I am European. I seriously can’t understand why USA conservatives (referring strictly to republicans in this case) are so extremely regressive to the point of hurting themself.
I feel like much of their talk is influencing bad ideas here too.
It begs the question - were they always thinking this stuff and now feel entitled to say it out loud? Or are they being coaxed by propaganda generated by some of our nations enemies in order to break apart our country? Is this all one big state-sponsored psy-ops attack by a foreign country?
I don’t know. But it sure as hell scares the hell out of me.
Yeah, I agree with kobra. It’s a mix. The Alt Right Playbook video series gives some interesting thoughts on the matter. Conservatives and further right tend to be hyper hierarchical and tend to demand respect for the chain of authority, even to their own detriment (as long as it hurts someone else more). Rejecting an authority figure is a bigger deal on the right than the left due to the whole “control how people think” angle.
So it hasn’t gone far enough to alienate the ones that are still on board. Some refuse to hear the negative and just bury their head in the sand. Some are convinced by emotionally charged rhetoric that “the other side is even worse.” And some already agreed with them secretly. For most, it’s probably a mix of these various techniques for contorting to fit the shape demanded of them by their authority figures–some being more bigoted than others after all. For the pro-hierarchical people, their place in the hierarchy is a piece of their self-identity and it’s really hard to fight that instinct.
It’s propaganda meant to put the stooges for the ultra wealthy in power so I wouldn’t be surprised to see it elsewhere in the world. They have NO policies other than “cut expenditures for the wealthy” (taxes, regulations, etc) so they have to use propaganda outlets to foment a culture war that they can then “fight for you” to get your vote.
I do have hard feelings for those that succumb to the propaganda as they have to want some of these hateful things, but I REALLY LOATHE the propagandists. There is no word in the English language that properly conveys just how much hatred I have for them, people like Sean Hannity and Tucker Carlson. I don’t like to wish death on anyone, but god would the world be a better place without them and people like them.
Seasoned the conspiracy thinking associated with their particular brand.
When you think there’s a conspiracy of scientists to hide the real age of the earth, it’s not a far drive to “vaccines are weapons of the antichrist” and “Satan runs the Democratic party” and “climate change is a lie to take your way of life from you.”
Notably these conspiracy theories are pushed by parties who benefit from their spread. Furthermore, any evidence against the conspiracy is twisted into proof that the conspirators are even more clever than previously thought.
I am European. I seriously can’t understand why USA conservatives (referring strictly to republicans in this case) are so extremely regressive to the point of hurting themself.
Because Trump ushered in an era where the only “strong” Republican is one willing to hurt “Others”. One who never apologizes when they’re wrong, but instead doubles down. One who is willing to step on whoever it takes to get to the top, especially if the people being stepped on are “them”.
The entire party is all Trump all the time, and the only way to survive in today’s GOP is to either (a) Be Trump, or (b) be willing to openly ratchet up the cruelty. And while I disagree with people like Liz Cheney on just about every policy issue in existence, she at least tried to bring the GOP back to what it was before Trump, and look what happened to her and others who tried to do the same thing.
These Republicans are so regressive to the point of self-sabotage because the MAGA base is still large enough to dictate their political careers and they’ll accept nothing less. MAGA may only be a portion of the GOP voting base, but that portion is large enough where it’s nearly impossible for a Republican to win without them.
Because they think it makes them look “tough” in front of other like-minded idiots. Thats the thing they care most about. Not compassion, or equality, or anything like actual fairness…just trying to look “tough”.
It’s not all that different from some far-right political parties in European countries. Vox in Spain, for example, has nostalgia for the Franco regime and would just love to nullify people’s divorces. I mean, talk about extremely regressive. How about Italy’s extreme right-wing party? They successfully nullified some adoptions. Those are two examples I know from Europe, but I think there are other European countries with extremist political parties that are gaining traction.
Divide and conquer mentality. They have no real policies other than to cut and deregulate. In order to achieve these goals, they need to be in power. No one in their right mind would vote for people who want to do these things, so they misrepresent their ideological alignment by creating strawmen out of minorities, immigrants, and unborn fetuses in order to drum up emotional support amongst reactionary idiots (hardcore religious nutjobs) and racists. Then they double down on the rhetoric by calling Democrats pedophiles, and you basically have a guaranteed voting bloc.
