Spot on assessment of why the disenfranchised glom onto conspiracy theories to get through the day, and ignore the atrocities committed by Trump and his ilk - NYT:
For those awash in anxiety and alienation, who feel that everything is spinning out of control, conspiracy theories are extremely effective emotional tools. For those in low status groups, they provide a sense of superiority: I possess important information most people do not have. For those who feel powerless, they provide agency: I have the power to reject “experts” and expose hidden cabals. As Cass Sunstein of Harvard Law School points out, they provide liberation: If I imagine my foes are completely malevolent, then I can use any tactic I want.
I know some believe there is a level of compassion we should have for those who are easily led and channel anger derived from their own social and financial impotence into conspiracy theories and support for monsters like Trump, but I’m just not having it.
I’m sorry. This is not an “educated vs. uneducated” rant. I have a college degree, but I’m no better than anyone else on this planet, and that’s not just what I know, it’s how I was brought up.
I think, maybe it might an issue of a lack of education combined with a sense of superiority built on insecurity. Are there really that many narcissists in this world?
Whatever the case, it’s no excuse. I don’t care if you are easily led, or you’re too dense to know the difference between information that is full of logical conclusions and info that makes no sense if you examine it. I don’t care if you were brought up by a racist and that’s seeped into your world view. I don’t care if you are so religious that you can’t look beyond an issue like abortion when the party you support is dismantling everything our country values and making everyone’s life worse, and less safe.
I don’t care. Because, in the end, even a monster like Trump knows the difference between right and wrong. The only issue left is whether you value it or not.
Trump supporters don’t. They revel in his cruelty. My biggest fear when Trump was elected was that his penchant for bullying would become glorified. Who knew it would be worse than that.
I don’t have that answer but I do know one thing. Not everything in this world is equal. Facts matter.
AND MYSELF, AND SO MANY OF YOU HERE, HAVE ALWAYS BEEN RIGHT ABOUT THIS GUY AND HIS SUPPORTERS AND IT IS NOT A MATTER OF OPINION.
We are right. It’s, unfortunately, no consolation. But hopefully it will win the day someday. And those who are so hateful and loud in their support of an agenda that only Hitler would love, will be branded the way they deserve to be in the future.
And to you out there who still support Trump, his monstrous policies (you know what I’m talking about. Not tax cuts), and his effort to overturn the election, you are the real enemy of the people. I know. Snicker all you want, but history is not on your side, and if you ever have a rude awakening someday that your beliefs were wrong, don’t expect sympathy because you feel you were brainwashed, or scared, or had conviction about one small part of a bigger picture. You will never deserve our sympathy, but we may be open to an apology, if you’re ever humble enough to know how to give one.
I’m not holding my breath on that.