Thread by @sunnshiiny

@tomwatson The pandemic, and its exacerbation, have been harnessed by far right politicians to inflict trauma for precisely that reason. To produce widespread ongoing mental anguish.

Our senses are overwhelmed. We’re isolated, longing for human contact, like our DNA wiring demands.

@tomwatson This is the intended outcome.

They seek to destroy the future. And distract us from the present. Lost in longing for the past.

psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/intens…

@tomwatson As described by Timothy Snyder, the aim is to discombobulate, drive home governments can’t help you, and infliction of violence on others is your only choice to feel any sense of free agency. While the powers that be take control.

Sado-populism.

@tomwatson Everything you need to know about neo-fascism supporting the transition to corporatism is in that Snyder video.

The point is truly cruelty. Which elicits more cruelty, an abandonment of the future progress and a deep desire to recreate past states of existence.

@tomwatson Opening individuals to easy manipulation through social media because of their prolonged distress, by presenting a mythical past and targets for them to destroy to achieve that past state again.

Make America Great Again.

@tomwatson This has been relatively easy to elicit in the US because of a generations of prolonged financial distress created by libertarian austerity policies. Combined with covid, many people have been permanently altered on a neurological level.

@tomwatson Removing the reinforcement of far right’s ability to enact thought reform is crucial to restoring any sense of normal human relations.

But the US has embraced an open ended definition of free speech. Considering hate speech and indoctrination using prolonged trauma acceptable.

@tomwatson At least in Canada, hate speech and indoctrination using extended traumatic exposure to violence and existential threat is not the norm. Though many are attempting to make it so. But US will need to rethink the first amendment to escape the genocide libertarians are planning.

@tomwatson I’m pretty sure Biden is aware of this. Garland and DOJ work feverishly to investigate January 6, 2021 insurrection.

But so are the far right working feverishly to build that body politic mob mentality to attempt another coup d’état. The next one will include more deadly force.

@tomwatson @threadreaderapp please compile