Exposing Liberal Hypocrisy and Conservative Close-Mindedness | Van Jones | Big Think

[@bigthink]

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[@lousoots2538]

Covid is bad on the poor people most!

[@lousoots2538]

I’m pro hip hip rap hip hop is good

[@lousoots2538]

All music is beautiful

[@virgilioblanco5374]

"Get smarter"!!!!? It's not something one picks up along the way, it takes an "attentive parent" to "educate" a child, and for said person wanting to live intelligently. Academia does a greater number on egos than it does on brains, from I have seen.

[@roro-mm7cc]

I would recommend ppl take the political compass test.... there is a difference between left and right which are based on economic factors with the far right being basically uncontrolled capitalism which means would result in corporate oligarchy rather than democracy. And the far left being true communism ie everyone receiving exactly the same pay whether you are a farmer , factory worker , doctor , lawyer , CEO , president prime minister, chairman, general secretary, monarch or emperor. But this is overly simplistic there is another axis which is to do with social freedoms - here with authoritarian at the top ie pure autocracy and ultimate subordination to government ie fascism and basically pure anarchy and chaos at the bottom ie no laws no jails anyone can do literally whatever they want with no justice rape torture murder Ect.

[@AliceTheNeko]

I often say that the easiest way to radicalize someone is to deny them a voice. This man gets it and nails so many of my frustrations with both sides of the political spectrum. Love it.

[@David13ushey]

No. He doesn't get it. This was the perfect example of false equivalence and toxic moderation I've ever seen. I understand the frustration of the argument. The argument exists because moderates tolerate it. If the wrong side was not tolerated, if it was beaten into irrelevancy, then the argument would not exist. The right side is the progressive, liberal, democratic side. The wrong side is the conservative side. Anyone with philosophical, economic, or historical tools can understand why.

[@AliceTheNeko]

I hope KZbin isn't trying to censor people by hiding the comment of the person who replied disagreeing with me. I can see there is a reply, and read what they said in my notifications, but when I open replies on this thread, the replies are empty. I understand their views were very black and white and I disagree with what they said, but I'll fight for their right to say it.

[@David13ushey]

@@AliceTheNeko No idea. KZbin's algorithms are crap sometimes. But I will say it again: moderatism and centrism are tools of fascists and conservatives. It is a coward's position, and the position of the philosophically ignorant.

[@David13ushey]

@@HereTakeAFlower Instead of being polite, give me your REASONS as to why you disagree. It's WAY more useful than knowing you're sparing my feelings by withholding your reasons for disagreeing, assuming you even HAVE any reason to disagree.

[@David13ushey]

@@HereTakeAFlower Excellent! Elaboration! So the reason moderation and centrism are conservative and fascistic is because conservatism and fascism can not meet in the middle, and the centrist has no moral argument as to why meeting in the middle is a good reason. It becomes a tautology. Moderation is good because moderation is good. Now moderation CAN be good if all participants are willing to change to accommodate each other's interests, but the fascist can't moderate in good faith. How can the fascist compromise with satan / the zionist conspiracy / p-files / whatever boogieman they've made up to justify their shitty conditions? And the conservative WON'T compromise because any compromise costs them their perceived (not actual) privilege and power in the social hierarchy. Basically, the only way for fascists and conservatives to be able to take centrist positions in good faith is for them to stop being fascist conservatives. So every time a centrist compromises with a fascist, they move 50% towards the fascist's opinion. Do that enough times and eventually you're a fascist. Likewise, when a centrist compromises with a conservative, they never ever reach 100% to the point where they surrender their position. And the longer they can delay, the longer they can maintain their privilege at the expense of another. I get why people want to default to centrism, but it's the mindless, thoughtless, coward's position. It believes in nothing and hurts everyone.

[@Urbanfour]

This was refreshing. I hope more liberals and conservatives call eachother and themselves out on the ways they are adding to problems rather than helping to solve them.

[@Borderose]

One side thinks itself completely righteous. It also thinks the other side is full of demons and sees trying to understand them as giving evil a platform.

[@lionelfox1341]

@@Borderose True

[@mad-hatted]

@@Borderose Both sides appear to think that

[@Borderose]

@@mad-hatted Precisely. Kept it vague for that reason. Used to identify as liberal/progressive until I got sick of lefties demonizing everybody they so much as mildly disagree with. The self-righteous zealotry disgusted me. No heed or care for why their opposites believe the way they do, cutting and shunning people for not being pure enough, framing every damn pushback as a battle for their souls and literal lives--so it justifies any kind of tactic to keep their opponents silenced and out of power. And yet? They say they're the good guys. They believe history is on their side. It reminded me of what I hated about the Right. It was heartbreaking to realize no one side is inherently righteous, when it gets power it will amplify everything that was good about them and everything that was bad about them. It's the same song and dance everywhere and it ends up doing everything it once criticized under brand new justification. That's just what happens when a side achieves power. It can't help itself.

[@mad-hatted]

@@Borderose Ah, and thus is the age old saying… “Absolute power corrupts absolutely.” If only there was a clever way to tear down the societal/social walls between the two bodies. I’m hoping those two lovebirds can see the err of their ways and stop listening to their echo-chambers. Is there some form of couples counseling available for political parties? In all seriousness, though, we all have a lot of work to do if we want this to work.

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

I am a conservative, and I used to hold this man in contempt. But no more. I’m still a conservative and will continue to disagree with Mr. Jones on the form our government should take, but I now hold a great respect for him. Mr. Jones gets it. He lays it out clearly and calls his own side out for the way they view the right. This man is intelligent and straightforward and I will listen to him in the future. I will still be a conservative libertarian, but I will listen to him.

[@Anna-1917]

I personally find working class Republicans and Democrats to be frustrating. The possessing classes have achieved with their pulpits, newscasts, papers and movies, a degree of false consciousness that is actually impressive. I only hope that soon the workers of the USA, and of the world, will once again realize their common position as the exploited of society, and see that both parties are liberal defenders of the systems that chain us down. That we will rise up against the Republican and Democratic defenders of capital- of the rights of the bosses to own all we produce.

[@Anna-1917]

@@erseshe "Conservative open-mindedness" is an oxymoron. If you really are truly open minded, you are by definition not conservative. This video supposedly represents the "enlightened centrist" point of view. While it may seem like this is helpful in some way to move towards unity, it just gleefully paves over ideological differences as though they didn't exist, without actually addressing the irreconcilable ideological differences between the right and left. That's not to say that liberalism and conservatism is irreconcilable. They are two sides of the same elitist, bourgeois coin. The only way out for the working people of the United States, and indeed for the whole world, is to cast aside the impotent bourgeois ideas of conservatism and liberalism, and gain an understanding of revolutionary Marxism. Only once we can recognize our common class position can we begin to cut through the lies and hypocrisy of this wall-street aligned political establishment. Only then can we begin to fight for a better world.

[@markanderson3870]

@@Anna-1917 Good luck Gabriel. The glaring flaw in your point of view is the absence of an understanding of human nature. Marxism will never succeed because it works on he idea of how it thinks people are, not how they really are. People will never conform to how a theory says they are or should be.

[@Anna-1917]

@@erseshe Good question. This gets at the question of the state, and who it serves. We can not reform to a world free from exploitation because we live in a "dictatorship of the bourgeoisie". This term doesn't imply a literal dictatorship, but rather, it illustrates who's interest the state serves. Currently, it serves the bourgeoisie (the capitalists/owners as previously defined). Both Major political parties are composed of, and primarily funded by members of the bourgeoisie. Neither party can, or even desires to eliminate the issues that the proletariat (working people) face. To understand why, we must first gain an understanding of what exploitation we face, and what the state would need to do to alleviate them. With this, I hope to demonstrate that the measures required are in direct conflict with the interests of the bourgeoisie, and as a result, with the state (which is why the state will never implement these measures). Our troubles: the primarily struggle of the workers of the United States is the struggle for better pay and working conditions against the bosses, who want to save money at all points. This struggle underpinns many of the difficulties we as a class face. These include violence in our communities, lack of political representation, drug abuse, suicide and mental health issues, gang violence, discrimination, lack of proper healthcare, lack of proper housing, and others. All of these issues arise out of the expropriation of material wealth of the proletariat by the bourgeoisie. This is easily understood when one looks at the absence of these issues in more wealthy areas- the areas inhabited by the bourgeoisie. The necessary solutions: now that we have demonstrated that the issues plaguing the proletariat in the US come from a deprivation of the material wealth of the proletariat by the bourgeoisie, it becomes obvious that the only full solution to all of these issues is to stop the expropriation of surplus value by the bourgeoisie. That is, to solve all these issues, the owning class must be deprived of their right to profit off the backs of employees. In function, this is equivalent to stripping the property rights of the Bourgeoisie. Why reform won't work: As indicated in the beginning, the current state represents, and is made up of the bourgeoisie. Of course, they will never abolish their own property- their own claim to power. This is why proletarian revolution is necessary

[@Anna-1917]

@@erseshe Marxists are not Blanquists. We understand this perfectly well. The only thing I have to correct you in is that the proletariat does actually vastly outnumber the bourgeoisie. It's not even close- probably by more than 1000 to 1. If you earn your income by a wage, or by contract-labor, you are a member of the proletariat. We understand that the US is not ripe for revolution. This is the why the role of the worker's vanguard party is so important. Our task is to educate the populace by pointing out the liberal hypocrisy, and demonstrating through well developed theory how we can unite and rebuild a better world.

[@lunarsystem101]

That anti liberalism thing was frickin prophetic. It’s like every day each group becomes more defined by opposing the other, and it’s so unhealthy.

[@JohnBreezy22]

This is the type of human being I would like to become president.

[@streglof]

He can argue both sides of an argument. People should do that more often.

[@Fairfax40DaysforLife]

If more people had 16 minutes of uninterrupted video, and a ready audience, to express the breadth of their views, they probably would do just that.

[@GrimjowJJ]

Or be of mind too sometimes.

[@shree711]

He thinks election results are a whitelash. Are election results ever blacklashes? Would it ever be appropriate to say that?

[@gabrieldarlington9198]

What about arguing if the earth is flat or not? Not all ideas are created equal.

[@bkroberts89]

@@gabrieldarlington9198 Liberals are supposed to be more sensitive and inclusive when people are claiming the earth is flat and there’s a grand child trafficking conspiracy that the dems are causing that only Trump can stop... How do you argue with that?

[@Koijn2K]

It's always "us vs them". Noone wants to admit that their worldview might be flawed, so we dismiss them as "bigots" or "sjws", instead of actually listening to each other. You can learn so much more about yourself and others by having a discussion with someone you disagree with, than just trying to prove how you are "right" and they are "wrong".

[@osbjmg]

Yes, that's it.

[@acutechicken5798]

Oh yeah, my bad, I suppose my right to existing happily could be flawed. Never considered that. I guess I shouldn't call people who disagree bigots.

[@lyagushkha8490]

@@acutechicken5798 did you even watch the video?

[@acutechicken5798]

@@lyagushkha8490 Yup. I'm not sure what your point is. Care to explain? I am neither conservative nor liberal, but working with people who believe any of the following things about me and similar people is absolutely impossible. a. That I should burn in hell. b. That I should be discriminated against for being "weird". c. That I should be exterminated or arrested. d. That people like me should be kidnapped from parents who provide important medical care, because apparently life saving medicine is child abuse now.

[@helljumper912]

@@acutechicken5798 with that kind of thinking, you don't deserve to exist happily

[@kicknadeadcat]

“ When ignorance is accepted as patriotism, it will be dangerous to be intelligent. “ Issac Asimov

[@josharpe5802]

In the original quote, it's actually "stupidity" instead of "ignorance".

[@truecatholic8692]

"liberals have been shown to be less intelligent" - science

[@Haannibal777]

Those in power want ignorant tribal nationalists. It is the oldest trick in the book. That’s how they stay in power.

[@josharpe5802]

@@truecatholic8692 Across the past 2 decades, several studies have shown that people who tend to have more conservative perspectives score low on measures of intelligence.

[@truecatholic8692]

@@josharpe5802 LOL, then why do liberals keep repeating the same policies that ALWAYS fail.?

[@GiovanniFrancioso]

There is also Conservative hypocrisy and Liberal close mindedness. The problem each side thinks they are incapable of being 'wrong' or ill informed is the basis of ego and our current political culture.

