If you, a generally leftie person, think the broader left has got something wrong, you might be tempted to use an argument of the form: "See? Conservatives aren't the only ones who deny experts/science/facts! Both sides do it!"
Do not do this.
Do not do this.
I understand the temptation. You're frustrated. This argument gets attention & clicks. It feeds into your self-image as an independent thinker. It feels good.
But it is bad. The fact is, none of the mistakes or differences cited in arguments like these ...
But it is bad. The fact is, none of the mistakes or differences cited in arguments like these ...
... are ever *remotely* of the scale & ubiquity of anti-intellectualism on the right. They are often differences of interpretation or judgment, not plain facts. And they do not rise out of systemic rejection of mainstream sources of epistemic authority, as they do on the right.
The point here is NOT to lionize the left generally or any faction of the left. It's full of humans & humans frequently believe & say dumb/wrong things. The point is that what's happening on the right is unique & incredibly dangerous. What's more, mainstream US culture ...
... is, for various reasons, incentivized to ignore or play down that fact, to maintain the "two mirror-image sides" model of politics.
We need to dismantle that model if we want to save the country. Both-sides arguments from the left do immense damage to that undertaking.
We need to dismantle that model if we want to save the country. Both-sides arguments from the left do immense damage to that undertaking.
Lots of people let their personal irritation with other factions of the left blind them to the overall shape of the situation, which is a reactionary insurgency trying to bring down democracy. Don't be one of those.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
