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My brother— a political science major— is planning on leaving the US until after the next presidential election. His opinion is that all but one of the “likely

My brother— a political science major— is planning on leaving the US until after the next presidential election. His opinion is that all but one of the “likely to face a civil war” checkboxes on his list have been checked. This is a real concern. I don’t know how it can be turned around, though. The momentum of polarization seems like it has reached critical velocity (or close to it).

dylanhassinger 4y ago
It could be turned around by MAGA insurrectionists being held accountable and prosecuted. No liberal is threatening violence, only conservatives
- proc0 4y ago
  They had a trial already. Insurrections don't work that way, it baffles me that people keep thinking that was possible or is a threat. When talking about guns, the military is mentioned as having so much power that it's pointless to think you can win in any way, but all of a sudden with an insurrection, a few hundred people rushing the capitol and the whole country will cease to exist! They were never a threat. The military could have swooped in and killed everyone. "Democracy" is not that fragile, and cannot be destroyed by occupying a building. If democracy dies it will be because there are tens of MILLIONS of people don't want to participate anymore, at which point it's a civil war. A small minority of extremist cannot threaten a large system, unless of course those small minority is meant to be half of the country based on political leanings (at which point, it's not an insurrection and just a civil war). By exaggerating the threat, it ironically adds fuel to the fire of a civil war, becoming like a self-fulfilling prophecy.
- h2odragon 4y ago
  https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/fairness-justice/the-media-forget-themselves-on-political-violence https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/fairnes...
Mountain_Skies 4y ago
Election mechanics aside, much of the problem stems from so many being willing to blow up minor issues into huge issues with only black or white views on them. Sadly the way this gets reset is by lots of people getting hurt and many killed. It becomes much more clear what one's priorities should be and what are things that don't need to be screeched about like it's the end of the world, once food becomes scarce and there are people shooting at you that can't be stopped with a phone call to the local police.
Rzor 4y ago
I remember Mark Blyth commenting on that proximity too.

dylanhassinger 4y ago

It could be turned around by MAGA insurrectionists being held accountable and prosecuted. No liberal is threatening violence, only conservatives

proc0 4y ago
They had a trial already. Insurrections don't work that way, it baffles me that people keep thinking that was possible or is a threat. When talking about guns, the military is mentioned as having so much power that it's pointless to think you can win in any way, but all of a sudden with an insurrection, a few hundred people rushing the capitol and the whole country will cease to exist! They were never a threat. The military could have swooped in and killed everyone. "Democracy" is not that fragile, and cannot be destroyed by occupying a building. If democracy dies it will be because there are tens of MILLIONS of people don't want to participate anymore, at which point it's a civil war. A small minority of extremist cannot threaten a large system, unless of course those small minority is meant to be half of the country based on political leanings (at which point, it's not an insurrection and just a civil war). By exaggerating the threat, it ironically adds fuel to the fire of a civil war, becoming like a self-fulfilling prophecy.
h2odragon 4y ago
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/fairness-justice/the-media-forget-themselves-on-political-violence https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/fairnes...

Mountain_Skies 4y ago

Election mechanics aside, much of the problem stems from so many being willing to blow up minor issues into huge issues with only black or white views on them. Sadly the way this gets reset is by lots of people getting hurt and many killed. It becomes much more clear what one's priorities should be and what are things that don't need to be screeched about like it's the end of the world, once food becomes scarce and there are people shooting at you that can't be stopped with a phone call to the local police.

Rzor 4y ago

I remember Mark Blyth commenting on that proximity too.