General Discussion

genxlib

(5,958 posts)

12. I think the cruel streak has always been here

Thu Jul 3, 2025, 10:18 AM

Jul 3

I think what has changed is the pride and joy in being cruel. They are outwardly bragging and joking about it.

It has become a source of fulfillment to far too many people.

Alligator Alcatraz is the latest installment. There have always been pop-up prisons in places like Texas and Arizona. The difference is that they just sort of happened without fan-fare. But now they are a source of bragging, photo-ops, t-shirts and joking. And far too many people are eating it up.

It's weird and dangerous.

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Bettie eppur_se_muova mountain grammy LuvLoogie Kali999 mwooldri

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Highlight:

When did we, as a country, become this cruel? [View all] indusurb Jul 3 OP

The dominance of RW media get the red out Jul 3 #1

Since right wing radio took over. Ferrets are Cool Jul 3 #2

Bingo GaYellowDawg Jul 3 #24

They have won the long game. Ferrets are Cool Jul 3 #69

I know. GaYellowDawg Jul 3 #70

Newtie began calling Dems enemies LSparkle Jul 3 #57

Yes we have become a nation of cruel sadists. Irish_Dem Jul 3 #3

The internet kozar Jul 3 #4

My elderly mother understood it this way 10 years ago Captain Zero Jul 3 #5

During President Obama J-9 Jul 3 #52

Well, surely putting twenty people to death because some teenage girl called them witches is a good starting point. Aristus Jul 3 #6

+1000 Just_Vote_Dem Jul 3 #10

Or "The 1619 Project" A HERETIC I AM Jul 3 #28

I will check out "The 1619 Project", thanks for that n/t Just_Vote_Dem Jul 3 #30

It is extraordinarily well written A HERETIC I AM Jul 3 #34

Unfortunately 3auld6phart Jul 3 #7

Don't forget the Spanish, who basically did mwmisses4289 Jul 3 #62

Message auto-removed Name removed Jul 3 #8

What flavour pizza do you like? niyad Jul 3 #11

Right from the beginning, including slavery and slaughter of natives lostnfound Jul 3 #9

I think the cruel streak has always been here genxlib Jul 3 #12

We have always been this cruel. kentuck Jul 3 #13

Always. Ask NAs, ask AAs. nt eppur_se_muova Jul 3 #17

I told my DH, years ago Bettie Jul 3 #14

Yes, the very reason unions were demonized and demoralized mountain grammy Jul 3 #22

Far too many people are now Bettie Jul 3 #27

Have a great day mountain grammy Jul 3 #65

1776...or earlier, really... Wounded Bear Jul 3 #15

May 14th, 1607 when colonists landed at Jamestown. Ray Bruns Jul 3 #41

Reagan (nt) Heidi Jul 3 #16

I agree. MLWR Jul 3 #61

But "Just say NO" to self-medication after you've had all Heidi Jul 3 #64

All of a sudden Sadism has become an American value to... S/V Loner Jul 3 #18

We, as a collection of human beings, are no better than any other collection Ocelot II Jul 3 #19

Excellent essay, and spot-on! Martin Eden Jul 3 #66

When Obama won in 2008. ... aggiesal Jul 3 #20

Do you know why MAGATs LOVE Donald Trump? Martin Eden Jul 3 #21

They see some of themselves in him. Also, the rest is what they want to be. Oneironaut Jul 3 #35

"structured in classes" reminds me of a quote by LBJ: Martin Eden Jul 3 #49

Trump's campaign and presidencies brought out the worst in people IronLionZion Jul 3 #23

The Original Sin was that Europeans stole this land from the rightful inhabitants Wicked Blue Jul 3 #25

The prosperity of the US that grew so exponentially in the early years Ocelot II Jul 3 #39

Trump, Rebl2 Jul 3 #26

Actually 3auld6phart Jul 3 #56

Absolutely! Rebl2 Jul 3 #72

Rush Limbaugh planted the seeds..it is now in full bloom ashredux Jul 3 #29

It's always been there. JMCKUSICK Jul 3 #31

It's racism. LuvLoogie Jul 3 #32

I remember the GOP guy who pulled the pony tail of the female protester at the 2004 Rethug Convention. John1956PA Jul 3 #33

I have theories about the evolution of the human brain... CaptainTruth Jul 3 #36

I think it started to get bad with Tree Lady Jul 3 #37

I think it started with Rush Limbaugh and Newt Gingrich, surfered Jul 3 #38

When haven't we been this cruel? BlueTsunami2018 Jul 3 #40

When NAZIs were welcomed to America via the post-World War II Ratlines. Kid Berwyn Jul 3 #42

May 14th, 1607 when colonists landed at Jamestown. Ray Bruns Jul 3 #43

Humanity has always had streaks of cruelty EdmondDantes_ Jul 3 #44

Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. Voltaire Ping Tung Jul 3 #45

I don't think this is the entire answer, evemac Jul 3 #46

It's always been there orangecrush Jul 3 #47

This country has always been cruel SocialDemocrat61 Jul 3 #48

Maybe all the women who were burned as witches can answer that. GoCubsGo Jul 3 #50

You and I are of like minds. The cruelty is nothing new, just reported better with our new technology Attilatheblond Jul 3 #54

A big % of Americans have ALWAYS been cruel. RW media fed that tendency to cruelty. More media exposed that cruelty Attilatheblond Jul 3 #51

We've been that way Mblaze Jul 3 #53

I understand and agree, but that is not the question Eliot Rosewater Jul 3 #55

Growing up in SC, I was astonished by enigmania Jul 3 #58

It was always cruel Kali999 Jul 3 #59

1619 When the country was intialy settled AStern Jul 3 #60

True.. the people who came here came because of inequality and cruelty and brought it with them. Srkdqltr Jul 3 #67

Democrats want to do things... 3catwoman3 Jul 3 #63

Resources and expectations Marthe48 Jul 3 #68

It's in the original DNA SineQuaNon001 Jul 3 #71