My comment left on a different strip two days ago: Both major parties have been disintegrating for some time. The Republicans are losing their base to the right, as evidenced by the rise of the Tea Party in the last decade (the original modern ‘resistance’ to an overreaching central authority); the Democrats losing theirs to the left, (their decline exacerbated by the destructive narcissism of both Obama and Hillary). Trump is basically a right wing populist whose surprise electoral victory was made possible by this decline of the two major parties.
There are really two types of political philosophies these days. Once you put aside the lies (trump and the regressives are pathological about lying, so this is a BIG thing to put aside), what you are left with is maladapted people with fixed views that do not consider new information or changing conditions. And then on the other side of the political spectrum, there are the more adaptable people who roll with the punches and have the intellectual and emotional ability to change their views as conditions change.
The following comments refer to the broad distribution of the population. As you get to either side of the distribution, obviously there are extremes. So go two standard deviations on either side, and what you’ll see is generally as follows:
The inflexible and maladapted tend to be religious, dogmatic, and view everything in a binary way. No shades of gray. No ambiguity. No context. They are stuck. Emotionally, intellectually, and, often, financially as well. They tend to be poorly educated, and not well informed about how the world works.
Those who are more adaptable tend to be more intelligent, less religious, more educated, and have a much wider view of the world. They can get goofy, of course, just like anyone can, but they are generally a more benign political force than the maladapted. They can learn, as adaptation is a learning process. The maladapted have a much harder time learning, and, by definition, they are unable to adapt to changing conditions.
There are lots of other angles to this divide in America. But adaptability, and the inability to adapt are defining characteristics. Well that, and one side bases everything on lies, and the other tends to stick to facts.
That’s why Obama did so well… his message was “hope”. All successful politicians tap into the emotions of the voters. We claim that we want politicians to “stick to the facts”, and talk to us about policies etc… but most people end up being swayed by emotion. Hope is such a better emotion that fear and rage.
But the USA has lost all sense of hope lately. It is kind of depressing when you think of it.
“For the enemy is . . . the baleful, the malign, the cowardly, the vessels of hatred, those who do a bad thing and call it good.” Terry Pratchett; Thud! (2005).
Obama also discarded Single Payer without using it to bargain down to the Govt Option. He dumped it gratis so that it would fall to the Right Wing’s PPACA. Softened some by the Democrats. Now being gutted by the current extremist regional party in power. Obama was black so it must be erased every bit of it.
Voting responsibly may mean finding the candidates, on both sides, who have the courage to stand against their own party’s nuttier positions and seek a ground for cooperation to serve the people and nation, not just the party. Rare, but there are some.
Scott, I’m sorry, both here and Prickly City, you’ve just been phoning it in. If you have a conservative point, just make it. Don’t set up a straw man and try to knock it over, that’s Mallard Filmore territory.
DD Wiz Premium Member over 5 years ago
Once again, Scott Stantis, who understands nothing of PROgressive thought (he feels threatened by “we the people”), misses the mark.
TRUMPubliCONs: vote your fears.
PROgressives (usually Democrats): vote you HOPE.
Vote for specific PROgressive policies that will make your life better:
HEALTH CARE for everyone, without regard (in either availability of pricing) of pre-existing condtions.
Strong wage policy, from minimum wages though front line workers to everyone who actually creates wealth.
Equality of OPPORTUNITY (not outcomes) regardless of races, ethnicity, gender, orientation or disability.
An economy that benefits working people, not just the few richest elites at the top and their insatiable lust for corporate welfare.
Daeder over 5 years ago
At least the “rage” is based on truth, whereas the “fear” is based on lies. But to each their own.
braindead Premium Member over 5 years ago
Scott, you are half right.
The fear half.
.
And, as Daeder and DD have commented, that fear is based on lies.
All the time.
Odon Premium Member over 5 years ago
Life long Republican columnist George Will says vote for dems only this year to bring his old party back to its senses.
Ontman over 5 years ago
The ultimate squeeze play.
Kip W over 5 years ago
Rage would be voting against our own interests because the GOP wants us to be angry at our fellow victims.
Radish the wordsmith over 5 years ago
Rage against Republican lies and fear mongering, vote them out.
Holden Awn over 5 years ago
My comment left on a different strip two days ago: Both major parties have been disintegrating for some time. The Republicans are losing their base to the right, as evidenced by the rise of the Tea Party in the last decade (the original modern ‘resistance’ to an overreaching central authority); the Democrats losing theirs to the left, (their decline exacerbated by the destructive narcissism of both Obama and Hillary). Trump is basically a right wing populist whose surprise electoral victory was made possible by this decline of the two major parties.
twclix over 5 years ago
There are really two types of political philosophies these days. Once you put aside the lies (trump and the regressives are pathological about lying, so this is a BIG thing to put aside), what you are left with is maladapted people with fixed views that do not consider new information or changing conditions. And then on the other side of the political spectrum, there are the more adaptable people who roll with the punches and have the intellectual and emotional ability to change their views as conditions change.
The following comments refer to the broad distribution of the population. As you get to either side of the distribution, obviously there are extremes. So go two standard deviations on either side, and what you’ll see is generally as follows:
The inflexible and maladapted tend to be religious, dogmatic, and view everything in a binary way. No shades of gray. No ambiguity. No context. They are stuck. Emotionally, intellectually, and, often, financially as well. They tend to be poorly educated, and not well informed about how the world works.
Those who are more adaptable tend to be more intelligent, less religious, more educated, and have a much wider view of the world. They can get goofy, of course, just like anyone can, but they are generally a more benign political force than the maladapted. They can learn, as adaptation is a learning process. The maladapted have a much harder time learning, and, by definition, they are unable to adapt to changing conditions.
There are lots of other angles to this divide in America. But adaptability, and the inability to adapt are defining characteristics. Well that, and one side bases everything on lies, and the other tends to stick to facts.
Aliquid over 5 years ago
That’s why Obama did so well… his message was “hope”. All successful politicians tap into the emotions of the voters. We claim that we want politicians to “stick to the facts”, and talk to us about policies etc… but most people end up being swayed by emotion. Hope is such a better emotion that fear and rage.
But the USA has lost all sense of hope lately. It is kind of depressing when you think of it.
Bookworm over 5 years ago
“For the enemy is . . . the baleful, the malign, the cowardly, the vessels of hatred, those who do a bad thing and call it good.” Terry Pratchett; Thud! (2005).
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] over 5 years ago
Obama also discarded Single Payer without using it to bargain down to the Govt Option. He dumped it gratis so that it would fall to the Right Wing’s PPACA. Softened some by the Democrats. Now being gutted by the current extremist regional party in power. Obama was black so it must be erased every bit of it.
Dtroutma over 5 years ago
Voting responsibly may mean finding the candidates, on both sides, who have the courage to stand against their own party’s nuttier positions and seek a ground for cooperation to serve the people and nation, not just the party. Rare, but there are some.
JudyAz over 5 years ago
Looks like the voter needs a bra for those eyes.
Radish the wordsmith over 5 years ago
Dems fear GOP Rage
kaffekup over 5 years ago
Scott, I’m sorry, both here and Prickly City, you’ve just been phoning it in. If you have a conservative point, just make it. Don’t set up a straw man and try to knock it over, that’s Mallard Filmore territory.
vxprof1954 over 5 years ago
Consult: Vote411.org
Mr. Blawt over 5 years ago
Democrats are enraged the Republicans are using fear to drive people to the polls.