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> The point is to further political extremism, on both sides, and to create in fighting so that no united formation can stand against them. > So the question i

> The point is to further political extremism, on both sides, and to create in fighting so that no united formation can stand against them. > So the question is how to fight against this. I think our political parties and media are responsible for 99% of the political extremism, unwillingness to compromise, and placing their self interests over the well being of the country. And frankly, I think posts like yours contribute to the problem. Rather than taking responsibility as a country for where we are, we constantly resort to blaming external actors. If not the Taliban, then now Russia. Or we blame China. And the narrative from those in power is always the same. The Taliban isn’t attacking us for our freedom? Well you support terrorists then. Russia isn’t responsible for Trump getting elected? You must be a Russian shill. You say Russia did exactly what they said they would do if NATO didn’t stop expanding eastwards? Oh you’re a traitor or must work at a Russian troll farm. No. Take responsibility for once. We’re in this situation because of our own fault. We elected leaders who divide us. In the last election, the party of liberal and forward thinking ideas elected a man who’s been in politics longer than my children and grand children have been alive. What new ideas does this man have? What’s he going to do now in the executive branch that he couldn’t influence his party to do over his many, many decades long career? Is all that Russias fault too? To be frank: I don’t care for either party. I’m just tired of the constant blame game and passing on the buck to someone else.

piva00 4y ago
> I think our political parties and media are responsible for 99% of the political extremism, unwillingness to compromise, and placing their self interests over the well being of the country. FPTP usually creates this polarisation. I don't agree with your take that both parties are equally responsible though, one of them has consistently used political gridlock as a weapon, since Obama years. To the point where one of these parties fillibustered their own bills just to spite the other side. There are differences in level and scale. > You say Russia did exactly what they said they would do if NATO didn’t stop expanding eastwards? Oh you’re a traitor or must work at a Russian troll farm. I have a huge grievance with this line, it's literal Russian propaganda you are repeating. I'm not from the US if that matters.
- ozzythecat 4y ago
  > I don't agree with your take that both parties are equally responsible though, one of them has consistently used political gridlock as a weapon, since Obama years. Is political gridlock the root of the problem? Help me understand how only one party is responsible. Interesting you mention Obama. He ran on an anti-war platform, which was fairly out of line with the media and general American politics at the time. That alone was a big reason to vote for him. But what did he do? An unprecedented increase in drone attacks. By all measures, Obama let the military industrial complex grow. > I have a huge grievance with this line, it's literal Russian propaganda you are repeating. How is it propaganda? Are you staying this IS NOT exactly what Russia stated, repeatedly since the early 2000s?
  - piva00 4y ago
    > Is political gridlock the root of the problem? Help me understand how only one party is responsible. The GOP doesn't compromise anymore, it's a fact, no? [1] https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/lets-just-say-it-the-republicans-are-the-problem/2012/04/27/gIQAxCVUlT_story.html https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/lets-just-say-it-the... [2] https://www.vox.com/2016/7/18/12210500/diagnosed-dysfunction-republican-party https://www.vox.com/2016/7/18/12210500/diagnosed-dysfunction... > Interesting you mention Obama. He ran on an anti-war platform, which was fairly out of line with the media and general American politics at the time. That alone was a big reason to vote for him. > But what did he do? An unprecedented increase in drone attacks. By all measures, Obama let the military industrial complex grow. I don't care and there was nothing in my comment that led to this segue about Obama. This is purely soapboxing around an issue that wasn't in discussion, thanks anyway. > How is it propaganda? Are you staying this IS NOT exactly what Russia stated, repeatedly since the early 2000s? That's exactly the point, you are repeating this which is Russian propaganda. Why should Russia dictate what Ukraine can or cannot do? NATO didn't expand eastwards, countries to the East asked to join NATO. Should NATO say "no, thanks, Russia doesn't allow us"? You are performing a bizarro form of victim blaming and not seeing an issue with that. Are you subscribed to Mearsheimer's real politik/offensive realism stuff? It really does feel like you are repeating his lines... Have you forgotten Chechnya? Or Georgia?

piva00 4y ago

> I think our political parties and media are responsible for 99% of the political extremism, unwillingness to compromise, and placing their self interests over the well being of the country. FPTP usually creates this polarisation. I don't agree with your take that both parties are equally responsible though, one of them has consistently used political gridlock as a weapon, since Obama years. To the point where one of these parties fillibustered their own bills just to spite the other side. There are differences in level and scale. > You say Russia did exactly what they said they would do if NATO didn’t stop expanding eastwards? Oh you’re a traitor or must work at a Russian troll farm. I have a huge grievance with this line, it's literal Russian propaganda you are repeating. I'm not from the US if that matters.

ozzythecat 4y ago
> I don't agree with your take that both parties are equally responsible though, one of them has consistently used political gridlock as a weapon, since Obama years. Is political gridlock the root of the problem? Help me understand how only one party is responsible. Interesting you mention Obama. He ran on an anti-war platform, which was fairly out of line with the media and general American politics at the time. That alone was a big reason to vote for him. But what did he do? An unprecedented increase in drone attacks. By all measures, Obama let the military industrial complex grow. > I have a huge grievance with this line, it's literal Russian propaganda you are repeating. How is it propaganda? Are you staying this IS NOT exactly what Russia stated, repeatedly since the early 2000s?
- piva00 4y ago
  > Is political gridlock the root of the problem? Help me understand how only one party is responsible. The GOP doesn't compromise anymore, it's a fact, no? [1] https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/lets-just-say-it-the-republicans-are-the-problem/2012/04/27/gIQAxCVUlT_story.html https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/lets-just-say-it-the... [2] https://www.vox.com/2016/7/18/12210500/diagnosed-dysfunction-republican-party https://www.vox.com/2016/7/18/12210500/diagnosed-dysfunction... > Interesting you mention Obama. He ran on an anti-war platform, which was fairly out of line with the media and general American politics at the time. That alone was a big reason to vote for him. > But what did he do? An unprecedented increase in drone attacks. By all measures, Obama let the military industrial complex grow. I don't care and there was nothing in my comment that led to this segue about Obama. This is purely soapboxing around an issue that wasn't in discussion, thanks anyway. > How is it propaganda? Are you staying this IS NOT exactly what Russia stated, repeatedly since the early 2000s? That's exactly the point, you are repeating this which is Russian propaganda. Why should Russia dictate what Ukraine can or cannot do? NATO didn't expand eastwards, countries to the East asked to join NATO. Should NATO say "no, thanks, Russia doesn't allow us"? You are performing a bizarro form of victim blaming and not seeing an issue with that. Are you subscribed to Mearsheimer's real politik/offensive realism stuff? It really does feel like you are repeating his lines... Have you forgotten Chechnya? Or Georgia?