Is political debate dead?

All I see are echo chambers. Biased media with biased articles and biased comments where those who dare to disagree with the political leanings of the site or newspaper are bashed
Even here, most questions are either 'let's excoriate Trump' or 'let's bash liberals', and if you dare to disagree and spoil the private party, the pack shows their sharp teeth.

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Picklebobble2 · 56-60, M

I think the clearest problem there is at the moment is that there are lots of 'professional politicians' and no aspiring sociological thinkers who want to change the world.
The media argument is bogus.
Fewer people than ever read newspapers, so they don't have the influence they used to. Fewer folk than ever watch tv news. Primarily because we all work shifts across a 24 hour pattern. So nobody settles in to watch the evening news anymore.

The rise of right-wing rhetoric has seen the likes of Breitbart come to the fore. As has the revitalisation of oldies like Rush Limbaugh and Fox news.
And it's quite disturbing just how many 20+ers like to quote one or the other when making a political point on any form of social media.

It's never good when countries make massive lurches politically either left or right.
And at the moment i don't think anyone is convinced of either !
It's just that conservatives/Republicans/Nationalists have all won recent elections around the world spreading 'the word' that there's fear and uncertainty everywhere so....'you better vote for us or you're probably a traitor to your own.

Cierzo · M

@Picklebobble2 I think the media play a role, thougj. It is true that less people watch news. But there used to be more political debate on tv that there is now. Because there used to be sociologists, writers, professors that were not in the payroll of these big parties. Now they are ignored or simply they do not exist any more.

You name Breitbart and Fox. There are one side of the problem. I don't think CNN, Huffpo or Guardian on the other side is different. There is a difference in style, too, but the background is the same 'if you disagree with us, you are an ignorant'

Picklebobble2 · 56-60, M

@Cierzo My point was that nobody will care about a rise from the left. Since the death of communism, what's the worst you can be called ?...Oh yeah ! A Libtard !
But when there's a rise in more extreme forms of right wing thinking, then you have problems !

Cierzo · M

@Picklebobble2 I think both communism and fascism had their place in history and are dead now. Calling someone a communist or a fascist is an easy way to despise their speech and refuse to argue with them.

What I am afraid of are smiley dictatorships, those who do not wear boots or uniforms, but are accepted by the population.. Dictatorships disguised under phrases like 'progress cannot be stopped', or 'our security demands that...'The perfect dictatorships happens when people do not realise they are living in one.

Picklebobble2 · 56-60, M

@Cierzo I agree completely !