I'm trying not to be outraged, but...

[Quintessence]

This is something of a spin-off thread from @Stevicus 's thread here - https://www.religiousforums.com/threads/moral-outrage-in-political-debates.210986/ ; I felt it might be nice to give folks a space to air their current political grievances. The intent of this thread isn't for us to debate each other, but just to let some of it out. What are some of the things going on right now that are really bothering you? Perhaps you wouldn't describe your feelings about it as outrage, but fear, or perhaps sadness?

I'll start. There's a long list of things that are happening in my country right now that are both distressing and outrageous, but there's one in particular that hits home in ways that other issues do not.

That's what dumpster fire's moronic trade war with China is going to do to my homeland.

Roughly a third of our economy here is dependent on agriculture and agricultural products. A lot of that depends on exports - corn and soybeans - to China. The New York Times posted an editorial today about the issue - https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/26/opinion/trump-tariffs-trade-war-rural-america.html - that captures well the road this is going to take my homeland down. I didn't grow up on the farm, but I wish that I'd had the privilege. I dream of owning land and being a farmer, and there are many other younger people who do the same. We can't because the financial barriers are insurmountable. Instead, when times are rough, land that has been in the same family for generations ends up going up for sale to cover the debts. And the people who buy it... wait, back up. People don't buy it. Corporations do, who then practice unsavory industrial agriculture. Nobody else can afford to buy it. Welcome to America - government of the corporation, by the corporation, and for the corporation. Who needs those founding principles and values of our country anymore, right? Government serving it's people? Pfft.

 

[Quetzal]

What are some of the things going on right now that are really bothering you?

People who continue to support the platforms of the GOP that undermine human decency and the environment, read: most of them.

 

[Twilight Hue]

One of my biggest pet peeves?

Robbing Peter to pay Paul.

 

[YmirGF]

With all due respect to you, @Quintessence and you are due a mighty heap of respect... Personally, I am bothered by the hysteria in the current political climate. Things that were unthinkable a few years ago are now the norm. It's OK to harass people all the while being admonished that bullying is flat out wrong. Me? I'm tired of hearing the endless litany of grievances that people have. It's getting old. The polarization that exists, on virtually any topic, is also mind-numbing, as people take the moral high ground and pretend their morality trumps that of others. My sense of morality is NOT better than yours, but the converse also applies. We need to get down off our soap boxes and just breathe, relax and get our own lives in order. We need to relearn how to talk to each other in a civil and (mildly) respectful manner.

For an angry old white guy, my privilege does not allow me to feel outrage at more things.

 

[Revoltingest]

I'm outraged by all the people who blame corporations for everything.
Don't like what government does? Want real change?
Then vote for a different party, ya muel'n, pants wear'n, flower sniff'n,
doily arrange'n twiddelnimbers!

 

[Revoltingest]

People who continue to support the platforms of the GOP that undermine human decency and the environment, read: most of them.

And people who continue to support eh platforms of the DNC undermine liberty, the economy, civility, & ethics: read most of them.

Go third party!

 

[Quintessence]

I surmise the level of hysteria is quite related to having a hysterical "president." Ordinarily, the president should serve as a calmer role model to help diffuse the fires of polarization. The current "leadership" does precisely the opposite. It's unfortunate.

 

[Quintessence]

I'm outraged by all the people who blame corporations for everything.
Don't like what government does? Want real change?
Then vote for a different party, ya muel'n, pants wear'n, flower sniff'n,
doily arrange'n twiddelnimbers!

Haha... I love it!

At this point, it feels like that's not enough. I'm not one of those people who goes around claiming "my vote doesn't count," but it seems that just voting isn't enough anymore. Part of me wants to be a more outgoing activist, but that's very contrary to my personality. There's a reason I preferred backstage work in theatre. Spotlights terrify me.

 

[BSM1]

I'm outraged by all the people who blame corporations for everything.
Don't like what government does? Want real change?
Then vote for a different party, ya muel'n, pants wear'n, flower sniff'n,
doily arrange'n twiddelnimbers!

