26 Comments
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Joy Mylin's avatar

Thank you for answering the why's that I have struggled to understand in Maga's celebration of cruelty and injustice. Do you think there is any hope for redemption?

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OopsICrappedMyDiaper's avatar

for whom? for fukkin magas? fukk em they can burn in hell

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Dawna Lee Driskill's avatar

Now, now don't encourage them to dig their heels in any deeper than they already have. I know that it can be fun but it bites us in the butt every time.

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OopsICrappedMyDiaper's avatar

I believe in live and let live.

they can party down in Dixie all they want. But the second they come around me with their bullshit theyll find themselves starring in Silence of the Lambs

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Dawna Lee Driskill's avatar

How will that end or are you doing the dog tied up in the yard routine? I'm asking with a smile. I like to bark when I can't actually get loose to bite on the other hand I was willing to do some damage on No Kings Day, when a maga jerk really asked for it. I wasn't sure how it would end but considering circumstances, it would have been alright I think. Giggling.

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OopsICrappedMyDiaper's avatar

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Bide your time.

Look out for Number 1.

CYA cuz nobody else will.

And for heavens sake read Monkeywrench Gang, if u havent already ;)

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Dawna Lee Driskill's avatar

I'm sorry this took so long, life intrudes. I have read the monkey wrench gang, I think I'll go back and reread it. I have a problem with looking out for number one, I seem to think that I have really broad shoulders and can do more, and carry more than I probably can. But someday... Hahahaha.

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Elder Maniac's avatar

"The logic is simple: a rule was broken, therefore punishment must follow, no nuance, no mercy." This also explains why they're so very hateful regarding LGBTQ+ rights - THEY can't express those feelings because their "rules" say it's wrong, therefore anyone who DOES express them MUST be punished.

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Steven Brubaker's avatar

I assume that this thinking doesn’t just apply to deportation. Any policy or tactic that feeds recognition, revenge, and retribution of a pecking order will fit the bill. Any thoughts on what those might be? I’m new, and have enjoyed the recent posts. Thanks.

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Barry Lesch's avatar

I have been very taken with your psychological analysis as closer to the bone that much of the noise (even good noise) out there. The difficulty is is finding a remedy or a way to fight back against that noxious psychology. I don't thing that we can try to reform their thinking. The MAGA movement has created is own reality in accord with the principles you have traced out. Is this a matter of those note affected (to a greater or lesser degree) outvote the MAGA psychology and get back the political power lost, perhaps over long period of time. Like the people at the States Project which is trying to win over state legislatures one seat at a time and get to a majority and continue that momentum? Again the MAGA folk are not going to go through a magical conversion. What do we do now and into the future to counteract what they have done?

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Dawna Lee Driskill's avatar

It kinda depends on them. We know that they are dangerous, we know how they think, they lie and they are cruel if it's anyone but themselves, we know that if they say that they are xtian it means that they will be mean and cruel. For some reason we don't know how to fight anymore, not like we used to. We will learn again and quickly!

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Alexis Mace's avatar

I am going to upgrade to paid because of enjoying your fine and rigorous analyses of our troubled American psyche. Thank you for what you are doing!

I wonder if you’ve come across the book by Cynthia Fleury, “Here Lies Bitterness: Healing From Resentment.” She is a French psychologist and I think this is her only book that’s translated into English. She gives an amazing overview of the concept and historical occurrence of “ressentiment” — which I had never heard of before and now understand to be quite different than ordinary garden-variety “resentment.”

I’d love for you to unpack this word and its application these days for your Substack readers if you think it’s a worthy topic.

Keep on writing!

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The Rational League's avatar

Yes, there is an article, Donald J. Trump and the rhetoric of essentiment by Casey Ryan Kelly, that I would highly recommend. People dont realize how easy it is to shift someone's moral framework.

Im finishing up an article now about what a country will look like when a cult gets into a position of power. I touch on ressentiment in this article.

Thank you for supporting my work. It should be out later today or early tomorrow

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Danie's avatar

The party of law and order?! Like pardoning criminals, rioters from Jan 6th and the president himself. Lawmakers were gunned down in Minnesota and they let the wife who had passports and weapons off and offered the gun man bail. You can’t make this shit up.

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Every. Effing. Day's avatar

Thanks - this is a great analysis. I wrote something the other day suggesting a similar but distinct explanation: support for conservative positions can be primed by encouraging "mortality salience" and is arguably why Republicans focus on high crime rates even when, as now, the evidence isn't there to back it. But people tend to return to emotional baseline, and keeping the voting base activated requires new and more intense fear pumps to keep them on the team. This might be part of the reason why this motivation towards control has become so prevalent.

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Dawna Lee Driskill's avatar

Isn't a need for control just a fear of change? And don't little, little kids have those feelings? Calling them "adolescent" is complimentary.

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Every. Effing. Day's avatar

To be sure - there has been a lot of research on this over the past quarter century, starting with this article: https://gspp.berkeley.edu/assets/uploads/research/pdf/jost.glaser.political-conservatism-as-motivated-social-cog.pdf

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J.J. Loughran's avatar

A point that stands out - American Exceptionalism - rather like the weak proclaiming a 'strongman' speaks for them. The idea that their Dear Leader is 'feared' by others - especially other countries. I have felt it is a trait that portrays adolescent behavior. It is how they act on the world stage and it supports their belief in their superiority. They cannot read history with any real sense of position either. This unified response of failure is most revealing.

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Steve Prock's avatar

I’ve been perplexed for some time as to how their brain is wired Excellent post here.

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pete gee's avatar

Another most clear-eyed analysis, a plea for reappraisal and a warning for us all

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Patrick Knight's avatar

Really great post and I appreciate your efforts so much. Your sourcing is excellent and thanks for including it.

I keep waiting for George Lakoff’s “Strict father mentality” to get reference in this broader discussion.

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REAL American Patriot's avatar

The problem, is Christians.

WE MUST TAX THE CHURCH

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OopsICrappedMyDiaper's avatar

To Kash; Kristi and the crew at HSD

https://youtu.be/tVjk_aFdfF8?feature=shared

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OopsICrappedMyDiaper's avatar

To our brave heroes of ICE, police, and military

https://youtu.be/ehukpdse8_w?feature=shared

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