This is nuts.
Our current, roiling, political climate of violence, just under the surface with the periodic eruptions like we have now is nuts. The last time I saw this it was through a kid's eyes as the Vietnam protests happened in the 60's. I remember Kent State.
This vitriolic dialog is caustic. The rhetoric is non-stop. The media band plays on.
Sometimes, insight comes from fantasy fiction.
Wizard's First Rule
Ok, so the first rule is a little .....
well, here goes on the flip side.
Wizards First Rule: People Are Stupid.
People can be made to believe any lie because they want to believe it is true, or because they are afraid that it is true.
I.E. If, for example, someone in your family was ill, and the phone rang and I picked it up and told you it was the hospital, and that that certain family member had died. You would most likely believe me because you were afraid that it was true.
That doesn't mean that its actually true, or that I was even telling the truth, but your mind would most likely believe me anyway. Its just the way we think.
Ok, it's a little simplistic, but applicable to our current political climate.
If you were unsure what was in health care reform law and someone you admire says it will feature death panels that will kill off grandma....
Well, you'd be afraid it was true and more likely to believe it.
If you are a registered Republican who has always voted a straight ticket and don't want to believe the opposition can have anything worth supporting.....
You'd believe it no matter how absurd the claim is.
If you are a right wing-nut who is bat guano crazy....
You'd believe (who knows what) but you're gonna get your gun???? throw a brick through a window??? spit on a Representative??? Call people racial or homophobic slurs??? cut gas lines??? leave vicious voice mail???
What the hell!