🧵 We live in dangerous times principally because rapacious oligarchs have weaponized ignorance for political gain.
John Stuart Mill nailed it more than 150 years ago that stupidity is inherently right wing.
For decades, Republicans have leveraged this fact to gain political power through manipulation of people who are uneducated and/or ignorant.
Now, they have re-birthed the "Satanic Panic" to gain votes in a very dangerous move...
In the latest episode of my podcast Theory of Change, my guests Julie Millican and Olivia Little discuss in great detail how the very highest levels of right-wing media feed QAnon lies about demons controlling Democrats and trans people to millions of people.
Telling ignorant and superstitious people that Satan is personally controlling trans people puts lives at risk.
But Republicans are desperate for votes as their hardcore base of White Evangelicals is dying off.
https://theoryofchange.flux.community/p/theory-of-change-082-julie-millican#details
Listen now (64 mins) | Rather than persuade new potential voters, reactionary elites decided to terrify their shrinking electorate
Every single day, people who watch Fox or Newsmax, or listen to talk radio are told that #trans people are demon possessed and that anyone who supports trans rights is a servant of Satan.
People who are trans know this, but it's vital that those who are not become aware of the vicious and evil smears being used against the trans community.
This is a small sample of what right wing media tells followers hundreds of times a day.
These lies about trans people, which mirror lies about antifascists, racial minorities, poor people, and non-Christians are carefully crafted by Republican political elites to appeal to a paranoid fundamentalist sensibility in which extremist Christians believe they are personally battling Satan and demons on a daily basis.
This is not an exaggeration. Millions upon millions of people believe this stuff, in the United States and other countries.
Much more here: https://theoryofchange.flux.community/p/theory-of-change-023-christopher-9c2#details
Listen now (63 mins) | Far-right Christians think they’re living in a Bible story, and that you are as well
@mattsheffield @Mary625
Mary, it's a human fault. People follow and agree with anything that gives them pleasure. They do not seek truth. Drugs, alcohol, love, religion, smoking .. to name a couple.
It crosses education boundaries and common sense. There is a point that with all of the truth and evidence people become so embarrassed that they refuse to admit they were duped!
I'd say "sheeple" but sheep are smarter!
Matthew Sheffield
PerryM ✅