Imagine a jar of ants — half black, half red. Left alone, they live in peace. Shake the jar, and suddenly they tear each other apart, convinced the enemy is across from them.
But the real villain isn’t the ants.
It’s the hand that shook the jar.
That is America today.
We are not enemies by nature.
But we are constantly being shaken — lied to, divided, manipulated — by people who profit from our rage.
Instead of leaders who heal wounds, we get opportunists who pour salt in them.
Instead of unity, we get fear.
Instead of truth, we get propaganda.
The President goes on Fox News not to lead, not to comfort, but to rile up the mob.
Social media floods our feeds with conspiracy theories, rage-bait, and lies crafted to turn neighbor against neighbor.
And too many of us take the bait.
But this didn’t start yesterday.
Shaking the jar for political gain has been the Republican playbook for years.
In 2008, when Barack Obama ran for president, the conspiracies poured in — he wasn’t really American, he was a Muslim, his wife was a man.
Lies meant to dehumanize.
Lies meant to divide.
Then in 2011, Donald Trump grabbed the jar with both hands.
He built his brand on the racist “birther” conspiracy, demanding Obama’s birth certificate and spreading the poison even further.
And when caught, he pointed his finger at Hillary Clinton, claiming she started it — another lie stacked on top of lies.
That’s when the modern era of the “shaken jar” was born.
Trump and his enablers proved division could win elections, could fill coffers, could keep America permanently on edge.
And they haven’t let go since.
So, when we ask who’s shaking the jar — the answer is clear: Republicans, Donald Trump, and the right-wing propaganda machine.
They are the ones profiting from our chaos.
But here’s the truth: we don’t have to play along.
We don’t have to keep tearing each other apart while the jar-shakers laugh.
The solution is hard, but obvious — turn off the noise.
Stop feeding the wrong wolf.
Demand leaders who build bridges instead of burning them.
Because until we stop them, the jar will keep shaking — and America will keep bleeding.
By Jennifer Geer
Thank you Jennifer.
A strong message put fluently, simply, and concisely.
This is your second post and once again you’ve knocked it out of the park. I’ll say to you what I said when your first post appeared – PLEASE keep writing. Your voice needs to be heard and I believe regularly. And, to other PZ readers who have something to say I hope you’ll follow Jennifer’s example. I’ve long believed some of you are capable of writing not just insightful comments to other’s posts but creating your own.
But to Jennifer I say well done. Again.
Not as horrible as your last one but still..
Of course in lefty world the villainous Republicans and conservatives are shaking the jar while the virtuous liberals are always trying to calm the waters…
lol