[@LafemmebearMusic]

I hear you. Gotta say, even though I try to listen to the things that folx who want me to not exist say, and attempt to hear their hurt between their hateful policies and horrid stances on my existence, it is my ego protecting me to a point as it would be foolish to not employ my ego to some extent as these people don’t have my best interest at heart in anyway. I still listen but the reality is they want me to not exist , so I have to keep that at the back of my mind, I can’t just be nice and play calm and take an l for the cause of understanding. I still have to think of my safety while listening. The ego is to inherently negative it’s how you employ your ego that makes the difference.

[@LafemmebearMusic]

Also idealogical differences are a very real thing to consider. That doesn’t just dissipate. We also didn’t try to take over the country with a racist insurrection. Like how should we respond to people who do things like that in your opinion? I’d like to know. Cus for me I see these folx screaming about this is their white country, should I not be concerned? You think I should engage in discussion with them?

[@MysticZefer]

@@LafemmebearMusic delusional.

[@llmeekos]

@@LafemmebearMusic hear you, I see you. However, conservatives are not a monolith, just as the left isn’t. I am more moderate than most liberals, but I was raised in a conservative family. They all have varying views & hate Trump. For example, I grew up in an Irish Catholic American family. A lot of them are suspicious of *all* outsiders who are not Catholic. 80% of Irish Catholics in America vote democrat, but we’re culturally conservative. We are into religious freedom a lot because of our history of colonization from the British who tried to force us under protestantism. I am on the political left, but I understand that conservatives are not one big group. A lot of Eastern European Americans who came from former Soviet states & Cuban Americans vote republican because of people like AOC talking lightly of socialism. German Americans are a swing voting group who swung right for Trump in 2016 because they vote as isolationist as possible. Yes, there is a huge faction that may just be white nationalists, but ignoring how culture & having different backgrounds affects voting patterns is wrong. We have to listen instead of putting words in peoples mouths.

[@greezythumb]

@@llmeekos 💯 To add to the contradictions you listed, the black ancestors were very conservative. They wanted nothing to do with the government. The vast majority of black middle and upper class live a conservative lifestyle but vote liberal. 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@benjaminpowers609]

I'm back from the future where Fox News is now too liberal for conservatives.

[@charisday3846]

See this is funny because Fox is currently experiencing the biggest loss of ratings since they admitted that Joe Biden won the presidency. Trumpets are now calling it liberal media

[@Sam-hx5lw]

@@charisday3846 it's nuts Van's right, theres some white supremacy in American conservatism, it's the elephant in the room...

[@jameschristensen1658]

already the present

[@Sam-hx5lw]

@Garrison Nichols listen if you're Irish then you deserve a beer first and foremost 🍻

[@Akiraspin]

@@Sam-hx5lw Alcohol, the solution for and cause of, all of lifes problems. Cheers, I'll drink to that. 🍻

[@PlayboiMaui]

Yes! This is what I live by. A black man with an extreme liberal activist brother, but I’ve been in heavily conservative Marine Corps infantry for four years. I make friends and family wherever I go, because I learned to keep an open mind. If someone speaks truth, then I listen

[@David13ushey]

Cool. Do you value freedom, choice, democracy, and being inherently valued as a person? Then you're not a conservative. You're a liberal. You're just a liberal that prays to Jesus, likes guns, and has straight sex (probably). If you were actually a conservative, you'd get your ass back on the plantation picking cotton for a white planter. And don't think white conservatives wouldn't repeal the 13th Amendment if they thought they could get away with it.

[@dolphingoreeaccount7395]

Thank you for your service in the armed forces

[@tesmith47]

And you find out your fellow marines Think "N" when city struggle happens

[@saturn_in_blue]

"They basically treat red states the way that colonizers treat third world countries." That's a powerful statement, especially coming from Van Jones - given his political background.

[@realtruenorth]

@@garrett9945 sounds pretty intolerant and prejudice to me, if you were talking about blacks I would think you are KKK.. think about that.

[@jasonkinzie8835]

Please explain. I'm genuinely asking. I don't know much about this guy.

[@jasonkinzie8835]

@Reid Elson I understand. Thanks for answering my question.

[@sammyslam1]

He's right.....i live in California and we have a democratic supermajority in the state and more specifically i live in San Francisco and it's even more democratic than the state. I have friends here who are constantly bashing Republicans and i get super infuriated! "What the hell does the Republican Party have to do with the streets of San Francisco"?? The arrogance is annoying! I mean i love my city but right now it's a disgrace and has been for quite some time now in terms of actual real working progressive programs that actually solve issues! It's not revenue, we have one of the biggest city budgets in the nation and we are one of the smallest cities in the nation. It's corruption, grift, cronyism, lack of accountability, and more.....even before covid storefronts were closing all over the city, especially downtown. I am a registered Independent, but Democrats here are not seeing the benefits of overwhelimingly voting for one particular political party....this has nothing to do with Republicans...there are none here that have any influence, even the super wealthy here are traditional democrats or Rockerfeller Republicans, both progressives.

[@johnkesich8696]

Trump and the Proud Boys deserve respect? "Stand back and stand by", Mr Jones? Van Jones politics is pretending that the DNC is the left. In point of fact - as clearly stated by Noam Chomsky, Gore Vidal and even Fareed Zackaria, and also confirmed by polls on policy - the US electorate is way to the left of the DNC which is merely the center right wing of the 1% party whose rabid right wing is the RNC. I believe it was Malcolm X who said, "If LBJ were running unopposed, no one would vote for him." Biden is awful and only the fact that Trump is worse makes him appear remotely palatable. Obama has correctly pointed out that his policies were Reagan era moderate Republican and that Reagan would likely be kicked out of today's RNC. Shame on Jones for pimping for the bipartisan ruling elites.

[@MaryDeathGuyahpoortur]

As a student of psychology who studied the issue of American politics and tribalistic tendencies, this man could not have put the situation into better words. Completely on point, Well done!

[@hbk4life]

Can you recommend some books on this topic?

[@micahgmiranda]

@@hbk4life the righteous mind by Jonathan Haidt is a good place to start as far as moral and social psychology.

[@sirblackwellproductions8555]

Green

[@mydadsson3637]

I will not be civil with a person who is ok with horrific racism. The only middle we can meet on is them unable to vote my rights away

[@David13ushey]

Funny, considering he was utterly wrong. This was a dissertation on false equivalence and the toxic comfort of moderation.

[@GokuBlack-yg5kc]

"A big problem in our society is knowing enough to think that you're right, but not enough to know you're wrong." - Neil deGrasse Tyson

[@benjiusofficial]

That's why you should approach everything from the perspective that you don't know shit. Cause you don't. No one does. If you think about all the things that are knowable versus what you know, you don't even register as a blip. Humble yourself and learn from everything and everybody. Everything and everyone's got something to give and it's your obligation to bring the best out.

[@keeroe2020]

Needs to take his own advice.

[@deusexmachina1720]

@@benjiusofficial That's my life policy! Yay

[@TheVineOfChristLives]

@@keeroe2020 haha I saw this in his interview with Rogan.

[@hansnoor9637]

@@keeroe2020 yeah, bro. He literallynfull of himself in many interviews

[@jeffreyxxx6176]

Wow, my opinion of Van Jones has vastly improved! As a Republican, I think he is absolutely correct in his analysis of the present situation. I hope he continues with this approach and message, otherwise he is correct. It will lead to a bad point.

[@yury2749]

He put it so well. I tend to think this balance has been deliberately cultivated to control the voters and prevent solidarity. Not sure what that makes me but cynical. A cynocrat?

[@jeffreyxxx6176]

@@yury2749 Well, it's always good to be skeptical and look for a long term trend to come to a final conclusion.

[@yury2749]

@@jeffreyxxx6176 that is what I am looking at. 😁 But agency is always hard to prove.

[@101jir]

I think he left out a few things, like how _neither_ side will try to strengthen the country as a whole when they believe the other side will just snatch that strength for evil purposes.

[@bigantho1557]

Puppets make sense sometimes but lets not forget this guy espoused alot of false information.

[@Sweeneytv]

Under represented view. Such fair criticism. It’s really refreshing. Truly.

[@eduardofreitas8336]

Word.

[@erutherford]

Also agreed. I actually believe that we'd almost be better off picking our representatives out of a hat and then getting people to work with each other on points where we have agreement.

[@jasonmaguire7552]

Van Jones is an idiot. He literally said people elected trump because they couldn't stand the thought of a blsck man being in the white house. They didn't do anything in the two elections which Obama was actually in, but once he left office, that's when they stood up to him. Completely stupid.

[@amazingamerican3958]

The best criticism he could come up with against Liberals is that the rich ones vote against their own self interest. There isn't anything wrong with that. Poor Conservatives voting against their own self interest is worse because they can't afford to do that. Their decisions hurts poor Liberals too. Also, there is nothing wrong with calling Conservatives idiots. We all know that is the truth.

[@MAYK1NG]

THIS argument stinks and is only right in that Liberals should read some Conservative journals before preaching. However, exactly what Conservative media is watchable? I can read 'The American Conservative' and 'Reason' but there are ZERO Conservatives to watch. Furthermore, they ARE stupid. How can you respect someone that has no sound reasoning for their choices? They are fighting a culture war because they are exactly what they accuse Liberals of: being snowflakes. Anyone who believes in 'trickle down', gun rights over people, denies systemic racism, believes their fundamentalist religion is 'the right way' and belongs in MY house, does not believe healthcare is a human right and that it's OK for millions to go bankrupt over their health every year, is anti-immigration (or selfish and racist) doesn't deserve respect. EVERY SINGLE Trump supporter I've listened to cannot hold a conversation about policy, never does any research (with even their ownscholarly journals) and they constantly, CONSTANTLY make hypocritical, ignorant statements. Let them have their own dammed country.

[@SunflowerHeliotrope]

Ok, “bleeding heart” liberal here: everything this man said about Liberal Hypocrisy hit me like a lightning bolt. He’s right. He’s absolutely right, and now I’m going to freely admit I was wrong on many levels about my views, and completely re-examine my views on those I disagree with. Thank you for this video. I know it’s a few years old now, and though I wish I’d seen it sooner for the much-needed reality check, I’m glad for it. Thank you, thank you for this video.

[@LarsVilksIsAwesome]

You weren't liberal ever. You pull this crap to appeal to Republicans.

[@SliversRebuilt]

This guy is IT. I could cry right now, the fact that these things are being addressed so directly and so succintly in the public sphere and people seem to be responding well to it...I'm feeling a measure of hope in the possibility that we *just might pull through this* that I haven't felt in at least a decade.

[@eitkoml]

What's so great about him and this message? He severely misunderstands conservatives. The core of conservatism is hate for everyone who is not exactly like them.

[@vincentanguoni8938]

Nice...

[@themaaz2684]

well said.

[@SliversRebuilt]

@@themaaz2684 thanks man, it's just the only fucking thing I want to see is more coming together because it kills me to see us tear ourselves apart like this when, if I'm going to be honest, I expect MORE from us - and I'm not excluding myself from that, at least for most of my life much as I try to do better every day haha

[@wolfie8890]

your name is fitting considering how much of a fantasy you live in. The capitalist class has been playing both sides for as long as the state has existed and it’s ridiculous to think we could solve our problems in koombayah when some of us are suffering institutional violence day by day.

[@jeffreylaryea8695]

As a self-identifying liberal, i think he made some very convincing points. Particularly where he talks about voting against your self interests.

[@samarium557]

Yeah I agree a lot of so called 'Liberals' are hypocrites

[@BC8i8]

Samarium Yeah I agree a lot of so called ‘Conservatives’ are hypocrites

[@musikkritik6316]

@@ericl2473 Your last paragraph.. did you watch the video?

[@jakekrol3016]

I hate the hate in our country. I cannot stand the name calling and saying each other are following their sides blindly. There are good on both sides, but this hate, bitterness, and anger is destroying our country. I won’t even discuss politics because of the hate on both sides. My wife’s brother is extremely liberal, but he posts nothing on Facebook, but politics and most of it is hate. He recently tore into my wife with his girl friend assuming he knew our stance in politics and he has never in fourteen years even had a meal one on one with me. He does not even know my stance. I told him I’d love to see his synopsis of my political standing. It would be quite funny because I know he assumes I am a “radical” conservative. Where in fact, I am becoming more liberal in certain things as I age. I don’t identify with one side. I am for my country. I am for those innocent souls that are murdered daily by police officers. I am for the down and trodden people because I myself am there right now. I may not have agreed with everything he said on here because I do not think he grasps the Republican Party completely, but overall he had it on the head. Great video.

