Bread and circuses
What keeps Americans from being mad about the state of their country?
Submitted 1 year ago by Clinicallydepressedpoochie@lemmy.world to nostupidquestions@lemmy.world
Comments
jj4211@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Garlicsquash@lemmings.world 1 year ago
I honestly have no clue
Clinicallydepressedpoochie@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Yeah, it’s pretty complex .
DonaldJMusk@lemmy.today 1 year ago
Because I’m not mad about it.
ExtremeDullard@lemmy.sdf.org 1 year ago
Not yet 🙂
You’re in trouble like the rest of us. You just don’t know it yet.DonaldJMusk@lemmy.today 1 year ago
I’m not in trouble at all. I’m financially independent, in a rural town, with my own place and land, and I don’t work for anyone.
And I also now that you the world isn’t going to end just because Trump is president. You all just doomscroll all day. Go outside. No one takes this as seriously as Lemmy does. lol
some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org 1 year ago
Culture war.
InFerNo@lemmy.ml 1 year ago
Was reading r/conservative to see what’s on their minds regarding the events of late, and they are in there celebrating.
Clinicallydepressedpoochie@lemmy.world 1 year ago
r/conservative is a highly curated indoctrination machine. It’s purpose is to pull in conservative leaning people and teach them party line. If your on r/conservative you’re acquiescing to the group think or you stay silent.
Goodmorningsunshine@lemmy.world 1 year ago
But that’s still an answer for you. It’s easy to fight back if we’re united, but they have a huge contingent of armed absolute morons celebrating the Nazification, rape, and pillaging of the country.
snek_boi@lemmy.ml 1 year ago
I bet soon you’ll see massive consequential protests.
Irelephant@lemm.ee 1 year ago
There is a lot of protests, the media isn’t really reporting them.
brygphilomena@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 year ago
We all are. The left and the right.
We have all been told from different sources who or what to be mad about.
Some were so mad about contrived issues they voted in someone who campaigned on destroying the federal government.
Others are pissed off that that person who was voted in is destroying the federal government.
The outrage machine literally is why the fascist pig is in the Whitehouse in the first place.
What you might be asking is why we aren’t rioting in the streets. Just know that some of us are 4 times as far from our countries capital as London is from Berlin. In a blue state, who would I be protesting to? The people who already agree with me?
Clinicallydepressedpoochie@lemmy.world 1 year ago
So, logistics?
If you ever need a ride ;-) <3
invertedspear@lemm.ee 1 year ago
Protests don’t work if the people in power don’t care. One dude with a gun did more to shake up people in power than any recent protest has. Look how Elon wears his kids as human shields now. Protests are to bring awareness, the world is aware. We are now in need of people willing to take action.
moseschrute@lemmy.world 1 year ago
What makes you think we aren’t mad?
Clinicallydepressedpoochie@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Just the general resistance to taking action.
some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org 1 year ago
There’s a sort of depression and malaise there.
Curly722@lemmy.world 1 year ago
we are leaderless. acting individually looks like a public tantrum. acting as one makes a movement.
Draegur@lemm.ee 1 year ago
Fatigue.
We’re too distracted by struggling to survive our small local daily struggles to even SEE the big picture.
If there’s a time bomb in the room ticking down before your eyes, yeah that’s a big deal. If, in that same room, you’re also being attacked by a pack of rabid dogs though, chances are you’ve stuck a pin in the whole “what about the bomb” thing.
And if there’s a sniper outside the room preparing to shoot you without even a moment’s notice that you KNOW is there and that you can’t even see AS WELL, all you can hope for us that all the moving around you’re doing to avoid being dragged down and torn apart by the rabid dogs will throw off their shots.
They have BLINDED US WITH TRAUMA.
Bz1sen@lemmy.world 1 year ago
[deleted]DonaldJMusk@lemmy.today 1 year ago
USA just needs more luigis.
What do you mean?
nutsack@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 year ago
fat basically
Clinicallydepressedpoochie@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Is this like some sort of soy bullshit?
veniasilente@lemm.ee 1 year ago
The fact that it’s exactly what they want.
Trump won with the popular vote: thhose want to be fascists. And those who don’t vote, well they just confirm a fascist in power.
Clinicallydepressedpoochie@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Why do they argue so much about not being fascist then?
TigerWolfe@midwest.social 1 year ago
Their entire life they’ve been told fascism is bad, it is, they don’t want to accept that what they want makes them the bad guys, so those of us who want what’s happening are still going to deny it’s fascism.
Squizzy@lemmy.world 1 year ago
A sense of entitlement and superiority I would imagine.
Clinicallydepressedpoochie@lemmy.world 1 year ago
I don’t know. Talking to everyone in this thread no one has told me they feel superior or beyond reproach. Mostly they just say their drawn too thin.
Squizzy@lemmy.world 1 year ago
It is an ingrained attitude seen through statements like “leaders of the freeworld”, “the great american experiment”, “the most powerful person in the world (potus)”, etc.
