Trump liked the red rural voters because they did not live where he did. Since they did not see evidence of his corruption or read about it in their local newspapers, they were more gullible and believed his lies and promises. Yeah, many people warned them. However, if you have ever moved from a blue state to a rural red state, you know from experience how deep some of those cultural prejudices run. It does not matter how much you present evidence to back your arguments, most of them will not believe their anointed "political hero" is the devil until they experience great suffering.
Then they choose death don’t they. It’s their choice. You can show a person how to fish to feed their belly, but if they don’t want to learn where to go, when to go and what bait to use they starve. Again it’s their choice. I am sorry, you can’t fix stupid.
Great article. Unfortunately, none of this matters to rural voters. Did you watch the 60 Minutes piece on farmers losing everything under Trump? Some talked about neighbors who had committed suicide because their farms were going bankrupt due to tariffs. At the end of the segment, they were all asked if they still supported Trump, and it was a unanimous "Yes, absolutely. We know he is a smart man and has our best interests in mind." Well folks, you can't fix stupid, and you can't win a rational argument with a cult member. All this talk about Trump losing support is only among independent voters. His base remains a steady 38% of the United States. A 98 million-strong cult. Nothing that happens to them will change their opinion. Thanks for writing this for the rest of us anyway.
Exactly! Even though there were fewer schools, fewer citizens going to school, people actually read and discussed with their neighbors a lot of issues to keep informed, weigh them out, and voted on them. Unlike today just scrolling on the phone…
What do these brain dead people think their Senators and Representatives are for? I assume they can read and write and vote? Why feed horse that can’t or won’t carry you to where you need to go? They have to see when the Repugs are in the Whitehouse every thing they use to get when it was a Bastard Democrat in the White House, it goes away. The wonderful leader they voted for cuts it off! It must be hard being a cult member. And stupid to boot!
To disaffected Trump supporters: you don't have to become a Democrat, just stop voting the this asshole or his cadre of assholes in the party. It's that simple. It always has been. Otherwise, you reap what you sow. (And this shitshow is the only thing you'll be sowing and reaping by the time he's done decimating your way of life.)
A number of roads in my area are part of the Adopt-A-Highway program. They're usually sponsored by civic and church groups. I saw one recently whose sponsor is the President Trump Fan Club. On what planet is that normal?
The utterly amazing thing about his numbers in rural America is that they didn't learn anything from Trump 1.0. Did they really think that just because they were conned into voting for him he would treat them any differently from all the other "suckers and losers" he has conned before?
So true. Those outside of the tribe aren’t surprised. But the question is who, what group, are educating these voters on the alternative? Maybe it’s happening; Democrats are going into these areas and stating what they have to offer. If this is happening I simply haven’t heard of it. Not covered by the main news media. Action!! Democrats-make it news! Be specific! City by city! Community by community. A one off coverage doesn’t make the point. International coverage is important, most of which way too much air time is given. Go to the MAGA base. Not those that agree with you. Interview and educate the MAGA base. We need their vote. Midterm’s are coming up. That’s what is important.
You're using political logic. There is and probably always will be a large faction of Maga that has nothing to do with politics or logic and everything to do with a cult of personality. Consider Jim Jones or the Branch Davidians.
One question for those wishing to see Democracy continue is what group or what Republican will step forward and create a new Republican Party. The current one is too corrupt to save. Rotten to the core. Yes Action can be taken.
THIS! This is what we have to do! I’m tired ok knocking on doors in urban areas, I’m thinking about driving out to rural farms and chatting. Ad soon as it stops being so bitterly cold and snowing!
Thank you for highlighting the ways that many of us vote against our own self interests. I've heard pundits claim repeatedly that people do not vote against themselves, but here we are.
Politicians don’t represent voters. They gaslight voters then deliver to their donors and rich friends. Both parties. Stop voting for parties. Get your friends and family on the ballots at independents and get rid of theses corrupt politicians.
Yet I don't think they can acknowledge his betrayal of them. They continue the delusional thinking that it may be something they aren't doing right for the Orange Master. Certainly I hear of their Pastors teaching from the pulpit they simply must have more faith and believe the Master will eventually deliver on his promises. So they are being pleasing to all the folks in their circle to squint their eyes hoping to see what is just not there. Losing their faith in their church leaders and ultimately the Orange God they've created, is close to impossible for them to come to grips with. So they will continue their worship straight into bankruptcy, starvation, death to those they love. But hey, Bible god and Orange God will surely come through at some point. The total false impression is sickening.
