Why does everyting has to be politicized in the US?

Why must EVERYTHING be a CONTEST!?!?

MAGA!!

It's an interesting and valid question, OP. You may have posted this at the wrong time, though, as not many North Americans seem to be awake right now. Maybe bump this thread in about 6-7 hours?

Are you from the US yourself? Sorry, I couldn't gather that from your post.

No I'm not from the US, but love to follow US politics and pop culture closely.

I mean in other countries what this pandemic has done is kinda bring together the people. For instance in several of the worst gang affected countries in Latin America, even those violent gangs have somewhat declared a truce. But in the US everyone seem at each other's throats, and it's the same on every fucking issue.

On a smaller scale in the UK:

Who are the covid dissenters in your country OP? Are they a vocal minority, like elsewhere?

Anti-vaxxers, neo-Nazis, and "esoteric hippies" protesting side by side in Germany (with apologies for linking to The Guardian twice):

It’s a combination of excessive media coverage of very vocal minorities along with the destructive influence of social media which trickles down to places like this. Liberal internet activists blame Russia for everything while conservatives blame the deep state. Both extremes are dumb and don’t represent people in real life who have actual lives.

No one is going to watch 24 hours of news about people wearing face masks or anything really. Have to keep covering the extremes where the drama is.

Did the USA suspend the teaching of English grammar a couple of generations ago?

Rich people dominate our society and are doing more than anything else to crush White working class people.

In order to divert the attention of the white working class from this simple fact, rich people have established propaganda networks to accuse everyone but themselves of hurting the white working class. It’s called the Culture War. “Look at those jews who won’t let you say Merry Christmas!” “Mexicans are having anchor babies!” As if Merry Christmas and Mexican babies have anything to do with it.

That’s why everything is politicized. Just more fuel for the big culture war bait-and-switch.

[quote] From what I have read, such politization of the pandemic hasn't been done in other countries, at least not in this scale.

You're very wrong, this pandemic has been politicized everywhere. Many countries however are treating this seriously so the politicizing is done by the anti science opposition not in charge.

Brazil and Hungary, though, two countries that elected equally deplorable far right leaders are doing the same as Trump or even worse. Hungary's Ordoban literally staged a coup in the middle of the pandemic giving himself all the power to rule by decree indefinitely. Brazil's Bolsonaro copied Trump verbatim and sometimes even gave Trump the blueprint on how to act, specially regarding hydroxychloroquine.

The difference is Bolsonaro's popularity is at its lowest at 28% and he's about to be impeached, while Trump is still massively popular.

Dear OP, your "both side"-erism is to blame.

[quote] but also on the other side you have the #staysafe, etc. assholes.

Yeah, they are suuuuuch assholes for trying to keep reasonable people safe. /s

The US main problem is the right wing media spreading lies and fear mongering and nobody's kicking them in the cunt-bone for it.

Social media trolling can only get a real grip in the US, because the US educational system has, thanks to the GOP, failed the US citizens for decades. In most other civilized countries the well-educated masses (well, compared to the mouth breathers in the US) dismiss the trolling and doesn't act like it's a valid point of view.

There's a peculiar phenomenon in Brazil. CNN launched its Brazilian branch in the midst of the pandemic and unlike the US where it is accused by the right of being pro left, in Brazil it was launched with the blessings of Steve Bannon. They've been key to propagating fake news and anti scientific rhetoric disguised in those very biased debates they are so fond of. Many progressives are refusing to speak to CNN Brazil arguing they're turning the spotlight on conspiracy theorists and anti science loons during a very dangerous time on a country where the population lacks formal education to make up their minds.

The lock down seems to be VERY politicized in Britain, OP. 'Remainers' hope lock down will go on until the UK economy is down far enough to give a fresh chance for arguments for staying in the EU to flourish and perhaps get a 2nd referendum on the subject.

Meanwhile Leavers are eager to reopen in the belief that, if the economy sinks to a certain depth, then the Remainers will have a point.

Because there are trillions of public and private dollars at steak during each election OP. When you have that much money, not to mention human lives at streak, you will use any and every tool in your belt to win. Republicans are just being messy about it, but everything from the flag, to the images on our money, to the cars we drive, food we eat, and music we produce were all political statements in their own right.

[quote] public and private dollars at steak

[quote] not to mention human lives at streak

R15 likes that Simplified English Wikipedia, doncha, sweetheart?

20% of the citizens have the mentality "I've made it, so fuck everyone else". Of course they had pensions, low house prices when they entered the housing market, lower medical expenses for most of their lives and a whole host of other things that was really just good fortune and had nothing to do with them. It was a lot of luck

30% of the citizens are extremely ignorant. They're willing to believe anyone that blames their wretched lives on someone else. That's where fox news comes in. They blame everyone not being a millionaire on democrats.

Then you have the average, Mr $12/hour American who thinks he would really be a millionaire if he didn't have to pay so much in taxes (he believes fox news). Of course he gets all his tax money back in the form of a refund, plus his family has free medical care (courtesy of the taxpayers) thru Medicaid and food stamps and all other kinds of benefits. Mr $12/hour doesn't think that's welfare. He calls Medicaid, his "insurance". It's not insurance. It's a govt handout from the govt he hates. The same govt who has paid $20,000 for EACH time his bastard children are born and have the finest medical care available - all at taxpayer expense. You know what's covered on Medicaid? EVERYTHING. Do you know what the copays are? NONE. It's all COMPLETELY FREE. Mr $12/hr still bitches and then there's his side piece, Miss $10/hour. Despite paying very little in income tax, they get a giant income tax check (like $8,000 for 3 kids).because of all their kids.

