(Thread) Trump has no interest in controlling the pandemic
(He wants to control the narrative)
To answer this ⤵️ I will weave together:
🔹The purpose of government
🔹The limits of Sadopopulism, and
🔹Trump’s lifelong formula: what matters is the appearance of success.
(He wants to control the narrative)
To answer this ⤵️ I will weave together:
🔹The purpose of government
🔹The limits of Sadopopulism, and
🔹Trump’s lifelong formula: what matters is the appearance of success.
1/ Let's look at two opposing theories about the purpose of government: Democratic and Hierarchical.
Democracy folks believe equality is possible, so for them, the purpose of government is to create fairness, to give everyone equal opportunity, and to prevent cheating.
Democracy folks believe equality is possible, so for them, the purpose of government is to create fairness, to give everyone equal opportunity, and to prevent cheating.
2/ The hierarchical people don’t believe equality is possible. They think people naturally form hierarchies.
They see a democratic government as giving handouts to those who don’t deserve it and hampering people who can get things done. (They don't like "rules" in their way.)
They see a democratic government as giving handouts to those who don’t deserve it and hampering people who can get things done. (They don't like "rules" in their way.)
3/ For the hierarchy people, democracy is messy: You have to compromise. You have to work with people lower on the hierarchy.
Oligarchy (and fascism) is an extreme form of hierarchy: A few at the top should have all the wealth and power while the worker ants are at the bottom.
Oligarchy (and fascism) is an extreme form of hierarchy: A few at the top should have all the wealth and power while the worker ants are at the bottom.
4/ Trump’s base loves him because he tells them they're the top of the hierarchy and he’s the strongman who will defeat their enemies and protect their “liberty.”
The part they like is being at or near the top of the hierarchy. They think the "weak" are trying to displace them.
The part they like is being at or near the top of the hierarchy. They think the "weak" are trying to displace them.
5/ When democratic presidents go to work, they try to figure out how to make life better for people (like setting up panels to deal with pandemics)
Would-be oligarchs don't think government's purpose is to protect people.
They think government maintains "order" (the hierarchy)
Would-be oligarchs don't think government's purpose is to protect people.
They think government maintains "order" (the hierarchy)
6/ To acquire both wealth and power, would-be oligarchs must pass laws that actually hurt the very people who put them in power, like tax cuts for the rich and eliminating affordable health care and pandemic panels.
@timothyDSnyder explains how they do it: Sadopopulism.
@timothyDSnyder explains how they do it: Sadopopulism.
7/ They follow a simple formula:
🔹Identify an “enemy” (homeless migrants, minority communities, etc.)
🔹Enact policies that create pain in their own supporters
🔹Blame the pain on the “enemies”
🔹Present themselves as the strongmen who fights the enemies.
🔹Identify an “enemy” (homeless migrants, minority communities, etc.)
🔹Enact policies that create pain in their own supporters
🔹Blame the pain on the “enemies”
🔹Present themselves as the strongmen who fights the enemies.
8/ For more on sadopopulism, click here:
This is all Trump knows how to do.
He cannot and will not act like a normal democratic president.
He has no interest in controlling the pandemic.
He wants to set up a false narrative in which he is the hero.
This is all Trump knows how to do.
He cannot and will not act like a normal democratic president.
He has no interest in controlling the pandemic.
He wants to set up a false narrative in which he is the hero.
9/ Remember the reporting that Trump's impulse in Feb. was to let Covid-19 “wash over” the country?
businessinsider.com/trump-consider…
It’s still what he wants.
He is a one-trick pony: He's a would-be oligarch intent on dismantling the federal government so he and his pals can get rich.
businessinsider.com/trump-consider…
It’s still what he wants.
He is a one-trick pony: He's a would-be oligarch intent on dismantling the federal government so he and his pals can get rich.
10/ This brings me to why Sadopopulism has limits in a pandemic:
Ordinarily—as with something like taking away health care—people don’t feel an immediate connection between
#2 (enacting pain-inducing policies) and
#3 (blame the pain on enemies) 👇
Ordinarily—as with something like taking away health care—people don’t feel an immediate connection between
#2 (enacting pain-inducing policies) and
#3 (blame the pain on enemies) 👇
11/ In fact, the moment the ACA is repealed, Trump’s base will feel a surge of joy: We socked it to the enemy Obama! We saved our government from socialism!
The pain doesn’t come for years.
People get used to the status quo.
They may never consider what might have been.
The pain doesn’t come for years.
People get used to the status quo.
They may never consider what might have been.
12/ A propaganda trick is to create a false dilemma by making it appear that there are only two options (“It’s either us or them.”)
Mayor Goodman of Las Vegas illustrated the false choice the GOP has created around the pandemic: People must go to work or die of poverty.
Mayor Goodman of Las Vegas illustrated the false choice the GOP has created around the pandemic: People must go to work or die of poverty.
13/ Goodman explains:
🔹Working families need food
🔹The only way they can afford food is if they work
🔹So they must work
If you oppose this (she implies) you want to starve workers.
