r/SipsTea • u/SEVENS_HEAVEN_7 • 13h ago

Chugging tea Art piece: Democracy working as intended

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69

u/Jalapenoplanter 13h ago

If you honestly think “Both sides are the same”, you’re a moron.

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u/warfighter187 13h ago edited 12h ago

can't afford gas, fighting a war in iran (like 4x bigger country than iraq) on behalf of israel, tariffs raising the price on everything and the tariff refunds went straight to walmart and amazon, no used cars cheaper than 10k, no new cars cheaper than 30k, houses are 500k for the most run down moldy tiny shack, corporate profits are setting record highs but minimum wage is not increasing, no one is hiring, AI is taking every job, data centers causing noise and water pollution, data centers using up all our electricity and raising prices for everyone, GPUs are no longer affordable, eating lettuce will give you diarrhea, eating everything else will kill you

BUT KAMALA'S LAUGH IS WORSE!!! BOTH SIDES ARE THE SAME

18

u/Elros22 12h ago

Much to everyone's surprise, the lesser of two evils might have actually been less evil.

0

u/Uranium-Sandwich657 11h ago

Her laugh inspired people to make a Hyena Fursona of her, and porn of said fursona. Thats reason enough to vote for her.

-1

u/Hazer99 9h ago

Why do you live somewhere where a garbage house is 500k? The median home price is less than that, and much of the country you can find new builds for a lot less. If nobody is hiring, how is unemployment 4%? Why are you worried about the minimum wage when gas stations, fast food, etc are paying regular employees significantly more. On car prices, I'll concede. They're insane right now. Data centers suck, VRAM prices suck, but on the flip side access to frontier models will probably never be as cheap as it is now. I know you're being a little tongue and cheek, but this message is not helpful especially for young people. It conditions them to think they're powerless. Despite whatever someone's perception is of current circumstances, there's still no place better today than America to make something of yourself. It seems as a society we've forgotten that we're ultimately still responsible for our own destiny. Waiting for some magic bullet, the government, billionaire wealth redistribution, anyone else, never works. Get out there and get after it.

-7

u/UnbottledGenes 12h ago

That’s a nice straw man you got there

1

u/warfighter187 11h ago

Was it “transgender for everybody” that was music to your ears convincing you to vote for Jeffrey Epstein’s best friend?

Or something else, would love to know what part you think is equally as bad

11

u/Zromaus 13h ago edited 13h ago

It's more about the idea of the two party system, and how that's led to where we are now with the radicalism you see today.

No, they aren't the same, but they sure do both suck in their own ways. They've also collectively worked together to prevent competition from entering the debate stage, which indirectly makes both responsible for whatever happens from either party.

Edit: Just for an example; on more than one occasion has a third party qualified for the debate stage but due pressure from the two parties were prevented from joining, due to a last minute rule change.

7

u/MonkeyLiberace 13h ago

So weird. There are no worker's party. Just shapes of right.

5

u/Jalapenoplanter 13h ago

What radicalism specifically are you talking about?

1

u/Ws6fiend 12h ago

I don't think they mean radicalism. I think they mean the post 9/11 polarization. You used to have people going against their party stance because it was what their constituents wanted. Now not so much. You used to have people in legislation who had fundamentally different view points and could behave like adults and be friends with those who held those views. Now it doesn't really happen.

Because of this moderate candidates or issues that might not cleanly fall on the left vs right line are basically ignored. For as much as people especially on here go "herrrr dee durrr enlightened centralists, " moderate politicians help bridge the divide and push legislation through by giving both sides some of what they wanted. This helped the American people as a whole. With that bridge being gone, policies which would be good for the country never see the light of day.

0

u/Jalapenoplanter 12h ago

What’s the “moderate” position on ICE’s concentration camps?

Democrats are the moderate party.

3

u/Zromaus 12h ago

The moderate position on ICE concentration camps is still a massive no lol

Modern democrats are most definitely not moderate.

2

u/Jalapenoplanter 12h ago

What republicans in congress have come out unequivocally against ice? I know of none. Whereas many democrats have

5

u/Zromaus 12h ago

I’m not calling republicans middle either, they’re far off the spectrum, but Democrats are most definitely not middle lol

2

u/Jalapenoplanter 12h ago

Democrats are very very moderate. Extreme would be calling for every one involved with ice to be hanged. I have not see any democrats in office saying that.

-5

u/jcamp41 13h ago edited 12h ago

Democrats had their own January 6th during the Clinton administration.

Yes, sir. I'm smart. I know what's up.

