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dameatball

(7,379 posts)
Mon Apr 26, 2021, 09:34 AM Apr 2021

Anecdotal maybe, but it aggravates me how effective RWers are at using the term "Patriot" locally. [View all]

I live in small town America, in the south. There is still a pervasive myth that in the good ol days people were happier and things were better in general. The truth is that these parts are sort of like Norman Rockwell meets meth lab. Things ain't so great.
But one thing I can't help but notice is how damn patriotic everyone is. No matter what the event, it is guaranteed that the "fill in the blank Patriots" will have a presence there. Farmer's market?....there's a booth and they have flags. Parade?.....there are trucks and they have flags. Save the statue rally? There's a group and they have flags. Pissed off at the schoolboard?....There's a table and some flags. Even I can see a pattern there and I am a bit dense.
Free food giveaway?.....There's a bunch of volunteers....and they have flags. Neighborhood crime watch?....you guessed it. They have meetings.....with flags.

Democrats attend these events too. They are just as concerned and civic minded and work just as hard. But we don't really seem to have much brand recognition.

Our side has many really good ideas and messages. Unfortunately it is harder to make them into a simple concept. The right wingers have basically fear and whatever flows from that. "Patriotism" is the quick fix. It seems to work. No wonder the other guy always wanted a military parade.

Okay, rant over. I have to go to town in a while.

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