The polarisation continues. Instead of common sense we see partisan stances no matter what the cost.
There is madness at work. No matter what the logic people believe whatever they want to believe. Instead of building on the good things in previous administrations it is a rip it up and tear it down policy no matter what. If the other side did it then it has to go.
It is mean spirited, expensive, daft, dangerous and infantile. But it comes straight out of the demonization of the other side. Obama and Clinton are painted as evil incarnate – Lock Her Up! Trump is a madman – impeach him!
The truth is not as clear as that.
The policies of Trump – tax, environmental relaxation of laws – will benefit the rich and the big oil corporations but his supporters are so exercised about Obama and Clinton that they aren’t thinking. They fall for the rhetoric and suck it up.
The oil, fracking and coal will be extremely bad for the environment but Trump does not care. Cash is all that matters. The poor and desperate will not benefit. It will be the rich and oil companies that make a killing. The environment will suffer.
It’s become a game. Both sides cheer each other on. Logic and reason are the losers. Passions run high. Fury drives it……. And Trump is orchestrating the hatred and riding the wave, lining his pockets in the process, dealing out the fake news and inflammatory tweets and treating everyone with disdain.
The polarization isn’t new and, it’s by design. Carroll Quigley wrote this in 1964…
“The argument that the two parties should represent opposed ideals and policies, one, perhaps, of the Right and the other of the Left, is a foolish idea acceptable only to doctrinaire and academic thinkers. Instead, the two parties should be almost identical, so that the American people can ‘throw the rascals out’ at any election without leading to any profound or extensive shifts in policy”
There are factors that have exacerbated polarization; the development of the 24 hour news hole and the growth of news as a business. Polarization is good for business.
Also, the Internet as a means of communication. Not long ago, you could have conversations with people that you knew with no idea of their political bent.
Aside from all of the Trump hysteria being propagated, it’s really business as usual…his “policies” are a polarizing force but, not a force that will effect a change of course from the slide in to a worse than Orwellian or Huxleyian society. Big Brother is here and a person can actually buy Soma at the pharmacy.
Jack – very well explained with some very good observations – the effects of running news for profit is a good point. It has taken all objectivity away. It has to be sensational in order to sell.
You are right – Big Brother is already here.
It wouldn’t be hard to make a case that news has been a business going back to the town crier. But, news as a business that’s in direct competition with pure entertainment industries is still pretty new.
I quit all of the “social media” platforms in the last few months because it ends up in either name calling or preaching to the choir.
Jack – I do not think it has ever been so competitive and commercial before. I know exactly what you mean about social media. I have been tempted to forget this blog. But I still believe that we have to state our views as loudly as possible and at least try to create debate and engage in serious meaningful conversation. Not to do so surrenders the space to trivia or the extremists.
A blog tends to be more substantive and, the conversation tends to be more interesting than the big social media platforms. Maybe, because it requires more effort that sharing a meme in order to participate.
The powers on the net have made an effort to bury individually generated content, especially stuff that doesn’t fit the inside the norms. Blogs are now almost dark web. And, that is precisely why they are important….those who seek something different will find it.
That seems to be true Jack. A lot of people sign up but few comment though.