<
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/08/trumpism-maga-cult-republican-voters-indoctrination/675173/>
"In October of last year, Donald Trump filed a defamation suit accusing CNN of
calling him a lot of bad names, the first on the lengthy list being “like a
cult leader.” One could assume that Trump would be flattered by that, because
cult leaders are usually depicted in pop culture as charismatic masters with
near-divine power over the lives of their followers. Jimmy Breslin once called
then-Mayor Rudolph Giuliani a “small man in search of a balcony.” If so, then
Trump is a large man in search of a compound.
He stands in front of massive crowds festooned with insignia proclaiming their
allegiance, chanting his name and accompanying him on the familiar refrains:
“Lock her/him up!” “Build the wall!” They will countenance no criticism of
their idol and accept his version of events without question. The same, of
course, can be said about Taylor Swift, although no mob of Swifties has sacked
the Capitol. Because she hasn’t asked them to. Yet.
Those who call Trumpism a cult can point to his popularity with Republican
voters
increasing with each of his four criminal indictments. A CBS poll in
late August revealed that the most trusted source of information among those
voters—more than conservative media, family members, or clergy—is that famed
straight shooter Donald J. Trump.
At this point, as the nation faces a series of trials both literal and
metaphorical, what label to apply to his movement doesn’t matter. The important
question isn’t whether or not Trumpism is a cult. It’s whether the study of
cults provides us with any path out of here."
Via Kenny Chaffin.
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
