I Haven't Changed My Politics, It's Society And Politics That Has Changed

[Chekhov]

How far has society and politics moved to the authoritarian left  in the last few decades?

 

In another thread @Palomar suggested I had moved way to the right, politically speaking, I answered his point on that thread but feel this subject deserves its own thread.

Charlton Heston (a 1960s freedom marcher BTW) was once asked why he'd moved to the right from the Democrats that he used to support, and he answered it's not me that's changed it's the Democrats. Similarly I do not think I, or most people, have "moved to the right", it is politics and society that in the last 20 or so years has moved significantly to the autocratic left. Stuff that's taken for "normal" these days would have been laughed at only 20 years ago, certainly 30 years ago.

 

Can you imagine in the 1990s a speaker being no platformed because they didn't believe people could change their sex with the stroke of a pen ?

Or historic monuments being torn down and/or having their names changed for something that happened over 200 years ago and was legal then ?

Or that the whole of society was forced to stay at home and schools closed for months on end because of a virus with a 1 in 100 death rate ?

Or that parents who want to photograph their own kids at school or competing at anything are thought to be "selfish" ?

Or that the police could be called because someone was offended by a joke ?

Or that people's holidays (and even heating) will be taxed out of reach !

 

Consequently I would say that it's people who support all this kind of stuff are the ones who have moved socially and politically, not me, or most people : the silent majority.

Edited May 12, 2023 by Chekhov

[Al Bundy]

13 minutes ago, Chekhov said:

How far has society and politics moved to the authoritarian left  in the last few decades?

 

In another thread @Palomar suggested I had moved way to the right, politically speaking, I answered his point on that thread but feel this subject deserves its own thread.

Charlton Heston (a 1960s freedom marcher BTW) was once asked why he'd moved to the right from the Democrats that he used to support, and he answered it's not me that's changed it's the Democrats. Similarly I do not think I, or most people, have "moved to the right", it is politics and society that in the last 20 or so years has moved significantly to the autocratic left. Stuff that's taken for "normal" these days would have been laughed at only 20 years ago, certainly 30 years ago.

 

Can you imagine in the 1990s a speaker being no platformed because they didn't believe people could change their sex with the stroke of a pen ?

Or historic monuments being torn down and/or having their names changed for something that happened over 200 years ago and was legal then ?

Or that the whole of society was forced to stay at home and schools closed for months on end because of a virus with a 1 in 100 death rate ?

Or that parents who want to photograph their own kids at school or competing at anything are thought to be "selfish" ?

Or that the police could be called because someone was offended by a joke ?

 

Consequently I would say that it's people who support all this kind of stuff are the ones who have moved socially and politically, not me, or most people : the silent majority.

To summarize..

 

Lefties are the biggest problem facing the Western world!!

 

😉😉

[Mister M]

39 minutes ago, Chekhov said:

How far has society and politics moved to the authoritarian left  in the last few decades?

 

In another thread @Palomar suggested I had moved way to the right, politically speaking, I answered his point on that thread but feel this subject deserves its own thread.

Charlton Heston (a 1960s freedom marcher BTW) was once asked why he'd moved to the right from the Democrats he used to support, and he answered it's not me that's changed it's the Democrats. Similarly I do not think I, or most people, have "moved to the right", it is politics and society that in the last 20 or so years has moved significantly to the left. Stuff that's taken for "normal" these days would have been laughed at only 20 years ago, certainly 30 years ago.

 

Can you imagine in the 1990s a speaker being no platformed because they didn't believe people could change their sex with the stroke of a pen ?

Or historic monuments being torn down and/or having their names changed for something that happened over 200 years ago and was legal then ?

Or that the whole of society was told to stay at home for months on end because of a virus with a 1 in 100 death rate ?

Or that parents who want to photograph their own kids at school or competing at anything are thought to be "selfish" ?

Or that the police could be called because someone was offended by a joke ?

 

Consequently I would say that it's people who support all this kind of stuff are the ones who have moved socially and politically, not me, or most people : the silent majority.

As I pointed out on another thread, Charlton Heston probably did change his political allegiances, like some do, when they become wealthier. But rather than be honest about his motivations, he sought to blame society for his changing views rather than his own financial interests.

 

The way you've phrased your view is interesting:  "that people who support all this kind of stuff are the ones who have moved socially and politically, not me, or most people : the silent majority." As if there is a universal truth which is out there, and that changes which have occurred have happened against you and this universal truth. Further this, use of "the silent majority", an unknown, but frequently referenced body of people who are passive in this apparent change that's happening to them, but who nevertheless agree that the changes are 'bad' in some way.

 

Would be strange if the nuances of people's views didn't changed as they did, or as society changed, or as more facts come to light?

I don't take the view, as you seem to, that the changes in the last 20 or 30 years have been negative. Some have been really positive, in my opinion, and I'm glad that my opinions on a variety of subjects have altered. 

What's the point in having a mind if you're never going to change it, with increased knowledge, or awareness of others?

