There’s a lot to dislike in the current moment, most far more dangerous, but still: one thing that annoys me is the disappearance of grace and magnanimity, even in victory.
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Corporations are in charge of congress. The beast of capitalism hungers. Decency and magnanimity don't make the line go up.
Until government has the teeth to hold corporations accountable (jail CEOs), there will be no bottom to the disgrace in The People's House.
I have been one of his constituents for all his time in office and I knew this, which is why I am so deeply disappointed in him. While I won’t pile on him, I won’t forgive that he buckled when we needed his leadership the most. He of all democrats was uniquely positioned to stand against tyranny.
Twitter made folks this way. Even before Elon, catching ppl out & demonstrative outrage, even policing allies on their level of virtue signaling. How to get on TV? How to raise an issue with a corp? Twitter rage. Trump is the result of Twitterverse. As it fades, decency will recover
Trump made people this way. His crude, cruel, tasteless, grotesque, juvenile demeanor; became worse than acceptable. It became fashionable. Naturally, those used to thinking that way, but would never admit it, were suddenly social icons.
It was fashionable way before Trump. Unfortunately, the canaries in the coal mines were ignored and are still being ignored now. People just want a "gotcha" moment to get clicks and to stand on pedestals and we've convinced ourselves that is is normal and acceptable. It isn't.
Social media in general provided a mirror for people to reflect the aweful character they’ve had rooted through generations of hate and ignorance. It was a wake up call more than anything.
Hmm
I think it would be a mistake to over generalize the various kinds of social media into a unit. What does Instagram do? What does TikTok do? What was Tumblr? Remote? There is no constant. The nature of the beast varies by beast-type
The moral hazard on users of Twitter was to police & generate mobs. Lacking succinct comedy or punchy art posts, the means to gain reach and following was through vitriol. The structure of the site was exceptional. Pay people to carry pitchforks and they’ll hone that skill
Good article, thanks for sharing that. I had not seen that “debunking”.
Instead, I will use the 2018 example of asking a 4 year old immigrant representing himself at his trial.
Or the current state of raiding schools *(without warrants) to snatch children.
“Absolute power…”
A sad statement on us.
That article glaringly misses the bigger point. Yes, the experiment was flawed and isn't useful for its direct findings. But the data completely backs up Milgram's study, even though he never reached an explanation.
To wit: The malfeasant complicity of 1000's of gov. employees at this very moment.
I recall when the words, “it’s the economy, Stupid” seemed so disrespectful when directed toward a sitting president, even though I didn’t like the guy. Seems quaint now. 🥴
I really appreciate what Durbin has accomplished in the Senate. I think the disconnect is that his tactics don't work in this moment. That's hard to recognize in the middle of everything in DC; those further from the action sometimes have a better view of the whole thing.
Mnaah. Being from Michigan and watching him cast votes closer than many will have-I'd just like to say FUCK Peters, and just because he's retiring doesn't mean he gets to ignore his phone until fucking November of next fucking year. Coward! I hope whoever hired him is paying BIG. #DunZohInTheMitten✋🏽
I don't love his confirmation votes, but his legislation is usually good and fills a need (like upskilling the federal workforce to be able to use AI, a prescient move before ChatGPT blew up)
He's been a patsy for the republican party since announcing his retirement. In lock step with the establishment. There may have been one(?) pleasant surprise, but now that I'm thinking about it that may have been Elisa. I'm used to her siding with all things military, however depraved/wasteful etc.
I think, rightly or wrongly, that many feel that the "grace and magnanimity" you speak of is what got us into the current situation, and are abandoning it for that reason.
There is a difference between holding firm to principle in one’s own deeds, vs accepting variance in others [that may become allies or are neutral]
This is complicated for small brains
Yeah, sociopathic crazy people with guns who want to murder you always respond positively to their victim showing grace. If only the Jews had shown more grace, maybe the Nazis would have left them alone?
You’ve really turned me around on this. The next time a sociopath aims a gun at me I’ll be sure to tell him how awful he is before he pulls the trigger.
Would being callous, insensitive, unfriendly or hostile have saved them?
