Toxick
Splat
No, I don't necessarily presume either of those things.
My point actually has nothing to do with deciding which ideology is better, either morally or intellectually, in practice or in theory - or even if there is a better ideology. My point is completely regarding the methods and behaviors to which both sides subscribe: Which is aggression, demonization and relentless, bottomless hate. Both sides are shouting their exaggerated frustration into an echo-chamber which reflects their own thoughts back to them with more intensity... To which they respond with even more intensity.... ad infinitum.
You know what it reminds me of?
Stephen King wrote a book, roughly seven thousand years ago, called "Firestarter". Everyone remembers little Charlie hurling fireballs down the street - but remember her dad? In the movie he could control your mind by grabbing fistfuls of his own hair and staring at you like you just totaled his Camaro. But the book described the process more thoroughly, particularly how a thought affected the recipient: At first the projected thought would be an echo. A pattern of thought would emerge, and it would simply repeat itself in the recipient's brain at a nice rhythm. As time went on, the rhythm would increase in both frequency and amplitude. When it reached critical mass, the "echo" would become a "ricochet" - When the thought was in ricochet, it was a full blown obsession. The obsession would continue to grow and intensify until the only way you could get the thought out of your head was to blow it out - with a bullet.
As a nation, we have two groups - two heads - and their patterns are in full blown ricochet mode. And there is no endgame beyond for self-destruction.
Maybe it's a good thing. Maybe if both sides self-destruct, those of us who are more interested in "progress and liberty" rather than "winning" can pick up the pieces and possibly have a decent future.
