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Scootaloo

(25,699 posts)

5. Same reason an injured animal garners more sympathy than an injured person

Reply to Drunken Irishman (Original post)

Sun Oct 13, 2013, 05:09 PM

Oct 2013

Our culture is strongly misanthropic, with the belief that human suffering is more often than not the deserved reward of whoever's doing the suffering.

so when we look at the financial suffering of our fellow Americans, we tend to go "yeah well, tighten your belt!" or "should have put it in savings!" - but when the same problem is closing our parks and impinging on our access to American sites, it bothers us. One could be cynical and attribute this to selfishness - "I don't get my vacation!" or optimistic and say it's because Americans still have a concept of the commons. Either way though, the people get dismissed because we're taught to dismiss them.

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I don't get why there is more anger and bluster over parks being closed... [View all] Drunken Irishman Oct 2013 OP

I think the exact thing as you do.... Tikki Oct 2013 #1

Want to see how far they go? tecelote Oct 2013 #24

Because middle class families missing out on their Cleita Oct 2013 #2

They are easily tipped cows. Stinky The Clown Oct 2013 #3

It is being covered breathlessly on CNN right now flamingdem Oct 2013 #4

Same reason an injured animal garners more sympathy than an injured person Scootaloo Oct 2013 #5

Just like Tony Soprano was really upset about his ducks dying, though torturing, maiming Dark n Stormy Knight Oct 2013 #45

I don't think anyone is all that outraged over parks. TwilightGardener Oct 2013 #6

Perhaps the bluster is for ChazII Oct 2013 #7

Obviously they matter a lot more than anyone else... Drunken Irishman Oct 2013 #12

Because you may want to go to a national park, so you can identify with those who cannot. Mass Oct 2013 #8

Well said. ScreamingMeemie Oct 2013 #11

Yep. Poverty threads drop faster than lead balloons. Nevernose Oct 2013 #27

Thank you! Cha Oct 2013 #9

If you were the GOP, how would you pitch this............ wandy Oct 2013 #10

Try taking away people's TV or Play Stations. liberalmuse Oct 2013 #13

manufactured outrage sad-cafe Oct 2013 #14

Exactly! kmlisle Oct 2013 #36

Republicans want to shut down government and then yell bad government Lifelong Dem Oct 2013 #15

For a lot of people these are once in a lifetime family activities, pnwmom Oct 2013 #16

Tea Party Republicans have no sense of what is really Important... yuiyoshida Oct 2013 #17

because it's total bullshit. it's the 'today show' reporting the news. spanone Oct 2013 #18

My husband is still getting Social Security, murielm99 Oct 2013 #19

Because "poorer" folks can afford a car trip to a National Park/Museum SoCalDem Oct 2013 #20

If we really gave a shit about jobs we wouldn't be paying banks $85 billion a month to keep jtuck004 Oct 2013 #21

because govt. employee is code word for black RainDog Oct 2013 #22

Because that's where the Kochs are mustering their teabagger orcs. backscatter712 Oct 2013 #23

I deserve Benefits, you do not quakerboy Oct 2013 #25

It's standard hypocritical Republican "Support Our Troops" grandstanding Bernardo de La Paz Oct 2013 #26

Just a dog and pony show for the republican types. texanwitch Oct 2013 #28

Kick! Squinch Oct 2013 #29

I agree gopiscrap Oct 2013 #30

Easy photo op and soundbite Va Lefty Oct 2013 #31

Yep. Parks are highly identifiable props. intheflow Oct 2013 #47

I wonder why there isn't more said about private businesses and concessionaires XemaSab Oct 2013 #32

Because the one thing Republicans regularly do much better than Democrats is TalkingDog Oct 2013 #33

The RW media is hyping up the bullshit stuff to make it seem more like a "slowdown" than valerief Oct 2013 #34

The Tea Party glories in empty "patriotic" symbolism-- Jackpine Radical Oct 2013 #35

That's why so many people were losing their minds Blue_Tires Oct 2013 #51

This is probably the first time most of them even care the parks are still around Lordquinton Oct 2013 #37

The funny thing is when they scream, "This doesn't belong to the government! It belongs to US!!!" Spitfire of ATJ Oct 2013 #38

Food bank sending trucks to feed furloughed Grand Canyon workers ProSense Oct 2013 #39

+100 ChazII Oct 2013 #44

the parks being closed is also about economy and lives and jobs fizzgig Oct 2013 #40

Except it's not about the furloughed employees or the local economies... Drunken Irishman Oct 2013 #41

they get upset over what their dittomasters TELL them is outrageous Skittles Oct 2013 #42

Of course it is a red herring to invoke mindless patriotism Pretzel_Warrior Oct 2013 #43

Perception.... Decaffeinated Oct 2013 #46

To me, the parks being closed is tied to livelihoods. jmondine Oct 2013 #48

Cuz it's hurtin' good 'Murikan Vetrins!! Roland99 Oct 2013 #49

thank you dana_b Oct 2013 #50

I have been completely against 'parts' of government being opened Sheepshank Oct 2013 #52

Football! 1000words Oct 2013 #53

The Rs do not want the face of their "we closed the Skidmore Oct 2013 #54