[@melisaschutt9167]

@@jakekrol3016 and the police officers being spit on, assaulted, shot, beaten, mocked etc etc etc etc etc etc. I feel sorry for them as well.

[@a.bourne6386]

As a conservative( with an open mind), some of my closest friends are liberal. I'm talking to the core. Our differences make us better, we compliment each other and work together. This was a refreshing take on what's going on right now.

[@thedebatemechannel4746]

Why do you feel the need in 2019 to identify yourself with a particular group other than we the people of this one nation the United States of America? We are one nation we're all part of the same group which is our nationality. We don't have to all think alike but we also don't need to create these stupid groups. That's part of the problem because people focus on the group. When you are part of a group like this you will betray your own beliefs and thoughts does to fit in with the group. That is just human nature. That's why we need to move Beyond these silly Dark Age Concepts. This Is Us vs them nonsense needs to go

[@theodoreroberts3407]

@@thedebatemechannel4746 People are innately attracted to belong to groups and group think. There are so many examples.

[@theodoreroberts3407]

I try not to disrespect unless disrespected. Almost every time, especially in 2016, I was disrespected, insulted and my poeple's safety threated by republicans: "we're going to take care of the black lives matter problem." Therefore, it's a big part of how I see republicans - dangerous to everything! Please, don't tell me different, show me. I'm watching everybody!!! 😡💔

[@thedebatemechannel4746]

@@theodoreroberts3407 unfortunately there's not enough people who think like you. Most people just want to follow the proud and fit in. Social media is making that worse. The Quest for likes and acceptance. That's what you see with the Trump fans and that's what you see with the Democrats. For example even though Trump is a con man and a liar he could do 10 amazing things for this country and legitimately wouldn't get credit from most of the democratic voters. It's one thing to recognize that the good things don't absolve the bad things but it's an entirely different thing to actually not even be able to see everything that's happening and only see things that agree with your perspective. The one group Trump can do no wrong to the other Trump can do no right. The truth is Trump is way more wrong than right but just like everybody else he's capable of both things.

[@theodoreroberts3407]

@@thedebatemechannel4746 True. We are a striving country where we are best together. I know the world is not fair, but that doesn't mean I have the right. Most of those republicans are american citizens trying to do the same thing as democrats: feed their families, have work, and feel safe. This is why I say pray for the farmers and coal miners. They didn't know Trump was going to screw them, but it happened, and they are still americans. What happened to them could have been anyone on either 'side.' We must not forget them. The lying, games, and underhanded stuff must stop. The news media (I have never said a word against them) has chosen sides. This is not right. A journalist job is to report what happened and that's it. No opinions. I hate after a president speaks I have to listen for the next hour for a news person to tell me what he or she said. If I didn't understand it from their mourh I don't need to listen to a reporter tell me with spin, move on. In my natural state I don't want to hate anyone. But like most, it can be brought to the surface by a number of factors. What is going on with immagration offends me from a country of immigrants and makes me concerned about all people of color from wherever. To go after the poor, handicapped and old concerns me. Having the rich in power and not paying there fair share of taxes and not following the same laws I must follow concerns me. The premis of law says no one is above the law. To me, that includes the president and Senate. So, yes, I'm watching everyone, while they break my heart as to what is happening in my country.

[@BugzNBeanz]

I was raised in a conservative Christian household in the south. For most of my young adult life I considered myself a person of faith. It was only when I went to college and fell in love with a liberal woman when my world view slowly began to change. We’ve been dating for 6 years, the first 3 of which were very rough on her mentally and emotionally because I wouldn’t budge on my views. She was very patient and loved me regardless and now in retrospect I see just how amazing and strong she is. I’d encourage everyone to fall in love with someone on the opposite political spectrum because it’s my belief that is the only way to save our country and our people at this point. Unyielding love and understanding despite severe differences is very hard to achieve but the most fruitful in the end. We’ve both become better people. We all have a lot more in common than we realize. Not all conservatives are “yeeyee” not all liberals are “libtards” these are extremes. Human beings have a lot of grey areas that overlap.

[@edwing8895]

At least you’re ProLife, right? I’m a life-long Democrat who’s proud Whole Life.

[@miscellania4263]

Good on you guys! ❤️ Americans first; not partisans. Just like our grandparent’s generation

[@gymnasticsgirlie0647]

@@edwing8895 Me too! I'm so glad I found another (though not life-long, I became more liberal during my teen years).

[@nigachu8249]

Yee-haw 🤠 Ze/zer 🤓

[@palmbeach4825]

Every 60 seconds in America a minute passes with us just disrespecting and hating each other. Together we can change this.🇺🇸🗽

[@DJHastingsFeverPitch]

I honestly wish for this as well. Unfortunately it brings up the question: if one thing had to take priority over the other, would it be national unity, or national justice? If unity, we must admit that widespread, unchecked, injustice is possible and expected. If justice, we must admit that there are many people who doggedly work against justice and that they must be fought against. Of course, the real world Isn't so black and white, but, as a thought tool, what it reveals is that conflict is nearly unavoidable if one has any other strong values besides unity.

[@nurgle333]

@@DJHastingsFeverPitch justice is a case by case issue, unity is universal

[@pattyayers]

I will never respect members of a party which has descended into total greed and constant lying. And.neither should you. If they move their position a mile to the right and begin wearing neo-Nazi symbols publicly, would you then move YOUR position way to the right to be all fair and nicey? Where will you draw the line?

[@kevinzheng2898]

I hope, both sides are a bunch of dumbasses, not saying im any smarter.

[@TheEnigmaticOpaque]

No. Fuck Trump and his treacherous swine hive. Fuck all of them.

[@DaAwsumDude]

We need to break away from this god awful two party system. I like Van Jones’ perspective on politics but it is unfortunately too interwoven in the idea that we need to live in a two-party system.

[@well_said7846]

The two party system is very stable long term. Which makes it very attractive.

[@honkhonk8009]

@@well_said7846 How tf is it stable long term? How exactly is it, and what are your sources. My country has 3-4 big parties. Works well, cus when this dumbfuck trudeau got elected, it didnt mean shit, since it was a minority government. Trudeau had to compromise with other parties to get shit passed, and didnt go full retard.

[@78TBGAMER]

@@well_said7846 it is stable, but it is also incredibly rare. A vast majority of other democratic countries have a multi party system, and they have not succumbed to chaos, or at least not more than the US. There’s a couple problems with two party systems. First, they foster an us vs them mentality. To participate in the political system you have to fall into one of two categories, and in doing so the other party becomes a de facto enemy. Second, and I think this is very important, it is not representative of the will of the people because it discourages voting. When you are forced to choose one of two sides, you need to accept all the baggage that comes with your choice. You may care deeply about one particular issue, and there is one party that supports that, but they also support things that you strongly disagree with. So you don’t vote.

[@kassaken6521]

@@well_said7846 So why would George Washington Advise against it? Its clear to me why he didnt want this country to have a two party system.

[@DutchObserver]

@@well_said7846 The two party system causes election campeigns to focus on bringing the other party down rather than the party's own merrits and future plans. And it's therefore at least partially the cause of the deep polarization in the US.

[@sebastianelytron8450]

This guy hit the nail on the head with practically every word. Very level-headed in tumultuous times. Like.

[@mquirion]

Sebastian Elytron took the words right out of my mouth 👍

[@shizunne]

Damn, that slick presentation almost sailed the bullshit right past me. He thinks that low income white republicans are placing their values over money because they want to. Which makes absolutely 0 sense. Republicans have always been the party that screams about low taxes and businesses booming. Those low income white republicans are fooled into thinking that low taxes will free them, and allow them to strike it rich. A rich white liberal voting in favor of higher taxes is noble because they lose something, and give something back to those that have less than them. A low income white republican voting in favor of lower taxes on everyone is stupid, not noble, because they gain nothing, and give nothing back. If giving nothing is noble, billionaire republicans are fucking saints.

[@JmSantos78]

Exactly! White rich people aren't voting dem to protect their values, They are voting dem because of their values!

[@jessstuart7495]

Stereotypes, labels, hate, extremism, and conformation bias are all good for ratings. News media corporations are fueling a lot of our social conflict for their own gain.

[@BizzeeB]

Yup - anyone who clicks dislike on this probably didn't watch it.

[@ThEsiLhOuEtT3]

The relief I feel from watching this is unmeasurable

[@justindestafney]

I definitely have more respect for Van Jones now and will view him in a much more positive light.

[@Congruesome]

Except when he said “Donald Trump BECAME the president of the United States tonight” on a rare occasion when Trump said a single sentence that wasn’t an absolute lying embarrassing disgusting travesty. I am having trouble forgetting that little declaration.

[@justindestafney]

@@Congruesome With the power of hindsight I agree, but at the time people were looking for anything positive Trump said/did to cling to what little optimism they had

[@rosslytle5700]

This 2017 speech seems to be coming from a good place - even though it happened just a few months after the Charlottesville Unite the Right rally and Trump's "both sides" conflation of literal neo-nazis chanting "you will not replace us; blood and soil" and people who objected to that happening in their community - but when we get down to the brass-tacks, the right-wingers aren't getting away with their bad-faith obfuscations of objective reality because ignorant left-wingers aren't watching enough Fox News. Individuals can believe stupid, obviously-wrong bullshit. That's okay. Free speech is good. They shouldn't have political influence, though. "Free speech" is not the right to have political power to weaponize those crazy/ignorant/bad-faith beliefs to harm and oppress other people, nor is it the right to a platform to disseminate that bullshit to an audience. The Rule of Law has been subverted by career criminals and liars who will never be held to account. Trump will be the Scapegoat/Christ figure that absorbs and Trump-washes "clean" all the sins of the Republican party. When the law finishes sort-of holding his administration responsible for the rampant and flagrant fraud (the kind that would Guantanamo poor people for multiple lifetimes) the news will tell us it's all okay again. Q-anon will still have its installments in politics, the military, and other sociopolitical infrastructure. W. Bush's administration will never be held accountable for their war crimes. The fossil fuel companies will never have to pay their dues for their crimes-against-humanity they have and are committed/ing in perpetuating climate change and their massive coverup around it (they've known about it since at least the 80s and chose profits over humanity's future.) The push for theocracy and anti-intellectualism will continue to spiral as they implement more and more things like Goebbels's Big Lie strategy and the Chinese government's bad-faith appeasement and totalitarian propaganda. Btw, there's a word that perfectly encompasses "not conservatives anymore - something else, like an anti-liberalism." It's "fascism." How many Republicans do you think walked away from this gentle criticism with an accidental understanding of what fascism is and thinking "I really learned something. I've got some things to reconsider."? "Evil will always win, Lonestar. Because good is dumb." -Dark Helmet, Spaceballs(1987)- "The Nazis lost World War 2, my friend, but fascism won it." -George Carlin-

[@truecatholic8692]

I don't respect communists. Their policies only destroy. Same thing with socialism and "democratic" socialism. All are evil and lead to poverty.

[@bradynehls1495]

@@truecatholic8692 what about social democracy?

[@memyselfi726]

Van Jones is awesome. I finally understood some of the ways how conservatives think. It is all about respect. Don't belittle anyone just because you disagree.

[@jasonmaguire7552]

Van Jones is an idiot. He literally said people elected trump because they couldn't stand the thought of a blsck man being in the white house. They didn't do anything in the two elections which Obama was actually in, but once he left office, that's when they stood up to him. Completely stupid.

[@baseball12ification]

@@jasonmaguire7552 Respectfully, I think you received that comment incorrectly

[@SUD7117]

@@jasonmaguire7552 Dude, I am a conservative myself. But in this video, Van made way more sense than the most people i used to admire..

[@johnathanwalker8395]

@@jasonmaguire7552 an example of why I show no respect to conservatives, this is the shit they obsess over, pathetic little baby points

[@minyu613]

Disagree conservatives don't want respect. They have a fundementally different set of morals. As a conservative I can say your set of values are likely nowhere near ours.

[@rachaelwalrath6077]

This was 3 years ago and just coming up for me. I am so glad. This is why I want to start a movement of people regardless of party. A movement of people who want to make changes because change is needed.

