Here's a wild thought experiment: What if we've been deceived into thinking we're more divided, more dysfunctional and more defeated than we actually are?
There's compelling evidence we've been trapped in a reality distortion bubble — social media, cable TV and tribal political wars — long enough to warp our view of the reality around us.
Yes, deep divisions exist on some topics.
But on almost every topic of monthly outrage, it's a fringe view — or example — amplified by the loudest voices on social media and politicians driving it.
No, most Christians aren't white Christian nationalists who see Donald Trump as a God-like figure. Most are ignoring politics and wrestling with their faith.
No, most college professors aren't trying to silence conservatives or turn kids into liberal activists. Most are teaching math, or physics, or biology.No, most kids don't hate Israel and run around chanting, "From the river to the sea." On most campuses, most of the time, students are doing what students have always done.No, most Republicans don't want to ban all abortions starting at conception.
No, most Democrats don't want to allow them until birth.No, immigrants who are here illegally aren't rushing to vote and commit crimes.
Actual data show both rarely happen — even amid a genuine crisis at the border.No, most people aren't fighting on X. Turns out, the vast majority of Americans never tweet at all.No, most people aren't cheering insults on Fox News and MSNBC in the evening. Turns out, less than 2 percent of Americans are even watching.
This new poll by the AP and the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows a striking amount of agreement on some very big topics.
Roughly 90% or more of Americans — Republicans and Democrats — agree the following rights and freedoms are extremely or very important to a functioning America:
Right to vote.
Right to equal protection under the law.
Right to freedom of religion.
Right to freedom of speech.R
Right to privacy.
.Here are the top political news stories for today.
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
If most of us agree on fundamental rights and freedoms, why do you think we often hear more about our differences than what unites us?
@9LFN36P2yrs2Y
People are not really doing what necessary for a change, but slowly things are changing to better.
@9LFL54J2yrs2Y
People focus more on the judgement in the world than the reality of the progress we have made as a society in such a small amount of time. We need to not broadcast our differences so much and just be different and everyone should accept that. Peoples differences do not need to become the new normal just be happy within yourself and let other people be happy as well. Focus on bettering the earth not just your personal life. We should focus on saving the planet we live on and with that I believe we will become united and share common ground. This will make people put aside their differences to achieve something together and the world will be at more peace.
@9LFZLWD2yrs2Y
People enjoy conflict and divide.
@9LFP3BZ2yrs2Y
my opinion is we hear more differences is because of the way people act different than others
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
Imagine discovering that your social media feed has been misleading you about how divided people really are; how does this revelation make you feel?
@9LFPVZD 2yrs2Y
I would feel really upset. I think people get a lot of their news off of social media, especially my generation, and what's being sent around is often polarizing for certain sides of issues. I would want people to be less divided on social media.
@9LFLZ7T2yrs2Y
i dont really pay attention to what any media has to say about political issues or people
@9LFLVPGRepublican2yrs2Y
Social media is an addiction to extremes.
@9LFLSN9 2yrs2Y
we shouldn’t be lied to and our government shouldn’t hide stuff from us.
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
How would your interactions change if you found out the divisions between us are not as deep as they seem?
@9LG28KV 2yrs2Y
They wouldn't because I already know the divisions between people are just about protection of everyone's false sense of self, their ego identity (who their football team is, where they go to church, what their socio-economic status is, etc.).
If you interact with a person and not an ideology, that's the best you can do. If people choose to maintain their false identity and identify themselves as engineers, Christians, Alabama football fans, politicians, accountants, mothers, whites, blacks, Asians, or any other 'label,' then shake the dust off your feet and go look for real relationship elsewhere
People arent at all very different
@9LFKCZ42yrs2Y
People need to realize this more.
@9LFK9YH2yrs2Y
Political Parties aren’t all that different because everyone is facing the same problems and they all want a solution to it.
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
How might realizing that extreme views are less common than believed impact your perception of 'the other side'?
Some Corrections...
Yes, most college professors ARE trying to silence conservatives and turn kids into liberal activists. Yes, kids hate Israel, I see it in my hometown.
Yes, most Democrat politicians do want to allow doctors to murder children at the moment of birth.
Yes, these criminal alien invaders are rushing to commit abominable crimes and to vote.
You do not have a right to vote, you have voting privileges. And those privileges can be taken away from you if you are unfit to vote.
You have a right to equal protection from government, but you don't have a right for government to protect you from private discrimination.
Correct, you have a right to freedom of religion.
Correct, you have a right to freedom of speech.
You do not have a right to privacy, but the government should not be spying on you and the Patriot Act should be repealed.
@lemans34272yrs2Y
Can you elaborate on "voting rights" vs. "voting privileges?"
I'd be glad to do that. The number one point I'd like to bring up is the distinction between democracy and liberty. Most people in the United States think they are the same thing. They're dead wrong. Democracy means Majority Rule – whatever the majority votes for, it gets. If the majority votes to enslave the minority, or plunder the minority (which is currently being done through the Welfare State) then it will happen. Might makes right. Whatever most people say goes. There's no law above what the consensus happens to be at any given moment. This is why I detest dem… Read more
We’ve perfected an Outrage Industrial Complex, complete with departments of Nasty, Rude, and Hostile tropes.
Won’t subscribe to any service carrying FOX, CNN, etc. Whether watched or not, they get a cut of the fee.
@Independ3ntNickGreen2yrs2Y
That’s why MSM is really just for the elderly and shut ins. If you are out in the world, nothing on those channels make any sense.
@DeficitDeerDemocrat2yrs2Y
Lol, except the Republican Party nominated the same divisive, outrage peddler three presidential elections in a row. The House Republicans can no longer function as a governing party. There’s no divide - the fringe *is* the party.
@BisonPeytonRepublican2yrs2Y
When you're ahead in battleground states, that's not fringe. You may not like it, but it's not fringe. Also, the things Biden has said about Trump supporters, having Trans Awareness Day on Easter, coordinating multiple lawsuits against Trump: VERY divisive!
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
@BubblyInt3grityDemocrat2yrs2Y
But the so-called “fringe view” *is* the majority of the Republican Party, as demonstrated by whom they nominate for president and also data:
-57% of Republicans say it would be a good thing if Trump could exercise power "without waiting for Congress and the courts.”
-56% say we need a leader willing to break some rules to set things right.
-52% want a prez who can "rule without too much interference from courts and Congress."
@L3gis1ativeRayDemocrat2yrs2Y
Roger Ailes,Rush Limbaugh Alex Jones Tucker Carlson .. you can thank Ronald Reagan for tearing away the Fairness Doctrine rule for FCC .. With that, went decency, morality, compassion, intelligence, you know ..American values!!
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