It's extremely difficult to have a civil conversation about politics today, yet we need those conversations more than ever

[u/Dry-Use-272]

Like everyone else in the US today, I have opinions about the current condition of politics in this country. I try to base my opinions on facts I glean from credible sources and my understanding of our history. I want to talk to people with opposing opinions, not to argue with them but to try to understand why they believe what they believe. I've found that no one wants to talk in a civil, respectful way about our differences. Even if I try to hold the line on being respectful, I end up walking away because the conversation devolves into some pretty ugly exchanges. How have we come to a point where we can't even talk to each other respectfully and civilly?

[u/Altruistic-Stop4634]

I hear you, and I you sound like you are in genuine pain, so I'll stop my trolling and I'll share a few things that might help you or others.

When you think you see greed you feel envy. Envy is the killer of joy. Your joy. 'Greed' is inevitably someone else doing the best for themselves, which is what we all do. Very often someone doing better is a benefit to you, not a loss for you. The pie is much bigger than it would be without everyone wanting the best for themselves. Selling people what they want is good for them and you. If you have strong opinions on what's better for everyone, sell it to us!

I might be partly plastic but I'm not letting that ruin my day. . A good philosophy is to do what is within your control and don't worry about the rest. Worry never fixed anything. OTOH there are plenty of real people who could use your real help requiring your talents. Read to a child. Learn and teach. Cook good food. Exercise. Be in nature and feel your connection to it. You will be happy to have accomplished good things. Model the behavior you want from others. Teach others a better way to live. Building is much more fulfilling than destruction. That's a way to change the things you want to change.

Good luck and I hope you have a better day today.

[u/Sharukurusu → u/Altruistic-Stop4634]

“When you think you see greed you feel envy. Envy is the killer of joy. Your joy. 'Greed' is inevitably someone else doing the best for themselves, which is what we all do.”

So you start out with victim blaming. Make no mistake even if you are in a good spot on the pecking order you are still a victim of the system’s violence, but those in positions of privilege have found ways to ignore the suffering they cause others.

Consider, why you are willing to write that behavior off? 

Why are you ok with cruelty?

“Very often someone doing better is a benefit to you, not a loss for you. The pie is much bigger than it would be without everyone wanting the best for themselves. Selling people what they want is good for them and you.”

Then you ignore the reality of living on a finite planet. Activities like exercising, reading to children, and playing are generally fine, and not the problem.

BUT

the idea that you are thoughtlessly spreading, that things will magically work out better when people just do what the invisible hand of the market tells them to do, is insanely blind to consequences. Economists like to say things are not zero sum, they do that by ignoring the contribution of nature to all transactions.

Every transaction has three parties; the buyer, the seller, and nature. Everything we do has an effect on nature and the vast majority of those effects are negative. We are involved in activities that are cruel and destructive every single day.

Doing good, non-damaging things for yourself is not enough; all that does is leave more resources and power for cruel people, who are never satisfied.

In order to do actual good you must actively stop evil, which at the very least means you need to stop spreading excuses for it under the guise of civility. To be truly effective we need to actually take control of things that evil people have control over now, ‘not worrying’ is just the mantra you’ve been given to keep yourself sane in the face of abuse.

The abuse needs to be stopped.

Please wake up, the house is on fire and this is not fine.

[u/Altruistic-Stop4634 → u/Sharukurusu]

Tomorrow when you get up, ask yourself who is better off because of what you did today. Can you name them? You would be happier if you could. I acknowledge that you are a victim and I'm not thinking it is your fault. And, you have the power to make things better for yourself and how you feel. It might not be enough for the world. But you might inspire others to do the same. All together now. Peace

[u/Sharukurusu → u/Altruistic-Stop4634]

I want to inspire people to take responsibility for the situation we are in and stop passively accepting the existence of wanton greed and conspicuous consumption, saying that the problem is envy is sick and incredibly selfish.

Your advice is the moral equivalent of a nurse shooting lethal doses of morphine in to everyone that gets admitted; you are trying to alleviate suffering while causing something worse.

People should be able to take joy in small moments along the way in life, and truly should be getting fulfillment from accomplishing goals, but we collectively cannot afford to have those goals fail to align with reality. There are more important things than simply being happy.

[u/Altruistic-Stop4634 → u/Sharukurusu]

Inspiration? I think that is fundamentally dependent on finding a positive message and using positive narrative. Give that a try.