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The MAGA Psychology of Trumpism [1]

['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']

Date: 2023-06-24

Fascism as an established national entity has many things in common with other fascist manifestations across the globe along with many differences which make it somewhat different from nation to nation.

Trump is treated by MAGAITES literally like a GOD.

The MAGA Building Blocks of Fascism Include:

1 — Patriarchy and a dependency on and attraction to authoritarian and dictatorial leaders.

and a dependency on and attraction to authoritarian and dictatorial leaders. 2 — Sexual repression and negation of sexuality by the schools, organized religion and parents helps set the stage for many of the listed tendencies later in life. I urge readers interested in understanding how and why fascism takes root in the masses to read The Mass Psychology of Fascism by Wilhelm Reich .

of sexuality by the schools, organized religion and parents helps set the stage for many of the listed tendencies later in life. I urge readers interested in understanding how and why fascism takes root in the masses to read . 3 — Misogyny. (see the section at the end of this article for details.)

(see the section at the end of this article for details.) 4 — Blindly following a supreme fuehrer/leader/dictator.

a supreme fuehrer/leader/dictator. 5 — A fear of freedom among many arising from an inability to think and act for themselves.

among many arising from an inability to think and act for themselves. 6 — Racism . a strong tendency for lower and middle class whites to adopt racial and white supremacist consciousness, attitudes and upper class political identification , and not a culture that conforms to their actual class interests and positions. In short, they have an inability to perceive their own class interests on any given issue.

a strong tendency for lower and middle class whites to , and not a culture that conforms to their actual class interests and positions. In short, they have an inability to perceive their own class interests on any given issue. 7 — Deep feelings of inferiority compensated for by a substitute power identification with authoritarian leaders and a need to feel superior to others less fortunate in society.

compensated for by a substitute power identification with authoritarian leaders and a need to feel superior to others less fortunate in society. 8 — Escapism . Characterized by a withdrawal from reality and entrance into a universe of lies, deceptions, fantasy, and conspiracy.

Characterized by a withdrawal from reality and entrance into a universe of lies, deceptions, fantasy, and conspiracy. 9 — Divisiveness and Hating the Other. Including homophobia, transphobia, immigrantaphobia, liberals and any other group that the fascists can think of.

Fascism may or may not develop in a particular nation, but the tendency is always there to devolve into it. That is because patriarchy and dictatorships have ruled most nations and dominated their cultural identifications throughout history and remains a dividing line between progress and reaction.

MAGA and Trump

If we take a look at Trump supporters, the die hard MAGAs meet many of the above 9 building blocks. I only recently fully appreciated a line from a 60s song cut by the Jefferson Airplane called “Somebody to Love.” It summed up the mood of an entire generation and was a call to rebellion and a sexual revolution. And started with:

“When the truth is found to be lies, and all the joy within you dies, Don’t you want somebody to love?” Jefferson Airplane

Trump was elevated by some MAGAs to God like levels.

MAGA is a fascist movement dedicated to preserving those very same lies. And in the 60s during the Vietnam War conditions were right to open the eyes of millions of Americans. The MAGA folks today are those that remained with their eyes closed.

The only way to shatter that movement is to find a way to expose the lies, like the 60s did, and open their eyes and make them look at reality. And reality isn’t a pretty picture.

This does not mean this should be on our immediate agenda. Taking down Trump is probably the best strategy at the moment to open some eyes. But what the MAGA movement led by the fascists in our own government demonstrate is the ever present danger of another fascist leader replacing Trump.

Centrism or Progressivism?

It is hopeful that after gaining sufficient control of the Congress and Presidency in 2024 that progressives in the party will be able to pressure and encourage the Democratic leadership to take a bold path to resolve America’s persistent internal problems and also address climate at a level it deserves, and not see a return to the “do as little as possible” centrist model. If the leadership fails to realize the consequences of past leadership modes, a return to fascism is very possible if not inevitable.

The riddle of creating an effective and healthy 50 state movement must be solved if America is to survive and overcome the many obstacles we face.

All Fascist Roads can be Traced Back to Patriarchy and Misogyny

Misogyny is the flip side of patriarchy. And is likely as old as homo sapiens itself. It is believed by some, myself among that group, that misogyny as practiced by male dominance (not male leadership but dominance) along with slavery over conquered men set the entire stage for how civilization would later develop, which is by dictatorship, exploitation and compulsion, not cooperation, and remains true to this very day.

Next to be banned?

If you doubt this, examine the Republican fascist agenda, and examine the extreme misogyny that is being practiced. Women have been specifically targeted to be returned to “traditional roles” as submissive servants to male whims and desires.

Is Birth Control Next?

One of the very first steps of this goal by the stacked Supreme Court was striking down national reproductive rights to safe abortion access for women. The Court decided based on an extremist religious position even though they were careful not to use the word, assuming that legally and functional human life exists from the moment of fertilization.

Furthermore, this a position that a soul is implanted by god at the moment of conception, meriting this legal protection and making it the same as a born child. Next may be birth control methods if the Republicans gain control again of government. Forbidding that would also be a very backward religious position.

Misogyny is sometimes left out when describing fascism, but it is a key element, along with patriarchal tendencies, in the quick sand in most nations that can give rise to MAGA type movements.

Recommended Reading: The Mass Psychology of Fascism by Wilhelm Reich

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/6/24/2177030/-The-MAGA-Psychology-of-Trumpism

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