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Partisan Hate Is Becoming a National Crisis

nota bene

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Although he says he's skeptical about whether what Pelosi has said about not going down the road to impeachment unless the reason is compelling "represents a true shift from toxic partisanship," David French says that at least she's doing what more politicians should do, looking beyond one's one "tribe" and thinking of the larger body politic, and argues that this is a "national necessity." From his article:

This morning the New York Times’ Thomas Edsall published an important essay highlighting a new study that analyzed the extent of “lethal mass partisanship.” As Edsall observes, the paper contained some disturbing statistics. Among them, “42 percent of the people in each party view the opposition as ‘downright evil.’” A stunning 20 percent of Democrats and 16 percent of Republicans believe “we’d be better off as a country if large numbers of the opposing party in the public today just died.” And if the opposing party wins the 2020 election, 18 percent of Democrats and 13 percent of Republicans “feel violence would be justified.”

We hear quite a bit about “dehumanizing rhetoric” in American public life. Well, it appears that tens of millions of Americans now have dehumanizing beliefs. “One out of five Republicans and Democrats agree with the statement that their political adversaries ‘lack the traits to be considered fully human — they behave like animals.’”

...It’s in this atmosphere that I’m increasingly of the view that the vanishing, bipartisan class of civil libertarians represent an important ingredient in the glue that keeps America together. The fundamental idea that we should defend the rights of others that we would like to exercise ourselves often requires that we gain greater sympathetic understanding of our opponents’ points of view. After all, the defense of liberty in the public square can never be merely legalistic. To be effective it also has to humanize. Nancy Pelosi & Trump Impeachment -- Partisan Hate Is Becoming a National Crisis | National Review

If you see those with whom you disagree as "more jackal than human," then you're "justified" in the impulse to ruin their lives and livelihoods. But at what cost to the nation?

Come, let us reason together, showing respect for all and malice toward none.
 
Although he says he's skeptical about whether what Pelosi has said about not going down the road to impeachment unless the reason is compelling "represents a true shift from toxic partisanship," David French says that at least she's doing what more politicians should do, looking beyond one's one "tribe" and thinking of the larger body politic, and argues that this is a "national necessity." From his article:

This morning the New York Times’ Thomas Edsall published an important essay highlighting a new study that analyzed the extent of “lethal mass partisanship.” As Edsall observes, the paper contained some disturbing statistics. Among them, “42 percent of the people in each party view the opposition as ‘downright evil.’” A stunning 20 percent of Democrats and 16 percent of Republicans believe “we’d be better off as a country if large numbers of the opposing party in the public today just died.” And if the opposing party wins the 2020 election, 18 percent of Democrats and 13 percent of Republicans “feel violence would be justified.”

We hear quite a bit about “dehumanizing rhetoric” in American public life. Well, it appears that tens of millions of Americans now have dehumanizing beliefs. “One out of five Republicans and Democrats agree with the statement that their political adversaries ‘lack the traits to be considered fully human — they behave like animals.’”

...It’s in this atmosphere that I’m increasingly of the view that the vanishing, bipartisan class of civil libertarians represent an important ingredient in the glue that keeps America together. The fundamental idea that we should defend the rights of others that we would like to exercise ourselves often requires that we gain greater sympathetic understanding of our opponents’ points of view. After all, the defense of liberty in the public square can never be merely legalistic. To be effective it also has to humanize. Nancy Pelosi & Trump Impeachment -- Partisan Hate Is Becoming a National Crisis | National Review

If you see those with whom you disagree as "more jackal than human," then you're "justified" in the impulse to ruin their lives and livelihoods. But at what cost to the nation?

Come, let us reason together, showing respect for all and malice toward none.

Great prompt...but in order to drive change, you must own your part in the problem. With all due respect, American's are great at a lot of things, the best at a few, but not so much in the "I was wrong" or "I'm sorry" department - a trait that is entirely bipartisan. ;)

But...you're absolutely right, there is not a single thing in this post that is debatable. Other than who will be the first, if anyone, to blink.
 
