Dec 27, 2023Liked by Steve Berman, David Thornton, Jay Berman
This is the exact reason i keep coming back to you guys. Been several years since the old EE Resurgence (was that the name?) days, and even more years of your evolution to a higher quality and level of growth, writing style and candid observations. Seriously guys; impressive.
Oddly, i still get EE's emails every morning and after reading the headers, delete them. I like mental stimulation, i hate the shtick of having to peddle and pander. On the other hand, i open 95% of your stuff and most often i find exactly what i am hoping for. I like when a writer make me think. I enjoy when they force me to try and grasp topics beyond my reach. There's a lot of both of them; even when you let Jay sneak one in (said with a smirk).
Today's column was exactly in the breach of my thoughts of late: How far we have fallen from a logical, even-handed and reasonable society where norms, integrity and personal responsibility have gone missing. A time and place where almost no one is held accountable for their actions.
You are spot on; nothing changes until those who act so irresponsibly are made to pay for their behavior. Hell, "whataboutism," was never a word until we wanted to justify our actions based on what the other guy did. The old adage that "all politicians lie," has a kernel of truth until you start measuring the degrees and depths of those lies.
The internet changed the world as we know it. When lies, straight-out bullshit, can get millions of views, the gullible become pawns to the purveyors of political porn. When millions of followers like unfettered crap and worse yet believe it, something has to change.
2024 will be one of, perhaps even, the ugliest of years in our history. It will test the limits of human decency and we will all be paying the price; no matter who wins. One can only hope the recent Giuliani award will help stop it. Sadly, i don't see it happening. The stakes to "win" will be higher than the cost of losing; even wildly expensive jury or judge damage awards.
And if that isn't all bad enough; what happens when donald loses again and we start the lies all over again about being robbed and how he actually won. January 6 may indeed look like the "capital tour" some have touted it as. That's when the real shouting and dare i say shooting begins.
Sometimes making a person think is terrifying. Maybe blissful ignorance is better?
Bill, thanks for the notice. I am long overdue for a post. Amplifying your comment about the internet and politics today … our affluent society gives luxury to trolls that is not afforded by Ukrainian freedom fighters in winter trenches. Wish we can get back to responsibly without the hard times that endorse it.
Dec 27, 2023·edited Dec 27, 2023Liked by Steve Berman
The fact of your article are generally accurate but one-sided even though you did point out there was plenty of guilt to go around. Maybe you just wanted to keep it short enough to encourage reading and therefore included only your pet peeves. For instance, some deaths did occur as a result of the Covid vaccine although I would agree that it prevented far more deaths than is caused and could have saved more except for the bad publicity.
You left out that inflammatory reports (some of which were untrue) about BLM riots and "Hands Up Don't Shoot" caused more deaths in police ambushes alone than the January 6 Capitol riot in which one unarmed trespasser was killed by police.
You criticize Governor DeSantis for his decision to end Disney self-governance in Florida but do not mention the falsehoods spread about his efforts to protect elementary school students. You did not mention corporate interference and lying about changes to Georgia's voting laws.
I personally believe that comments are the responsibility of whoever posts them and that their identity should be traceable. I also believe it really doesn't matter except when platforms and publications, including education institutions, become large enough to slant public opinion in a dishonest manner.
Do you ever wonder how pro-Hamas sentiment became so prevalent that it inspired demonstrations and disruptions in the USA? Exactly the same way that racial divisions have shown little improvement sixty years after significant civil rights laws have been in effect. Every special interest group spews its talking points and propaganda. Those that get the widest distribution prevail.
I am also for personal accountability on social media. Too many managed and curated accounts posting calculated garbage. Even AI generated bunk. But in the case of Giuliani, et al on the Q and MAGA train, it’s a whole level of danger on its own.
This is the exact reason i keep coming back to you guys. Been several years since the old EE Resurgence (was that the name?) days, and even more years of your evolution to a higher quality and level of growth, writing style and candid observations. Seriously guys; impressive.
Oddly, i still get EE's emails every morning and after reading the headers, delete them. I like mental stimulation, i hate the shtick of having to peddle and pander. On the other hand, i open 95% of your stuff and most often i find exactly what i am hoping for. I like when a writer make me think. I enjoy when they force me to try and grasp topics beyond my reach. There's a lot of both of them; even when you let Jay sneak one in (said with a smirk).
Today's column was exactly in the breach of my thoughts of late: How far we have fallen from a logical, even-handed and reasonable society where norms, integrity and personal responsibility have gone missing. A time and place where almost no one is held accountable for their actions.
You are spot on; nothing changes until those who act so irresponsibly are made to pay for their behavior. Hell, "whataboutism," was never a word until we wanted to justify our actions based on what the other guy did. The old adage that "all politicians lie," has a kernel of truth until you start measuring the degrees and depths of those lies.
The internet changed the world as we know it. When lies, straight-out bullshit, can get millions of views, the gullible become pawns to the purveyors of political porn. When millions of followers like unfettered crap and worse yet believe it, something has to change.
2024 will be one of, perhaps even, the ugliest of years in our history. It will test the limits of human decency and we will all be paying the price; no matter who wins. One can only hope the recent Giuliani award will help stop it. Sadly, i don't see it happening. The stakes to "win" will be higher than the cost of losing; even wildly expensive jury or judge damage awards.
And if that isn't all bad enough; what happens when donald loses again and we start the lies all over again about being robbed and how he actually won. January 6 may indeed look like the "capital tour" some have touted it as. That's when the real shouting and dare i say shooting begins.
Sometimes making a person think is terrifying. Maybe blissful ignorance is better?
Bill, thanks for the notice. I am long overdue for a post. Amplifying your comment about the internet and politics today … our affluent society gives luxury to trolls that is not afforded by Ukrainian freedom fighters in winter trenches. Wish we can get back to responsibly without the hard times that endorse it.
Ignorance is never better dealing with public issues. Hopefully we will work out ways to stop the prevalence of bad faith and lies.
Well thought out and well written. Avery good read that is so very timely. Thank you
The fact of your article are generally accurate but one-sided even though you did point out there was plenty of guilt to go around. Maybe you just wanted to keep it short enough to encourage reading and therefore included only your pet peeves. For instance, some deaths did occur as a result of the Covid vaccine although I would agree that it prevented far more deaths than is caused and could have saved more except for the bad publicity.
You left out that inflammatory reports (some of which were untrue) about BLM riots and "Hands Up Don't Shoot" caused more deaths in police ambushes alone than the January 6 Capitol riot in which one unarmed trespasser was killed by police.
You criticize Governor DeSantis for his decision to end Disney self-governance in Florida but do not mention the falsehoods spread about his efforts to protect elementary school students. You did not mention corporate interference and lying about changes to Georgia's voting laws.
I personally believe that comments are the responsibility of whoever posts them and that their identity should be traceable. I also believe it really doesn't matter except when platforms and publications, including education institutions, become large enough to slant public opinion in a dishonest manner.
Do you ever wonder how pro-Hamas sentiment became so prevalent that it inspired demonstrations and disruptions in the USA? Exactly the same way that racial divisions have shown little improvement sixty years after significant civil rights laws have been in effect. Every special interest group spews its talking points and propaganda. Those that get the widest distribution prevail.
I am also for personal accountability on social media. Too many managed and curated accounts posting calculated garbage. Even AI generated bunk. But in the case of Giuliani, et al on the Q and MAGA train, it’s a whole level of danger on its own.
The ever-useful XKCD comic on free speech:
https://xkcd.com/1357/
Universally true for every point of view and every arguable issue.