Thanks, Reg, and I agree with your every word.

I sometimes wonder if many of those on the crazy train are people who are struggling to keep a roof over their heads and just enough food in their refrigerator to sustain them, say nothing of plans for retirement. If they can't find happiness, then by all means, burn the place to the ground because misery loves company. I'm just trying to understand the appeal for such a dystopian outcome if they get their wishes.

I was super disappointed (and surprised) that not one family member, friend or acquaintance of mine on Facebook or in real life distanced themselves from Trump after his failed coup. If anything, most doubled down in their continued support, echoing his claims of a stolen election. They had the perfect off ramp but nobody I know took it. 

To me, all of this nonsense emanates from conservative media and unless they're somehow muzzled, it's only going to get worse. What better way to corral and control your listeners and voters than to persuade them that anything to the left of their hard-right narrative is liberal bullshit that's not to be trusted. They have no desire to listen to actual news. That's where we are. Conservative media is a constant poisonous drip of propaganda that they're injecting into our electorate with apparently no safeguards to our democracy, because why would conservatives want any safeguards when they're benefitting from the lies? I worry that in 10 - 20 years we're going to look back on this time and wonder how it was that we allowed this to happen unchecked. I understand that we have 1st Amendment rights but there have to be limits especially when so many are too easily duped by the propagandists. I was. 

I sent my brother a link to a video the NYT put together of the chronology of events on 1/6 and asked him to please watch it. He was of the opinion that it was just a few people behaving badly. This was our dialog:

Me: Please watch this. It's important.

Less than a minute later he replied, "All bullshit" 

Me: Have you watched it? It's actual video from the insurrectionists. It's anything but bullshit. You would do yourself a favor to see another perspective. Please watch it and if you still think it's BS, please give me just one example why you believe that — or more examples if you're able to. 

My brother: Why would you believe in what Biden is doing?

Me: This isn't about Biden.

My brother: Your lost.

Me: I'm just asking you to watch the video. I recall you telling me that the officers were letting rioters in. Watch it and let me know if you still believe that. 

My brother: Give it up we believe in different things. 

Me: You won't watch the video? Are you afraid it might cause you to question what you've been led to believe? If you have a video or an article you would like me to watch or read, I'll do that. 

My brother: No more bullshit. You go on and believe your fake media.

Me: I feel sorry for you. You say I'm lost but you haven't a clue. You really don't. And you're afraid to watch a video that night help give you a much needed perspective that I doubt your conservative media is giving you. 

My brother: It's all fake.

Me: That's such an ignorant thing to say.

My brother: FU

Me: Roger that. See you in Michigan.

And that's what we're up against. 

Kevin g