Thank you! I’ve struggled with trying to understand and reason with these people. And I’ve allowed myself to be gaslit into a state of confusion and anger. The lack of accountability, the gaslighting and the willful ignorance is a challenge for us all. But you’re absolutely right- time to stop trying to understand the mind of a Trump voter- they want what they want- and they will never admit they were wrong or duped. To me this simply means- stand up for what’s right in your heart. Personal integrity and walking the talk matter most
Or - on the first part - the woman just stops cooking after a while since none of the three able bodied men in the house (2 step sons, one hubbie) clean up or put anything away ever. And I now treat the kitchen as a toxic zone I don't touch. I will dash in, prep food for myself, clean up, and let the boys deal with their food and their mess. I admit, no more family meal times (although I will sit with them when they've fixed something for themselves) but there is some relief to not alternately begging and screaming, and probably some relief to them not to have to listen to me. And they are learning what it takes to get meals if they want to survive the retirement of mom.
I have been struggling post election, with all these people who want to point at the Trump voters who are now crying their crocodile tears that they didn't understand that he was worse than Biden, that eggs were too expensive, and all the Never Trumpers who were all "Dems should have stuck to kitchen table economic issues" that was all 100% unadulterated bullshit.
I’m back, because I wanted to let you know that this piece made me finally realize something. I engaged with my Trumper friend repeatedly and steadily prior to the election and then again prior to the inauguration. When I asked him, “what about project 2025? How can you vote for that?” He replied, in a somewhat quiet voice, rather meekly, “he said he wouldn’t do project 2025.”
Looking back, I recognize what was happening: HE KNEW. He knew that Trump knew exactly what P2025 was, and that he would implement it. But in denying that he would do it, Trump was giving all of his voters plausible deniability that could fall back on. He was providing the mask they needed. Quite the psy-ops, just like J6. I finally see it for what it is. A mask and a lie.
The farmers & ranchers are already crying. It's gagworthy to watch them cosplay “rugged & good-hearted man of the soil” as they gaze teary-eyed at reporters while whining about losing their farm cuz Trump isn't keeping “his promises” WHICH THEY BELIEVED. Yeah. No. Eat dirt, motherfuckers.
Reminds me of the fact that when Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote her books, her daughter Rose edited them. Rose Wilder Lane was a libertarian who deleted any references to the federal subsidy and assistance money Pa Ingalls got over the years, as he moved around trying to make it as a farmer.
It seems to me that some folks have been verbally or in writing regretting their vote. Doesn’t mean that they won’t continue to vote for politicians who do NOT represent their best interests.
Fabulous post ! I too have never once suggested that the slimy trump voters should be given any sympathy whatsoever- it is clear who they are- and basically there is no fixing stupid. And fortunately everyone in my circle agrees. It’s almost the same with the people supporting the Palestinians who didn’t vote or voted for trump instead of Harris. They are sitting in some shit now. Oh well, people make bad decisions - with zero critical thinking - which the Republicans have made sure that many people will never be able to critically think about anything.
Which is exactly why they’re persecuting academia now.
I work at a research university that gets tons of NIH grants. In fact, if this NIH funding cut that was announced Friday isn’t rescinded, I’m looking at losing my job or taking a big pay cut. A colleague on a call today said, well, maybe if we get rid of the DEI stuff, they’ll restore our funding. To which I replied: no. It’s not really about DEI. We could remove that, and they’d still decimate us because they don’t like what we do, fundamentally: we educate people to think critically. They don’t want educated people who can question what they do.
My friend’s wife is going through the same thing in academia. She works in online learning for rural colleges in the state of Virginia. They’re about to be gutted.
For heaven’s sake, “we” want to take every single thing away from rural America. Healthcare, education, subsidies, you name it. The Repugnants have been working on this for years, then going home and complaining to constituents that “those other guys” are the ones gumming up the works.
They come for the intellectuals first. My grandfather was in the Russian Book of Names, fled Latvia 🇱🇻 with his immediate family. You are sadly 100 percent correct. I’ve called all my representatives often I’m in Maine so we do have Collins who I’ve even been calling about every abuse of power. She is a Republican but still I call.
My dad passed away Thursday and he was a pathologist who figured out most thyroid cancers don’t need targeted radiation and or thyrodectomies ( sp) back in the 60s after doing 10 autopsies a night while working in Japan 🇯🇵 on an off shoot army / atomic bomb commission. It caused quite a stir but he was right. Research is invaluable as Indiana is experiencing severe probable bird flu epidemic with ICUs and ventilated patients.
One more thing I’m sorry this is long
The CDC isn’t allowing this to get out. If there is a cdc anymore.
I live in deep red maga and you’re 100% right. Of course it’s already coming home to bite them in a real way here and I just ask them -“did you not vote for this?” They are fine with pain coming for OTHERS but seem completely bewildered when it’s THEM!
Man, this is spot on. It sure hit home in a personal way too. Yeah, I’ve done it ( not voted for Trump!! ) but acted dumb. Good insight, made me think.
