Shockernet Has Become Politically Polarized

[ShockTalk]

Mainstream "leftists." Like who?

And what the hell is a "leftist" anyway??? I've seen this term only on Shockernet--but I admit I get most of my information from legitimate bipartisan sources who don't use terms like that. Is a "mainstream leftist" different from a mainstream Democrat? Is there such a thing as a "rightist"? And is that different from a conservative? Does the President's suggestion that he would pay the legal fees of a "rightist" (am I using that correctly????) who hit a protester constitute endorsing violence? Or is the President not a "mainstream rightist"? Biden has called for violent protesters to be arrested, so he must not be a mainstream leftist, huh? Obama has also denounced violence, so he must not be "mainstream" either. Or maybe they're not leftist at all. So confused.

This is silly. Seriously. Leftist. SMH.

Just my opinion, but if "left leaning" mayors of cities and "left leaning" governors of those states where violence and the rights of all people of those cities and states whose freedoms are being affected choose not to stop the violence and unlawful disruption, then they are apparently not listening to those leaders on the left or those leaders are simply giving lip service.

[wufan]

Close. I do agree that it depends on the issue. But there could be issues where current policy is generally viewed as already tilted in one direction. Assuming center is status quo, and only deviations from it define one's politics, ignores ideology and the fact that today's status quo is yesterday's right/left.

Say future gun laws are changed to a current liberal viewpoint. Does that now mean every liberal would suddenly become a centrist on gun policy? And then everyone who was a centrist is suddenly a conservative on that issue? I don't believe that. If that is the case, then I see how this would create a polarized environment as ideologies feel like they would have to take more and more radical positions to define themselves and keep their viewpoints relevant.

This is what is happening. Yesterday gay marriage was left. Today hormones for trans-gender children is left.

[Rocky Mountain Shock]

Now you're being disingenuous.

Actually, no I’m not. I’ve never seen a legitimate source use the word “leftist.” The only place I’ve seen it is here. I don’t know what it means. I don’t know if “rightest” is a thing. I’ve never heard either term used in live conversation.

But I am reasonably sure it’s kinda silly.

[Shockm]

Actually, no I’m not. I’ve never seen a legitimate source use the word “leftist.” The only place I’ve seen it is here. I don’t know what it means. I don’t know if “rightest” is a thing. I’ve never heard either term used in live conversation.

But I am reasonably sure it’s kinda silly.

The media and Shockernet left always refer to the Far Right and racists. That’s what a person is if they venture into the moderate right.

you otoh are just considered moderate.

[wufan]

Remember the Naval Academy grad who got worked over by the unmarked DHS folks (and had his hand get badly broken)? He was there, as a veteran, because he thinks those people have a right to peacefully protest. So it's pretty obvious to me that there are excesses on both sides.

Not only that, seems like the Minneapolis police identified the first looter that started the Floyd riots - a white supremacist carrying an umbrella who broke windows at a auto parts store and helped himself to merchandise. That's also a concern of mine. But i will say, let the peaceful folks protest (even though I am way past tired of it) and jail the lawbreakers. No matter who they are. I'm just not convinced that all of the looters are from one side nor can I quantify how many are left vs. right. It would be interesting if we could get a breakdown of looters arrested and find out exactly who they are. If we had that information, I could get behind what you are saying, though.

There were no unmarked DHS folks. They were all marked. When the gov tried to sue, the judge through it out because both instances had pictures and the officers had markings on four sides as well as a badge number and department. That’s all fake.

As to the white supremacist. Well, originally he was a police officer. You can dig up the 100s of stories on that. Now he’s a white supremacist. Well they took sworn testimony from an individual that swore under oath that someone told him who the person was. That’s it. Also, the riots were on day three when this guy started breaking windows.

It’s important that you know that you are being lied to. You can look up everything I just told you.

[wufan]

Mainstream "leftists." Like who?

And what the hell is a "leftist" anyway??? I've seen this term only on Shockernet--but I admit I get most of my information from legitimate bipartisan sources who don't use terms like that. Is a "mainstream leftist" different from a mainstream Democrat? Is there such a thing as a "rightist"? And is that different from a conservative? Does the President's suggestion that he would pay the legal fees of a "rightist" (am I using that correctly????) who hit a protester constitute endorsing violence? Or is the President not a "mainstream rightist"? Biden has called for violent protesters to be arrested, so he must not be a mainstream leftist, huh? Obama has also denounced violence, so he must not be "mainstream" either. Or maybe they're not leftist at all. So confused.

This is silly. Seriously. Leftist. SMH.

Leftist is a common mainstream term. They call them peaceful protestors on MSN, CNN, NBC, etc. they don’t use the term rightest, they use the term “extremist”, “bigot“, “racist”, “fascist” to describe right wingers.

