Thank you for the prod - to reach out to others even it means risking disturbing conversations. At a recent high school reunion, I was picking up something from a table (fairly late in the evening) and two classmates sort of pounced on me - peppering me with assertions and questions to defend Biden and other "lib mistakes". It was kind of odd that they singled me out given my moderate voting history as an Independent, but anyway they don't know me well. That late evening barrage has reinforced how disturbing difficult conversations can be, and how they can stay with you for weeks. The two that evening were neither kind nor rational; it's possible alcohol was also a factor.
It seems like a central component of authoritarianism is revenge. It’s what draws people to this movement. It reminded me of a post episode I heard on Hidden Brain that people can become revenge addicts. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hidden-brain/id1028908750?i=1000710912196 There’s research showing that thinking about revenge scenarios and feeling “righteous” anger can be incredibly addictive to a human brain. It got me thinking: authoritarianism is a movement where people get to be high on their own outrage. Real or imagined enemies, doesn’t matter. What matters is the high they get when they imagine or action on revenge fantasies. It’s a movement of addicts excusing the very worst speech and actions in order to sustain their high.
I have a question. America is a large country with 50 states and various territories. Each one has its own laws, regulations, etc. Some states, such as most blue states, offer protections for workers, minorities, women, healthcare, voting, and civil rights. They don't ban books, expression, drag shows, abortion or religious expression. Red state are very much different and offer few protections for non whites, and ban anything that mentions words or actions they find offensive, but they allow guns everywhere as their only real 'freedom'.
Red states certainly lean fascist while blue states lean democratic, in general. And since people are probably closer to the actions of their state govt than the federal govt, how do you fight those red state fascists? TX wants to arrest people who leave TX to get abortion care. And red states, in general, have a lower quality of life, yet the worse life gets, the more the populations of those states vote republican. The most startling example to me is that all OK counties voted for trump and OK has one of the lowest life quality scores in the nation. MA counties all voted for Harris and A has one of the highest life quality scores in the nation.
While blue states fight trump, red states admire and worship trump. When Biden was president, blue states were more supportive than red states by a large margin, no matter the fact that biden spent more money fro his signature legislation achievements in red state than blue states, which I believe led to Harris losing. I digress, but how do you mend that chasm of fascist leaning red states and democracy leaning blue states?
MSM keeps repeating the same assumption: that Orange Cheeto won the 2024 election fair and square albeit by only 3.5m votes
Not into conspiracy theories but there is lots of evidence that Cheeto and his Nazi party launched a multiprong subversive effort to corrupt the election And this has unconsciously pissed off the American electorate to feel that they got ripped off Hence the growing intensity of the protests across the country Here’s a list of what we know so far
Rockland County Board of Elections vs SMART Legislation to be heard Sept 2025
Thank you, Maxine. Because I live in Trump Land, and in a community of mostly Trumpers, I've done all I can to maintain our relationships and expand on all the good things we have in common. One person at a time is a good thing to add to our ways of standing strong for democracy, equality for all genders, and the rule of law. Sometimes I get upset that democracy is founded on patriarchy (a foundation but not cause of sexism, racism, or authoritarianism) and prefer "equivilarchy." Though we're not about to get world peace here on earth, at least we can take a step and steps in the direction of humankind, and expand what Neil Armstrong said on the moon on July 20, 1969 , "one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."
Yes, listen without thinking of our own come back; show small courage such as speaking with your neighbor who may be as worried as you. Taking that step can be difficult. One of the rallies I first attended was motivated and organized by just such a person. And point 3: We do belong to each other. Good to remember that friend or foe, good or evil, we are all human. It is a struggle to remember this when the difference is so extreme. Today I think I'll contact a friend who I have not contacted in a while, and ask, "Let's go for an ice cream cone." Sound silly? Hope not. One small step at a time. Thanks for pointing the way forward, Trygve.
Question: What are some ways we, who are in the choir and understand authoritarianism, can get those who do not see it to see it? There are millions of us who are part of the "NO KINGS" movement who understand and see authoritarianism. But HOW can we assist those of us who are in the Trump cult and caught up in it see this, and really understand it like we do? That, to me, is as important as parsing and analyzing authoritarianism. Right now it needs to be on the front not back burner.
It seems like a central component of authoritarianism is revenge. It’s what draws people to this movement. It reminded me of a post episode I heard on Hidden Brain that people can become revenge addicts. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hidden-brain/id1028908750?i=1000710912196 There’s research showing that thinking about revenge scenarios and feeling “righteous” anger can be incredibly addictive to a human brain. It got me thinking: authoritarianism is a movement where people get to be high on their own outrage. Real or imagined enemies, doesn’t matter. What matters is the high they get when they imagine or action on revenge fantasies. It’s a movement of addicts excusing the very worst speech and actions in order to sustain their high.
Thank you for the prod - to reach out to others even it means risking disturbing conversations. At a recent high school reunion, I was picking up something from a table (fairly late in the evening) and two classmates sort of pounced on me - peppering me with assertions and questions to defend Biden and other "lib mistakes". It was kind of odd that they singled me out given my moderate voting history as an Independent, but anyway they don't know me well. That late evening barrage has reinforced how disturbing difficult conversations can be, and how they can stay with you for weeks. The two that evening were neither kind nor rational; it's possible alcohol was also a factor.
