MovieChat Forums > This Divided State (2005) Discussion > A Scots question to Americans

A Scots question to Americans


Is this really what American politics is all about (Left vs Right screaming matches) or does this film just show the minority fringe.

If the former is the answer then thats bad. Living in the UK all I see is people like Michael Moore (I really can't stand this liar) or Hannity (Don't like him either) lying, spinning, editing footage and instead of properly debating with opposite arguments going miles out of their way to attempt to discredit the other opinions through lies and spins.

I myself have conservative viewpoints, but I pride myself in letting the other side have their say as long as we do it sensibly and rationally. I am also not ashamed to admit when their is a liberal viewpoint I agree with.

Tell me Americans, tell me their is more to American political debates than morons like Michael Moore and Sean Hannity.


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Sorry to tell...

But this is pretty much it these days. With the expansion of cable and satellite networks, the discourse is always getting more juvenile- less literate and more of a shouting match, where mocking and sadistic display panders to the lowest common denominator, and is seen as popular and vote-getting

Its a politics of reaction- anger and vengence- and only swept forward by the unfortunate attacks, and turned against all kinds of other people

Truth is out the window- it's a guerilla war of soundbites and perceptions about what people are thinking- not often even based in reality. It's a little like the film "A Clockwork Orange"- As social interaction degenerates into gangland mobster behavior, those in power seem to feel that they can best control their world by simply having the most organized armed mob.

And esoteric communication via the internet- people exchanging information between only other private parties- is giving rise to all sorts of sadistic vigilantism that hides itself behind popular opinion and official authority. In fact denied otherwise- absolutely lied about.

Apparently a lot of mischief is being now generated with cell phone tecnology- Is there a cell phone "Party line"? Are these people all connected to each via a network and playing a lot of stupid sadistic monopoly board nonsense as some kind of perverted and pathological entertainment? Sounds like science fiction doesn't it? And they'll of course deny it all, but it appears to me at times that the cell phone network is being used for "inter-rat communication" in a rat pack of childish deliquents who want to make sport of others. They follow me around and seem to know where I'm going at any time. (See my comments in How is this Possible? thread)

I think there has been a change from the past- the days of fairness doctrine in broadcasting- but those involved in the neo cybernetic facist video games- vicious and cruel- are always acting like it's just business as usual, and things have always been this sick and perverted.

As one of their victims, I often hope these days that their own ignorance of the real social problems building up out in the world, while they make sport of peoples lives via the web, catches up to them some day. Guess I should call myself "cyber cynic".

These activities are on the rise, and yet still they hide behind the flowery words and images they put out on the corporate national media. They seem to me only more dangerous and in need of being stopped somehow.

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Also, yes America is divided into two minorities or probably stereotypes would be a better word. Red and Blue. I hear people proudly proclaim being liberal or conservative. Right and left. It makes me sick. I never picked a side. I made choices on issues and they are mine. I have reasons behind them. However, it seems some people pick the side of an issue just to piss off the opponent. It seems people like to play the stereotype. Only it is their own stereotype. Do they really think about the issues they decide on? Or do they just go with their minority. Its quite simple: Liberal/prochoice, conservative/prolife. Liberal/gay marriage, conservative/ban on gay marriage. Liberal/antimilitary, conservative/promilitary. I do not believe there even is a right or wrong dilema. Who is there to tell us what is right and wrong. Its just the stereotypes teling us our roles. These are just caricatures. Parts played like an actor or on a stage. How can you be so one-sided on these issues. i believe they need deeper investigation. We live in a fragile society. If the end of the world is near I believe this will be the cause of it. A new civil war. It may sound ridiculous, and I thought so too until I saw a shouting match ensue on the street between two total strangers. Wars begin when we pick sides.

"Some men just want to watch the world burn." ~ Alfred Pennyworth THE DARK KNIGHT 2008

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Unfortunaty jaws America is exactly what you see in This Divided State. US politics is like 2 armed camps with both lothing the other and seemingly unable to agree on almost anything. Spin and manipulation have replaced values, working togeather, and good old fashioned ideas or knowhow. On one side you have scruffy, tree hugging, love the world Liberals like Moore and on the other you have smarmy, smart arsed attack dogs like Hannity. It does not bode well for the supposed greates Democracy in the world. This is the reason Obama is causing such a stir, as he is trying to bring about a change in US politics and actually get people working togeater for a change instead of simply attacking one another. I wish him luck.

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