Where we are

[Some Schmo]

What could help is if our President wasn’t leading the charge to inject more violent rhetoric into the public sphere.

If the poll numbers are to be believed, one has to wonder if GOP voters have any clue of who they actually voted for. It's well-documented how much violent rhetoric against "the left" has been spewed by Trump for literally years. On January 6, 2021, his violent rhetoric helped motivate 5 officers getting killed in the act of trying to defend our democracy against an insurrection also motivated by the American loser.

How does one reconcile what GOP voters claim with what they actually do? Are they ignorant? Stupid? Insane? Incurably dishonest? How can it be explained?

[Doctor Steuss]

I'm trying to look at the bright side that the majority of Americans still think it's never justified, but this is a troubling shift from previous polls.

That Independents have seemingly grown so jaded with the duopoly as to have such a shifting view regarding violence is particularly disheartening.

What could help is if our President wasn’t leading the charge to inject more violent rhetoric into the public sphere.

Interestingly (for lack of a better word), another recent poll found that 70% of Democrats think that the way Americans talk about politics encourages violence, whereas only 63% of Republicans do.

Meanwhile, the White House recently deleted the weblink to the stats showing the disproportionate amount of right-wing violence in America (even the conservative CATO Institute puts left-wing violence at about a 5th of that of right-wing). I guess it's the version of "if we stopped testing, there'd be fewer cases."

While right-wing terrorists have been a much bigger problem in America, I think it's pretty undeniable that for the first time in at least the last 30 years, left-wing terrorism is on course to at the very least catch up, if not surpass right-wing terrorism. With the massive and unprecedented cuts to mental health services, research, and social safety nets, we're likely on course for even more people becoming radicalized. Particularly as they begin to grow desperate (the government, for the first time since its inception, is suspending its regular report on food insecurity in America -- probably because there's just too much winning, and not because so many Americans are starving as a predictable direct result of policies).

We're in for a rough ride, and I'm afraid that even a shift in how we talk to each other, and about each other, won't be enough to curtail unhinged people from carrying out violent acts. The latest Gallup poll has Trump's approval rating at 29%, with Republicans accounting for most of the decline. He's now got less than a 3rd of America still in his cult. Just like the Trump voter who tried to kill Trump in Florida, I think more MAGA-types are going to become radicalized as their dissatisfaction grows, and we're already seeing the growing trend with left-wing types (like the recent ABC shooter).

[Whiskey]

We're in for a rough ride, and I'm afraid that even a shift in how we talk to each other, and about each other, won't be enough to curtail unhinged people from carrying out violent acts.

The damage from violence is the worst kind of damage. That is true in a home, relationship or a nation.

Changing how you and I talk to each other, may make a difference, though you and are not a threat for violence and we are not broadcasting to the lunatic fringe. Changing how media, celebrities and mass broadcasts talk to and about each other will not do jack damned crap for a while. The credibility of the media and lunatic FITH fringe yelling "NAZI, NAZI, NAZI, NAZI, FASCISM, NAZI, NAZI, FASCISM, GET VACCINATED AND WEAR A MASK" is not recovering any time soon. Neither is the "THE GAYS, DINGOS, AND TRANNIES ATE MY BABY AND MY Jesus" screamers recovering from their credibility issues. They won't stop it. Both sides make a living off of it, and it is profitable.

In the meantime, the folks in the middle ain't getting violent, they are just not making time or listening to the BS, fakeass victimization or convenient conclusions.

[Morley]

We're in for a rough ride, and I'm afraid that even a shift in how we talk to each other, and about each other, won't be enough to curtail unhinged people from carrying out violent acts.

The damage from violence is the worst kind of damage. That is true in a home, relationship or a nation.

Changing how you and I talk to each other, may make a difference, though you and are not a threat for violence and we are not broadcasting to the lunatic fringe. Changing how media, celebrities and mass broadcasts talk to and about each other will not do jack damned crap for a while. The credibility of the media and lunatic FITH fringe yelling "NAZI, NAZI, NAZI, NAZI, FASCISM, NAZI, NAZI, FASCISM, GET VACCINATED AND WEAR A MASK" is not recovering any time soon. Neither is the "THE GAYS, DINGOS, AND TRANNIES ATE MY BABY AND MY Jesus" screamers recovering from their credibility issues. They won't stop it. Both sides make a living off of it, and it is profitable.

In the meantime, the folks in the middle ain't getting violent, they are just not making time or listening to the BS, fakeass victimization or convenient conclusions.

