Feelings and responsibility

[LigH]

I can't tell Americans who to vote for. That is their own responsibility. I only hope that most of them know why they vote, and what they vote for. But Germans are not different. There are also a lot of people who don't care about which party has a program supporting their needs, they even vote for a party which admitted to have no program yet ... just to protest against the established parties. They are still more afraid of a second GDR than of a Fourth Reich. Nothing is more important than being against. No matter against what.

Today I saw an amazing political satire show ("Die Anstalt" ~ "The Asylum", I guess the name of this monthly series is possibly based on Douglas Adams' concept of being outside the asylum here by definition). It explained the paradox situation of politics in Germany with stage plays related to Robin Hood and the Sheriff of Nothinghave.

[Rigwyn]

Out of curiosity, the GDR was when Germany was split into four parts after World War II, right? East German was run by the Soviets who were not very nice to say the least.  Are they afraid of being broken by outside forces up in a similar fashion, or it is more a fear of the country becoming divided due to differing political views or ideological disharmony caused by immigration and a failure of outsiders to assimilate and integrate into the existing culture?

[Can-ned Food]

Anyway... they all kinda suck in ways, but we need to pick one.

Ahaha, but I couldn't resist:

   "So," said Arthur, hoping he wasn't sounding ridiculously obtuse,
"why don't the people get rid of the lizards?"
   "It honestly doesn't occur to them," said Ford. "They've all got the
vote, so they all pretty much assume that the government they've
voted in more or less approximates to the government they want."
   "You mean they actually vote for the lizards?"
   "Oh yes," said Ford with a shrug, "of course."
   "But," said Arthur, going for the big one again, "why?"
   "Because if they didn't vote for a lizard," said Ford, "the wrong
lizard might get in."

 

[Rigwyn]

Anyway... they all kinda suck in ways, but we need to pick one.

Ahaha, but I couldn't resist:

   "So," said Arthur, hoping he wasn't sounding ridiculously obtuse,
"why don't the people get rid of the lizards?"
   "It honestly doesn't occur to them," said Ford. "They've all got the
vote, so they all pretty much assume that the government they've
voted in more or less approximates to the government they want."
   "You mean they actually vote for the lizards?"
   "Oh yes," said Ford with a shrug, "of course."
   "But," said Arthur, going for the big one again, "why?"
   "Because if they didn't vote for a lizard," said Ford, "the wrong
lizard might get in."

 

*applause*

Nice

[LigH]

I hate being right regarding unpleasant topics ... but I did start this topic with the term "feelings". And now I was proven right by John Oliver:

Republican National Congress: The event where feelings create an alternate reality

Especially Newt Gingrich insists in taking feelings more serious than facts. So he reveals how magic spells actually work...


But wait. The Democrats National Congress isn't less wicked. It's the event where the chased is proud of the conspiracy against him.
_

@ Rigwyn:

Sorry for missing your reply, I get no email notifications.

The GDR was the eastern area under Soviet Russian control, in contrast to the FRG being the combined regions under control of the Allies (France, Great Britain, USA). But the pressure from the outside was just as threatening as the pressure from the inside, having a secret service (Ministry of Safety of the State, brief: "StaSi") using a system of mistrust (everyone might be an "off-the-record staff" spying on neighbors and denouncing you for free speech, only known by a pseudonym, like "IM Erika" and "IM Larve"). So from a point of view, it was just as dangerous as in fascist times under the NSDAP and "Gestapo" (Secret State Police).

I just don't understand why the StaSi feels more dangerous than the Gestapo to many people, as if communism is considered a lot more dangerous than fascism. Propaganda will have had its value here, along with a lack of understanding the literal meaning of the terms.

Even among colleagues, I hear opinions like supporters of "left politics" are considered mainly extremists and rioters, whereas I would rather consider "left politics" as more socially responsible than economically liberal.

[LigH]

And once again: The Simpsons nailed it

[MishkaL1138]

LigH, I think you're the only one who cares. Please stop. It's tearing our family apart. The kids are asking where you are. Please come home.

[Rigwyn]

And once again: The Simpsons nailed it

Choosing Between Trump or Clinton is Like Picking Between Cholera or Gonorrhea - Julian Assange

[Sarras Volcae]

Ligh, I'm going to vote for Trump just to spite people like you.

[LigH]

Well, that may be the only reason I could reenact: Defiance. Anything else could be proven wrong.

[gonger]

Ligh, I'm going to vote for Trump just to spite people like you.

NOT funny.

[MishkaL1138]

>TFW the destiny of "the most important" country in the world is to be decided between a cold blooded killer and a clow.

I'd rather have a failure of a businessman in the White House, than a warmongering witch, to be honest. I feel the world will be safer when you can just shut Trump up by dangling a briefcase full of money in front of him.

[Sarras Volcae]

Ligh, I'm going to vote for Trump just to spite people like you.

NOT funny.

I'm not being funny.

[gonger]

Ligh, I'm going to vote for Trump just to spite people like you.

NOT funny.

I'm not being funny.

*facepalm*

[LigH]

I can hardly celebrate the revelation that I (among others, certainly) predicted what is known today as post-truth politics or "post-factual era": The value of facts became lower than the value of emotions. Journalists are losing their purpose, the more they try to be a good role model and investigate. The modern "pitchfork mob" (most of all, PEGIDA, as notorious German organization) prefers yelling "Lügenpresse" (Lying press), not understanding that they leave no media for themselves to report to the public about their point of view when they mistrust all media with absolute bias. They enclose themselves in their filter bubble of the "furor-politan" ("Wutbürger", in contrast to the cosmopolitan ~ Weltbürger).

Being unable to counter the feeling of governmental betrayal, abused by populists, with facts learned from the rise of the Nazis in Germany almost 85 years ago, leaves me helpless and in fear of history repeating.

What may be the solution? Fighting bad emotions with good emotions? Exaggerating the ridiculousness of populism?

I need to calm down. Give me a dog to pat. Good boy.