When I knew this time was different

[genxlib]

I, like most people, have very strong memories of isolated moments where you can just feel something has shifted.

This video is one of those moments for me courtesy of Newt Gingrich in 2016. Following that famously dark and self-aggrandizing speech by Trump at Republican Convention, Gingrich was challenged on the reality of it. This newscaster asks him to justify all the fearmongering since the statistics show Americans to be safer than ever. He essentially said how people feel is just as true as the reality.

Of course, unsaid is that people are made to feel that way. They are made to feel angry, cheated, scared, offended, etc.

We have a reality problem in this Country and it is killing us. Of course there are plenty of perpetrators including politicians, pundits, r/w media, social media, etc. But the real problem is the cynical idea that it is OK to manipulate people as a means to an ends for the exercise of political power.

It used to be that there were manipulators on the inside and true believers on the outside. It has only gotten worse as the true believers are now in positions of power. The monster has broken free of its cage and the manipulators are no longer in control.

[handmade34]

1. interesting...

my Rep. Peter Welch was on our Public Radio station yesterday and when asked about his sense of when things really turned in this Country.... his reply was from many conversations with fellow Congresspeople and the answer is "Newt Gingrich"!!!!

when Newt Gingrich became Speaker it all took a very dark turn

[genxlib]

2. I agree

Way back at the original rise of Newt was another turning point. Congress has not been the same since.

They have been cynical manipulators of their base since then.

2016 is when they weaponized it is how I see it.