Although he says he's skeptical about whether what Pelosi has said about not going down the road to impeachment unless the reason is compelling "represents a true shift from toxic partisanship," David French says that at least she's doing what more politicians should do, looking beyond one's one "tribe" and thinking of the larger body politic, and argues that this is a "national necessity." From his article:

This morning the New York Times’ Thomas Edsall published an important essay highlighting a new study that analyzed the extent of “lethal mass partisanship.” As Edsall observes, the paper contained some disturbing statistics. Among them, “42 percent of the people in each party view the opposition as ‘downright evil.’” A stunning 20 percent of Democrats and 16 percent of Republicans believe “we’d be better off as a country if large numbers of the opposing party in the public today just died.” And if the opposing party wins the 2020 election, 18 percent of Democrats and 13 percent of Republicans “feel violence would be justified.”

We hear quite a bit about “dehumanizing rhetoric” in American public life. Well, it appears that tens of millions of Americans now have dehumanizing beliefs. “One out of five Republicans and Democrats agree with the statement that their political adversaries ‘lack the traits to be considered fully human — they behave like animals.’”

...It’s in this atmosphere that I’m increasingly of the view that the vanishing, bipartisan class of civil libertarians represent an important ingredient in the glue that keeps America together. The fundamental idea that we should defend the rights of others that we would like to exercise ourselves often requires that we gain greater sympathetic understanding of our opponents’ points of view. After all, the defense of liberty in the public square can never be merely legalistic. To be effective it also has to humanize. Nancy Pelosi & Trump Impeachment -- Partisan Hate Is Becoming a National Crisis | National Review

If you see those with whom you disagree as "more jackal than human," then you're "justified" in the impulse to ruin their lives and livelihoods. But at what cost to the nation?

Come, let us reason together, showing respect for all and malice toward none.

Wow. The comments section at that article pretty much demonstrates exactly what his thesis is, as flawed as it may be.

Toxic stupidity at contagion levels.
 
Great prompt...but in order to drive change, you must own your part in the problem. With all due respect, American's are great at a lot of things, the best at a few, but not so much in the "I was wrong" or "I'm sorry" department - a trait that is entirely bipartisan. ;)

But...you're absolutely right, there is not a single thing in this post that is debatable. Other than who will be the first, if anyone, to blink.

Irrespective of "tribe" or nationality, admitting when in error and apologizing when wrong are becoming humilities, don't you think? Isn't this really about individual character?
 
Although he says he's skeptical about whether what Pelosi has said about not going down the road to impeachment unless the reason is compelling "represents a true shift from toxic partisanship," David French says that at least she's doing what more politicians should do, looking beyond one's one "tribe" and thinking of the larger body politic, and argues that this is a "national necessity." From his article:

This morning the New York Times’ Thomas Edsall published an important essay highlighting a new study that analyzed the extent of “lethal mass partisanship.” As Edsall observes, the paper contained some disturbing statistics. Among them, “42 percent of the people in each party view the opposition as ‘downright evil.’” A stunning 20 percent of Democrats and 16 percent of Republicans believe “we’d be better off as a country if large numbers of the opposing party in the public today just died.” And if the opposing party wins the 2020 election, 18 percent of Democrats and 13 percent of Republicans “feel violence would be justified.”

We hear quite a bit about “dehumanizing rhetoric” in American public life. Well, it appears that tens of millions of Americans now have dehumanizing beliefs. “One out of five Republicans and Democrats agree with the statement that their political adversaries ‘lack the traits to be considered fully human — they behave like animals.’”

