The GOP: from political party to con syndicate
The Republican Party has transformed into a national con syndicate. This is more evident than ever with convicted felon Donald Trump as its leader.
But conning is what Republicans do. That’s clear enough from the lies they tell just to “own the libs.”
Indeed, all they contribute to public debate these days is a firehose of brazen lies, shameless gaslighting, and unwitting projection. They do all this as performative art to grab media attention, which has replaced passing legislation as the primary reason Republicans go to Congress.
But their con extends even to the myriad ways they play their supporters for suckers. From trickle-down economics to tax cuts for the rich, they thrive on conning poor, working-class people into voting against their interests.
Common Sense Measures Commoners Reject
Affordable Healthcare?
Who needs that when poor folks can fund tax breaks for rich folks?
Abortion?
Who needs abortions when women should return to their calling as homemakers and child bearers?
Student Loan Forgiveness?
Who needs the government to forgive student debts for the poor when the rich can use bankruptcy proceedings to expunge their debts?
DEI?
Who needs diversity when America was strongest under Jim Crow – when the races were segregated, and men were men?
NATO?
Who needs alliances when you can imbue poor folks with jingoistic and warmongering platitudes, encouraging them to hug the flag as if it were a national shield?
In short, fool them once, shame on rich Republicans. Fool them time and again, shame on poor Republicans.
American Fatalism
Ultimately, though, MAGA Republicans seem possessed of a morbid curiosity or fatalism about Trump turning American democracy into an autocracy — the dangers that portend be damned. Even alienated Blacks are supporting him as much as White supremacists are championing him.
Like the White Evangelicals who form his base, they all see Trump as the hellraiser to trigger an Armageddon of political, religious, and racial conflict. It might be the end of the world as we know it, but they’re all feeling fine…