WTF is wrong with this country?

[Mark B]

The old saw that it's the LEFT's fault for not explaining the situation is complete & utter crap. MAGA morons believe what they want to believe, and MAGA morons get their propaganda only from RIGHT wingnut media.

POLITICO - ‘AMERICANS FEEL RIPPED OFF, AND THEY'RE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO BLAME.’

BY JOAN C. WILLIAMS

Joan C. Williams is a professor at the University of California Hastings College of the Law and author of White Working Class: Overcoming Class Cluelessness in America.

I lived in Venezuela growing up. Now, I have lived to see the Venezuelization of my own country. Venezuela had tremendous oil wealth, but at age 8, I was deeply shocked at the level of inequality. I still remember driving into Caracas for the first time and seeing people living in shanty towns, with little boys running around in only shirts. Our house there had high concrete walls topped with broken glass. This brought home to me that the white picket fence we think of here in America signals the social trust and peace possible only in a democracy that offers workers a stable, middle-class life.

Donald Trump represents what happens when the American dream dies. It is dying: Virtually all Americans of my generation did better than their parents, but only about half of those born in 1980 will. Americans feel ripped off, and they’re looking for someone to blame—that’s what Trump showed me. His election made me realize that I and other progressives had failed to clearly communicate to our fellow Americans the reason for the hollowing out of the middle class: a toxic brand of slash-and-burn capitalism where Big Men’s frantic performance of masculinity “requires” them to hoard outlandish wealth so they can win the masculinity contest that defines their lives—gutting workers’ futures in the process.

The left’s failure to explain this enabled Trump to blame immigrants for the disappearance of solid full-time jobs, and to convince many in the fragile and former middle class that they’ve been victimized because they’re white. Immigrants aren’t to blame; slash-and-burn capitalism is. We urgently need to draw that link, clearly and soon, or our democracy’s days may be numbered.

[Ike Bana]

Originally Posted by Mark B

The old saw that it's the LEFT's fault for not explaining the situation is complete & utter crap. MAGA morons believe what they want to believe, and MAGA morons get their propaganda only from RIGHT wingnut media.

All Joan Williams is saying is that there has been a failure to communicate an understanding of the fact that the American dream has been stolen from middle America by "slash and burn" capitalism...corporate and banking greed. All she's saying is that the left has done a piss poor job of focusing on this issue. The left has done a piss poor job at a lot of things when it comes to landing votes. And the Maga morons only make up 30% of Republican voters, even fewer of all voters.

I don't know what to do about the fact that rampant racism and bigotry in American culture made it easy for bigot Trump to sell "it's the immigrants and minorities fault" to bigoted white christian Americans.

But one thing I do know is that Americans have the government they deserve. The fact that this culture has pretty much totally abandoned any sense of, and commitment to any sort of collectivism is going to kill this democracy. Rugged individualism killed it. I got mine...go fuck yourself, killed it.

[whell]

Originally Posted by Mark B

The old saw that it's the LEFT's fault for not explaining the situation is complete & utter crap. MAGA morons believe what they want to believe, and MAGA morons get their propaganda only from RIGHT wingnut media.

From Joan Williams' article:

His election made me realize that I and other progressives had failed to clearly communicate to our fellow Americans the reason for the hollowing out of the middle class: a toxic brand of slash-and-burn capitalism where Big Men’s frantic performance of masculinity “requires” them to hoard outlandish wealth so they can win the masculinity contest that defines their lives—gutting workers’ futures in the process.

OK, so this feminist law professor thinks capitalism has a masculinity problem? And she's bummed that more Americans don't agree with her? I think this will continue to bother poor Ms Williams because no American with half a brain is going to buy the crap she's selling. And suggesting that the folks who don't agree with you and her on this are MAGAmorons and Right-wingnut media isn't going to help her, or your, case at all.

[Ike Bana]

Originally Posted by whell

I think this will continue to bother poor Ms Williams because no American with half a brain is going to buy the crap she's selling.

The almost half of Americans who voted twice for a sexual assault perp/sociopathic grifter/lying-ass seditionist...don't have half a brain. And those of us here on PC finally have to accept the sad fact that this includes you, Mikey.

[Ike Bana]

Originally Posted by whell

F
OK, so this feminist law professor thinks capitalism has a masculinity problem?.

A raging patriarchy problem, in fact. Why are women paid 70-75% of what men are paid for the same work? Fucking patriarchy.

[Rajoo]

Originally Posted by Mark B

The old saw that it's the LEFT's fault for not explaining the situation is complete & utter crap. MAGA morons believe what they want to believe, and MAGA morons get their propaganda only from RIGHT wingnut media.

I agree with you on this, do not believe that any amount of explanation can or will change some one's mind if their minds are made up. And those living in an echo chamber do not hear or read any contrary view points anyway, so why even bother?

My own perception is taht people without critical thinking skills like the MAGAmorons cannot ever brought around unless their belief system sinks them. Even then chances they will be looking for a scapegoat. If one buys snake oil, is it the fault of the seller making outlandish claims or the buyer. Most buyers will blame the salesman.

Putting Trump behind bars will only enrage them even further because they will still be listening only to him and his rants. But it may save the country.

[donquixote99]

Originally Posted by Rajoo

I agree with you on this, do not believe that any amount of explanation can or will change some one's mind if their minds are made up. And those living in an echo chamber do not hear or read any contrary view points anyway, so why even bother?

My own perception is taht people without critical thinking skills like the MAGAmorons cannot ever brought around unless their belief system sinks them. Even then chances they will be looking for a scapegoat. If one buys snake oil, is it the fault of the seller making outlandish claims or the buyer. Most buyers will blame the salesman.

Putting Trump behind bars will only enrage them even further because they will still be listening only to him and his rants. But it may save the country.

Getting the Germans to renounce Nazism required slaughtering their soldiers, bombing their cities to rubble, and finally invading and occupying their country.