It doesn't. It blames the out-of-touch neoliberal democrats who failed to address the material conditions that caused those people to become that way. They weren't born evil.
Fascism is capitalism is crisis, as it's always been.
We dumbed down education for decades and convinced people up was down, doctors were stupid, youtube is doing research, and that con men are kings. Some of us screamed this for decades. Others donned flag-bedazzled diapers. And here we are.
It's not intelligence. It's pure hate. Americans are hateful people, Just fundamentally racist sexist homophobic transphobic xenophobic etc. It's the American way. This isn't historical, if anything it's perfectly normal for the US.
I didn't, and I'm surprised you didn't either, as you were so on point about it in your Great Cities books. Most of this country is just a big Staten Island, only much worse.
This is what happened when you let a billionaire own Twitter. He turned Twitter into Fox News. I knew selling to him was a massive mistake. Elon is mentally ill.
Part of my deep shock is that *so many* are just… that fucking dumb? Like, a yawning abyss of ignorance too vast to comprehend, deep enough to hide from the truth of what a horrifying thing they just *chose*, they actually willingly *chose* it wtaf
There are two parts in this - please don't take this the wrong way but "smart enough to not vote for Fascists?" nah. It has nothing to do with smartness, but cruelty.
But "Smart enough not to vote for the guy wanting to ban chlorine in drinking water?" yes. I did think ppl were smarter.
Remember Jim Carvelle saying: "It's the economy, stupid." No truer words. That's how many millions of people vote. The price of eggs cost the election, now that is stupid.
I think its important not to conflate ignorance with malice. The majority of the country prefers hate and hierarchy over change and equality, and pretending like there has just been centuries of oppression because “We didn’t know better” is downplaying the oppression in a dangerous way
It's so important to give yourself time to mourn this moment. It's what will allow us to continue on and turn back towards the people deserving of that beautiful faith you so generously give.
Same boat here. So I’m devoting today to grieving, being terrified of what the future holds; tomorrow start figuring out how to be safe; keep my family safe and find a way to thrive. The last to spite all those who voted for that felon.
Smart is pretty vague, but one thing is for sure: the American education system failed to teach enough now-adults how to recognize false claims and impossible promises.
You're a smart person. You live in the US. You've undoubtedly read a bit of history. Had you not noticed how incredibly oblivious so many US residents are?
What a sad state this country is in. The educated do not care enough to vote to protect democracy. If education and funding are cut further, the issue will grow. I hope I am wrong, but I fear there is no return to normalcy after today.
This isn't about education. Some of the smartest folks I know didn't finish HS, and some of the stupidest have doctorates. But there's been a real failure of common fucking sense here.
Agreed! While education isn’t the whole story, it’s definitely part of it. There was a real lack of thought here—this election felt purely reactionary to me. I’m with you!
That's what's killing me, the evil bastards were baked in, we knew about them. We lost this one because of the dumb shits who thought Trump would be better on 'the economy' solely on the grounds that he's not a woman.
I know my history too well. It's really hard to stop something like this. It was our last exit, and way too many decided they want something different.
I’m right there with you. I feel stupid and foolish and naive to have hoped, to have want to believed we were better and we wanted better. It may be what hurts worst, at least right now. But as they tell you in therapy in toxic relationships, you can’t save others from themselves.
We shouldn't feel stupid for hoping. Hope is all we're going to have for awhile, let's not punish ourselves for it. 💙
And no, you can't save people from themselves, but we've got to figure out how to save ourselves from people that are too stupid to realize they're taking us all down with them.
I gave the people of this country too much credit, also. I knew it was dishearteningly full of those full of hate, disinformation, ignorance, etc.; but not quite to the full extent that it is.
Those who don’t get their faces eaten in the ethnic cleanse will find that the de facto state religion isn’t Catholicism, but some brand of Protestantism.
I have/had NO leaning to any Political side.
I'm dissapointed in America, as a Person.
A person who learned about Morals, Right and Wrong.
Kamala was obviously the best choice, but instead they went with the guy with FAR too much Darkness, then and now.
