary systems. As an American experiencing political gridlock in the US Congress across decades, there have been times I have been envious of the notion of having a legislative and executive branch work together rather than in diametric opposition.

Edit: Also, while I believe Carney is friends with billionaires, his net worth is around $7 million. For someone who spent so much time in investment banking, to my American eyes that doesn’t seem extravagant. Compare to former presidential candidates Mitt Romney, net worth of $186 million.

The poll seems to cover Democrats and “Democrat-leaning independents,” so not the DNC.

Exit: can’t find the actual post on Morning Consult yet, but the article features an image where they specify the polled population.

The trick for anything is time and consistency. Choose two or three things from this list and plan when you will devote a few hours each week. During your “practice” time, find and use learning resources online.

Some of these ideas are also shorter-term kind of forming things (like avoid brain rot, touch more grass), so I would also dedicate time weekly to think of/plan concrete changes in your life to accomplish them. Rotate through the list until the habit is fully formed.

Thank you! Any time this kind of polling shows up on Lemmy, users seem to think this is the Plan of the Democratic Leadership Cabal, rather than an incredibly premature name recognition test.

People want to vote for people they have favorable impressions of who they also think others will vote for. Without other frontrunners, who emerge over time, it’s not surprising that polled Democrats would recognize and still support the candidate that 75 million people voted for five months ago.

If you want other candidates (I do), identify them and figure out how to help them build their profile now.

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