How does a country continue to function when 1/2 the citizens have lost their minds?

[D_Master81]

I sit here this evening wondering where does this country go from here? No one was killed today but a message was sent. Yet as I sit here tonight I also see whats popping up on social media, to a conversation I overheard tonight at a local market all the way up as high as Fox News. "It was the Democrats". Yes the bomber was clearly a clever Dem that thought the best way to influence the election was to send mail bombs to Democrats folks. I overheard an elderly lady talking to a friend in line and she was talking about the Clintons and the Obamas being part of the Deep State that's trying to undermine the President and get him overthrown. I see posts from friends checking in "Safe" on Facebook from the "Democrat false flag bombing operation". And as I sit here in 1 of the reddest locations in Indiana which is a pretty Red state I don't know how much longer I can take it. I sit here and see these people, intelligent people, losing their GD mind when it comes to the political reality of this country.

I've never said or thought this, but in this part of America, had those bombs gone off and every one of those people died, not only would they not have shed a tear, they would've secretly cheered. I've heard how they talk, they wouldn't say it publicly and i don't think they'd act on it, but they think the country would be better without liberals. And now, I don't know how we continue to duct tape and shoe string this thing we call democracy together for the long haul when so many people live in a parallel universe that doesn't exist in reality. Hopefully we save ourselves from ourselves, before its too late and actual blood begins to spill.

[nycbos]

1. I take heart in a Winton Churchill quote about us.

"Americans will always do the right thing after they've exhausted all other options."

[RHMerriman]

9. Yeah, Churchill wasn't exactly bang on 100 percent of the time...

Yeah, Churchill wasn't exactly bang on 100 percent of the time... just ask the Indians.

I like this one, from one of his contemporaries:

[link:

|]

Today we stand committed to the proposition that freedom is no half-and-half affair. If the average citizen is guaranteed equal opportunity in the polling place, he must have equal opportunity in the market place.

These economic royalists complain that we seek to overthrow the institutions of America. What they really complain of is that we seek to take away their power. Our allegiance to American institutions requires the overthrow of this kind of power. In vain they seek to hide behind the Flag and the Constitution. In their blindness they forget what the Flag and the Constitution stand for. Now, as always, they stand for democracy, not tyranny; for freedom, not subjection; and against a dictatorship by mob rule and the over-privileged alike.

.....

Governments can err, Presidents do make mistakes, but the immortal Dante tells us that divine justice weighs the sins of the cold-blooded and the sins of the warm-hearted in different scales.

Better the occasional faults of a Government that lives in a spirit of charity than the consistent omissions of a Government frozen in the ice of its own indifference.

There is a mysterious cycle in human events. To some generations much is given. Of other generations much is expected. This generation of Americans has a rendezvous with destiny.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

22. today's Fireside Chats come from hate radio

Limbaugh and other paid propagandists bombard many citizens with hate-filled lies 24/7. This is the basis of the cult we face.

[RHMerriman]

29. It's been done before... ever hear of Father Coughlin?

None of this crap is new, honestly.

[D_Master81]

2. unfortunately

Churchill and many great leaders of the time weren't living in an era of the internet, fox news and RW propaganda. what maybe you and Churchill dont get is, these people actually BELIEVE this is reality and they tune into sources of information daily that continue to reinforce that insanity. Its not about doing the right thing, now its about 2 differing views on reality, and one thats so far gone they think there's this huge deep state working within the government to bring trump down and they're so unsuccessful that now they're working with Democrats and liberal donors to finance a caravan of migrants to the US to vote in elections and sending bombs to Democrat leaders to garner sympathy.

[RHMerriman]

3. Well, in 1861 it was about one-third in terms of like to like populations, and it took four years...

Well, in 1861 it was about one-third in terms of like to like populations, and it took four years...

The population of the loyal US states was 18.5 million. In the rebel states, the population was listed as 5.5 million free and 3.5 million enslaved. In the Border States there were 2.5 million free inhabitants and 500,000 enslaved people, so in terms of where the front lines were drawn by the end of the year, it was about 21.5 million (with another 3.5 to 4 million loyalists in the south), and - at the most - about 5 million traitors, so call it roughly 5-1 odds.

It's worth noting that as the US forces moved south, additional loyalists joined up - roughly 100,000 whites were recruited in slave states, and about half of the 180,000 men who enlisted in the USCTs were recruited in slave states.

The difference today is that the traitors are even more heavily outnumbered. I'd guess roughly 30-1, at least.

