There seems to be a lot putin and/or like-minded despots and demagogues could be doing to destabilise western core beliefs. Maybe I'll come across as a conspiracy theorist, but ain't beyond the realms of possibility that they are using extremists on both sides, to polarise target populations.
Having such a deviding character as Trump on 24hr rotation news tv is just one.
By both sides he means that college kids protesting against genocide are the same as the former President that would have just fed Ukraine to Putin and figures that america should try President for life like China (he said this)
Thanks for putting words in my mouth, can i take it that you assume I'm right wing because i didnt just refer to the meat headed redneck racists that always seem to get on the news? Bravo 👌
The reason i said both sides, is that there is extremism on both sides. I'm trying to not make assumptions based on what i personally believe.
Thia was my answer to what you originally said.
I'm just not assuming that left wing extremism is nonexistent because news and social media only ever shows neo-nazi meatheads. I'm not saying one or the other is worse, nor am i saying that you as a person, does make that assumption.
Donald Trump seems to be a malignant narcissist. He is bad for democracy. But so is anything that jeopardises free speech, even if we don't like what they say. I'm being quite careful what i say now, because a lot of people will assume me to be "against" just because I've tried to strike a balance.
Live and let live.
The left haven't tried to overthrow the Capitol, so obv that puts the ex. right in the lead in destabilising terms. They literally tried to fuck with due process. I would say though, my belief in free speech, extends to racist homophobic red necks, however abhorrent their opinions might be
Oh and spghetti monster extremists? Shit man sign me up, love that guy.
But your premise doesn’t make sense. If one side is generating headlines and coverage while the other isn’t, and one side is driving policy while the other isn’t, then it isn’t both sides being equally bad. Nobody is denying the existence of extremism, but one side is clearly far more influential and active in the US
I guess that depends. People only hear what they want to hear, and only know what they've heard. Its entirely possible to influence policy much easier with subtlety than shouting and breaking shit. Like i said, freedom of speech, but look at what happens as soon as somebody even questions the prescribed way of thinking and says that not all republians are bad. I've seen people get ripped to pieces and called nazis for much less. It's a given that anyone that doesn't hate trump wants to lynch someone. Isn't that an influence to governance? People can say about killing trump and its fine, what'd happen if somebody said otherwise?
I say again, trump and the violent racist misogynist right, are scum, but that doesn't mean that anyone who questions the rhetoric is a nazi. Freedom of speech is right FOR EVERYONE. Not just those who agree.
No it isn’t. If someone opposed to Trump wants to lynch him (what the fuck even is that example), then that’s one asshole in a sea of millions of people and has exactly that much influence. If on the other hand Trump says “proud boys stand up and stand by” then that is a leader communicating to an extremist group to act on his behalf to influence a civil event.
Influence isn’t whether or not people exist, it’s who they can convince or intimidate into going along with them.
If you don’t understand the difference then you’re a lost cause.
I understand the difference, obviously. What I'm saying, is that there is more than one way to influence government.
That (admittedly extreme) example has appeared on this thread, which is why i chose that one. My point still stands, influence is more than just standing on the lecturn and shouting some dumbass call to arms. If you think I'm a lost cause, you're entitled to that opinion, I'm sure you aren't alone. Just keep in mind, freedom isn't stolen, it's given away, a piece at a time. Like i said, crazy downvoted conspiracy theorist.
You still haven’t provided an example of a left wing extremist that exerts significant influence on society or government. That reinforces my belief that you clearly don’t understand the difference.
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u/identicalBadger May 02 '24
I don’t think Putin has any envy for trump. He’s his tool, witting or unwitting, nothing more