Bogus! Selective banning from selective threads of 1 or more selected posters

[SlyPokerDog]

So, MARIS is gone. Just received an email from him last evening. Apparently, no reason, no fanfare, no nothing. Simply gone. The question is why?

Nope.

 

[ABM]

Nope.

I'll let him know.

 

[UncleCliffy'sDaddy]

It might be that his shtick is so over the top that no one takes him seriously??? Maybe he moved to another message board that is more in line with his “views”………or one he can actually rile up? Hopefully he’ll return someday. He actually was reasonably entertaining…….

 

[Phatguysrule]

So, MARIS is gone. Just received an email from him last evening. Apparently, no reason, no fanfare, no nothing. Simply gone. The question is why?

LMAO! Anything to stir shit up...

 

[julius]

So, MARIS is gone. Just received an email from him last evening. Apparently, no reason, no fanfare, no nothing. Simply gone. The question is why?

Since he's not banned, I suspect what he's doing (if this is true) is he's sending out an email making it appear that he's been banned/selectively banned from the board (thus why he planted that seed in the first place) but in reality, he's just using it as a way to play the victim.

Or he's taking a break and manipulating you into creating a narrative.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I saw a post by Maris in a different thread where he made what I felt was a personal insult. Normally this is not a big deal. The vast majority of personal insults get deleted or edited. But Maris in the last few days has stated repeatedly that he has never insulted anyone on here. He has been in a mood these last couple of days and I was tired of it. I noticed that he was posting from out of the state so I temporarily blocked the specific IP address that he was posting from. His account was not banned but his ability to post from where he was located was blocked. I restored it a few hours later.

 

[THE HCP]

I love how he pointed out only ME and the The Baking Lady From The Bay…… I just don’t get it. What are we doing to this guy? The best part was, look at the bottom of his long rant about how horrible this site is and how much of a victim he is….look who actually took the time to hit the LIKE button. You can’t make this shit up. Now off to do whatever that guy claimed I do.

 

[MARIS61]

I saw a post by Maris in a different thread where he made what I felt was a personal insult. Normally this is not a big deal. The vast majority of personal insults get deleted or edited. But Maris in the last few days has stated repeatedly that he has never insulted anyone on here. He has been in a mood these last couple of days and I was tired of it. I noticed that he was posting from out of the state so I temporarily blocked the specific IP address that he was posting from. His account was not banned but his ability to post from where he was located was blocked. I restored it a few hours later.

Thanks for sort of an explanation Sly, but I am in fact posting from my home here in Beautiful Central Oregon. Haven't even left the county since my return from Florida at the end of last month.

Not sure what led you to believe I was posting from out of state, but then I have never claimed to be a techie genius.

I don't come here to insult anyone. Like most of you, I come to exchange ideas and have 2/3/4-way conversations and learn what other posters are doing and thinking.

Like anyone, if I am insulted first, the gloves come off. I don't consider that insulting someone, merely self defense.

We can all be adult enough to admit the OT forum "mood" has shifted back and forth from it's inception, then like the rest of the world became much more volatile in 2016/2017.

When I (and others) would post a thought or something I saw in the news, I would be mocked for it and bombarded with demands to provide a link to support it, and I would. In fact, I went out of my way to include the links with my original posts. Nobody bothered to go to the links and see that yes, it was true/likely. Instead, the sources of information would be mocked without seeing what actual information they shared.

Personal thought? LMAO! Judicial Watch? Far-right organizations! FOX News? Not real news! Glenn Greenwald? Robert F Kennedy Jr.? Fringe lunatic!
Any Conservative politician? Racist! Mahatma Ghandi? Attention seeker! (Okay I made that one up)

Unfortunately, providing evidence (not always proof) to support my post is not really what is wanted by some posters. What is wanted is for me to dismiss what I have learned each day and just think the same exact things they think, share identical opinions, and don't rock the boat.

They could just say they disagree with my viewpoint. I'll give their post a like, because I respect every American's Freedom of thought/speech.

They could block me, ignore me, or occasionally even prove me wrong by sharing how they came to their viewpoint. I've asked them to do all/any of that.
They don't. Instead, their response is Racist! Moron! Troll! Sham account!

If I respond in kind, I get warned by Mods that I am violating the rules. Just me, not them.

