"Everything is a distraction from something much, much worse"

brianlux

WhatYouTaughtMe said:

brianlux said:

PJ_Soul said:

maybe it's less that they are distractions in a lot of cases (I think some of those so-called distractions are also important to know about). Maybe it's that people need to learn to have a much less narrow focus, or grow their attention spans? It's not like all the things you are talking about can't be done while we are still exposed to the "distractions" as well. I think this may be a case of people just smartening up and widening their world views? I think that has to be the case, because I don't think ignoring government collusion with Russia or the POTUS acting insane in favour of other things is a reasonable option either. I think people just need to widen their view. It's like a mindset.... The BIG problem is really that America is now largely run by people who actually couldn't care less about anybody but themselves, so nobody should be looking to them for anything at all. That is why Bernie Sanders is so very right in his message. Grass roots is the only option to America right now and then somehow injecting that into the standing government, unless you just want bullshit. SO the problem is that it's hard to both focus on all the "distractions", which actually still need attention, as well as on all the rest of it - the things you're talking about. That's not so easy obviously... It seems to me that big positive change requires a majority of people to be on board.... I just don't see that happening anytime soon.

I'm not convinced that the collusion with Russia is as real as the media, particularly the New York Times, makes it out to be but for arguments sake, let's say it is.  I still think the emphasis on that subject is distracting from more serious problems and that's where you idea of people having a "much less narrow focus" would be very wise.  But I don't think a lot of the media OR the current admin wants that to happen. 

I agree to an extent, but as long as the administration continues to lie and change the story I think it it is important to shine a light on. In fact, there is no reason for the media to not shine a light on everything. Information is readily available everywhere and you're right, they should broaden their focus to include every ass backwards thing this administration does. I don't think they should ignore the Russia issue though. What is the alternative? Just ignore the lies and write it off as a distraction tactic? Then we start to normalize the bullshit. They need to be called out on every single lie, every single time. Trivial or not.

Edit - maybe admin wasn't the right word. As long as anyone involved continues to throw out bullshit answers. Family members, lawyers etc...

No, that issue certainly should not be ignored, but there are much worse things going on that I would say warrant more attention like 10 women and children in Aleppo being killed each day by U.S. air strikes.

And environment- good God, look what DT's administration is doing/ has done is just half a year:

-Cancels protection of whales from fishing nets
-Planning the reduction of Big Bear National Monument and possible others
-Pulling protection from endangered species
-Pulling U.S. out of Paris Agreement
-Steep cuts to environmental protection
-EPA dismissal of science advisors
-EPA scrubs climate change website
-Wants to expand offshore oil drilling
-Wants to reject ban on dangerous pesticides
-Wants to ease fuel efficiency standards
-Cutting science and environment budgets
-EPA removes the word "science" from its mission statement
-Repeals federal prohibition of lead ammunition on federal lands and waters
-Wants to reduce clean water act
-Confirms oil friendly Pruitt as EPA chief
-Reduces restrictions on dumping mining waste into surrounding waterways
-Confirms oil exec Tillerson as secretary of state
-Pro XL and Dakota oil pipelines

And no doubt there are some I missed. 

So that's just two major issues that I believe are far more important than the Russia issue- killing of women and children and many major slashes to environmental protection.

Please, let's get our priorities straight. 

PJ_Soul

I still think that a completely corrupt government needs to be pretty high on the priorities list. Their corruption and bullshit informs all the things on your list Brian; I feel like you may be underestimating the far-reaching implications of the whole Russia thing. Again, people and the media just need to widen their optics, not de-prioritize one of the most important stories. I mean, this Russia thing is right up there with Watergate, so I just don't feel comfortable with the idea that it shouldn't be a huge thing. I do 100% agree that a lot of other things aren't getting anywhere near enough attention though. I just don't think you necessarily have to pick and choose here. Our brains are big enough to focus on all of them, if we care to. And god knows the media could widen their coverage without detracting from Russia/corruption coverage.

brianlux

PJ_Soul said:

I still think that a completely corrupt government needs to be pretty high on the priorities list. Their corruption and bullshit informs all the things on your list Brian; I feel like you may be underestimating the far-reaching implications of the whole Russia thing. Again, people and the media just need to widen their optics, not de-prioritize one of the most important stories. I mean, this Russia thing is right up there with Watergate, so I just don't feel comfortable with the idea that it shouldn't be a huge thing. I do 100% agree that a lot of other things aren't getting anywhere near enough attention though. I just don't think you necessarily have to pick and choose here. Our brains are big enough to focus on all of them, if we care to. And god knows the media could widen their coverage without detracting from Russia/corruption coverage.

