# What are we to do with these insects we refer to as Republicans? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 1, 2019, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-we-to-do-with-these-insects-we-refer-to-as-republicans/841076 "2019-10-01T04:34:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![The\_Plutonium\_Kid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@The\_Plutonium\_Kid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Plutonium_Kid)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2019, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-we-to-do-with-these-insects-we-refer-to-as-republicans/841076/181 "2019-10-02T05:30:36Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Perhaps the solution to Republicans being dehumanized would be for them to act more human and stop supporting fascism and bigotry. Perhaps the rest of us would feel better about your integrity and good will if you didn’t believe that people who don’t agree with your political ideology are subhuman – and therefore have no rights you are morally obliged to respect. Not even the right to life. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2019, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-we-to-do-with-these-insects-we-refer-to-as-republicans/841076/182 "2019-10-02T05:30:57Z")
> [@The\_Plutonium\_Kid](#): > > When progs squawk about equality, brotherhood and such like, they are no better than conservative who squawk about motherhood, apple pie and the flag. Oh, I get the elementary point that such abstract ideals can be more symbolic than substantial. What I don’t get is why that prompts you to call them “lunatic notions”. What’s “lunatic” about equality or brotherhood, or for that matter motherhood, apple pie or the flag? ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2019, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-we-to-do-with-these-insects-we-refer-to-as-republicans/841076/183 "2019-10-02T05:32:03Z")
> [@Evil\_Economist](#): > > That guy is definitely not competing for second place. Well, I think the OP has first place locked up by at least several lengths, if not laps. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Economist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c89c15/32.png) [@Evil\_Economist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Economist)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2019, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-we-to-do-with-these-insects-we-refer-to-as-republicans/841076/184 "2019-10-02T05:33:30Z")
> [@The\_Plutonium\_Kid](#): > > the purpose is to manipulate emotions, not to communicate ideas… And today’s champion in the “do as I say, not as I do” category is the guy who also made the below post: > [@The\_Plutonium\_Kid](#): > > Okay, I’m wondering how you plan to do away with me and most of the people I know. Perhaps you want to follow the Stalinist example and ship us off to work camps where, lacking adequate food, clothing, shelter and medical, we will be slowly die off from exhaustion, starvation, beatings and execution by the camp guards. > > Or perhaps you want to go full blast and send us to death camps where we will be gassed and machine gunned, everybody, all of us, from grandmothers and grandfathers down to toddler and newborn babies. > > Maybe you want to reduce to chattel, a social class of creatures barely considered human, the property of the ideologically correct elite who have no rights you are morally and legally required to respect and whose lives you may dispose of as you please with no regard for whatever suffering and death you may inflict on us. > > By the way, will such conditions be imposed only on persons of white ancestry, or will they be imposed on anyone who questions or challenges the politically correct ruling elite and their lunatic notions of equality? Will we be entitled to public trials before we suffer any of your sanctions? Or will the NKVD simply make us disappear in the middle of the night? > > Or will you swine only be happy when Western civilization and Christianity are wiped from the face of the earth? It’s an unusual accomplishment when you can come into a thread calling Republicans insects, and bring the level of crazy up a half-dozen notches. ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2019, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-we-to-do-with-these-insects-we-refer-to-as-republicans/841076/185 "2019-10-02T05:35:27Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > This thread is making me sad now. ☹ Yes, I find it particularly sad that, as often said those who don’t learn from history are condemned to repeat it, yet it’s people LARPing as fighting Nazis that do the very same thing Nazis (and other stains in Humanity’s history) were all about. [“During the Holocaust, Nazis referred to Jews as rats. Hutus involved in the Rwanda genocide called Tutsis cockroaches. Slave owners throughout history considered slaves subhuman animals. In Less Than Human, David Livingstone Smith argues that it’s important to define and describe dehumanization, because it’s what opens the door for cruelty and genocide.”](https://www.npr.org/2011/03/29/134956180/criminals-see-their-victims-as-less-than-human) [“Thinking sets the agenda for action, and thinking of humans as less than human paves the way for atrocity. The Nazis were explicit about the status of their victims. They were Untermenschen — subhumans — and as such were excluded from the system of moral rights and obligations that bind humankind together. It’s wrong to kill a person, but permissible to exterminate a rat.”](https://www.npr.org/2011/03/29/134956180/criminals-see-their-victims-as-less-than-human) I live not that far away from the Cambodian killing fields, it always starts with dehumanizing people. ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2019, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-we-to-do-with-these-insects-we-refer-to-as-republicans/841076/186 "2019-10-02T05:38:15Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > One of the reasons the Republicans are getting worse is you. Not you single-handedly; I don’t give you that much credit. But when people like you get all hysterical and run around screaming, the Republicans are able to sit back and say, “See? That’s what we’re up against.” and people look at you acting like an lunatic and they nod their heads. > > The Republicans are bad. So they need people like you to make them look good. > > Meanwhile people like me will stay calm and work on convincing people that they shouldn’t vote for Trump or other Republicans in 2020. And we’re hoping those people won’t see this thread. Apparently, thinking like that makes you a Trump supporter, or an animal, same thing, apparently. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Economist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c89c15/32.png) [@Evil\_Economist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Economist)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2019, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-we-to-do-with-these-insects-we-refer-to-as-republicans/841076/187 "2019-10-02T05:39:35Z")
> [@Ale](#): > > Yes, I find it particularly sad that, as often said those who don’t learn from history are condemned to repeat it, yet it’s people LARPing as fighting Nazis that do the very same thing Nazis (and other stains in Humanities history) were all about > … > > I live not that far away from the Cambodian killing fields, it always starts with dehumanizing people. Shouldn’t you worry more about the ones who are actually killing people? Hint: IT’S THE RIGHT WING EXTREMISTS WHO ARE ACTUALLY KILLING PEOPLE, YOU FUCKING IDIOT! ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Economist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c89c15/32.png) [@Evil\_Economist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Economist)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2019, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-we-to-do-with-these-insects-we-refer-to-as-republicans/841076/188 "2019-10-02T05:40:50Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > Well, I think the OP has first place locked up by at least several lengths, if not laps. $10 says **The Plutonium Kid** goes on a murder spree before \*\*asahi \*\*does. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2019, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-we-to-do-with-these-insects-we-refer-to-as-republicans/841076/189 "2019-10-02T05:58:16Z")
> [@Evil\_Economist](#): > > Shouldn’t you worry more about the ones who are actually killing people? Hint: IT’S THE RIGHT WING EXTREMISTS WHO ARE ACTUALLY KILLING PEOPLE, YOU FUCKING IDIOT! They’re not doing all of it but they’re doing the lion’s share. [https://www.adl.org/news/press-releases/right-wing-extremism-linked-to-every-2018-extremist-murder-in-the-us-adl-finds](https://www.adl.org/news/press-releases/right-wing-extremism-linked-to-every-2018-extremist-murder-in-the-us-adl-finds) So all the insect Republicans are the same as them? The most hateful extremism in this thread, which the ADL is speaking out against, is from the OP. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Plutonium\_Kid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@The\_Plutonium\_Kid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Plutonium_Kid)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2019, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-we-to-do-with-these-insects-we-refer-to-as-republicans/841076/190 "2019-10-02T06:03:36Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > Oh, I get the elementary point that such abstract ideals can be more symbolic than substantial. What I don’t get is why that prompts you to call them “lunatic notions”. What’s “lunatic” about equality or brotherhood, or for that matter motherhood, apple pie or the flag? Well, I thought I made it plain that the word equality doesn’t mean the same thing to everybody. Unless you make it plain in the first place what the term is supposed to mean\*\* in practical terms,\*\* you aren’t communicating ideas, you’re just stirring up emotion. It’s not terribly different from the fundamentalist who robotically recites holy scripture and assumes that doing so is supposed to end all further discussion. \*You don’t accept scripture as the final word? Be damned to you, heathen! \*The equally benighted progressive responds much the same way. \*What? You don’t believe supporting Trump means you don’t care about Equality? Racist! Reactionary! Fascist! Off to the re-education camp with you! \* Vague abstractions are easily abused. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Plutonium\_Kid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@The\_Plutonium\_Kid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Plutonium_Kid)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2019, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-we-to-do-with-these-insects-we-refer-to-as-republicans/841076/191 "2019-10-02T06:06:47Z")
> [@Evil\_Economist](#): > > $10 says **The Plutonium Kid** goes on a murder spree before \*\*asahi \*\*does. Bah. I’m not likely to do anything which will get me locked up. ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2019, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-we-to-do-with-these-insects-we-refer-to-as-republicans/841076/192 "2019-10-02T06:07:04Z")
