Carol J. Roth, entrepreneur, media personality, and author of “The Entrepreneur Equation,” posted this excellent Twitter thread Wednesday and we meant to do a post then, but then we got caught up covering a mob of Antifa goons terrorizing Tucker Carlson’s family at his home. So, it’s even more apropos today than it was yesterday.
In short, Roth argues that the Left and Right approach political disagreements in different ways, and it’s getting us nowhere. The catch: it’s up to the Left for the most part to change the way they approach political conflict. In short, start debating ideas and stop demonizing individuals.
Ok, here we go.
*Tweetstorm ahead*To preface my tweetstorm, for those of you who are new or don’t know me as well, a few points of clarification:
-This is not about any person or persons; it is just my general but frequent observations
— Carol Roth (@caroljsroth) November 8, 2018
-This is not meant to cause shame, it is meant to cause self-awareness and self-reflection. I am a problem-solver by nature, but you cannot solve problems without calling them out, and sometimes you just can’t sugar coat it.
— Carol Roth (@caroljsroth) November 8, 2018
My political standing: I consider myself an “individualist”. I support individual rights & limited govt. This means, I pick from both sides. I support the right to marry whomever you want from the left’s menu & not having the govt be a nanny from the right’s menu, for example.
— Carol Roth (@caroljsroth) November 8, 2018
I follow people from both sides & like people on both sides, & despite occasional foolishness on here, try to act in good faith. I have also been in media for nearly a decade on stations & programs that lean to both sides, so I feel like I have a decent sense of each side.
— Carol Roth (@caroljsroth) November 8, 2018
So, I say this with kindness and in the spirit of helping, but many of you- my friends, acquaintances and otherwise- on the left are acting in what may start with good intentions but is ultimately in bad faith and I don’t think you realize it.
— Carol Roth (@caroljsroth) November 8, 2018
There is hypocrisy & challenges on both sides, but whereas those on the right think those on the left have bad ideas, those of you on the left think (or at least act as if you think) the people on the right are bad people. We are never going to find solutions with this mindset.
— Carol Roth (@caroljsroth) November 8, 2018
I have seen this with gun advocacy. While you don’t have to be for the 2nd amendment, instead of understanding or even listening to arguments, you call anyone who supports the Constitution and the rights it protects killers with blood on their hands.
— Carol Roth (@caroljsroth) November 8, 2018
I have seen this with immigration. Instead of understanding the challenges of a broken system, you conflate illegal immigration with actual immigration and say those who don’t support open borders are heartless, racist and/or xenophobic.
— Carol Roth (@caroljsroth) November 8, 2018
I have seen this with women. You support all women—that is, until there are women who don’t think exactly like you do.
I have seen this with race- truly, you are the ones usually focused on race vs. merits of individuals.
— Carol Roth (@caroljsroth) November 8, 2018
I have seen this with taxes. Instead of listening to why people believe government is a poor steward of capital and that people believe there are other solutions to helping others, you make tax “cuts”- literally keeping more of your own money- a referendum on being a good person.
— Carol Roth (@caroljsroth) November 8, 2018
You call the right the party of rich old men when it suits you. When it doesn’t, they are a bunch of uneducated rednecks.
— Carol Roth (@caroljsroth) November 8, 2018
You call out the hate speech of fringe groups not even accepted on the right, while your actual leaders hang out with the likes of Farrakhan, unchallenged.
And on, and on, and on. You’ve completely lost the plot.
— Carol Roth (@caroljsroth) November 8, 2018
Even the media itself covers the same stories differently, depending on if the subject is on the right or the left. I have pointed out many examples of the past year.
— Carol Roth (@caroljsroth) November 8, 2018
I understand that most-if not all of you- don’t like the guy in the White House (disclosure: I didn’t vote for him, either). But, let’s be real. He may today have an R next to his name, but he’s not really a Republican (in fact, he was a lifelong Democrat until recently)…
— Carol Roth (@caroljsroth) November 8, 2018
…- but truthfully, he’s an anomaly & his election has to do with a whole bunch of separate factors that I can explain to you if need be. But this stuff didn’t start with him…
— Carol Roth (@caroljsroth) November 8, 2018
…You did the same thing to Mitt Romney and his supporters, who is basically the most vanilla, benign person in politics. You may remember it differently, but I was in the middle of it, and it was ugly.
