Why the barrage?

[MisterMike]

But here's my problem: to take up just two of the issues you mentioned, Americans DON'T pay particularly high taxes, and we DON'T have socialized medicine. So why the insistence that we do?

Moreover, I was really asking about the constant barrage of insults, screaming invective, accusations of traitoriousness, etc., that now occupies so much of, "discussion," on the media--and on Internet forums.

I think part of it's due to psychobabble--starting about ten years ago, people starting feeling more comfortable throwing accusations that anybody who came over to ask them to turn the stereo down after 1 AM must be neurotic. And on this forum, it's pretty clear that much the same thing happens all the time.

So why is that?

Well, the taxes are high enough for the tastes of most middle class workers I know. The reason this and other issues are brought up on talk radio are not because of the ways things are now, but where it looks like they are heading. I also tend to stay away from comparing our rates to those of other countries because that, and things like foreign court decisions, should have no bearing on what tax rates and laws we make here.

Medicare is the first step towards socialized health care. I pay into it all the time, what benefit does it give me? I believe it goes to someone else. (Social program) I've got my own private insurance - and I never go to the doctor. If I were living alone, I wouldn't get it until I reached 40+.

Most people can live with the state of things now (Current tax rates, gun laws, college entrance requirements based on skin color, etc.) but I'm sure there are a few holdouts who want it all wiped out. You're probably right that the big item these people are selling is based on Change, which can instill fear, Change that would include more socialist programs, higher taxes etc. which is what is going to sell the radio show.

I do not think their topics are completely unwarrented. There are those politicians that would see to it we paid in 70%+ into the government from our paychecks.

There are hundreds of topics the left and right fight over. I say it ALL boils down to money, freedom and power (money). They argue over who has the best plans for our money. I tend to side with the guys who will leave it in my pocket instead of putting it in someone elses.

That said, I think I can express it politely as I hope I did in the paragraph above, and someone else can say, "OK, that's his way and agree or not I can still associate with him." Generally it is met with name calling, presonal attacks and violence. What I think you're point is, is that these guys are on the radio with the same right wing viewpoint but use words like Commie, Socialist, Liberal, UnAmerican, etc. to demonize those who disagree. I agree, they do not make a good image for those who follow a capitalist philosophy, but neither do screamers like Hillary Clinton, Ted Kennedy, Howard Dean help their own cause.

So, while these guys may be all over the airwaves, are people really listening? By the sounds of it there'd be riots in the streets, pie throwing, destruction of property, wild protests - oh wait, this is happening all the time, but not by these guys' listening audience.

 

[FearlessFreep]

Well, on my radio here in Albuquerque you can listen to Rush or Savage or Hannity, or you can listen to "Air America" and listen to Randi Rhodes or Ed Shultz or Al Franken.

The funny part is, they all sound about the same...Rhodes is just about as petty and mean-spirited and superficial as Savage.

It's funny to listen to Hannity and Rush talk about the liberal bias in the media, and hear Rhodes and co. complain about the conservative bias in the media.

After a week of listening to one and then the other, you really start wondering if they are actually talking about the same country. One side's saints is the other side's villians...

I don't think most people who really live in the US, conservative or liberal or something in between, really have much in common with the people on the radio. They should all come with those warnings like you see on the Astrology page in the newspaper; "For Entertainment Purposes Only"

 

[Tgace]

If ya dont like them, dont listen. I always find it funny when people object to what Rush,Savage et al said on their shows. The fact that they were even listening means one more person for their ratings. Hmmm..maybe thats why they are so popular, the more outrageous they are means more hate calls they get which only shows how many people are listening.....

 

[FearlessFreep]

Listening to Rush and Rhodes for political information is like listening to Howard Stern for sex information. Just because they are popular doesn't mean that's what people really are like

 

[psi_radar]

Yeah, I like that one--stole it from a Paul Zindel novel.

So the view from abroad--have we just gone nationally nuts?

It's really about selling advertising. If it bleeds, it leads. I'm not sure exactly what you'd call the phenomenon, but it has something to do with loss of control and fear of "the other," which you're familiar with, as an English professor.

The conservatives are very good at selling fear. Fear of people ruining your way of life, fear you'll die poor, fear that your kids won't get an inheritance, fear that someone will come take your guns away, fear that there's a sinister, invisible force infiltrating us that plans to subvert your religion; take your job; or defile your kids. It can be very compelling.