My point is, for most of us, how you (re)act towards others will usually do little to change your personal circumstances but a lot to change you.
It’s as it ever was, just amplified by the mob effect of social media (even in bsky). But kudos to you for giving context and grace. We need more of it, and it matters.
The problem is that showing them "grace and magnanimity" has prompted them to hang on to ridiculous ages, in the Senate especially.
He had some good terms, but he, like many others hung on too long, and when people hang on too long, it does tarnish their record.
Sen. Durbin did a great deal of good in Congress. I’m proud to have voted for him every time he was on my ballot. But it’s time for new blood and I’m proud of him for recognizing that. He’s been great for this country. Great.
It annoys me too. The thing I continually remind myself is that people are hurting and angry, so expecting them to react with that sort of grace is a tall order right now. And most people who are quietly nodding and saying "Well done, Senator" probably don't want to say something on social media.
The grace helped get us into this pile of shit. Sorry it annoys you, I find you to be quite the annoying arse- never followed you until bluesky, good to understand your better now. I'd stick to your radio program and stop bloviating so much here.
I'm glad he did those things.
At the same time, it's hard to respect someone for principles they abandoned when it got tough.
Like, people love to tout McCain, but he spent the last dozen years of his life actively betraying his country by supporting the GOP agenda and the corrupting of SCOTUS.
The bipartisanship has a hefty body count. Grace is literally the least of my concerns. Maybe if Americans cared about real things like victims of their bipartisan policies, we'd care more about this vibe you're nostalgic for.
Sen. Durbin was Barack Obama’s mentor in the Senate and they have remained close since then. When it was still possible to be bipartisan, he worked with reasonable people across the aisle. I hope he eats for free forever.
Bipartisanism was dead even under Barak. The country just didn't recognize it yet. But pushing, for one example, for single payer solution would have saved us the world of pain we're in right now.
That's what fascism does, it drags everyone down to their base level!
Grace & magnanimity will return when the fascists have been defeated!
Not sure what victories you're referring to, as there hasn't been any.
Court rulings ignored by fascists are not victories!
You are right, it is all too easy to slide toward “yeah, but what have you done for me lately?” It is good to be reminded of one’s positive contributions.
It seems there is a need to continue hating, even while prevailing. I keep telling people that this is how we here. The inability to accept that all humans are flawed. I don't understand the need for superiority and indignation.
Comments
Until government has the teeth to hold corporations accountable (jail CEOs), there will be no bottom to the disgrace in The People's House.
It's
#socialismorbarbarism
The Trump effect.
I think it would be a mistake to over generalize the various kinds of social media into a unit. What does Instagram do? What does TikTok do? What was Tumblr? Remote? There is no constant. The nature of the beast varies by beast-type
Read about, or watch the The Stanford Prison project. It’s frightening.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanford_prison_experiment
Instead, I will use the 2018 example of asking a 4 year old immigrant representing himself at his trial.
Or the current state of raiding schools *(without warrants) to snatch children.
“Absolute power…”
A sad statement on us.
To wit: The malfeasant complicity of 1000's of gov. employees at this very moment.
The "no good deed goes unpunished crew."
He’s ending his service with as much honor and accomplishment as he brought to his terms.
This is complicated for small brains
My point is, for most of us, how you (re)act towards others will usually do little to change your personal circumstances but a lot to change you.
He had some good terms, but he, like many others hung on too long, and when people hang on too long, it does tarnish their record.
At the same time, it's hard to respect someone for principles they abandoned when it got tough.
Like, people love to tout McCain, but he spent the last dozen years of his life actively betraying his country by supporting the GOP agenda and the corrupting of SCOTUS.
The bipartisanship has a hefty body count. Grace is literally the least of my concerns. Maybe if Americans cared about real things like victims of their bipartisan policies, we'd care more about this vibe you're nostalgic for.
Good manners are part of being polite.
Grace & magnanimity will return when the fascists have been defeated!
Not sure what victories you're referring to, as there hasn't been any.
Court rulings ignored by fascists are not victories!
He deserves credit for this action, just as he does for so many actions before it.