Where that falls short is just how much of the population that appears to include. I’m all set to believe in plain incompetence, weaponized incompetence, stubborn incompetence …. But 50% of voters?
It’s obviously not an absolutism, though I think we’d be surprised how many people it covers. Propaganda runs deep in this country and the distorted funhouse mirror that they view the world through is pretty effective. Certainly there are bad actors, but it’s a small part of the whole. Even those on “the left” (in truth they are mostly center right) have a skewed and highly misinformed view of politics. Many people’s hearts are in the right place but their brains are mush and the Overton window is so far right that they can’t tell their asses from a hole in the ground. Generational trauma has created a country of Stockholm Syndrome victims who identify with their captors (the rich). To paraphrase Warren Buffet “It’s a class war and the rich are winning”. Working class unity and class consciousness are the only thing that might save us. I’m not convinced that THAT will happen though, given what I see going on and the response. I really hope I’m wrong.
Deep in human history, staying in good graces with our tribe was more important to survival than having beliefs be factual. We are genetically hardwired to pull whatever mental gymnastics are required to maintain membership in the tribe, because our ancestors who failed at that died before passing on their genes. It’s not really stupidity or incompetence, it’s an operating system property.
Never assume malfeasance where plain incompetence will suffice as an explanation.
Where that falls short is just how much of the population that appears to include. I’m all set to believe in plain incompetence, weaponized incompetence, stubborn incompetence …. But 50% of voters?
It’s obviously not an absolutism, though I think we’d be surprised how many people it covers. Propaganda runs deep in this country and the distorted funhouse mirror that they view the world through is pretty effective. Certainly there are bad actors, but it’s a small part of the whole. Even those on “the left” (in truth they are mostly center right) have a skewed and highly misinformed view of politics. Many people’s hearts are in the right place but their brains are mush and the Overton window is so far right that they can’t tell their asses from a hole in the ground. Generational trauma has created a country of Stockholm Syndrome victims who identify with their captors (the rich). To paraphrase Warren Buffet “It’s a class war and the rich are winning”. Working class unity and class consciousness are the only thing that might save us. I’m not convinced that THAT will happen though, given what I see going on and the response. I really hope I’m wrong.
Deep in human history, staying in good graces with our tribe was more important to survival than having beliefs be factual. We are genetically hardwired to pull whatever mental gymnastics are required to maintain membership in the tribe, because our ancestors who failed at that died before passing on their genes. It’s not really stupidity or incompetence, it’s an operating system property.