• Investing
  • Stock
Round Table Thoughts
  • Economy
  • Editor’s Pick
Home Economy Is our fiercely tribal politics just a distortion of reality?
Economy

Is our fiercely tribal politics just a distortion of reality?

by April 11, 2024
by April 11, 2024 0 comment
Share
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsapp

We live in extremely polarizing times.

Can anyone really dispute that?

The two major presidential candidates are calling each other a threat to democracy.

Donald Trump says Joe Biden is pulling the strings to have him jailed in the hush money case. Joe Biden says Donald Trump is a dictator in waiting.

Biden says Trump’s election would lead to a national ban on abortion. Trump says Biden’s election would mean Democrats would keep aborting babies through the ninth month and even after birth.

Trump says Biden has opened the borders in ways that will lead to a crime surge across the country. Biden says Trump torpedoed a tough border security bill because he’d rather have the issue than a solution.

Most Republicans believe Trump that the 2020 election was stolen. Most Democrats believe that is a big lie.

Trump says the Jan. 6 defendants are hostages who are being held illegally. Biden says they were rightfully convicted for attacking police officers and trying to overturn the election.

There are exaggerations, distortions and outright falsehoods in these and many other statements. But they are believed or disbelieved based largely on pure partisanship. And nasty personal attacks have become so routine in this social media age that they are almost the price of admission.

But what if these are just a limited set of players – journalists, pundits, operatives, influencers and trolls – who are poisoning the atmosphere?  

Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen, co-founders of Axios, explore that question in a thought-provoking piece:

‘What if we’ve been deceived into thinking we’re more divided, more dysfunctional and more defeated than we actually are?’

They’ve come up with a phrase –’reality distortion bubble’ – to describe the world we live in.

They don’t deny that ‘deep divisions’ exist. They say the loudest voices are amplified, which has been true going back to the earliest days of talk radio.

But when I think of ordinary people in my life – by which I mean those who are not political or media junkies, and live relatively normal lives – I’m reminded that they don’t walk around with their fists up and use Facebook mainly for family and pet updates.

This is particularly true when I escape the Beltway hothouse.

Here’s how Axios puts it: 

‘No, most Christians aren’t white Christian nationalists who see Donald Trump as a God-like figure. Most are ignoring politics and wrestling with their faith.

‘No, most college professors aren’t trying to silence conservatives or turn kids into liberal activists. Most are teaching math, or physics, or biology.

‘No, most kids don’t hate Israel and run around chanting, ‘From the river to the sea.’ On most campuses, most of the time, students are doing what students have always done.

‘No, most Republicans don’t want to ban all abortions starting at conception. No, most Democrats don’t want to allow them until birth.

‘No, immigrants who are here illegally aren’t rushing to vote and commit crimes. Actual data show both rarely happen — even amid a genuine crisis at the border.

‘No, most people aren’t fighting on X. Turns out, the vast majority of Americans never tweet at all. [What??]

‘No, most people aren’t cheering insults on Fox News and MSNBC in the evening. Turns out, less than 2 percent of Americans are even watching.’

Anticipating complaints that they are ‘naive,’ the authors concede that politics on the Hill, especially in the House with its miniscule majority, are dysfunctional. I’d say that dramatically understates the case.

Crucial aid to Israel and Ukraine has been stalled for months because of petty partisanship. Marjorie Taylor Greene is talking about toppling another speaker, Mike Johnson, six months after her ally Kevin McCarthy got the boot. This is sheer chaos.

VandeHei and Allen make the intriguing point that politics has infested everything, from football to beer to Target.

 

And, yes, there’s blame on both sides:

‘The acceptance of former President Trump’s language and tactics by so many Republicans can be partly explained by this reality distortion phenomenon. His base often feasts off edge-case outrages — wacky liberal professors saying wacky things, illegal immigrants committing brutal but isolated crimes, surges in shootings in specific cities…

Similar edge cases pulse through liberal channels and the word police. This helps explain how ‘LatinX’ went mainstream, then got dumped.’

Maybe people will grow sick of the perpetual polarization and rediscover that there’s more that binds us than separates us. But I don’t see it happening anytime soon.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
You Might Also Like
  • Popular Republican governor in key battleground ‘leaning’ against re-election bid
  • Michael Cohen swore he had nothing derogatory on Trump, his ex-lawyer says – another lie – as testimony ends
  • UK election exit polling suggests Labour is headed for landslide victory
  • California AG’s wife recuses herself amid outcry over appointment to oversee husband’s budget
Share
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsapp

previous post
House Republicans blast ‘cry wolf’ conservatives who tanked FISA renewal bill
next post
South Korea’s prime minister and top presidential officials resign en masse

You may also like

Republicans grill Biden’s Israel ambassador nominee Jack Lew in Senate...

