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Alexandra Barcus's avatar

Surely not everyone is so trapped that they don’t compare media sources. Some of them must hear anti-MAGA viewpoints from friends and relatives. The Trumpies may reject those ideas out of hand, but surely some will be curious.

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Bruce Brittain's avatar

Germany, 1932: Surely it can't happen here. Oh, it's happening here alright. The First Amendment has become America's cup of hemlock as the dis-information industry makes billions from the Dunning-Kruger crowd.

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Alexandra Barcus's avatar

I will happily give you a point by point view of Hitler’s rise and Trump’s rise. You will be shocked. I think I may post about it in my Substack space.

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Bruce Brittain's avatar

I've been bleating about the dis-information industry for several years now and any progress toward reining in the bile hiding behind the First Amendment has been mostly ignored until recently. However, no substantive courses of action have been suggested. Goebbels only needed about 30% of the German voters to believe his propaganda for Hitler to take control legally. I'd say that America is about there. James Madison would be appalled, I believe, at the current state of our "well-informed electorate".

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JF's avatar

Nice to meet you, Alexandra, you “sweet summer child”. But seriously, I used to think the base was penetrable to facts from reliable sources, but no longer. Comparing media sources is definitely not their thing. But it’s a lovely thought.

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Alexandra Barcus's avatar

I try not to be unrealistic. But people did turn away from Trump after Jan. 6. Cassidy Hutchinson explained that she felt really torn about Trumpworld. She knew what was happening ran counter to all her deeply held beliefs, but she was a part of something she had come to feel was central to her life. People actually do leave cults despite being subjected to threats and all manner of emotional distress--but it can be done. Ok--these are outliers, but every vote counts when margins are thin.

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JF's avatar

Isn’t Hutchison amazing? Listening to interviews with her caused me to think of my own past, and I recognized times when I failed to follow my own moral compass in favor of belonging to a group.

I like your optimism. I wonder if leaving the cult of Trump will become a stampede, once it gets started. I wouldn’t rule it out.

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Alexandra Barcus's avatar

I have the utmost admiration for C. Hutchinson. To hold to your deeply held convictions when everyone is against you and you are being threatened with violence is magnificent.

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Keith Sherman's avatar

A real American hero

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JF's avatar

Today I get to start reading her book!

What I’d give to have had her qualities in my mid twenties. Or even now, at age 71! I hope she has a future in public service. Those like her don’t come around very often.

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mel ladi's avatar

Oh some of us relatives are vociferous on alternative viewpoints to the Fox/MAGA/Xn TV takes.

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David Court's avatar

Great, but does it have any positive or ameliorative effect? If not, thanks anyway for trying.

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mel ladi's avatar

Who ya gonna believe -- Your son or your favorite televangelist?

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David Court's avatar

Well, ya clearly know your son better, so that helps with the answer one way or the other.

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mel ladi's avatar

Heh. I meant my MIL’s virulently anti-Trump son, although my son is almost a match for his father on that subject.

What I really mean is my MIL has had 60 solid years without a serious counterpoint to the carefully cultivated religious right propaganda/worldview; through her late husband, her tv habits, and through her church friends.

Until she lived with us I don’t think she had any reason to question what she was hearing, so our different viewpoints are hard for her to grasp.

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David Court's avatar

My use of "your" was generic, as I took your comment to be. No offense intended.

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mel ladi's avatar

None taken.

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Alexandra Barcus's avatar

Look, we have to try. Sitting back and throwing up our hands won’t make us feel better if the worst comes to pass. I try to listen and ask non-confrontational questions. Sometimes alternatives break through. Some MAGA people are too frightening for me to engage in conversation. It is not ok on any level to let an unglued dictator come back into power. This time there would be no adults in the room. It is a terrifying prospect.

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mel ladi's avatar

This. Thank you!

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David Court's avatar

No disagreement with your conclusion. None whatsoever.

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