I hate to disagree with your guest, but I don't see a lack of imagination at all. I see a lack of awareness. 3/4 of America doesn't pay attention and is not really participating in democracy. People aren't paying attention because the media has normalized the right's lack of ethics and morals. This leaked Roe document should be a fire alarm going off, but we will have to wait and see.
As my mom likes to say, "I'm not geared for this!" Usually, she's talking about some computer thing, or because the 3G network is coming down to make room for more 5G, her new smartphone, which is NOT a Jitterbug, but an Android that I've set up to be as problem-free as possible and still there's, almost daily, "I'm not geared for this!"
Well, I'm not geared for THIS! I have tried so many times to understand the mindset of politicians that are supposed to be representing ACTUAL people that will mindlessly, it seems, vote against their own constituents. I understand morality, and immorality, but I have a REALLY hard time with amorality. Amorality should be saved for descriptions of serial killers and other sociopaths. This almost leads me to state that Republicans especially, and some select Democrats are not only politicians, but sociopaths. And yet, they keep getting elected over and over and over, which sort of implies that some voters are sociopaths too!
Someone else here said that 75% of the voting public pay no attention at all, and they're right. If I were in charge, gods forbid, people eligible to vote would be REQUIRED to do so or be fined. Getting REALLY tired of being ruled by the sociopathic minority!
While it now seems obvious why these people can sleep at night despite their disgusting actions, it helps to read this explanation. It's as if we inhabit different realties. I wish theirs felt as perilous as ours.
I surely enjoyed the banter, back and forth, with Jennifer! I also liked the fact that neither of you mince words. Psychopaths and sociopaths rule our kingdom and boy, is that ever frightening!
From a letter to the editor of the Dallas Morning News, April 30, 2022. “Don’t get too comfortable. Stanford University researcher Deborah Gruenfeld observed that when power feelings are aroused in otherwise ordinary people, they start viewing others as objects. As we grow more comfortable with this objectification, our sense of empathy decreases. With these others’ concerns and feelings less relevant, they turn into a means to an end for the powerful.
As I read her research, I felt a gnawing sense that politicians today are taking this phenomenon to an alarming extreme. Women along with their reproductive rights have been objectified. Ditto Black people, the poor, the homeless, immigrants, and most recently the LGBT community.
The objects they have become no longer deserve consideration by the powerful except as a means to further cement their hold on power through further objectification, in turn accelerating the desensitization process. Just as this cycle erodes empathy, it increases the desire for more power. With empathy gone, consideration of impact on others no longer matters.
I’m one of those others, and I’m a little afraid of where this will lead for people like me. Maybe you’re one of those others too. Even if you’re not, I wouldn’t get too comfortable.
It’s almost 5am in CA and I need to get some sleep. i will listen to yet another one of your wonderful podcasts and comment later.
Good read. I'm old enough to remember Trump saying if he ran for president he would make money. He sure did/does.
Thank you, Greg. Susan Collins has a knack for pretending to be a human being, but is really from the planet MeMeMeMe.
I hate to disagree with your guest, but I don't see a lack of imagination at all. I see a lack of awareness. 3/4 of America doesn't pay attention and is not really participating in democracy. People aren't paying attention because the media has normalized the right's lack of ethics and morals. This leaked Roe document should be a fire alarm going off, but we will have to wait and see.
I took great pleasure in sharing this on Twitter and my FB page. Amoral is exactly the right word.
As my mom likes to say, "I'm not geared for this!" Usually, she's talking about some computer thing, or because the 3G network is coming down to make room for more 5G, her new smartphone, which is NOT a Jitterbug, but an Android that I've set up to be as problem-free as possible and still there's, almost daily, "I'm not geared for this!"
Well, I'm not geared for THIS! I have tried so many times to understand the mindset of politicians that are supposed to be representing ACTUAL people that will mindlessly, it seems, vote against their own constituents. I understand morality, and immorality, but I have a REALLY hard time with amorality. Amorality should be saved for descriptions of serial killers and other sociopaths. This almost leads me to state that Republicans especially, and some select Democrats are not only politicians, but sociopaths. And yet, they keep getting elected over and over and over, which sort of implies that some voters are sociopaths too!
Someone else here said that 75% of the voting public pay no attention at all, and they're right. If I were in charge, gods forbid, people eligible to vote would be REQUIRED to do so or be fined. Getting REALLY tired of being ruled by the sociopathic minority!
Your interview with Jennifer Reitman was so good. I've really become dependent on your calm, reasonable insight. The rants are great too.
While it now seems obvious why these people can sleep at night despite their disgusting actions, it helps to read this explanation. It's as if we inhabit different realties. I wish theirs felt as perilous as ours.
Susan Collins... yikes.
Reminds me of that Hamilton line, "If you stand for nothing, Burr (insert Susan)... what will you fall for?"
I surely enjoyed the banter, back and forth, with Jennifer! I also liked the fact that neither of you mince words. Psychopaths and sociopaths rule our kingdom and boy, is that ever frightening!
From a letter to the editor of the Dallas Morning News, April 30, 2022. “Don’t get too comfortable. Stanford University researcher Deborah Gruenfeld observed that when power feelings are aroused in otherwise ordinary people, they start viewing others as objects. As we grow more comfortable with this objectification, our sense of empathy decreases. With these others’ concerns and feelings less relevant, they turn into a means to an end for the powerful.
As I read her research, I felt a gnawing sense that politicians today are taking this phenomenon to an alarming extreme. Women along with their reproductive rights have been objectified. Ditto Black people, the poor, the homeless, immigrants, and most recently the LGBT community.
The objects they have become no longer deserve consideration by the powerful except as a means to further cement their hold on power through further objectification, in turn accelerating the desensitization process. Just as this cycle erodes empathy, it increases the desire for more power. With empathy gone, consideration of impact on others no longer matters.
I’m one of those others, and I’m a little afraid of where this will lead for people like me. Maybe you’re one of those others too. Even if you’re not, I wouldn’t get too comfortable.
Kevin W. Jones, Northwest Dallas”
Well they do care…about their money and all their things. But not about anything outside of their sphere of greed.