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Multiheaded comments on Open Thread, April 1-15, 2012 - Less Wrong Discussion

3 Post author: OpenThreadGuy 01 April 2012 04:24AM

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Comment author: Multiheaded 10 April 2012 07:20:39AM *  -1 points [-]

I've been looking into American politics a little, and it sure is a hilarious business! Here's a short riddle for you. (Disclaimer: not intended to make any implications or mind-kill anyone; I'm not taking a dig at any opponents.)

"As ________ , we believe America is a land of boundless opportunity, where people can better themselves, their children, their families, and their communities through education, hard work, and the freedom to climb the ladder of economic mobility." (Paragraph from a group's mission statement.)

Without googling, can you tell what the missing noun is?

Comment author: Jayson_Virissimo 10 April 2012 11:56:26AM 5 points [-]

"Mexicans"?

Comment author: Nornagest 10 April 2012 07:41:39AM *  2 points [-]

It's an applause light. Could be anyone, although the phrasing of that particular applause light makes me suspect either a moderate conservative group or a liberal-leaning group that's trying to establish centrist bona fides.

A whole lot of American political groups use economic mobility in their rhetoric (it's sort of a cultural talisman), so that by itself doesn't tell you very much; you need to dig a little deeper and find out how they're constructing economic mobility if you want to learn about their actual ideology. In particular, the American economic right tends to draw lines between ensuring equality of opportunity and equality of outcome, while the American economic left either deemphasizes that (if the group in question is more centrist) or actively asserts that the two are inseparable (if more leftist).

Comment author: [deleted] 11 April 2012 06:35:12AM 0 points [-]

I'm wondering, looking from the outside into the politics of another country is there anything different? I mean obviously the applause light constellation is probably different, but generally a surprisingly large part of the political rhetoric in any country is shared by most of the sides vying for power.

Comment author: pedanterrific 10 April 2012 11:50:13AM 0 points [-]

"Americans"?