God, the number of ‘swing voters’ you can have a conversation with and find out that they know nothing about either party’s actual politics is… just horrific. People who call themselves anti-gun-control and support stricter gun control measures than I, a Berniecrat, do. People who talk about the horrors of open borders, and then when you talk to them they support significantly liberalized immigration law and a path to citizenship. ‘Pro-life’ supporters who, if presented with the loosest abortion laws in this country, express support for such ‘reasonable’ measures.
Here in the UK I sometimes think most people know more about US politics than domestic politics. So, I know how this kind of ignorance can happen.
But then, if you’re suggesting talking to people with fascist views, then that’s also the point I’m making too. Because that’s finding out why they think the way they do and perhaps changing their mind by telling them which things they’ve been told were wrong all along. My experience has been that the indoctrinated people will listen to what you say, perhaps even agree. Then, in short order revert to the old talking points.
Regarding the “embarrassed” conservatives. I wonder if they’re more just conservatives that are following the flow of their fellow conservatives, not really considering the full impact the result may have. You don’t need to look further than the running mate, to see how republicans are happy to endorse trump, even though they don’t stand for most of what he says. Because winning matters most. I wonder if some conservatives are casting a blind-eye to the fascist undertones, because overall they will otherwise get what they want?
But then, if you’re suggesting talking to people with fascist views, then that’s also the point I’m making too. Because that’s finding out why they think the way they do and perhaps changing their mind by telling them which things they’ve been told were wrong all along. My experience has been that the indoctrinated people will listen to what you say, perhaps even agree. Then, in short order revert to the old talking points.
That’s what I mean about embarrassed conservatives - they’re a different (though also horrifically common) scenario than swing voters. Embarrassed conservatives (ie people with fascist views) are likely, in an anonymous poll, to fully fess up to thinking immigrants are ‘poisoning the blood’ of the country.
The folks I’m talking about don’t hold fascist views, but they have all the ‘right’ tribalist labels, and no clue what they actually mean in terms of policy proposals. To them, it may as well be saying “I am Pro-Good and Anti-Bad”. If you ask them, in an anonymous poll, about a policy position or statement, you’ll likely get a response that’s not bugfuck insane - but their voting habits are indistinguishable, because they have no clue about the actual state of politics in this country. Or any country. Or of politics in general.
Here in the UK I sometimes think most people know more about US politics than domestic politics. So, I know how this kind of ignorance can happen.
But then, if you’re suggesting talking to people with fascist views, then that’s also the point I’m making too. Because that’s finding out why they think the way they do and perhaps changing their mind by telling them which things they’ve been told were wrong all along. My experience has been that the indoctrinated people will listen to what you say, perhaps even agree. Then, in short order revert to the old talking points.
Regarding the “embarrassed” conservatives. I wonder if they’re more just conservatives that are following the flow of their fellow conservatives, not really considering the full impact the result may have. You don’t need to look further than the running mate, to see how republicans are happy to endorse trump, even though they don’t stand for most of what he says. Because winning matters most. I wonder if some conservatives are casting a blind-eye to the fascist undertones, because overall they will otherwise get what they want?
That’s what I mean about embarrassed conservatives - they’re a different (though also horrifically common) scenario than swing voters. Embarrassed conservatives (ie people with fascist views) are likely, in an anonymous poll, to fully fess up to thinking immigrants are ‘poisoning the blood’ of the country.
The folks I’m talking about don’t hold fascist views, but they have all the ‘right’ tribalist labels, and no clue what they actually mean in terms of policy proposals. To them, it may as well be saying “I am Pro-Good and Anti-Bad”. If you ask them, in an anonymous poll, about a policy position or statement, you’ll likely get a response that’s not bugfuck insane - but their voting habits are indistinguishable, because they have no clue about the actual state of politics in this country. Or any country. Or of politics in general.