Politics of Hate category archive

Arash Javanbakht, writing at Psychology Today Blogs, notes that studies show that many Americans are not just turned off by the news, they are turning off the news because they are emotionally worn out. He looks into thee reasons why.

Here’s a bit of his article (follow the link for the rest–it is a worthwhile read):

. . . American politicians and major news media have found an ally in fear: a very strong emotion that can be used to grab our attention, keeping us in the tribal dividing lines and making us follow, click, tap, watch, and donate.

Over the past few decades, many people have felt a strong push for tribalism, an “us vs. them” way of seeing the world, turning Americans against one another. This has led to a point where we are not just in disagreement with each other. We hate, cancel, block, and attack those who disagree with us.

I agree that the news is very bad. The nation may well be in its worst crisis since the 1850s. I also agree that not wallowing in the news from dawn to dusk is wise.

But turning away from it entirely–not a good idea in these fraught times.

Michael in Norfolk sums it up:

As Donald Trump continues to roll out his nominees for cabinet positions and other critical governmental positions, two things define many of these nominees: (i) they are totally unqualified for the positions for which they have been tapped, and (ii) they are extreme ideologues who have sworn fealty Trump over all else.

Follow the link for context.

Writing at the Des Moines Register, Bruce Lear argues that we have become an uncivil society and will suffer–are suffering–for it. Methinks he has a point.

A tiny bit:

. . . we seem to have forgotten how to be civil or to compromise.

Follow the link for context.

Thom and Heidi Siegmund Cuda hear some very scary rhymes. A quote:

It can happen anywhere where you can get a mob together over fear and othering and have them become your foot soldiers for fascism.

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*Mark Twain.

Writing at the Portland Press-Herald, Lincoln Paine voices his fear that the election of Donald Trump may signal the death knell of American democracy (and, frankly, I doubt he’s alone in that fear). And he points a finger:

But the people who lost our democracy are the Republican leadership, starting with Mitch McConnell.

Follow the link for his reasoning.

Trump’s consiglieri adviser appears to be a real piece of work.