Unfortunately, Air America and the left react in kind, usually issuing chicken-little type prognostications based upon the actions of the right. Probably because this is a human nature phenomenon, and the tactics aren't really based in politics.

Maybe we are all nuts--paranoid, to be specific.

 

[47MartialMan]

If ya dont like them, dont listen. I always find it funny when people object to what Rush,Savage et al said on their shows. The fact that they were even listening means one more person for their ratings. Hmmm..maybe thats why they are so popular, the more outrageous they are means more hate calls they get which only shows how many people are listening.....

Yeah, i was thinking on the same lines. The same goes for TV.

 

[Tgace]

If millions of people like Robert were to call the show, its a show with millions of listeners right?

 

[hardheadjarhead]

like it or not, its the truth.

No. It isn't.

You made this in reference to Michael Savage, whose last name is fitting. The crap that spews out of his mouth and out of that of Ann Coulter not isn't true, it isn't even remotely defensable.

Now...issue forth with some of their "truth," and we will then take it on. I suspect you will then lose and then dismiss all this--and all of us liberals-- here in the study as being "full of it," as you did above.



Regards,


Steve

 

[rmcrobertson]

Look at the post directly above this one: that's what I'm talking about. Why the pointless rudeness? (Yes, I know...I'm always doing this myself, just like All The Rest of My Ilk, even though I'm not, and I don't even have an elk.) Or look at the post saying, "Well....we're being taxed enough," when in fact we pay less in taxes than citiens of any other industrialized country.

What's the fear about? Why the absolute refusal to look at reality? Why so many accusations of disloyalty, of immorality, etc? Where's it coming from?

It's a real question: what's the enormous emergency, or emergencies, that suddenly blew up?

I have my own answer: I think people are scared to death of the changes that advanaced capitalism has meant, and they can't say that because officially they believe that Capitalism Is The Only God, so they have to find scapegoats...

So what are the other answers?

 

[Tgace]

If only EVERYBODY (and I do mean everybody) "did" more than they "debated"/talked...

 

[rmcrobertson]

Sorry, but some of us do plenty.

I was wondering about explanations, in this case. Thanks.

 

[Tgace]

Good for you...what was Savage talking about today? You use him for an example so much I can only assume you actually listen to his show.

 

[rmcrobertson]

See--this is the kind of thing I mean. The question I'm asking, since you brought him up, is this: why does a guy like Savage become successful? And why, if nobody ever listens to him, do his exact ideas, words, and methods appear so often on this Forum?

 

[Tgace]

How do you know what his words, methods and ideas are if you dont listen to his show? Do you listen to his show?

 

[47MartialMan]

Well, i dont listen ...but I see info on many forums. Makes me NOT want to listen.

 

[Tgace]

Are people parroting Savage or is he just saying what people want to hear? Media bends to what people want to watch/listen to.....life imitates art? Art imitates life??

 

[Tgace]

Thats why you wont see me defending any of them. I dont listen/know enough about them to be able to comment.

 

[47MartialMan]

Are people parroting Savage or is he just saying what people want to hear? Media bends to what people want to watch/listen to.....life imitates art? Art imitates life??

Life imitates Art-
Art imitates Life-
Media irritates both-

 

[Cruentus]

See--this is the kind of thing I mean. The question I'm asking, since you brought him up, is this: why does a guy like Savage become successful? And why, if nobody ever listens to him, do his exact ideas, words, and methods appear so often on this Forum?

The short answer, if this is what you are looking for, is that the arguements that Savage, Hannity, and the likes are espousing are part of an entire ideology that is being mass marketed to overworked and vapidly unaware masses. And I do not intend to just blame neo-conservatives here, because many elected democrates and supporters do the same sorts of things, just not in an as organized or well funded way. The end results despite the party influence seem to be the same: people focus on the micro details (special interests) and ignore the macro (read LARGE AND GLARING) problems; and the end result of this is the same - large wealthy entities become wealthier while squeezing more out of the majority of working people.

And as to mass marketing tactics, basically if you say something enough times, it doesn't matter whether it is true or logical. Overworked and afraid people will unknowlingly buy into it.

 

[Tgace]

In the end, the people get "sold" what they are willing to buy. I wouldnt buy the "russian roullette" board game no matter who hawked it. How often I saw it sold on TV or how overworked I was...While media can influence, people are having something reinforced that they have believed somewhat true for a while. Thats the real problem. If you want to change their minds, IMO the way to do it is show them there is a better way, and take the high road while doing it. Not insult, degrade or call them idiots.....