Why was it so easy for Trump to break America?

[Cyrano]

We were ripe for it.

Our news outlets had become more interested in profits than journalism.

Obama's eight years in the White House had made us Dems complacent.

The "online era" was unforeseen, underestimated, and changed what had always been considered "normal."

Republicans spent decades building a propaganda Goliath. We Dems did nothing to counter it.

A fanatical fringe has always existed in America. We Dems believed it was okay to ignore them.

No one expected a presidential candidate to lie to them with every breath.

Hate and fear are powerful motivators. They were used to divide us.

Few believed that so many would buy obvious snake oil in this "modern" age.

No one believed that one of America's two major parties would fall in line behind a malignant buffoon.

And perhaps most importantly, we believed in the basic decency of most human beings. Republicans didn't.

I believe Kamala understands all of this and is well prepared to break the fever and bring us into a brighter future.

[RAB910]

1. that's what happens when the toxic right-wing propaganda machine was allowed to run wild for decades

[meadowlander]

11. And we stop teaching civics and the liberal arts in schools in favour of STEM.

Since the mid-80s there's been a systematic degrading of the quality of public education in the US particularly in terms of literacy, critical thinking skills, understanding of government and what it should be and can do, history, etc.

Surprise, surprise young voters (especially young men) don't know what to look for in a politician or think it's totally fine to be completely disengaged from politics.

[RAB910]

13. I am not sure that's the answer

Many (I suspect the majority) of the consumers of the right-wing propaganda are older Americans who should have been taught those things in school.

[meadowlander]

14. It's not the whole answer, but it's certainly part of it.

I can't think of any other explanation why anyone under 30 would be a Trump supporter.

[whathehell]

31. Actually, older Americans were taught those things

in school..Republican Ronnie Reagan's administration was the first to stop making Civics education mandatory in schools.

[Cyrano]

34. Yep. Reagan was an amiable imbecile who was

well used by his handlers. And perhaps he even set the table for when a Trump came along.

[bamagal62]

56. He also got rid

Of the fairness doctrine. Reagan did a lot of damage. I still hate him to the core for ruining Head Start.

[meadowlander]

47. And now we have a generation of tech bros who think it's cool and edgy to be Nazis.

[Zoomie1986]

62. It is a myth--LONG DEBUNKED--that civics education was

a) mandatory, or b) that it's no longer taught.

Forty states require at least a semester of it. Most of the others have it folded into a social studies curriculum.



Could we do better at teaching it? Of course, because there's always room for improvement with these things. However, that doesn't change how it's a vicious lie that it's not taught--when it is.

At least try to verify ridiculous claims like that before repeating them.

[whathehell]

72. Well, excuuuuse me!

I certainly wasn't attempting to spread a "vicious lie".

[bdamomma]

73. My homestate

of RI unfortunately no requirement for civics, that is rather disappointing.

[snpsmom]

76. Thank you

As a Social Studies teacher, I am exhausted by this old saw.

[bamagal62]

55. This 👆👆👆

[rainin]

2. Adding: Citizens United

[Charging Triceratops]

5. And the corruption of SCOTUS

which began on 12/12/2000 and has only gotten more malignant.

[flying_wahini]

26. Adding Putin and Fox News.

[erronis]

42. I was going to say "foreign interference". And the crippling of our intelligence communities - on purpose.

[Charging Triceratops]

3. Excellent question!

Our institutions can only function when they are in the hands of honorable people.
Trump and his gang are not honorable people.
Our system can only function when it is a viable democracy.
Entrenched minority rule has left the system paralyzed.
Our nation requires responsible journalism to advance.
Limbaugh, then more hate radio, then Fox "News" destroyed the Fourth Estate.
And when a mob of overfed clowns - not the Red Army - was able to invade the U.S. Capitol on 1/6/2021, it was clear America has become nothing more than a fragile house of cards.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

4. It's because this country was built on white supremacy and we refuse to dismantle it or systems modeled on it.

[ZonkerHarris]

22. this

[Midnight Writer]

6. Complacency. Too many filthy rich loonies. Too much money (power) in too few hands.

Centuries of development of psychological influencing techniques and the development of saturation media to implement those techniques in every household.

Too many Americans left behind economically, socially, and educationally, building deep-seated resentment towards our institutions.

[BattleRow]

38. Power corrupts...

Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

[Trenzalore]

7. I don't know

I guess electing Obama twice made us think our racist neighbors got religion or something. Frankly we didn't have it all together.

In 2004 Bush conspired with groups in swing states for gay marriage ballot initiatives to drive turnout to hurt Kerry. Swiftboating also became a thing.