In the last 30 years, the Tories have been in power for 17 years, and Labour 13 of them. Interesting you apportion all the blame to the left, but there you go. Boris Johnson soght to do the same in his resignation speech where he bitched about "the deep state", rather than be a man and recognise he was the Prime Minister, and had more power than anyone to change things; though like the crybaby he is, he sought to shirk any responsibility, as if he was only there to collect the pay cheque.

 

I think the prism through which world events and current affairs are mediated is more diverse. So for example, there isn't one narrative that everyone has to conform to, or agree on is definitely a change for the better I think.

 

Just to highlight one of your examples, I think it was the newsreader Julia Somerville back in the mid 1990s faced publicity when she Julia Somerville  was arrested by the Met Police after sending photos to be printed at a branch of the pharmacy Boots in London. One photograph involved her young daughter naked in a bath. 

I know that you've said before that you've have been prevented from taking photos of your child at a swimming competition. Yes it's regrettable, but happened because organisations now have safeguarding policies, simply because we know how devious some people are. 

 

Edited May 12, 2023 by Mister M

[Anna B]

Good thread. It's certainly something that needs discussing.

 

We seem to be going through a period of continual flux. The world is changing faster than we know how to deal with it, and everything has become the subject of debate, polarised opinions and echo chambers.

Common sense now seems to be a historical concept. Worrying when you think how much we are going to depend on these people to run the world in the not too distant future..

 

One of the problems seems to be a withering sense of proportion, both literally and figuratively.

In attempting to show both/all  sides of an argument, each is given equal credence which they don't all necessarily deserve. 

Edited May 12, 2023 by Anna B

[Mister M]

18 minutes ago, Anna B said:

Good thread. It's certainly something that needs discussing.

 

We seem to be going through a period of continual flux. The world is changing faster than we know how to deal with it, and everything has become the subject of debate, polarised opinions and echo chambers.

Common sense now seems to be a historical concept. Worrying when you think how much we are going to depend on these people to run the world in the not too distant future..

 

One of the problems seems to be a withering sense of proportion, both literally and figuratively.

In attempting to show both/all  sides of an argument, each is given equal credence which they don't all necessarily deserve. 

Not so much that common sense is a historical concept, but the rise of social media has given us all an insight into how uncommon sense is.

On the issue of attempting to show both/all  sides of an argument, you're definitely onto something, and false equivalence in broadcasting is a hot topic at the moment: For example

Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel on BBC 'false equivalence' and Global podcast (pressgazette.co.uk)

and

False Equivalence is Killing the BBC – and It’s Killing Us, Too – Byline Times

[Mister Gee]

4 minutes ago, HumbleNarrator said:

There has been a compromise. We live in a socially left wing capitalist economy.

Should we try a right wing Socialist economy?

[Guest]

1 hour ago, Mister Gee said:

Should we try a right wing Socialist economy?

We may as well.

If some of these on here are convinced they are living in a left wing world,  it's going to be a rude awakening for them when they can't tell the difference between Conservative & Labour policies.

I'm sure they don't know who's in charge at the moment and one of them seems to think it's the editor of the Guardian who's to blame for everything.

When they live in the mad hatter's world,  I don't think it will ever come right for them whoever takes charge.

I do wish the government would up spending on mental health.

[Anna B]

19 minutes ago, Organgrinder said:

We may as well.

If some of these on here are convinced they are living in a left wing world,  it's going to be a rude awakening for them when they can't tell the difference between Conservative & Labour policies.

I'm sure they don't know who's in charge at the moment and one of them seems to think it's the editor of the Guardian who's to blame for everything.

When they live in the mad hatter's world,  I don't think it will ever come right for them whoever takes charge.

I do wish the government would up spending on mental health.

So do I. It's a massive problem and getting worse.

 

We no longer live in a world of certainties or even facts. Everything is up for grabs and its no longer possible to predict the future with any degree of accuracy so anxiety is high. This brings with it a sense of insecurity, and a fear of being left behind. Add to that a lack of community and dearth of common experiences that bond people together and you have the ingredients for a perfect storm of mental illhealth. 

 

No wonder we're all feeling troubled and despondent. 

 

 

 

[steve68]

2 hours ago, Anna B said:

Good thread. It's certainly something that needs discussing.

 

 

Is it, or is it another all Roads lead to Rome thread......in this case  the o/p obsession with Covid, swimming pools, Trans, photographing his and other kids blah blah blah

 

This Train departs and calls at Stations on a continuous loop and please refrain from sticking your head out the window.

[Al Bundy]

10 minutes ago, Anna B said:

So do I. It's a massive problem and getting worse.

 

We no longer live in a world of certainties or even facts. Everything is up for grabs and its no longer possible to predict the future with any degree of accuracy so anxiety is high. This brings with it a sense of insecurity, and a fear of being left behind. Add to that a lack of community and dearth of common experiences that bond people together and you have the ingredients for a perfect storm of mental illhealth. 

 

No wonder we're all feeling troubled and despondent. 

 

 

 

I think you will find most are not.

 

I am not surprised mental health is rising at an alarming rate, especially amongst the younger generation. The poor souls only used to have to worry about whether to take French or German at school, now they are getting brainwashed into wondering whether they are a boy or a girl.

 

Desperate times.