...It’s in this atmosphere that I’m increasingly of the view that the vanishing, bipartisan class of civil libertarians represent an important ingredient in the glue that keeps America together. The fundamental idea that we should defend the rights of others that we would like to exercise ourselves often requires that we gain greater sympathetic understanding of our opponents’ points of view. After all, the defense of liberty in the public square can never be merely legalistic. To be effective it also has to humanize. Nancy Pelosi & Trump Impeachment -- Partisan Hate Is Becoming a National Crisis | National Review

If you see those with whom you disagree as "more jackal than human," then you're "justified" in the impulse to ruin their lives and livelihoods. But at what cost to the nation?

Come, let us reason together, showing respect for all and malice toward none.

Good luck with that. The left are stuck in TDS anti-Trump resistance mode. I find it very telling that more Democrats than Republicans would like to see the other side just die off or that if the other side wins in 2020, violence would be justified. The left are going to view your request as an attempt to stop the Trump attacks and dismiss it.
 
Good luck with that. The left are stuck in TDS anti-Trump resistance mode. I find it very telling that more Democrats than Republicans would like to see the other side just die off or that if the other side wins in 2020, violence would be justified. The left are going to view your request as an attempt to stop the Trump attacks and dismiss it.

Perhaps so, but let's begin with us and choose to assume that there are more people of good will than not.

My fingers are crossed.
 
Although he says he's skeptical about whether what Pelosi has said about not going down the road to impeachment unless the reason is compelling "represents a true shift from toxic partisanship," David French says that at least she's doing what more politicians should do, looking beyond one's one "tribe" and thinking of the larger body politic, and argues that this is a "national necessity." From his article:

This morning the New York Times’ Thomas Edsall published an important essay highlighting a new study that analyzed the extent of “lethal mass partisanship.” As Edsall observes, the paper contained some disturbing statistics. Among them, “42 percent of the people in each party view the opposition as ‘downright evil.’” A stunning 20 percent of Democrats and 16 percent of Republicans believe “we’d be better off as a country if large numbers of the opposing party in the public today just died.” And if the opposing party wins the 2020 election, 18 percent of Democrats and 13 percent of Republicans “feel violence would be justified.”

We hear quite a bit about “dehumanizing rhetoric” in American public life. Well, it appears that tens of millions of Americans now have dehumanizing beliefs. “One out of five Republicans and Democrats agree with the statement that their political adversaries ‘lack the traits to be considered fully human — they behave like animals.’”

...It’s in this atmosphere that I’m increasingly of the view that the vanishing, bipartisan class of civil libertarians represent an important ingredient in the glue that keeps America together. The fundamental idea that we should defend the rights of others that we would like to exercise ourselves often requires that we gain greater sympathetic understanding of our opponents’ points of view. After all, the defense of liberty in the public square can never be merely legalistic. To be effective it also has to humanize. Nancy Pelosi & Trump Impeachment -- Partisan Hate Is Becoming a National Crisis | National Review

If you see those with whom you disagree as "more jackal than human," then you're "justified" in the impulse to ruin their lives and livelihoods. But at what cost to the nation?

Come, let us reason together, showing respect for all and malice toward none.

Putin read this and was overheard to say, "I love when a good plan comes together."
 
Good luck with that. The left are stuck in TDS anti-Trump resistance mode. I find it very telling that more Democrats than Republicans would like to see the other side just die off or that if the other side wins in 2020, violence would be justified. The left are going to view your request as an attempt to stop the Trump attacks and dismiss it.

Do you really need me to explain to you why?

Good grief, this is kindergarten obvious.
 
Putin read this and was overheard to say, "I love when a good plan comes together."

Good to know he's a fan of Isaiah and Lincoln.
 