Clinton basically had to campaign on a draconian crime bill in 1992 and 1996.

In 1988 Willie Horton

We didn't have our shit that together

[bamagal62]

57. Electing Obama

Brought all the crazy racists out. They had stayed silent just percolating and they came crawling out with a vengeance once a black man was in the White House.

[Trenzalore]

74. I would argue more Trump brought them out

They were there, Trump just gave them a permission structure to be vocal

[Jerry2144]

8. America's bones were weakened from the civil war

We never excised the cancer that is the Confederacy and the cancerous racism from before. That cancer never went fully into remission and just metastasized into the conservative movement.

[bucolic_frolic]

9. Citizens United replace patriotism with money and partisanship

We would not be screaming about the Electoral College without the additional burden of Citizens United.

[CrispyQ]

10. Our electoral process has been turned into a profit driven industry. It's sick & obscene. -nt

[Probatim]

12. Smart/good people will always vastly underestimate the actions of stupid people.

[magicarpet]

37. Gross naivety - thinking the angels of good,...

.... will always easily prevail over the demons of evil. Evil gained a stronger and stronger foothold but no one did anything. Traveling under the erroneous assumption that some David figure (goodness) with his slingshot would magically² appear from nowhere to slay Goliath (the forces of evil).

To rid ourselves of Fascists it takes determination, stick-to-itiveness, dogged tenacity, and often times hand to hand combat.

We convinced ourselves better angels would prevail, but they were shamefully overwhelmed. Now we must beat the evil forces back. Strengthen our laws so they can't sneak up upon us - if we momentarily divert our attentions, or turn our backs for a milli-second.

Fascism is always lurking around in the background trying to capture the ways and means of civilized governance so they can grab total power to serve only their selfish ends.

We must remain vigilant and keep our eyes on them. Build a nearly impeneratable wall around them with stringent laws and keep them always contained.

[NameAlreadyTaken]

15. During Obama's 8 years, Fox and Limbaugh had

right-wingers stewing, discontented and ready for "revenge" as they interpreted it. Trump tapped into that undercurrent of misdirected anger.

[betsuni]

50. Yes, The Trump Show was right-wing hate programming come to life. What they were waiting for.

His audience shaped his message, what got cheers stayed in the script. He doesn't do that anymore, though, too insane.

[JCMach1]

16. Racism/slavery broke America from the literal inception

Trump is just a grifter onto that nightmare of American history.

I give him no more credit than that.

[bdamomma]

75. I'll be relieved

when that felon is behind bars or that cancer is eradicated from our society. Hate the fucking POS.

[malaise]

17. I think the biggest reason is that celebrity status is no different from competence for millions

Last edited Thu Aug 29, 2024, 04:04 PM - Edit history (1)

and not just in the US. It’s all a TV show to the planet’s idiots.

[spanone]

19. ⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️

[moondust]

25. And money buys celebrity status.

Suggesting things could get worse going forward as there get to be more and more "silver spooners" inheriting unearned predatory fortunes and realizing they'll never have to work a day or learn anything since they can just use those fortunes to buy publicity and become "competent celebrities" who run everything. Like you-know-who.

[malaise]

35. Well said

Too sad

[Mr.Bill]

43. And there are far too many idiots on this planet.

And they vote.

[FHRRK]

53. short, sweet and succicnt

Well done.

[raccoon]

66. This one's a keeper.

[bluestarone]

18. It took this long (DECADES) for the RW and their religious fanatics to

FESTER and grow like gigantic BLOB to cover over our great country. We WILL DESTROY and remove this BLOB in 2024!!

[Boomerproud]

44. We MUST eradicate the sickness that infects this country.

Whether the will is there remains to be seen. Those in power have never given an inch for even a just and equitable society that would cause them zero harm.

[edisdead]

20. because a country founded on

because a country founded on and built upon the backs of slave labor was always broken.

[onecaliberal]

21. Because the patriarchy has refused to hold 99.999% of white men responsible for anything they do.

[Cyrano]

23. What I find mind-boggling is that

after nine years of Trumpism, almost half of American voters are planning to vote for him again.

I can't wrap my mind around how so many can possibly understand so little.

And, yes. Racism and American slavery shaped who and what our country was and, to a degree, still is.

[liberalmediaaddict]

24. He didn't break America.. yet

He's tried relentlessly for 8 years to end the American experiment but our democracy has been resilient.
- we survived his presidency.
- we voted him out of office after one term.
- we survived his insurrection and his attempt to illegally stay in office was stopped.

Trump’s definitely divided Americans and done irreparable damage to our Supreme Court. But outside of that electoral college victory in 2016 he's been a consistent loser.

