Political Theatre category archive
The Guru and the Groupies 0
At Psychology Today Blogs, Steve Taylor explores the “abdication syndrome,” which refers to persons’ choosing to abdicate their autonomy to a charismatic leader or guru. He suggests that it can help understand the fanatic devotion of Donald Trump’s base, even as his behavior demonstrates repeatedly that he doesn’t have a clue about how government, politics, or international relations (let alone integrity or morality) work. Here’s a bit; the rest is worth a look:
Facebook Frolics (Updated) 0
Lies about the wildfires in the West are spreading on Facebook like, you will pardon the expression, wildfire.
We are a society of stupid.
And gullible.
Addendum:
Will Bunch is distressed by the Americans’ gullibility quotient. Here’s a snippet from his column:
Aside:
I trained as an historian. I know that societies can go nuts.
But I’m most distressed to witness my own society doing so.
I am not sanguine.
Feeding on Frenzy 0
The Arizona Republic’s Laurie Roberts find herself in a state of skepticism regarding Donald Trump’s claim that he downplayed the virulence of the coronavirus because he did not want to cause a panic. (Follow the link for her list of for-instances of Trump’s frequent frenzied fomenting of frenzy.)
(snip)
Trump’s entire political career is built on sending people into a frenzy, if not a full-blown panic . . . .
Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Tony Norman offers his own interpretations of Trump’s motives for misrepresenting the mortal nature of the menace.
Trump’s Health Couldn’t Care Less, Mailing It In Dept. 0
A veteran from Iowa reports on how Donald Trump and Postmaster General DeJoy’s sabotage of the United States Post Office is affecting him directly. Here’s a bit from his article; there’s much more at the link.
To treat it, I receive a 30-day supply of Plaquenil, which I receive through the mail from the Veterans Affairs Department. Like millions of other people, I rely on the mail for my medicines to be delivered on time.
But recently, new delays in postal delivery mean my 30-day supply of Plaquenil is taking two weeks to reach me. As a result, I’ve been forced to ration my medicine while I wait for my refills to arrive a full week later than they used to.
Dismayed 0
At the Bangor Daily News, Jim Fabiano is nonplussed. Here’s the end of his article:
Follow the link to see what he said in reaching his conclusion.
The Disinformation Superhighway, It Might As Well Be True Dept. 0
Shannon Gillies documents a deception.
Promises, Promises 0
Nicholas Kristoff takes inventory.
Misdirection Play, If You Think Anti-Fascists Are the Enemy, What Does That Say about You? Dept. 0
At the Bangor Daily News, journalism professor Joseph Hayden looks at the (right-wing) hysterics about “antifa” and concludes that it is a barrel of balderdash, a bucket of batherskate, a freight-load of fantasy, designed to derail the discourse. Here’s a snippet; follow the link for the evidence.
