Yeah, but can they figure 2+2 = 4? You can only be propagandized so far -unless walking backwards comes naturally to you. Many Americans are worried about their next meal, never mind getting help before they become deathly ill. Can they be seriously worried about China/Russia? Do they really believe the Lindsey Grahams and other dirt specks have some solution?
I think part of it is how the propagandists skillfully manipulate people's anger and frustration. Given how stressful life can be for so many ordinary Americans these days (making sure you get the rent paid, worrying about medical bills, not having enough time off to actually enjoy life from a job that becomes your life, etc.) the propagandists then figure out a way to channel that anger into targets that serve the interests of the oligarchs: like immigrants, or the Russian boogy man, or anger channeled at religion, or government in general - where goverment becomes so evil in the minds of so many "angry" overworked Americans, they then throw out the baby with the bathwater, and don't see any of the good a non-corrupt government might be able to produce for them.
I think some of this anger even goes to the very top in DC - maybe an unconscious boiling anger of those in power. Where they use their anger to become corrupt - not give a damn regarding the people they are suppose to actually represent. Instead they only serve themselves and the donor power interests that give them the money to be politicians in DC. It may also be an existential anger - given the mileau we find ourselves in - where religion or spirituality no longer plays the center role in many people's lives as much (church attendance goes down every decade) - where (even if it were a bunch of hokey, which sometimes it was) people at least had something more to believe in then live out their lives as miserable serfs for some wealthy Lord. Now, more and more people must live out their wage slave lives - without even believing there might be something more than just a life of exploitation and daily labor. Heck, they want to raise the retirement age yet again for Americans. Work until you drop dead - is suppose to be the ideal life? A fulfilling life? One of the most common refrains from people on their deathbeds, is they feel that they worked too much. That they should have tried enjoying life a little more. Of course, some never really had the chance to enjoy life much.
You're right of course: the exploiters are taking advantage of the general malaise, insecurity and outright fear to forward their agenda. And only an idiot could believe that illegitimate, ineffective government in the service of the self-serving - points to no government whatever as solution!
Yeah, but can they figure 2+2 = 4? You can only be propagandized so far -unless walking backwards comes naturally to you. Many Americans are worried about their next meal, never mind getting help before they become deathly ill. Can they be seriously worried about China/Russia? Do they really believe the Lindsey Grahams and other dirt specks have some solution?
I think part of it is how the propagandists skillfully manipulate people's anger and frustration. Given how stressful life can be for so many ordinary Americans these days (making sure you get the rent paid, worrying about medical bills, not having enough time off to actually enjoy life from a job that becomes your life, etc.) the propagandists then figure out a way to channel that anger into targets that serve the interests of the oligarchs: like immigrants, or the Russian boogy man, or anger channeled at religion, or government in general - where goverment becomes so evil in the minds of so many "angry" overworked Americans, they then throw out the baby with the bathwater, and don't see any of the good a non-corrupt government might be able to produce for them.
I think some of this anger even goes to the very top in DC - maybe an unconscious boiling anger of those in power. Where they use their anger to become corrupt - not give a damn regarding the people they are suppose to actually represent. Instead they only serve themselves and the donor power interests that give them the money to be politicians in DC. It may also be an existential anger - given the mileau we find ourselves in - where religion or spirituality no longer plays the center role in many people's lives as much (church attendance goes down every decade) - where (even if it were a bunch of hokey, which sometimes it was) people at least had something more to believe in then live out their lives as miserable serfs for some wealthy Lord. Now, more and more people must live out their wage slave lives - without even believing there might be something more than just a life of exploitation and daily labor. Heck, they want to raise the retirement age yet again for Americans. Work until you drop dead - is suppose to be the ideal life? A fulfilling life? One of the most common refrains from people on their deathbeds, is they feel that they worked too much. That they should have tried enjoying life a little more. Of course, some never really had the chance to enjoy life much.
You're right of course: the exploiters are taking advantage of the general malaise, insecurity and outright fear to forward their agenda. And only an idiot could believe that illegitimate, ineffective government in the service of the self-serving - points to no government whatever as solution!