[AJT]

4. I am feeling the same way.

It was my mom's 92 birthday and I joined her for lunch at her independent living place. Every old person there believes George Soros is paying for " those criminals and terrorists" to come into America to kill white people and make everyone Muslim. They were so glad drumf was stopping them and saving America. There was also talk of all of the new building was happening because drumf got rid of all the stupid regulations that was stopping businesses. All of these people were over 80. It seems most really old people are crazy.

[renate]

13. All of us here are beyond disbelief at what is happening in America

And we are reality based.

I can’t even imagine what kind of America these loons think they’re living in. I mean, bless their hearts (and I mean that in the Southern sense), no wonder they’re fearful and full of hate if they really believe this insanity.

I hate Fox and right-wing media so much. They are predators who ruin people’s mental health just so they can turn a profit.

[YOHABLO]

17. Do they have on FOX 24/7 ???

[AJT]

20. Yes. It is my mom's only news source, and she always has it on.

The other people at the table also only trust fox news.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

23. a cult only trusts itself

This is the hook that all cult leaders use -- sow distrust of all other sources of information. Members of the cult are convinced that everyone outside the cult is out to get them and will lie to them. They are programmed to believe only their leader.

[marybourg]

27. The scary part is: what if this is not a characteristic of people

born in the era between the World Wars, but a characteristic of people as they age, and that subsequent generations are going to believe these things also?

By the way neither the 92 year old, nor the 76 year old, who live in my house are crazy in this way; solid Dems.

[AJT]

32. There's always the "Soylent Green " solution.....

[maxsolomon]

33. this movie is for you:

http://www.thebrainwashingofmydad.com/

Fox is basically designed to do exactly what you observed.

[Initech]

5. When you think a bombing plot is a false flag conspiracy, you've lost your mind.

[meadowlander]

6. People cheered when JFK was shot

And the cheered when RFK and MLK were killed. The difference is we didn’t have Fox News normalising them.

[SCantiGOP]

7. Not half

1/3 to 40%, depending on how you define it.

[appalachiablue]

8. Internet, Fox since 1996, Hate Radio started early 1980s

these explain much of the steady fervor and lust for violence spurred by regular consumption of hate media/propaganda-- the RW extremist hosts are like televangelists and worse.

[pretzel4gore]

30. Alan Berg murdered and that left

the way forward for nazipoohs....you ppl all forgot Alan, who teased the fascisti so much they forced to murder. . .thena Hollywood stooge made a movie which covered up the truth...hate radio was inevitable!
Foxnews says thank they all forgot! 😄💰😄

[Baitball Blogger]

10. It's all about winning to them.

They will contort their ethics and their self-perceptions in order to stay on top.

[Garrett78]

11. I understand people have good reasons for living in stark red areas, but...

...I couldn't do it.

Anyway, I figure it's "only" about a third of the country that is batshit crazy. But between that and the people who pay no attention to politics and an infotainment industry that is highly irresponsible, it all feels pretty overwhelming.

I think the key is to focus on that which is within one's control, and engage with like-minded people.

I do think Democrats (when appearing on TV, on the floor of Congress, etc.) will need to be more blunt about what we're dealing with. Talk about how Republican rhetoric and policy for the last 50 years led to the rise of Trump. Call out the immense amount of lying on right wing media and by Republicans. Talk about the need for media literacy to be taught in every school. Talk openly about the numerous studies that make clear that racism and sexism are *the* driving forces behind Trump support.

I think shying away from calling it like it is would be a mistake. Republicans and an equivocating, ratings-chasing infotainment industry will exploit any effort by Democrats to be overly cautious in describing the opposition. Take the gloves off.

[Separation]

12. CNN, FOX "News", MSNBC, ABC, CBS. . . EVERY. DAMN. ONE. OF. THEM!

It's their fault! They gave Trump and his acolyte's thousands and thousands of hours of unfiltered and free airtime. Of course, they had to "Be balanced" and not call his Bullshit exactly that, Bullshit.

The media has a responsibility, just like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. to be able to protect the users of their platform. Or at the very damn least, to let their viewers know that this was a bullshit story, and the person on the panel telling his/her story happens to be a paid partisan hack that isn't interested in the truth. They are only interested in getting their story out. It only takes a few people to catch onto that one "hook" to go a repeat a dangerous lie, or how badly Democrats are really doing. Once that lie is out there, there is no putting that toothpaste back into the tube.

The dangerous caravan of criminals is coming. It totally makes sense that a Democrat sent out those bombs. There is a Deep State out trying to get rid of me. These are flat out lies that the media just let them lob right past them.

I know it's a confusing time, the media isn't quite sure what the "Trump effect" actually is, or how to combat it. Sure, when we look back it'll be easy to see and say, "Wow, I can't believe the media didn't pick up on that."

The problem is, it's already too late by then. They needed to start putting this literal Dumpster Fire out 3 years ago, as he descended down that escalator

[onecaliberal]

25. Precisely and even after today they'll keep doing it.

[dawg day]

14. And Trump blames the media and the Democrats-

for the bombs that targeted CNN and the Democrats.

TWO former presidents. A presidential nominee. A former attorney general. A congresswoman-- two, really, because the one bomb came "back" the "return address" of DWS.

And Soros, a private citizen (and the unknown staffer who went to the mailbox to collect the mail).

And Trump wouldn't even say their names.

[Merlot]

15. Take heart it's less than 1/2. More like 1/4

Only half of Americans vote (roughly) and of those half, slightly less than half vote republican. We know it's less than half because Hillary won over 3million votes and democrats get more votes in congress but less seats due to gerrymandeing.

Don't give them more credit than they deserve.

[Progressive Jones]

21. There are surely right wing crazies who don't vote. nt

[Cosmocat]

34. No, it isn't ...

AT LEAST 1/3 of this country are people who are well in line with "conservatism."

The next 1/3 is VERY influenced by the relentless screaming from them, in the absence of any real pushback from the left, come to believe there must be some truth to what they are losing their minds over.

That is what happened in the Bush v Gore race - basically the country elected Bush just to shut up right wingers.

The trump election, 1/3 of the country voted for the competent, decent candidate, 1/3 of the country voted for a psychopath, and the other 1/3, knowing full well that the in so doing would help enable the psychopath to be POTUS, chose to either note vote or vote for a "third party."

[Hassler]

16. Take heart, it's more like 25% and

Four years into the Great Depression, Hoover still got almost 40% of the vote against FDR.

[YOHABLO]

18. This cry from the right about ''liberal media'' is bogus.

FOXNews, One America News (OAN), Newsmax. and about a dozen right wing radio commentators. Spreading hatred throughout the country.

[grantcart]

19. I can explain it to you very easily if you will explain to me how . . .

"Professional Wrestling" holds an audience in the US let alone makes billions of dollars.


The WWE grosses about $ 1 billion a year.


It relies on the "Suspension of Disbelief".

The term suspension of disbelief or willing suspension of disbelief has been defined as a willingness to suspend one's critical faculties and believe something surreal; sacrifice of realism and logic for the sake of enjoyment.[1] The term was coined in 1817 by the poet and aesthetic philosopher Samuel Taylor Coleridge, who suggested that if a writer could infuse a "human interest and a semblance of truth" into a fantastic tale, the reader would suspend judgement concerning the implausibility of the narrative. Suspension of disbelief often applies to fictional works of the action, comedy, fantasy, and horror genres. Cognitive estrangement in fiction involves using a person's ignorance to promote suspension of disbelief.[2]

We have moved story telling into sport and now into politics. Its not what you know, can prove, or explain factually it is the story you want to believe.

And as we tell our children (well not me but many people do) if you really really really believe in something then it can come true.

Technically we are in a country that is heavily populated by idiots.

[allgood33]

24. A mind? What mind?

A mind is no good without a heart.

[Jakes Progress]

26. Sad part is that maybe they haven't lost their minds.

Maybe they are just who America really is. We keep thinking that this can't be happening, but it is.

By any dispassionate witness, America really doesn't believe in Democracy. Or Equality. Or Decency. They certainly don't seem to embrace what they have always called Christian values.

trump is horrible. But I'm getting concerned that all he really did is turn over the log that covered the muck. We will see on November 6.

[Kablooie]

28. Nazi Germany managed it so we can too!

At least they managed it for a dozen years or so.

[Caliman73]

31. It isn't half.

About half of the people are apathetic or too busy trying to survive to be active and informed about politics.

About 25% to 30% are the "deplorables". They are a minority, but they are loud and they are working to maintain the Wealthy White Male power structure so they are getting backing from the people who own the media companies and who own a lot of the infrastructure of communications. Their voices are way out sized for their actual numbers, which is why the leaders of the Republican Party have worked so hard to suppress the votes of average people. They can't win EVER if voter turnout is high.