Poll: 62% of Americans Say They Have Political Views They’re Afraid to Share

You call it "not practical", I call the alternative "not effective".

Case in point: In Sweden any politician, and mainstream society in general, who even hinted at reducing immigration has been called a heartless racist for the last 30 years, completely shutting down debate.

The effect of this was predictable (indeed I've been saying it for about two decades): MORE people become anti-immigrant. (the Sweden Democrats are probably the biggest party now, if there'd be an election today)

When you're told by the press and politicians that even raising a topic makes you racist and you should be cancelled, you're not exactly going to be won over.

It's so sad to see from the sidelines. Why has the left shifted so much to shutting down all debate that isn't 100% in agreement with the party line? It's not that I disagree with them on the issues, it's that it's sad that they're not seeing how it's actively hurting their stated goals.

If Sweden is any predictor, then this is going to get much worse (or, if you're on the right, it'll get much better).

Every time someone who said "biological men should not be allowed to compete in sports with biological women" is called Hitler, that's one more person lost to your whole argument, and someone who says that Trump is an OK compromise, and who'll think "if that's your choice argument then you're too crazy to be listened to on abortion, too".

tl;dr: If you're choosing between "practical" and "effective", choose "effective". But also see history for how I think when you say "practical", you actually mean "low effort".

Then you get people who silently support the views.

I'm not referring to framing something ambiguous. I mean for example people openly discussing final solution to Jew problem. Are you suggesting basic civility and discussion about the issue with them?

That's an interesting stat, though its political in nature.

I suspect that the disconnect is far wider in scope. Most people are totally perplexed by the disparity between their own reality and what is portrayed in the news. For 3 years we had evidence-free but unrelenting Russia/Trump hate. This seemed insane, but it turns out that was just the warm up act to coronavirus!

The reality of what people see around them is sooooo far away from what is portrayed on the MSM. It amazes me that anyone pays any notice to the MSM at. But what it really shows, is that most individuals are not their own authority in their life. They defer to what is the consensus opinion that is blasted at them 24/7 from the MSM, rather than acting according to what they actually experience.

Imagine, somehow a person was frozen in time, and seeing how the majority live now - scared of living because someone said something on TV!

But that is the power of the media, and why it is such an effective control. The majority disagree with what is portrayed, but feel pressured enough to keep quiet and therefore acquiesce to whatever is being shouted out.

Not american, but I believe it was said that this election you won't see the final results perhaps days/weeks even after election. Due to mail in votes I think?