Normally I try to be at least somewhat of an optimist
But it's hit me hard today. I don't know if we can fix this country.
They've got the courts, they've got their own vast propaganda machine, they've got their churches, they've got a disaffected media.
I think Joe Biden is the best President of my lifetime, to drag the nation out of the Trump wreckage to get it to where it is now. I have faith that he's an excellent leader, I have faith that he can win this election - but there's so much against him. The Supreme Court, the billionaires, the right-wing propaganda machine, and a media that is so stupid that they're willing to pout away democracy because he hasn't given them enough interviews or whatever foolishness.
The main reason I despair for this country comes down to 2 reasons: 1) the propaganda machine and 2) the Christian church. Right wing radio at least used to be fringe, and then G. Gordon Liddy and Rush Limbaugh got mainstreamed. There was a constant drumbeat and violent rhetoric in the 90's that started the moment that Bill Clinton got elected. It culminated in the Oklahoma City bombing. Every one of the hate purveyors showed no remorse, said it wasn't their fault, and went right back to business as usual. When 9/11 happened, I was actually surprised that it wasn't right-wing domestic terrorism. But there's been a drumbeat of hate and violence pushed in every kind of media that exists, and it only gets ratcheted up when Democrats have the nerve to win elections. It is unceasing. It has limitless funds. It has no remorse, no conscience, only a naked lust for power and violence that cloaks itself in the flag and the cross.
And then there's the Christian church. I used to be Christian, but I couldn't stomach being part of a religion that would spend so much energy finding people to hate and oppress. Churchgoers hear a constant anti-liberal, anti-science, dehumanizing grievance message from the pulpit. Everyone but the "right" kind of Christian is of the devil. The "end times" are here. Our enemies are tools of the devil. (insert Democratic politician here) is the Antichrist. It is not a religion of love and tolerance, unless you're a part of the group. If you are, then Jesus and them love you because you came to the right place. If you're not, then you might as well not really be human to them.
The main product of all of the hate radio and hate "news" and hate sermons is anger. There's so much anger in this country. It's great for Republicans. Stoke it, pick the target or issue of your choice, stoke it some more, and ride the wave. It's great for preachers. The world is evil! Come to church, it's your only refuge. It puts butts in the seats and money in the offering plate, and lets preachers justify all the money they get for their churches and themselves. So they stoke the anger, too.
It's not just a temporary thing. Right-wing media and fundamentalists have fed the fire until it has become this enormous, ravenous beast, lurching around in search of a target. And the billionaire class, who controls the media, benefits by keeping everyone else angry and in search of a new target. Fundamentalism prospers from the rage. Always someone new to hate and inveigle against and feel morally superior to!
The worst thing is, the modern MAGA conservatives are addicted to their anger. Absolutely addicted. I fear that the only people who could stop this are the ones stoking it. Since they have nothing in their hearts but lust for power, and they derive it from the anger, they will never do anything but amplify it. I fear that the moral universe has no arc any more. I'm sorry if this is depressing. I just don't know how America recovers from Trump, Fox News, fundamentalist churches, and billionaires.
On edit: but fuck those motherfuckers, I'm still voting.
= new reply since forum marked as read
