The U.S. will mark the anniversary of the January 6 insurrection on Saturday, a milestone that will confer upon the reality-dwelling citizenry a grim reminder of the potency of propaganda and how quickly it can warp perception when introduced into the public square.
Just three years ago, most of the country watched with dismay and horror as a violent MAGA mob beat back authorities and stormed the country’s citadel of democracy. The Donald Trump-incited crush of disillusioned rioters, fueled by a stream of fantastical lies, believed that the 2020 election had been stolen by sinister forces working to undermine the democratic election.
Of course, not only was their belief flatly incorrect, but evidence later emerged indicating that it was Trump who, in fact, had tried to subvert democracy.
Facts, however, have little bearing on the sentiment inside the Republican Party, which has been fed a steady diet of lies and half-truths by Fox News and the rest of the sprawling right-wing media machine. To wit, the false notion that Joe Biden nefariously stole the 2020 election is now widely shared inside the GOP. A CNN poll conducted over the summer found that nearly 70% of Republicans believe Biden’s win was not legitimate, a number that has continued to tick up.
This was by the far the most horrifying act of treason in world history. And as pointed out by USA TODAY, the ongoing belief that “the election was stolen” is by far the most false and destructive act that continues to poison our country. The article was written by the man Trump himself selected to investigate election fraud, and what he found was that not only did no substantial fraud occur, the little bit he did find was biparitisan, with as many republicans guilty of voting twice as democrats.
Charles Dickens warned in “A Christmas Carol” that the worst fate to befall mankind is Ignorance. And willful ignorance of the truth is a path to ultimate destruction and ruin of all of human society.
It was horrifying. It was treasonous.
But the most in all of world history? I dunno.
Ol’ Guido almost did something bigger than that.
I can’t think of another act so heinous, maybe some that come close. But what makes this one the worst is that it continues to spread poisonous lies throughout our world.
I’m pretty sure Hitler’s takeover of Germany was worse. You still have idiots marching in the streets today claiming to be NAZIs
Or the insurrection that actually managed to kill thousands of Americans, our Civil War.
This was horrific, but getting hyperbolic about it just feeds the right wing propaganda machines further.
I don’t disagree, but to me Hitler at least had a shred of vision. Trump just wants destruction for all of humanity. To me, trump is much worse in every way. And I not a fan of hitler at all. But I’d rather have Hitler as president, or Jeff Dahmer, instead of that sick mass of putried filth that calls itself trump.
I get the sense you’re a bit biased here lol. If you think any of these politicians at the top give a shit about you, you’re wrong.
Trump is just selfish (like most big politicians). You can’t have no vision and a vision for how to destroy mankind at the same time.
It’s a bit illogical to say you hate insurrectionists and people trying to alter society for their own benefit, and also say “id rather have Hitler as a president”.
Do you see the irony here?
Oh more than a bit biased, I’d say extremely so. I realize no politician gives a flying shit about me (why should they). But if I’m going to have a lord and master, I want one that I can predict and understand. I don’t have to love them (and I won’t). All politicians are selfish, all people are selfish.
Yes I see the irony totally, the point i’m making is that at least with Hitler, you know what you’re getting. It’s horrible and miserable, but you know what you’re getting. And of course I’m being more than little facetious to make a point about how awful trump truly is.
The dangerous thing about Hitler is at least in the beginning he was competent. Trump wasn’t - and so far hasn’t done anything to make me think he’s changed. The thing that has saved us from Trump was his sheer incompetence.
Fair enough, I see where you’re coming from. Id suggest though, that selfishness and greed are easy to predict - moreso than radicals whose country was backed into a corner of starvation and depression by the rest of the world.
“say what you like about Hitler, at least he had vision”
Damn, that’s a really silly thing to have said.
And absolutely accurate. The truth always sounds silly the first time you hear it.
The night of the long knives comes to mind.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_of_the_Long_Knives
Not by a long way, come on man.
I think 1861 was worse than 1/6.