The politicization of pretty much everything

[ksen]

Fox News's Shepard Smith has the perfect response to Pope Francis's conservative criticss

I think that we are in a weird place in the world when the following things are considered political. Five things, I'm going to tick them off. These are the five things that were on [the pope] and our president's agenda. Caring for the marginalized and the poor. That's now political. Advancing economic opportunity for all. Political? Serving as good stewards of the environment. Protecting religious minorities and promoting religious freedom globally. Welcoming [and] integrating immigrants and refugees globally. And that's political?

I mean, I don't know what we expect to hear from an organization's leader like the pope of the Catholic Church other than protect those who need help, bring in refugees who have no place because of war and violence and terrorism. These seem like universal truths that we should be good to others who have less than we do, that we should give shelter to those who don't have it. I think these were the teachings in the Bible of Jesus. They're the words of the pope, they're the feelings of the president. And people who find themselves on the other side of that message should consult a mirror, it seems like. Because I think that's what we're supposed to do as a people, whatever your religion. I mean, it seems to me — and I think to probably, as Bill O'Reilly would put it, most clear-thinking Americans — that that's how we're supposed to roll.

I can't imagine that this trend is a good one and that it won't end without blood being spilled.

It used to be that people of different political persuasions could agree on some things because there are things you just do because it's the decent and humane thing to do. Now it's like you can't be seen to agree on anything with a political opponent for fear of looking like a political sellout.

Or has it always been like this?

 

[prideandfall]

Or has it always been like this?

it's always been like this.
the only difference now is that: A. technology makes dissemination of information faster and easier so everyone is just more aware of it, and B. that same technology has caused a level of global stability and prosperity which means that as time moves on there are less Big Obvious Issues that everyone can agree on and take hand-shaking photos over to make it look like They're All Coming Together For The Important Thing.

 

[untermensche]

The coarsening of the mind.

A side effect of repressive systems of exploitation like capitalism.

The loss of the ability to experience empathy.

And it has always been like this.

When you are only looking at people as a means to achieve your ends you must give up things like empathy.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

Is it liberals or conservatives who are against the politicization of pretty much everything?

I want to know if I should love or hate the idea.

 

[dismal]

Well, you can't want the government all up in everything and claim you're against the politicization of things.

 

[untermensche]

Well, you can't want the government all up in everything and claim you're against the politicization of things.

This is nonsensical.

But there is no politics in spoiling the environment.

The sane are against it and the insane, always with the profit motive in mind, tell us not to worry about it.

 

[KeepTalking]

Well, you can't want the government all up in everything and claim you're against the politicization of things.

Yes, because when government is mandated to do something by the will of the people, and government does that thing, then that thing must be political. But, people complaining that government should not be doing a thing because leaders from their political party tell them that government should become ever smaller, that's not political at all.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

Or has it always been like this?

it's always been like this.
the only difference now is that: A. technology makes dissemination of information faster and easier so everyone is just more aware of it, and B. that same technology has caused a level of global stability and prosperity which means that as time moves on there are less Big Obvious Issues that everyone can agree on and take hand-shaking photos over to make it look like They're All Coming Together For The Important Thing.

Partisanship has always been around. Dems v Reps itself for a long time.

Right now, the Republicans have just taken things to a new level of Wagstaff Doctrine. Going as far as taking their blueprint for health care reform and calling it communism. The Republicans are also taking the US to brink repeatedly, with an inability to pass budgets, instead threatening to make the US default on its debt.

Even during Reagan it was we want A, you want B, we'll all have C. These days it is Democrats want A, Republicans want to destroy Obama, okay, we'll pass a stop gap for C.

 

[dismal]

government does that thing, then that thing must be political.

Boom. First accurate thing you've said. Maybe since ever.

 

[credoconsolans]

I find it amazing that everything - and I mean EVERYthing - is politicized when Americans really don't really like politics.

 

[bilby]

I find it amazing that everything - and I mean EVERYthing - is politicized when Americans really don't really like politics.

Dealing with everything IS politics. If people say they don't like politics, then they are saying 'let other people deal with stuff, I don't like having to be involved in dealing with it'.

That they are then upset that the people who do deal with the stuff, don't deal with it the way they would have preferred, just highlights how dumb that decision to leave it to others really is.

Politics is the act of dealing with absolutely anything and everything that is not either 100% private, or 100% outside of human control. And there is very little that is 100% private, because insuring one's privacy in a world of busy-bodies, sticky-beaks and moral crusaders is not a private matter.