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H2O Man

(75,210 posts)
Fri Nov 20, 2020, 01:07 PM Nov 2020

Dr. Bandy Lee (#3)

https://www.alternet.org/2020/11/trump-authoritarian/

1- In April, 2017, you organized the “Duty to Warn” Conference. Later, you were the editor and contributor to the book “The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump.” Has Donald Trump’s behaviors since losing the 2020 election reinforced your opinion on the dangers Trump poses to a civilized society?

We no longer opine but have certainty. And we are seeing the last bout of just how much he is willing and able to destroy norms and to push the limits. It is clear he does not intend to leave without placing us in further danger, and we are not yet in the clear. My regret is that, because of the “gag order” on all mental health experts, which the American Psychiatric Association forced through public campaigns since this administration, the people are still left vulnerable without having learned much. As we see from the 72 million who voted for him again, we are very likely to repeat our errors.

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Dr. Bandy Lee (#3) (Original Post) H2O Man Nov 2020 OP
I have no doubt either. spanone Nov 2020 #1
Right. H2O Man Nov 2020 #2
Thanks WaterMan malaise Nov 2020 #3
Thank you! H2O Man Nov 2020 #6
Your OPs are always must read malaise Nov 2020 #7
It will happen coeur_de_lion Nov 2020 #4
Yep. H2O Man Nov 2020 #10
Another extraordinary interview. Mike 03 Nov 2020 #5
He is the latest version of Jim Jones, their Pied Piper malaise Nov 2020 #8
I think so too. Mike 03 Nov 2020 #9
That's a good question. H2O Man Nov 2020 #17
Yes. H2O Man Nov 2020 #12
It will be 500,000 before long malaise Nov 2020 #13
It seems possible, H2O Man Nov 2020 #14
I just finished rereading the interview malaise Nov 2020 #15
They need to be H2O Man Nov 2020 #16
Thanks! H2O Man Nov 2020 #11

H2O Man

(75,210 posts)
2. Right.
Fri Nov 20, 2020, 01:15 PM
Nov 2020

I am not happy with the effort to silence Dr. Lee and others who have attempted to exercise their duty to warn. I think she is among the most important voices needing to be heard at this time.

coeur_de_lion

(3,786 posts)
4. It will happen
Fri Nov 20, 2020, 01:19 PM
Nov 2020

Last resort after his multiple failed legal challenges but you can see it coming a mile away.

H2O Man

(75,210 posts)
10. Yep.
Fri Nov 20, 2020, 01:34 PM
Nov 2020

There has been a disturbing increase in propert crimes against those with Biden and/or BLM lawn signs around here. Also more verbal aggression in public places on the part of cult members.

Mike 03

(16,616 posts)
5. Another extraordinary interview.
Fri Nov 20, 2020, 01:24 PM
Nov 2020

This is one of many portions that stands out:

I have defined authoritarianism as "the handing over of all institutional, professional, and personal authority, including over their own survival, so as to appease a single person." The more his followers' minds are controlled, and the more horrific his oppression and massacre of the people, the less they will be able to face the truth. Therefore, a subconscious collusion happens between perpetrator and victims. We can see how powerful this emotional force is if we recall that the pandemic was not always politicized, and the right mindset in the beginning would have changed people's behavior to be life-saving instead of death-spreading.


Could this possibly explain the madness of genocidal violence in areas where for decades or centuries people have lived side by side in peace. (i.e., Rwanda and former Yugoslavia)? I'm thinking of dangerous figures like Slobodan Milosevic and Radovan Karadzic, who gradually normalized extreme violence (and, to this day, are still idolized in certain quarters, including by White Supremacists.)

Thank you H20 Man!

malaise

(277,353 posts)
8. He is the latest version of Jim Jones, their Pied Piper
Fri Nov 20, 2020, 01:30 PM
Nov 2020

according to a close friend of a good friend. Sadly there is reason for their hopelessness,

Mike 03

(16,616 posts)
9. I think so too.
Fri Nov 20, 2020, 01:33 PM
Nov 2020

This interview is full of treasures

This is pertinent to what you are saying:

I believe it is useful to keep in mind that followers of Trump are diverse and complex, but we should not miss important overarching patterns. First, there is the psychological injury that relative, not absolute, poverty produces—whether it is relative to previous generations or those currently at the top—and this makes people vulnerable to false authority figures. Sociopathic individuals who exploit such psychological vulnerabilities to claim they will take care of them, when their intention is to plunder, become a gift for the billionaires. There is nothing like mental pathology to distract and detach people from the reality of their unfair power arrangement.


The authoritarian who promises to make all their problems go away.

How do people fall for this?

H2O Man

(75,210 posts)
17. That's a good question.
Fri Nov 20, 2020, 09:15 PM
Nov 2020

I've been thinking about this for the past few days. Quite a few people have been asking me about this since the election results showed the number of people who voted for Trump. I might write up something that presents more of an indepth sociological view of the dynamics involved.

It seems to have a lot to do with the tribalism found within crumbling empires throughout the past three of four thousand years of human history. I'm also going to go back to review some of the conversations that I had with Hurricane Carter over the years -- while he died before Trump "won" the presidency, that would have come as no surprise to him.

H2O Man

(75,210 posts)
12. Yes.
Fri Nov 20, 2020, 01:48 PM
Nov 2020

Early on, Jones did some good things, although the potential for bad -- very bad -- was always there. But in the last few years of his life, Jones was a horrible human being.His substance abuse added to the prolonged psychotic episodes he experienced. Yet, I doubt that Jones ever dreamed of being responsible for 250,000+ deaths.

malaise

(277,353 posts)
13. It will be 500,000 before long
Fri Nov 20, 2020, 02:54 PM
Nov 2020

Killa Con is a shameless mass murderer. I am waiting to hear one person ask why would anyone responsible for all these deaths and infections want to hold on to power? Why would anyone enable this monster?

H2O Man

(75,210 posts)
14. It seems possible,
Fri Nov 20, 2020, 05:44 PM
Nov 2020

even likely, that we will reach that point by the New Year. I hope not, of course. But the Trump cult's behavior includes the refusal to wear masks, etc. I will speculate that they will ignore safety steps over the holidays, just as they have all this year. Because they will be inside during the cold weather seasons, the virus will spread more quickly than in the summer months. This means that they will be putting others at risk beyond their gatherings.

malaise

(277,353 posts)
15. I just finished rereading the interview
Fri Nov 20, 2020, 05:51 PM
Nov 2020

ReTHUGs must never be forgiven for enabling this monster.

H2O Man

(75,210 posts)
11. Thanks!
Fri Nov 20, 2020, 01:37 PM
Nov 2020

I'm glad that you saw this! After all, I hold you responsible for urging me to contact Dr. Lee back in February!

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