[@deadchannel89]

I trying to stay away from politics these days but sometimes I get suck back in honestly I would join that both sides have fair points but for the most part are dividing people and I don't want any part of it my point I'd I would totally join that.i honestly dont trust any of the people to vote for them don't like trump or Biden tho I feel like people attack trump just to attack him tho some people try to do the same with Biden but less likely

[@PeterPerez.]

Independent I guess

[@rachaelwalrath6077]

@@PeterPerez. actually found the poor people's campaign. We need to come together as people regardless of party because we all want the same things. These culture wars are being to keep us fighting each other instead of the government.

[@wesleywyndam-pryce5305]

@@deadchannel89 no, no both sides DONT have fair points, the entirety of conservatism is built on bad philosophy and proto fascism and there is no left wing part in America, theres a center right, a right, and a far right. but there isn't a leftist political party or a large leftist movement as there should be.

[@wesleywyndam-pryce5305]

@@rachaelwalrath6077 the poor peoples campaign wasn't some centrist bullshit, MLK was a radical leftist.

[@BugSauce-ALT]

I remember I had some really close buddies that I sat with at lunch every day for four years. I could tell them about pretty much anything and no matter what, they wouldn't get mad. After a while, I told them that I was a Conservative. I have never seen a friend-to-enemy transition go so fast in my life. They started spreading rumors like wildfire. This is why the problem mentioned needs to be fixed.

[@happysaffa8871]

Wow, spot on. We have more in common than what separates us. THATS HOW THEY DIVIDE AND CONQUER.

[@OolTube02]

They have more in common than what separates them because they're both sucking at the same big money donor teat. What he's describing isn't right vs. left but neoliberal Republicans vs. neoliberal Democrats. What they have in common is that the things they can truly come together on is cutting social programs, expand the wars, and cater to the richest people in the country. Whenever they talk about coming together and bipartisanship, be afraid! Be very afraid!

[@technomage6736]

@@OolTube02 I just want to understand: Are you saying he's right, but don't trust him? Or are you saying he's wrong, but don't trust him? Are you against the idea of working together to figure stuff out? I don't get it

[@OolTube02]

@@technomage6736 I'm saying he's wrong about those people working together getting anything done that benefits their constituents, as opposed to merely their donors. Democrats and Republicans have come together many times to "get things done." And what they got done was international corporate asset protection rackets such as NAFTA and TPP, the gutting of New Deal programs by way of "welfare reform," and, of course, a crime bill that led to the famous record US mass incarceration. Whenever they come together to work together on things you can count on it that the little guy gets screwed. Because the lowest common denominator they can agree on is always what their big money donors want, not what's good for working class Americans. Bill Clinton was about to come together with Newt Gingrich to privatize social security, but mercifully the Monica Lewinsky scandal prevented that. Obama intended to cut social security in a Grand Bargain, which the recalcitrant rogue Tea Party wouldn't agree to, mercifully. But his major achievement, Obamacare, was right out of the drawers of the right-wing Heritage Foundation, containing no public option but a mandate to purchase private insurance. Biden bragged about wanting to cut social security for half his life, in order to "balance the budget." Whenever you hear them cheerfully come to a bipartisan consensus your reaction should be, _"uh-oh...!"_

[@Moribus_Artibus]

@@OolTube02 you, sir, are a wise man.

[@gamermapper]

I'm a French socialist and I still have a lot in common with liberals, conservatives and capitalists

[@lisaratley4858]

I put my values over my money because I remember what it was like to be a poor, single mother trying to work, go to college, and raise my child correctly. I remember how HARD and nearly impossible it was.

[@MrEvldreamr]

...ok?

[@RedactedAnonymous10]

👏🏾

[@blackjackhiphop]

@@MrEvldreamr indeed

[@matteframe]

this comment is confusing

[@blackjackhiphop]

@@matteframe it's not that confusing

[@Ric-Phillips]

I’m a “liberal” and I think force feeding anyone kale is cruel and unusual punishment.

[@coleenparsons4905]

As a person who respects your right to choose, I'd never force you to eat it. Although I would offer it to you if that's what I was eating.

[@coleenparsons4905]

On a possibly related note, where did the phrase "nothing burger" come from and when will it go away? It made my personal WTF is this stupid phrase list for 2017. Kale doesn't bug me so much as when I hear the word, I see Beyonce in that tee shirt.

[@elizabethbennet4791]

Im a lib too and I hate kale.

[@Gottenhimfella]

Coleen: Apparently "nothing burger" was coined by Hollywood movie columnist Louella Parsons, and first used in her daily gossip column "Louella's Move-Go-'Round" of June 1, 1953 I think it might have had a revival down under, before reinserting itself into the American political discourse in recent years

[@priaa7934]

Ric Phillips ive vegan and I agree ☝️

[@parkerhanson4009]

I'm feeling wiser, humbler, and more patriotic. Thank you Van Jones

[@Thoughtmage100]

I tend to think of myself as a more of a middle-ground person when it comes to politics. I don't like talking about it because that's all anyone seems to be talking about nowadays. But I have over time found that while I like to stay in the middle I do have more conservative ideals over liberal ideals as a collective. I identify with strong family values, a strong border, firm but fair gun laws that allow families to protect themselves in case of emergencies, and so on. However at the same time I also totally support the freedom to marry who you want regardless of what they have between their legs, pray to whichever deity/deities you believe in, and if you were born a man but want to be called by different pronouns then sure I can do that for you, but please don't get offended if I get it wrong the first time I meet you because I am not a mind reader. But out of this combination of viewpoints I have an odd perspective of the current situation today. Lots of people will not compromise regardless of whether they are right or left leaning. There is no civil discussion involved. Everyone always wants it 100% their way or they'll throw a fit, and to me that's what makes a person weak. The willingness for civil discourse and compromise are how we as a species managed to work together to survive up until now. We need to relearn that skill and listen to each other's worries otherwise I do believe it will be the end of this nation we all love. And as for people of the South, generally we take care of our own. And I don't care what color your skin is or where you came from. If you need help I'll always do what I can. Its the neighborly thing to do. That's the one mindset I wish everyone in the world adopted. Before you are left or right, you're a human being.

[@lauraw.7008]

I agree. A big problem is name-calling and fear. I Love his recognition of who has family values.

[@yuriajones]

@@lauraw.7008 I'm curious and this is a genuine question. Why is it a given that liberals don't have strong family values as compared to their conservative counterparts?

[@lauraw.7008]

@@yuriajones It isn't a "given", as you say. It is an assumption being touted by those who are trying to split people more deeply into two camps instead of encouraging deeper, critical thinking and coming up with that are beneficial to the community and the individual. In spite of certain people insisting that they get to decide for others how they "should" live their lives.

[@BaritoneMonkey]

@@yuriajones This is something I'm trying to understand myself. Think we need to define what is meant by"family values" though. From my experience coming from a VERY conservative family, it seems like the conservatives I know by and large think that there's right or wrong in some fundamental way, with one of them being that family is a natural, basic and essential thing that is part of being human - in the sense that a child is always produced as the offspring of a biological man and a woman. The attitude seems to be as a result that they view that the nuclear family should be the core unit of society since it essentially _is_ the building block for society. By and large I also see that to the conservatives I know, liberal values are an attack on that fundamental human understanding they hold, and that being means giving up that definition and accepting "alternative" units (LGBT etc) which they see as fundamentally UNnatural... Leads to fear that Also, the conservatives I know seem to see liberalism as an excuse for people to have sex with whoever they want to have sex with - as a way to abandon morals and as a way to not take responsibility for actions in relationships. (Wouldn't say I'm either fully liberal or fully conservative myself - definitely consider myself more middle-ground.)

[@yuriajones]

@@lauraw.7008 understood. Thanks for replying.

[@Condorito380]

I wish we lived in a world where this had aged better.

[@peanutrecord6989]

More like a nation or nations, places in the UK are just as divided as us, but yea, it aged poorly if you are a higher or were a hugger and we met of course after Covid I'd gladly give you a reassurance hug

[@petergreen5337]

Agreed ...agreed

[@robertlarson6789]

In my opinion, just goes to show that humans arent as much problem solvers as we are problem creators. Itll never end.

[@JellyAntz]

@@robertlarson6789 cuzz of our tribalism ingrained in human behavioral biology

[@robertlarson6789]

@@JellyAntz and no one likes to truly admit they are adhering to tribalism

[@hoarsepants]

Watching this reduces my anxiety... even physically. I mean, I can feel my intestines relaxing.

[@dostthouevenlogicbrethren1739]

It's amazing how on edge and stressed social media wars, media stories, and the like, can make us hey? Check out Jonathan Haidt's work on The Righteous Mind as well. It's a great book for seeing beyond the extreme us vs them mentality that is only furthering the divide.

[@ianosborne188]

Roll on to 2020..Don't be Fooled by Sweet 'intellectual' Talk.. HIS TEARS OF HATE TOWARDS TRUMP AND HIS 73MILLION BASE!!! TRUMP2020 🙏

[@mycatiswaysmarterthanmosto8500]

@@ianosborne188 😂😂😂 You know trump lost, right? 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️FFS.

[@ianosborne188]

@@mycatiswaysmarterthanmosto8500 The courts will decide.

[@indianadone]

So far they've been deciding that he lost. Each and every single one of them. Also he is not denying his liberal beliefs in this video. He is trying to say that we should all attemp to understand the other side's perspective. For example I'm not for trump, but I shouldn't assume that you're stupid because you don't share my views. You might have solid reasons as to why you support trump, that I might just not comprehend. Because I don't now you or your story. And the other way around.

[@aarontharp9010]

Yes. Van Jones, thank you for being willing to step into the muddy waters in between two worlds. We need more voices like yours if we are to make it through these times as one people.

[@jasoncragg5607]

I am a conservative and that was a good talk!

[@chopperhead2012]

WE NEED MORE PEOPLE LIKE THIS GUY SO BADLY!!! I am overjoyed right now I can't even express it!

[@ineffablebeing4276]

Tony Perri as am I

[@dougpatterson7494]

Jason Cragg Yes! I agree. I am traditional but seem to be more forward thinking than many who say "i am conservative ". I consider myself a progressive conservative and not "liberal" because that seems to mean "change for the sake of change" and not "let's maintain the qualities of our culture and change what can be improved".

[@666Tomato666]

+Doug Patterson what parts of liberalism are "changes for the sake of change"? LGBTQ laws? they are there so that _everybody_ has equal opportunity and can live with their significant other environmentalism? it's so weird wanting to have your children having a world to live in? to have ability to eat food grown in the country they were born in? "let's maintain the qualities of our culture and change what can be improved" that's mild conservatism, not liberalism...

[@alanduval6429]

...and in fact most liberals are not in favour of change for the sake of change, that is a myth peddled by some conservative demagogues in order to demonise liberals, and to maintain the 'Never Democrat' voting policy of so many Republicans. (The joke is, of course, that fewer liberals support the Democrats, than conservatives support the GOP.)

[@geoffreyhuman3720]

Thought provoking and eloquent observation. Takes the argument out of opposing political positions. New Zealand politics is pretty bland in comparison to the US but the same barriers exist. 'You are the opposition therefore I shall oppose you' gets us nowhere. Common ground is increasingly uncommon unfortunately. Thank you Van Jones for your refreshingly balanced insight.

[@ideologically_uncharged8069]

This will be a hot take, but the political discourse of Anglosphere countries are very narrow to the right. The video did not attempt to show just how narrow their political stances are which ironically showed just how narrow the American political discourse is to the right. I suggest reading these to get a more balanced perspective: Killing Hope: U.S. Military and CIA Interventions Since World War II by William Blum Liberalism: A Counter-History by Domenico Losurdo Capitalist Realism: Is There No Alternative? by Mark Fisher How the World Works: The Story of Human Labor from Prehistory to the Modern Day by Paul Cockshott

[@honkhonk8009]

​@@ideologically_uncharged8069 One thing I noticed from all these books from so called experts, is that they dont mean shit. People want to simplify their experiences into a simple ideology, and hope that that construct helps them make better decisions. What they dont understand, is that those schemas and constructs have been thought up, but have no statistical data to prove their efficacy. Anglosphere countries are not extremely right. Fuck, using right/left as a political stance is pretty fucking dumb, and is for stupid people to generalize their world view and go tribal. Sweden and Finland are extremely conservative countries. (Not american conservatism). They use laws which work, and statistics to back up those laws, and implement em. On the other hand, America is extremely liberal. They want as little government as possible and want as much autonomy within the system as possible. A concept uniquely anglophone i guess, that other cultures dont exactly care much abt. How about we ditch that bullshit of seperating people on ideology, and actually look at what POLICIES they want to push. Fuck what their position on the political compass is. What are they planning on doing?? Trump during 2015 expressed interest in universal healthcare, a isolationist and less imperialistic America, and solid LGBT rights without glorifiying/tokenizing em. To me, that would sound alot like a liberal stance wouldnt it?

