Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

ck4829

(34,976 posts)
Sun Nov 4, 2018, 06:21 AM Nov 2018

That "mental illness" that Republicans and the NRA blame shootings on is a byproduct of, well, them

They run on paranoia - They tell people to be afraid of the 'other' (Whether it's people of different colors, different religions, if they are immigrants, of different sexualities, etc.) or that everyone you don't like, and George Soros, are all connected in some nebulous conspiracy against you. They run on telling people that the 'other' is coming to take your money, your job, your life, etc.

They run on delusions other than just paranoia - They tell people that everything is fake, everything is a lie, everyone is out to get you, don't trust what you see, Trump and the Evangelicals are the greatest people ever. Trump is the only one in the whole world who can fix things. People aren't real, they're actors. Events aren't real, they're made up, false flags, fake news, etc. They either run on, promote, or just sit and nod while people like Alex Jones crank out bizarro conpsiracy theories.

They run on the deadly cocktail of anxiety and depression - They tell people things like "America's best days are behind it", that's there nothing to look forward to, that the past was the best time, the present sucks, and the future could only be great if it's some simulation of the past.

Picture the toxic person - Not the mentally ill person, but the person who says wanting help makes you weak, that men shouldn't show emotions like sadness, dismisses counselors and therapy as frauds, gets a mentally ill person a gun instead of thorazine, enables and excuses conspiracy theories instead of getting that person help, and more. Picture that person, now who do they vote for? Let's be honest.

Do Republicans cause mental illness? No. But they are definitely not treating it and they get in the way of treating it over and over.

7 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
That "mental illness" that Republicans and the NRA blame shootings on is a byproduct of, well, them (Original Post) ck4829 Nov 2018 OP
+1 Crutchez_CuiBono Nov 2018 #1
++Kick lunasun Nov 2018 #2
Agree, and thanks for writing this piece. KY_EnviroGuy Nov 2018 #3
Well said PatSeg Nov 2018 #4
True Oppaloopa Nov 2018 #5
Re: mental illness. I don't believe we should claim Trump is mentally ill elocs Nov 2018 #6
"They Get In The Way" DallasNE Nov 2018 #7

KY_EnviroGuy

(14,483 posts)
3. Agree, and thanks for writing this piece.
Sun Nov 4, 2018, 07:47 AM
Nov 2018

I can't think of any better definition of evil than those who feed the mentally susceptible with fear, lies and deceptions only to swing a few votes or just to make money off our citizens.

Mental deviance from society's "norm" takes on a million forms from genetics and environment. Shrewd politicians know exactly how to play these people, but don't care about consequences. For example, people can be born very high on the sexuality scale, while also having a degree of psychopathy - a toxic combination susceptible to many triggers for doing harm.

Right-wing dogma preached by Trump and their media (social, public and private) is loaded with triggers or dog-whistles that can push sensitive people over the edge. Subsequent to his campaign and election, Trump has amped-up this mechanism 100X.

Even I suffer from the consequences of their actions, as one who suffers from depression......

Oppaloopa

(862 posts)
5. True
Sun Nov 4, 2018, 08:57 AM
Nov 2018

Also some of them are hanging on by a thread but they are hanging on. The republican propaganda just pulls them right over the edge.

elocs

(22,474 posts)
6. Re: mental illness. I don't believe we should claim Trump is mentally ill
Sun Nov 4, 2018, 09:45 AM
Nov 2018

or has a personality disorder or delusional because having a disease gives him a pass on what he says, how he acts, the hate and evil he spreads.
I don't believe all Republicans are evil, but Trump is evil and to me that means it is how he has chosen to be.
Those who are mentally ill cannot wake up one morning and decide to choose to be a different person. We should have compassion and empathy for the mentally ill but can we say the same of Trump?

DallasNE

(7,392 posts)
7. "They Get In The Way"
Sun Nov 4, 2018, 10:47 AM
Nov 2018

That is the key passage. They obstruct at every turn. And it is the likes of Franklin Graham as much as Donald Trump as they all use the same playbook. They get around the message they peddle calling them alternative facts and a complicit media peddles a false equivalency message in their single focus on their prized horse race. Follow the money.

Additionally, we are faced with a giant cult so focus needs to be shifted from overly focusing on mental illness and think of Patty Hearst when addressing the circumstance.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»That "mental illness" tha...