Maybe you could PM me a Mod-approved strategy for handling these confrontations amicably so they don't escalate, other than just bowing to their childish ridicule?

 

[Phatguysrule]

Thanks for sort of an explanation Sly, but I am in fact posting from my home here in Beautiful Central Oregon. Haven't even left the county since my return from Florida at the end of last month.

Not sure what led you to believe I was posting from out of state, but then I have never claimed to be a techie genius.

I don't come here to insult anyone. Like most of you, I come to exchange ideas and have 2/3/4-way conversations and learn what other posters are doing and thinking.

Like anyone, if I am insulted first, the gloves come off. I don't consider that insulting someone, merely self defense.

We can all be adult enough to admit the OT forum "mood" has shifted back and forth from it's inception, then like the rest of the world became much more volatile in 2016/2017.

When I (and others) would post a thought or something I saw in the news, I would be mocked for it and bombarded with demands to provide a link to support it, and I would. In fact, I went out of my way to include the links with my original posts. Nobody bothered to go to the links and see that yes, it was true/likely. Instead, the sources of information would be mocked without seeing what actual information they shared.

Personal thought? LMAO! Judicial Watch? Far-right organizations! FOX News? Not real news! Glenn Greenwald? Robert F Kennedy Jr.? Fringe lunatic!
Any Conservative politician? Racist! Mahatma Ghandi? Attention seeker! (Okay I made that one up)

Unfortunately, providing evidence (not always proof) to support my post is not really what is wanted by some posters. What is wanted is for me to dismiss what I have learned each day and just think the same exact things they think, share identical opinions, and don't rock the boat.

They could just say they disagree with my viewpoint. I'll give their post a like, because I respect every American's Freedom of thought/speech.

They could block me, ignore me, or occasionally even prove me wrong by sharing how they came to their viewpoint. I've asked them to do all/any of that.
They don't. Instead, their response is Racist! Moron! Troll! Sham account!

If I respond in kind, I get warned by Mods that I am violating the rules. Just me, not them.

Maybe you could PM me a Mod-approved strategy for handling these confrontations amicably so they don't escalate, other than just bowing to their childish ridicule?

Hmm... What happened in 2016 that could have changed things?

Ignoring posters like you is the attitude that got us that wonderful 2016/2017 effect you speak of.

 

[barfo]

Thanks for sort of an explanation Sly, but I am in fact posting from my home here in Beautiful Central Oregon. Haven't even left the county since my return from Florida at the end of last month.

Not sure what led you to believe I was posting from out of state, but then I have never claimed to be a techie genius.

I don't come here to insult anyone. Like most of you, I come to exchange ideas and have 2/3/4-way conversations and learn what other posters are doing and thinking.

Like anyone, if I am insulted first, the gloves come off. I don't consider that insulting someone, merely self defense.

We can all be adult enough to admit the OT forum "mood" has shifted back and forth from it's inception, then like the rest of the world became much more volatile in 2016/2017.

When I (and others) would post a thought or something I saw in the news, I would be mocked for it and bombarded with demands to provide a link to support it, and I would. In fact, I went out of my way to include the links with my original posts. Nobody bothered to go to the links and see that yes, it was true/likely. Instead, the sources of information would be mocked without seeing what actual information they shared.

Personal thought? LMAO! Judicial Watch? Far-right organizations! FOX News? Not real news! Glenn Greenwald? Robert F Kennedy Jr.? Fringe lunatic!
Any Conservative politician? Racist! Mahatma Ghandi? Attention seeker! (Okay I made that one up)

Unfortunately, providing evidence (not always proof) to support my post is not really what is wanted by some posters. What is wanted is for me to dismiss what I have learned each day and just think the same exact things they think, share identical opinions, and don't rock the boat.

They could just say they disagree with my viewpoint. I'll give their post a like, because I respect every American's Freedom of thought/speech.

They could block me, ignore me, or occasionally even prove me wrong by sharing how they came to their viewpoint. I've asked them to do all/any of that.
They don't. Instead, their response is Racist! Moron! Troll! Sham account!

If I respond in kind, I get warned by Mods that I am violating the rules. Just me, not them.

Maybe you could PM me a Mod-approved strategy for handling these confrontations amicably so they don't escalate, other than just bowing to their childish ridicule?