[@MkulimaBallerProductsKe]

It's Political Polarization

[@paulocymbaum1566]

In what way NZ suffers from this? Best covid control? First woman to vote? NZ is a clear example why the progressive agenda aims at the future.

[@brandonhughes645]

New Zealand lol. I work in government and just had a woman tell us white males must pay for their ancestors sins. I told them I would rather go to war than submit to their rule.

[@PewPewLookout]

this might be the first time i've seen Big Think, or any left leaning media source, actually acknowledging some unsavory flaws in today's progressive behavior. It's spot on accurate. First step to fixing a problem is admitting you have one.

[@grimjowjaggerjak]

Now some right leaning media source need to do the same.

[@PewPewLookout]

juste kevin stranger things have happened lol

[@WeegeeSlayer123]

Wade Trillson Indeed.

[@aaronbono4688]

If you can't be self-critical then you can never fix your flaws or problems. And we all have flaws and problems.

[@CCeR-jh3wn]

This is'nt Big Think acknowledging anything. This is Van Jones acknowledging unsavory flaws.

[@marielpaquin]

This is what I am all about. I am conservative but I believe we need more understanding and civil discourse.

[@emeraldmasta7752]

same here

[@stelharpwood5752]

Seeing both conservatives and liberals who are more civil, respectful, as well as level-headed... It's refreshing. I do not live in America, nor am I an American, but the country's politics is quite popular across the world. It is usually chaotic and unpleasant, but when people with completely contradictory ideologies know how to disagree without disrespect, it's a great show of maturity.

[@TheJberrie]

This makes me think of Jonathan Haitd’s work on the “Moral Matrix.” Basically, our individual personality profiles strongly predict our moral and political preferences. The two political parties evolved to their current manifestations in order to handle the climate of the times. Conservatives are necessary during times of chaos (especially a a pandemic: securing borders, maintaining order) while liberals are necessary during times of too much rigidity, lack of innovation and stagnation. During this time of polarization it’s probably helpful to understand this, and to make an effort to understand where “the other side” is coming from, rather than labeling them as morally reprehensible. The reasons behind why we see things/vote the way we do are far more complicated than our limited, self-righteous, morally superior views might lead us to think.

[@BaritoneMonkey]

I REALLY like how this is framed. Both sides have purpose and provide something the other doesn't - they should COMPLETE each other, rather than COMPETE with each other.

[@abeycee7427]

yeah because the conservatives were GREAT about rules and order during the pandemic

[@mnguardianfan7128]

@@maiamartini9095 I agree.... BUT... There is something broken on the right. They are reflexively anti-left and will go with this no matter what the reality is. On the right there is general disagreement with the very idea of climate change, let alone that it is a severe problem that is not getting fixed. On the right there was a reflexive disbelief in anything related to COVID. Many didn't believe it even existed, that masks didn't do anything, that the vaccines were a plot against Americans or are dangerous. Many still believe these things. On the right there are people who don't believe in evolution. On the right there people who think Trump won the 2020 election. Some think that he actually is the current President. On the right there are people who think that Trump did NOT lie constantly and has not bankrupted 4+ times and didn't rip off people who put money into Trump University or Trump Charities... or horribly minimize his actions. On the right there are people who believe that Trump is chosen by God and is God's representative on Earth despite him not actually being religious, is obviously horribly ignorant of the Bible and its basic tenants, been married 3 times and has obviously cheated on each of them. I honestly take Jones' criticisms of the left to heart. But it isn't 50/50.

[@maiamartini9095]

@@mnguardianfan7128 very well said. I agree with you on all those points. What's even more sickening is how you have right wing political figures supporting Putin. And don't get me wrong the left has their issues too, but yeah you made some very accurate points. It is terrifying how some people still think the election was a fraud when it was one of the most secure elections. The fact Trump spouted such baseless lies and he refused to give Biden the security papers for nearly 3 weeks is terrifying. That is like a dictator. That is a threat to our democracy. People who still don't see that need to open their eyes. Now I'm not gonna vilify anyone on the far right or left. I find returning to a more grounded country takes patience, compassion, the ability to discuss without anger, an unbiased search for the truth, and restoring faith in our institutions, in society, and in each other. The right has been infiltrated by this Trump following/ dangerous conspiracy theories from QAnon, which I believe is akin to a cult. Not to mention the insane conspiracy theories being thrown around on the right by QAnon. We need another party. One that is more neutral or moderate. Just looking at the comment section again. That is so strange, your original comment disappeared, d*mit...it was a very eloquently put and thought provoking statement you made. I don't know KZbin does this

[@austingoyne3039]

@@abeycee7427 I was going to say that. Today’s Right are encouraging chaos.

[@Krisk236]

This is a masterclass in empathy and understanding

[@David13ushey]

No. It's a masterclass of false equivocation and the toxic comfort of compromise and centrism. This was horrifying.

[@Krisk236]

@@brian5001 wut?

[@Krisk236]

@@brian5001 oh ok you’re just anti humanity. Historically we’ve been among the most highly cooperative species on the planet - not poisonous - and that’s something we need to get back to. Lasting change starts with an understanding of the contingencies at play, and that requires empathy to see the other’s perspective. So it is not a matter of “deserve”, it is how we progress and move beyond poisonous practices.

[@azoniarnl3362]

@@David13ushey Exactly! this centrism has only gotten us to the point we are now. The "centre" has been moved so far to the left over the last few decades..

[@Krisk236]

@@David13ushey I get the critique of centrism. He for sure went too far with the equivalence between Left and Right problems. But the focus on learning and understanding opposition’s values is extremely poignant.

[@wingflanagan]

I tend to listen to the "opposition media" - i.e., when a Conservative is in office, I pay more attention to CNN and MSNBC. When a Liberal is in office, I listen more to Fox and The Blaze. The effect is that I get propaganda from the side in charge and (mostly true) anti-propaganda from the chosen media. I also get a big fat headache and stay continually angry. And drunk. Hmmm...maybe I need to rethink my system...

[@juliusraben3526]

"And drunk" xD

[@TheForbidden_1ne]

lol I tend to listen to both slants on specific topics to try and see what the common facts are. Then you’ll see the real truth in between all the fluff

[@ericpalacios920]

Honestly I think you're doing just fine, maybe staying angry but informed just keeps you on your toes politically

[@Kaikaifilu1994]

Stay moderate, my friend.

[@BlueDrakk]

There is no real conservative media in this country. If you are talking about conspiracy theories, intentionally misleading your audience and gaslighting them til they don't know up from down then I might ask you to reconsider what you think of as news media.

[@orlandomagician8321]

“A bird needs two wings to fly.”

[@wranglerandthebandit2523]

What I've always thought is that both are quite hypocritical. They criticize each other for stereotyping but then stereotype each other based off a group of extremists actions in that party Like a liberal calling someone who disagrees with them a racist While conservatives call someone who disagrees with them a snowflake

[@ReichX1000]

As a conservative it's true thou that's why I want Yang or Rubio to be the party frontrunner

[@cadethumann8605]

Agreed. Seeing everyone not with you as enemies is a foolish absolute. No side is a monolith. There are many liberals and conservatives who are more reserved and may even have a mixture of bliefs (I.e. a conservative having some liberal ideas and vice versa). We're only humans in the end. We must end this destructive conflict and bring order by working together.

[@deadchannel89]

Finally a person that gets it

[@cadethumann8605]

@Jaster No hypocrisy: racism is unacceptable, regardless of who perpetrates or receives.

[@wesleywyndam-pryce5305]

fuckin what? no we call people racist for doing and saying racist things, people who unironically say snowflake are 1 trying to upset people and 2 as a way to tell themselves they don't have to listen to you. they aren't random words or insults thrown around. that comparison is fucking trash.

[@warpdrivefueledbyinsomnia8165]

I think this hits at the reason why the U.S. is becoming more polarized. Listen to what the majority of each side says when talking about who they perceive as their opponents. I'm hearing things like, "never give ground or apologize" or "let's get x person blacklisted for this socially outrageous but not illegal/clearly wrong thing." It reminds me a whole lot of the "never give up" mentality that I was taught when I went through basic training and police academy. Political extremism on both sides is reaching militaristic levels. It's not a good thing. For the most part, we've stopped caring about what "the other side" wants out of life or what their version of the American dream is. All this social bickering makes opponents of America (or people in general who would like to see America taken down "a peg or two") just sit back with their proverbial popcorn and laugh at our inability to get along with each other. I can't help but think that it's only a matter of time before one of these more extreme opponents of America does something about it and tries to harm us at a vulnerable time. I don't care about scoring political points. I just want an America that functions. We don't have to play nice and get along. We just need to work together and put some good into the world.

[@pomponi0]

"I think this hits at the reason why the U.S. is becoming more polarized." He makes an excellent analysis of the political situation, but he didn't exactly address the root cause. I believe it's because of gerrymandering and how unprepared society was for the advent of social media. Right now it's extremely cost-effective to build echo chambers and feed your side some bullshit rather than have civilized discussions.

[@ikreer9777]

It is also because anyone with an ounce of sense avoids most online political discussions, because they get out of hand so quickly. When you are raised to disagree with an opinion but respect the person, online political arguments are unbearable. So online is left mostly to extremists on both sides who are 100% positive they are correct, and the trolls. Tip: True trolls are not political, they just stir up trouble wherever they can. Don't feed them.

[@armstrong2052]

I just want to be left alone. And not fear that the government can destroy everything I build. Sad day's man.

[@staceykannedy7473]

This.

[@theshermantanker7043]

Exactly. I'm not even from American or even from the west at all but I'm growing concerned about the political divide you poor guys are having. It's good in that it shows American values of freedom still hold strong because if there was no freedom it would be like China or Russia. Today Americans hurl a ton of shit at political leaders and screaming corrupt and go to hell, not realizing that in North Korea people are cooking fucking rubber boots for lunch, in China Russia and NK as well mishandling a newspaper with the leaders face on it means you're fucked. They don't realise that while comfortably sitting at home on a PC or in a rally that they wouldn't be able to do all these if the government was really so evil. I'm worried. I'd rather America stay a leader as it is. I prefer America, as many flaws and gun issues and the like that it has, to stay on top rather than countries like China or Russia

[@LiveLXStudios]

That's certainly a fair perspective

[@LiveLXStudios]

Yeah, not going to get baited into you just trying to convince yourself of an opinion you don't even know my opinion on for.

[@LiveLXStudios]

Yeah, blah blah. You made a random statement on something 99% unrelated and are acting like you really want someone to agree with you. I suggest you stop

[@TenSish]

This is so painfully on point.

[@katypiette3581]

Slow clap 👏 for this man here! Can we have you broadcast this on every news station all day long? Wow! As a liberal-I totally needed to hear this!!! Thank you!!!!!! Preach sir!

[@mysteryneophyte]

Slowly boo this man, I didn’t actually catch what he said but I just think it would be funny because you said to give him a clap so I’m booing

[@funkydanieluk]

I started watching thinking "damn, this guy gets it!" By the end I was thinking "Shit...now I get it better."

[@funkydanieluk]

hang on...isn't this the guy that said the reaction to Donald Trump was a "whitelash"? I guess hes done some introspection.

[@Uckertay]

I've never listened to Van Jones as much as I did in this video. Well said!

[@enzosperandio9481]

Tucker Mathis he never sounded as intelligent 🤓

[@TheTrueAdonis]

@@enzosperandio9481 He sounded correct

[@jackdavidson1096]

I am a conservative, and I 100% agree with what he is saying. Kudos to you.

[@emeraldmasta7752]

same

[@Sett86]

You gave me more insight into the conservative mindset in this one video than all everyone else combined managed to convey in the entire history of social media..

[@David13ushey]

He really didn't. He was right in that liberals neglected red states since Clinton, but he ignored the real problem with conservatism and fascism.

[@QuinquetPourpre]

@@David13ushey can you explain further ?

[@David13ushey]

@@QuinquetPourpre Sure. Fascism and Conservatives are both wrong, but fascists are wrong because of self delusion. Conservatives are wrong because they're objectively evil. Simplifying a lot, fascism is when a group of people have a problem, usually economic but sometimes political, and they can't address it via political means. This leads to anxiety and the construction of a mythic ideal, which then leads to the construction of a scapegoat to blame for the problem. Because the scapegoat is manufactured, it can be anyone unable to defend themselves in society. Because the scapegoat had nothing to do with the problem, persecution doesn't make the problem go away. Thus the only 'solution' is intensification until the scapegoat is eradicated. But the problem persists, and so another scapegoat is constructed... and another and another and another. Fascism is ultimately self destructive, but it causes a LOT of harm in the process before its stopped. Conservatism is simply the arbitrary privilege of a small percentage of the population over another. It's hierarchical, with everyone in a dictated place, all sanctioned by holy decree. You see this in MANY corporations, especially in 'right to work' states. The CEO / founder / visionary is at the apex and everyone else is in a place beneath them regardless of fitness for job. Think of every incompetent boss and middle manager you've ever had, who is in that position above you because HR proclaims it so. That's conservatism. They want a king. They want lords. They want priests to proclaim the system is just. And they want everyone beneath them to shut up and do what they are told. The root of conservatism is aristocracy. The right are royalists. The problem with both is that they both cause incredible harm. To societies as a whole and to individuals in particular. We went through centuries of both and we came to what we have because it is more efficient, more fair, and recognizes our individual value as persons. It's not perfect, thanks in part to our misunderstanding of how money works, but it's getting better. That's the point.

[@KrimsonStorm]

@@QuinquetPourpre he can't because that's not really the case

[@KrimsonStorm]

I'm glad you have tried to see the other side. There's a lot of right wingers who do want to discuss things, especially younger people. The montra of modern right wingers is the guy screaming debate me. We want to talk. We want to discuss. We want to not be seen as a bunch of fascists or racists or homophobes or whatever.

[@sarahtonin4649]

I appreciate efforts to bring "the two sides" together but I don't believe attempts to do this will change antything until we stop believing there are "two sides." There are more than two kinds of people in the world! The continuous categorization of people is part of the problem, in fact it may be the problem. Seeing everyone as Left vs Right, conservative vs liberal, Republican vs Democrat, etc., is just lazy thinking, and whittles every problem down to team politics -- my team good, your team bad. It's a combative mentality from the start, and it enables people not to have to do the work of understanding people and problems -- you just pick a team and learn the rules of that team, i.e. learn what people on your team are supposed to think and believe. Talk about "identity politics"! Bah. The founders warned us about political parties. They'll never know how right they were. Our "culture war" will never end until we stop lazily putting everyone in our lives into one simplistic stereotype or another. There are more than two types of people in the world. We're all "snowflakes": no two are alike.

[@Catlily5]

I think it is time to have more than 2 major political parties.

[@sarahtonin4649]

@@Catlily5 Or zero political parties. I know, fat chance.

[@Futurepointmusic]

@@sarahtonin4649 just out of curiosity, what do you think the alternative to political parties is?

[@sarahtonin4649]

@@Futurepointmusic An informed electorate, that cares enough to evaluate candidates on their own merits, rather than by which political club they belong to. I don't expect this to happen, especially not as long as we have government by the wealthy for the wealthy, and an education system that seems to be less and less of a priority as the years roll by. Half the electorate doesn't care enough to vote anyway, and I don't think most of those who do vote want to have to think about candidates for any office. Democracy -- use it or lose it.

[@TombaFanatic]

@@sarahtonin4649 The problem is the mechanics of our political system in the country. Pretty much as soon as the constitution was ratified there were two parties, it just took a bit for them to name themselves. Every time there was more than two major parties running, the result was more unified minority leadership that the losing parties would all agree was a worse position. The parties morph and change, but 2 is what we're stuck with until there is some major change in how we handle elections. And even then, it may just be a feature of western democracies - most other countries that have many parties will form left and right coalitions to get things done. America just skips a step and makes the coalition into a single party, full of weirdly connected interest groups jockeying for influence within the party.

[@the135joker3]

Anyone who tries to bridge the growing chasm between us has my respect.

[@alyxiajohnson6604]

I wish people would realize there are more than just two political parties, other than democratic and conservative. Its truly mind boggling.

[@YoMamaIsSweet]

This is the man I needed as a father figure growing up. I would’ve been a better person and made better choices for myself if I had guidance like this as a kid.

[@galens2543]

Great self awareness. Start fresh today. …and maybe consider an update to your username to reflect that…

[@dakotadurham4788]

@@galens2543 Nah let him keep it

[@user-si3gu8pm6j]

The part about lost opportunities for Conservatives regarding potential political allies especially resonated with me. In my country of Canada I feel the least savvy move made by Harper was spurning so-called “foreign” workers in the Canadian Filipino community. This is really going to hurt the country (and the CPC). It really hurt hospitality, medical and many other economic sectors right when it’s most needed. Really well said - there’s wayyy too much posturing and short sighted/self serving happening right now

[@luaustin627]

This is the best Van Jones video I have ever seen. Thank you for trying to understand us.

[@Fairfax40DaysforLife]

It's the ONLY Van Jones video I've ever seen.

[@ziqizhu7364]

centrists, hum?

[@deus_ex_machina_]

"Thanks for trying to understand us" Understand who? Mate look at your political compass score, you're smack bang in the middle!

[@luaustin627]

@@deus_ex_machina_ I live in the most conservative state in the Union and while I did not vote Trump I was not anti Trump. Yeah I am not as rightwing as some people are, but I would hardly call a person who wants abortion illegal and generally lower taxes for working folk as centrist. That being said my political compass does put me in the middle.

[@deus_ex_machina_]

@@luaustin627 Understandable. It's hard to distinguish between centrism and apathy, since there's so many forces pushing and pulling you to one side or the other, people who care about politics don't remain centrist for very long in my experience. I do find it a bit strange that in two-party systems like in America, instead of deciding issue by issue, people align their opinions with their partie's line. It seems the voting system is the root cause of this problem, get rid of it and install me as dictator, I promise to be benevolent /s. But seriously, First Past the Post will eventually lead to this, there are plenty of other voting systems that better represent the will of the people in a way that doesn't fracture the electorate. CGP Grey has a video demonstrating a few of those and why we need them:

[@berkomatik8082]

As a Turkih citizen, we liberals did the same exact thing against conservatives over years with looking down. This is a mistake we learned from through a very tough government for the past 18 years. The whole country turned into an autocratic state with this Erdogan in 18 years. Everything has changed. As we still pay the price, I urge the Americans to pay attention to what this man is saying before shit spirals out of control in a blink of an eye.

[@nias2631]

I am aggressively moderate. Not down with any crazies, left or right.

[@johnnyviking8152]

Lol, aggressive moderate... "That is as oxymoronic, as crazy as saying military intelligence, or the U.S. [DOJ]. They're just words, they have very little relationship to reality." -- Mumia Abu-Jamal

[@Barberdan]

@@johnnyviking8152 Funny, But I found "aggressively moderate" charming. I'm likely an aggressively politically moderate because I often tell people who saying offensively straight left or right views around I call them on it and tell them it's never simple or black and white like that and have more prospective. They get more agreeable and less obnoxious most of the times.

[@fromthebackseat4865]

Must be nice to not take any positions while still feeling superior to everyone.

[@Barberdan]

@@johnnyviking8152 Aggressively moderate in his terms likely meant moderate to a level it's often suggested strongly to others around. Any type of ideology can be just as aggressive if it's middle other than left or right. Or perhaps it only meant strongly rooted moderate. Either way the point comes across and I believe in it. It's like when everyone is yelling "Black" "White" and someone strongly suggests "Grey".

[@АзаматСулейменов-ш4р]

Because truth always lies somewhere in the middle of two extremes. That's why I believe Earth is in the shape of a rugby ball.

[@Who-yo3xh]

Lincoln said before you change someone you become their sincere friend.

[@audobone]

Tip: Watch at 1.5x speed.

[@ipolodesign]

Anagha M. Thanks!

[@MetallicReg]

One of the rare videos where I used 2x comfortably.

[@Pakanahymni]

2.5x is my choice

[@MetallicReg]

Would be nice if it was possible :)

[@foff4446]

Anagha M. Thanks😁

[@Mr.Scootini]

I’m glad I wasn’t the only person thinking this. Such a relief

[@KM-pm6qe]

Alternate title: “How to talk to a conservative without being a condescending jerk.” Let us reach those we can. This was an insightful look at how our words can come across in ways we don’t intend.

[@ashvinvaidyanathan7239]

You know how your comment reads? "Conservatives are dumb and we need to convert them over. However, they are wily creatures who can understand when we try to do that. We need to change our approach to civilize these animals"

[@lmanproductions8680]

@@ashvinvaidyanathan7239 I agree that is how it sounds, but if this is the mindset that it takes to stop the hatred than so be it

[@lmanproductions8680]

@@naddarr1 you misunderstand, I am also a conservative. If this mindset is what it takes for progressives to reach out and do their part in creating a bridge, than so be it

[@truecatholic8692]

The funny part is that liberal policies always fail, and yet they truly believe their policies are going to work "next time". That's why everyone laughs at them.

[@haghendowdy4750]

alternate alternate title "How conservatives should actually be campaigning."

[@Flyanb]

As a right leaning middle voter I feel that true conservative values have been left behind. I cannot stand behind them right now. I hope someone from the real Conservative party runs against Uncle Donnie. Or I am taking a hard left turn. This guy is speaking for my feelings. Amen

[@keahililia8208]

Agreed~

[@fromthebackseat4865]

Conservative values have always been shit. 45 didn’t make them shit.

[@jeremyashford2145]

you are taking a hard turn left your feelings do not care for facts

[@CoolArrow78233]

Joseph O'Connor the left ‘values’ are pretentious, two faced, self-gratifying trash codes. THAT’s shit. You don’t know what you’re talking about

[@octopuss1918]

@@jeremyashford2145 What facts the shit you just made up are not facts

[@rainbowsnail4171]

As someone not from the US, it always shocks me to see how the Left and the Right over there view each other with such hatred and condescending. It feels like they think anything the other side say or do is bad, just because they were the ones to say/do it. I remember during the 2016 elections, there was a video of a man going out on the streets and asking people at random: "Do you support Hilary's stance on X, when she says Y" and they would say that they totally agreed. Then he would ask "So you are against Trumps plans to X?" and they would say yes, they are very against that. And then, he would inform them that he switched out the names. They had just agreed with what Trump wanted to do, and been against what Hilary wanted to do. But in truth they didn't care or know one way or the other, all they were thinking about was "who said it", not what was said. I myself dislike Trump, and my own political views are Left-leaning in my own country. However I do feel like the Left in the US are the ones who got him elected, by driving anyone not decided yet to vote for him by going on the attack against anyone not fully, wholeheartedly 100% on their side already. This mindset of "if you are not already with us, you are against us, and an enemy!" makes it really hard for people to come over to your side. No one wanna join a group that's spent ages calling you an idiot for not already being part of it, after all.

[@finchborat]

I do agree the left played a part in him getting elected. To me, the left (mainly the SJW/woke portion) came off looking worse than Trump. They made his ignorant moments look minor in comparison.

[@seand.g423]

Dude, just... _what_ fucking "Left in the US"???

[@AuroraSmith1689]

This is a very good talk. Im a conservative, I don’t like the liberal way of life, but I do believe full-heartedly that they should have the right still to live it their way. I’ve come to the conclusion that above all, its important that people are allowed to have free-will over their own lives. The only time I think we should legally interfere is when people attempt to take away each other’s rights. Otherwise, an adult in their right mind should be able to make any choice they like about their own lives and futures up to and including suicide. I agree that it feels like something else is in the batter, and I think what’s in the batter is fear. We’re all afraid that the other side is so extreme they’re going to take away our right to our own way of life. Nobody is sure where to draw the line or what to fight for, and that’s why it’s getting so toxic on both sides. I think we should fight for individual free-will. That’s where I feel like the line needs to be drawn.

[@stevenjbeto]

Thank you for the insights, and the reminder. Some of us who self-identify as liberal can and often do come off as holier than thou.

[@marvymarier8988]

We are! Lol

[@SplishSplashdash]

Can't go online without seeing conservatives telling kids how stupid they are for choosing college.

[@truecatholic8692]

Well, your policies always fail.

[@jakeweberzwier8655]

@@truecatholic8692 that's been very evident since the pandemic began

[@omarispowell2949]

Let’s not even get stated with how liberals treat black people in the party.

[@Siegfried352]

You could switch hypocrisy and close-mindedness and it would be true for the opposite group as well.

[@bakersmileyface]

Truth. Plenty of times I've caught conservative hypocrisy and anti-conservativism.

[@keithmuset6510]

I know I'm late to the party here, but I think that is part of the point of the video. That both political ideals could be guilty of what they accuse the opposing side of.

[@E_V878]

@@keithmuset6510 I wouldn’t say the ideals are guilty of it but the people who subscribe to them are

[@Cjaymoney]

I feel sorry for all of my American Brothers and Sisters who are commenting negative comments without productively watching and understanding the video.

[@jeff4312]

Let's get Van Jones and Tom Sowell together for a discussion!

[@geraldjuvejr.6171]

YES! I agree, on some well know show and/or podcast.

[@rogermetzger7335]

My parents’ lifestyle was sufficiently conservative that many (most?) of their friends were politically conservatives. At the same time, I don’t ever remember my parents promoting conservative political ideology. The only political doctrine I remember them ever promoting was the doctrine that people with conservative lifestyles should NOT use the political process to impose their (my parents’) lifestyle choices on everyone else. In the 1950s, I was not aware of anyone with more liberal lifestyle choices - drinking, smoking, sexual promiscuity - who tried to impose those lifestyle choices on others. Particularly, I was not acquainted with anyone who made those more liberal lifestyle choices and who advocated using government to impose those choices on everyone else. Now that it has become fashionable to say or imply that conservative lifestyle choices are “wrong” and people who make those choices should be penalized by boycott and government intervention, I need to make it very clear that I consider it inappropriate for EITHER group to impose their lifestyle choices on everybody else. That doctrine would go a long way toward restoring some semblance of civil dialogue in the United States. Maybe even in the world.

[@aylayoung9551]

Wow. That was amazing. As a conservative with a lot of liberal friends I can see a lot of what he said is 100% true on both sides and we need to step up. Somewhere along the path of partisanship Americans decided that loyal opposition cannot exist, when in reality it is absolutely essential for democracy.

[@vdemetrio7663]

I feel like this entire "Liberal vs. Conservative" divide and general "Left vs. Right" theme would ideally turn into a "Progressive AND Libertarian" future where we recognize the need for both sides, while building up on the most constructive features of both sides: Evolving AND Respect for traditional values, Investing in the future but STILL fiscally conservative with where we are mindful over our spending, Empowering diversity of our citizens while keeping the government small and the people free to make their own choices, Protect our planet and the structure of our society, etc. I loved what he said about how a bird NEEDS a right and left wing. Excellent talk. We need more people like this, it feels insane that this type of thinking isn't the norm. This polarization just isn't natural, we all bleed the same blood and share well over 99% of the same genes at the end of the day.

[@davynnwinter6536]

I concur VV

[@MetalNick]

Dustin Hawk Amen.

[@MetalNick]

🤮🤮🤮 To hell with libertarians, aka, people who think Wall Street isn't privileged enough. Yeah some of their spokespeople might talk big on small business but they're capitalists; professional spinsters; marketers of ideas, not educators of ideas. They also do a lot of propaganda projects in South America, to try to keep people from voting in their own interests, and making American corporate capitalism out to be the great savior of their woes and of humanity. They're just republicans without the social baggage. No interest in labor rights, or environmental prudence, or any other hazards of a society structured around prioritizing profit over sustainability and wellbeing. They can't even admit climate change science is real and well established. I'm not even reading from the same holy book of capitalism republicans insist is the last word on human society. So, no, I'm not going to fool myself into thinking some compromise between human rights and corporate autocrat rights is feasible or desirable. World leaders, including..or especially those in industry/corporations need to grow up and understand that. And stop playing this bullshit game that all opinions have equal merit.

[@sriram181]

This video , the content the guy is saying is my journey of the past two years from mid 2020 to mid 2022 . From being a leftist to a conservative to now a centralist and more of someone who sees things from both perspective rather than one , I am more than glad for the journey god granted me to realise how egocentric bias can take over a lot of our potential of understanding things . Solely because of our biases 🙏🙏🙏

[@monkey_gamer_001]

Wow, Van Jones is amazingly thoughtful. I love how he calls conservatives "our conservative friends". Very inclusive language, just the thing we need! I now feel very tempted to read his book... I notice he says, "it appears that what we called Conservatism has been replaced by something else... anti-liberalism." As an Australian observing the US from the outside, this seems to me a pretty astute observation of hardline Trump supporters and the Republican core. These kind of people appear to want to return the US to their perceived 1950s golden age: a hierarchical, industrial society with white, straight Christians at the top. A place where it was easy to get a job, you could trust other Americans, where men and women had defined gender roles, the only acceptable forms of love were heterosexual, and where blacks knew their place. In contrast, the modern world seems very chaotic and unpredictable. Conservatives are therefore unhappy with the massive social changes that have have occurred in the last 70 years, upsetting this social construction which benefited them. I don't think they can help but see everything as a deliberate attempt by progressives to upset the natural social order which benefited them: increased equality for women, racial minorities, homosexuals, and more recently, new reconsiderations of gender norms with regards to transgender people. Some changes though, have nothing to do with liberals: the shift away from coal and deindustrialisation of large parts of the country. The negative effects on industrial-working, white, straight Christians from rapid social change is the source for the current 'anti-liberal' sentiment amongst conservatives. What you now have essentially is a large proportion of people who now have to navigated both a changed economy and also a changed social landscape. Basically, the people who Van Jones is refering to when he says "these people may not fit in to the new arrangement".

[@progressiveresourcecenter754]

Many of the things progressives push for are also illiberal. Specifically, equality of outcome, suppression of free speech and the suspension of due process rights on college campuses, rejection of evolutionary science (ex. sex differences), and a general anti-male bias.

[@tanyasprigg9745]

Well said. Conservative thought by its very nature is a very knee-jerk reaction to change no matter what.

[@BK-qx6pl]

Etern4l “Don’t waste your time” Sigh, you didn’t listen to the video did you? You’re the problem Van Jones is talking about. Listen to your progressive brothers and sisters, maybe they’re not wrong.

[@BK-qx6pl]

Etern4l Maybe you should look at why they’re acting out? Maybe just listen and then do some introspection on why these people are so fucking terrified of an authoritarian conservative government. Van Jones is obviously trying to understand why his side lost (per him dedicating 2/3 of his video to criticizing democrats), you’re doing everything you can to avoid giving any thought into how your side may be wrong on many many issues. Conservatives are wrong on a lot of issues, progressives are wrong on a lot of issues. Van Jones is 100% right when he says conservatives are no longer conservatives, they’re anti-liberals. The Conservative party of the US has transformed into an actual reactionary movement. That’s incredibly dangerous to the stability of a society. Yet you’re here thinking you’ve don’t nothing wrong, and the other side deserves 100% of the blame. That’s not true, and you know it.

[@BK-qx6pl]

Etern4l The Trump administration is currently creating a task force that is designed explicitly for the purpose of challenging the Supreme Court decision on same sex marriage. Conservatives are the farthest thing from liberal. The Conservatives in power are theocrats. Just the fact that I have to explain that to you shows you’ve not seriously looked at the flaws within your own political party. Every single thing you embody is “liberals do this, therefore I should do the opposite”, and it’s perfectly clear in the way you talk.

[@YodasPapa]

Loads of people need to hear this, and introspect for, like, 5 years.

[@andysawyer647]

One nice conversation goes a long way.

[@totocaca7035]

This video is stupid. It is not relevant in any way. It says nothing. The person talking is agitating nothingness in order to make it seem as if something is being debated. It is not. This man is just full of shit, and he pretends that the answer to every problem would be that every politicians hold hand in hand and chant some peace hymn. This is bullshit to the higher level. politics is about conflict. The solution to problems starts by identifying problems ACCURATELY. US are ignorant of things, maybe, or they aren't living in a democracy, maybe, or there isn't a good instruction in the US regarding what is serious and important and what isn't, maybe. That's just my opinion, maybe. I mean, Bush43 twice? Maybe.

[@elizabethbennet4791]

+toto shut up.

[@taforth]

Nail on the head. This guy should run for party leadership. He get's it!

[@fastdollar1]

Right? This was incredible.

[@jonasvalero]

They don't want someone that can actually lead and unite the country, that's the morbid reality.

[@marco1173]

There is no room for guys like Van Jones in the current political climate. Obama got rid of him like a hot potato the second Republicans put a hit on his head after that whole manufactured controversy about his past.

[@Nirvana7734]

It would be fantastic if he did, but I fear in an American context that someone taking an honest position about the flaws of both sides would be embraced by neither and vilified by both. Even so, I would definitely support Van Jones or anybody with this level of honest introspection.

[@raijin7707]

It's gonna take me a while to trust Ven Jones knowing that he's been running with CNN quite some time. CNN would flat out lie about things and him being connected with them makes me waver.

[@missmorbid1439]

A rich liberal getting his taxes raised is still going to be rich. His quality of life probably won’t be affected in the slightest. A low-income conservative is definitely going to feel the consequences of his ideology, for both himself and his family. There’s nothing wrong with sticking to your values, and part of mine is to always tell people when they’re hurting themselves, because that will lead to the best outcome if the advice is taken to heart.

[@Alchimystic]

The Left usually believes so much in it's own moral high ground that becomes a form of 'though-racism', while the Right usually relates to true racism. So the Left discriminates on the way you think, while the Right discriminates on the way you look/pray/etc... This is something i believe for some time, and Van Jones touched it partially

[@revelmonger]

As a member of the right I can say that is completely wrong. We don't care how you look, what we care about is how you ARE. Trash is trash no matter the color, the person, or the community.

[@johnh8546]

Yeah that's so far off of correct I'm not sure where to go with that. Conservatives on average don't care about race religion or so on. They scarcely acknowledge its effect on society which I think is sort of noble but a little misguided. I think they have one idea very correct that the only chance of ending racism and discrimination is to get rid of all of it. If you make programs that only help one group you are discriminating against the others. That is where we go wrong on the left. That is something conservatives are absolutely right about. It's great to want to help the poor it is not so great to focus on the poor of any particular group.

[@revelmonger]

@@johnh8546 it's not even that it's focusing on one group it's the inability to think from others perspectives. The fact that everyone to the left of them are a radical is baffling. They just don't want to debate civilly. Imo the January 6th riot was bad, but in the grand scheme of things it has been no worse than everything that the left has supported in the past 2 years. The amount of blood on the hands of the Democratic party is horrifying.

[@johnh8546]

@@revelmongerI agree with you. You can't criticize the January 6th insurrection without condemning the riots over other issues. They both have the same key issue they don't address the problem. Although to the credit of the January 6th rioters at least they were pointed in the right direction, and didn't destroy private property when the anger was directed at government agencies. So where as I condem both I will give the right credit for at least making more sense.

[@super_5402]

@@revelmonger incorrect you guys judge lgbtq or anyone based on how they looks

[@promisejrhodes]

We need the left and the right. Checks and balances. We NEED each other but we’ve got to stop attacking each other and come together to balance our nation. ❤️❤️❤️ GREAT video.

[@thedebatemechannel4746]

No the human race needs to get out of the Dark Ages. This identity politics is nothing more than the ancient Clan mentally. Social groups. Everybody wants to be part of a group and then they hold the group higher than themselves. When you do this you go around championing stupid ideas which you yourself would actually disagree with but because the group supports that you supported. There's only one group in this country that matters and that is this one nation. The United States of America. We are all part of the same country and we therefore need to be more modern and more intelligent and focus on ideas and truth and facts and not being part of some stupid Club. Left vs right black versus white, all Dark Age Concepts

[@robertwilson8184]

@@thedebatemechannel4746 If we were all homogenous (no left and right) there would be no need to needlessly pay lip service to unity. We simply would be, be that for better or worse.

[@BazzBrother]

Butiggieg and Bernie going on FOX news and getting a standing ovation just by speaking to them of their plans is proves they are easily swayed by the best ideas on the table. thats why their establishments no longer expose them to such things.

[@DoctorPhileasFragg]

Oh wow, when did this happen?

[@Mrstubbsthezombie]

@@DoctorPhileasFragg in his dream 🤣

[@quinlantravis]

Dude, take that bird analogy and modify it to an eagle, and you've got yourself a presidential campaign slogan to run on

[@alugrof]

'Do your hear yourself? Do you hear how you sound?' Is the perfect set of questions one should ask oneself with critical mind whenever forming an opinion and before broadcasting it to others.

[@ashdawg721]

I just found this channel and I love what you guys do. My biggest concern with information and news on media is; where can you find actual informative and truthful news rather than those that fancy your own self interest?

[@Koijn2K]

All opinions are biased, the only way to find the truth is to listen to all sides first.

[@seannolan9857]

As a general rule, I prefer listening to foreign news sources, since they can report it more fairly as they don't have anything to gain from it.

[@peterbonucci9661]

Al Jazeera has excellent news and has no reason be pro US. During one war, the US media villainized them and I could see it was unwarranted.

[@DawrinChawes]

@@seannolan9857 yeah the bbc actually be pretty fair when they aren’t talking about the royals

[@davecullins1606]

@@DawrinChawes The BBC is moderately left-wing.

[@jamiethegaymie]

American politics is weird

[@d3funk09031990]

James Cribbon politics in general is ancient.. ive been wondering my entire life what the perfect eutopian society would be and it just leads me to managing population and education to everyone.. were too fucking over populated honestly hahaha

[@danceswithcritters]

America could do with a 3rd. party, a Middle party, neither too far left or too far right.

[@Tht1kidYouKnw]

no one will vote for that 3rd party.

[@fredguy2]

I'm in Canada and the big 3 parties want the similar things but done in different ways for example with Healthcare Conservatives want a more affordable healthcare system but not at the cost of over taxing citizens. Liberals want to take the middle road with increased spending on healthcare and raising taxes on the rich. And the NDP want to invest in Healthcare and infrastructure by implementing a carbon tax. They want the same end result ie; better more efficient Healthcare with reduced wait times. In the U.S.A as an observer it seems like the two big parties want diametrically opposing things, whether it's on Healthcare, Military, Foreign Policy and the people who support either group are "Ride or Die" with no nuance on issues.

[@Graham6762]

Only White male protestant land owners should be able to vote, like in the beginning. Once you let everyone and their dog vote it stops having a meaning and people don't take their vote seriously. Then you get non loyal people like Mexicans and jews voting and subverting the elections through bussing or media manipulation.

[@uweschroeder]

There would be a few things he said that I disagree with, but he does make a lot of very valid points. What this country currently lacks the most is civility and tolerance. I don't have to agree with my neighbor from a very different cultural background, but that doesn't mean we can't exchange food over the fence, have a chat or roll each other's garbage bins down on garbage day.

[@acutechicken5798]

Tolerance is fine as long as you don't want to harm or kill me. Otherwise, I won't tolerate your positions.

[@americancountryball2077]

@@acutechicken5798 this is why everyone needs to wake up to the right being radicalized, I mean if they logically think for a moment that two CAPITALIST parties are debating about social issues where one wants progress and the other wants to regress then they’d be stumped

[@StardustDNA]

I must thank YT algorithm for bringing Van Jone's well thought out empathy and constructive criticisms to light. Thank you

[@0402mgodwin]

As a social progressive who has recently had her eyes opened to BOTH sides .... I applaud Van. And to conservatives.... seeing your own side's faults... which as on both sides....are extensive.... letting the curtain of cognitive dissonance drop ... is the most liberating experience.... but it takes humility and the ability to admit you were lied to..... as I publicly admit to being lied to. We are not each other's enemy.... the TOP have the tools to keep us obsessed with culture war... and if our attention and displeasure are directed at each other....you're looking to the right. ..or left for blame. Where you aren't looking is UP.

[@David13ushey]

You closed your eyes. A fascist is your enemy. A conservative is your enemy. A fascist is your enemy because they have abandoned reality for a delusion in a desperate attempt at power. A conservative is your enemy because they want to enslave you. There's nothing arrogant about being right. Most "conservatives" are just liberals who are Christian, like guns, and have boring straight sex, but they enable truly horrific people that want to enslave people in destitution and murder them for the crime of being.

[@FernandoQuevedo]

Not only did he explain it perfect but also proposed solutions that I can use. Bravo!

[@paracausalotter2689]

Thanks for being a voice of reason in all this chaos. Your message hasn't fallen upon deaf ears.

[@BurntheKremlin966]

Unfortunately it didn't age well! Who should we blame for it?!

[@epicpancho5459]

Liberals!!

[@DBREW]

In what way did it not age well? Are there any specific points that you think would be different, if the same video was produced today?

[@BurntheKremlin966]

@@DBREW Destroy a mafia cartel from inside won't work too much corruption. The dnc and the rnc can't be saved. An new party is the best way to promote real policies.

[@DBREW]

@@BurntheKremlin966 I don't follow you. Are you saying that major news outlets are a mafia cartel? If not, what are you referring to? In what way does comparing major media outlets to a cartel expose the harms they inflict?

[@alanduval6429]

He is wrong in his comparison between wealthy liberals voting against their own interests and poor Republicans doing the same. Wealthy liberals DO get something out of voting for higher taxation, and it is different from what poor conservatives get for voting for lower taxation of the wealthy.

[@ammaleslie509]

Van Jones should get an Oscar for making that argument with a straight face. Person A values equality and the redress of historic wrongs over having more money. Person B values maintaining a system of lies and propaganda that strokes his ego and tells him he is more important than women or men of a different color, culture or religion--and he would rather vote to maintain that system over having more money. To equate them by saying they both "vote their values instead of their economic interests" is horrific: one set of values is life-giving to all, and the other set of values is life-destroying to everyone who is not exactly like Person B. They are NOT making an equally moral choice.

[@ammaleslie509]

@Stirgid Lanathiel When red state regions are singled out as specific investment regions, they still don't vote for them. Look at Medicaid expansion. Look at the programs to bring broadband to rural areas. Look at the added unemployment benefit as we recover from the pandemic. Even when the economic relief is targeted especially for them, they would rather turn it down, in order to keep these programs from also going to people and groups that they despise. They used to call that cutting off your nose to spite your face. Except conservatives don't even acknowledge the rest of us as being part of the same face. Or body. Or country.

[@JTuaim]

Having grown up in the highly prejudistic fifties it warms my heart to hear intelligent views from people of color and have those thoughts respected. I often heard, "that _ doesn't know his place". We're all of one race:. Human.

[@David13ushey]

Funny how conservatives don't treat us all as one.

[@JTuaim]

@@David13ushey Whenever someone feels superior everyone else suffers.

[@David13ushey]

@@JTuaim And conservatism is the ideology of superiority.

[@robertwilson8184]

@@David13ushey If the left truly believed that "we are all one," there would be quite literally zero need for the intersectional olympics that have been playing out in recent years. The ultimate example of intersectionality (insofar as identity and lived experience) is the sacred individual. That is the fundamental perspective of classical liberalism. And yet, the left constantly pushes the lens of Marxist ideology along several axes of self-identification. I refuse to call these people "liberals," because they simply aren't. "Neomarxists" is a much more accurate term.

[@David13ushey]

@@robertwilson8184 the left doesn't believe we are all one. The left believes "Every person has value and that value can not be stripped away by the state nor supplemented by their bank account." Your value is in action. Your value is in your words and deeds. It never reaches zero, and you should never be treated as if it is zero. It doesn't matter if you're a billionaire if you use your billions to cause harm. It doesn't matter if you're a homeless junkie. Everyone has value. Everyone has worth. Everyone has a right to be treated with respect. Progressive is a much more accurate term. Because progressives identify that there are systems that reinforce inequality and that there are things that must be done to address them. We can't make a perfect society, but we should always be striving towards making it better and improving it. The problem with classical liberalism is that it ignores that humans are a society and must have societal rules. We need good systems. The problem with libertarian, or classical liberalism, is that it can't counteract social forces. You might be doing the right thing, but if I can convince 100 people to do the wrong thing, we can force you to comply with us or just kill you. So it's not enough to say 'Hey, lets all do our own thing and not kill each other.' Because sooner or later someone's own thing is going to infringe on your own thing and you'll need a system to address it. This is why progressivism is much better than classical liberalism. Because it acknowledges the problem and seeks solutions. It may not always get it right, but it is trying for a better, more fair society with more opportunity for all.

[@erincurrin7590]

This is a well thought and much needed conversation. I was totally with Van until the end. I have NEVER considered myself a conservative. Woke ideology DROVE me away from the liberal side of the aisle. There is NO room for critical thought or personal values in the liberal echo chamber. Liberals used to be able to discuss and debate ideas. Many of my close personal friends - including those of color - are shocked to find themselves agreeing with conservative media over the liberal counterparts that used to be our staples. But the insane idea that EVERY white person is racist and NO person of color is or that abortion is a "my body my choice" issue but that a vaccine is not is pure political theater serving only personal agendas of power and revenge. It has been decades that we have been slowly moving down this path and being pitted against one another. How can we create a space where disagreement and dissent are not crimes, but places to build bridges?

[@sunnysied713]

Both sides have the same problem. Conservatives and Democrats both make the same mistakes. There are only a few people who actually have strong critically thinking skills. The rest live in an echo chamber. Not many people actively go out to read articles and understand arguments that oppose their world view. Not many people will challenge their opinions and CHANGE them as new arguments and information are discovered and analyzed. Now, people defines themselves based on their politics and treat it as a sport. They proudly rep their political sports team and can't handle any criticism or admit any shortcomings or mistakes by their 'team'. Extreme liberals and conservatives are both bad.

[@tomyao7884]

I certainly understand how disagreement with the left can drive you to the right. However, I don't think the left actually believe that white people are inherently racist. They have some point about the historical racism of the institutions leaving a lasting impact on the current economic situation of the blacks, which should be corrected by giving extra opportunities to them now. I don't neccesarily agree with that, but that is their view, not the strawman argument. They paint abortion as being about choice, neglecting to mention the part about the life of the fetus. That is also one point against them. But they feel that vaccines are a measure to promote public health, not politically motivated, which I agree with. The studies show that they are effective against coronavirus, just as the flu vaccine is effective against the flu. Unless you want to disregard the whole concept of vaccines, which have been accepted and effective for probably centuries by now, I don't see what political point the vaccines can make.

[@rsv298]

What a great and refreshing speech. I highly respect conservatives and I do wish that we could bring those values back into the mainstream. He hits it right on the money with the fact that modern conservatism in the US is more about being anti-liberal than conservative.

[@Ellecram]

Exactly what values are we lacking? Education? Respect for people's choices and boundaries?

[@Formallyknownashandle]

Sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo true. It’s exhausting because those who are really engaged and observe everyone get tired of the hypocrisy all around. Great video. 👍🏽👍🏽

[@spiritedrenee9895]

Title alone says more about how Americans treat their fellow humans in just one line. more that I could in just a paragraph.

[@knifeyonline]

Elizabeth Stone do you think anybody who references a nation is ever speaking about every single person within that nation? I think you know your comment was nonsense.

[@harrymills2770]

Thank you for proving the man's point. No, all classical liberals (so-called conservatives) are NOT as intolerant as Proton2112. In fact, classical liberals are probably the only true liberals left in the U.S. "Liberal" is a label that means the opposite of what it once meant. Just ask anybody who tried to give a speech on a college campus, who wasn't a liberal or even rabidly and openly Marxist. But have a speaker in who challenges the big government and supports truly free speech, and they will be silenced, harassed, and even physically attacked by so-called liberals. But have a Marxist give a speech, and the "radical right wing" LETS THEM. No problem. You can talk all day about killing cops and shutting down anybody who's not lock-step left. But the mere SUGGESTION that these are bad ideas, you're asking for a bike lock to the cranium. Wake up, liberals. Most of you are on the wrong side for all the right reasons.

[@zeirem2174]

@Proton2112 Sounds like you want an opportunity to be in a life or death situation. Is that your golden rule for establishing stability in a society? Death is your plan for a flourishing civil society?

[@zeirem2174]

@Description Untitled How much are you getting paid to defame and mislead people in the comment section these days?