ˈbləstər/
verb:
talk in a loud, aggressive, or indignant way with little effect
noun:
loud, aggressive, or indignant talk with little effect
The intriguing part of the definition for this most prevalent political pastime is, “with little effect”. This is probably a very old entry that has not been revisited in some time as it slowly slipped from common use. Howdy Doody’s nemesis, Mr. Bluster, kept its cantankerous notion alive during the 50’s for those of us Baby Boomers; Pooh’s blustery day, not so much. My point being, that in today’s climate of fact v. fantasy debate, baseless bluster is not merely effectual, it is gospel to at least half of the ears it reaches. Whether its railing against climate change or gun control or minimum wage or immigration or women’s rights or freeing a POW, boxers or briefs, the mis-, ill-, or simply uninformed, shout out in loud, whiney, grammatically-challenged outrage, devoid of factual support and with open distain for any contrary science, which was, they’ll tell you, a total waste of third period. The real tragedy of bluster politics is that it has become so ingrained in our sound-bite culture, (the media loves whacko shit), that real debate has been replaced by thoughtless contrarianism…full of sound and fury…signifying…
Although I could rightfully be counted among the blusteriest, (I am intimately aware of the need to lash out against an outrageous opinion if only to calm my own uncontrolled shaking and incoherent mumbling), but I would hope, that my however informed responses resonate with more import than, “Oh no, you di’n’t!”