A topic that I believe that has become commonly referenced in today's mainstream media is the recognition that the Republican Party has become a cult.

[Greenman]

So after the Jews targeted California with their space lasers they turned on Maui?

None of them mention Jews. I actually haven't seen any anti-Semitic posts at all, and very little overt racism. It's like they're a better class of crazy.

 

[fskimospy]

None of them mention Jews. I actually haven't seen any anti-Semitic posts at all, and very little overt racism. It's like they're a better class of crazy.

Well that’s good I guess. Odd that they would think people would use a laser to start a fire instead of just…starting a fire.

 

[nickqt]

Well that’s good I guess. Odd that they would think people would use a laser to start a fire instead of just…starting a fire.

The great part of believing in conspiracy theories is you get to ascribe to some mysterious force shit that everyone else can see with their own eyes. Climate change scientists have been warning about for 50+ years? Nope. US Government weather control HAARP, and Jewish Space Lasers.

Bonus points for when the conspiracy theorists also believe theories that allow them to escape accountability and responsibility for their own actions. Think the dumb mother fuckers who've been voting Republican for the past 40 years who also believe a secret cabal of rich "deep state" people are ruining the country and their lives.

Personal responsibility about voting in the cabal of rich fucks ruining their lives: successfully shirked. For you see, it was Bernie Sanders and various communists and socialists funneling all of the money...to the richest people on the planet.

 

[Moonbeam]

Why: From the link:

“[They] provide meaning, purpose and belonging,” says Josh Hart, a professor of psychology at Union College who studies personality and social psychology, world views and belief systems. “They offer a clear, confident vision [and] assert the superiority of the group.”

As to the leaders themselves, they typically present themselves as infallible, confident and grandiose. Their charisma draws people in, Hart says. And followers who are craving peace, belonging and security might gain a sense of those things as well as confidence through participation in the group."

So, if so, why do people want meaning, purpose, and belonging. What other reason can there be then that they actually have no sense of meaning purpose and feel deeply alone in their misery. And how could someone get that way. Do monkeys have a reason to have fun. We don't need any of that crap if it were not for the fact that somewhere along the line we were made to feel that need and how would you get to feel that way unless you were somehow excommunicated from Monkeydon or the Garden of Eden, or lost paradise somewhere? Again there is no answer that I can see more obvious than that we were made to feel unworthy of such a place, that we were put down and punished for making any claim to it via the naivete of being a child.

And what then of the attachment to a cult figure, the all mighty confident ego, the master of being sick without self awareness, remorse, or empathy? Again, this is the Stockholm syndrome replacing the worship of one abuser for a new model who promises you a the opportunity to bathe in his narcissistic reflection. By your worship you subsume his greatness.

 

[SMOGZINN]

I think there is a difference between the right, republicans, and magas.

It does not matter because they all caucus together, and that means their policy is a compromise between them.

Let me demonstrate.

So there is 4 people living in a house. One day someone rips open a bag of Cheetos in the living room, and orange dust covers the carpet!
Now the 4 people have a debate about what to do about it.
MAGA's solution is to burn the whole house down.
Republican solution is to just burn the living room down.
Right's solution is to just set fire to the carpet.
Left's solution is to get out the vacuum and clean it up.

Then they all debate what to do, and eventually vote on the solution to take.
Can you see why their differences are not really that important?

 

[HomerJS]

It does not matter because they all caucus together, and that means their policy is a compromise between them.

Let me demonstrate.

So there is 4 people living in a house. One day someone rips open a bag of Cheetos in the living room, and orange dust covers the carpet!
Now the 4 people have a debate about what to do about it.
MAGA's solution is to burn the whole house down.
Republican solution is to just burn the living room down.
Right's solution is to just set fire to the carpet.
Left's solution is to get out the vacuum and clean it up.

Then they all debate what to do, and eventually vote on the solution to take.
Can you see why their differences are not really that important?

And then the right complains about the left's excessive use of electricity.

 

[ivwshane]

It does not matter because they all caucus together, and that means their policy is a compromise between them.

Let me demonstrate.

So there is 4 people living in a house. One day someone rips open a bag of Cheetos in the living room, and orange dust covers the carpet!
Now the 4 people have a debate about what to do about it.
MAGA's solution is to burn the whole house down.
Republican solution is to just burn the living room down.
Right's solution is to just set fire to the carpet.
Left's solution is to get out the vacuum and clean it up.

Then they all debate what to do, and eventually vote on the solution to take.
Can you see why their differences are not really that important?

In the post you partially quoted I said as much. That doesn’t negate the fact that they aren’t all the same.

 

[Moonbeam]

In the post you partially quoted I said as much. That doesn’t negate the fact that they aren’t all the same.

I think the differences you listed for both parties are perceptive and valid. I would say also that each faction of each is a kind of cult. I think also that what is important to cults and one reason for any one cult to describe all the rest as being irrelevantly different is because of the desire to cast blame. "MY cult which isn't a cult but based on truth, is without blame whereas all other cults are full of horrible people who are entitled to being regarded as worthlessly all the same."

Your parsing of differences, in my opinion, provides information, I think, that would indicate that breaking cult allegiance, if possible, would or could imply that suitable means might differ depending on what lies at the root of the cult motivation. Is the cult there to protect against perceived financial threats, avoidance of regulations, to promote psychological religious safety,, there is only one true religion, etc.

Because cults are homes for people who fear knowing they feel inferior and that is the motive behind their cult membership, fearing cult behavior also winds up with cult like traits, condemnation of people who belong to any cult but the one that fears them. This is why fear is the mind killer.

I believe that the greatest threat to cult behavior is knowledge. Most important is self knowledge and that can be stimulated by other kinds of information. Blue collar fears replacement by anybody willing to work for less. Knowledge among blue collar workers that Republicans are the enemies of good wages would help break the hold of the lies Republicans sell them.. We see, for example, signs that unionism is on the mend. What a difference the light makes.

 

[ivwshane]

I think you are confusing cult with ideology.

While they may seem similar, I think an extremist would be a better descriptor of someone who is devoted to an ideology to a level that seems almost cult like.

I disagree that knowledge is the best way to tackle either one, that would mean humans are logical beings, we are not.

I’m not sure why people leave cults but I’ve seen it happen when something triggers them, sometimes it’s a trusted cult member, sometimes it’s introspection or they begin to question things inside the cult. But what those triggers are I have no idea.

I think the same can be said for ideological extremists as well. The difference being that cults typically have a structure in place to limit such triggers and have people or policies that reinforce the commitment to the cult. Other than religious ideology, there isn’t really a similar support structure for ideologies in general.

Adherence to both is bad imo and I would imagine that prevention is the best defense against both and training/teaching people how to use critical thinking and how to evaluate sources and claims would be part of that.

 

[dank69]

...
MAGA's solution is to burn the whole house down.
Republican solution is to just burn the living room down and pretend the rest of the house won't also burn down.
Right's solution is to just set fire to the carpet and pretend the rest of the house won't burn down.
Left's solution is to get out the vacuum and clean it up.

...

Tiny tweak for accuracy.