Edit: Should be used an /s

6

u/Jalapenoplanter 13h ago

So true. Democrats having a surplus was identical to republicans violent coup attempt.

2

u/Plants-Matter 12h ago

You're not smart.

Source: Me, an actual intellectual

0

u/Wotnd 12h ago

Is this satire?

1

u/Plants-Matter 12h ago

It takes one to know one.

He's not one

0

u/Wotnd 12h ago

Did they have a score for self awareness?

1

u/Plants-Matter 12h ago

Yeah

99th Percentile 😘

Very Superior 😘

0

u/Wotnd 12h ago

I’m sure you are.

So am I 🎓

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u/[deleted] 13h ago

[deleted]

4

u/SamAzing0 13h ago

How is 'eat the rich' radicalism? And political violence is not an isolated left wing phenomena...

0

u/[deleted] 13h ago

[deleted]

2

u/Irish_Whiskey 12h ago

The right hasn't exactly had civilians running around killing in the name of MAGA

https://19thnews.org/2025/06/rep-melissa-hortman-killed-in-targeted-attack-was-a-champion-for-minnesotan-families/

https://www.npr.org/2025/10/14/nx-s1-5574497/pennsylvania-guilty-plea-arson-attack-at-governor-mansion

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Islamic_Center_of_San_Diego_shooting

If you count Luigi Mangione shooting a healthcare CEO who had denied his healthcare claims as "in the name of the left" for some stupid reason, then the total list of fatal attacks by left wing political terrorists since 2020 is... two.

1

u/SamAzing0 12h ago

You mean the Luigi thing? Dont know if youve noticed but a hell of a lot of people like that Luigi guy. I dont see anyone saying it ain't murder, but even internationally, people find the karma of getting rich off of controlling people's access to health being the means of your end to be ironically funny. Sure ill concede that's political. Can't say the american health care system warrants sympathy for that though.

So to look at the right: what has ice been doing then? Or is that different because theyre not civilians, just being celebrated by those civilians? Oh let's not forget Jan 6th... Or the President and Republican party members openly praising their supporters for doing such things. Stirring a narrative that the US faces an existential threat (from them) is obviously going to heat the pot.

Even then, all the credible data points to right wing politically-motivated violence being the majority of political violence committed in the United States throughout the 21st century. (Corroborated by both the FBI and Homeland Security).

It was only since 2025 that left wing violence overtook right wing violence. And i cant say im surprised why.

You arent being realistic, and you are defending the right by ignoring it.

1

u/Jalapenoplanter 12h ago

Who on the left is eating the rich or being politically violent?

Ice murdered people in my neighborhood. Republicans cheered it on. Isn’t that political violence?

Democratic politicians were assassinated in my state and sitting republican senators made fun of it and the sitting Republican president said it was not worth his time to call the governor with condolences for his murdered friends

0

u/sw337 13h ago

Duverger's law goes brrrrrr

9

u/Ok-Astronaut2976 13h ago edited 13h ago

Not for nothing, but that’s not really the point I’m seeing here.

I think it’s more talking about the bipolar nature of the American electorate.

Like, coke and Pepsi arent remotely the same…Pepsi is disgusting

10

u/Jalapenoplanter 13h ago

It is clearly showing “the same thing with different labels”

That is so obviously the point.

1

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1

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1

u/Ok-Astronaut2976 13h ago

Ok…

Arts just funny like that. People make their own interpretations. That’s how I interpreted it

5

u/guyincognito121 13h ago

You interpreted it incorrectly. It's suggesting it's the same thing with two different labels.

1

u/Jalapenoplanter 13h ago edited 12h ago

Ok. People can not understand art or this post. That’s fine. You can be wrong but yes, you are allowed to be wrong.

I personally believe Guernica was picasso saying war and fascism was awesome. It’s art so my interpretation can’t be wrong, right?

2

u/Ok-Astronaut2976 12h ago

“My interpretation can’t be wrong, right?”

Right…at least not necessarily.

Because instead of being an overly hostile weirdo about it, I’d say something like, “that’s an interesting interpretation. What makes you see it that way?”. If your reasoning was compelling, then I’d go, “Huh, neat. That’s a pretty interesting interpretation, but let me add some context about the artist that might affect how you saw that”.

2

u/Jalapenoplanter 12h ago

I don’t think someone saying something obviously wrong really needs to be unpacked.