Definitely excellent post and much appreciated! Love that operations perspective and rings super true! Book that influenced me hugely was How the Mind Works by Stephen Pinker and it is half evolutionary biology. If we are living in a tribe hunting mammoth on the tundra, tribe benefits when we teamwork and hunt. But I can benefit even more personally if I call in sick, all y’all hunt and get injured and I eat anyway. This made me realize that lying and cheating is built into the human machine and we can expect humans to constantly evaluate which side of the team they want to be on.
It’s interesting in our current situation that Team B, the skaters, only eat because Team A continues to hunt and create value. It Team B is impeding, sabotaging and destroying the value creating work of team A then nobody will eat.
People are actively looking for non-maga businesses to address their everyday needs, like handyman repairs, dry cleaning, plowing, etc., and find it to be an awkward conversation starter. They shouldn't, because it's a logical extension of the reframing: do you really want to volunteer your after-(tariff-and-)tax dollars to someone who actively supports a convicted felon, adjudicated rapist, open racist, immoral, etc. etc. traitor to the U.S. Constitution? By paying them to make your lawn pretty, you're directly funding maga lies against our country and your own personal self-interest.
Being a STEM person , I never got round to reading Adam Smith (but laterly learnt he was deliberately taken out of context by the neo liberals) anyway where does he say that.
Really well said. There’s a big problem with thinking that the masses are ignorant that plays into all of this. People make choices, they take time to go out and vote, they have time to think about it and consider it. At a point, you have to consider that these people aren’t crazy and they’re not ignorant, so let them?
Thank you. This is a great piece. I’ve had similar feelings for a while—people knew exactly what they were voting for. How could they not? Trump has been in our faces for the past decade. He’s not some mystery figure; he’s been loud and clear about who he is.
Cutting to the chase: the reality is that a woman of color was simply a bridge too far for many. They’ll never say it out loud, but we know the truth.
Yes. I think we should still be banging away on everyone we know asking them "where is your damn line?!" because as this damage comes home some of them might actually change or act. But I've stopped buying that they could still be ignorant, especially now.
Thank you! I’ve struggled with trying to understand and reason with these people. And I’ve allowed myself to be gaslit into a state of confusion and anger. The lack of accountability, the gaslighting and the willful ignorance is a challenge for us all. But you’re absolutely right- time to stop trying to understand the mind of a Trump voter- they want what they want- and they will never admit they were wrong or duped. To me this simply means- stand up for what’s right in your heart. Personal integrity and walking the talk matter most
You got it. At a certain point we have to accept it and act accordingly. Thanks for reading. 😁
Or - on the first part - the woman just stops cooking after a while since none of the three able bodied men in the house (2 step sons, one hubbie) clean up or put anything away ever. And I now treat the kitchen as a toxic zone I don't touch. I will dash in, prep food for myself, clean up, and let the boys deal with their food and their mess. I admit, no more family meal times (although I will sit with them when they've fixed something for themselves) but there is some relief to not alternately begging and screaming, and probably some relief to them not to have to listen to me. And they are learning what it takes to get meals if they want to survive the retirement of mom.
There you go. 😁 Setting boundaries and expectations. Nicely done.
You go girl!💙💙💙💙💙
Just an epic post.
I have been struggling post election, with all these people who want to point at the Trump voters who are now crying their crocodile tears that they didn't understand that he was worse than Biden, that eggs were too expensive, and all the Never Trumpers who were all "Dems should have stuck to kitchen table economic issues" that was all 100% unadulterated bullshit.
Your setup nails it perfectly.
I’m back, because I wanted to let you know that this piece made me finally realize something. I engaged with my Trumper friend repeatedly and steadily prior to the election and then again prior to the inauguration. When I asked him, “what about project 2025? How can you vote for that?” He replied, in a somewhat quiet voice, rather meekly, “he said he wouldn’t do project 2025.”
Looking back, I recognize what was happening: HE KNEW. He knew that Trump knew exactly what P2025 was, and that he would implement it. But in denying that he would do it, Trump was giving all of his voters plausible deniability that could fall back on. He was providing the mask they needed. Quite the psy-ops, just like J6. I finally see it for what it is. A mask and a lie.
Yup. You’ve got it. It allows them to vote for him in spite of all the horribleness Trump is. They can play stupid.
But they know.
Nearly every Trump voter is happy he’s keeping his promises. I doubt any regret their votes.
They will. Wait until they cut benefits, healthcare, or welfare for farmers.
The farmers & ranchers are already crying. It's gagworthy to watch them cosplay “rugged & good-hearted man of the soil” as they gaze teary-eyed at reporters while whining about losing their farm cuz Trump isn't keeping “his promises” WHICH THEY BELIEVED. Yeah. No. Eat dirt, motherfuckers.
Reminds me of the fact that when Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote her books, her daughter Rose edited them. Rose Wilder Lane was a libertarian who deleted any references to the federal subsidy and assistance money Pa Ingalls got over the years, as he moved around trying to make it as a farmer.
Nietzsche’s sister did the same thing to him. She added in all the Anti-Semitism that the Nazis co-opted later with the Over Man stuff.
It seems to me that some folks have been verbally or in writing regretting their vote. Doesn’t mean that they won’t continue to vote for politicians who do NOT represent their best interests.
