Opinion: Feelings vs. Policy in Modern Politics

After spending time on social media over the last 3 years, there is a noticeable trend of users falling more on the emotional side of political issues, than that of facts and rationality. Particularly, directly after President Donald Trump's inauguration in 2017. People were drawing from the hip, never using facts, but forcing their political opinions upon others based purely on feelings. These illogical emotional outbursts could be read from the right and the left of the political spectrum. All facts flew out the window, especially after the Trump campaign came up with “alternative facts”. Meaning, we all have our own “truths”, and the notion of Truth is a relative concept: a postmodern concept brought into the political arena, that has become, less so now, extremely dangerous. Therefore, with only “alternative facts”, all that is left is our feelings. Is our feelings dominating modern political discourse?

Interestingly, which many people do not know, the famous ancient Greek philosopher, Socrates, despised “democracy”, because he believed the unquestioning and uneducated masses would vote based on their feelings, and the perceived charm of a certain candidate. He thought that this would only bring in tyrannical rule, as the people would vote based on emotion and the perceived elect-ability of a candidate. Indeed, over 2500 years later, this continues to be the case.

Since the end of the Mueller investigation in 2018, revealing that the Trump admin did not collude with Russia during the campaign, the emotional hysteria in politics has toned down a bit. I found it extraordinary, however, that so many people bought into that “scandal”, even writing entire books of pure emotion and speculation. Russia-gate is a prime example of people operating from emotion devoid of any evidence. That said, those with less critical minds continue to push this ridiculous notion, as admitting one's wrongness, is too difficult to bare. Now, after Russia-gate, the democratic party is pushing it again, now in the impeachment trials, instigating an old McCarthy-like rant, close to the Stalin purges of the 40's and 50's. All this is based on emotion and lies. I believe the democrats have been expanding this McCarthy crusade for one reason: they have zero policies designed to help the people. Again, emotion continues to prevail throughout the political landscape.

It is also fascinating to observe Trump's rallies across the country. The man, despite his ignorance, is a master at holding an audience. He will spout lies about immigration, for example, knowing the right emotional button to push in the crowd, and the people react appropriately, right on cue, as if the whole spectacle had been rehearsed. If you ask a MAGA person what one policy that Trump has brought to the table they're most proud of, well, nine times out of ten, the questioner will be greeted by a blank stare.

Really, there has not been a time in western politics, that emotion has not played a major role with the single voter. Of course, policy has prevailed in certain cases, for example, FDR's New Deal, when the US was in a deep depression. But here again, people were voting from their empty stomachs, not their minds and reason.

Another good example of emotionally driven politics, is the 2018 Australian general election. The conservative government had the backing of the coal lobby. Over $80 million in adversity advertising against the Labour party was spent pushing lies to gain an emotional response. This lie was that Labour would close down the coal industry, resulting in thousands of job losses. Anyone investigating Labours actual policies knew this to be untrue. The party was merely looking ahead at alternative industries in light of the climate emergency. But the Conservative campaign of lies and fear, directed at the people's hearts won out, and Australia is left with a corrupt, right wing, climate emergency-denying government.

I learned at a very early age that all governments lie, and lie often. And, indeed, realised that research into actual policies of the specific party was imperative, in order to make a informed decision for my single vote.

Considering the vast amount of lies told to us by our politicians, it is only logical that we dig into their past and their policies. However, emotion prevails, and at bottom, many people simply do not have the time to research, because their holding down too many jobs merely to survive.

Overall, was Socrates correct, despising democracy, claiming it was a gateway to tyrannical government?

Look at the planets leaders in present time.

This should answer the question.