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This tracks for me, having lots of friends and connections outside of America. Personally I think it’s yet more evidence that what we can often dismissively ref
by ixtli 6y ago
This tracks for me, having lots of friends and connections outside of America. Personally I think it’s yet more evidence that what we can often dismissively refer to as a “culture war.” Is a disagreement over fundamental moral issues that we just refuse to talk about directly or really act on.
- TMWNN 6y agoAn example of how the US argues over the death penalty in a way which doesn't happen elsewhere, but perhaps should: >In fact, opinion polls show that Europeans and Canadians crave executions almost as much as their American counterparts do. It's just that their politicians don't listen to them. In other words, if these countries' political cultures are morally superior to America's, it's because they're less democratic. "Death in Venice" (http://wayback.archive.org/web/20091009111114/http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/10/europeans-support-capital-punishment-too.php http://wayback.archive.org/web/20091009111114/http://tpmlive...), Joshua Micah Marshall, The New Republic, 31 July 2000
- Retric 6y agoWisconsin outlawed the death penalty in 1853, so that’s hardly a new issue. What’s changed is how much such things are emphasized. Rather than the 2020 presidential candidates talking about meaningful policy differences it was mostly about token issues and identity politics. Occasionally, they would signal which groups they where supporting, but as quietly as possible. That’s how unpopular choices can become policy. It breaks down to people with strong preferences deciding issues rather than the majority deciding issues. Farmers care a lot more about subsidies than most people making farm subsidies an easy choice.