this post was submitted on 31 Aug 2024
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Showerthoughts
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A "Showerthought" is a simple term used to describe the thoughts that pop into your head while you're doing everyday things like taking a shower, driving, or just daydreaming. The best ones are thoughts that many people can relate to and they find something funny or interesting in regular stuff.
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He's not just a symptom. If he was, they'd have someone else running they can better control. If we passed laws that news agencies are required to be truthful and neutral, we wouldn't be in this mess. With the red states undermining education and fox "news" stirring up hatred, fear, and lies, you get a cult/base that won't listen to reality or facts. When they're presented with irrefutable evidence that contradicts what they've been told, they put their fingers in their ears and start yelling shit like "but her emails?!?!?!?!, well Obama did (insert some random bullshit lie), Clinton did (another bullshit lie), or "what about Hunter's laptop huh?????.
They don't care, they can't comprehend what's really happening and it's mind blowing. I work with a guy that I asked why he's voting for Mr Orange and he brings up points that he says the republicans are doing when in fact it's the democrats doing that, the repbulikkklowns are voting against it. I point that out to him and he tells me I'm full of shit. I tell him do a quick web search, and he comes back with fake news and walks away. It's scary and sad.
You're kinda arguing my point tho, so maybe I didn't communicate it very well.
If a character such as Trump gaining power can be considered a symptom, then the conditions that allow it is the disease. I.e. the points you make, with news networks not beholden to facts, lack of education and critical thought.
All of this is what I would argue is the underlying cause and conditions that are fertile grounds for populists. Also, just a little reminder that Hitler first succeeded on his second attempt at becoming a dictator. And unlike in the US, he was imprisoned for the first attempt.