We, as Americans, cherish the freedom and right to disagree—which we do, often deeply about important issues that need resolution. But polarization undermines that freedom by tightening prejudices rather than opening thought, thus diminishing the chances for finding resolutions and moving forward. So while polarization may feel like a righteous champion of freedom and right, it is in fact just the opposite—a stick jammed in the spokes of the democratic discourse of freedom. Here are some of the common ways it does it:
- SEDUCES with loaded, heated language and childish name-calling that appeals more to emotion that reason.
- BLINKERS by using cherry-picked facts, and ignoring or mocking opposing arguments and evidence rather than actually addressing them.
- TRIVIALIZES by focusing on “straw-man” issues whose value in re-enforcing biases is clearly greater than their substance.
- BULLIES by making you feel like a dupe or a traitor if you even listen to the other side.
- FLATTERS with language and a tone that makes you feel like an insider, who, of course, agrees with them because you “get it” … just like they do.
- FRIGHTENS by portraying the other side as not just wrong, but a dangerous, evil enemy, replete with wicked hidden agendas.
- “CLANS,” that is, plays the “us vs. them” identity politics game of associating the other view with groups or people (implicitly) “inferior” to “us.”
- “TRIBES” by using the knowing winks and nods of sarcasm, coded language, words in quotes (suggesting they’re misleading) and innuendo which you, as a member of the tribe, of course, will understand without explanation or justification.
This week…we learned that the Democrats are morons…the Republicans are scammers…the Democrats are racist…the GOP wants to destroy Social Security…the Left seeks authoritarian global domination…the GOP is screwing Gold Star families…and so much more! Sadly it’s not hard to understand the motive behind this kind of polarizing rant. It generates money, clicks, attention, votes. What’s hard to understand is why so many fall for it, and don’t recognize the damage it does. To quote the wisdom of Pogo who (in a sly distortion of Perry’s 1813 victory call) opined on the first Earth Day, May 22, 1970, “We have met the enemy and he is us.”
When reading these examples, check the above list and ask yourself: regardless of whether you agree or disagree, is this really advancing an intelligent resolution through the persuasive, rational arguments of advocacy…or simply fueling the fire of conflict through the divisive, emotional manipulations of polarization?
Here are a few more of the enlightening blue and red polarizing headlines from the past week.
Blue Headlines
We Can’t Ban White Supremacists Because Republican Politicians Would Get Banned Too
Of Course! GOP Tax Scam Screws Gold Star Families
Trump Is Shattering Democratic Norms. Republicans In Congress Bear The Blame For That
GOP On Track To Destroy Social Security In 15 Years.
Trump And Barr Bring Three Decades Of GOP Criminality Full Circle
Republicans Defend The Use Of Stolen Material, And Leave The Door Open To Do It Again
GOP Judges Launch Bizarre Attack On Black Lives Matter And The First Amendment
Red Headlines
Overt Racism Of Democrats On Full Display
The Left’s Response To Mueller Report Shows They Weren’t After The Truth
What If We Behaved As Leftists Behave?
The Investigation Shoe Is On The Other Foot: Democrats Get A Taste Of Their Own Medicine.
MMT: The Latest Liberal Economic Fantasy
Earth Day Exposed As A Leftist Plan For Authoritarian Global Domination
Liberals Are Using Rep. Ilhan Omar As An Excuse To Chill Speech