Regarding delusional thinking. Confirmational bias is a really, really heavy lift to alter, especially people who are just trying to survive their daily lives.
Below is compliments of AI but sums it up nicely. Note the word "anchoring".
Cognitive bias is a systematic error in thinking where people interpret information irrationally, acting as mental shortcuts (heuristics) that help the brain process information quickly but often lead to distorted perceptions, skewed judgments, and illogical decisions, like favoring information that confirms existing beliefs (confirmation bias) or relying too heavily on the first piece of data (anchoring). These biases stem from limited attention, emotions, and the brain's need for efficiency, affecting various aspects of life from social behavior to financial choices.
Dems continue to commit political suicide. They have left the rural voters completely, not offering a way out and through their hardships. Farmers and their neighbors are a tough bunch, rugged individuals. Even though they are trapped in a cult of personality and lies doesn't mean it isn't worth making an effort to reach out to them. How hard could it be for Dems to be putting up billboards all over rural America saying, "Tariffs are killing your farms, your healthcare, your way of life. Trump and the Republican party did this to you." Put that in the local gazette, the local news, social media they belong to. You don't need congressional power to do this; it lays the groundwork. And to the hardcore believers, nothing will change their minds but those on the fence are gettable.
Gawd! Let us hope and pray that more, a lot more, people come awake within the next few months and realize ... everything Trump does, the loyalty only flows one way! Get ready to VOTE!
Trump liked the red rural voters because they did not live where he did. Since they did not see evidence of his corruption or read about it in their local newspapers, they were more gullible and believed his lies and promises. Yeah, many people warned them. However, if you have ever moved from a blue state to a rural red state, you know from experience how deep some of those cultural prejudices run. It does not matter how much you present evidence to back your arguments, most of them will not believe their anointed "political hero" is the devil until they experience great suffering.
Then they choose death don’t they. It’s their choice. You can show a person how to fish to feed their belly, but if they don’t want to learn where to go, when to go and what bait to use they starve. Again it’s their choice. I am sorry, you can’t fix stupid.
Wow - who woulda thought…? (Of yeah - a whole bunch of us warned this would happen, but they voted for him anyway….)
Life’s rough for the rural folks. In 2024, they just knew that those of us who warned them about this orange moron were dead wrong.
Now, as a result of their wisdom their world looks like this:
>Fewer births
>Accelerated mortality
>Financial difficulties
>Business failures
>Loss of health insurance
Sooo…, don’t look for sympathy from me, you got exactly what you voted for.
We will clean up the mess that you created.
Signed,
America
Oh well too bad so sad!
Great article. Unfortunately, none of this matters to rural voters. Did you watch the 60 Minutes piece on farmers losing everything under Trump? Some talked about neighbors who had committed suicide because their farms were going bankrupt due to tariffs. At the end of the segment, they were all asked if they still supported Trump, and it was a unanimous "Yes, absolutely. We know he is a smart man and has our best interests in mind." Well folks, you can't fix stupid, and you can't win a rational argument with a cult member. All this talk about Trump losing support is only among independent voters. His base remains a steady 38% of the United States. A 98 million-strong cult. Nothing that happens to them will change their opinion. Thanks for writing this for the rest of us anyway.
The Founding Fathers suspected there’d be a Trump someday, but they failed to see “we the people” as too stupid to see it.
Exactly! Even though there were fewer schools, fewer citizens going to school, people actually read and discussed with their neighbors a lot of issues to keep informed, weigh them out, and voted on them. Unlike today just scrolling on the phone…
What do these brain dead people think their Senators and Representatives are for? I assume they can read and write and vote? Why feed horse that can’t or won’t carry you to where you need to go? They have to see when the Repugs are in the Whitehouse every thing they use to get when it was a Bastard Democrat in the White House, it goes away. The wonderful leader they voted for cuts it off! It must be hard being a cult member. And stupid to boot!
