The issue with the GOP
With the ousting of McCarty, I started thinking about the core issue with the GOP that has turned them into this mess.
Republicans, by nature, take a "trust myself before any authority" attitude. The government doesn't know more than them, scientists don't know more than them, and news media does not know more than them. Yet, most people need some kind of guidance in their lives, so they latch on to a church leader or a mostly-uncredentialed "alternative media" personality for such guidance. Democrats tend more to trust those who have more experience, experts, and professionals.
While there is something classically "American" about the "trust myself" attitude, it does not bode well for politics.
The end result is Republicans these days are led by the biggest loudmouths, why really have no expertise, education, or credentials for the offices/jobs they hold. Listen to them talk, on here, or elsewhere. They talk about what alternative media person they trust, they cite only alternative sources, and basically live in bubbles not trusting anyone outside that bubble - about anything. Anything outside the bubble is labeled "the swamp" "deep state" or "mainstream media" to the point they won't even look at it. Why? Because that is what their influencers are telling them.
Republicans, by nature, take a "trust myself before any authority" attitude. The government doesn't know more than them, scientists don't know more than them, and news media does not know more than them. Yet, most people need some kind of guidance in their lives, so they latch on to a church leader or a mostly-uncredentialed "alternative media" personality for such guidance. Democrats tend more to trust those who have more experience, experts, and professionals.
While there is something classically "American" about the "trust myself" attitude, it does not bode well for politics.
The end result is Republicans these days are led by the biggest loudmouths, why really have no expertise, education, or credentials for the offices/jobs they hold. Listen to them talk, on here, or elsewhere. They talk about what alternative media person they trust, they cite only alternative sources, and basically live in bubbles not trusting anyone outside that bubble - about anything. Anything outside the bubble is labeled "the swamp" "deep state" or "mainstream media" to the point they won't even look at it. Why? Because that is what their influencers are telling them.
46-50, M