If he gets back in the White House we're definitely finished as a country. But so far we've been fighting the good fight every single election to put an end to MAGA.

[bluedeathray]

27. Lot's O Help

Many Americans are stuck with the anti-social behaviors that have been identified over time. And they're proud of them and change resistant.

Many of these people also believe that Autocracy, Authoritarianism, and Corporate Fascism are desirable for future American development. Obviously not students of history.

[catbyte]

28. Isolation during Covid had a catastrophic impact, too.

[Tickle]

29. Trump hasn't been president for almost 4 years

We should already be living in a brighter future, but the current situation makes it clear that we must secure not only the presidency but also both the House and the Senate to truly effect the change we need.

[Cyrano]

30. Absolutely,

not to mention how we can deal with a fascist-controlled Supreme Court.

[Tickle]

32. yes NT

[cilla4progress]

41. True. Remember McConnell installed Gorsuch during Obama's

term.

Major fascist move.

Sort of like we were gob-smacked, as d)some here have said. We couldn't believe - or process - what we were seeing!

[Amishman]

33. Many years of social media manipulation to empower the lunatic fringes

I hope Russia's government collapses and the details of their cyber manipulation campaigns come to light.

Our enemies have been driving wedges for a loooong time

[Wild blueberry]

36. It is up to all of us together to break the fever, not just Kamala Harris

She is a splendid force for our democracy, but no one can do this alone. Not Obama, not Biden, nor any savior.
WE can do it.
Thank you.

[betsuni]

54. Absolutely! There's no savior, Democrats can't stop all the bad things Republicans do by themselves.

[Macrophylla]

39. Decades

Of Republicans working the system. Trump acknowledged that work and with Republicans ever eager to ingratiate their donor class and consolidate power got behind Trump.
Republicans paved the way the entire way.
Republicans also made excuses to enable trump the entire way.

Trump is horrible but Republicans are the enemy within.

[Xipe Totec]

40. The MAWA Movement has been around since the 60's

My dad was around for the "no dogs or Mexicans allowed" period of racial hatred, and our black brothers were around since long before that. Trump is not so much a leader of that movement, as he is a speck of dust triggering a super saturated solution of xenophobia, fear, and ignorance.

MAWA: Make America White Again.

[Trust_Reality]

45. AND... Possibly the most serious vulnerability, in the first place...

A person (presidential candidate) can run for President of the United States and potentially obtain access to the nation's most serious secrets without having passed a routine FBI security check for even the lowest level of security clearance.

How could this be so totally overlooked or ignored???

How?
Why?

[maxsolomon]

46. Because Republicans are easily conned.

He hasn't conned all of America, just the RW half.

[applegrove]

48. And, when people suffer financial anxiety they stop

thinking rationally and start thinking with emotion. Movement conservatives made sure a big block of Americans were in financial dire straights by getting rid of unions and trickle down. They gamed democracy too, then stacked the courts.

[DontBelieveEastisEas]

49. Because it is comprised of humans.

[Skittles]

51. I absolutely disagree that Obama's eight years made us COMPLACENT

if anything, that's what helped to create the MAGAt movement because all the racist cockroaches emerged from under their rocks

[betsuni]

63. I don't understand the complacent thing. Complacent about what?

Can't be voting, 2012 and 2016 were both 65 million something.

I still see the "economic anxiety" excuse for Trump voters. Everybody should know by now it was racial identity and culture wars.

[OAITW r.2.0]

52. He hasn't broken me on what I know America is.

The land of opportunity for all. We need to deal with US climate change....and that means seawalls on both coasts to protect our cities. That takes a lot of hard labor manpower. Paying taxes/SS on their wages.

[JT45242]

58. Party power over all else...starting with Newt

Newt slimy lying piece of crap... indignant over a blow job while cheating on his own wife

McConnell....no one more ruthlessly and effectively put party over country than the turtle

[Zoomie1986]

59. I don't get people who think TSF did anything to the country

America didn't 'get broken.'

It already was. It happened long ago.

Maybe you were privileged enough to live in a world where America seemed so squeaky clean and perfect, but most of us? We didn't live in that America--and we still don't. The America we live in is full of hate, brutality, discrimination, and inequality. And it's always been that way.

What you're seeing now is what brown people and minorities have always known America to be. How did you not see that America staring you in the face all of your life--and long before TSF came along?

[GoodRaisin]

60. A lot of great points in that post. One I would add, for myself,

Last edited Fri Aug 30, 2024, 03:46 AM - Edit history (2)

I had woefully underestimated the sheer number of stupid Americans.

