3 ms·

I can agree that the rhetoric and division is heated right now to levels near what it was in the mid `60s - early `70s but I don't think we're as close to that

by oblib 7y ago

I can agree that the rhetoric and division is heated right now to levels near what it was in the mid `60s - early `70s but I don't think we're as close to that tipping point as some might feel. By the mid 70s things calmed down a lot. It feels to me like we peaked in the year after Trump was elected and things have been easing since. I'm basing this mostly on my FB feed but I think it's a fairly good barometer to gauge it because I live in an area where 76% voted for Trump. They were riled up when they did that. My right leaning neighbors are posting near as many anti-liberal memes, almost no flat out lies about "liberals", and not much at all about Trump. This past year I started asking them to "make a list of things Trump has done that is good for us." and none, not one, has taken me up on that. Not even the "Wall" has been offered as an example. This doesn't mean most won't vote for him again, but it probably does mean not as many will vote. They're not as motivated as they were in `16. Not as feisty. And they don't have near the disdain for Bernie, or even Biden, as they still have for Hillary. They really do not like her. I have not heard a single one of them support Trump saying that he should get more than two terms or be appointed "President for Life". Right now almost none of them are posting anything at all about Trump. In fact, they haven't worked up a good outrage since the Kavanaugh hearings. Very few of my FB friends trust the big Corporate Network News anymore on either side. They're all producing to much "Opinion" which is blatantly one sided and they all focus on the same "News of the hour" stories. The result is the level of awareness of bias in those "News" reports has increased a lot the past couple of years and overall people are beginning to ignore it more now than they are to react with passion. It was getting scary for awhile there though.

sanderjd 7y ago
This is an encouraging anecdote but "not advocating for the overthrow of our constitutional system of government" seems like a pretty low bar to ask for in our fellow citizens...
mbfg 7y ago
At this point, it might not matter what the trumpists think, or how many there are. I seriously wonder if trump and the party in general just wont leave, whether its thru gross electoral cheating or otherwise. I expect most will claim I'm hyperbolic, and I understand why they would say that, but it doesnt dissuade me. Every society ends. Almost always abruptly, and with high levels of surprise. If I had told you in 2010, about today, would you think I was nuts? I'm sure you would have.

by oblib 7y ago

sanderjd 7y ago

This is an encouraging anecdote but "not advocating for the overthrow of our constitutional system of government" seems like a pretty low bar to ask for in our fellow citizens...

mbfg 7y ago

At this point, it might not matter what the trumpists think, or how many there are. I seriously wonder if trump and the party in general just wont leave, whether its thru gross electoral cheating or otherwise. I expect most will claim I'm hyperbolic, and I understand why they would say that, but it doesnt dissuade me. Every society ends. Almost always abruptly, and with high levels of surprise. If I had told you in 2010, about today, would you think I was nuts? I'm sure you would have.