Before going any further, this article is not suggesting that T.V. shows like Jerry Springer’s were the sole or even primary cause of our country’s tragic downfall when a majority of voting Americans elected Trump for yet a second time.
His show does, however, represents an underrated part of what processes devolved the national mood into the current chaos. The election of Trump is, in some ways, the Springer shows lowering the bar for politics as much as it did for T.V. And the bar for T.V. is now the bar for the nation.
Jerry Springer
‘The Springer Triangle’
"Toby Yoshimura, former longtime producer of the show, revealed . . . . there's this triangle you can draw from like Tennessee to Ohio to Georgia. Like the Bermuda Triangle, it was called the 'Springer Triangle,' where it's like 75% of all the guests in the history of the show came from that region of the country . . ."
Maury Povich
Jerry’s show became an emotional narcotic of social depravity and cruelty heaped on its quests, which punched another cannon ball sized hole in the American pysche, and more than a few of his guests, for an astounding 28 year-long history.
Notorious
His two arguably most notorious shows directly triggered a love triangle homicide and featured bestiality of a married man with his horse, a Shetland pony. His 4000 other shows were almost equally notorious, socially violent and repulsive.
The so-called Springer Triangle also points out in stark detail the levels of emotional stability and judgement we can expect from some voters.
Dishonorable Mention
With dishonorable mentions going to the Maury Povich, who program was almost a clone of Jerry’s show, and Geraldo Rivera, who’s show goes back to 1987. Followed closely by Steve Wilkos, Cheaters, Riki Lake, Tyra Banks, Montel Williams, Dr. Phil, Jersey Shore and many, many more. Too many programs which relied on violent social themes and bizarre behaviors to be named here.
One Person’s Pain is Another’s Pleasure
Even our comedies are often sadistic.
Truth be told, shows of the Springer variety are only part of the reason Americans have become accustomed and desensitized to shock and awe types of sadistic violence, social conflict and emotionally addicted to watching dysfunctional people suffering.
The media may be corporate controlled and lean towards a pro-Trump bias, although it does not always come from political motivations, but the media’s insatiable pursuit of profits by any means necessary. In an extremely competitive and violence loving market which is only too happy to employ themes which are most profitable and in demand, no matter how sick and violent.
Addiction to Violence, War and Crime Themes
Soft violence, slapstick movies like Airplane are almost universally popular in America. (Pictured Leslie Nielsen.)
Another large contributing factor to the current American mood is the long time domination of programming on T.V. and in the movies centered around wars both current and ancient, murder who done it mysteries, spy flicks and violent organized crime shows.
Ruthless and sadistic bosses, serial killers, bizarre anti-heroes and atypical criminals are often featured in these shows. Even our comedies are often sadistic. I must confess for a soft spot as a young boy for the Three Stooges due to their working class humor often satirizing upper class characters in many of the episodes made with the original Curly in the 30s and the Great Depression. It was a mainstay in Catholic grammar school to imitate The Three Stooges in the school yard at lunch time.
Normalizing Abnormal Behavior
The Wounded Knee massacre, one of the last episodes of a an almost 400 year campaign to eradicate Native Americans.
Even American history itself in replete with violence, often trivialized, normalized and sanitized, involving both internal and external conflict, ranging for genocide and slavery in earlier American history to more frequent war and continuing societal and racial conflicts in our more recent times. Normalizing violence is an American as apple pie.
All of the above, in addition to Republican campaign funding to the tune of billions of dollars and 8 years of 24/7 T.V. coverage, helped normalize and prepare America for a depraved, sadistic, serial racist, misogynist, treasonous and fascistic grifter like Donald Trump to occupy the White House.
Why Bother Mentioning This?
Roman Colosseum.
By about now you may be mumbling to yourself, “I know all these things. Why bother to mention them. And what does it have to do with Trump?”
My answer is that all of the above mentioned behaviors served to prepare America for November 5th, 2024. Along with Republican campaign funding to the tune of billions of $$$ and 8 years of 24/7 T.V. coverage from 2016 to 2024 on Trump.
It all prepared America to elect and accept a depraved, sadistic, serial racist, misogynist, treasonous and fascist hustler/grifter like Donald Trump to occupy the White House. And they got what they wanted, unfortunately for all of America.
A Lesson for the Left and Progressives
U.S.S. America sink beneath the waves?
As we have an America closely split between Democratic and Republican voters, we must consider why this is so, given the depravity, backwardness and, class selfishness of the Republican platform. Movies and Television long ago took over cementing the national mood. All this was there right in front of us for all to see, the media among the biggest factor in forming the national mood and consciousness.
Americans, myself included, are amazingly out of touch with the influences our violent history and present culture have had on us, especially when we intermingle with foreign visitors from other countries.
Mass Psychological Brainwashing
If this form of mass psychological brainwashing is not understood within our own consciousness and behaviors and redirected in opposition to such deviant control, we’ll all go down with the ship. As long as a decidedly depraved Republican emotional and political message dominates mass media and the class rooms, we have no chance to save the sinking ship we call America. How to put together such a strategy is material for a few dozen books. []
