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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 supportersBlame the pain on the “enemies”Present themselves as the strongmen who fights the enemies.
8/ For more on sadopopulism, click here:
https://twitter.com/Teri_Kanefield/status/1224858622510821377
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.
https://twitter.com/Teri_Kanefield/status/1224858622510821377
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?
https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-considered-allowing-the-coronavirus-to-wash-over-the-us-2020-4
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.
https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-considered-allowing-the-coronavirus-to-wash-over-the-us-2020-4
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.
https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1253037065895325696
The problem, of course, is that there is a third option.
Working families need foodThe only way they can afford food is if they workSo they must workIf you oppose this (she implies) you want to starve workers.
https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1253037065895325696
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
https://www.wsj.com/articles/dallas-hotel-owner-is-biggest-beneficiary-of-coronavirus-loan-program-11587568827
McConnell and the GOP refuse because that's Obama style democracy.
They prefer
https://www.wsj.com/articles/dallas-hotel-owner-is-biggest-beneficiary-of-coronavirus-loan-program-11587568827
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) https://twitter.com/NYGovCuomo/status/1253358477415788548
Mitch McConnell doesn’t care about fairness because he’s a hierarchical leader. (Those who succeed in grabbing must deserve) https://twitter.com/NYGovCuomo/status/1253358477415788548
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) https://www.dallasnews.com/news/public-health/2020/04/21/texas-lt-gov-dan-patrick-praises-economic-restart-there-are-more-important-things-than-living/
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) https://www.dallasnews.com/news/public-health/2020/04/21/texas-lt-gov-dan-patrick-praises-economic-restart-there-are-more-important-things-than-living/
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 upThey ask: What's the problem? https://twitter.com/lcbruggeman/status/1253349596828401664
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? https://twitter.com/lcbruggeman/status/1253349596828401664
19/ Have I mentioned lately the importance of focusing on getting absentee ballots into the hands of as many people as possible? https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/coronavirus-upends-2020-trump-may-have-hard-time-keeping-pennsylvania-n1186541?cid=sm_npd_nn_tw_np
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%. https://twitter.com/queencityac/status/1253377368133115904
The first step to save American democracy is a landslide election, which means moving another 5%. https://twitter.com/queencityac/status/1253377368133115904
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. https://twitter.com/Dpollo513Dp/status/1253393149025714182
It's all about marketing a sadistic idea. https://twitter.com/Dpollo513Dp/status/1253393149025714182
22/ I realize I didn't quite answer this question. https://twitter.com/queencityac/status/1253377368133115904
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. . .
https://www.axios.com/coronavirus-texas-official-grandparents-die-172ca951-891c-44e7-a9ec-77c486e0c5c3.html
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. . .
https://www.axios.com/coronavirus-texas-official-grandparents-die-172ca951-891c-44e7-a9ec-77c486e0c5c3.html
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. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/bidens-strength-with-older-voters-could-threaten-trumps-electoral-path-in-2020/2020/04/23/29e44f8c-8577-11ea-ae26-989cfce1c7c7_story.html
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. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/bidens-strength-with-older-voters-could-threaten-trumps-electoral-path-in-2020/2020/04/23/29e44f8c-8577-11ea-ae26-989cfce1c7c7_story.html
Here is this thread as a blog post: https://terikanefield-blog.com/the-limits-of-sadopopulism/
