(Thread) Trump and Coronavirus
I’ll offer a reason this is a problem for Trump, aside from what we know about how this will affect the economy, and how failing economies sink incumbent presidents seeking reelection.
Fascist leaders don't know how to deal with a real crisis.
I’ll offer a reason this is a problem for Trump, aside from what we know about how this will affect the economy, and how failing economies sink incumbent presidents seeking reelection.
Fascist leaders don't know how to deal with a real crisis.
1/ A difference between real and manufactured crises is that a manufactured crisis is controlled and doesn't get out of hand.
That’s why “Oceania had always been at war with Eastasia.” (1984)
In 2018, in preparation for the midterms, Trump tried to manufacture a border crisis.
That’s why “Oceania had always been at war with Eastasia.” (1984)
In 2018, in preparation for the midterms, Trump tried to manufacture a border crisis.
2/ Remember the Trump-FOX-GOP attempt to spread panic about dangerous warlike invaders? (Really they were homeless, poverty-stricken migrant families.)
A manufactured crisis allows the fascist leader to “protect” the people from their “enemies.”
A manufactured crisis allows the fascist leader to “protect” the people from their “enemies.”
3/ A manufactured crisis allows the fascist leader to pick a "crisis" he can control, and a crisis that actually works for him.
The fascist leader likes a crisis that lets him stir up the fears in his followers and then let him strut around like a strongman so they feel safe.
The fascist leader likes a crisis that lets him stir up the fears in his followers and then let him strut around like a strongman so they feel safe.
4/ Similarly, fascist leaders do not know how to deal with reality. They only know how to deal with a "reality" they create.
Trying to create reality was what this tweet was all about⤵️
Trump’s life in politics has been about creating a false reality.
Trying to create reality was what this tweet was all about⤵️
Trump’s life in politics has been about creating a false reality.
5/ Trump presenting himself as a successful businessman who got ahead by smart dealings.
In fact, he was a totally businessman who got ahead by conning people, cheating, and laundering Russian money.
He played a successful businessman on TV and people thought it was real.
In fact, he was a totally businessman who got ahead by conning people, cheating, and laundering Russian money.
He played a successful businessman on TV and people thought it was real.
6/ The thing about Trump’s lies is that very few people actually believe them.
Trump’s critics don’t, and that’s more than half the voting population.
The GOP leaders who are propping him up also know he’s lying. See ⤵️
Trump’s critics don’t, and that’s more than half the voting population.
The GOP leaders who are propping him up also know he’s lying. See ⤵️
7/ A virus outbreak will not contain itself in poor communities.
A virus is actually more likely to strike the Mitch McConnells of the world, who are in constant contact with people, then, say, a poor person living on the edge of town.
Oops! Wrong kind of crisis!
A virus is actually more likely to strike the Mitch McConnells of the world, who are in constant contact with people, then, say, a poor person living on the edge of town.
Oops! Wrong kind of crisis!
8/ The problem is compounded by the fact that Trump, as part of his effort to take America back to the good old days of almost unlimited personal liberty for white men, is dismantling the federal government (all of the regulatory agencies) that he hates.
9/ In the wild west, there were no government agencies designed to protect common people, so there were no rules limiting what (white) men could do. See ⤵️
🎵Those were the days🎵
Trump is at war with those agencies and is trying to kill them.
🎵Those were the days🎵
Trump is at war with those agencies and is trying to kill them.
10/ Right Wing Propaganda has persuaded people that we’d be better off dismantling the federal government (deep state) and marching backwards.
A virus outbreak causes reality to collide with myth.
The frontier was wild and white men were free, but there were lots of diseases.
A virus outbreak causes reality to collide with myth.
The frontier was wild and white men were free, but there were lots of diseases.
11/ Trump has been killing the agencies designed to protect the health of the people.
With the outbreak of a virus, people start thinking: Maybe those regulatory agencies designed to protect our health aren’t so bad. Maybe government isn’t always evil.
With the outbreak of a virus, people start thinking: Maybe those regulatory agencies designed to protect our health aren’t so bad. Maybe government isn’t always evil.
12/ Trump is trying to make the problem go away by barking at it.
My dog, JJ, does the same thing. He sits in the window and barks at skateboarders. He thinks it works. We’ve never been attacked by a skateboarder. He barks, the skateboarder goes by, and JJ saved the day!
My dog, JJ, does the same thing. He sits in the window and barks at skateboarders. He thinks it works. We’ve never been attacked by a skateboarder. He barks, the skateboarder goes by, and JJ saved the day!
13/ That's because skateboarders are not a real crisis
(Don't tell JJ. You'll put him out of a job.)
In a totalitarian country a real crisis wouldn’t be a problem for the leader because he absolutely controls information.
(Don't tell JJ. You'll put him out of a job.)
In a totalitarian country a real crisis wouldn’t be a problem for the leader because he absolutely controls information.
14/ The leader could tell them that the virus was an attack from Eastasia.
That's why the Trump-FOX-GOP is trying to desperately to control all information.
We still know better.
Most important: We can still act.
Shall I post my list again?
terikanefield-blog.com/things-to-do/
That's why the Trump-FOX-GOP is trying to desperately to control all information.
We still know better.
Most important: We can still act.
Shall I post my list again?
terikanefield-blog.com/things-to-do/
People are reporting missing tweets, so I'll get this up on my blog pretty soon.
People have reported both #5 and #6 missing, so here they are:
Here is the thread as a blog post: terikanefield-blog.com/trump-and-coro…
Trump doesn't have that authority. Each state conducts its own elections.
Besides, how would he enforce it? Send troops to each polling place?
He could try to scare people into staying home, but who would believe him?
Answer: His supporters.
BACKFIRE!
Besides, how would he enforce it? Send troops to each polling place?
He could try to scare people into staying home, but who would believe him?
Answer: His supporters.
BACKFIRE!
I just have to add this to the thread.
JJ is definitely the cutest totalitarian fascist out there though, right?
JJ is definitely the cutest totalitarian fascist out there though, right?
Certainly.
I'll add it to the next tweet. I have no idea why Tweets #5 and #6 don't show up for some people.
I'll add it to the next tweet. I have no idea why Tweets #5 and #6 don't show up for some people.
Here you go: Why Trump Supportesr Believe (or pretend to believe) all of his lies:
Spoiler: They know the lies destroy, and they want to destroy.
Spoiler: They know the lies destroy, and they want to destroy.