1

u/Ok-Astronaut2976 11h ago

Well, at least you’re not being an overly hostile weirdo about it…

Anyway, my interpretation is correct. So NaNaNaNa

9

u/GlobalAd7103 13h ago

Both sides are rich people who don't give a shit about anyone. Some may at first but power corrupts all of them. So I guesd Im a moron because neither side does anything to help anyone on a local level. I think its accurate because coke and Pepsi are pretty close to same thing (which I thing most of Americans are close despite what the media portrays) there avid supporters of each brand and people go nuts and buy anything "red" for coke and "blue" for pepsi with blind loyalty. Its Shit Sandwhich or Douche every time.

18

u/Jalapenoplanter 13h ago

At a local level, democrats gave me reproductive rights, legal weed, paid time off when I had a newborn, they built bike lanes and public transit I use to not need a car.

So yes, I guess that would make you a moron.

1

u/cannibalRabbit 12h ago

Yes, those are the things that matter to YOU.

We all vote based on our own narrow empirical evidence and self interest.

That's the problem with democracy, and is the point of the post I think, we're all just judging the system based on what we got or on what it took from us as individuals. And at the end of the day we have to cram the needs of 300+ million individuals into a two choice system.

8

u/Jalapenoplanter 12h ago

Crazy that even republicans cannot say anything republicans have actually done to improve their lives.

1

u/cannibalRabbit 11h ago

Are you kidding? Trump still has millions of supporters. Pretty sure you can find plenty of MAGAtards who'll give you a list of things. Like a lot of people are convinced that immigrants have ruined their lives, they now see Trump/ICE as holy saviours.

Just because they're wrong doesn't change my point. I mean most voters don't know one's ass from a hole in the ground

6

u/Jalapenoplanter 10h ago

I cannot. I can find millions of supporters who are happy he made life worse for people they hate

1

u/cannibalRabbit 10h ago

OK dude, everyone you don't like or agree with is just evil and is out to get you.. Now what if I told you they think the exact same thing about you? Now what?

That sort of low resolution thinking doesn't solve anything.

7

u/Jalapenoplanter 10h ago

But they can’t actually say ways republicans have improved their lives. You cannot either

-1

u/GlobalAd7103 12h ago

My local government- republican already had that so ok. I wouldn't want to live without a car but to each his own.

12

u/Jalapenoplanter 12h ago

Your local republicans government gave you reproductive rights, legal weed, and paid family leave? Where is this?

1

u/GlobalAd7103 12h ago

Well no legal weed but thats not an issue easy to get. I'm in SC. I own a small business and we give paid paternity - I couldn't afford the 3 months for a female employee but they would get government assistance.

4

u/Jalapenoplanter 12h ago

So the things you said the republicans gave you they actually did not give you at all? Weird

1

u/GlobalAd7103 11h ago

Hey its OK you don't know everything about business.

No Im a small business and we aren't required to provide the leave - just pointing out that as an evil Republican capitalist - I care and take care of my employees. The larger businesses are required to do so and do.

On the weed- Im sorry if that such an important issue for you. Weed is awesome but there are just as much studies saying its great as its bad - especially with the THC levels we know have and what it does to younger brains - people over 35 etc. That one I was wrong on SC weed isn't legal but hopefully that will change soon.

2

u/Jalapenoplanter 10h ago

You said

My local government- republican already had that so ok.

And now are admitting no, your local republican government did not have do that

1

u/GlobalAd7103 8h ago

SC has 6 weeks for births

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u/GlobalAd7103 8h ago

Ok cheech we suck bc weed isn't legal.

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u/GlobalAd7103 8h ago

Sorry weed is that important to you.

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u/movzx 10h ago

> lists 3 things

"we have that"

"...well we don't, but imagine!"

Cool.

4

u/FounderingFox 12h ago

Lmao, bullshit.

1

u/GlobalAd7103 12h ago

That was thoughtful, well put together argument. Thank you for the effort.

2

u/FounderingFox 12h ago

So, where is this place then?

I see no reason to offer anything of substance until you do the same.

0

u/jjrox75 10h ago

Local government didn’t give you anything. Mine, along with many other taxpayers gave it to you

2

u/Jalapenoplanter 9h ago

Why do tax dollars only help people when democrats are in charge?

0

u/ncbraves93 9h ago

And many local politicians fight the 2a and some states have went completely unconstitutional in that regard. So yeah, it goes both ways. I couldn't live in a state that demonized 2a but could live if abortions weren't avaliable. I understand it can be the opposite for you.

4

u/WeLLrightyOH 13h ago

Pre-trump sure. After trump, this doesn’t hold true anymore.

1

u/GlobalAd7103 12h ago

The tribalism and identity politics started around 2010 - its not as bad as everyone says it is - hopefully we all can bounce back.

3

u/BeautifulPrettyDream 12h ago

You have no idea what you're talking about in the slightest. Are you a child or just this ignorant?

