About a third of Americans would prefer a theocracy to a reality-based society.

[muriel_volestrangler]

And nearly another half is ambivalent about it. The Handmaid's Tale is closer than you think.

Here are the YouGov poll results about who people trust to give accurate information about a scientific subject - Covid-19.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TofJVeuCbZN8cRGBN97kWGqhO6tlQ7VA/view

Among Conservatives (about 660 out of about 2,100), 16% say they trust the national media - reporters, working for a variety of companies, whose expertise and job is giving accurate information about current events. But 70% of them trust "religious leaders and clergy" to give that accurate information, although those people have no more knowledge or access to information about it than the rest of us. It's not about "what we should do", which clergy would claim to be expert in, it's "accurate information". So those conservatives would rather religion colour their view of facts, on a massive scale.

And in 'moderates' - about 900 out of 2,100 - 46% trust the national media, and 47% the clergy. So there, the overall effect is "the clergy will never introduce any inaccuracy - we may as well listen to them for the news as to the media". These people would go along with The Handmaid's Tale without complaint.

And I also note that men and women trust the clergy equally (51%), but men believe the national media less (only 39%, compared to women's 47%). So don't think The Handmaid's Tale is a spurious thing to introduce.

It's only Democrats and Liberals who trust the national media more than clergy for facts on the coronavirus. All age groups, and Black and White ethnicities trust the clergy more. For Hispanics, it's the same (52%).

[Arthur_Frain]

1. Well let's hear it for the other 2/3rds!

Time to rise up and put these punters where they belong.

[abqtommy]

3. +100 Spot on!

[Eyeball_Kid]

2. Trump lives on delusions.

Remember. He's bonkers nuts.

IMO, he could be down with the virus himself and he'll deny the diagnosis. He can't afford to abandon his brand, and he won't. He could go on a ventilator and he'd be saying that it was something he ate last night. As for his family, he has no feelings for them whatsoever, so he'll stick them in some walk-in closet if they get sick. In fact, they may be sick right now and he probably took their cell phones away to keep them from blabbing about it. Anyone see the Dark Queen lately? How about Master Barron? Junior the Elephant Hunter? Eric the Pulsating Brain? They're all out of sight, and as far as Trumpy is concerned, out of mind.