Catastocracy

Catastocracy
How social media and cable news are changing the face of politics and human interaction…  For the worse.

“It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts."-Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

"Don't believe everything you read on the internet"-Abraham Lincoln

I remember a time when I was a young and not so jaded person and it didn’t really matter so much that a friend was more liberal or conservative, some were even socialists and libertarians.  We respected each other’s viewpoints and though we disagreed, and argued passionately about what direction the world should go in, there was some base of friendship there that was more powerful than the pettiness and ultimate there really isn’t much we can do about it.  Let’s have another beer, play another round, and move on with our lives. 

This was a happy time for me, since I’m a self-confessed idea junkie.  I often read things that I know I will disagree with because it helps me either strengthen my argument, or force myself to find another viewpoint that could be better than my own.  Some people would call that ideological anarchy, I call it mental exercise.  It teaches me what guns I’ll stick to, what I’ll give in on, and most importantly, what I am wrong about.  I think it makes me a better, more well-rounded person.  It makes my ideas stronger, and it also helps me cut out my own bs. 

However, social media has given a voice to the masses, and ultimately, the masses decided that there should never be compromise, that we should hold steadfast to our own ideas and ideals, and those that oppose us should be ridiculed, silenced, and punished for disagreeing with our own viewpoint.  Instead of moving forward to an understanding that no one has it all figured out, we have moved in extremes in our political parties to the point of catastrophe is better than compromise, like a bad skit of keeping it real gone wrong. 

The internet has offered a massive sense of anonymity that is present in everything we see.  IFC cannot post a link on facebook without a slew of people complaining that there are commercials on it now, even though it has always been a free channel.  Go on Xbox live or PSN and hear the way people talk to each other over a video game.  I wouldn’t talk to someone who cut me off in traffic the way some people act.  We’ve gotten away from being polite and respectful, and we’ve forgotten that respect is earned, not freely given.

It was initially dumbfounding in the age of the internet and the 24 hour news cycle that we can’t just get anything done, or at least anything meaningful done.  There should be total transparency and ultimately, results and accountability.  However, in the age where we have more access to the political process, more information outlets than ever before, and now faster than before, the goal it seems is to manufacture outrage at every given opportunity.  I am not opposed to outrage when it is warranted, or dabbling in outrage.  But it seems every little thing one party does outrages the opposition, and that isn’t a partisan line either.  I’m a republican, and many, many times people in my own party have been unjustifiably outraged by President Obama or the democrats in general that it seems almost completely impotent when they have every reason to be outraged at the opposition, and there has been enough occasions this term and last for them to do that.  How many symbolic repeals of the taxcare bill do we have to go through before someone mans (or woman’s) up and introduces real conservative healthcare reform like George W Bush asked them to do in 2006.  But I say that as a ruse, because liberals are outraged over everything the republicans do. 

This would be fine if our system was not founded on that we might not always agree, but we want what’s best for our country and we will respectfully argue and defend our positions.  But unfortunately, we are trying to govern parallel lines and the middle ground is completely obsolete.  It’s not the sexiest thing to say that I’m passionate for the middle.  People that tend to go the middle road are often ostracized by their own parties.  Republicans call them RINOS, democrats call them hacks and sell outs, and no one comes to the peacemaker’s defense.

Ultimately, if you ask a democrat what’s the problem with the political landscape, they will undoubtedly go to Fox News.  If you ask a republican, they will say liberal media bias.  If you ask an independent, they say both parties have gone too extreme.  I tend to think the independents have it right.  Not to toot my party’s own horn too much, but it’s pretty amazing to see the very bias in action.  Take this for example…  But, marching orders are indeed, just that.  I’m supposed to be more outraged over the Benghazi cover-up, but what I’m most outraged about is there is a filmmaker STILL in jail whose life as well as his family’s lives that were put in danger over using his first amendment right, and EVEN if there was a judgment against him saying that he was not allowed to use a computer, that violates his 7^th amendment rights, because I bet you can’t name 4 jobs that do not require the use of or access to a computer.  But I don’t want to make this political blog about politics, unless you are interested in demanding freedom for the youtube auteur. 

It’s understandably upsetting the way things are turning out, but I just wish that there would be more attempt to stop and actually think about things, rather than relying solely on knee jerk and emotional reactions.  There is a complete push towards information without understanding, and like in the quote prefacing this piece, we find ourselves theorizing without all the data, twisting facts to support our theories.  My goal isn’t to make you abandon your ideas or beliefs, or even stop talking about them.  My goal is to consider that your ideas and beliefs come from your experience and background, and that they probably are not the same as anyone else’s and that does not make them any truer or better.