This is for the Pie-in-the-Sky-seeing neo-utopians who think finding “common ground” with “most” Trumpsters is possible. You are the frogs. They are the scorpions. You know the story.
Let me expand: My biggest fear is twofold. (1) That the 74M+/- who voted for Trump in 2020 will realize their true numbers and potential power and, like many actual Republicans before them, continue to vote every two years for Congress, every four for the president, (add the Senate to that as individual terms expire) plus in state matters; and
(2) that all too many Dems, Greens, et al. will continue to skip voting most times, often even in presidential elections, as they are wont to do during most midterms and special or run-off elections, and only turn out in droves every eight to twelve years after incalculable damage has already been done to the country, its people, and the world order.
If that pattern were to play out we would soon wind up with Mitch McConnells in every House and Senate seat as well as in the White House.
I completely agree with the idea that a super majority of Trumpsters are bigots who are both ignorant and believe, or want to believe, in “Welfare Queens” and the “inherent laziness” of anyone in the lowest income demographics receiving government help with obtaining food, housing, healthcare or anything else. All the while of course completely ignoring the unconscionable government handouts to big business and billionaires.
And of course the Trumpists think they’re fooling those not in on the secret by using the term “Socialism” as a boogeyman.
I have been trying for many years to convey to people who think personal prejudice against minorities and others is an aberration and a rarity, that in fact it is one of the most basic bedrock foundations of the bigots’ belief systems, and exists EVERYWHERE!
These are people for whom a normal conversation almost always entails the denigration of some one and/or some thing. People for whom a pleasant conversation is one where they laugh at the horrible things they would like to see done, or do themselves, to other people, (who they, of course, do not see as “real” people). Hatred and venom are as much a part of life for them as breathing.
I know because I come from such a family, and because as a person who has lived and worked in ten states and traveled through thirty-eight, I have spotted many examples of such people every place I’ve ever spent a week or more.
And yes, they are especially afraid of, (and thus very angry about), the “browning of America.” When the concept was first conveyed to me I was in elementary school, some fifty-two years ago, and saw just how scared they were. Teachers taught about it as though it was on a par with the eventual “big one” re California earthquakes on the San Adreas fault line. They did a bang up job of instilling that fear into their students, including myself.
In the eighties I was lucky enough to fall into a series of events that eventually opened my eyes and let me leave the hatred and ignorance of my first twenty-eight years of life behind me. Unfortunately that is a rare occurrence amongst the “people of hate” - as I think of them.
But the very worst thing of all about this entire situation is that these hateful, ignorant people, who don’t realize they’re making enemies of people who could instead be their partners in the fight against the real oppressors of humanity, continue to teach this way of thinking to their children and grandchildren and so continue the cycle of ignorance and hatred.
Now they know how strong they really are in this country. God help us all!
If anyone has any practical solutions, not just fairy-tale hopes and platitudes, that could at least begin cutting down the numbers of the people of hate, (short of genocide, please), I would love to hear one that actually sounds realistically promising.