For the life of me I don't understand why anyone would vote for the orange clown. I particularly am stumped at women vote for politicians who tear down women's rights or people with darker skin than mine vote to pols who do them harm. I've seen explanations ever since Thomas Frank authored his "What's the Matter With Kansas?" https://tcfrank.com/product/whats-the-matter-with-kansas/ The only answer that explains it to me is that people can be stupid.
"Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives.
John Stuart Mill
My guess is that many are not stupid so much as brainwashed and both uninformed and misinformed.
Most people in the USA seem to have been raised believing in US exceptionalism based on “interesting” interpretations of US history and hagiographies of “great” American heroes and statesmen. Thus, brainwashed.
My impression is that a majority of Americans are not terribly interested in national/state/level affairs and their knowledge of the rest of the world is close to nonexistent. [1]
Unfortunately the US mainstream media and entertainment channel, (See Fox Fairy Tales) are not exactly the best way to become an informed citizen.
Come to think of it, given the number of successful, mad, corrupt, fundamentalist preachers infesting the USA and perverting Christian dogma, it may be that a large subset of MAGA is less intelligent than I have been assuming.
I do think Scaramucci is correct about the gas prices hitting Trump hard but I think he is wrong about Trump not caring. He cares if anything gets in the way of his Nobel Prize or if the Republicans get wiped in the midterm elections and he goes down as the first successfully impeached US President. Obviously he does not care about the people.
1. See Tucker Carlson's interview with Ted Cruz about Iran. The level of ignorance was mind-boggling And this is a US Senator who should know a bit about a country he wanted the USA to attack. . I have to wonder if Cruz can find Cuba on a map.
I've often seen the narrowness of the American citizen's vision as both a product of their imperialistic culture and the failure of their educational system. To have attended school and left without developing even a scintilla of critical thinking is surely an indictment of that system.
To have attended school and left without developing even a scintilla of critical thinking is surely an indictment of that system.
It depends on the purpose of the educational system. It may well be that it is intended to discourage critical thinking and to encourage conformity and acceptance of official policies. If so it is functioning quite well.
I read somewhere that the USA has a Hollywood attitude toward the war against Iran, hence the decisions of Pete Hesgeth and co. I would take this a step further in that the USA has a Disneyfied attitude of itself! American voters really do believe the fantasies of the little house with the picket fence , hard work will bring you , everything, anyone can be president and that their way of life is superior! Indeed , I wonder if those I saw working out in US gyms wearing Superman T shirts really thought they were the real thing! You cannot cannot combat the disillusioned!
anyone can be president Which, of course, is completely untrue. The USA has a two-tiered citizenship structure.
“No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President”
Well, if you are native born and start from a very young age to show that you are obsequious to your betters (i.e the very rich) and very obedient to them–or can fake it well–you have a good chance.
Aside , did you read Charlie Angus' column this morning? "Gambling on War and Death" https://charlieangus.substack.com/p/gambling-on-war-and-death Are military decisions being made to up the odds for gamblers with inside information?
Read the article, and although I was aware of Polymarket (my son told me about it) but the implications of Angus's article are chilling to consider. It seems we truly live in an area where human life itself is quite disposable and fungible.
Trumps rants about razing Iran Iran are without doubt war crimes as is most of the US, Israel war on the despotic Iran. Crimes like these will haunt future USA relations for decades! Day by day the USA is becoming irrelevant as a military power. Alas, the buying power of the USA will effect markets for decades too! The power of the $$ of whatever currency is destroying us! TB
I do find it hard to understand why the American currency is still so strong, TB. Perhaps it has to do with their willingness to continue producing, while deferring the cost to future generations.
It is time for the world to call things as they are. Even the dimmest among them must realize their efforts to keep on Trump's 'good' side are doomed. Just ask Keir Starmer. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/06/trump-starmer-neville-chamberlain-iran
RE, I do find it hard to understand why the American currency is still so strong, The world knows that when all else fails he with the most power wins! The USA wins militarily and has the worlds biggest consumer base. Greed and power of influence still rule this world no matter what the idealistic counter arguments are. Whilst we may celebrate some local victories for the betterment of our world ; the fact is he with the most gold wins!! We now have a handful of close to trillionaires $$ that have the ability to control our future , for better or for worse? H
US currency is strong because when all else fails and the USA has the biggest military in the world and can take what it wishes!! It also has the biggest consumer market in the world and greed wins every argument of survival!
This makes a lot of sense. The power of money and the capacity to spend that money is something the U.S. certainly exemplifies. Debt seems to mean nothing to the government; it is always a tab to be paid sometime in a nebulous future.
A couple of years back the Western nations were obsessed by national debt! Suddenly it is seemingly irrelevant ! A couple of years ago the same nations were obsessed with the idea of democratic rule! We are, in our sleep, going back to the rule of law/lawlessness of the middle ages with a mere peep! of resistance? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtYU87QNjPw
It seems governments get obsessed with debt only when the money would go to programmes that benefit people, TB. There never seems to be that worry when we are talking military expenditures or corporate subsidies.
Thanks for the video. Monty Python always held much truth.
For the life of me I don't understand why anyone would vote for the orange clown. I particularly am stumped at women vote for politicians who tear down women's rights or people with darker skin than mine vote to pols who do them harm. I've seen explanations ever since Thomas Frank authored his "What's the Matter With Kansas?"
ReplyDeletehttps://tcfrank.com/product/whats-the-matter-with-kansas/ The only answer that explains it to me is that people can be stupid.
I think you've nailed it here, Toby. Cults rarely operate with intelligence or reflection. Reflexiveness is their default position.
DeleteHow Stupid Is MAGA?
ReplyDelete"Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives.