The investigation is ongoing, it hasn't proved much of anything yet.  It  may get proven eventually.  Few doubt the involvement of corruption in politics.  And that goes for both U.S. major parties, and many elsewhere.  That's a given

But again, this misses my point.  When I look at various news sources, see what people are talking about on social media, look at what is talked about the most her on AMT, etc., the Russia issue is mostly what we see talked about.  The other issues get glossed over.  They aren't as exciting, I guess. 

And maybe Trump will get ousted after all and that will leave us with a president Pence who will be a continuum factor in the aforementioned problems we face, only we will have lost more time in dealing with them and come closer to shoving ourselves into extinction with the majority of all other large animals.  The more cynical side of me sometimes thinks this would be the best thing for this  trashed planet.  The other side of me hopes we can put more focus on the immediate problems and do something about it.  But I have to tell you, my optimism that way is waning.

PJ_Soul

brianlux said:

PJ_Soul said:

I still think that a completely corrupt government needs to be pretty high on the priorities list. Their corruption and bullshit informs all the things on your list Brian; I feel like you may be underestimating the far-reaching implications of the whole Russia thing. Again, people and the media just need to widen their optics, not de-prioritize one of the most important stories. I mean, this Russia thing is right up there with Watergate, so I just don't feel comfortable with the idea that it shouldn't be a huge thing. I do 100% agree that a lot of other things aren't getting anywhere near enough attention though. I just don't think you necessarily have to pick and choose here. Our brains are big enough to focus on all of them, if we care to. And god knows the media could widen their coverage without detracting from Russia/corruption coverage.

The investigation is ongoing, it hasn't proved much of anything yet.  It  may get proven eventually.  Few doubt the involvement of corruption in politics.  And that goes for both U.S. major parties, and many elsewhere.  That's a given

But again, this misses my point.  When I look at various news sources, see what people are talking about on social media, look at what is talked about the most her on AMT, etc., the Russia issue is mostly what we see talked about.  The other issues get glossed over.  They aren't as exciting, I guess. 

And maybe Trump will get ousted after all and that will leave us with a president Pence who will be a continuum factor in the aforementioned problems we face, only we will have lost more time in dealing with them and come closer to shoving ourselves into extinction with the majority of all other large animals.  The more cynical side of me sometimes thinks this would be the best thing for this  trashed planet.  The other side of me hopes we can put more focus on the immediate problems and do something about it.  But I have to tell you, my optimism that way is waning.

Well you seem to be glossing over the smoking gun that Trump Jr posted to the world last week... But anyway, I don't think that it's not as exciting Brian. It's that people feel helpless and hopeless about them. As I already said, the public and media have no effect on those other issues. No control over how they go at this point. That isn't true with the corruption and collusion, because the story IS what the public and the media point out and investigate. As for the AMT... same thing, really. What should we be saying about all those things, beyond what has already been said? The whole Trump/Twitter/Russia/bullshit thing is what all the posts are about because it is the one thing that is a constantly moving target. All those other issues are ones that I think have all been bemoaned and mourned on the AMT, but... then what? If you think more could and should be said, then please keep the conversation going! I personally feel like I've said everything that can be said about them for now... namely, "We're all fucked. Wtf America, what were you thinking?? Thank god I don't have kids." But anyway, here we are talking about how these things maybe could be talked about more... What more would you like to say?:

Question: If the news decided to dedicate 20% of its coverage on, say, the fact that the government has cut the science and environmental protections budget, how do you think that would actually have an effect on it? (although FWIW, I see a LOT of what you listed above on social media Brian. No, it's not big on CNN, FOX, et al... but I don't watch those networks. Therefore, I don't feel that all those other issues are getting as little attention as you are saying. Maybe if everyone just turned off the major American news networks and went to all the other sources, this problem would fix itself? Although the problem would remain: wtf are we supposed to do about it again? What is there to say besides "fuuuuuuuuuuuuck"?

JC29856

tbergs said:

JC29856 said:

W, Obomba, 5 Deferment Don
appearance style and mannerisms, differ greatly, foreign policy, not so much

US bombed a girl's school in Kunduz, Afghanistan today.

