It's almost like when you reduce people's freedom, belittle them, and make them feel weak and useless, they turn against the forces they see as the limiting factor. Lockdowns have hurt us all politically, socially, and economically.

[–] remotelove@lemmy.ca 10 points 4 days ago (16 children)

While that may be true, people are forgetting that the recent trend of shit started before the pandemic. The pandemic absolutely amplified a good deal of idiocy, but in this case, the fire was already started.

If anything, political polarization just got worse than it already was, but still, I don't think there was a huge swing from one party to another. Democrats lost this election because people didn't vote, not because the Republican base grew.

I am not denying that lockdowns sucked ass, because they did. Did it contribute to a weird political climate? Absolutely. Did it cause a rise of fascism? I have my doubts because it was bad beforehand.

[+] Endymion_Mallorn@kbin.melroy.org -14 points 3 days ago (15 children)

I can only judge based on my own self and the people around me. Before the lockdown, I was pretty far on the left. I voted Stein in 16 after Bernie got (inevitably) screwed by the DNC. And I have to admit, Trump 1 wasn't a bad time for me economically. But the actual shift happened during the lockdown.

I'm in NJ. I found myself abruptly unable to live my life, unable to see my friends, unable to do anything but live in fear - not of a virus or deaths, but of the laws put in place by Democrats - specifically Phil Murphy. I had a friend die with COVID-19, so I wasn't untouched. But I was unable to mourn that friend because we couldn't hold a wake for him for three years. I didn't have a chance to process what I was feeling, because I was being told that I should be afraid of being next - even though unlike him, I haven't had multiple strokes or a heart attack. I also saw my friends who were teachers be unable to teach properly, denied the ability to do anyone hands-on or stop students from losing focus. Most of.my friends who were teachers before 2021 have changed jobs because it was so disheartening. And when the teachers wanted to go back to the classroom, it was the Union that refused, and who influenced the governor and his people, rather than real classroom teachers.

All I saw was the policy of the Democrats trapping me at every turn. So my feelings turned otherwise. And I still say, no one who claims to be Democrat or caucuses with Democrats will every get my vote or my donation again. I don't care what happens otherwise. I can't hurt them the way I was hurt. But I can do that one thing. So I will. I can't change the massive wealth transfer that happened because the normal people were trapped like animals in cages. But I can vote against the people who put us in the cages. It's a totally worthless gesture, but it's the one that is mine to make. After all, if voting mattered, you and I wouldn't be allowed to do it.

I expect that younger people see the same thing. Their lives were put on pause, their education was stunted, and their few years of freedom were curtailed by Democrats and the American Progressive Left. Why should you support the people who hurt you?

[–] TheOctonaut@mander.xyz 9 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Do you not remember that Trump was president during the lockdowns? Are you that stupid or are you trying to rewrite history for your masters?

[–] Endymion_Mallorn@kbin.melroy.org -5 points 3 days ago (1 children)

What I remember is that Trump wasn't the one who impacted me directly. Sure, his mad "warp speed" policy gave the pharmaceutical companies an even more powerful blank check, but that doesn't impact my day-to-day life. It was ridiculous, and should never have happened, but the transfer of wealth and rights between the government and private industry isn't something that changes based on the party in power anymore.

The direct impact was all from Phil Murphy and others on his side. Now, I'm going to be clear: the government of the state of New Jersey has the right to do what they did. If I had the means and the ability, I would have had the right to move to a different state. The right of self-determination and nearly unfettered intranational mobility to live in the way you see as best is a large part of what makes the USA a strong nation. My situation is such that I didn't have that option to leave. Had I been able to move, I might have very different views now.

But all that doesn't mean I have any desire to support that administration, or anything aligned with them. So I'm not going to vote for them ever again. Because I was hurt and the people around me were hurt by the policies and laws they put in place and supported, and I'm not going to forgive them.

[–] piccolo@sh.itjust.works 3 points 3 days ago

You should've switched with me. My state did little to nothing as our hospitals were overran and refers trucks were called in to hold the dead.

Chucklefucks like you are the reason people with trivial medical needs were dying because there was no room in hosptials.

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