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Think America’s divided now? Try the 1970s

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Re: Think America’s divided now? Try the 1970s

#81

Post by theonething »

drwiggly wrote: post #48
kiawe_fire wrote: post #31

I can't claim to know how today compares to our past, but what strikes me about today is how close I feel we are in terms of values and ideas, yet how divided we are politically. Without saying my political beliefs, I've had conversations about immigration, taxes, race, and religion with people both on and against my side of the aisle, with people of diverse backgrounds. It's crazy to me how much we agree on and how…

Yeah we can all probably agree on goals and outcomes. My guess here is each person has an audience in mind and an applicability. The dog whistle of saying the "American family" is being destroyed. To a conservative it means something about a god fearing hetero family. To a liberal it means anyone wanting to be in a consensual monogamous relationship. Healthcare should be good and affordable. "For people like me." or…

I think changing "For people like me" to "For legal residents of the country" would be a more accurate representation.

Re: Think America’s divided now? Try the 1970s

#82

Post by JPKab »

Animats wrote: post #43
astine wrote: post #3

There may have been more violence among various radical and extremist factions in American politics in the 70s but that doesn't mean that America was more divided politically over all. There wasn't nearly as much partisanship in the upper-echelons of power in 70s and I suspect that there was more consensus among people in more moderate circles. There also wasn't this huge epistemological divide running right through…

Mass shootings in the US - table.[1] Only one in the 1970s, and that was a family affair. Far more since. Terrorism in the United States.[2] Other than 9/11 and Oklahoma City, few non mass shooting incidents have killed many people. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_shootings_in_the_United_S... [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrorism_in_the_United_States...

Vast majority of mass shootings are psychotics, not terrorists.

I think the big differentiator is the media coverage devoted to shooters now. Psychologists agree on this.

Re: Think America’s divided now? Try the 1970s

#83

Post by hellofunk »

iso947 wrote: post #64
hellofunk wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am genuinely curious why this is getting downvoted.

Because it doesn’t add anything to the conversation - what articles, where, can the poster add their own anecdotes, or data?

Ironically, I made the same comment elsewhere in this same thread, and it was uploaded quite a lot.

Re: Think America’s divided now? Try the 1970s

#84

Post by iso947 »

hellofunk wrote: post #83
iso947 wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because it doesn’t add anything to the conversation - what articles, where, can the poster add their own anecdotes, or data?

Ironically, I made the same comment elsewhere in this same thread, and it was uploaded quite a lot.

Ok Alanis

Re: Think America’s divided now? Try the 1970s

#85

Post by burgerzzz »

hedora wrote: post #18
tensor wrote: post #4

This article really misses the point. Sure, there may be times in the long past where there was a lot of divide. America once had legal slavery too. But it would still be absolutely appalling if slavery were to come back today. The article almost gives off the impression that "oh it happened before so it's ok and normal". No, it's not ok and normal. It wasn't ok back then and it's not ok now.

Slavery is still legal in the US (it was never completely banned). > The Thirteenth Amendment forbade slavery and involuntary servitude, “except as punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted.“ There are about 2.1 million people in the prison system. They’re forced to work, disproportionately african american, or other minorities. Many were wrongfully convicted. Their work props up a multi-b…

Are they really forced though? My understanding is that working a job while incarcerated is something inmates who want lower sentences or just be out of their cell, besides how would you even force them? They can obviously just say no.

Re: Think America’s divided now? Try the 1970s

#86

Post by aidenn0 »

jon889 wrote: post #80
aidenn0 wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, 538 did a couple of articles about how polarization is no worse than ever, but what is unusual today is how strongly the polarization lines up with political parties. It is now notable to find some ideological question for which e.g. 80+% of Republicans do not agree on. The Democrats were lagging a bit on this, but are catching up rapidly. They do note that at least some of this is due to people leaving the part…

Do you mean 80% of democrats are pro-choice?

Whoops, yes. Too late to edit now

Re: Think America’s divided now? Try the 1970s

#87

Post by shard972 »

jfengel wrote: post #71
harimau777 wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Could some of that be the difference between the principles that people advocate and how they act when the rubber meets the road? That is, it seems to me that most Republicans do not advocate anti-immigrant, racist, etc. opinions. However, when it comes to election day they are willing to vote in people who put those policies in place.

Indeed. I will judge you based on your effect on me. If the people you vote for are openly racist, homophobic, sexist, and paranoid, then as far as I am concerned you are racist, homophobic, sexist, and paranoid, and I will treat you accordingly.

Must be a great person to talk to at parties.

Re: Think America’s divided now? Try the 1970s

#88

Post by bluGill »

non-entity wrote: post #75
bluGill wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Extremism is on both wings. My Facebook feed is evidence, frinds who have nothing in common except they both know me are separetly posting their exaggerated anti trump left wing Memes. Same for the right wing except they are exaggerated of the pro trump memes

I don't see how people posting memes of a in support of or in attempt to make fun of largely controversial president equals extremism.

There are memes, and there are extreme memes.
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