bayushisan's recent diary entry Why People Are Angry.... nicely details why so many people are angry with the right. I'd like to turn the discussion on its side and talk about the root causes of the right's anger and frustration.
All you have to do is listen to most T.V. and radio shows dealing with politics or read comments on sites like here, The Huffington Post, etc. and you will quickly see the anger and frustration pouring out of the right. For an extreme example of this you only need to read the weekly hate mail-apalooza. What is causing such vitriolic, hateful comments? I think the answer is rooted in two interconnected concepts; loss of perceived power and a crisis of identity.
Many on the right feel that their rightful place in the world, and particularly in America, as the moral, legal and political authorities is threatened by the left, especially President Obama. When you approach a situation firmly believing that you are innately smarter, better, more moral, "chosen", etc., anything that contradicts these beliefs will be viewed threateningly and with disdain. Pat Buchanan's recent outbust about white males’ “earned” place of power is one of the more blatant examples of this attitude but it is by no means an exception to the rule. Attacks and comments based on race, sex, sexual preference, financial worth, etc. all have at their core a notion of superiority; men superior to women, whites superior to people of color, heterosexuals superior to gays, the rich superior to the poor, etc. These hierarchies are most often artificially contrived by the believer to generate a sense of self worth; I am better than you because I was born a particular sex, race, nationality. And, even though I had no control or input in any of these factors, I am going to capitalize on them nevertheless.
Their anger and frustration comes about whenever they are presented with any subject that even remotely touches any of their self worth hierarchies. A sense of self preservation arises and their “fight or flight response” kicks into high gear. The problem is not just a mere difference of opinions or what facts count as evidence, it is much more primordial. Their very core is under attack. This emotional reaction makes an already tense situation intolerable. And, to make matter worse, the harder you try to reason with them the more obstinate they become. Their frustration levels are so heightened right now that they don’t even go through the motions of presenting what might pass as an argument, they go right to ad hominem, straw men and almost untranslatable speech patterns; “You fucktard liberals want to ruin this country because you don’t love God, America or the troops. Your love of gays, abortion, (insert racial slur) and all things socialist goes against God’s Will and the Christian foundation this country was built on. I rebuke you. Get thee behind me lovers of Satan!”
Unfortunately, no amount of discussion, argument or understanding is going to change this situation. People are not often introspective when it comes to their fundamental beliefs of self identity. These perceptions are deeply ingrained and part of the bedrock of their self identity as both individuals and as a group. They cannot imagine, let alone entertain, a situation that would contradict these fundamental concepts. Their personal investment in these beliefs makes the likelihood of self-reflection or dispassionate analysis highly unlikely. The majority of the right’s base seem too entrenched in their beliefs to change on even a rudimentary level. From the invasion of Iraq and the use of torture to the defense of unregulated capitalism in light of our economic collapse, we have seen multiple examples of self denial from the right. No quality or quantity of evidence can budge them out of their entrenched state or make them reevaluate their positions.
Knowing the emotional climate, what is the best way to deal with these unreflective, grandiose temper tantrums? Ignore them. And, even though this comes across as condescending and patronizing, it is the only reasonable approach to the problem. Too much time and energy is wasted on people who are not going to listen and who refuse to budge on the issues that need our immediate attention. Ignoring people who will not or cannot step outside their preconceptions will only infuriate them more, but their problems should not become ours. To give them time and energy only makes them dig their heels in deeper and reaffirm their foundationless paradigms. However, it is still important to remain civil when interacting with someone who exhibits these traits. While they may never change their beliefs, there are still many open minded people who are watching and listening to the discussion from the periphery. These are the people who deserve our time and attention. But if we fall into the ad hominem/straw man/ranting and raving, angry approach too often taken by the right, those on the outside looking in will see nothing more than two children fighting and tune out both parties.