— Carol Roth (@caroljsroth) November 8, 2018
I'm not saying that the right doesn’t give it back or have their problems. They do-but my observation is that they are finally speaking up after having the same kinds of rhetoric slammed down their throats-being called bad people instead of people w/ ideas that you don’t agree w
— Carol Roth (@caroljsroth) November 8, 2018
…But you must realize that by and large- with some exceptions, obviously- people are coming from a good place with good intentions and see the world differently.
— Carol Roth (@caroljsroth) November 8, 2018
That’s the only way we will remain the United States of America. And frankly, those of us in the middle, which I believe to be a large part of the country, are sick of this bickering and generally exhausted.
— Carol Roth (@caroljsroth) November 8, 2018
It doesn’t matter who is living in the White House- what moves us forward or backwards is up to us as individuals, together.
— Carol Roth (@caroljsroth) November 8, 2018
Again, this is not meant to offend but inform and I hope you will give me the courtesy of believing it comes from a good and worthwhile place. I am always happy to engage in constructive discussion if you engage the same way.
Thanks for reading.
— Carol Roth (@caroljsroth) November 8, 2018
Here’s hoping some of that got through to the people who needed to hear it the most?
This was outstanding. Thoughtful. Honest. I find myself with you. I fear for our country. Thank you for this.
— mike koehl (@mpk62) November 8, 2018
I have no idea who you are this just came up on my feed, but you are now my favorite person on twitter today. To bad all that you said here will just go right over the heads of those who need to hear it the most. @acosta @realDonaldTrump and many more
— LeighAM (@factualone) November 8, 2018
I have been saying this for decades. None of what is currently happening is new, just worse and more widely accessible. This is what happens when people "think" with their emotions rather than think critically, using reason and logic….. ☠
— ThrashMikki (@ThrashMikki) November 8, 2018
Excellent.There are days I actually wonder if I’m missing something. Why have good friends, who are intelligent, loving people, become incapable of tolerating any opposing viewpoint? They are disconnecting, listening/reading only to likeminded views, yet claiming tolerance.
— Brian Lerias (@lerias1968) November 8, 2018
This thread completely sums up how I feel and I just couldn’t put it into words, thanks for sharing your thoughts.
— Amy Reynolds_RN (@amjones89) November 8, 2018
Tremendous observations. Sadly I fear we are one really terrible act away from never being able to return to civility.
— Artful American (@artfulamerican) November 8, 2018
You are my spirit animal @caroljsroth ! Well said.
— jacquie steiner (@jaxster3) November 8, 2018
Perfection
— No Small Thinking (@jhufford32) November 8, 2018
Great thread. Wish I thought it wouldn't fall on so many deaf ears.
— E.B. Garrett (@EBGarrett1975) November 8, 2018
Sorry, just got back from breaking down Tucker Carlson's door…what'd I miss?
— Ross H Brown (@misterrossy1) November 8, 2018
This is awesome, thank you!
— PythonBooksAuthor ?? (@meprogrammerguy) November 8, 2018
Bookmarking this tweet. Pretty much sums up my view on politics right now. This of us in the middle/independent realm are fed up with both sides
— Mike Bourg (@Mic_bg) November 8, 2018
Sincerely, thank you. This crystallizes much of what I've felt lately. I'm liberal, but as someone who enjoys discussion and playing devil's advocate to prove out an idea, have found more common cause on the right, even though I tend to (respectfully) disagree with them a lot.
— pioneersay (@bmelton) November 8, 2018
Agreed. I'm moderate and feel both sides' extremes are the loudest right now. I don't support the Rs on many things (environment for example) and am NOT a Trump guy. But voting D these past few elections has been a bitter consequence, not a confident choice.
— Ari ⚡️ (@Ariwl1Ray) November 8, 2018
Outstanding and well stated. Thanks @caroljsroth for having the courage to say it.
— Steve Swanson (@StevenASwanson) November 8, 2018
Related:
Good talk: David Hogg says NRA are 'pathetic f**kers that want to keep killing our children' https://t.co/suxJj43uZN
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) March 22, 2018
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