> [@Evil\_Economist](#): > > Shouldn’t you worry more about the ones who are actually killing people? Hint: IT’S THE RIGHT WING EXTREMISTS WHO ARE ACTUALLY KILLING PEOPLE, YOU FUCKING IDIOT! It may be because I’m an idiot that I didn’t notice, but can you point at one of those right wing murderers taking part in this thread? Maybe again is the stupidity at play again, but I think engaging with people is more worthwhile that venting frustrations against someone, somewhere. But I’ll humour you, right wing extremist that kill people are awful, they really shouldn’t be doing that. There, better?, please use your superior intellect to quantify the amount of good that has done. Since you are so good at the thinking consider this, what would be the response of a radialized right-winger to the OP: A No reaction. B See the wrong of their ways and repent C Further radicalise ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Economist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c89c15/32.png) [@Evil\_Economist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Economist)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2019, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-we-to-do-with-these-insects-we-refer-to-as-republicans/841076/193 "2019-10-02T06:09:01Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > They’re not doing all of it but they’re doing the lion’s share. > [https://www.adl.org/news/press-releases/right-wing-extremism-linked-to-every-2018-extremist-murder-in-the-us-adl-finds](https://www.adl.org/news/press-releases/right-wing-extremism-linked-to-every-2018-extremist-murder-in-the-us-adl-finds) I’m aware of that cite–it’s in my signature. > [@](#): > > The most hateful extremism in this thread, which the ADL is speaking out against, is from the OP. No it isn’t, it’s from **The Plutonium Kid** and **Octopus**. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2019, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-we-to-do-with-these-insects-we-refer-to-as-republicans/841076/194 "2019-10-02T06:15:40Z")
> [@The\_Plutonium\_Kid](#): > > Well, I thought I made it plain that the word equality doesn’t mean the same thing to everybody. You did—and I thought I made it plain that I understood that—but you’re still rather dancing around the question of why you consider it “lunatic”. I mean, it’s not at all apparent why it should be considered “lunatic” to think that supporting Trump correlates with opposing equality, although of course the act of actually sending somebody off to a “re-education camp” on those grounds would be pretty nutty. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Economist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c89c15/32.png) [@Evil\_Economist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Economist)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2019, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-we-to-do-with-these-insects-we-refer-to-as-republicans/841076/195 "2019-10-02T06:17:24Z")
> [@Ale](#): > > But I’ll humour you, right wing extremist that kill people are awful, they really shouldn’t be doing that. There, better?, please use your superior intellect to quantify the amount of good that has done. I think for it to do good you have to actually mean it. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2019, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-we-to-do-with-these-insects-we-refer-to-as-republicans/841076/196 "2019-10-02T06:43:08Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > It’s simple: you either hate republicans, or you hate this country and everything good about it. Which is it? > > There’s something wrong with you if you don’t hate republicans. It’s possible to hate Republicans without dehumanizing them. In fact, that’s _better_. Hate them in all their \*human \*failings - their misosophy, their bigotry, their venality. Those are all failings _only_ a human can have. A terrible, terrible human, but a human nonetheless. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2019, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-we-to-do-with-these-insects-we-refer-to-as-republicans/841076/197 "2019-10-02T06:48:46Z")
> [@The\_Plutonium\_Kid](#): > > Or will you swine My, what a very … Germanic … turn of phrase you chose, there. Dehumanizing, too. > [@](#): > > only be happy when Western civilization and Christianity are wiped from the face of the earth? Would you say it’s necessary to secure the existence of your people and a future for their children? So to speak. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2019, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-we-to-do-with-these-insects-we-refer-to-as-republicans/841076/198 "2019-10-02T06:49:02Z")
> [@Evil\_Economist](#): > > Shouldn’t you worry more about the ones who are actually killing people? Hint: IT’S THE RIGHT WING EXTREMISTS WHO ARE ACTUALLY KILLING PEOPLE, YOU FUCKING IDIOT! Yes, I am worried about the right wing extremists who are killing people. And I want to stop them. But encouraging left wing extremists to start killing people is not the solution. I against killing and I want to stop the killing. I’m against crime and I want to stop the crime. I’m against corruption and I want to stop the corruption. I’m against intolerance and I want to stop the intolerance. I want to stop these things not take them over for my own use. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2019, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-we-to-do-with-these-insects-we-refer-to-as-republicans/841076/199 "2019-10-02T07:03:20Z")
> [@Evil\_Economist](#): > > Shouldn’t you worry more about the ones who are actually killing people? Hint: IT’S THE RIGHT WING EXTREMISTS WHO ARE ACTUALLY KILLING PEOPLE, YOU FUCKING IDIOT! Why can’t he do both. Worry is not a finite resource, which is something even an \*evil \*economist should know. ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2019, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-we-to-do-with-these-insects-we-refer-to-as-republicans/841076/200 "2019-10-02T07:16:33Z")
> [@Evil\_Economist](#): > > I think for it to do good you have to actually mean it. You know what else is dehumanizing?, denying people of their own thoughts, you don’t want to recognize me as a thinking, honest person, it serves you better to think otherwise so that is what you do. What’d follow is you feel you are in a moral position to judge others on what your thoughts are about them, irrespective of what they really thing, you know, like bigots do. The self deluding games you are playing are exactly the stuff that leads to the very thing you say you are fighting against; as it’s said “stupid is as stupid does”, you are being profoundly stupid in what you are doing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-we-to-do-with-these-insects-we-refer-to-as-republicans/841076.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-we-to-do-with-these-insects-we-refer-to-as-republicans/841076.md?page=11)