Well written essay. Thank you. Hope you submit it for publication to as many news feeds as you can.
Fabulous post ! I too have never once suggested that the slimy trump voters should be given any sympathy whatsoever- it is clear who they are- and basically there is no fixing stupid. And fortunately everyone in my circle agrees. It’s almost the same with the people supporting the Palestinians who didn’t vote or voted for trump instead of Harris. They are sitting in some shit now. Oh well, people make bad decisions - with zero critical thinking - which the Republicans have made sure that many people will never be able to critically think about anything.
Which is exactly why they’re persecuting academia now.
I work at a research university that gets tons of NIH grants. In fact, if this NIH funding cut that was announced Friday isn’t rescinded, I’m looking at losing my job or taking a big pay cut. A colleague on a call today said, well, maybe if we get rid of the DEI stuff, they’ll restore our funding. To which I replied: no. It’s not really about DEI. We could remove that, and they’d still decimate us because they don’t like what we do, fundamentally: we educate people to think critically. They don’t want educated people who can question what they do.
My friend’s wife is going through the same thing in academia. She works in online learning for rural colleges in the state of Virginia. They’re about to be gutted.
For heaven’s sake, “we” want to take every single thing away from rural America. Healthcare, education, subsidies, you name it. The Repugnants have been working on this for years, then going home and complaining to constituents that “those other guys” are the ones gumming up the works.
They come for the intellectuals first. My grandfather was in the Russian Book of Names, fled Latvia 🇱🇻 with his immediate family. You are sadly 100 percent correct. I’ve called all my representatives often I’m in Maine so we do have Collins who I’ve even been calling about every abuse of power. She is a Republican but still I call.
My dad passed away Thursday and he was a pathologist who figured out most thyroid cancers don’t need targeted radiation and or thyrodectomies ( sp) back in the 60s after doing 10 autopsies a night while working in Japan 🇯🇵 on an off shoot army / atomic bomb commission. It caused quite a stir but he was right. Research is invaluable as Indiana is experiencing severe probable bird flu epidemic with ICUs and ventilated patients.
One more thing I’m sorry this is long
The CDC isn’t allowing this to get out. If there is a cdc anymore.
…i seriously doubt that, give them a year and they will hate liberals even more for being right
I live in deep red maga and you’re 100% right. Of course it’s already coming home to bite them in a real way here and I just ask them -“did you not vote for this?” They are fine with pain coming for OTHERS but seem completely bewildered when it’s THEM!
Man, this is spot on. It sure hit home in a personal way too. Yeah, I’ve done it ( not voted for Trump!! ) but acted dumb. Good insight, made me think.
Definitely excellent post and much appreciated! Love that operations perspective and rings super true! Book that influenced me hugely was How the Mind Works by Stephen Pinker and it is half evolutionary biology. If we are living in a tribe hunting mammoth on the tundra, tribe benefits when we teamwork and hunt. But I can benefit even more personally if I call in sick, all y’all hunt and get injured and I eat anyway. This made me realize that lying and cheating is built into the human machine and we can expect humans to constantly evaluate which side of the team they want to be on.
Never read that one. I’ll check it out! Thanks. 🙏 😁
It’s interesting in our current situation that Team B, the skaters, only eat because Team A continues to hunt and create value. It Team B is impeding, sabotaging and destroying the value creating work of team A then nobody will eat.
Yup. That’s what’s happening.
Adam Smith said that the unencumbered market, unregulated capitalism, devours everything around it and then devours itself.
We’re seeing that happen. Unless we regulate it.
Or answer with our pocketbooks.
People are actively looking for non-maga businesses to address their everyday needs, like handyman repairs, dry cleaning, plowing, etc., and find it to be an awkward conversation starter. They shouldn't, because it's a logical extension of the reframing: do you really want to volunteer your after-(tariff-and-)tax dollars to someone who actively supports a convicted felon, adjudicated rapist, open racist, immoral, etc. etc. traitor to the U.S. Constitution? By paying them to make your lawn pretty, you're directly funding maga lies against our country and your own personal self-interest.
Being a STEM person , I never got round to reading Adam Smith (but laterly learnt he was deliberately taken out of context by the neo liberals) anyway where does he say that.
Really well said. There’s a big problem with thinking that the masses are ignorant that plays into all of this. People make choices, they take time to go out and vote, they have time to think about it and consider it. At a point, you have to consider that these people aren’t crazy and they’re not ignorant, so let them?
Thank you. This is a great piece. I’ve had similar feelings for a while—people knew exactly what they were voting for. How could they not? Trump has been in our faces for the past decade. He’s not some mystery figure; he’s been loud and clear about who he is.
Cutting to the chase: the reality is that a woman of color was simply a bridge too far for many. They’ll never say it out loud, but we know the truth.
You might stay with "woman," just.
Word!
Yes. I think we should still be banging away on everyone we know asking them "where is your damn line?!" because as this damage comes home some of them might actually change or act. But I've stopped buying that they could still be ignorant, especially now.
Each time a person lies to themselves they lose a little bit of self esteem. To compensate they look for someone they can look down on.
This! Totally agree.