Why does everyone get so worked up about American politics?

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Handle9

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#265778 11-Feb-2020 04:48

There is so much freaking out now about Trump but also by the lunatics who are facing on about the deep state and Q Anon.

Why so much hysteria? American domestic politics has very little direct impact on most people's lives in NZ, or in my life in the UAE. Once upon a time we shook our heads and chuckled at the crazy Americans, now I see someone outraged about something in America every hour.

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#2415834 11-Feb-2020 07:01

I've never been financially secure enough to fill my car up without having to worry about petrol prices and where I am in my pay cycle. That could be it.

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#2415842 11-Feb-2020 07:39

Once upon a time we shook our heads and chuckled at the crazy Americans, now I see someone outraged about something in America every hour.

Facebook and to a lesser extent, YouTube. Click on a few of these Q-anon/deep state items and you will be bombarded with it. Even better.. Facebook groups..

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#2415844 11-Feb-2020 07:42

gzt:
Once upon a time we shook our heads and chuckled at the crazy Americans, now I see someone outraged about something in America every hour.

Facebook and to a lesser extent, YouTube. Click on a few of these Q-anon/deep state items and you will be bombarded with it. Even better.. Facebook groups..

The Trump hysteria isn't much better. He's a bombastic moron but he hardly has much real impact on anyone outside the US with his antics.

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#2415865 11-Feb-2020 08:50

The Trump hysteria isn't much better. He's a bombastic moron but he hardly has much real impact on anyone outside the US with his antics.

Seems like the perfect guy for Facebook and YouTube. To be fair there are also things like Climate Change policy or lack of it. America occasionally going nuts and bombing stuff. These things do have worldwide impact to some extent.

Rikkitic

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#2415895 11-Feb-2020 09:29

Interestingly, I was watching an interview last night by Fareed Zakaria with Bill Maher and one point Maher makes is how Trump has lowered standards of expectation by normalising bad behaviour at the top. Are you not doing something of the same? Move on, nothing to see here, just Americans being monkeys at the zoo.

I think what people like Trump do is important and it does affect the rest of us.

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#2415964 11-Feb-2020 10:31

Handle9: Why does everyone get so worked up about American politics?

Why so much hysteria? ...

I think it's because everyone likes a cringe and a whinge.

Therefore mainstream media will publish articles about everything and anything that will get a click so they'll sell more advertising, and individuals will post about everything and anything on social media and forums to get the dopamine buzz of a thumbs up. Trump being the womble that he is provides them with a lot of ammo.

Sometimes I use big words I don't always fully understand in an effort to make myself sound more photosynthesis.

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#2415970 11-Feb-2020 10:53

Rikkitic:

I think what people like Trump do is important and it does affect the rest of us.

Absolutely.

Like it or not, "American Culture" (an oxymoron? /s) heavily influences NZ culture, and American policies heavily impact NZ.

A fascist who committed an atrocity on my doorstep - not even a year ago - was inspired by Trumpist hate/intolerance, and was cheered by far-right elements in the US.

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#2416015 11-Feb-2020 11:04

I'm not sure why people think American policies don't affect us, the GFC was sparked by the loose american rules (brought in by GBW) on subprime lending.

But as far as why people get invested into it...well for me it's my version of sport.

I watch the debates, listen to podcasts etc. I've be following Pete Buttigieg since he entered the race as long long shot pick and it seems to be paying off. It's kind of like fantasy sports in that way...

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#2416033 11-Feb-2020 11:24

Of course it affects us here.

If that moron in the WH decided on a whim to nuke North Korea you could watch your neighbors skin start to peel off around 6 months later. And your own of course.

Handle9

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#2416240 11-Feb-2020 15:22

Rikkitic:
Interestingly, I was watching an interview last night by Fareed Zakaria with Bill Maher and one point Maher makes is how Trump has lowered standards of expectation by normalising bad behaviour at the top. Are you not doing something of the same? Move on, nothing to see here, just Americans being monkeys at the zoo.

I think what people like Trump do is important and it does affect the rest of us.

How have Trump's antics affected your life? He's not your president, what you think is irrelevant to him. If you can have zero impact with your outrage what purpose does it serve?

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#2416243 11-Feb-2020 15:27

PottsyNZ:
I'm not sure why people think American policies don't affect us, the GFC was sparked by the loose american rules (brought in by GBW) on subprime lending.

But as far as why people get invested into it...well for me it's my version of sport.

I watch the debates, listen to podcasts etc. I've be following Pete Buttigieg since he entered the race as long long shot pick and it seems to be paying off. It's kind of like fantasy sports in that way...

Policies affect us, a politicians antics for his domestic market don't. The vast majority of the people being totally outraged on social media are fairly ignorant about the world yet feel qualified to be constantly outraged by US domestic politics.

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Rikkitic

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#2416248 11-Feb-2020 15:39

Handle9:

How have Trump's antics affected your life? He's not your president, what you think is irrelevant to him. If you can have zero impact with your outrage what purpose does it serve?

I think Trump is a despicable human being. His behaviour offends me. Seeing cherished institutions and traditions being dismantled by an evil bastard distresses me. I think decisions made by him or those who serve him can have devastating consequences for people all over the world. Expressing my outrage says I am not complicit by remaining silent. I am not prepared to look the other way. When the impeachment process started, Nancy Pelosi said something to the effect that it was important to take a principled stand, whether it succeeded or not. The impeachment was making a clear declaration that Trump's behaviour was not acceptable to all.

If you are saying no-one should object to anything Trump does because it won't make any difference and is just a waste of time, then you are surrendering to the bad guys. The purpose served by my outrage is that it says 'no'. It says I am not willing to pretend this is in any way how people should be. It says principles matter.

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Rikkitic

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#2416249 11-Feb-2020 15:42

Handle9:

The vast majority of the people being totally outraged on social media are fairly ignorant about the world yet feel qualified to be constantly outraged by US domestic politics.

That is a fairly arrogant assertion. You don't need an academic degree to know that people are acting like jerks.

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Handle9

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#2416256 11-Feb-2020 15:59

Rikkitic:
Handle9:

The vast majority of the people being totally outraged on social media are fairly ignorant about the world yet feel qualified to be constantly outraged by US domestic politics.

That is a fairly arrogant assertion. You don't need an academic degree to know that people are acting like jerks.

How is that arrogant? Someone who couldn't place Iran on a map or have any clue about how the US political system works is qualified to tell the US how to run their country?

If there was constant outrage from the US about Jacinda Adern we would consider them to be ignorant and clueless about New Zealand, mostly because they would be.

I didn't make any reference to formal education, I made reference to ignorance. It is a different thing

Rikkitic

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#2416262 11-Feb-2020 16:12

Handle9:

How is that arrogant? Someone who couldn't place Iran on a map or have any clue about how the US political system works is qualified to tell the US how to run their country?

If there was constant outrage from the US about Jacinda Adern we would consider them to be ignorant and clueless about New Zealand, mostly because they would be.

I didn't make any reference to formal education, I made reference to ignorance. It is a different thing

I was speaking figuratively. The point stands.

I don't think lacking knowledge of geography or politics necessarily disqualifies someone from possessing basic values of decency and common sense. You are the one trying to argue that a diploma should be required before someone can venture an opinion on anything.

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