Have we become a nation of emotional pygmies; people so small of mind and spirit that we

[Atticus]

care only about our personal well-being?

Can we really look the other way while our brothers and sisters who happen to be gay or black or bi or brown or trans or----DIFFERENT in some way---are shunned, humiliated, discriminated against or---killed--- just so long as they (for now) leave us alone?

Are we so morally bankrupt that, at long last, we have adopted the Republican Party motto: "I've got mine---the hell with you!"?

These questions came to mind as I watched interviews of Trump supporters who "don't like" his tweets, his racism, his personal immorality or his religious bigotry, but will vote for him again because "their business is great".

I'll just post the last part of what I'd like to say go these people: "---and the mule you rode on".

[Ilsa]

1. All they care about is their businesses.

They think having a booming economy is better than anything, including national security, equality, education, etc.

[stopdiggin]

2. and proving that they don't know anything about the economy

The irony here is that a relatively strong economy (mostly inherited) is starting to falter. Talk to a real economist, and you'll hear how most of the administration's actions have been detrimental (trade wars), or a lot less help than they could have been (tax cut). Although you might find some varying opinion on energy and deregulation (economists general like that stuff, even when they're watching bridges fall down and the Gulf blossoming into a gigantic dead zone). So the consensus would mostly be that our "stable genius" has managed (through some staggering ineptitude) to throw the brakes on a surprisingly robust economy .. and a lot of indicators are heading south as we speak.

(and truthfully, anybody that has a business that's any more involved than lawn care is NOT crowing about how great things are. talked to any new car salesman recently? tech sector? new homes?)

[BigmanPigman]

3. Thank you for stating this.

I thought it was common knowledge. My dog even knows that the economy sucks. Who are these brilliant businessmen?

[KY_EnviroGuy]

5. Don't think most people's emotions have changed but instead kept bottled.....

because our nation is now severely divided. No one wants to show weakness to the other side.

A sizable percentage of Rethugs have a psychopathic streak, some of which is genetic. Real psychopaths are very selfish and have little emotion other than anger. That explains their obsession with "business". They do the brainwashing of others via right-wing media, transferring their foul emotions to millions of others. Empathy is alien to them.

That small element of our populace has always been there but their social influence can be wide-spread. These days, they just have access to far more money than before.

Regarding the rest of us, I think progressives have maintained relatively healthy emotions but we now have built-up fear and resentment. We also tend to keep our emotional releases within our "bubble" and do it in a healthy way.

KY........

[misanthrope]

6. "Become"? Our national ethos has been this way for centuries

As early as the 1830s, Alexis de Tocqueville recognized that “as one digs deeper into the national character of the Americans, one sees that they have sought the value of everything in this world only in the answer to this single question: how much money will it bring in?”

https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-price-life-slavery-costs-americans-1226-20171214-story.html

[sprinkleeninow]

7. Repeated on CBS News. An Ohio farmer having a bad planting season, seedlings

attempting coming up through hard, caked soil.

News person mentioned the tariffs. Farmer said he understands them so it would be fairer for us.

Plus he trusts * because he's a 'businessman'.