I disagree with your viewpoint.

barfo

 

[Chris Craig]

Thanks for sort of an explanation Sly, but I am in fact posting from my home here in Beautiful Central Oregon. Haven't even left the county since my return from Florida at the end of last month.

Not sure what led you to believe I was posting from out of state, but then I have never claimed to be a techie genius.

I don't come here to insult anyone. Like most of you, I come to exchange ideas and have 2/3/4-way conversations and learn what other posters are doing and thinking.

Like anyone, if I am insulted first, the gloves come off. I don't consider that insulting someone, merely self defense.

We can all be adult enough to admit the OT forum "mood" has shifted back and forth from it's inception, then like the rest of the world became much more volatile in 2016/2017.

When I (and others) would post a thought or something I saw in the news, I would be mocked for it and bombarded with demands to provide a link to support it, and I would. In fact, I went out of my way to include the links with my original posts. Nobody bothered to go to the links and see that yes, it was true/likely. Instead, the sources of information would be mocked without seeing what actual information they shared.

Personal thought? LMAO! Judicial Watch? Far-right organizations! FOX News? Not real news! Glenn Greenwald? Robert F Kennedy Jr.? Fringe lunatic!
Any Conservative politician? Racist! Mahatma Ghandi? Attention seeker! (Okay I made that one up)

Unfortunately, providing evidence (not always proof) to support my post is not really what is wanted by some posters. What is wanted is for me to dismiss what I have learned each day and just think the same exact things they think, share identical opinions, and don't rock the boat.

They could just say they disagree with my viewpoint. I'll give their post a like, because I respect every American's Freedom of thought/speech.

They could block me, ignore me, or occasionally even prove me wrong by sharing how they came to their viewpoint. I've asked them to do all/any of that.
They don't. Instead, their response is Racist! Moron! Troll! Sham account!

If I respond in kind, I get warned by Mods that I am violating the rules. Just me, not them.

Maybe you could PM me a Mod-approved strategy for handling these confrontations amicably so they don't escalate, other than just bowing to their childish ridicule?

You do list yourself as a fictional character. Maybe people would take you more serious if you didn't.

You insulted a number of people in a single post yesterday

"This forum became ... a gathering of immature, intellectually lazy political pawns with no actual knowledge of politics or US history, spouting MSNBC soundbites in unison and attacking every moderate or slightly conservative poster who attempted to discuss pretty much anything."

I have personally removed insults against you recently and in the past. I saw Sly removed an insult against you too the other day upon looking into your claim the other day. Don't claim the mods leave them when they don't. If it's a personal insult and a mod sees it, it will be removed.

A good strategy would be to hit the report button if someone issues a personal insult towards you, that way you know it will get a mods attention. We aren't on here all day long, looking at every post. We miss stuff. We are human. But, we do mod what we see.

 

[wizenheimer]

it's really hard to insult Sly, and I've tired, many times

 

[MARIS61]

You do list yourself as a fictional character. Maybe people would take you more serious if you didn't.

Maybe that's part of what's changed. People have no sense of humor. Or an inability to recognize it.

Do these same posters think Barfo is a real pirate? I give everyone here a little more credit than that.

Well, almost everyone.

 

[julius]

You do list yourself as a fictional character. Maybe people would take you more serious if you didn't.

You insulted a number of people in a single post yesterday

"This forum became ... a gathering of immature, intellectually lazy political pawns with no actual knowledge of politics or US history, spouting MSNBC soundbites in unison and attacking every moderate or slightly conservative poster who attempted to discuss pretty much anything."

I have personally removed insults against you recently and in the past. I saw Sly removed an insult against you too the other day upon looking into your claim the other day. Don't claim the mods leave them when they don't. If it's a personal insult and a mod sees it, it will be removed.

A good strategy would be to hit the report button if someone issues a personal insult towards you, that way you know it will get a mods attention. We aren't on here all day long, looking at every post. We miss stuff. We are human. But, we do mod what we see.

But then he couldn't be the victim.

 

[Chris Craig]

Maybe that's part of what's changed. People have no sense of humor. Or an inability to recognize it.

Do these same posters think Barfo is a real pirate? I give everyone here a little more credit than that.

Well, almost everyone.

Maybe. Alot of humor has gone out the door since 2016.

Wait, Barfo isn't a real pirate?

 

[julius]

Maybe. Alot of humor has gone out the door since 2016.