[wufan]

The bolded part is where I start having issues on Shockernet and in our society. Is the left really "letting" "extremist groups" "run rampant"? Really? And the right would never let such a thing happen? Really? Honestly asking, because I think what conservatives tend to criticize liberals for is the same damn thing they do. And vice versa. That's why I don't like either party right now. Everyone points fingers at the other side while thinking their own side is blameless and innocent.

The reality is both sides are right and both sides are wrong. And that little nugget blows the minds of many people today because they are so set in the black and white they have little ability to think in the gray.

Do you want a list with videos and tweets?

[Rocky Mountain Shock]

The way this conversation has devolved into “leftists” vs “racists”, and how every Democrat—sorry leftist!—has somehow encouraged violence but Trump’s comments have somehow not encouraged violence, is why this forum is like a Breitbart convention and why folks like me have such a hard time trying to have reasonable conversations about actual issues.

A few fringe actors on one side are seen as representative of an entire political ideology. Both sides do this. Conservatives (rightists?) see AOC as a typical Democrat. And leftists (see, I can be hip to the lingo like you kids!) think every conservative is freakin’ Donald Trump.

The actual reality is AOC is pretty fringe in her party. And true Republicans like Jeff Flake and Paul Ryan might have retired in droves (and John McCain passed away), but there are plenty still trying to hold that party together.

Folks like me try to have an adult conversation about what can be done about race relations and COVID. Instead, we have to deal with a bunch of people seemingly more concerned about a few thugs in Portland and how a face mask (but not a seatbelt) is somehow a violation of their Constitutional rights. It’s exhausting.

[wufan]

The way this conversation has devolved into “leftists” vs “racists”, and how every Democrat—sorry leftist!—has somehow encouraged violence but Trump’s comments have somehow not encouraged violence, is why this forum is like a Breitbart convention and why folks like me have such a hard time trying to have reasonable conversations about actual issues.

A few fringe actors on one side are seen as representative of an entire political ideology. Both sides do this. Conservatives (rightists?) see AOC as a typical Democrat. And leftists (see, I can be hip to the lingo like you kids!) think every conservative is freakin’ Donald Trump.

The actual reality is AOC is pretty fringe in her party. And true Republicans like Jeff Flake and Paul Ryan might have retired in droves (and John McCain passed away), but there are plenty still trying to hold that party together.

Folks like me try to have an adult conversation about what can be done about race relations and COVID. Instead, we have to deal with a bunch of people seemingly more concerned about a few thugs in Portland and how a face mask (but not a seatbelt) is somehow a violation of their Constitutional rights. It’s exhausting.

Democrat and leftist are not synonymous. Most democrats don’t support violence, but too many are blaming Trump for it. What did Trump do to cause the recent violent riots? Just say what it was he did.

AOC is a socialist. Everyone knows that, but the democrats have taken her in.

What do you think we should do about racism and Covid?

The thing about masks that some folks don’t get is this: The science is controversial at best. But, we must all do it for our beat interest. Why? We need to lock down some businesses, but not all. why? It’s not okay to protest unless It’s in support of BLM. Why? The science is controversial on HCQ, so you can’t have it! In fact, you can’t even support it! Why? Why are these things happening?

[Rocky Mountain Shock]

Democrat and leftist are not synonymous. Most democrats don’t support violence, but too many are blaming Trump for it. What did Trump do to cause the recent violent riots? Just say what it was he did.

AOC is a socialist. Everyone knows that, but the democrats have taken her in.

What do you think we should do about racism and Covid?

The thing about masks that some folks don’t get is this: The science is controversial at best. But, we must all do it for our beat interest. Why? We need to lock down some businesses, but not all. why? It’s not okay to protest unless It’s in support of BLM. Why? The science is controversial on HCQ, so you can’t have it! In fact, you can’t even support it! Why? Why are these things happening?

AOC is a socialist? Is it fair to call Trump a fascist? These are McCarthy like times in this country. The answer to both those questions is no—except for hardline partisans.

Are most Democrats blaming Trump for violence? Or is that what you read on Breitbart or hear on Fox? Are most Republicans racists or is that somewhere on MSNBC? Who in their right mind believes this stuff?

Most of the crap—and that’s exactly what it is on here and in many political discussions: absolute CRAP—results from either side demonizing the other. It’s from generalizations and stereotypes. It’s from a lack of understanding. It’s from folks getting all worked up about something they read on a website instead of rationally looking at the issue from both sides and using some damn empathy.

When we spend less time jumping to conclusions, labeling, and thinking the other side is out to get us, and spend more time listening and asking questions, we’ll make some real progress.

