#191 Musings Beyond the Bunker (Tuesday November 9)
Good morning,
It’s Tuesday and time to share the thoughts of some friends…
EMPATHY
It feels like we have become a society focused so much on our own plight as to diminish or even ignore that of others. After noting how one’s background, upbringing and ethnic identity can shape each of us, Mark Farrell observes:
“I'm no expert in this, but I know how hard it is for some of my friends to do something relatively simple like losing weight or quitting smoking. Anyone who has ever struggled with changing a physical or mental aspect of themselves should be able to relate to those less privileged individuals and empathize with them. Emphasis on SHOULD. But we know how that goes — especially in today's hyper-judgmental and hyper-partisan environment.”
Mark is on to something. Too often, people live in their own bubbles and don’t see any other perspective. People who commit crimes blame society and take little agency for their actions. Wealthy can’t understand why a marginal increase in the capital gains tax rate can help lift others and create greater economic justice. People without access to better schools resent those who have figured out (or can pay for) access, while those with access can’t see that education of the entirety of society is critical to the future of society.
Em-pa-thy (n) the ability to understand and share the feelings of another
We could learn to employ this just a little more, don’t you think?
IS IT ALL HOPELESS?
Steven Lieb comments, “Regarding your point about acquiescing to political extremes, I would add the Congressional approval rate is 28%, while the re-election rate is 92%. It seems the people who are truly engaged and vote represent the extreme views of their party, which forces politicians to become ideological vs. reasonable. Add the effect of social media and the sensationalist 24-hour news cycle/media vying for advertising dollars, it's essentially a colossal dumpster fire. We need term limits and campaign reform to entice honorable elected officials who care more about progress than power.”
Hear, hear. There is an adage that, while people hate Congress, they seem to like their Congressperson. We just can’t, as a society acting in unison to stop the craziness, to simply “vote the bums out.”
ONCE AGAIN, THERE’S BILL MAHER TO THE RESCUE, SUGGESTING WE STOP HATING EACH OTHER
To “stop this descent into civil war is to stop hating each other”:
Hear, hear.
Have a good day,
Glenn
From the archives: