In different realities

Over the years, I have tried to take the opinions of those with whom I disagree seriously, and to respond in a civil and thoughtful manner. Lately, this has gotten to be difficult.

I look at what is going on in the world and hear people saying things that I cannot believe any sane person could say. It appears that a number of people believe that their wanting something to be true makes it so. I watched much of the Republican convention and was amazed and appalled at the nonsense that was spewed. (Paul Krugman said the only words in Mike Pence’s speech that weren’t lies were “a,” “and,” and “the.”)

Watching Donald Trump speak on any topic convinces me that he has no empathy, or any normal human emotions, and is concerned only with his own interests. Yet I hear people telling me he is warm and caring. (People need to read Mary Trump’s book; some bad genes there?) I hear people discount anything in The New York Times, or other legitimate sources, as

“fake news,” and somehow, Joe Biden, who holds no office, is responsible for the disorder in our cities, while Trump, who has been president for almost four years, bears no responsibility.

I hear Trump taking credit for the best economy ever (it wasn’t), while in fact he was simply there while the recovery that had begun under Obama continued, and his actions, e.g., tariffs and tax cuts, slowed growth, bankrupted a bunch of farmers, and generated a $1 trillion deficit. And that’s all pre-virus.

How am I supposed to respond to people who choose to ignore objective reality or who are lying through their teeth? Respectful disagreement no longer seems appropriate.

ROGER WEBB Little Rock