It took me by surprise that so many believed all the obvious lies. Maybe I shouldn’t have been so shocked. Looking back and reflecting, I had to acknowledge to myself that the signs had been there and I was not taking them serious enough that it would occur to me that there was a real problem. It snuck up on me when they actually elected that man, that a “great dumbing down” had taken place like it had. And now we’re 8 more years in and they are dumber than ever. He hasn’t done a damn thing for them and they’re voting for him again.

[JT45242]

61. Adding no consequences for treason for literally 80 years

Starting with Ultra and the Nazi collaborators in congress that Truman protected...

McCarthy and his lackeys, including Nixon...
Nixon paying the north Vietnamese to stay away from the peace talks...
Nixon, Agnew, over more corruption...

Reagan, Baker, et al paying the Iranians to hold the hostages...

Bush senior and his boy Billy Barr covering up the second part of the Reagan crimes...

Bush 2 lying about WMD to start a war that Cheney and others could profiteer off ..

And if course all the times that banks decided to bail out that worthless piece of crap trump to get 20 cents on the dollar instead of ten. All the NY, Florida, and us prosecutor who never went after this walking fraud count...tax fraud, bank fraud, money laundering for Russia.

No consequences if you are a Republican...that is a huge part of this.

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

64. I remember hearing him babble and thinking Hillary was going to coast to victory. 8 years later...

his babble is more extreme and almost half of America is ok with it. He can literally say ANYTHING and it doesn't shake his base.

[elleng]

65. 'Red tape'

The term "red tape" has a history that involves the use of red ribbon or tape to bind documents, and its evolution into a symbol of bureaucratic entanglements:

16th century
King Charles V of Spain used red ribbon to bind important documents to distinguish them from other paperwork. This practice became standard across Europe.

Colonial America
The practice of using red tape to bind official records continued in the American colonies.

1780s–1980s
The US government used red-dyed fabric to bundle documents, but eventually switched to white or undyed tape because the red tape bled.

1970s
The phrase "red tape" began to refer to paperwork, bureaucracy, and other aspects of bureaucracy.

1980s
New technologies revolutionized bureaucracy, and much of what was previously considered red tape began to decline.

Today
The term is often used by those who are politically opposed to bigger government. It's used to describe government obstruction or bureaucratic obstruction, such as when someone has to fight through a series of documents or forms to achieve something.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_tape#:~:text=Origins,-Bundle%20of%20US&text=It%20is%20generally%20believed%20that,was%20running%20his%20vast%20empire.

[Jmb 4 Harris-Walz]

67. From your fingers to God's ears, I pray Kamala can get us through this.

[betsuni]

68. What does the Obama made Democrats complacent comment mean? Can anyone explain?

It wasn't complacency in voting. Numbers were about same in 2012 and 2016.

How could Democrats do anything to counter right-wing media? No ideologues with unlimited funding like Republicans have. How were they supposed to pay for that? Democrats are busy governing and Democratic voters busy living their lives. Why blame them for not stopping Republicans?

Blaming Democrats for "ignoring" a fanatical fringe? What exactly could Democrats do? What?

[kansasobama]

70. How about voting in all elections?

That would help. Remember, racist MAGA always vote.

[kansasobama]

69. Because Hillary was correct about deplorables

We have a very large percentage of deplorables like MAGA. In addition, there are fake statesmen like Manchin and Sinema, ready to backstab. I cannot leave our own Dems and liberals scot-free. Many of our own always wanted everything, voted inconsistently making it hard to sustain fights. You want proof? Obama midterms 2010 where we sat at home, angry Bernie voters voting against Hillary in the Midwest, just a few months ago many Dems not enthused about Biden are the reasons. There will come a time when Kamala won't be exciting. Will most us continue to back her? If we don't, another Trump will rise. We have to realize that Trumpers will always vote. They don't care. They just want to hate

[Autumn]

71. She can prevent some of the bad stuff from happening but the sooner we realize that no one

is coming to save us the better. Only then can we save ourselves and our Democracy.

[Arne]

77. I may be alone on this, but I blame Led.

I will always blame Led.
The side effects of it are a description of the right wing
symptoms.

[Freddie]

78. The systems in place that entrench minority rule

The Electoral College, the Senate. Gerrymandering.
Over the decades the Republicans plotted to use these systems to their advantage. To the point that it doesn’t matter what the PEOPLE want.

[Cyrano]

79. Yep. If Project 2025 comes to be,

they will own us, mind and body, totally.

It's their end game. And we can't allow it to happen no matter what we must do to stop it.

[Bucky]

80. Most pools show that 43% of Americans aren't ready for grown up gov't

[Locutusofborg]

81. Trump didn't "break" America

Trump received the votes of approximately 29% of the voting age population in 2020.