Brilliant! This is the healthy playbook that could save democracy.
Look at how large his bald spot is.
It seems like a central component of authoritarianism is revenge. It’s what draws people to this movement. It reminded me of a post episode I heard on Hidden Brain that people can become revenge addicts. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hidden-brain/id1028908750?i=1000710912196 There’s research showing that thinking about revenge scenarios and feeling “righteous” anger can be incredibly addictive to a human brain. It got me thinking: authoritarianism is a movement where people get to be high on their own outrage. Real or imagined enemies, doesn’t matter. What matters is the high they get when they imagine or action on revenge fantasies. It’s a movement of addicts excusing the very worst speech and actions in order to sustain their high.
“When you rule by fear, laughter is the most frightening sound in the world.” -Unknown
I have a question. America is a large country with 50 states and various territories. Each one has its own laws, regulations, etc. Some states, such as most blue states, offer protections for workers, minorities, women, healthcare, voting, and civil rights. They don't ban books, expression, drag shows, abortion or religious expression. Red state are very much different and offer few protections for non whites, and ban anything that mentions words or actions they find offensive, but they allow guns everywhere as their only real 'freedom'.
Red states certainly lean fascist while blue states lean democratic, in general. And since people are probably closer to the actions of their state govt than the federal govt, how do you fight those red state fascists? TX wants to arrest people who leave TX to get abortion care. And red states, in general, have a lower quality of life, yet the worse life gets, the more the populations of those states vote republican. The most startling example to me is that all OK counties voted for trump and OK has one of the lowest life quality scores in the nation. MA counties all voted for Harris and A has one of the highest life quality scores in the nation.
While blue states fight trump, red states admire and worship trump. When Biden was president, blue states were more supportive than red states by a large margin, no matter the fact that biden spent more money fro his signature legislation achievements in red state than blue states, which I believe led to Harris losing. I digress, but how do you mend that chasm of fascist leaning red states and democracy leaning blue states?
So Tired of a False Assumption
MSM keeps repeating the same assumption: that Orange Cheeto won the 2024 election fair and square albeit by only 3.5m votes
Not into conspiracy theories but there is lots of evidence that Cheeto and his Nazi party launched a multiprong subversive effort to corrupt the election And this has unconsciously pissed off the American electorate to feel that they got ripped off Hence the growing intensity of the protests across the country Here’s a list of what we know so far
Rockland County Board of Elections vs SMART Legislation to be heard Sept 2025
https://bit.ly/43Hm61y Dissent in Bloom Substack June 2025
https://bit.ly/4n3TeIr SMART Elections Substack 2.25
http://bit.ly/4kZqXAH Morningstar coverage 5.25
https://bit.ly/43BfwJJ Economic Times 6.25
https://bit.ly/4l5EAP6 Reddit article 4.25 Review of voting in Pa and NV
Greg Palast Vigilante Challenge https://bit.ly/3XUt1kr or bit.ly/43K4Gl2 have to pay to get the documentary/audio of interview bit.ly/41UelTx this is free
Election Truth Alliance(ETA) ongoing statistical analysis of precincts in swing states
website electiontruthalliance.org videos are very convincing
Russian interference https://bit.ly/4l6AlCU\
Thank you, Maxine. Because I live in Trump Land, and in a community of mostly Trumpers, I've done all I can to maintain our relationships and expand on all the good things we have in common. One person at a time is a good thing to add to our ways of standing strong for democracy, equality for all genders, and the rule of law. Sometimes I get upset that democracy is founded on patriarchy (a foundation but not cause of sexism, racism, or authoritarianism) and prefer "equivilarchy." Though we're not about to get world peace here on earth, at least we can take a step and steps in the direction of humankind, and expand what Neil Armstrong said on the moon on July 20, 1969 , "one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."
Yes, listen without thinking of our own come back; show small courage such as speaking with your neighbor who may be as worried as you. Taking that step can be difficult. One of the rallies I first attended was motivated and organized by just such a person. And point 3: We do belong to each other. Good to remember that friend or foe, good or evil, we are all human. It is a struggle to remember this when the difference is so extreme. Today I think I'll contact a friend who I have not contacted in a while, and ask, "Let's go for an ice cream cone." Sound silly? Hope not. One small step at a time. Thanks for pointing the way forward, Trygve.
Question: What are some ways we, who are in the choir and understand authoritarianism, can get those who do not see it to see it? There are millions of us who are part of the "NO KINGS" movement who understand and see authoritarianism. But HOW can we assist those of us who are in the Trump cult and caught up in it see this, and really understand it like we do? That, to me, is as important as parsing and analyzing authoritarianism. Right now it needs to be on the front not back burner.
It seems like a central component of authoritarianism is revenge. It’s what draws people to this movement. It reminded me of a post episode I heard on Hidden Brain that people can become revenge addicts. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hidden-brain/id1028908750?i=1000710912196 There’s research showing that thinking about revenge scenarios and feeling “righteous” anger can be incredibly addictive to a human brain. It got me thinking: authoritarianism is a movement where people get to be high on their own outrage. Real or imagined enemies, doesn’t matter. What matters is the high they get when they imagine or action on revenge fantasies. It’s a movement of addicts excusing the very worst speech and actions in order to sustain their high.