October 19, 2023

Trump rebukes Marjorie Taylor Greene’s failed attempt to oust Speaker:...

May 9, 2024

Speaker Johnson meets with OpenAI CEO, says Congress ‘needs to...

January 13, 2024

S&P 500 and Nasdaq: New Targets and Prices for Wednesday

October 9, 2024

Capitol 911 false alarm was something very real

August 5, 2023

Liberal groups supporting IRS push to build government-run tax filing...

August 4, 2023

South Dakota Gov. Noem breaks longstanding tradition, foregoes press conferences

January 28, 2023

House GOP goes after ‘convicted liar’ Michael Cohen, urges Justice...

May 9, 2024

Florida judge bans phones, electronics in the courthouse during Trump’s...

June 13, 2023

Biden has repeatedly told exaggerated house fire story to victims...

August 23, 2023

    Stay updated with the latest news, exclusive offers, and special promotions. Sign up now and be the first to know! As a member, you'll receive curated content, insider tips, and invitations to exclusive events. Don't miss out on being part of something special.


    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

    Recent Posts

    • Krispy Kreme stock plunges after doughnut chain pauses McDonald’s rollout, pulls outlook

      May 8, 2025
    • Don’t Buy Robinhood Stock… Until You See This Chart Setup

      May 8, 2025
    • UnitedHealthcare sued by shareholders over reaction to CEO’s killing

      May 8, 2025
    • The Unpredictable Stock Market: How to Make Sense of It

      May 8, 2025
    • AMD CEO calls China a ‘large opportunity’ and warns against strict U.S. chip controls

      May 7, 2025

    Popular Posts

    • 1

      Trump-era China sanctions ended by Biden may be...

      June 27, 2024 2,630 views
    • 2

      Walz’s honeymoon with China gets fresh scrutiny as...

      August 9, 2024 2,339 views
    • 3

      Biden appointee played key role in recruiting Chinese...

      June 25, 2024 2,320 views
    • 4

      Shein’s global ambitions leaves some cybersecurity experts fearful...

      July 10, 2024 2,302 views
    • 5

      Harris VP pick spent years promoting research facility...

      August 29, 2024 2,186 views

    Categories

    • Economy (7,009)
    • Editor's Pick (2,066)
    • Investing (538)
    • Stock (2,530)

    Popular Posts

    • 1

      Trump-era China sanctions ended by Biden may be revived under new House GOP bill

      June 27, 2024
    • 2

      Walz’s honeymoon with China gets fresh scrutiny as Harris camp blasts ‘lying’ critics

      August 9, 2024
    • 3

      Biden appointee played key role in recruiting Chinese businesses to Delaware: ‘Longtime friends’

      June 25, 2024
    • 4

      Shein’s global ambitions leaves some cybersecurity experts fearful of Chinese spy threats

      July 10, 2024
    • 5

      Harris VP pick spent years promoting research facility that collaborated with ‘Chinese military company’

      August 29, 2024

    Latest News

    • Krispy Kreme stock plunges after doughnut chain pauses McDonald’s rollout,...

      May 8, 2025
    • Don’t Buy Robinhood Stock… Until You See This Chart Setup

      May 8, 2025
    • UnitedHealthcare sued by shareholders over reaction to CEO’s killing

      May 8, 2025

    Categories

    • Economy (7,009)
    • Editor's Pick (2,066)
    • Investing (538)
    • Stock (2,530)

    Disclaimer: RoundTableThoughts.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2024 RoundTableThoughts.com. All Rights Reserved.

    Round Table Thoughts
    • Investing
    • Stock
    Round Table Thoughts
    • Economy
    • Editor’s Pick

    Read alsox

    Nikki Haley blames Biden for creating...

    May 10, 2023

    Wedding barn regulations, liquor law overhaul...

    June 16, 2023

    If Manchin runs for president, will...

    November 25, 2023
    Sign In

    Keep me signed in until I sign out

    Forgot your password?

    Password Recovery

    A new password will be emailed to you.

    Have received a new password? Login here