Many modern Republicans don't deserve to be taken seriously

[T'Chenka]

In the battle of ideas, many (but not all) modern day Republican voters and commentators don't deserve to be taken seriously. I have a hard time explaining this point, so bear with me here.

It all comes down to high school debate class for me. Both sides will state their ideological beliefs and then they will argue for and against them using logic, evidence, etc etc. The huge problem is that many modern Republicans don't actually hold the beliefs they claim to hold, and the beliefs they DO hold are laughable and/or deplorable.

Let me give you an example. Republicans had been screaming for law and order and a stop to riots in the summer, but on January 06 when it was white Trumpists and not BLM, many were either silent or supportive. Therefore, their beliefs are NOT what they claimed them to be. "I am against riots and for law and order" was a lie. What they actually believed was "I am for or against riots depending on who is doing them amd I am for or against law and order depending on the situation".

So what is happening here is that Democrats are bringing ideoligies and beliefs to the table that are much stronger and/or much more in line with the Constitution, democracy and American values, and the Republicans are bringing lies and bad faith to the table because it's the only way that they can claim "we just have equal but different beliefs and ideas". This is the current state of American politics, taxation and healthcare aside.

I'm tired of pretending that a large percentage of Republicans are my moral or political equals when they won't bring good-faith ideas and counter-arguments to the table. Healthy debate and strong arguments on both sides benefit everybody involved. I want to see more of that and less hypocrisy.

[T'Chenka]

on January 06 when it was white Trumpists and not BLM, many were either silent or supportive.

Really? A vast majority condemned the violence, including McConnell and Trump.

It was arguably too little, too late, and not really totally in line with “law and order” but if nothing else, only 35% of Republicans said they supported the riots.

My OP mentioned Republican voters/citizens and commentators moreso than lawmakers. Also, I saw a poll showing 45% not 35%.

[T'Chenka]

Let me give you an example. Republicans had been screaming for law and order and a stop to riots in the summer, but on January 06 when it was white Trumpists and not BLM, many were either silent or supportive. Therefore, their beliefs are NOT what they claimed them to be. "I am against riots and for law and order" was a lie. What they actually believed was "I am for or against riots depending on who is doing them amd I am for or against law and order depending on the situation".

I do think the overall point you're trying to make applies much more to the right than left today, but that particular example and especially the last sentence applies just as much to the left as to the right. When the riot was actually going on I was too concerned about them to worry about liberal hypocrisy, but with distance I do agree with the right wing critiques that the left are full of s***, only I'm not going to use that as a whataboutist defense of the capitol rioters like they did. I am against rioting in both instances, unlike most people.  

Lol, this itself is a bad faith argument.

Most people on the left condemned the rioting and looting, and you know that. Thanks for proving my point.

EDIT - Oops I mixed you up with another green Florida avatar. Ignore the snark. Mea culpa. Point still stands regarding many people making this argument though.

[T'Chenka]

So what are the sides of our current “serious” discourse?

The non-existant one? Taxation, abortion, military spending / strategy / goals, economic models (welfare state vs Reaganomics), socialization of healthcare, etc etc.