knowing phone calls are being recorded by the guv, have you changed your phone habits?

[magellan]

62. The phrase "being gaslighted" comes to mind

That's what I see being done to Americans. They're given something or someone to rally around -- a personality, a party, an issue or agenda -- and the abuse proceeds from there. Slowly and stealthily, so it's normalized in degrees. The victims never quite get what they thought they would. It's all about the abuser getting what they want.

Anyone who's ever been in a close relationship with such a person knows exactly what being gaslighted is like. You start out thinking things are a little off, but assurances are made, and this person is so very important to you that it's easy to excuse the strange crap that doesn't fit. You begin to wonder if maybe it's you. It helps that they're accusing you of being too demanding. Maybe your expectations are a little unrealistic. Yeah, that's it. They toss you bone. See? They really do care. Bond reinforced. Abuse continues. Rinse and repeat, until you're defending them to the police after they've robbed you blind and left you holding several dozen parking tickets.

Or you're defending the party that just voted to cut food stamps but is willing to spend money to arm the Syrian rebels plus leave a few F-16s and Patriot missile batteries behind in Jordan after a annual joint military exercise is done. (Acknowledging that Obama has threatened to veto the Farm Bill if the cuts to SNAP are "too deep", but we'll see. I'll bet the corporate pork will remain pretty much intact no matter what.)

Quite sincerely, I think those who've completely stepped away from politics are the sane ones!