Wait, Barfo isn't a real pirate?

I always assumed you weren't a real Craig, let alone, a real Chris.

 

[Fairly-Hard]

I don't come here to insult anyone. Like most of you

Doesn’t come here to insult anyone and then proceeds to insult most everyone.

It’s so blatant he can’t even see it.

 

[Chris Craig]

I always assumed you weren't a real Craig, let alone, a real Chris.

 

[MARIS61]

Doesn’t come here to insult anyone and then proceeds to insult most everyone.

It’s so blatant he can’t even see it.

By that I assume you mean my post about how the board has changed, and I admit that I worded it poorly as there are many (most) people here I had not intention of insulting. My post was about the atmosphere change here, but it's something many have nothing to do with. My apologies to anyone I may have offended.

It's a common fault many if not most humans have.

As for being so blatant I can't even see it, it's something I see here every day by a few posters directed at every conservative poster, and even most moderate liberal posters. It's done knowingly, smugly and hatefully, with the intention of driving away people who see life differently than they do. It's done to demean and humiliate them. It's done to trigger them in hopes they will lose their temper and respond in a way that gets them banned. It's been a marvelous success for them and they dance and party on the graves of each banned poster as if they are Medieval warriors and have driven away the evil hordes that came out of the woods to burn the castle.

All Republicans are racist! All Christians hate homosexuality! Yesterday I read both of these statements by the same poster, and it's a rather constant and very personal insult/attack by a handful of otherwise likeable posters and the Mods turn a blind eye to it every time. Too often to claim they don't see it. The posts got several likes.

I am neither Republican (lifelong Democrat who walked away during Obama's 2nd term, no party affiliation) nor Christian (not religious) but roughly half of everyone in my life is and I know both of these blanket accusations are beyond absurd and extremely ignorant.

True Christians do not have hate in their heart for anyone. It's kind of the very first thing you can't help notice about them from their actions. They are the ones who will stop the car when they see a homeless man/woman/family/pets on the highway and take them home with them, clothe them, feed them, help them find an advocate or employment or pay them to do odd jobs...They are the ones who will bring a family to the local motel and pay for a couple weeks of shelter for them, help them register the kids for school, fill out healthcare applications...

Most Republicans simply want smaller government as our country is designed to be because they didn't skip learning world history and know the only alternatives eventually lead to less Individual Freedom, which history has proven unavoidably means more Fascism/Communism/Totalitarianism and mass murder every single time. That's really it, just don't try to force other people to do your bidding and the typical Republican will not have any problem at all with you. Start pushing people around and all of a sudden you'll find one of them standing between you and your victim ready and willing to do battle at the drop of a hat.

 

[Phatguysrule]

By that I assume you mean my post about how the board has changed, and I admit that I worded it poorly as there are many (most) people here I had not intention of insulting. My post was about the atmosphere change here, but it's something many have nothing to do with. My apologies to anyone I may have offended.

It's a common fault many if not most humans have.

As for being so blatant I can't even see it, it's something I see here every day by a few posters directed at every conservative poster, and even most moderate liberal posters. It's done knowingly, smugly and hatefully, with the intention of driving away people who see life differently than they do. It's done to demean and humiliate them. It's done to trigger them in hopes they will lose their temper and respond in a way that gets them banned. It's been a marvelous success for them and they dance and party on the graves of each banned poster as if they are Medieval warriors and have driven away the evil hordes that came out of the woods to burn the castle.

All Republicans are racist! All Christians hate homosexuality! Yesterday I read both of these statements by the same poster, and it's a rather constant and very personal insult/attack by a handful of otherwise likeable posters and the Mods turn a blind eye to it every time. Too often to claim they don't see it. The posts got several likes.

I am neither Republican (lifelong Democrat who walked away during Obama's 2nd term, no party affiliation) nor Christian (not religious) but roughly half of everyone in my life is and I know both of these blanket accusations are beyond absurd and extremely ignorant.

True Christians do not have hate in their heart for anyone. It's kind of the very first thing you can't help notice about them from their actions. They are the ones who will stop the car when they see a homeless man/woman/family/pets on the highway and take them home with them, clothe them, feed them, help them find an advocate or employment or pay them to do odd jobs...They are the ones who will bring a family to the local motel and pay for a couple weeks of shelter for them, help them register the kids for school, fill out healthcare applications...