Americans have too much pride in a shithole country. There just isnt much justifiable pride to be found in modern america yet the leading party over every part of government maintains this greatest countrt ever bs.
Gen_Euffe@sh.itjust.works 1 year ago
Complacency
DaddysLittleSlut@lemmy.world 1 year ago
No honestly most are mad in some sorta of way but we have a militia of trigger happy enforces and the biggest military in the world. Not much we can do without outside support. If we peacefully protest. They arrest you, shoot and kill you. Call you a terrorist, possibly even ban you from getting jobs.
MothmanDelorian@lemmy.world 1 year ago
You aren’t going to get shot. Dont give up just yet.
DaddysLittleSlut@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Yeah no worries for me. While it may sometimes feel hopeless but I have to try. Only issue is I’ve applied at over 7k jobs and barely heard back from 40-50.
tupcakes@midwest.social 1 year ago
Yet…
daggermoon@lemmy.world 1 year ago
We’re all mad
mrslt@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Who said we aren’t mad?
inamorta345@lemmy.ml 1 year ago
I think everyone’s news feeds are full of everything Trump’s administration is doing. I personally have not seen a single mention of anything being done against that, though to be fair I am not American. If there are indeed protests of any kind maybe it would be worth mentioning them, it’d certainly help me and I assume others feel a bit more optimistic.
skulblaka@sh.itjust.works 1 year ago
All major US news outlets are in the pockets of the oligarchs. The revolution will not be televised.
Garlicsquash@lemmings.world 1 year ago
There was a protest in every single state capitol on February 3rd and many more cities like San Francisco as well. There will be another 50+ protests on Monday.
mrslt@lemmy.world 1 year ago
The reason you see little official pushback from within the US is because things are far more dire here than you might imagine, as an outsider. The US Republican Party (aka GOP - Trump’s party) is currently in control of all three branches of the US federal government. Ever since Trump took office, it’s been one step toward constitutional crisis after another, and apparently the Republicans don’t give a shit about rule of law when it comes to policing their own. The Democrats (our nominal “opposition” party) can’t really do shit right now except at the local level. We have an unelected CEO compromising every branch of our nation’s government with all the Republicans looking the other way. To be honest, I’m past the point of expecting a fair election in four years. As an American who grew up learning to value the ideals of personal freedom and liberty, to see what is happening to my country leaves me OUTRAGED.
AlecSadler@sh.itjust.works 1 year ago
Lack of organization. We’re many of us individually mad, but there is no organization.
Say what you will but Jan 6th and then some is what we should be doing, but we aren’t.
All I’m doing now is hoarding ammunition and periodically buying more guns because I 1000% believe we’re going to see war soon.
I’m also donating money to charities, helping people in my community that are struggling, and telling fascists to fuck off.
DarkFuture@lemmy.world 1 year ago
I don’t own a gun and, personally, I find the idea barbaric.
But at this point I acknowledge that it’s time to arm myself. This is how far our society has degenerated.
However, I 100% disagree with Jan 6. That was a bunch of children with absolutely zero understanding of what they were doing. That was an example of how NOT to have a meaningful rebellion against an oppressive system. Those were fools behaving like fools and cheapening the idea of activism. They had no grasp of what they were doing or why. They were the antithesis of a true patriot that wants what is best for their society and goes about achieving that in a responsible, effective manner that inspires people to be the best version of a democratic citizen. They should not be idoolized. They are an embarrassment to our nation.
We should be setting a better example. We are shaming this democracy in a way that makes me physically ill. We are acting in a way as to paint us as failures in a historical context to future generations and it is truly shameful. This is our legacy.
AlecSadler@sh.itjust.works 1 year ago
How do we set a better example / take the high road but actually make progress though?
Lawsuits and protests are going to do nothing at this point.
Default_Defect@midwest.social 1 year ago
Most of us want someone else to do what needs to be done because we’re too busy simply making ends meet. Sure, let me just call out of work to do some protesting, oh shit, now I can’t afford rent, or food, or my meds, or paying off my last Dr visit, etc.
Clinicallydepressedpoochie@lemmy.world 1 year ago
And I guess the world around you could be burning and that’s like, not a big deal.
Default_Defect@midwest.social 1 year ago
Would you like me to be homeless or in the hospital from not being able to afford my medications? You seem pretty willing to sacrifice people like me at the altar.
BmeBenji@lemm.ee 1 year ago
I’m mad. I’m very mad. I’m also very tired of watching political movements get shut down by the people who respond with “yes, we need to do better” followed by a handful of performative actions, and absolutely no substantive change.
I believe in a general strike. Wholeheartedly. I believe it would make real change. How the hell do I organize one safely? How do I trust any of the other people online who claim to be organizing them?
