When politicians start talking about large groups of their fellow Americans as 'enemies,' it's time for a quiet stir of alertness. Polarizing people is a good way to win an election, and also a good way to wreck a country.
Interpretation
This quote warns against the dangers of political polarization and the rhetoric that divides people into enemies.
Molly Ivins highlights the concerning trend of politicians labeling opposing groups as 'enemies,' suggesting that such divisive language can be a tool for electoral gain but ultimately undermines national unity and can lead to severe consequences for the country. It reflects the idea that creating an 'us versus them' mentality not only threatens political discourse but risks the integrity of the nation itself.
In practice
In a political debate, one might quote this to emphasize the dangers of divisive rhetoric.
Racists seem obsessed by the idea that illegal workers - the hardest-working, poorest people in America - are somehow getting away with something, sneaking goodies that should be for Americans. You can always avoid this problem by having no social services. This is the refreshing Texas model, and it works a treat.
Populism is the simple premise that markets need to be restrained by society and by a democratic political system. We are not socialists or communists, we are proponents of regulated capitalism and, I might add, people who have read American history.
We should all laugh more at our elected officials - it's good for us and good for them.
Although it is true that only about 20 percent of American workers are in unions, that 20 percent sets the standards across the board in salaries, benefits and working conditions. If you are making a decent salary in a non-union company, you owe that to the unions. One thing that corporations do not do is give out money out of the goodness of their hearts.
Imagine wasting all that perfectly good anger on paranoid fantasies. Not since Emily Litella got upset about "Soviet jewelry" has there been such a waste of anger. You will notice a certain theme to these Emily Litella Moments. Behind them all is a touching faith that someone, somewhere is actually in charge of what's happening - a proposition I beg leave to doubt.
All anyone needs to enjoy the state legislature is a strong stomach and a complete insensitivity to the needs of the people. As long as you don't think about what that peculiar body should be doing and what it actually is doing to the quality of life in Texas, then it's all marvelous fun.
In the final analysis it doesn't really matter what the political system is...We don't need perfect political systems; we need perfect participation.
All political power comes from the barrel of either guns, pussy, or opium pipes, and people seem to like it that way.
There is no private domain of a person's life that is not political, and there is no political issue that is not ultimately personal.
Like a cyclone, imperialism spins across the globe; militarism crushes peoples and sucks their blood like a vampire.
Fascist movements kill off their critics, literally or metaphorically, while democratic movements value, invite and even welcome criticism.
I tried to contribute to the defeat of the Soviets. If I contributed 1%, it is 1% of something enormous.
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