The problem, of course, is that there is a third option.
🔹Working families need food
🔹The only way they can afford food is if they work
🔹So they must work
If you oppose this (she implies) you want to starve workers.
The problem, of course, is that there is a third option.
14/ Third option: The US Government allocates our resources to care for people while we get the virus under control, and creates national programs (like testing).
McConnell and the GOP refuse because that's Obama style democracy.
They prefer👇
wsj.com/articles/dalla…
McConnell and the GOP refuse because that's Obama style democracy.
They prefer👇
wsj.com/articles/dalla…
15/ NY Gov. Cuomo wants to talk about fairness because he’s a democratic governor.
Mitch McConnell doesn’t care about fairness because he’s a hierarchical leader. (Those who succeed in grabbing must deserve)
Mitch McConnell doesn’t care about fairness because he’s a hierarchical leader. (Those who succeed in grabbing must deserve)
16/ With the pandemic, the hierarchical folks turn to Sadopopulism: “We must all work to save the economy!"
But there isn’t enough lag time between #2 and #3.
Turns out most people don't like the idea of literally dying to save the "economy" (hierarchy)
dallasnews.com/news/public-he…
But there isn’t enough lag time between #2 and #3.
Turns out most people don't like the idea of literally dying to save the "economy" (hierarchy)
dallasnews.com/news/public-he…
17/ In Georgia people understand that Kemp wants to open businesses so the state doesn’t have to pay unemployment.
In Wisconsin people understood that the GOP said, “If you want to vote, you may die, and we don’t care.”
"Die soon to save the hierarchy" has limited appeal.
In Wisconsin people understood that the GOP said, “If you want to vote, you may die, and we don’t care.”
"Die soon to save the hierarchy" has limited appeal.
18/ The GOP understands their policies will result in mass suffering, but for them, there's no disconnect.
Many of their policies eventually result in suffering for those lower in the hierarchy.
A pandemic just speeds it up👇They ask: What's the problem?
Many of their policies eventually result in suffering for those lower in the hierarchy.
A pandemic just speeds it up👇They ask: What's the problem?
19/ Have I mentioned lately the importance of focusing on getting absentee ballots into the hands of as many people as possible?
nbcnews.com/politics/2020-…
nbcnews.com/politics/2020-…
20/ Trump is rapidly losing support among the groups he needs to win the election, including the very people (seniors) who supported him in 2016.
The first step to save American democracy is a landslide election, which means moving another 5%.
The first step to save American democracy is a landslide election, which means moving another 5%.
21/ Great Laura Ingraham monologue: She explains how Trump can spin the narrative so he appears successful while doing nothing and allowing the pandemic to spread.
It's all about marketing a sadistic idea.
It's all about marketing a sadistic idea.
22/ I realize I didn't quite answer this question.
People don't necessarily feel a direct connection between ending Obamacare and pain to themselves or their own families. Any pain could be years away.
Same with tax cuts for the rich. It hurts. . .
People don't necessarily feel a direct connection between ending Obamacare and pain to themselves or their own families. Any pain could be years away.
Same with tax cuts for the rich. It hurts. . .
23/ . . . in that it creates more income disparity which creates an oligarchical class.
The idea that, say, people over 50 should go out TODAY and expose themselves to a horrible death is immediate. It's not abstract or years away. . .
axios.com/coronavirus-te…
The idea that, say, people over 50 should go out TODAY and expose themselves to a horrible death is immediate. It's not abstract or years away. . .
axios.com/coronavirus-te…
24/ . . . you don't need flowcharts. You don't need an understanding of economics the consequences of too much income disparity.
It feels like this: "I am 60. My grandchild was just born. No, I don't want to die."
Or: "My mother is 65. I am not ready to part with her!"
It feels like this: "I am 60. My grandchild was just born. No, I don't want to die."
Or: "My mother is 65. I am not ready to part with her!"
25/ The "sado" part of "sadopopulism" becomes too prominent to ignore, particularly when a millionaire who just got a tax break basically says, "You wanna eat? You better get out there and work. We need you working to save the economy. There's more important things than living."
26/ No surprise: Trump is losing support with seniors. In 2016, Trump won seniors 52% to HRC's 45%.
Now Biden is ahead with seniors.
People don't like being told their lives are worthless.
It's a also fact that younger people are dying as well.
washingtonpost.com/politics/biden…
Now Biden is ahead with seniors.
People don't like being told their lives are worthless.
It's a also fact that younger people are dying as well.
washingtonpost.com/politics/biden…
Here is this thread as a blog post: terikanefield-blog.com/the-limits-of-…
I have just the medicine. Stand by . . .
Here you go. Dogs and kitties make people feel less depressed, right?
JJ works all day. He protects us from skateboarders and other things on wheels.
JJ works all day. He protects us from skateboarders and other things on wheels.
Or you can have a good laugh.
Thanks.
This thread is already so long . . . I may as well add more.
Not to mention that the seniors who are being told their lives are worthless are the ones who built what we have, may of them working for many decades to pay into the system.