Heyting@lemmy.ml 1 year ago
Jane McAlevey No Shortcuts: Organising for Power in the New Gilded Age is a great book to learn about unions and union strategy
Clinicallydepressedpoochie@lemmy.world 1 year ago
[deleted]DarkFuture@lemmy.world 1 year ago
You’re only ready when your courage surpasses your doubt.
This. The real answer is that Americans won’t come together in solidarity to address this situation until almost every non-wealthy citizen in this country has their quality of life decline so much that they have nothing left to lose. We’re going to have to lose all our creature comforts before we take this seriously as a society. And honestly, by then, we’ll have lost so much power that it’ll be too late.
Realistically, the time is right now, and, if we’re being candid, it probably already past.
We are sooooo fucked.
Heyting@lemmy.ml 1 year ago
A strike takes a lot of preparation, most of which is unionising and convincing your coworkers to join the strike when it’s time. A strike at a workplace is only successful if 75% of workers join in on it. Some US unions are ready for it, but a lot aren’t. If you want to contribute, join a union or start unionising. Resistance is built from the bottom up and strong unions are the most effective method.
Read Jane McAlevey No Shortcuts: Organising for Power in the New Gilded Age to learn about how to make a successful union and how powerful a successful union can be.
DebatableRaccoon@lemmy.ca 1 year ago
Apathy
Sir_Kevin@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 year ago
jaggedrobotpubes@lemmy.world 1 year ago
My cat purred at me and it was heartwarming until I paid attention and then it was fucking infuriating
HipsterTenZero@dormi.zone 1 year ago
bread and circuses, mostly
Clinicallydepressedpoochie@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Ah. Well it was worth it then.
loopedcandle@lemmynsfw.com 1 year ago
Real talk?
Because I’m tired. So absurdly tired. Tired of the stupid and the sensationalism and the faked anger and the real suffering and pain.
Am I mad? Yeah. But unfortunately I’m way more tired.
Clinicallydepressedpoochie@lemmy.world 1 year ago
I’m tired too. Come on, let’s get this thing over with.
raynethackery@lemmy.world 1 year ago
We are mad but we are also distracted and overwhelmed. You can’t get mad at work because you might get fired. Then there goes your housing and food and healthcare. It’s going to have to get a lot worse before things pop off.
scoobford@lemmy.zip 1 year ago
Your core supposition is wrong, basically everyone is mad about the state of our country. We just have several different ideas on how to fix it and two parties who are dedicated to making it worse.
Lostinthecroll@lemmy.world 1 year ago
And that’s the problem. The two party system is flawed. It’s either one extreme or the other. Moderates no longer have a say. As long as it’s seen as my team vs yours and no side is willing to compromise this will always be the problem.
scoobford@lemmy.zip 1 year ago
Respectfully, I disagree. I struggle to think of candidates more milquetoast than Biden and Harris of all people.
I think the problem is that we have no progressives. The right moves things right, the center does nothing, and there is no left.
Kelly@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Moderates no longer have a say.
Many view the democrats as being right of centre already and that “moderates” are largely unrepresented because both parties lean right.
Rivalarrival@lemmy.today 1 year ago
Police Procedural shows.
Law and Order, Criminal Minds, NCIS, CSI, Lie to Me, Dexter…
Basically, anything that makes people think that police are more effective at solving crime than they actually are.
scarabic@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Mets not forget that America’s founding was a rich man’s revolution. It was the wealthy here who banded together to expunge their parent corporation and go independent. There is no tradition of popular revolt in this country, unless you want to count the civil war, wherein the wealthy (again) weaponized the racism of the lower class to protect their business interests. That part sound familiar?
Triasha@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Americans are pissed as all hell. Michael Moore said in 2016 “the American people will throw Donald Trump into Washington like a Molotov Cocktail.”
We do not agree who is at fault. 40% the voters think it’s brown people and queer people and about 30% of them think it’s the wealthy.
Clinicallydepressedpoochie@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Just so you know that molotov cocktail didn’t land it washington. It will land on every Americans doorstep.
Triasha@lemmy.world 1 year ago
They don’t realize that… Yet.
Irelephant@lemm.ee 1 year ago
I’m not American, but from what I can see, its mostly:
tym@lemmy.world 1 year ago
and #4: we dont believe if we take a bold step forward that our neighbors will show solidarity and endurance, which then puts us at risk of prosecution. A lot of us have kids to protect.
Lemminary@lemmy.world 1 year ago
This one in particular has been so corrosive. I believe if people believed in their vote, something would change. But the electoral college does more harm than good by diluting the vote. Couple that with gerrymandering to completely erode people’s trust in the system.
chilicheeselies@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Not being clued in is a serious problem here. A lot of people dont take in any form of news whatsoever
Clinicallydepressedpoochie@lemmy.world 1 year ago
The last one is insistent. Probably because there is a lot of truth to it but it’s also obviously flawed and deserves more nuance.
Irelephant@lemm.ee 1 year ago
It feels like there is little that can be done individually, but collectively everyone can do a lot.