People aren’t angrier, they just feel more entitled to express it
By Lethbridge Herald on August 15, 2025.
Editor,
I disagree with Scott Sakatch’s assertion in his Aug. 13 column that people are “more angry.” In the past, many people became annoyed or frustrated, but either kept it to themselves, or expressed their discontent in honest and polite ways.
Now, people are encouraged to express their slightest annoyance in the form of personal attacks, often delivered in the coarsest and most vulgar language. They’re not more angry, they’re just feeling more entitled to express their anger in more open and offensive ways.
These people are empowered to do so by the example of societal leaders doing so. Whether people get their news on print media, radio, TV or online, they witness it daily, and it’s normalized. There isn’t a day goes by without U.S. President Trump berating a political rival or spitting scathing undeserved insults at people at all levels, from world leaders to poor homeless folk.
His disgusting tirades and litany of lies, and the public’s bewildering acceptance of him carrying-on in this way, gives the example that others are now following.
We see this in the copycat ways of other U.S. politicians, and now in Alberta’s ruling politicians. Like a poisonous gas, it’s leaking down to the lowest level, with everyday people embracing these rude tactics as the new way to “get things done.” It’s sad but true.
Richard Quinlan
Lethbridge
9-8
Great comments Richard. While Danielle Smith and Pierre Poilievre have had nothing but praise for Donald Trump and his Right Wing Extremists most of us aren’t that stupid. Watching them waste billions of dollars and ignoring what it will do to our children and grandchildren’s future is sickening.
Have you noticed our Alberta Debt has climbed by $9 billion over the past year and we know that’s not appropriate, with the oil wealth they should be collecting, don’t you?
Google this if you want to check on it:
“Alberta Debt Clock”
Make certain you all watch the UCP meeting in Edmonton last night and learn what the people think about the lies Danielle Smith keeps promoting.
While she claims she is not interested in supporting Alberta Separating from Canada she refuses to state whether she has signed the petition that prevents that from happening, just like she refuses to admit whether or not she has had the COVID Shots or not.
If she hasn’t had them Doctors tell us she might be a carrier and spreading the virus to others who aren’t vaccinated either and that can be very dangerous.
Yeh, it is everywhere. Just check out the foul mouthed rants on MSNBC or the raging rants on the VIew. Of course in Alberta the attack is on Smith but they again they can blame Trump. So where do all the superlatives come from they call Trump. By your logic D. Smith made them do it. lol. The issue is when the country was 28 million 10% had a mouth with no where to express it. Today’s world, 10% of 40 million is a big difference and there are a substantial amount of places available socially to unload potty mouth. Same percentages apply to crime.
Or better still, watch and drool over Alex Jones and his bastion of truth, “Info Wars”!
Never watch it. Maybe you and the rest can fill us in.
Surprised you have never watched it – much of the vitriol spewed from Jones’s orifice has echoes of your rants – without the profanity it must be said!
perhaps it is best to be sure to “consult” with one of the millions of influencers before thinking or doing anything, the great oracles of modern times that they be.