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I don't get it, particularly in the context of emergency relief for individuals, which is where this conversation started. 1. The pandemic reveals major holes

I don't get it, particularly in the context of emergency relief for individuals, which is where this conversation started. 1. The pandemic reveals major holes in the social safety net that people are pretty upset about. 2. One party wants the patch the holes, and they continue to feel that way. The other party regards the holes as grimly necessary to keep people properly motivated, or part of God's divine plan, or impossibly expensive to fix in spite of the fact that less wealthy countries manage it, or something, and they continue to feel that way. therefore 3. Woo, both sides are equally crazy!!! This is why we can't have nice things.

Gunax 7y ago
One party wants to fix the economy and promote jobs and enterprise. The other wants to destroy the economy so we are all dependent on government handouts and keep voting for more handouts. See how I can easily spin it the other way? I hate to say it--and I hope this doesn't sound too flippant--but I think you're doing exactly what I described. If you started out thinking that your ideology is clearly correct and the opposition has nefarious motives, then rather than this disaster leading anyone to question their beliefs, it will stand to reinforce them.
- justin66 7y ago
  It does sound flippant, but that's not the point. A situation like "everyone wants to use this disaster to achieve the policy goals they wanted anyway," while a slight exaggeration, might productively lead a person interested in the function of their government to evaluate the quality of those policy goals, rather than withdraw into cynicism. In an election year, it'd actually be somewhat appropriate. > If you started out thinking that your ideology is clearly correct and the opposition has nefarious motives, then rather than this disaster leading anyone to question their beliefs, it will stand to reinforce them. If you're the kind of person who gives a damn about "motives" instead of ideas and policies, well... it is understandable at times, but that's not something to aspire to.

Gunax 7y ago

One party wants to fix the economy and promote jobs and enterprise. The other wants to destroy the economy so we are all dependent on government handouts and keep voting for more handouts. See how I can easily spin it the other way? I hate to say it--and I hope this doesn't sound too flippant--but I think you're doing exactly what I described. If you started out thinking that your ideology is clearly correct and the opposition has nefarious motives, then rather than this disaster leading anyone to question their beliefs, it will stand to reinforce them.

justin66 7y ago
It does sound flippant, but that's not the point. A situation like "everyone wants to use this disaster to achieve the policy goals they wanted anyway," while a slight exaggeration, might productively lead a person interested in the function of their government to evaluate the quality of those policy goals, rather than withdraw into cynicism. In an election year, it'd actually be somewhat appropriate. > If you started out thinking that your ideology is clearly correct and the opposition has nefarious motives, then rather than this disaster leading anyone to question their beliefs, it will stand to reinforce them. If you're the kind of person who gives a damn about "motives" instead of ideas and policies, well... it is understandable at times, but that's not something to aspire to.