My suggestions:
A party of the plutocracy which would not win any elections without exploiting social differences and dog-whistle racism. The system of primaries and the gerrymandering of congressional districts has allowed a minority of a minority to control who gets to run for public office.
A media subculture that amplifies those grievances — Fox News and its wannabe imitators.
Movement conservatism, an infrastructure of think tanks, journals, etc. which is now over fifty years old, with plenty of money (Koch brothers, Sheldon Adelson, etc), which exerts constant pressure on the elites and provides lucrative backup employment for out-of-office conservative politicians.
A outrage machine which favors engagement of any type, but which rewards anger and outrageousness above all. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9ofYEfewNE
In the final analysis, I can’t answer your question: I really don’t understand how we have gotten to this point, and I don’t understand how many politicians can look in the mirror every day.
—Barry
On 7 Jan 2021, at 17:00, Jochen Fromm wrote:
I must say the images from CNN which we receive here in Europe are a bit disturbing. The mob that stormed the heart of American democracy felt like anarchy, like a fallback in barbaric ancient times - the time of Barbarians vs Romans or even the stone age. It is like Neanderthals found a way to use a time machine to travel into the 21st century: one guy was dressed in fur pelts and was holding a wooden stick like a wizard from Lord of the Rings, and one half-naked guy was wearing furs and horns (the one known as "Q shaman"). Long-haired bearded guys have been looting stuff like cavemen - in the center of Washington D.C.!https://graphics.reuters.com/USA-ELECTION/PROTESTS/qmyvmqewmvr/How is this possible in the oldest democracy of the world? -J.- .... . -..-. . -. -.. -..-. .. ... -..-. .... . .-. .
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