The Source of America’s Rising Rage
motherjones.com
motherjones.com
There is an interesting narrative constructed to support the statement, but I couldn't find enough to agree or disagree with to make it compelling.
> It is noteworthy that prejudice-denoting words are markedly increasing in prevalence alongside long-term decreases in overt expression of prejudice [6]-[9] yet recent increases in the perceived prevalence of such prejudice among the general public.
Looking at this article, I found the following contrast very amusing (though not surprising):
> Interpreting recent polling data is tricky, but my tentative read of the data is that it shows a welcome increase in the number of people who are aware of long-standing racist practices—especially in the criminal justice system—but not an increase in the number of people who think these practices have gotten worse.
> And the American National Election Studies, among other polls, have showed this belief in so-called reverse racism is overwhelmingly driven by white Republicans. This trend starts before 2000, but it’s growing and is an obvious candidate to explain rising white anger—as long as there’s something around to keep it front and center in the minds of white people.
One change in attitude is accepted without question as obviously driven by truth, the other is surrounded by caveats and implications it's misguided.
The source of America's rage is that people give up compromise and demonize the other side. Both parties attack the other sides' dumbest, most stubbornly-held arguments, which is like yelling at a wall. Worse, they attack the other sides' person, which is like yelling at a wall while pouring concrete over it.
Instead, we need to experience and understand the life and culture of the other side as best we can. We need to find and acknowledge our own dumb arguments. And I personally think that we need to compromise, even though it seems ineffective. Because that's the best we can do: unless you intend to steam-roll them (but good luck over-powering 40% of the population), the only way we can change the other side is through compromise.
(Incoming rant)
Look, some Republicans have some terrible arguments: election fraud claims, vaccine resistance (I'll say it: you shouldn't be scared of the vaccine unless you're also scared of the virus and isolating yourself anyways), sometimes even racism and anti-LGBTQ.
But that doesn't mean these Republicans are a lost cause. You have to understand why they hold such insane beliefs. These people live in a different culture, where all their friends and family share the false belief, and the media is biased. So they initially support the false belief. Then, they hear Democrats attacking them for said belief, and attacking their person. They attach their self-worth to the belief. And once they attach their self-worth, now if they accept that the belief is wrong they accept that they're "wrong", they're dumb, and they're inferior. And people don't accept that they're inferior.
So I believe, we need to get Republicans to de-attach themselves to their false beliefs. We need to emphasize the fact that everyone is wrong sometimes, and if you can accept when you're wrong it makes you a better person. And we need to support arguments that they can agree on. Like maybe emphasizing how promoting "black" culture does not mean we have to get rid of Southern "white" culture.
---
I used Republicans in the above example because that was who the author was targeting. But I could say similar things about Democrats. It's an issue both parties face.
This made us ripe for any sufficiently skilled demigod to sweep into office on a pack of lies, as history has shown.
Nothing has been done to correct the situation, as the "greatest generation" won't dare risk the deal they've cut themselves by letting go of power.
It's all professional wrestling at this point.
It is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing.
What specifically has failed?
This kind of blind unthinking cynicism is a big factor in the problem described by the article.
The FBI has been caught pushing pseudo-science like being able to identify bullet manufacturers based on isotope distribution. They currently seem to be making up terrorist plots so they can break them up.
The surface Navy isn't ready to fight at sea.
The Federal Reserve has reduced the effective reserve requirements to 0 for large banks.
The FDA has been captured by big pharma
Congress and the Executive have been captured by the donor class.
My point - that kind of extreme rhetoric, borderline sociopathic, certainly racist, is behind much of America's "rising rage".