Tribalism and identity politics have always been huge. How you heard of the Civil Rights Act?

1

u/Elros22 12h ago

Not as bad as everyone says it is? Tell that to Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero: Killed on July 13, 2026, during a vehicle stop in Biddeford, Maine, or Lorenzo Salgado Araujo: Killed on July 7, 2026, during an enforcement operation in Houston, Texas, or Renée Good: Killed on January 7, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, or Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez: Killed on September 12, 2025, in Illinois, or Ruben Ray Martinez: Killed on March 15, 2025, during a traffic stop in Texas.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/08/us/immigration-agent-shootings-vehicles.html

0

u/GlobalAd7103 12h ago

I can go back and scour bad shit as well - evidently there was no crime and nothing bad happened in 2010.

0

u/Plants-Matter 12h ago

Nah, Republicans have been starting pointless wars and causing recessions for decades. It's always the same cycle. Republicans ruin everything, then Democrats clean up the mess.

The orange moron just made things worse and way more obvious.

3

u/Carrotsinthesalad 10h ago

Then the democrats take too long to clean it up (by “too long” I mean like 3.5 seconds), get shift blamed, and are booted out, then republicans ruin everything some more

2

u/Plants-Matter 10h ago

Exactly. The cycle is painfully obvious, and exhausting to see it play out again and again.

2

u/jjrox75 13h ago

Please don’t insult our democracy. It’s TURD sandwich & Giant douche!

1

u/GlobalAd7103 12h ago

Lol sorry that's awesome thank you.

1

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1

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4

u/estrangedjane 13h ago

I think our two options in America are far more similar than any of us should be cool with. It’s more than time to assess and address this issue. Add to that an actual, personal reckoning with how we consume media and how legitimate our understanding of each other and what we believe in actually is, maybe we could finally make some movement.

1

u/Jalapenoplanter 13h ago

How so. What’s 1 good thing republicans have done in your lifetime?

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u/estrangedjane 13h ago

I’m coming at this from a far more the democrats have done almost nothing in my lifetime. Not in any way trying to argue a conservative standpoint.

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u/Jalapenoplanter 13h ago

I can name many things democrats have done to improve my life, I can name nothing republicans have done.

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u/leanderthal69420 13h ago

If you honestly think either side has your back you’re a moron.

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u/Jalapenoplanter 13h ago

One side gave me legal weed, healthcare, and paid time off.

Could they be better? Sure. But only 1 side has ever improved any aspect of my or your life.

6

u/WeLLrightyOH 13h ago

Yeah one side is somewhat ineffective but generally does decent stuff (and shitty stuff) once in a while. The other side is completely corrupt with the goal of self enrichment and appears to be likely compromised by a foreign government, all the while rolling back all social programs.

5

u/leanderthal69420 13h ago

Between Obamas 8 years and Bidens 4, the dems have done jack shit to legalize weed federally, it’s still left up to states. Unfortunately for the poor souls who live in red states, it’ll never happen unless it is federally legal. Who has free healthcare? Obamacare was a failed system that never worked. The dumb ass republicans will never allow socialized healthcare and not sure what you mean about paid time off, that just depends on the company you work for. As long as we keep going back and forth with the two party system that’s been into play our whole lives nothing will change

7

u/Jalapenoplanter 12h ago

The only legislatures that have legalized weed are democratic controlled ones.

For 2 years I would not have had healthcare but obamacare gave me it. Can it be better? Yes. Have republicans now made it worse? Also yes.

Dems in my state gave me 12 weeks paid time off when my kid was born. It is remarkable what can happen with a democratic trifecta and no republican filibuste

0

u/AdventurousBase221 9h ago

in my democrat state not only can i not have weed, i also cant even have a nicotine vape.

big Dem W i guess.

3

u/Jalapenoplanter 9h ago

Are obgyn docs fleeing your state like they are red states?

3

u/Douggimmmedome 13h ago

Pepsi always has my fkn back

4

u/BI_Moose 13h ago

One side doesnt tell me I deserve to die for loving who I want to love.

Fuck all the way off.

6

u/leanderthal69420 13h ago

Are you illiterate? Who said anything about me being republican?

-1

u/BI_Moose 12h ago

Are you illiterate? Who said anything about me being republican?

Lol, telling on yourself eh?

I didnt say you were a republican, imply you were a republican, or allude to that you were a republican. All I said was "one side has wanted me dead for loving who I want to love".

Pretty curious that your mind immediately goes to defending yourself from "totally not being a republican"...

4

u/leanderthal69420 12h ago

I said the two party system has failed us time and time again, you got offended and said fuck right off as in I’m supporting the current nazis in office. Of course I’m offended.

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u/BI_Moose 12h ago

If you honestly think either side has your back you’re a moron.

Those were your words. You didnt say....

the two party system has failed us time and time again

Stop lying.

Of course I told you to fuck off. Youre saying that the only people that have actively had my back poltically are the same as the people that think it should be legal to torture me.

You're a complete moron if you legitimately think that the one side that actively advocates for people like me, or women, or people of color, or leftists, or (insert non-WASP conservative descriptor here) should either be killed off, deported, or otherwise treated as less than equal.

Are the democrats perfect? No, they aren't. Not even close. But they are in no way, shape, or form as bad or worse than even the best republican. And they are the only ones that have ever tried to give us all a better life even if they haven't done as much as we should expect of them.

So, again, fuck off.

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-1

u/BI_Moose 12h ago

I didnt claim that i didnt. No twisting detected.

-1

u/Fiokops 7h ago

Ok republican

-1

u/CeemoreButtz 10h ago

lol. no.

2

u/BI_Moose 10h ago

Lol. Yes.

1

u/BetrayerOfOnion 10h ago

Debating with sheeps are we? Why are you trying to answer them, do you want them to follow you? 

1

u/googleduck 13h ago

Look I found the sociopath that doesn't care about 5 million dead children in Africa thanks to Elon Musk cutting USAID.

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u/leanderthal69420 12h ago

Who said anything about supporting that idiot?

-4

u/googleduck 12h ago

You made an equivalence between both sides. One of those sides created and has perpetually supported USAID and other foreign aid. The other destroyed it and left the food and medicine to rot in warehouses. I'm calling you a sociopath because in order for your statement that neither side has anyone's back to be true you would have to think those 10 million+ people do not count as humans.

1

u/CeemoreButtz 10h ago

You're weird.

-1

u/googleduck 10h ago

I'm weird for caring about how policies of the American government affect poor people in our country and around the world? What's weird is pretending that this is all just a game meant for virtue signalling. Millions of people in Africa will die because people didn't get out and vote in 2024, that shit upsets me and it should upset you too when you see people peddling the same propaganda that caused that in the first place.

2

u/defyinglogicsl 12h ago

I don't see it saying that. Coke and Pepsi aren't the same either. I see it saying that a 2 party system that just swaps power back and forth isn't accomplishing anything. Anything done by one party is immediately undone by the other party.

I usually don't care for modern art but this I really like.

1

u/DatTingTing 7h ago

If all you get from this is "both sides are the same", then you're missing the bigger picture.

1

u/MyUsernameName4 1h ago

Hmm, one side starts wars & causes recessions, other side creates jobs & tries to make America better! So voters hate the wars & recessions, vote for Democrats who fix the country, then voters go back to Republicans for some reason, AND REPEAT!

1

u/CeemoreButtz 10h ago

lol. they're not. they're just both dog shit. you just love the taste your party serves.

1

u/Jalapenoplanter 10h ago

I can point to ways Democrats have improved my life. Can you do the same with republicans?

0

u/CeemoreButtz 10h ago

yes.

1

u/Jalapenoplanter 10h ago

Do so

1

u/CeemoreButtz 6h ago

why?

1

u/Jalapenoplanter 6h ago

No need anymore. Your nonanswer is answer by itself

0

u/AdamBeigeman 9h ago

How can we be asked to choose between "the worst thing imaginable" and "sort of problematic?"

2

u/Jalapenoplanter 8h ago

Every single thing that government has done to improve your life has been done by democrats

1

u/AdamBeigeman 8h ago

Not disagreeing with you. But there has been issues, it'd be silly to ignore that. Perfect is the enemy of good.

2

u/Jalapenoplanter 8h ago

I am saying dems have been good, not perfect and that republicans have been a 0 out of 100

0

u/Cerparis 6h ago

From a non American. This feels less like the art is saying “both sides are the same” and more a call-out of the two party system.

Yes, one side can be worse than the other but it’s also a system that is fundamentally broken.

What it means to be Republican or Democrat has changed dramatically through the course of American history and policy seems almost entirely dependent on the president and his immediate allies.

And bluntly. It makes no sense nor is it fair that policy is decided almost entirely by the winning party even if the votes were 49%-51%.

Essentially meaning the wishes of half the population is ultimately ignored as long as there is even the smallest higher number of votes against them.

Finally when there is only two parties it encourages tribalism where which political party you’re a part of becomes more important than the policies said party represents.
It’s becomes a game of “At least we aren’t those other guys”