Although he says he's skeptical about whether what Pelosi has said about not going down the road to impeachment unless the reason is compelling "represents a true shift from toxic partisanship," David French says that at least she's doing what more politicians should do, looking beyond one's one "tribe" and thinking of the larger body politic, and argues that this is a "national necessity." From his article:

This morning the New York Times’ Thomas Edsall published an important essay highlighting a new study that analyzed the extent of “lethal mass partisanship.” As Edsall observes, the paper contained some disturbing statistics. Among them, “42 percent of the people in each party view the opposition as ‘downright evil.’” A stunning 20 percent of Democrats and 16 percent of Republicans believe “we’d be better off as a country if large numbers of the opposing party in the public today just died.” And if the opposing party wins the 2020 election, 18 percent of Democrats and 13 percent of Republicans “feel violence would be justified.”

We hear quite a bit about “dehumanizing rhetoric” in American public life. Well, it appears that tens of millions of Americans now have dehumanizing beliefs. “One out of five Republicans and Democrats agree with the statement that their political adversaries ‘lack the traits to be considered fully human — they behave like animals.’”

...It’s in this atmosphere that I’m increasingly of the view that the vanishing, bipartisan class of civil libertarians represent an important ingredient in the glue that keeps America together. The fundamental idea that we should defend the rights of others that we would like to exercise ourselves often requires that we gain greater sympathetic understanding of our opponents’ points of view. After all, the defense of liberty in the public square can never be merely legalistic. To be effective it also has to humanize. Nancy Pelosi & Trump Impeachment -- Partisan Hate Is Becoming a National Crisis | National Review

If you see those with whom you disagree as "more jackal than human," then you're "justified" in the impulse to ruin their lives and livelihoods. But at what cost to the nation?

Come, let us reason together, showing respect for all and malice toward none.

Of course the article is true. I have seen people display such attitudes on this site all the time, then play victim, and then tell others they don't matter and their feelings don't matter. I have accepted that this is state America is in, and I don't see it getting better with a person like Trump in office. He is not 100 percent to blame, but he definately plays into tribalism and division, and peddles in hate.
 
Great prompt...but in order to drive change, you must own your part in the problem. With all due respect, American's are great at a lot of things, the best at a few, but not so much in the "I was wrong" or "I'm sorry" department - a trait that is entirely bipartisan. ;)

But...you're absolutely right, there is not a single thing in this post that is debatable. Other than who will be the first, if anyone, to blink.

America is in decay. I do not plan on living out the rest of my life here, and it's not just because of Trump and modern politics. America and the people are never focused on the right things or goals, issues that impact us all. Instead the people are divided and conquered, while money and corruption run the system. I have ran figures and done the math. I will retire better outside of the US.

I also just did my taxes, and I lost over 5000 in deductions. My taxes went up, for what, corporations and the wealthy.

I really don't know why people are allowing this to happen in America.
 
Although he says he's skeptical about whether what Pelosi has said about not going down the road to impeachment unless the reason is compelling "represents a true shift from toxic partisanship," David French says that at least she's doing what more politicians should do, looking beyond one's one "tribe" and thinking of the larger body politic, and argues that this is a "national necessity." From his article:

This morning the New York Times’ Thomas Edsall published an important essay highlighting a new study that analyzed the extent of “lethal mass partisanship.” As Edsall observes, the paper contained some disturbing statistics. Among them, “42 percent of the people in each party view the opposition as ‘downright evil.’” A stunning 20 percent of Democrats and 16 percent of Republicans believe “we’d be better off as a country if large numbers of the opposing party in the public today just died.” And if the opposing party wins the 2020 election, 18 percent of Democrats and 13 percent of Republicans “feel violence would be justified.”

We hear quite a bit about “dehumanizing rhetoric” in American public life. Well, it appears that tens of millions of Americans now have dehumanizing beliefs. “One out of five Republicans and Democrats agree with the statement that their political adversaries ‘lack the traits to be considered fully human — they behave like animals.’”

