Cult Politics
Cult Politics
Last night’s State of the Union was pure cult: Trump spouted a stream of lies, crazy fantasies, and groundless grievances while his Republican supporters cheered, chanted, and became teary-eyed. They would have wildly applauded anything he said no matter how ludicrous. They seemed happy in their delusions. Vance and Johnson gave whole-body Nazi salutes. It was quite a spectacle; I couldn’t help laughing. That is what America has come to: a cult of complete crap. Branch Davidians could do better.
But what percentage of his Republican supporters who cheered, chanted, and became teary-eyed actually believed his stream of lies, crazy fantasies, and groundless grievances? Are those who did not members of the cult or are they merely cynical and immoral sycophants?
It’s a good question; I’m not sure even they know. The level of self-deception is at a record high. Probably every cult has some half-hearted doubting members. My professional opinion, observing their behavior, is that they are (nearly) all caught up in the mania.
What they believe is moot, Henry. On the surface it was no more than rowdy, adolescent cheerleading, outshone perhaps by the recent outbreak of “hooliganism” in the Serbian Assembly. But there’s more going on here. We know that in these unbridled displays of adulation of power, fear can be as strong a driver as euphoria. – Consider an instance of the hysterical applauding of Stalin by Soviet Communist Party leaders. Oh, and let’s not forget the ‘Great Purge’ (among the countless other crimes) that he visited upon millions his countrymen.
A cult exploits weaknesses; common human traits such as incredulity, ignorance, fear and anxiety enable control of its members. (So much more easily achieved these days). Thats what Trump does. Yes, he’s down the league compared to the all time cult leader ‘greats’, but hey, he’s “just getting started.”
I agree that what they believe is moot; the result is the same either way. My question goes to their psychology, and, now that I think about it, their psychology is not worth caring about.
Sure. It’s sobering to watch them publicly preening their ego’s in such a ridiculous manner. They are fast becoming the new poster boys of ‘Dictatorlworld’.
I agree with this, but I think you mean credulity not incredulity. My sense was that they were celebrating power as such.
Love this blog. Instructive, entertaining and most of all cathartic.
Trump is Caliban shorn of all charm.
What more could you want?
As long as my adult life, the Republican Party has been a long ascent on a will to power, a pure power lust- they had some pretext, some ideal such as cutting taxes or cutting abortions, but under the guise or shall I say ruse of MAGA, they are making America that great hill into a pile of junk. In their mind’s ire they are doing something magnificent, but they are making America a butt and a joke, a desert island, where the bones of democracy will rot under the apocalyptic sun, they will go fat on Classic Coke and Big Macs.
My sentiments exactly.
Which Beatle is Trump and which Vance? Or are they punks?
The Beatles wouldn’t have them even as roadies.
If MAGA is a cult it is an odd one at that. First, it is run by a mafiosi; second it has a strong Christian element; third, if cults involve an exploitive relationship between a charismatic leader and the gullible followers, it was obvious that the fantastic promises were a. lie. MAGA heads would win a feeling of greatness as Americans for doing absolutely nothing and their country being ransacked and totaled and in exchange they would give Trump absolute power. I’m not so sure it is a social movement in any way anymore- it is just a cult. It’s not quite a social movement, it is a cult being used by social movements to attain their goals.
The main tenet of the cult is that America can be “great” without being in any way GREAT.
Quite frankly, I’m even more flabbergasted at the cult that some highly educated people dedicate to Musk. I won’t cite names, but they’re not that hard to find. In contrast with regular joe, money and access to influential positions may go a long way to explain it.
Musk is an idiot. IQ doesn’t prevent stupidity. He’s also nasty and absurd. Mike Myers nails the impersonation of him.