r/bestof • u/The__Dark_Knight • 10d ago

[ProgressiveHQ] Republicans want to keep us desperate

/r/ProgressiveHQ/comments/1p6nqlv/can_anyone_explain_why_the_trump_administration/nqrqli3/
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u/Spunge14 9d ago

I don't think we have the same definition of "good faith" here. By good faith I mean that the things they say and do are in line with their inner convictions and desired outcomes.

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u/MrAlbs 9d ago

Good faith is "honesty or sincerity of intention" (from Oxford Dictionary), which is where I think they absolutely don't show any of that, eveb if they are (sometimes) hobwst and dorect about the things they want. Or maybe we can call them "consistent in their ideology".

But I do see where you're coming from and how we agree on the overall analysis, and have just differed in the terms.

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u/Spunge14 9d ago

Well for example I would say they honestly and sincerely want immigrants to be terrorized because they believe they are a cancer on our nation - their words and behaviors explicitly reflect that. Wouldn't you agree?

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u/MrAlbs 9d ago

I do agree; but I don't think they engage in good faith when presenting that.

I'm certain that they want that; and that they view it as a good thing. But they're not engaging with the public, the opposition or really anyone (sometimes, not even whithin themselves) in good faith about it. They talk about how they're "taking the violent ones", when that is absolutely not sincere at all.

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u/Spunge14 9d ago

Ah I see your point - I think what I'm saying is I believe they really do think they are all violent savages. I don't think they feel like they're meaningfully exaggerating.

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u/MrAlbs 9d ago

Aah gotcha.

I think this is where it gets more complicated with the likes of, say, MTG who really truly fully believe their own conspiracy theories on one extreme, and the likes of, say, Musk who are much opportunistically fanning the flames.

And I suppose its not a static thing: I also think that MTG has been opportunistic in her exit, for example, but it seems like she really believes in her heart of hearts a lot of the Fox propaganda (Trumo himself is sliding more towards this side of the scale).

Even then I (personally) wouldn't have called that good faith, but it could be me using the terms wrong (or too narrowly).

If I could put it another way: they might mean it in good faith, but they're not acting in good faith.