The tone in comment fields, and indeed in public conversations, is becoming increasingly harsh. I observe that what I would call “ordinary people” are reacting to this. They are reacting to politicians being vilified and incited to a higher degree than before. They are reacting to the fact that normal filters for debate and expression no longer seem to apply.

As I said, these are what I call “ordinary people”, and not necessarily left-wingers who mindlessly support the left. I therefore think it’s important that the right doesn’t alienate these people with vulgar characterisations of politicians and other public figures.

But I have a message for “ordinary people”. We are no longer in the 1980s, when the political class both demanded and received respect. Respect is not something you are entitled to, but something you have to earn. This doesn’t just apply to politicians, but to everyone around us, including relatives and friends. However, it can be argued that the politicians of previous generations were noble, did their best for the country, and therefore deserved respect.

But that’s no longer the case. When today’s politicians are heckled, it’s because the “inside voice” is no longer useful. When politicians consistently work against the will of the people, they cannot demand respect. When they are more concerned with certain foreign countries than with Norway, they violate their mandate. When they cede Norway’s resources and sovereignty to the EU, they are closer to betrayal and criminal prosecution than polite passivity. When they make Norwegians poorer, while at the same time claiming to increase our purchasing power, they themselves are fuelling contempt and hatred of politicians.

This can be difficult to explain to “ordinary people”. It’s a difficult subject to broach in friendly and polite company. Instead, you may feel accused and criticised for not using your inner voice. It seems to be more important that the debate is polite than that it actually leads to political change. And sometimes you need a break from politics. Sometimes you need peace, quiet and laughter. Sometimes you shut up, and that’s allowed.

But people who use the “inside voice” are no longer heard, they get screwed.

“Outside voice” works. We’ve just seen it in the Bovaer case, where the Storting now seems to be withdrawing one of its many brain-dead decisions. Popular resistance became too great. Tine dairies were boycotted on a scale they had never experienced before. They had grown into a “brand”, a large and arrogant organisation that behaved know-it-all towards its consumers. It took its toll.

And the politicians, who just push through one ill-considered decision after another, seem to be turning round on the matter. But how many other cases go through because people have neither the time nor the energy to mobilise against each and every harmful decision?

Maybe this is precisely the purpose. Living is becoming more expensive. We have to work more to make ends meet. We become exhausted. Exhausted people go home from work and straight to bed. They don’t have the capacity to sit in front of the internet and engage in political issues. Only the extremely committed can do that, and politicians can easily label them as “agitators” and have them arrested. Is this where we are heading?

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Bovaer was perhaps not the most important issue to focus on. I think there are more important issues for the future of Norway and the West. But it was a fundamentally important issue: We must not tolerate animal cruelty and the defilement of our food. And the case showed that consumer power and popular resistance bear fruit. Perhaps it can inspire further popular rebellion in other cases. There is such a thing as “one thing at a time”.

I myself am among those who no longer use the indoor voice. I like to call Jonas Gahr Støre a traitor. I like to call my opponents left-wing idiots. And I meet a lot of opposition. I have to admit that it took me a while to get out of the shell of “clever Daniel”. It wasn’t quite how I imagined I would talk to others. I was a “people pleaser”. In fact, I’m conflict averse by nature.

But many of the same people who now complain that the tone has become “disgusting” are the same ones who incited vaccine opponents during COVID-19, those who did not wear face masks and those who did not keep their distance. These are the same people who today are vilifying Trump – the only man who can save the West. They’re the same people who hate climate realists. These people don’t deserve to be met with a sympathetic voice. When they won’t listen to reason, they must be disciplined. They simply need to be cracked down on, as they themselves are willing to crack down on those who do not follow the politically correct consensus.

Therefore: Don’t be ashamed of your vulgar language towards those who need to hear it. But don’t forget who you are. You are educated, knowledgeable, fair, brave and with higher integrity than most. You can think for yourself, unlike those you debate against.