So, this is funny, but I would actually contend that a significant part of our political dysfunction right now is that we, as a nation, are still caring about 'stupid bullshit,' but we're expressing that care *through politics* which can only change policy, but not the stupid bullshit. - ThreadSky

bretdevereaux.bsky.social • 10 days ago

So, this is funny, but I would actually contend that a significant part of our political dysfunction right now is that we, as a nation, are still caring about 'stupid bullshit,' but we're expressing that care *through politics* which can only change policy, but not the stupid bullshit.

Reposted from The Onion

A Shattered Nation Longs To Care About Stupid Bullshit Again
theonion.com/a-shatt...

Comments

wikiales.bsky.social•9 days ago

I wrote a whole article about this

https://young.politics.blog/2024/11/08/im-not-going-to-do-a-write-up-on-the-election/

uscivilwar.bsky.social•10 days ago

Well, that and a very unhealthy trend towards national immediacy and visibility over useful results.

I have considered making a post about this: One of my big concerns since at least the first Obama term was the increasing use of Executive orders to simply force changes to suit this or that.

uscivilwar.bsky.social•10 days ago

The issue is not the sheer number*, but rather that they are being used as loud and messy signals on big public issues. It shortcuts debate and compromise, but also allowed real problems to fester.

*The numbers aren't unusual for American history.

drmichaelmancini.bsky.social•9 days ago

America is the only place I know of in the whole world, where your choice of what to have for lunch, what car you drive and what tv shows you watch are all political statements rather than just - y'know ... eating a burger.

christosilvia.bsky.social•10 days ago

This is related to why donors have freaked out so much about the Gaza protests. Donors see universities as a means of cultural reproduction of their values, and see Gaza protests as an existential threat to the continuation of their values system.

lenoxus.bsky.social•10 days ago

Which is bizarre insofar as I don't know exactly what values system is in conflict there

bretdevereaux.bsky.social•10 days ago

This is the heart of the culture war in politics: it is not actually possible to stop social change through politics, narrowly understood (elections, etc), short of totalitarianism.

But a lot of folks want to stop (or produce) social change and they reach for politics as a tool.

And here we are.

ericforest.bsky.social•10 days ago

I’m convinced a lot of people vote republican because they’re mad about how many minority characters are on tv these days, and it’s like, the president cannot change that!

bretdevereaux.bsky.social•10 days ago

By way of example, you cannot actually legislate trans people out of existence (short of mass murder), nor can you legislate broad social acceptance of the identities of trans folks.

You *can* change trans-related policy, which - short of bad, totalitarian outcomes - can achieve neither goal.

bretdevereaux.bsky.social•10 days ago

And because social media is the Land of Bad Takes, let me be very clear: trans people are people and deserve the full suite of rights, privileges and immunities, to include medical care and basic respect, due to any other people.

Policy can do the rights and medical care; it cannot do the respect.

bretdevereaux.bsky.social•10 days ago

We have to do the respect. That's on us.

shooter--andy.bsky.social•10 days ago

It can normalize their existence in the minds of the population, though. If they get the same basic rights and aren't deliberately targeted by some laws, then they're just like everyone else.

That's not the end of the process, of course, but it's a large boost to its start.

ralucahippie.bsky.social•10 days ago

Not directly, but there is an element of, like, "Look, we gave trans people the rights and medical care three years ago and - surprise surprise - incidents of women being abused in loos didn't skyrocket and we didn't turn into Sodom" element to public opinion. See attitudes to gay marriage.

grateless.bsky.social•10 days ago

Do you not buy the theory that respect redistribution is actually a core political goal? This was maybe early on more obvious on the left but now seems like a key feature if right politics without which nothing makes sense

whatever.mom•10 days ago

right politics doesn't believe in respect, only submission

grateless.bsky.social•10 days ago

Not a monopoly

adinalevin.bsky.social•7 days ago

there is complicated sociology on the interaction between policy and social change. the legal fight for gay marriage didn't cause the change in social norms, but having gay marriage legal and normal makes a difference...

adinalevin.bsky.social•7 days ago

women allowed to have credit cards in their names in 1974 didn't cause the change in social norms but reinforced changing norms,

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