Politics has changed. Michael Harris writes:
Politics used to be a contest of ideas between parties with different visions of the country. At election time, that produced a winner and a good loser.
Now it is a Texas death-match of ideologies. The other side is no longer just an opponent, but an enemy, a traitor, or worse. No victor is legitimate, and there are no good losers.
Our public spaces are now battlefields where anything goes: kicking, biting, eye-gouging, and, of course, industrial-scale lying.
The first casualty of barroom brawl politics is any meaningful discussion of policy. In a way, cerebral politics is dead, as the Democrats are slowly coming to realize in the United States.
The King of Sting, Donald Trump, is largely responsible for this sea-change in the national political discourse.
Trump is supported by followers whose idea of advocacy is an ever more vulgar partisanship; the “Fuck Biden” crowd.
Like it or lump it, a convicted fraudster and also a rapist—according to one judge—is now drawing comparisons from his followers with Jesus.
Canada has also become the home of barroom politics:
The prime minister has personally borne the brunt of MAGA-style politics here in Canada.
Several of his public appearances have featured verbal assaults that sounded like Trump supporters berating Biden or Nancy Pelosi.
“Fuck Trudeau” signs now routinely appear at Trudeau’s events, and the PM was accused at one of them of being a “pedophile” by a low-life jackass shouting in his face. Another dud threw gravel at him.
The Conservative Party of Canada has adroitly mimicked in this country Trump’s “everything is broken” message. It is not accidental that Pierre Poilievre is the champion of simple and draconian policies.
High interest rates? Fire the head of the Bank of Canada. How to cut spending? Defund the CBC, and put thousands of Canadian journalists out of work. Media giving you a hard time? Vilify and lecture them. Inflation getting you down? Try crypto currency.
Remember, the Orange One is the champion of firing big wigs, defunding public institutions, and attacking the press as enemies of the people. Poilievre received his message loud and clear.
Idiocy has become a social disease.
Image: CP 24
6 comments:
I really don't believe that the division we find ourselves in is purely "political". I have been noticing for a long time now the division is more of a "social" thing where every aspect of our daily lives are affected on a global scale. Obscene wealth gaps, supporting of causes like genocide based on fear of opinions, failing to speak up, changing policies on demonstrating, etc., are all symptoms of a growing cruelty and intolerance in our society. The idea of "Fuck your feelings" are all stemming from the position of anonymity that we can display in our use of the new media that has captivated our lives with instant gratification. Greed, cruelty and curruptin are the battlecries in this world of "Fuck you Jack and keep your hands off of my stack"!. Then again when I smell flowers I look around for the coffin.
Cruelty and intolerance are at the heart of a lot of what we do these days, zoombats. That means that the wounds we suffer will run deep.
Yup, pp is learning from trump style politics but who is helping pp and his party? Someone is helping them, directing them, suggesting they use these tactics for their election campaign. And it is a campaign. They have been campaigning at least since the covid epidemic was brought somewhat under control. At least three years out from the next scheduled election. Why did they start campaigning so far out? I think they have learned from a campaign a long long time ago as well. About telling a lie often enough and spreading misinformation that people believe if they hear it often enough. All of the other parties need to hit back at this, and hard. It can’t be left to just the liberals, they will all pay a price for being too soft on such obvious baloney. Either by being judged for not standing up to it or by being swept aside when the goons come marching through. For those spreading such it will have a bad ending but at a later time. When it’s over some year down the road they will be remembered for what they did and their party will be in ruins, tattered by the lies they knowingly told. We will remember and they will have to abandon the party, the name, and start from scratch, again. Or take over another party, again.
While it’s easy and normal for us to dwell overly on such nastiness we shouldn’t forget there is goodness and good people all around. They are doing wonderful things for their fellow citizens, in their communities, their cities, provinces and countries, around the world. There are more of them, and us, than the nasties and we need to get the word out on all that and all that they do and that most of us will not be drawn into the negative politics and will not vote for selfish small minded policies. Indeed, and in Canada usually over 60% of us do not vote for such negativity. It only wins when we don’t stick up for ourselves.
Let's hope the good people prevail, Graham.
" meaningful discussion of policy. In a way, cerebral politics is dead,"
This happened long ago but until recently the pretense was maintained inside the civil-discourse of the Overton Window as part of the red/blue, turn-taking oligarchy parties.
Social media was the final coffin-nail.
Social media, on the whole, has not encouraged critical thinking, PoV.
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