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Post by someNothing on Nov 10, 2020 19:47:11 GMT
Their fear is they do not think they can learn, relate to, and/or keep up with the changing demographics. They must use all means necessary to control what they cannot relate to.
Plus, closer to their base desires and identity, politicians do not want to lose their jobs. The facade must be maintained until other means are created/perceived.
An alternative narrative is: race is a wedge to distract the attention of the 99% from the actions of the 1%. It's fascinating to me how Western culture has all manner of aphorsim from literature and lost to folklore that echoes the Tao and Buddhist texts. One of these is: "you can always hire one half of the poor to kill the other half".
This isn't to deny racism, nor that this isn't a factor, to some degree, but simply to suggest that there's more going on that just that.
My interpretation of demographics far exceeds race. So, yeah, color of skin is definitely a distraction. But, when taking the time to walk in another's shoes, one can begin to see how the values, world views, senses of self, etc begin to take form.
I do get the idea that all of this may be more than what appears to be going on. I tend toward simplicity when it comes to observable behavior, and reflect on it in a way that gels with what I might consider deeper human potentials. As for politics, I've admitted many times, I rarely vote "for" anyone, but more "against" another in hopes of increasing the probability of getting an actual adult in the room. If Trump is the best we got for president from any party....  |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 10, 2020 22:02:49 GMT
this is starting to have a the gang that couldn't shoot straight trying to stage a last minute coup feel to it  |
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Post by someNothing on Nov 10, 2020 22:34:02 GMT
this is starting to have a the gang that couldn't shoot straight trying to stage a last minute coup feel to it A classic Spaghetti Western of the pushing-around-noodles sort!
Better call Rango!
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muttley
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Post by muttley on Nov 11, 2020 10:50:09 GMT
Now, that's a clever meme right there.  Meme's don't work unless they can hook an emotion. yep, threats and prognostications of drugs and crime and violence and hatred of the police and falling home prices is a powerful hook that drives peeps to the polls The mote in the other guy's eye is always real easy to see.  |
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muttley
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Post by muttley on Nov 11, 2020 10:51:20 GMT
Their fear is they do not think they can learn, relate to, and/or keep up with the changing demographics. They must use all means necessary to control what they cannot relate to. Plus, closer to their base desires and identity, politicians do not want to lose their jobs. The facade must be maintained until other means are created/perceived.
Well Trump has blurred the lines of normality so grotesquely that it's difficult to assess the damage or long term consequences. so yeah... popcorn. And one need look no farther than Lindsey Graham to see what contortions are necessary to stay in the fickle good graces of the mob. Are you aware that his opponent set a record for spending on a senate race? |
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muttley
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Post by muttley on Nov 11, 2020 10:59:00 GMT
Absent the racial rhetoric Bernie and AOC sometimes say things that could have been said by Libertarian's or Pat Buchanan. The disagreement is about methodology, which leads to different alignment. Perhaps that changes in the course of the ongoing chaos, but she's about as flawed a character as they come. Did you read her "syncophant" tweet? yeah can well believe she has flaws, but I didn't see that tweet...? Can you say more about the disagreement in methodology? I really don't like putting a label or a box around my politics, as I think all ideologies/models are doomed to failure, but 'social libertarianism' is an actual movement that quite closely resembles my ideas. I believe Noam Chomsky was an advocate. I'm sketchy on the details. 'Compassionate anarchism' is another model that I can relate to. I'm in danger of falling down an "LOA powerlessness" well here 'cause I honestly don't see any systemic solution to the underlying social ailments that can be expressed in any sort of abstract system.
We can look back in history and discern some actions certain groups took that led to periods of relative peace and prosperity, but it's all incredibly nuanced, fluid, and situational. Today's blessing becomes tomorrow's curse, and vice-versa. Convincing people otherwise is the common way to power.
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muttley
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Post by muttley on Nov 11, 2020 11:02:48 GMT
Well Trump has blurred the lines of normality so grotesquely that it's difficult to assess the damage or long term consequences. so yeah... popcorn. And one need look no farther than Lindsey Graham to see what contortions are necessary to stay in the fickle good graces of the mob. I notice amongst my friends that were particularly celebratory at the media's announcement of Biden's victory (and were pretty excited by the potential of Trump dying!), that what they really really want is a sense of 'normality'. It's understandable, I can find a scrap of that in me too. The last few years have been super noisy, conflicting, and turbulent. But, I'm really not sure that what was 'normal' was that good. I think... at best, all that noise, conflict and turbulence was being successfully buried or subdued i.e a semi-functional facade. Not to mention a steady accumulation of social imbalance that's built up over the decades with the rich getting richer, public debt inexorably increasing and various institutions gaining more and more autonomous power over day-to-day life: the medical, education and other attendant complices to the military. All just swept under the rug for as long as the rug held up. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2020 11:04:27 GMT
Imagine the blowback after the inauguration...  Fuck Joes call for unity. I hope the payback is brutal. |
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muttley
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Post by muttley on Nov 11, 2020 11:08:54 GMT
To some extant there's a self-fulfilling Armageddon thingy goin' on 'cause of the wave of dying baby boomers. It's a very common movement of mind, a sort of sour grapes. It sells 'cause it appeals to people's fear - I'll admit I've been a fan of the fiction out of morbid curiosity at times, but I started to get bored with it last year. And, certainly, as patterns in history go, it's the high-probability call. Also, there can be an urgency to leave one's mark as the end draws near. |
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muttley
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Post by muttley on Nov 11, 2020 11:15:10 GMT
That's precisely what I mean by that Trump is a symptom and not a cause. W', Billy, and Obama were (to varying degrees) better at presenting a facade, and, where ultimately, to a major extent, only figureheads anyway. It's magic illusion 101: "look here, not over there".
So, as we rapidly approach a point where the option of neutrality is fading, and our sources of information become more and more muddled and confused, I'm inclined and biased toward the bit of wisdom oft repeated during Watergate: "follow the money".
Agree to some extent. If he were a child, I'd have more to offer in agreement. But, he is a man-child and, as such, he is a symptom of his upbringing and the culture that has enabled such forms of wielding power, but also to be held responsible. I have no problem rejecting him outright until he exhibited a modicum of adulthood. I have no need for people in positions of leadership who live in/from utter fear. When it comes to politics, fear is the only game in town, until the rules of the game are somehow radically altered. As you alluded, it's not a one-sided affair, and the magician always wants you to look in a direction other than where the action is. |
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Meme's don't work unless they can hook an emotion.