Why can’t we just say “I disagree with Pelosi on many issues”? Or “Lindsay Graham supports Trump too much.” Instead, we’re like “PELOSI AND THE DEMOCRATS ARE SOCIALISTS AND EAT BABIES” and “LINDSAY GRAHAM AND EVERY REPUBLICAN WHO EVER LIVED WANTS TO TAKE HEALTHCARE AWAY—AND THEY ALSO EAT BABIES”.

God help us.

[Aargh]

I've not heard any on the right calling out the armed protesters who called for the murder, lynching, or beheading of Michigan's governor when they invaded the state capitol with arms and some were carrying swastika flags. Equating a political ideology with the extremes of that ideology is just fear-mongering.

There are idiots on both ends of the spectrum. Assigning the acts of the extremists to the non-extreme is a generalization that is not only inaccurate, but tends to categorize innocent and peaceful people with the worst of those on their side of the spectrum.

Those categorizations are splitting our country into camps that oppose each other. We do not benefit in any way from dividing into ideological camps. Russia and China benefit greatly from that.

Reagan won the Cold War by outspending and bankrupting Russia, but the battle lines changed. Now the effort is to bring down America from within. So far we are cooperating in every way possible.

[MikeKennedyRulZ]

The way this conversation has devolved into “leftists” vs “racists”, and how every Democrat—sorry leftist!—has somehow encouraged violence but Trump’s comments have somehow not encouraged violence, is why this forum is like a Breitbart convention and why folks like me have such a hard time trying to have reasonable conversations about actual issues.

A few fringe actors on one side are seen as representative of an entire political ideology. Both sides do this. Conservatives (rightists?) see AOC as a typical Democrat. And leftists (see, I can be hip to the lingo like you kids!) think every conservative is freakin’ Donald Trump.

The actual reality is AOC is pretty fringe in her party. And true Republicans like Jeff Flake and Paul Ryan might have retired in droves (and John McCain passed away), but there are plenty still trying to hold that party together.

Folks like me try to have an adult conversation about what can be done about race relations and COVID. Instead, we have to deal with a bunch of people seemingly more concerned about a few thugs in Portland and how a face mask (but not a seatbelt) is somehow a violation of their Constitutional rights. It’s exhausting.

AOC might not be the typical Democrat, but you cannot deny that she is extremely influential in the Democratic agenda. She has been embraced by the party and the elder statesmen (statespeople?) in the Democratic party have not shown any interest in legitimately standing up to her.

[MikeKennedyRulZ]

I've not heard any on the right calling out the armed protesters who called for the murder, lynching, or beheading of Michigan's governor when they invaded the state capitol with arms and some were carrying swastika flags. Equating a political ideology with the extremes of that ideology is just fear-mongering.

There are idiots on both ends of the spectrum. Assigning the acts of the extremists to the non-extreme is a generalization that is not only inaccurate, but tends to categorize innocent and peaceful people with the worst of those on their side of the spectrum.

Those categorizations are splitting our country into camps that oppose each other. We do not benefit in any way from dividing into ideological camps. Russia and China benefit greatly from that.

Reagan won the Cold War by outspending and bankrupting Russia, but the battle lines changed. Now the effort is to bring down America from within. So far we are cooperating in every way possible.

Did I miss the part where the Michigan protesters burned buildings down, threw molitov cocktails and bricks at police, took over 6 block area of cities, tried to burn down federal buildings, spit on police, etc.? Must have. You are correct that nobody will benefit from dividing our coutnry, which is why it it so disgusting that the Democrats have never embraced the 2016 election and have spent the last 3 + years dividing the country and chasing further down the rabbit hole with their petty nonsense because Hillary didn't win the election. The sad sight of them grandstanding with Barr the other day was pitiful.

[ShockingButTrue]

I've not heard any on the right calling out the armed protesters who called for the murder, lynching, or beheading of Michigan's governor when they invaded the state capitol with arms and some were carrying swastika flags. Equating a political ideology with the extremes of that ideology is just fear-mongering.

There are idiots on both ends of the spectrum. Assigning the acts of the extremists to the non-extreme is a generalization that is not only inaccurate, but tends to categorize innocent and peaceful people with the worst of those on their side of the spectrum.

Those categorizations are splitting our country into camps that oppose each other. We do not benefit in any way from dividing into ideological camps. Russia and China benefit greatly from that.

Reagan won the Cold War by outspending and bankrupting Russia, but the battle lines changed. Now the effort is to bring down America from within. So far we are cooperating in every way possible.

Not one window was broken. Not one building was set on fire. No one got assaulted. Other than that, yeah, pretty much the same.

[wufan]

AOC is a socialist? Is it fair to call Trump a fascist? These are McCarthy like times in this country. The answer to both those questions is no—except for hardline partisans.

AOC is a member of the Democratic Socialist party. Yes she defines herself as a socialist. I’m not giving her a pejorative, I’m identifying her as she identifies herself.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.vox...ist-of-america