Both of those groups usually identify as christians

Why is everything politicized in the US? Because the country is full of deplorables who believe they alone hold the key to the salvation of the masses, that validity pertains to them alone. See R12 for examples.

Do you enjoy making fun of people with dyslexia, R16?

Clever Svetlana, good job. Almost convince. Need to work English grammar.

Extra ruble for you in paycheck.

Because it's an election year dumb fuck! so fucking stupid!

It's primarily Republicans who will trot out conspiracy theories and lies to deflect from any of their wrongdoing and to keep their base in tact.

They have to keep it going and to keep people deluded, otherwise facts would show them for who they are.

R21: it's nice that you're such a simpleton that you're content to believe that's the ONLY reason, but at least have the courtesy to let other people explore the OP's question beyond the most obvious explanation, OK?

By the way, are you aware that many people take up meditation to avoid ending up like you and the equally rage-filled R16?

We are in the middle of an epic struggle between the extreme right and extreme left who both want to remake this county. The right wants unregulated, capitalist oligarchy. The extreme left wants socialism or communism. Both extremes kill nations.

And the sjw say I’m transphobic because I don’t want to fuck a FTM trans person. That kind of shit gives fuel to the MAGA crowd.

FUCK YOU R23 Yes, some of us are very, very angry about the appalling spread of ignorance that enables mass numbers of "educated" adults in this country to go around writing things like "at steak" repeatedly and not even seeing their error. It's part of the general degeneration of the U.S. which we happen to care about and no, we don't want to "mindfully meditate" our way out of our outrage, you FUCKING MORON.

These schizophrenic Queens who think Russians are everywhere on Datalounge are tiring!

Because Op you can't criticize your own side without getting shouts of "bothsiderism". Bothsiderism has become a shield for bad behavior and a way to abdicate responsibility.

There's clearly something more troubling going on with you than mere anger about slipping educational standards in your country, R26. Deeper issues, so to speak. Maybe leave it at that?

D-Y-S-L-E-X-I-A strikes again.

That's L-E-X-D-Y-S-I-A to you!

r7 and 10 others, Youvegottabekiddenme? Russian interference in our elections and social media propaganda is a proven fact and is on-going. Proven in a court of law.

No one is "blaming Russia for everything", just the crimes they have/are committing in plain site with Trumps blessing.

The Deep State does not exist. It is a complete and total falsehood. It is a diversionary tactic dreamed up by evil Republicans to distract from the truth.

Do you see the fucking difference?

Because deplorables have power and they are shockingly stupid! Shockingly stupid! They are ruining life for the rest of the country!

R25 The use of SJW immediately exposes you as a deplorable! Also, only a deplorable would think of that as an example. The rest of us don’t even think about or focus on fetishes we don’t have. Sounds like you have a repressed fetish. Deal with that shit, please!

So, on the one side we have the bug-chasers who are doing what they can to keep the pandemic going and, on the other side, you've got people who are simply, de facto, assholes, OP?

Sum Ting Wong

R16 here. Nope, I don't enjoy making fun of dyslexics, R19/R23/R28/R29/R30/R31, etc. Why would I, since there are humorless, busybody, imaginary dyslexic defender trolls such as yourself to skewer?

It's all about ratings. News organizations rely on sensational media coverage even at the expense of the truth, which has caused many to seek their information from alternative sources.

From R18

[quote] Why is everything politicized in the US? Because the country is full of INSERT YOUR VILLAINS HERE who believe they alone hold the key to the salvation of the masses, that validity pertains to them alone.

Extremists come in all types. They all believe they "hold the key".

I think it’s a combination of our poor education system, and the media giving out incorrect information.

Don't lump me into your rant, r37.

Social media is why OP

On social media, the loudest and most extreme voices are the ones that get the most traction. People have learned that the more radical their posts are, the more they get shared and retweeted.

Extremists quickly realized this and harnessed it...and so did the Russian and Chinese trolls who attempt to disrupt American society.

You know, R31/Ars Whatever, I saw that, and I was just typing an apology to you, but since you rudely called my cavalcade of humor a "rant," I'll tell you to fuck off instead!

Because right-wing outrage is funded by the rich with the purpose of telling middle class people to blame poor people. Half of the twits to open up America came from bots, some said up to 80 percent. Remember the Tea Party? Suddenly every city had organized protests with the same hand-written-looked printed signs. Soundstages and engineers instantly appeared everywhere with microphones, in this "grass roots" movement. Divide and conquer is the goal, and they've achieved it.

From Nicole Hemmer- Message of the Right:

Beginning in the late 1940s, activists working in media emerged as leaders of the American conservative movement. They not only started an array of enterprises—publishing houses, radio programs, magazines, book clubs, television shows—they also built the movement. They coordinated rallies, founded organizations, ran political campaigns, and mobilized voters. While these media activists disagreed profoundly on tactics and strategy, they shared a belief that political change stemmed not just from ideas but from spreading those ideas through openly ideological communications channels.

COVID-19 was politicized from day 1 by the Trump administration who did everything in its power to convince the public it was a liberal hoax until Americans started dying. Not only did Trump reject intel that it was poised to turn into an international crisis but precious time to prepare was lost because of his incompetence. I never want to hear another rightwing cunt complain about this being overly politicized because blood is on Republican hands for making a global health crisis a political issue.

Because our GOP politicians allow foreign political operatives to bombard our social media platforms with garbage. No other country allows that shit.