To disaffected Trump supporters: you don't have to become a Democrat, just stop voting the this asshole or his cadre of assholes in the party. It's that simple. It always has been. Otherwise, you reap what you sow. (And this shitshow is the only thing you'll be sowing and reaping by the time he's done decimating your way of life.)
Excellent point! I will put that in my pitch!
They’re brainwashed though. They believe his lies and propaganda instead of their own eyes and wallets.
Yes. It's 100% a cult.
A number of roads in my area are part of the Adopt-A-Highway program. They're usually sponsored by civic and church groups. I saw one recently whose sponsor is the President Trump Fan Club. On what planet is that normal?
The utterly amazing thing about his numbers in rural America is that they didn't learn anything from Trump 1.0. Did they really think that just because they were conned into voting for him he would treat them any differently from all the other "suckers and losers" he has conned before?
So true. Those outside of the tribe aren’t surprised. But the question is who, what group, are educating these voters on the alternative? Maybe it’s happening; Democrats are going into these areas and stating what they have to offer. If this is happening I simply haven’t heard of it. Not covered by the main news media. Action!! Democrats-make it news! Be specific! City by city! Community by community. A one off coverage doesn’t make the point. International coverage is important, most of which way too much air time is given. Go to the MAGA base. Not those that agree with you. Interview and educate the MAGA base. We need their vote. Midterm’s are coming up. That’s what is important.
You're using political logic. There is and probably always will be a large faction of Maga that has nothing to do with politics or logic and everything to do with a cult of personality. Consider Jim Jones or the Branch Davidians.
One question for those wishing to see Democracy continue is what group or what Republican will step forward and create a new Republican Party. The current one is too corrupt to save. Rotten to the core. Yes Action can be taken.
THIS! This is what we have to do! I’m tired ok knocking on doors in urban areas, I’m thinking about driving out to rural farms and chatting. Ad soon as it stops being so bitterly cold and snowing!
Thank you for highlighting the ways that many of us vote against our own self interests. I've heard pundits claim repeatedly that people do not vote against themselves, but here we are.
Typical uncaring action of the orange menace.
Politicians don’t represent voters. They gaslight voters then deliver to their donors and rich friends. Both parties. Stop voting for parties. Get your friends and family on the ballots at independents and get rid of theses corrupt politicians.
Yet I don't think they can acknowledge his betrayal of them. They continue the delusional thinking that it may be something they aren't doing right for the Orange Master. Certainly I hear of their Pastors teaching from the pulpit they simply must have more faith and believe the Master will eventually deliver on his promises. So they are being pleasing to all the folks in their circle to squint their eyes hoping to see what is just not there. Losing their faith in their church leaders and ultimately the Orange God they've created, is close to impossible for them to come to grips with. So they will continue their worship straight into bankruptcy, starvation, death to those they love. But hey, Bible god and Orange God will surely come through at some point. The total false impression is sickening.
Regarding delusional thinking. Confirmational bias is a really, really heavy lift to alter, especially people who are just trying to survive their daily lives.
Below is compliments of AI but sums it up nicely. Note the word "anchoring".
Cognitive bias is a systematic error in thinking where people interpret information irrationally, acting as mental shortcuts (heuristics) that help the brain process information quickly but often lead to distorted perceptions, skewed judgments, and illogical decisions, like favoring information that confirms existing beliefs (confirmation bias) or relying too heavily on the first piece of data (anchoring). These biases stem from limited attention, emotions, and the brain's need for efficiency, affecting various aspects of life from social behavior to financial choices.
Dems continue to commit political suicide. They have left the rural voters completely, not offering a way out and through their hardships. Farmers and their neighbors are a tough bunch, rugged individuals. Even though they are trapped in a cult of personality and lies doesn't mean it isn't worth making an effort to reach out to them. How hard could it be for Dems to be putting up billboards all over rural America saying, "Tariffs are killing your farms, your healthcare, your way of life. Trump and the Republican party did this to you." Put that in the local gazette, the local news, social media they belong to. You don't need congressional power to do this; it lays the groundwork. And to the hardcore believers, nothing will change their minds but those on the fence are gettable.
Gawd! Let us hope and pray that more, a lot more, people come awake within the next few months and realize ... everything Trump does, the loyalty only flows one way! Get ready to VOTE!
Yup he vetoed the bill in Boebert’s do district to supply safe water……