US elections
I feel sorry for my American friends.
More than anything though, I've got to admit I just don't get it. I watched a video of some analysts discussing the result and one comment that stood out was to me was something along the lines of: What everyone always gets wrong is that most people don't care about politics and don't pay attention to it.
And I do get that to some extent. I'm not blaming people for not keeping track of all the crimes Trump was convicted of for example. But when someone goes out there and openly talks in his speeches about how he wants to let the armed forces loose on his internal enemies, roll back women's rights etc. - that's not complicated or niche. That stuff was broadcast globally and should have given people pause.
How so many people can be either totally oblivious to what's in plain sight or just not care, thinking it won't affect them personally, is beyond me.
Most of them are focused on what affects them day to day. Inflation hurts. Things keep going up and they have no idea when it will stop. They're afraid it won't stop which means the future they want to see might be lost to them. So when someone comes along and promises them a reality they want to see, they're receptive. They don't care how moral the speaker is as they view all politicians as corrupt, all media as liars. So appeals to a 'better past' when these problems weren't there motivate them.
ReplyDeleteThere's lots of hypocrisy in that group. Folks in my state voted for the Republicans, but turned around and voted in a liberal amendment enshrining abortion rights in the state constitution. So things that affect their daily lives will motivate the way they vote, but otherwise they'll go with the demagogue who appeals most to their prejudices. :sigh: