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MAGA needs a new story. Dems need to find it. [1]

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Date: 2025-04-23

I recently read a diary post about MAGA hate and how it dominates the MAGA crowd. I think this posting was correct, in part. I do agree hate motivates MAGA personalities, but I don’t think this tells the whole story. These folk lack a degree of emotional intelligence. They also have low levels of creative ability.

In other words, part of why they can hate so much is they can’t isolate that feeling and see it for the destructive emotion it is. They also have difficulty using projection, skepticism or empathy (parts of the creative mind) to form ideas and feelings that lead them away from hate. These characteristics make them susceptible to victimization and cults.

The MAGAs are, as I see it anyway, unable to understand the effects of their emotions. They just feel things, that’s it. They don’t question the why of how they feel, or if it’s possible to feel differently and what that might mean. To do this, one needs to test different ideas, project into the future, ask difficult questions, and be empathetic. These are creative processes, and their lack prevents these folk from making up their own stories to guide their lives. They end up hating everyone who can project their own story, because those who can are inherently stronger than they are. This hate feeds on itself. It’s a dog chasing his tail.

Sometimes these types become victims of authoritarian personalities, whether in professional, personal, or public relationships. They can’t seem to recognize abuse for what it is. They can’t make up their own story so they grab onto someone else’s and hang on for dear life. They are the misguided, the brainwashed, the suck ups, the manipulated. Fascists love to use these people up then discard them like worn out, stinky socks.

In order to get these people out of their MAGA hate filled coma, one has to give them an alternative story they can adopt. It isn’t about convincing them they are wrong to hate, or that what they believe is lies (although it is). It’s about providing them with a new story that will drown out the hate. They can’t do this on their own. They need help.

There are many on the far right who won’t ever be turned. But there are some nearer the center who can be. Once they are steered into a story that provides a fuller emotional life, with possibilities for the future, they will begin to see their old feelings for what they really are, a dead end. People want and need hope and will change if they see a way to embrace it.

If the Democrats can’t find that way, and they’ve been floundering so far, it will be difficult, if not impossible , to convert people to their side. Who of the democratic leaders can provide the charisma, ideas, hope, and strength that will win over the young and old, the white and brown, and give the dissolute and hopeless a reason to go to the polls?

Although AOC and Bernie are on the right track in their ideas and energy, the one is too young and inexperienced, the other too old, to be the leader we need right now. The Democratic leaders in this country need to find someone with universal appeal, experience and courage to remake the party. Someone who is, in this moment in history, the one who can convince voters to embrace a new story. They need to do it now.

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