Rachel Maddow Long Excerpt from "Warning"

[pat_k]

13. Decades of systematic...

... alienation of the people from their government.

Rather than the reality -- that WE are the government; that we designed a system that allows us to shape our own fate as a nation -- there has been a systematic, and incredibly effective campaign to demonize "the government" as some separate, evil thing that must be destroyed.

And as this has moved forward, there has been a "professionalization" of political engagement (I'm just a lowly citizen -- "political stuff" is for the "experts" ).

Life for a vast majority of Americans sucks in many, many, ways. They are alienated from their own place in finding solutions through civic participation. They have been primed to flock to a "strongman" that tells them "I'll fix this, The evil government is ruining our lives and I'll get it off your backs."

Most Americans are so alienated from what is "happening in Washington" they don't pay any attention at all. They don't see how fucked up Trunp is because they have no inclination to take notice -- government is an alien force they aren't involved in. Government is someone else's business; it's evil. The bits of news that filter down from Fox tell them Trump is doing a great job and all the "bad talk" about him is lies.