How Estrangement Has Become an Epidemic in America

https://slrpnk.net/post/16297276

How Estrangement Has Become an Epidemic in America - SLRPNK

He’s a father of a 28-year-old son and he’s hurting. A retired police officer, he proudly voted for Donald Trump every time he ran and never hid his political beliefs from his family. “My son and his wife say that since I’m a fan of Trump they’re no fan of mine and cut me off,” he said. “Now I can’t see my only grandchild who I was so close to. It’s crazy and it’s tragic.” It’s also increasingly common. The 2024 election spatchcocked the nation, widening a rift that was exposed in 2016 and put in an even sharper gulf four years later. Now, the hyper-partisan politics in the shadow of the 2024 election is breaking the bonds of families to a greater extent than ever before.

Two-thirds of survey respondents agree that ending contact with a family member because of political beliefs is not justified and that most family fights over politics could be easily resolved.

Ah yes those pesky, abstract “political” beliefs shouldn’t get in the way of family. Such esoteric ideals like

  • I believe in human rights.
  • Rapists should not be in power.
  • Nazis are evil.

Who could ever let a silly disagreement over politics spoil a relationship? /s

I don’t understand Dem supporters cutting off family that are GOP supporters. Both parties oppose human rights, enable rapists in power, and support currently arming Nazis (Congress had to withdraw a ban on arming Nazis in order to send arms to far-right groups in Ukraine).

If you’re a leftist opposing both fascist rightwing parties, you’d have a leg to stand on. But Dem supporters cutting off GOP supporting family just feels like that meme of spiderman pointing at himself. Anyone supporting either pro-genocide party is in no position to be criticizing the political beliefs of others.

Assuming this is a good faith argument, I’ll throw in: Some thoughtful, leftist commentary claims that the Democrats and the Republicans are fundamentally the same behind the scenes, with identity politics as the window dressing to distinguish them, and keep the lower classes divided.

Well, look at what we have here: Identity politics successfully dividing the lower classes. The two parties do differ quite a bit in some ways, and the window dressing is causing the estrangement.

How do they differ in any way besides rhetoric?
It’s arguable, but they use the rhetoric because it works on their supporters.
Yeah, but I don’t care about their rhetoric. I care about how they govern, and in that respect there’s no difference between the GOP and the Dems.
Okay, but your first comment referenced supporters, who are different people than the electeds or party leaders. I might suggest re-phrasing to say, “I believe that Dem supporters have the same facts, thoughts, and perspective on the parties as I do, and as such, I find them morally culpable for every action of the party leaders.” That’s a different thing than not understanding how they can behave the way they do.