Most Republicans simply want smaller government as our country is designed to be because they didn't skip learning world history and know the only alternatives eventually lead to less Individual Freedom, which history has proven unavoidably means more Fascism/Communism/Totalitarianism and mass murder every single time. That's really it, just don't try to force other people to do your bidding and the typical Republican will not have any problem at all with you. Start pushing people around and all of a sudden you'll find one of them standing between you and your victim ready and willing to do battle at the drop of a hat.

But the Republicans most Republicans actually vote for are despicable human beings who want government to be so big it overflows into every aspect of every Americans personal life, including their beds and wombs, and support destroying the very air we breath and water we drink.

Small government my ass. Conservative my ass...

Most Republicans vote for fascism now. That's exactly what they support. Otherwise the Republican party wouldn't be the way it is.

 

[MARIS61]

But the Republicans most Republicans actually vote for are despicable human beings who want government to be so big it overflows into every aspect of every Americans personal life, including their beds and wombs, and support destroying the very air we breath and water we drink.

Small government my ass. Conservative my ass...

Most Republicans vote for fascism now. That's exactly what they support. Otherwise the Republican party wouldn't be the way it is.

Your description is a lame attempt to equate people with which fraudster they vote for when only presented with a false choice of 2 or more equally fraudulent candidates. Democrats are in the same boat. Remember when Bernie totally demolished Clinton in the primary, then awkwardly withdrew at the convention and bought a third home?

Politics are a stage, and politicians are actors.

Voters are real people, have ideals and morals, and zero chance to attain actual representation.

 

[julius]

Your description is a lame attempt to equate people with which fraudster they vote for when only presented with a false choice of 2 or more equally fraudulent candidates. Democrats are in the same boat. Remember when Bernie totally demolished Clinton in the primary, then awkwardly withdrew at the convention and bought a third home?

Politics are a stage, and politicians are actors.

Voters are real people, have ideals and morals, and zero chance to attain actual representation.

Remember when this totally unrelated thing happened that you're not going to look up because it is a red herring?

 

[Chris Craig]

Your description is a lame attempt to equate people with which fraudster they vote for when only presented with a false choice of 2 or more equally fraudulent candidates. Democrats are in the same boat. Remember when Bernie totally demolished Clinton in the primary, then awkwardly withdrew at the convention and bought a third home?

Politics are a stage, and politicians are actors.

Voters are real people, have ideals and morals, and zero chance to attain actual representation.

All Republicans aren't racist and all Christians don't hate gay people, though most seem to be against gay people...maybe one can be against something and not be hateful, I don't know. There are many Republicans who are racist and many so called Christians who are hateful towards gay people. Should there be an all in all equating, no.

The Republican party has been overrun by some pretty extreme right wing people. The Republican politicians who prescribed to the establishment brand of politics you were speaking of have been ousted and vilified by this new branch of far right politics.

You want to compare the politicians on the left and the right? You have Politicians like Trump who don't have any idea what they are doing and are just grandstanding with hateful rhetoric. Like you said it's a stage, it's being used frighteningly and repulsively by politicians on the right who are taking Trump's que and the fringe has more and more come into the limelight.

The problem is we don't see alot of people on the right, openly and loudly saying this is not who we are. We see more and more people on the right accept this new vision.


Democrats have had far left candidates like Bernie, but have stayed establishment. I think part of that is with everything going on, on the right, Dems are trying trying to stay where it's safe. Part of it is the party itself, the people behind the scenes forced Bernie out. I'm not blind to that.

I don't really care for Biden. I have already voiced my displeasure with the parties status quo.

But, let's compare....Trump and his hateful rhetoric and Bernie an old dude wants healthcare for everyone. Trump and his hateful rhetoric and boring old Biden.

As for Christians, their religion tells them homosexuality is wrong and so they are against it, they vote against it, this pits them against a whole community of people and the party that stands with them.

As I view Christianity it seems like it should be more Christians live their life's accordingly and everyone else gets to live theirs accordingly. No laws necessary to push their points.

But, because alot of these laws (i.e. marriage laws) are based on the tenants of that religion and a large quantity of Republicans are christians, it's hard not to see that as them pushing their agenda on everyone else and there in lies the issue.