Whoa...whoa...don't try to interject sanity and common sense into this discussion.

 

[Quetzal]

And people who continue to support eh platforms of the DNC undermine liberty, the economy, civility, & ethics: read most of them.

Go third party!

If a third party becomes viable, sure. Until then, no thanks.

 

[Revoltingest]

I surmise the level of hysteria is quite related to having a hysterical "president." Ordinarily, the president should serve as a calmer role model to help diffuse the fires of polarization. The current "leadership" does precisely the opposite. It's unfortunate.

To become hysterical because Trump is...that seems a poor response.
If Hillary had won, you wouldn't see me aping her perfunctory rhetoric.
(I prefer lively rhetoric.)

 

[BSM1]

I surmise the level of hysteria is quite related to having a hysterical "president." Ordinarily, the president should serve as a calmer role model to help diffuse the fires of polarization. The current "leadership" does precisely the opposite. It's unfortunate.

Where in the world did you ever get that idea. If things need to changed, or if people need to be shaken out of moon-eyed complacency, then that should also be the leaderships job.

 

[Quetzal]

To become hysterical because Trump is...that seems a poor response.
If Hillary had won, you wouldn't see me start spouting perfunctory rhetoric.

If 'ifs' and 'buts' were berries and nuts, we would all have a merry Christmas.

 

[Audie]

With all due respect to you, @Quintessence and you are due a mighty heap of respect... Personally, I am bothered by the hysteria in the current political climate. Things that were unthinkable a few years ago are now the norm. It's OK to harass people all the while being admonished that bullying is flat out wrong. Me? I'm tired of hearing the endless litany of grievances that people have. It's getting old. The polarization that exists, on virtually any topic, is also mind-numbing, as people take the moral high ground and pretend their morality trumps that of others. My sense of morality is NOT better than yours, but the converse also applies. We need to get down off our soap boxes and just breathe, relax and get our own lives in order. We need to relearn how to talk to each other in a civil and (mildly) respectful manner.

For an angry old white guy, my privilege does not allow me to feel outrage at more things.

Ha. As a millenial minority female immigrant, I can
be outraged at everything. Including your lack of
adequate outrage.

 

[YmirGF]

Ha. As a millenial minority female immigrant, I can
be outraged at everything. Including your lack of
adequate outrage.

Oh, trust me, I am aware of that. *sigh*

I'm going to my safe space for a bit of gardening....

 

[Revoltingest]

If a third party becomes viable, sure. Until then, no thanks.

Viability means first taking a cold hard look at the Big Two, &
then making the leap. Otherwise, it's a vote for the status quo.

Instead of usually voting Dem or Pub, & rarely for a third party,
try usually voting for a third party, & rarely for a Dem or Pub.

 

[Revoltingest]

Ha. As a millenial minority female immigrant, I can
be outraged at everything. Including your lack of
adequate outrage.

Well that's just outrageous!

 

[Quetzal]

Viability means first taking a cold hard look at the Big Two, &
then making the leap. Otherwise, it's a vote for the status quo.

Instead of usually voting Dem or Pub, & rarely for a third party,
try usually voting for a third party, & rarely for a Dem or Pub.

It's a throw away vote every time. Not that I don't support the idea of it, but the corruption and lobbyists are in too deep. That is why I find the "just vote" argument naive.

 

[Revoltingest]

Oh, trust me, I am aware of that. *sigh*

I'm going to my safe space for a bit of gardening....

Outrage is not just a lot of work, it's also interferes with objectivity.
So it's best a young man's person's game.
I do it sparingly.

Btw, I'm in for a brief break from gardening.

 

[Revoltingest]

It's a throw away vote every time. Not that I don't support the idea of it, but the corruption and lobbyists are in too deep. That is why I find the "just vote" argument naive.

It's typically only a thowaway when an election is close,
when one's vote might possibly matter.
But most of the time, the outcome is a foregone conclusion,
so voting third party can register a minority's preference,
perhaps even building steam to some day challenge the
Big Two.