Reading reviews of Dr. Birx’s biographical book has revealed the lies and manipulations that she used to get everyone on board with her thinking, whether it was right or not. From bullying and personal attacks on people who don’t agree with her version of the truth, to censorship of dissenting arguments to keep them from being heard, attacks aimed at emotion rather than logic, and knowingly lying to make her argument stronger, she did not pull any punches to get her way. And when it comes to political arguments on both sides of the spectrum, these tactics are not just tacitly approved of, they are the standard modus operandi.
One especially common tactic is the use of absolutes. I have an absolute right to abortion. Abortion should never be allowed. Guns are evil and should be banned. Guns are necessary and should have no limits or controls. There should be no restrictions on voting. Voters must unequivocally prove who they are and that they have a right to vote. LGBTQ community needs absolute acceptance. The LGBTQ community should have no rights. I think you get the idea. Both parties quickly go to absolutes. And in doing so, they hope to divide us, and define their own truths.
No one party has an monopoly on bullying and personal attacks. All you have to do is listen to 2 political ads, one from each party, and you will see examples of bullying and personal attacks. I don’t care which 2 ads you watch, they will be examples of bullying and personal attacks. And campaigns are only one minor source of such tactics. Why do they do it? Because it works. It divides us and gets us motivated to get out and vote.
Emotional attacks, rather than logic are also the daily fare of the political arena. If you don’t agree with me, then you are a grandma killer, a baby killer, a homophobe or a pervert. You name the topic, and you can quickly come up with the insults hurled at those who do not agree. Again, the tactic works. It divides us. Gives us a feeling of us versus them. And spurs us on to support their campaigns.
But would a politician ever lie to us to get us to follow them? If your answer is not an unequivocal yes, then you are not paying attention. Of course, we are quick to point out the lies on the side of the aisle opposite our loyalties, but often just as quick to believe the lies that come from the side we are on. The other side lies, but our politicians are good. Sorry, but honest politician is more of an oxymoron than Microsoft Works.
Truth has been stretched past the point of breaking on both sides of the fence. But rarely are consequences paid for the lies other than politically expedient attacks that the side in power launches at the minority party, such as the current January 6th investigations. Even then, it is almost exclusively the politicians who face any consequences, while many, such as Birx and Fauci, who are not directly in the political arena, get off scot free, if not actually rewarded. Many of us would love to see those who have abused their power, and our rights, to face consequences of their actions. But I do not see that coming. I only hope one day the American people will stop listening to the lies, manipulations, emotional arguments and bullying, and start requiring logical debates from those who want to control us. If this happens, we may be able to take back control of the country from those who just want to use us and the country for their benefit. And we may be able to end the division that we see growing stronger every day in this country.