But the US remains filled overwhelmingly with decent, good, caring people — many of whom perhaps do not pay quite as much attention as I would prefer to the actions of their present government. The US is not filled with the cruel internet-brained vice signallers one often sees online (or running the country).
For a while I really had doubts about this. I feared that Trump and his goons understood the American character better than we did. But the last year, and Trumps collapsing approval, has shown us that our countries appetite for vicarious cruelty through larger than we wished is smaller than I feared.
I think this is true, and gives strong reason for hope. But I do want to be careful and say that this does not on its own salvage the situation. Many atrocities throughout history have been committed due to the willful or not-so-willful ignorance of a voting population.
But people not supporting wanton unjustified acts of cruelty -- when they learn the true horror of what goes on -- is at least a foot in the door.
I knew I would be ashamed of my government since Election Day 2024. It changes nothing materially, but not having to be as ashamed of my neighbors is a small comfort, and in these times any comfort is welcome.
Not to defend Trump's extrajudicial killings, but were you equally outraged when Obama drone-bombed and murdered American citizens without due process?
Of course you weren't. You are a very one-sided moralist.
I think I’m a pretty decent stand-in for a decade-older Bentham on politics and yes, I was spitting mad about Obama murdering citizens, and about his lawless drone campaign in general.
So, to be clear, you believe the feelings you suspect the author would have likely held, had they been politically cognizant at the time, render their commentary on the current, sitting US president to be hypocritical? And these feelings are 100% willful projections of your own, with no basis in evidence.
You are working to support a pedophile who kills and tortures random people for fun and it's all happening *right now* but you are so wrapped up in manufactured grievance that you think it's a good thing. You have the president you deserve. I hope you live long enough to see the outcomes of his policies.
But the US remains filled overwhelmingly with decent, good, caring people — many of whom perhaps do not pay quite as much attention as I would prefer to the actions of their present government. The US is not filled with the cruel internet-brained vice signallers one often sees online (or running the country).
Try not to lose hope.
For a while I really had doubts about this. I feared that Trump and his goons understood the American character better than we did. But the last year, and Trumps collapsing approval, has shown us that our countries appetite for vicarious cruelty through larger than we wished is smaller than I feared.
I think this is true, and gives strong reason for hope. But I do want to be careful and say that this does not on its own salvage the situation. Many atrocities throughout history have been committed due to the willful or not-so-willful ignorance of a voting population.
But people not supporting wanton unjustified acts of cruelty -- when they learn the true horror of what goes on -- is at least a foot in the door.
I knew I would be ashamed of my government since Election Day 2024. It changes nothing materially, but not having to be as ashamed of my neighbors is a small comfort, and in these times any comfort is welcome.
Don't feel too down, we should all be ashamed of our neighbours already anyway for eating meat/dairy/eggs. People sometimes are moral monsters.
Forgive them for they know not what they do. :)
I rarely see such direct attacks on the Trump administration that come off as reasonable. Well done.
Not to defend Trump's extrajudicial killings, but were you equally outraged when Obama drone-bombed and murdered American citizens without due process?
Of course you weren't. You are a very one-sided moralist.
Well I was about 8 at the time, but I am in hindsight outraged I think though I’d have to read more about it
I think I’m a pretty decent stand-in for a decade-older Bentham on politics and yes, I was spitting mad about Obama murdering citizens, and about his lawless drone campaign in general.
So, to be clear, you believe the feelings you suspect the author would have likely held, had they been politically cognizant at the time, render their commentary on the current, sitting US president to be hypocritical? And these feelings are 100% willful projections of your own, with no basis in evidence.
You are working to support a pedophile who kills and tortures random people for fun and it's all happening *right now* but you are so wrapped up in manufactured grievance that you think it's a good thing. You have the president you deserve. I hope you live long enough to see the outcomes of his policies.
Needs paired with random acts of violence, as the bumper sticker says.
these are a few examples of injustice.
Many voters revel in violence, but most don’t care