Radicalization Of Politics And The Coddling Of American Opinion
By: Policy Digest
Tags: Society, News, Politics, Media Criticism, Protest

Image taken from Pixabay

Lines are currently being drawn in the sand. The people are reaching a breaking point. There is a general consensus that the government and the news media is lying. Both sides believe they’re right and the other is either misled, stupid, or evil. People become angry when someone disagrees with them. They have been coddled in their views, surrounded at all times by consenting opinions, and it has allowed their ideas to become so cemented in place that anyone who disagrees with them is either the reincarnation of Hitler or has a mental deficiency.

This isn’t a single party problem. Many people, despite political affiliation, are unable to hear the arguments of the other side without becoming angry and resentful. How do we fix the problem when both sides are pointing an accusatory finger and claiming coups and dictatorship? What is the solution for a country so divided that they fight in the street during protests? How do we de-radicalize our country?

America is dying for unbiased news coverage. They are dying for a large news outlet that will unite the political divide, pull people to the center, and create an honest, healthy debate about politics, policy, and social problems. Both sides of the political divide want what is best for the country, they just disagree on how to get there. Our country and news media need to stop waging a political war where they throw tantrums and cry like a pack of spoiled children. Heinous labels and hateful rhetoric need to stop from everyone.

Attacks on someone’s character do not create a healthy area to speak about one’s politics. Those actions are a strategy to discredit someone’s views before they even begin to speak. Many people are attempting to discourage you from even hearing the views of the other side. If we do not hear what others are saying how can we have an informed decision on what is best for our country? How can we know what is the best course of action if we do not hear all proposals?

Hearing opinions that you do not agree with is incredibly important to deciding for yourself what to believe. If you only find information that agrees with your preconceived notions or you draw a conclusion based upon the opinion of the first person you heard speak on the subject then you are not making up your own mind. You are doing what you are told. You are being manipulated to believe what someone else wants you to, whether they are telling the truth or not. Corroborate what someone is saying. Independently verify. It is important to remember that media and government officials are just like you. They are wrong as much, and probably more, than you are. They are not perfect and do not have the answer to everything. They are just as lost as the next person when trying to fix problems and often become servants to the money flowing from wealthy parties.

Think for yourself, find opinions that you do not agree with and listen with an open mind. Do not shy away from what someone has to say. You are being manipulated whether you like it or not, whether you are conservative or liberal, black or white, rich or poor, educated or not. Make sure you look into why a person may be making a statement, what they have to benefit, what they are trying to get you to believe. The left is not all authoritarian communists and the right are not heartless, white supremacist Nazis. They are just like you but with a different base of information and opinion. So why do we not fix that problem? Why don’t we give every side the same opportunity to voice their opinions without attacking and degrading them? Why are people so afraid of what other people are going to say? If your side is right then you know that you will win in a debate, that your statistics are more compelling, and that the majority of people will believe what you are saying.

I challenge you to speak to someone who disagrees with you on politics or social problems. Look for competing news media. Don’t get angry, raise your voice, or call names. Speak about the idea, attack the opinion, not the person. Talk and listen like an adult and learn to hear what others have to say instead of waiting for your turn to speak.