Which is worse, the colective ignorance, or the collective insanity?

[guillaumeb]

Listening, albeit rarely, to Trump and his more rabid followers, I cannot decide which factor weighs most.

Are all of these people simply ignorant of nearly everything, or insane? Yes, Lincoln is reputed to have said that some of the people can be fooled all of the time, but there must be more to it.

Of Trump himself I can credit his appalling ignorance of science, and his complete ignorance of how little he knows. But is 38% of the US population really this ignorant and/or insane?

[DEbluedude]

1. Hard to make that distinction. They're brainwashed.

It's a blend that is a result of what began in earnest forty years ago.

[guillaumeb]

8. It is a confluence of many things that began many years ago.

A history written for the rich, a job market where wages have stagnated for over 40 years, Fox news, and other right wing outlets that propagandize rather than inform, and voting laws designed to restrict the rights of urban citizens in favor of rural conservatives.

[DEbluedude]

13. You're preaching to the choir, my friend.

[Arkansas Granny]

2. I live in a red state. Yes, 38% of the people can be this ignorant.

They read very little and have almost no curiosity about learning anything new.

[Midnight Writer]

5. My experience, too. Not stupid, they are just uninterested. Don't read, listen to FOX and radio.

[guillaumeb]

9. I agree.

And if these people self-censor by ignoring anything outside of the right wing media bubble, they will be easy prey for people like Trump and his GOP cronies.

[FiveGoodMen]

3. People get conditioned from their youth to feel good and safe and proud when they look reality

in the face and deny it anyway.

All the grownups around them in the church praise their faith.

That's what they call reality-denial: faith.

Remember that the next time someone demands that you respect their reality-denial.

[guillaumeb]

10. I agree that social conditioning plays a big part.

America first rhetoric plays a part, other social venues also play apart, faith venues among them.

[LakeArenal]

4. Not mutually exclusive.

[guillaumeb]

11. Very true. eom

[Skidmore]

6. Collective confusion

[PufPuf23]

7. There will be Trumpsters that get a positive COVID19 test and

take it upon themselves to infect as many so-called libtards and brown people on purpose out of spite.

[guillaumeb]

12. One hopes you are wrong. eom