What can bring the country together?

[Anonymous]

Serious question. I am so exhausted by the vitriol. Are we going to get past this time in our country? If so, what gets us there? If not, how long can we survive like this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Serious question. I am so exhausted by the vitriol. Are we going to get past this time in our country? If so, what gets us there? If not, how long can we survive like this?

Get to know your neighbors better. If they are like my neighbors, they are great people.

[Anonymous]

I have been traveling to the Midwest for years to visit family. The divide happened a long time ago. Before Obama was elected. I put the blame on right wing radio and entertainment outlets like Fox News, Breitbart, Glenn Beck, and Alex Jones. The entertainment they push is anger and outrage, bigotry and sexism. I watched my dad get sucked into that world but he died in 2013. Folks are reeling in this country due to huge economic shifts that are occurring in economic/labor market, much like the industrial revolution. If you think back to that time in history and the profound changes that occurred, it makes sense.

The only thing that is going to change is the younger generations will be able to cope more with the new economic/labor environment and the ones in the thick of the change will die off.

[Anonymous]

War or some other major catastrophe that is obvious and caused externally.

[Anonymous]

I took a hot yoga class last night. @ end- the teacher told us to think of a politician we can’t stand, & send them love. People started crying. We are all so damned tired of this.
I know I’ll get flamed her: yoga, sending love, liberal elites (which I am NOT).

[Anonymous]

Why are you all so sure you’ve got the right problem(s) in mind?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:War or some other major catastrophe that is obvious and caused externally.

I doubt it. After 9/11, Fox News just used it as an opportunity to ramp up their bigotry and fear-mongering.

[Anonymous]

I don't think we should. I think we should split into 3 nations, the northeast, california, and the poor states. I think two of the three would be much happier after the split, And the third could sell food and be angry all the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Serious question. I am so exhausted by the vitriol. Are we going to get past this time in our country? If so, what gets us there? If not, how long can we survive like this?

We should link arms and fight against the 1% elites. People on both sides distrust the elites in power and want their democracy back. That would make too much sense, which is why the rich and powerful and the corporate media on both sides is trying to divide us by identity politics wedge issues. College students who can’t find work and are heavily in debt should link arms with union members, teachers, etc., and get beyond their gender, race or ethnicity.

But the people in power don’t want that and will use all the tricks in the book to keep us divided.

And now - if the mainstream media has their way - the angry, divided masses will hopefully pick from two billionaires in November, Trump and Bloomberg. A choice between a far-right nationalist and a corporate Republican. Hooray!!!

[Anonymous]

Moving past Id politics

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Serious question. I am so exhausted by the vitriol. Are we going to get past this time in our country? If so, what gets us there? If not, how long can we survive like this?


Get to know your neighbors better. If they are like my neighbors, they are great people.

+1 So true. Work to be engaged in and build your community. Stay off screens and meet up with people whether it is walking on the sidewalk in your neighborhood or at the gym or volunteering or just having lunch at your workplace.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That’s part of it but the liberal side is equally ridiculous. The liberal pocketbook seems to have no end and yet the younger generation feels poorer even if they aren’t because they need more things to live. Frugalness is not respected anymore. They also support much more extreme causes than they used to. Since when were liberals only on the side of pro choice if they supported abortion on demand up until the delivery date? Are there also liberal shows that are causing these extreme views?

The "liberal pocketbook" are the blue states and urban areas that are much more affluent and where people understand "taking care" of their fellow human beings who might be in need. Washington DC has a budget reserve that puts it among the top in the United States, with a top rating from the three rating organizations, and yet, it also has among the most generous social safety nets in the country in terms of food, housing, education, mental illness and medicine, you name it. It certainly isn't perfect but it certainly isn't ridiculous where state services are concerned.

And, no, liberals do not support abortions on demand to the delivery date. That is simply fake news. In extreme cases where the fetus isn't viable or the life of the mother is at stake, there is sometimes no choice but to intervene in the third trimester, but otherwise, no one volunteers to have a late term abortion like that. Please stop posting lies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:War or some other major catastrophe that is obvious and caused externally.

I doubt it. After 9/11, Fox News just used it as an opportunity to ramp up their bigotry and fear-mongering.

That’s not a real war. If China tries to invade us and ordinary people have to fight them off from their homes with guns that would definitely bring the country together.

We have it too good as a society today and we’re atrophied because we don’t know real struggle. In WW1 people weren’t bickering about gender pronouns. They were too busy trying to find water to drink in the trenches that wasn’t riddled with dead bodies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have been traveling to the Midwest for years to visit family. The divide happened a long time ago. Before Obama was elected. I put the blame on right wing radio and entertainment outlets like Fox News, Breitbart, Glenn Beck, and Alex Jones. The entertainment they push is anger and outrage, bigotry and sexism. I watched my dad get sucked into that world but he died in 2013. Folks are reeling in this country due to huge economic shifts that are occurring in economic/labor market, much like the industrial revolution. If you think back to that time in history and the profound changes that occurred, it makes sense.

The only thing that is going to change is the younger generations will be able to cope more with the new economic/labor environment and the ones in the thick of the change will die off.

That’s part of it but the liberal side is equally ridiculous. The liberal pocketbook seems to have no end and yet the younger generation feels poorer even if they aren’t because they need more things to live. Frugalness is not respected anymore. They also support much more extreme causes than they used to. Since when were liberals only on the side of pro choice if they supported abortion on demand up until the delivery date? Are there also liberal shows that are causing these extreme views?

This is a good example of what pp was talking about re Fox News and other right-wing media. PP has made a number of incorrect statements about people on the left, most likely Fed to him by right-wing media. Assisting the right-wing media is pp’s unwillingness and/or inability to think critically about the things he hears from that right-wing media.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:War or some other major catastrophe that is obvious and caused externally.

I doubt it. After 9/11, Fox News just used it as an opportunity to ramp up their bigotry and fear-mongering.

That’s not a real war. If China tries to invade us and ordinary people have to fight them off from their homes with guns that would definitely bring the country together.

We have it too good as a society today and we’re atrophied because we don’t know real struggle. In WW1 people weren’t bickering about gender pronouns. They were too busy trying to find water to drink in the trenches that wasn’t riddled with dead bodies.

But not so busy with it that they couldn’t make sure the darkies stayed in their own regiments and didn’t eat in the white man’s mess hall.