Why is this the case? Well, in my myopic opinion this is a largely due to the ability to amplify vituperation on any side of a debate through social media and 24-cable news. Communication channels such as Twitter, Facebook, CNN and Fox News have allowed many folks who are not necessarily experts on a particular topic, but an individual that provide an emotionally charged quote that appeals to a consumer's senses to boost up ratings, views, likes and advertising revenue. Sure, the Donald's actions and reactions don't help increase the civility of the debate, but many times he's reacting to vituperation against him through social media and 24-cable news. His reaction only gets its recipients to react themselves. Since they can instantly communicate to others what they think before thinking about the consequences of allowing their emotions talk without filter, so it turns into a vicious cycle, especially when the political bubble is involved.
Now let me say that the latest Donald tweet regarding MSNBC "Morning Joe" co-host Mika Brzezinski was not a civil reaction at all. Here's an account of the cause and effect.
For many, this just affirms that the Donald is a crass individual. However, this is the same man who procured the largest share of the Evangelical vote (81%) in the history of the well-respected Pew Research poll. Somehow, there is a disconnect between what folks like me (highly-educated, white collar) folks are seeing and what many in the country see in the President.
The hostile relationship that the Donald have on many in the media feed this idea that everything in DC is in chaos. Anyone heard anything about Russia? Former FBI Director James Comey's tapes? Intelligence leaks? Special Counsel investigation etc.? All this makes one thinks everything is in disarray. But then again, the well-respected Gallup organization recently said the following:
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Despite an ongoing controversy over "fake news," more Americans this year (27%) say they have a "great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence in newspapers than did so last year (20%). Although confidence in newspapers is up from last year's record low, it remains lower than it typically was in the 1980s and 1990s.
When going from 1 out of 5 folks trusting the news to more than 1 out of 4 trusting the news is seen as positive, that's what a former president calls "the soft bigotry of low expectations." Many folks just don't trust the media, and from my interactions with folks while working at the Golden Inn, particularly those that don't sit at a cube or at a desk everyday.
So do I think the Donald has been effective these first 160 days? Well, I would have to again say that all this news about Russia and attacking the media would initially make me think no. However, when I hear following types of news:
- Kate's Law, which deports illegal immigrants that commit crimes pass the House today,
- getting NATO European members to take account of how much they contribute to NATO defense,
- the fact that the national debt has actually decreased from $19,937,261 at the beginning of the year to $19,845,942 at the end of May,
- Neal Gorsuch confirmed to SCOTUS,
- rolling back regulations by the tens of billions,
- rollback of the Cuba policy, etc.
I start to think he's actually accomplishing quite a bit. It makes me think that the news we hear of total chaos is akin to the media being a bunch of mice chasing cheese to different corners of the house while folks set down mouse traps around them. I've come to think the Donald may be ok if folks EMBRACE THE CHAOS.
So 160 days down, I'm certainly interested in how the next 1,300 days go. I guess many other folks are as well. In the meantime, we can be like this dog here and enjoy something I hope we all enjoy: Mendelssohn's "Italian" symphony.