...It’s in this atmosphere that I’m increasingly of the view that the vanishing, bipartisan class of civil libertarians represent an important ingredient in the glue that keeps America together. The fundamental idea that we should defend the rights of others that we would like to exercise ourselves often requires that we gain greater sympathetic understanding of our opponents’ points of view. After all, the defense of liberty in the public square can never be merely legalistic. To be effective it also has to humanize. Nancy Pelosi & Trump Impeachment -- Partisan Hate Is Becoming a National Crisis | National Review

If you see those with whom you disagree as "more jackal than human," then you're "justified" in the impulse to ruin their lives and livelihoods. But at what cost to the nation?

Come, let us reason together, showing respect for all and malice toward none.

This whole thing is an unintended(?) consequence of persuasion practitioners activities for their clients.

It is designed to keep "your" subjects from exposing themselves to the other sides' messaging, because they know the potency of their craft.

And from my study of this, approximately 25% of humans are completely helpless before these techniques.

Any time a large group of people believe something ridiculous, that someone has disseminated, it's around 25% of whatever group.

There are receipts for this divide, paystubs, fulfilled contracts. It is not an accident and we didn't do this to ourselves, beyond our refusal to address bald manipulation of us by multi-billion dollar industries because the first amendment.
 
Irrespective of "tribe" or nationality, admitting when in error and apologizing when wrong are becoming humilities, don't you think? Isn't this really about individual character?

What is individual character anymore? Hive mentality is so much safer, so much more comforting. As people limit themselves socially by working harder and longer, spending off time staring into screens, essentially cutting themselves off from the broad support networks that were much more common even 25 years ago, political tribes is one way to connect, which makes them so much more alluring and so much more of a trap. Being bipartisan doesn't get you respect from both sides, the only thing that matters are the times when you didn't agree with them.

I think what we're seeing here is symptomatic of a lot of things - as usual, the simplest ideas on the surface can be some of the most complicated.
 
Although he says he's skeptical about whether what Pelosi has said about not going down the road to impeachment unless the reason is compelling "represents a true shift from toxic partisanship," David French says that at least she's doing what more politicians should do, looking beyond one's one "tribe" and thinking of the larger body politic, and argues that this is a "national necessity." From his article:

This morning the New York Times’ Thomas Edsall published an important essay highlighting a new study that analyzed the extent of “lethal mass partisanship.” As Edsall observes, the paper contained some disturbing statistics. Among them, “42 percent of the people in each party view the opposition as ‘downright evil.’” A stunning 20 percent of Democrats and 16 percent of Republicans believe “we’d be better off as a country if large numbers of the opposing party in the public today just died.” And if the opposing party wins the 2020 election, 18 percent of Democrats and 13 percent of Republicans “feel violence would be justified.”

We hear quite a bit about “dehumanizing rhetoric” in American public life. Well, it appears that tens of millions of Americans now have dehumanizing beliefs. “One out of five Republicans and Democrats agree with the statement that their political adversaries ‘lack the traits to be considered fully human — they behave like animals.’”

...It’s in this atmosphere that I’m increasingly of the view that the vanishing, bipartisan class of civil libertarians represent an important ingredient in the glue that keeps America together. The fundamental idea that we should defend the rights of others that we would like to exercise ourselves often requires that we gain greater sympathetic understanding of our opponents’ points of view. After all, the defense of liberty in the public square can never be merely legalistic. To be effective it also has to humanize. Nancy Pelosi & Trump Impeachment -- Partisan Hate Is Becoming a National Crisis | National Review

If you see those with whom you disagree as "more jackal than human," then you're "justified" in the impulse to ruin their lives and livelihoods. But at what cost to the nation?

Come, let us reason together, showing respect for all and malice toward none.
Pelosi Has been saying that throughout Trumps presidency, she has not changed he position. It was the Democrat stretegy to only publicly speak about impeachment if it was warranted. As time went by Trump did things that many Democrat's considered impeachable. So many Democrats started calling for impeachment. Pelosi again reapplied the position that impeachment should be only done in cases that warranted it.

That is a setup for impeaching Trump, since she has made it clear that the Democrats will only impeach if its legit, when they write the articles of impeachment it will be more powerful that way. Its ignorant to view Pelosi's statement has an olive branch.

