This week . . . the degradation of the process of democracy continues as thoughtful airing and arguing of disagreements continues to give way to tribal name calling, finger pointing and accusing. “Aha!” politics dominates as issues are used as hooks to identify the “other” rather than resolve legitimate conflicts. And more and more liberals and conservatives continue betray and shame their proud legacies of tolerance and freedom by succumbing to the temptations of bullying, flattering, “klanning” and trivializing. What are we becoming?
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 just a few of the week’s polarizing headlines, from the left and right:
Red Headlines
How the Greenwashed Liberal Gentry Keep Out the Rabble
Leftist professor who celebrated Bush death has left the country — now she’s being widely applauded
Congressional Liberals’ Latest Attempt to Push Americans Out of Private Health Care
Are liberal pervs sexually obsessed with ‘refugees’?
LIBERAL BACKFIRE: NRA Breaks 15 Year Fundraising Record
Classless Loon Attacks Sarah Sanders, Blindsided When Papa Huck Evens the Score
Blue Headlines
With their tax law a bust, Republicans to run on their old favorite: misogyny
The Right Should Stop Denying that Americans of Color Still Face Injustice
Republican Governor’s Radical Tax Cut Plan Backfires, Exposes Conservative Economics As a Scam
Raging Hypocrite Mike Huckabee Whines About ‘Classless Bullying’ At WHCD
About Damn Time: WashPost Changes Jen Rubin’s Bio from ‘Conservative’ to ‘Center’ Blog