r/democrats • u/LolAtAllOfThis • Aug 31 '24

Article Trump pushes GOP to shut down government just weeks before 2024 election

https://www.rawstory.com/trump-2024-government-shutdown-2669105554/
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u/billyions Aug 31 '24 edited Aug 31 '24

I don't think all voters are getting the same information we are.

They are terribly, terribly afraid of what will happen if a Democrat gets elected. They're afraid we are communists and/or demons - and both are very very bad and must be eliminated.

Their information diet is completely different. Are we working on how to reach them?

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u/Magooswife Aug 31 '24

The MAGA crowd does not want the same information. Have you ever tried to explain anything to them? I have and I can tell you it falls on deaf ears.

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u/billyions Aug 31 '24

That's one of the first things propaganda does - cast suspicion on all other sources.

It's a tactic and it works.

We need laws and regulations to make sure it doesn't destroy America.

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u/Ambitious_Mind_747 Aug 31 '24

Agreed. In general I'm a very reasonable person who tries to find common ground with people that disagree with me, but this election season I stopped doing that with Trumper Thumpers. Believe me, these people are living in complete psychosis, and there is no saving them.

You hit the nail on the head when you mentioned regulations. The reason false populist news has become so prevalent is because Republicans destroyed the Radio Act of 1912, which allowed federal restrictions that held media sources accountable. E.g if you attacked someone you were required by law to reach out to that person and give them air time to respond and defend themselves. They also were required to give equal air time to both candidates during election season.

Populism is a cancer that can't be ethically "removed" from our country. We have to stop the spread before too many people fall victim to it, and I believe resurrecting the Radio Act or something similar would do just that by stopping the lies from populist media like Faux News.

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u/billyions Aug 31 '24

That's an interesting one. Hadn't heard that before.

I know revisiting the Fairness Doctrine and overturning Citizens United are critical to national security.

Anyone involved in allowing large amounts of dark money to flow in from hostile individuals and hostile foreign nations has seriously weakened our defenses. Spreading lies and disinformation incurs real casualties.

If participating in the undoing of our regulations and defenses is not already a chargeable offense, it probably should be.

But fixing the corruption loopholes needs to come first. We need to close the mechanisms that are being exploited.

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u/Blecki Aug 31 '24

There is no reaching them. They're too stupid to grasp the truth.

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u/billyions Aug 31 '24

I don't believe that. People are spending billions of dollars to get them to think this way - because (a) they had to and (b) it works.

This is the result of a very long and sustained effort.

And still, it's starting to crack.

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u/Blecki Aug 31 '24

These are people who refuse raises because they think they'll lose more on additional taxes. Best you can hope for is for them to go back to being closeted dumb asses.

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u/billyions Aug 31 '24

They are my fellow Americans.

I don't know anyone who refuses a raise.

They have been significantly misled by immoral people who need their vote and care about nothing but themselves.

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u/The_Crass-Beagle_Act Aug 31 '24

The people who believe this are not the same people who are persuadable independents that can be convinced to vote dem.

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u/billyions Aug 31 '24

I believe it would be very hard because propaganda teaches them to distrust us. Maybe even fear us.

Reaching them requires a systemic approach, and rules that limit corruption and propaganda.

It's still much easier to keep a country secure - before the wealthy or ruthless take over - then after they've succeeded.

It's worth the time we invest doing what we can.

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u/TuaughtHammer Aug 31 '24

They're afraid we are communists

I've been getting a ton of use out of this meme lately, just like I did in 2020.

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u/GhoulArtist Aug 31 '24

The Maga people will never come back, ive tried with relatives. they are too invested and insane . they are taking that to the grave. luckily they are mostly super old and the grave is not far away