John Stuart Mill
My guess is that many are not stupid so much as brainwashed and both uninformed and misinformed.
Most people in the USA seem to have been raised believing in US exceptionalism based on “interesting” interpretations of US history and hagiographies of “great” American heroes and statesmen. Thus, brainwashed.
My impression is that a majority of Americans are not terribly interested in national/state/level affairs and their knowledge of the rest of the world is close to nonexistent. [1]
Unfortunately the US mainstream media and entertainment channel, (See Fox Fairy Tales) are not exactly the best way to become an informed citizen.
Come to think of it, given the number of successful, mad, corrupt, fundamentalist preachers infesting the USA and perverting Christian dogma, it may be that a large subset of MAGA is less intelligent than I have been assuming.
I do think Scaramucci is correct about the gas prices hitting Trump hard but I think he is wrong about Trump not caring. He cares if anything gets in the way of his Nobel Prize or if the Republicans get wiped in the midterm elections and he goes down as the first successfully impeached US President. Obviously he does not care about the people.
1. See Tucker Carlson's interview with Ted Cruz about Iran. The level of ignorance was mind-boggling And this is a US Senator who should know a bit about a country he wanted the USA to attack. . I have to wonder if Cruz can find Cuba on a map.
I've often seen the narrowness of the American citizen's vision as both a product of their imperialistic culture and the failure of their educational system. To have attended school and left without developing even a scintilla of critical thinking is surely an indictment of that system.
DeleteTo have attended school and left without developing even a scintilla of critical thinking is surely an indictment of that system.
DeleteTo have attended school and left without developing even a scintilla of critical thinking is surely an indictment of that system.
DeleteIt depends on the purpose of the educational system. It may well be that it is intended to discourage critical thinking and to encourage conformity and acceptance of official policies. If so it is functioning quite well.
True, Anon. The American concept of a well-rounded education requires unblinking acceptance of all their hegemonic, racist policies.
DeleteI read somewhere that the USA has a Hollywood attitude toward the war against Iran, hence the decisions of Pete Hesgeth and co.
ReplyDeleteI would take this a step further in that the USA has a Disneyfied attitude of itself!
American voters really do believe the fantasies of the little house with the picket fence , hard work will bring you , everything, anyone can be president and that their way of life is superior!
Indeed , I wonder if those I saw working out in US gyms wearing Superman T shirts really thought they were the real thing!
You cannot cannot combat the disillusioned!
TB
It's a kind of cultural Kool-Aid so many seem to have drunk, TB.
Deleteanyone can be president
DeleteWhich, of course, is completely untrue. The USA has a two-tiered citizenship structure.
“No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President”
Article II, Section 1 US Constitution
Also, of course, one has to have the backing of extremely wealthy people; given their criteria, that narrows the field considerably, Anon.
DeleteWell, if you are native born and start from a very young age to show that you are obsequious to your betters (i.e the very rich) and very obedient to them–or can fake it well–you have a good chance.
DeleteBeing sensitive to, and compliant with, their needs will take one far in today's world of high-finance politics, Anon.
DeleteAside , did you read Charlie Angus' column this morning? "Gambling on War and Death" https://charlieangus.substack.com/p/gambling-on-war-and-death Are military decisions being made to up the odds for gamblers with inside information?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link, Toby. I haven't read it, but will go to it next.
DeleteRead the article, and although I was aware of Polymarket (my son told me about it) but the implications of Angus's article are chilling to consider. It seems we truly live in an area where human life itself is quite disposable and fungible.
DeleteTrumps rants about razing Iran Iran are without doubt war crimes as is most of the US, Israel war on the despotic Iran.
ReplyDeleteCrimes like these will haunt future USA relations for decades!
Day by day the USA is becoming irrelevant as a military power.
Alas, the buying power of the USA will effect markets for decades too!
The power of the $$ of whatever currency is destroying us!
TB
I do find it hard to understand why the American currency is still so strong, TB. Perhaps it has to do with their willingness to continue producing, while deferring the cost to future generations.
DeleteIt is time for the world to call things as they are. Even the dimmest among them must realize their efforts to keep on Trump's 'good' side are doomed. Just ask Keir Starmer.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/06/trump-starmer-neville-chamberlain-iran
RE,
ReplyDeleteI do find it hard to understand why the American currency is still so strong,
The world knows that when all else fails he with the most power wins!
The USA wins militarily and has the worlds biggest consumer base.
Greed and power of influence still rule this world no matter what the idealistic counter arguments are.
Whilst we may celebrate some local victories for the betterment of our world ; the fact is he with the most gold wins!!
We now have a handful of close to trillionaires $$ that have the ability to control our future , for better or for worse?
H
US currency is strong because when all else fails and the USA has the biggest military in the world and can take what it wishes!!
ReplyDeleteIt also has the biggest consumer market in the world and greed wins every argument of survival!
This makes a lot of sense. The power of money and the capacity to spend that money is something the U.S. certainly exemplifies. Debt seems to mean nothing to the government; it is always a tab to be paid sometime in a nebulous future.
DeleteWhat drives the US economy? not price / earnings
ReplyDeleteIts a lottery!
TB
Indeed, TB. Their economic base seems filled with that kind of recklessness.
DeleteA couple of years back the Western nations were obsessed by national debt!
ReplyDeleteSuddenly it is seemingly irrelevant !
A couple of years ago the same nations were obsessed with the idea of democratic rule!
We are, in our sleep, going back to the rule of law/lawlessness of the middle ages with a mere peep! of resistance?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtYU87QNjPw
TB
It seems governments get obsessed with debt only when the money would go to programmes that benefit people, TB. There never seems to be that worry when we are talking military expenditures or corporate subsidies.
DeleteThanks for the video. Monty Python always held much truth.