(06-10-2019 02:04 PM)Rice93 Wrote:  

(06-10-2019 01:25 PM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  

(06-10-2019 12:47 PM)Rice93 Wrote:  Separately, I was responding to another post that ascribes a general philosophy to the left with which most of us on the left would take issue.

The fact that you take issue with it is problematic. I think many on the left simply do not realize the smug, arrogant, condescending way that many of their comments come across. That doesn't come across in closed circle cocktail party conversation with fellow leftists, because they all agree. I'm reminded of the CBS commentator who was astonished that Nixon beat McGovern in 1972, because nobody that he knew voted for Nixon.
That smug, arrogant, condescension pissed off enough blue collar independent voters in 2016 to make Donald Trump president. Whether it will re-elect him in 2020 is questionable. But the left would do itself a major political favor to abandon it.

I don't take issue that there is a smugness associated some percentage of progressives that Fox News loves to amplify. Do I think that this helped Trump win in 2016? Yes.
Would you argue that CNN/MSNBC likes to amplify the percentage of the right that is racist?
Maybe or maybe not related... but a thought exercise... if an independent reviewer were to read all the posts on "Trump Administration" over the past few months... do you think that he or she would find the conservatives or the progressives among us to be smug and/or arrogant?
My point is that there are some here who paint all progressives with a broad brush which is hardly ever a great thing to do.

I certainly agree that CNN/MSNBC like to amplify the tiny percentage of the right that is racist. I know as many leftists as rightists who are truly racist, and it is a tiny percentage of both.

I think the smug, arrogant, condescension is far more pervasive on the left than on the right, and certainly far more than racism on the right. I just heard something that resonates with me--that leftists don't move much outside their own circle. That would certainly seem to apply to leftist politicians, newscasters, and other leaders on the left. I don't think they realize how smug, arrogant, and condescending they come across to those who disagree with them, because I don't think they interact much with those who disagree. And any difference of opinion is met with more smug, arrogant, condescension.

As far as your "independent reviewer" thought exercise, I think such a reviewer would find far more smug, arrogant, condescension from the left. But this forum may be a poor choice of sample, because most people here, on both sides, are intellectual equals and approach it that way. I certainly don't see Oberlin-level tone deafness, probably because we are essentially all Rice people.

I don't think painting all leftists with a broad brush is appropriate. I frequently make the distinction between well-meaning people in the rank and file on the democrat side (and I know many) and the smug, arrogant, condescending leaders on the left. But I don't think that brush is too broad for the progressive leadership.