Jeff JarvisJan 21, 2023
The problem with charts such as this (from Edelman's Trust Barometer) is that they portray authoritarian regimes as not polarized--because there is little or no freedom to express dissent. And they lead to the assumption that the most polarized nations are the most troubled when, in fact, they are the ones fighting off authoritarianism because they are threatened by it. Another way to look at this is to see the danger of *not* being polarized.
CareyJan 21, 2023
Show threadJeff Jarvis
See this, also from Edelman: Republicans see differences as being insurmountable -- because that is the condition they want: constant, never-ending conflict. But we *all* are then blamed for polarization when some just don't want to get along.
Jan 21, 2023 at 5:28pmWeb
Show threadJeff JarvisJan 21, 2023
BTW, here's a link to the Edelman Trust presentation for download: https://www.edelman.com/trust/2023/trust-barometer
2023 Edelman Trust Barometer

Lack of faith in societal institutions triggered by economic anxiety, disinformation, mass-class divide, and a failure of leadership brought us to where we are today — deeply polarized.

Edelman
Show threadnotthatkarenJan 21, 2023
@jeffjarvis I feel it’s simpler than that. They believe in a system that says that those in power are always right and those without power are always wrong- facts and logic are irrelevant to this- and (most importantly) they are the only ones who deserve to hold power.
Show threadJustinmwhitakerJan 21, 2023
@jeffjarvis when you start with “we support fascism, intolerance, and bigotry” and then claim that others don’t want to find “middle ground”…it’s a specious argument.
Show threadDarwin WoodkaJan 21, 2023
@justinmwhitaker @jeffjarvis well after all we're just showing off "how educated and politically correct" we are. Or so I was told last time I tried to have an intelligent conversation with a Republican.
Show threadJustinmwhitakerJan 21, 2023

@darwinwoodka @jeffjarvis education and independent thought is sort of frowned upon in those circles.

According to them, all we need is the Bible and Alex Jones, right?

Show threadvakaren52Jan 21, 2023
@jeffjarvis their best argument for defunding government is to show that government doesn't work.