You mean this:

http://1tvnews.af/en/news/afghanistan/30213-coalition-airstrike-hits-afghan-school-in-kunduz-city

Careful with your headline.

headline?  

brianlux

PJ_Soul said:

brianlux said:

PJ_Soul said:

I still think that a completely corrupt government needs to be pretty high on the priorities list. Their corruption and bullshit informs all the things on your list Brian; I feel like you may be underestimating the far-reaching implications of the whole Russia thing. Again, people and the media just need to widen their optics, not de-prioritize one of the most important stories. I mean, this Russia thing is right up there with Watergate, so I just don't feel comfortable with the idea that it shouldn't be a huge thing. I do 100% agree that a lot of other things aren't getting anywhere near enough attention though. I just don't think you necessarily have to pick and choose here. Our brains are big enough to focus on all of them, if we care to. And god knows the media could widen their coverage without detracting from Russia/corruption coverage.

The investigation is ongoing, it hasn't proved much of anything yet.  It  may get proven eventually.  Few doubt the involvement of corruption in politics.  And that goes for both U.S. major parties, and many elsewhere.  That's a given

But again, this misses my point.  When I look at various news sources, see what people are talking about on social media, look at what is talked about the most her on AMT, etc., the Russia issue is mostly what we see talked about.  The other issues get glossed over.  They aren't as exciting, I guess. 

And maybe Trump will get ousted after all and that will leave us with a president Pence who will be a continuum factor in the aforementioned problems we face, only we will have lost more time in dealing with them and come closer to shoving ourselves into extinction with the majority of all other large animals.  The more cynical side of me sometimes thinks this would be the best thing for this  trashed planet.  The other side of me hopes we can put more focus on the immediate problems and do something about it.  But I have to tell you, my optimism that way is waning.

Well you seem to be glossing over the smoking gun that Trump Jr posted to the world last week... But anyway, I don't think that it's not as exciting Brian. It's that people feel helpless and hopeless about them. As I already said, the public and media have no effect on those other issues. No control over how they go at this point. That isn't true with the corruption and collusion, because the story IS what the public and the media point out and investigate. As for the AMT... same thing, really. What should we be saying about all those things, beyond what has already been said? The whole Trump/Twitter/Russia/bullshit thing is what all the posts are about because it is the one thing that is a constantly moving target. All those other issues are ones that I think have all been bemoaned and mourned on the AMT, but... then what? If you think more could and should be said, then please keep the conversation going! I personally feel like I've said everything that can be said about them for now... namely, "We're all fucked. Wtf America, what were you thinking?? Thank god I don't have kids." But anyway, here we are talking about how these things maybe could be talked about more... What more would you like to say?:

Question: If the news decided to dedicate 20% of its coverage on, say, the fact that the government has cut the science and environmental protections budget, how do you think that would actually have an effect on it? (although FWIW, I see a LOT of what you listed above on social media Brian. No, it's not big on CNN, FOX, et al... but I don't watch those networks. Therefore, I don't feel that all those other issues are getting as little attention as you are saying. Maybe if everyone just turned off the major American news networks and went to all the other sources, this problem would fix itself? Although the problem would remain: wtf are we supposed to do about it again? What is there to say besides "fuuuuuuuuuuuuck"?

Phew- lots of points/good stuff here.  Let's take them one at a time:

"people feel helpless and hopeless", "he public and media have no effect on those other issues. No control over how they go..."
I think we can make a difference by prioritizing, voting with our dollars, and though they do only a little, phone calls and succinct notes to our representatives take little time and add up.

"As for the AMT...  What should we be saying about all those things, beyond what has already been said?"
Maybe talk more about what we are doing (see above) and sharing ideas about what to do rather than just complaining (that's also a note-to-self!)

"We're all fucked. Wtf America, what were you thinking?? Thank god I don't have kids."
Same here.  I love my extended family kids, I have friends who have great kids, but I'm glad I did not reproduce.  No misgivings there.

"If the news decided to dedicate 20% of its coverage on, say, the fact that the government has cut the science and environmental protections budget, how do you think that would actually have an effect on it?"
There are already lots of places that do this and more.  To name just some:  Mother Jones, The Progressive (magazine or on-line), Natural Resources Defense Councils regular updates, National Geographic, The Guardian.  

"Maybe if everyone just turned off the major American news networks and went to all the other sources, this problem would fix itself?"
Yes, turn off the major news networks!  Great idea! If we spent less time following the corporate controlled major media (and stopped buying the shit the peddle)  and follow other news sources, our thinking would move more toward learning about (and doing) solutions to the problems that will hamper ours and other animal's chances of survival.

"What is there to say besides "fuuuuuuuuuuuuck"?"
"shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit"!