RE: A Bigger Problem Than Trump
September 15, 2020 at 2:25 pm
(This post was last modified: September 15, 2020 at 2:26 pm by onlinebiker.)
(September 15, 2020 at 1:25 pm)DeistPaladin Wrote:(September 15, 2020 at 4:04 am)onlinebiker Wrote: So isn't it equally possible you are brainwashed as well? After all - if you are, you wouldn't know it, so protestations that you aren't seem rather meaningless.
Well, for one thing, I used to BE one of them. I once read Ayn Rand and thought it was economics gold. Now, like an ex-Christian reading the Bible, I wonder how I ever believed that crap. The fact that I can move around on the political spectrum based on convincing arguments or new facts would suggest I'm not the brainwashed one.
Second of all, result matter. I used to believe in Reagan and his "trickle down" economics because it was a new thing in the 80s. Now, I've seen it doesn't work so I don't support it anymore. Anyone who continues to support the idea despite how we've tried it on a state and federal level for the last 40 years hasn't learned anything. Again, because I learn from experience and change my mind accordingly, that would suggest I'm not the brainwashed one.
Thirdly, I tend to be consistent with the standards that I hold politicians to, regardless of their political affiliation. If you called for umpteen Congressional investigations of Benghazi but gave W Bush a free pass on the whole Iraq War, you're probably the brainwashed one. If you obsess over HRC's unsecure email server but have no problem with Trump continuing to use his unsecure Android phone, you're probably the brainwashed one. If you think deficits don't matter when a Republican is in the White House but suddenly are clutching pearls over the deficits when a Democrat is in the White House, you're probably the brainwashed one. Etc.
Finally, if you continue to support Trump despite the ruin he's brought to this country and the almost daily new stories about his corruption, incompetence and treason, dismissing any story you don't like with a flippant "fake news", you're probably the brainwashed one.
That is one possibility.
But there is another.
You traded one load of BS for a different load of BS.
....
That you were once convinced of what you now find ridiculous - it should give you pause to consider your position now.
I tend to think that political parties are insideous dens of corruption by design - after all - the main thrust is to win elections.