 

[MARIS61]

All Republicans aren't racist and all Christians don't hate gay people, though most seem to be against gay people...maybe one can be against something and not be hateful, I don't know. There are many Republicans who are racist and many so called Christians who are hateful towards gay people. Should there be an all in all equating, no.

The Republican party has been overrun by some pretty extreme right wing people. The Republican politicians who prescribed to the establishment brand of politics you were speaking of have been ousted and vilified by this new branch of far right politics.

You want to compare the politicians on the left and the right? You have Politicians like Trump who don't have any idea what they are doing and are just grandstanding with hateful rhetoric. Like you said it's a stage, it's being used frighteningly and repulsively by politicians on the right who are taking Trump's que and the fringe has more and more come into the limelight.

The problem is we don't see alot of people on the right, openly and loudly saying this is not who we are. We see more and more people on the right accept this new vision.


Democrats have had far left candidates like Bernie, but have stayed establishment. I think part of that is with everything going on, on the right, Dems are trying trying to stay where it's safe. Part of it is the party itself, the people behind the scenes forced Bernie out. I'm not blind to that.

I don't really care for Biden. I have already voiced my displeasure with the parties status quo.

But, let's compare....Trump and his hateful rhetoric and Bernie an old dude wants healthcare for everyone. Trump and his hateful rhetoric and boring old Biden.

You're a good guy with a huge heart Chris, but you're not seeing the big picture. All the political world's a stage, and nothing is as it seems. The voters are the rapt audience, the politicians are the actors seeking stardom, the parties are the writers and directors seeking control, the Oligarchs are the producers, who make all the decisions.

And Trump is the heckler who walks onstage in the middle of the play, killing the illusion.

 

[julius]

They may not be racist, but they sure are perfectly fine with people who are.

 

[julius]

You're a good guy with a huge heart Chris, but you're not seeing the big picture. All the political world's a stage, and nothing is as it seems. The voters are the rapt audience, the politicians are the actors seeking stardom, the parties are the writers and directors seeking control, the Oligarchs are the producers, who make all the decisions.

And Trump is the heckler who walks onstage in the middle of the play, killing the illusion.

Funny to see you all the sudden not blindly support trump. You get a new script?

 

[Chris Craig]

You're a good guy with a huge heart Chris, but you're not seeing the big picture. All the political world's a stage, and nothing is as it seems. The voters are the rapt audience, the politicians are the actors seeking stardom, the parties are the writers and directors seeking control, the Oligarchs are the producers, who make all the decisions.

And Trump is the heckler who walks onstage in the middle of the play, killing the illusion.

Oh, I see all of that. And that's a good way to put it.

I know behind the scenes Corporations and the rich are in control of things. I know politicians are in their pockets and we (the people) will likely get little from any politician, but I try to vote for those who give us something, even if it's just a morsel. I get we are really just all hamsters on a big fucking wheel going round and round, keeping the machine going.

For the longest time it's been establishment vs establishment and that status quo has kept people comfortably numb and the rich happy. But, people are waking up to it.


Trump did kill the illusion, I will give him that, but so did people like Bernie. They represent to very different ends of a spectrum.

The difference is Trump also brought some vile ideologies with him that have awoken some truly bad shit that we have been slowly putting away and working to move on from.

Bernie went after the rich, the people in control and that pissed them off. He wanted to change things to give the people back more control, and that wasn't going to be allowed to happen.

 

[Chris Craig]

They may not be racist, but they sure are perfectly fine with people who are.

I would certainly do well for them to speak louder against it, if they are not for it. To let their positions be known, to say clearly that is not the Republican party I support or envision, that is not what I stand for.

Being silent and letting the silence speak for you is dangerous.

 

[Chris Craig]

Funny to see you all the sudden not blindly support trump. You get a new script?

Maybe he's having a conversation.

 

[Phatguysrule]

Your description is a lame attempt to equate people with which fraudster they vote for when only presented with a false choice of 2 or more equally fraudulent candidates. Democrats are in the same boat. Remember when Bernie totally demolished Clinton in the primary, then awkwardly withdrew at the convention and bought a third home?

Politics are a stage, and politicians are actors.

Voters are real people, have ideals and morals, and zero chance to attain actual representation.

No Democrat in consideration is as bad as most Republicans leading the party.

I'm no fan of Democrats, but Republicans support the most harmful and least moral policies, and they vote for candidates based on those policies.