But the fighting between the Democrats and Republicans will only get worse, before it gets better. Republicans have expressed plenty of times that they enjoy the fact that Trump in office trolls the Democrats. The longer that trump is president the worse that situation will get. And every (actual) scandal that trump survives emboldens the Democrats.

Which brings me too my point (about time right?). The only person that benefits from partisan fighting is Trump and I hate to say, but Russia. This level of infighting that we are seeing is hurting both the Republican and Democrat parties and the nation as a whole. The more that those two parties fight it make sit easier for the President to place blame on them and not himself. And while Trump stokes the hate on Democrats we have to remember that he hates the establishment Republicans just as much. And while its still up for debate whether Trump is knowingly helping Russia, there is no doubt that all this infighting not only helps Russia, but is exactly what they wanted to happen. For the good of the country both political parties need to make amends; but they never will.
 
Perhaps if the Moderate Republicans stood up to the constant, vile, vicious hate their fellow Republicans spewed at Obama for 8 years I could take this 'lets come together' a little more seriously.. But i can't because next time there's a Dem President Fox, Drudge, the Bannons, the Hannity's and the rest will go into overdrive spewing hate and lies about that president, telling their listeners that the Dem is a communist, God hating, baby killing. Muslim brotherhood, traitor...

And you know what? 75% of the Republican base will believe them, including the so called 'moderate' Republicans.

In other words the Republicans need to straighten out their own house 1st, then they can point fingers.
 
A weaker UN is not going to lead to peace

The message of this song isn't about the U.N.; it's about peace beginning with YOU.
 
What is individual character anymore? Hive mentality is so much safer, so much more comforting. As people limit themselves socially by working harder and longer, spending off time staring into screens, essentially cutting themselves off from the broad support networks that were much more common even 25 years ago, political tribes is one way to connect, which makes them so much more alluring and so much more of a trap. Being bipartisan doesn't get you respect from both sides, the only thing that matters are the times when you didn't agree with them.

I think what we're seeing here is symptomatic of a lot of things - as usual, the simplest ideas on the surface can be some of the most complicated.

Communications, Marketing and Political Science. These are the degree tracks where people study what makes us tick. Cognitively and emotionally. I don't have to convince you with facts. All I have to do is make you angry or happy about a subject and reason will follow emotion. They know why we believe one thing and don't another. There is a large list of these techniques. Some so potent they will work on those who use these tools in their messaging.

They have been at this research for a century now. Every modern tyranny has used these tools to establish and maintain their tyrannies.

Every political campaign, every speech is written using these tools. Every ad you see or hear. So it's no surprise you hear nothing from politicians or the media on the subject.

But Public Relations alone is a ten billion dollar a year industry in the US. Not counting those in direct employ.

This is the 800 pound gorilla sitting studiously ignored at the heart of this nation's current divide.

This is the subject that brought me here to DP in the first place. Two men of similar age and station screaming at each other across a table emblazoned with home made bright red signage. Asking myself how that came to pass led me to the persuasion sciences and then here to attempt to point them out.

I have posted at length here, about fake posters, multiple accounts tended by the same person, professionals doing this, the use of computers. All of the Russian troll tactics and then some. For years here.
 
Perhaps so, but let's begin with us and choose to assume that there are more people of good will than not.

My fingers are crossed.

I'm sorry but the reality is this is the new status quo. Both sides go after the other for partisan reasons. I wish it wasn't like that but the snowball has been rolling downhill for many years now.
 
I'm sorry but the reality is this is the new status quo. Both sides go after the other for partisan reasons. I wish it wasn't like that but the snowball has been rolling downhill for many years now.

You know it's not hard to go look at your disgusting post history. So spare us your tears.
 