You forgot Marxist! Racist! Communist! Jesus Freak! Libtard! Antifa! Homophobe! Muslim! Kike! Faggot! Snowflake! Cuck! and Feminazi!

In other news:"Get vaccinated!" is not contributing to the problem of people shooting at one another.

[canpakes]

In other news:"Get vaccinated!" is not contributing to the problem of people shooting at one another.

Probably not masks, either, given how they are the favored facial fashion item of ICE and Patriot Front members assisting in immigration raids.

[Whiskey]

The damage from violence is the worst kind of damage. That is true in a home, relationship or a nation.

Changing how you and I talk to each other, may make a difference, though you and are not a threat for violence and we are not broadcasting to the lunatic fringe. Changing how media, celebrities and mass broadcasts talk to and about each other will not do jack damned crap for a while. The credibility of the media and lunatic FITH fringe yelling "NAZI, NAZI, NAZI, NAZI, FASCISM, NAZI, NAZI, FASCISM, GET VACCINATED AND WEAR A MASK" is not recovering any time soon. Neither is the "THE GAYS, DINGOS, AND TRANNIES ATE MY BABY AND MY Jesus" screamers recovering from their credibility issues. They won't stop it. Both sides make a living off of it, and it is profitable.

In the meantime, the folks in the middle ain't getting violent, they are just not making time or listening to the BS, fakeass victimization or convenient conclusions.

You forgot Marxist! Racist! Communist! Jesus Freak! Libtard! Antifa! Homophobe! Muslim! Kike! Faggot! Snowflake! Cuck! and Feminazi!

In other news:"Get vaccinated!" is not contributing to the problem of people shooting at one another.

You forgot RETARD!, retard. Also TRANSTIFA!!!. If you don't think "get vaccinated" and "wear a mask" did not and are not contributing to the problem, I can't help you there. It contributed and contributes to the shouting and the violence. There is a credibility problem, and the vaccine, lockdowns and mask BS did more damage to credibility than yelling "I am karen trans and I can't breathe."

[Morley]

In other news:"Get vaccinated!" is not contributing to the problem of people shooting at one another.

Probably not masks, either, given how they are the favored facial fashion item of ICE and Patriot Front members assisting in immigration raids.

Um, I left that out on purpose, because I'm not so sure about that one. In those cases, masks may actually have contributed some violence.

[canpakes]

In other news:"Get vaccinated!" is not contributing to the problem of people shooting at one another.

You forgot RETARD!, retard. Also TRANSTIFA!!!. If you don't think "get vaccinated" and "wear a mask" did not and are not contributing to the problem, I can't help you there. It contributed and contributes to the shouting and the violence. There is a credibility problem, and the vaccine, lockdowns and mask BS did more damage to credibility than yelling "I am karen trans and I can't breathe."

With masks being the new fashion craze on the right, I guess that we’re all in trouble, then.

[Some Schmo]

You forgot RETARD!, retard. Also TRANSTIFA!!!. If you don't think "get vaccinated" and "wear a mask" did not and are not contributing to the problem, I can't help you there. It contributed and contributes to the shouting and the violence. There is a credibility problem, and the vaccine, lockdowns and mask BS did more damage to credibility than yelling "I am karen trans and I can't breathe."

With masks being the new fashion craze on the right, I guess that we’re all in trouble, then.

Is it a fashion craze on the right, or a fascist craze?

One thing is for sure: they are crazed (if the MAGAtes who post here are any indication. It's a big bowl of mixed nuts).

[Morley]

You forgot Marxist! Racist! Communist! Jesus Freak! Libtard! Antifa! Homophobe! Muslim! Kike! Faggot! Snowflake! Cuck! and Feminazi!

In other news:"Get vaccinated!" is not contributing to the problem of people shooting at one another.

You forgot RETARD!, retard. Also TRANSTIFA!!!. If you don't think "get vaccinated" and "wear a mask" did not and are not contributing to the problem, I can't help you there. It contributed and contributes to the shouting and the violence. There is a credibility problem, and the vaccine, lockdowns and mask BS did more damage to credibility than yelling "I am karen trans and I can't breathe."

Not sure about "Retard!" I thought of it but set that one aside, as there seem to instances of genuine idiots running around everywhere. I've never hear of "Transtifa," so had to look that one up. Thanks for the heads up.

I'll grant you the lockdown problems, but I'll probably still keep recommending vaccinations, since, as you say, you're unable to help me understand how doing so is contributing gun deaths.