(Untitled)

[jaina]

I finally broke down sobbing in the shower this morning

Comments

[rhi_silverflame]

Hate is much easier than rational thought, and can be stirred up in people with far less effort and greater results.

I'm ashamed, too, and absolutely fucking furious at the continued willful stupidity of the American people.

[arafel]

It's not even hate, per se. There are a lot of people in this country who think Dubya is awesome. He appeals to all the worst American qualities - that America doesn't have to be (and shouldn't be) a part of the world at large, that saying "Fuck you, Europe and everyone else!" is a fine idea, that we're 'Mercans and that's all we ever need to say to get our point across. It's our god-given right by the Constitution to be 800-pound gorillas, and it's great to be king, baby.

It's like being the playground bully. It's easy, make the average yutz feel good, and requires no deep thought. All Dubya has to do is wave his faith around, and the sea of fundies roars and loves it. Finally, someone who agrees with them! Sadly, progressive thought suffers.

[rhi_silverflame]

*nods* True -- it's appealing to the arrogance and egotism in the less religious, and the hate in the more fundamentalist sorts. All pretty simple, emotionally-based buttons to push.

Either way, you're right -- rational, and god forbid progressive, thought definitely suffers.

[tigerlilyaj]

I disagree: This IS apocalyptic if for only one reason called the Supreme Court. That's a lot longer than four years.
The (finally!) sunny skies here today are mocking me.

[jmcgarry]

Yup, tigerlilyaj is right! With potentially 4 appointments of young, ideologues it could be a long, long time before there is light at the end of the tunnel. The Dems have to really push in the mid-terms if they want to staunch the onslaught.

[jaina]

I keep telling myself that it takes a lot to get to the SC.

Then I list the various forms of birth control to make sure to use when I finally get some.

Then I remember that Dubya doesn't even want us to have that.

Sigh.

[arafel]

Although Bush isn't directly responsible for the "conscience clause" laws, the President influences what kinds of nonsense goes through under his watch. The poor women who want to take the Pill in some Southern states can have the pharmacist refuse - legally - to fill their prescription. In populated areas where there are many pharmacies, this may not be a problem so much, but what if that's the only game in town?

As for the SC - Bush appointing more conservative justices could overturn Roe vs. Wade. Rehnquist is sick. Abortion could very possibly be illegal. If that doesn't scare the shit out of you, I don't know what could.

[sarahtheboring]

It's hate and it's fear. People fear what they don't understand. They fear people who are different; they fear other countries, they fear people with ideas different from them. The campaign played that like a violin; as an independent voter in a swing state I got the most sickening campaign junk mail and saw the worst commercials. See also that ludicrous "wolves waiting to eat your children" TV ad. People take this seriously. They really, truly do. They are terrified of things they don't understand and they sincerely think that there are evil vicious terrorists/gays/liberals waiting to eat their children if that man is not reelected.

They also like that there's a guy "like them" raised to a high office; he plays that game even though he's the son of an ex-president, ferfuckssake. People are class-obsessed in many ways. They fear and hate "rich people" and want to see somebody "get back" at those people. They are intimidated by the "rich" and "smart" and "political" and would rather be talked down to with folksy slogans than made to

[nut_meg]

Im a lot older than you and I feel the same way. I don't get it.

The only thing I can imagine is that people are just afraid and ignorant (see my last post)

[uiggu]

I look forward to that inevitable time when Bush 'punishes' Iran and introduces the military draft, and all those fine Bush-backers send their sons off with a smile. Because that's what they'll do, isn't it? Because they voted for the bastard.