Although he says he's skeptical about whether what Pelosi has said about not going down the road to impeachment unless the reason is compelling "represents a true shift from toxic partisanship," David French says that at least she's doing what more politicians should do, looking beyond one's one "tribe" and thinking of the larger body politic, and argues that this is a "national necessity." From his article:

This morning the New York Times’ Thomas Edsall published an important essay highlighting a new study that analyzed the extent of “lethal mass partisanship.” As Edsall observes, the paper contained some disturbing statistics. Among them, “42 percent of the people in each party view the opposition as ‘downright evil.’” A stunning 20 percent of Democrats and 16 percent of Republicans believe “we’d be better off as a country if large numbers of the opposing party in the public today just died.” And if the opposing party wins the 2020 election, 18 percent of Democrats and 13 percent of Republicans “feel violence would be justified.”

We hear quite a bit about “dehumanizing rhetoric” in American public life. Well, it appears that tens of millions of Americans now have dehumanizing beliefs. “One out of five Republicans and Democrats agree with the statement that their political adversaries ‘lack the traits to be considered fully human — they behave like animals.’”

...It’s in this atmosphere that I’m increasingly of the view that the vanishing, bipartisan class of civil libertarians represent an important ingredient in the glue that keeps America together. The fundamental idea that we should defend the rights of others that we would like to exercise ourselves often requires that we gain greater sympathetic understanding of our opponents’ points of view. After all, the defense of liberty in the public square can never be merely legalistic. To be effective it also has to humanize. Nancy Pelosi & Trump Impeachment -- Partisan Hate Is Becoming a National Crisis | National Review

If you see those with whom you disagree as "more jackal than human," then you're "justified" in the impulse to ruin their lives and livelihoods. But at what cost to the nation?

Come, let us reason together, showing respect for all and malice toward none.

The source of the partisan divide is Fox News, which daily spews rhetoric that liberals are the nation's #1 enemy.
 
Although he says he's skeptical about whether what Pelosi has said about not going down the road to impeachment unless the reason is compelling "represents a true shift from toxic partisanship," David French says that at least she's doing what more politicians should do, looking beyond one's one "tribe" and thinking of the larger body politic, and argues that this is a "national necessity." From his article:

This morning the New York Times’ Thomas Edsall published an important essay highlighting a new study that analyzed the extent of “lethal mass partisanship.” As Edsall observes, the paper contained some disturbing statistics. Among them, “42 percent of the people in each party view the opposition as ‘downright evil.’” A stunning 20 percent of Democrats and 16 percent of Republicans believe “we’d be better off as a country if large numbers of the opposing party in the public today just died.” And if the opposing party wins the 2020 election, 18 percent of Democrats and 13 percent of Republicans “feel violence would be justified.”

We hear quite a bit about “dehumanizing rhetoric” in American public life. Well, it appears that tens of millions of Americans now have dehumanizing beliefs. “One out of five Republicans and Democrats agree with the statement that their political adversaries ‘lack the traits to be considered fully human — they behave like animals.’”

...It’s in this atmosphere that I’m increasingly of the view that the vanishing, bipartisan class of civil libertarians represent an important ingredient in the glue that keeps America together. The fundamental idea that we should defend the rights of others that we would like to exercise ourselves often requires that we gain greater sympathetic understanding of our opponents’ points of view. After all, the defense of liberty in the public square can never be merely legalistic. To be effective it also has to humanize. Nancy Pelosi & Trump Impeachment -- Partisan Hate Is Becoming a National Crisis | National Review

If you see those with whom you disagree as "more jackal than human," then you're "justified" in the impulse to ruin their lives and livelihoods. But at what cost to the nation?

Come, let us reason together, showing respect for all and malice toward none.

Anyone. ANYONE. Anyone who thinks "partisan hate" is suddenly a "national crisis" is no scholar or even student of American political history.
 
Perhaps so, but let's begin with us and choose to assume that there are more people of good will than not.

My fingers are crossed.

Is this affecting your personal life?
 
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