(Thread) Responding to Cynicism
Spoiler: The antidote to cynicism is to hold on to your principles. So the way to respond to a cynical comment is by making a principled comment.
First, a bit about cynicism and how it destroys democracy.
Spoiler: The antidote to cynicism is to hold on to your principles. So the way to respond to a cynical comment is by making a principled comment.
First, a bit about cynicism and how it destroys democracy.
1/ @selectedwisdom explains that one goal of active measures is to “undermine democracy, to make Americans lose confidence in democratic institutions. . .”
pbs.org/newshour/show/…
This actually isn’t hard to do. See this quotation from Levitsky & Ziblatt (How Democracies Die)⤵️
pbs.org/newshour/show/…
This actually isn’t hard to do. See this quotation from Levitsky & Ziblatt (How Democracies Die)⤵️
@selectedwisdom 2/ Democracy is messy, so it's easy to turn people against it.
From @TimothyDSnyder: Russian oligarchs don’t deny that their government is corrupt. The people can see that. Instead they say that all governments are corrupt and that it’s just as bad in the west.
From @TimothyDSnyder: Russian oligarchs don’t deny that their government is corrupt. The people can see that. Instead they say that all governments are corrupt and that it’s just as bad in the west.
@selectedwisdom @TimothyDSnyder 3/ The idea that all governments and politicians are corrupt leads to tribalism. “He’s a liar, but he’s OUR liar.”
Cynicism (all people are corrupt) leads directly to nihilism. People disengage because it doesn't matter who wins or who is in charge.
Cynicism (all people are corrupt) leads directly to nihilism. People disengage because it doesn't matter who wins or who is in charge.
@selectedwisdom @TimothyDSnyder 4/ Cynicism leads people to willingly destroy what’s left of democracy in the hopes that what replaces it will be better. (Instead destruction of institutions creates a power vacuum)
The Fox-Trump-GOP promotes cynicism. Mulvaney’s “Get over it” was the ultimate in cynicism.
The Fox-Trump-GOP promotes cynicism. Mulvaney’s “Get over it” was the ultimate in cynicism.
@selectedwisdom @TimothyDSnyder 5/ If all politicians are corrupt cheaters, going after Trump for his corrupt cheating becomes purely political.
Politics degenerates into “us v. them politics,” which gives the would-be autocrat a built-in fully manufactured crisis. See ⤵️
Politics degenerates into “us v. them politics,” which gives the would-be autocrat a built-in fully manufactured crisis. See ⤵️
@selectedwisdom @TimothyDSnyder 6/ You can see why it’s important that Democrats not fight light Republicans. If they do that, who is left to take the high road?
That's the quickest way to cynicism and making it actually true that "all politicians are the same" so it doesn't matter who you vote for.
That's the quickest way to cynicism and making it actually true that "all politicians are the same" so it doesn't matter who you vote for.
@selectedwisdom @TimothyDSnyder 7/ I've seen good people become cynical when they realize that our democratic institutions are imperfect.
Of course they are imperfect. They're made up of human beings.
Of course they are imperfect. They're made up of human beings.
@selectedwisdom @TimothyDSnyder 8/ Moreover, America and our institutions are emerging from a patriarchy.
As a criminal defense [appellate] lawyer, I spent much of my legal career fighting for criminal justice reform. Trust me: I see the problems in the institutions.
As a criminal defense [appellate] lawyer, I spent much of my legal career fighting for criminal justice reform. Trust me: I see the problems in the institutions.
@selectedwisdom @TimothyDSnyder 9/ The solution is to work for reform and improvement. The work never ends.
Sometimes cynicism arises from entitlement. People born after the Civil Rights and women’s rights movement inherited (for the first time in American history) an expanding liberal democracy.
Sometimes cynicism arises from entitlement. People born after the Civil Rights and women’s rights movement inherited (for the first time in American history) an expanding liberal democracy.
@selectedwisdom @TimothyDSnyder 10/ Sometimes people who inherit something think they’re entitled and don’t have to work for it.
If you find yourself paralyzed by shock and outrage, it may be because you bought into a myth that goes like this: history is a river and you don’t have to paddle. . .
If you find yourself paralyzed by shock and outrage, it may be because you bought into a myth that goes like this: history is a river and you don’t have to paddle. . .
@selectedwisdom @TimothyDSnyder 11/ The myth is that the river will carry you forward to a more inclusive democracy.
(Ideas inspired by @TimothyDSnyder and expanded in my Susan. B. Anthony thread)
Wrong! We have to paddle.
(Ideas inspired by @TimothyDSnyder and expanded in my Susan. B. Anthony thread)
Wrong! We have to paddle.
@selectedwisdom @TimothyDSnyder 12/ The antidote to cynicism is to hold on to your principles and remember that there are people who have them.
I suggest answering a cynical comment with a principled comment.
I suggest answering a cynical comment with a principled comment.
@selectedwisdom @TimothyDSnyder 13/ Like this: “All politicians are corrupt.”
“I know lots of principled people. You don’t know ANY? People with principles also go into politics, too. You just have to distinguish those who have principles from those who don’t."
“I know lots of principled people. You don’t know ANY? People with principles also go into politics, too. You just have to distinguish those who have principles from those who don’t."
@selectedwisdom @TimothyDSnyder 14/ Or respond by talking about the principles underlying the institutions, and how people are working to reform them.
I like this too ⤵️
A few years ago I sat next to a very liberal young man who assured me the entire government is corrupt.
I like this too ⤵️
A few years ago I sat next to a very liberal young man who assured me the entire government is corrupt.
@selectedwisdom @TimothyDSnyder 15/ I talked about the principles and ideals underlying institutions as an independent judiciary and prosecutorial discretion. I invited him to think about the countries without them.
Flawed democratic institutions are better than no democratic institutions.
Flawed democratic institutions are better than no democratic institutions.
@selectedwisdom @TimothyDSnyder Interesting point. Whether they realize it or not, they are actively undermining democracy.
Here is this thread as a blog post: terikanefield-blog.com/responding-to-…