We, the bluesky ppl, are
We, the collective internet hive-mind, generally are
We, the world, have more bigots, boomers and millionaire-worshippers than you’d think
Just wait until the tariffs go up and insurance is privatized. they really think prices are going to go down? When have they ever gone down before except the pandemic? His voters are that stupid to think he had something to do with gas and prices going down when it was supply and demand. #idiocracy
Exactly this. Millions and millions of Americans are selfish, racist, and sexist. They don’t care how many people suffer and die if they think they’ll get cheaper gas out of the deal.
The American population exists in perpetual states of a melodramatic vortex with the sole purpose of providing a constant supply of source material to serve, and fuel, the ravenous appetite of its constantly regurgitating, expensive cheap entertainment industry.
I'm waiting for the inevitable doubling down too when companies see profits decline due to the tariffs and he starts criticising companies for making less money.
Well it won't be the loss of American consumers that hurt them, at least first. It'll be the trade wars he starts. Plenty of countries will respond with tariffs of their own, so we'll end up less competitive in the international market.
Yup. I know the EU already have a list of retaliatory tariffs ready to go if he goes through with his plan.
Speaking as a Brit, I know if I was currently looking to set up new supply chains I’d be thinking twice about sources in America right now given the likely volatility coming.
Honestly, it makes me feel naive and ashamed that I had faith in this country to show even a shred of human empathy. I guess it was childish to assume that good would win the day like in the stories I love.
We will drill more; deregulate polluters. Countries will point to us and say, “then why should we forgo short term competitive financial advantage for the climate” and temperatures will rise.
I still think we are smarter than this, but so many have been lied to for so long, and the media didn’t start covering how awful this is going to be until this morning.
Comments
(Love your work btw. I’ve been selfs-soothing with Octavia Butler and your books this election season.)
Fascism is capitalism is crisis, as it's always been.
"Its a big club, and you ain't in it."
https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/964648-but-there-s-a-reason-there-s-a-reason-there-s-a-reason
#women would save our #democracy 😢💔
There are two parts in this - please don't take this the wrong way but "smart enough to not vote for Fascists?" nah. It has nothing to do with smartness, but cruelty.
But "Smart enough not to vote for the guy wanting to ban chlorine in drinking water?" yes. I did think ppl were smarter.
International bomb threats
An oatmeal brained President refusing to take obviously necessary action
It's a lot of things
We knew you weren't.
I am so, so sad.
"A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky animals and you know it."
A combination of apathy (15 million fewer votes) and a radicalization of a limited but very vocal and demented segment of society.
The uneducated won and got what they wanted
Joy.
Maybe it really is the misogyny. "How could a w-w-woman look Putin in the eyes??"
HRC and Harris can clown putin, and also, it doesn't matter.
POTUS is backed by cruise missles and F-35s. Only trump is scared of putin.
https://terikanefield.com/why-i-am-setting-out-on-a-journey-and-inviting-you-along/
Realizing that literally half the country loves racism and ignorance more than they love their freedom.
It's hugely disappointing and all of my positivity and faith in my fellow man was not only misplaced, but downright naive.
I feel so stupid.
And no, you can't save people from themselves, but we've got to figure out how to save ourselves from people that are too stupid to realize they're taking us all down with them.
I sure as fuck don't feel hopeful today. I feel defeated.
I'm dissapointed in America, as a Person.
A person who learned about Morals, Right and Wrong.
Kamala was obviously the best choice, but instead they went with the guy with FAR too much Darkness, then and now.
We, the collective internet hive-mind, generally are
We, the world, have more bigots, boomers and millionaire-worshippers than you’d think
It's ignorance. Massive ignorance
The economy question was irrelevant and they'll just say "Trump" because he's the one that will let them live out their most violent fantasies.
I feel like a goddamn clown
But, nah, they won't.
Trump is doing a giant protection racket on all US business and consumers. "Nice int'l goods youre importing.. I'll need my share though".
Speaking as a Brit, I know if I was currently looking to set up new supply chains I’d be thinking twice about sources in America right now given the likely volatility coming.
Republicans have been chipping away at education for decades.
Our general populace is fooled terribly easily and anyone in the world can do it if they focus on it.
What will become of our survival on this planet.
Frightened, distracted, desperate for escapes, exhausted by the firehose of existential threats.. all of that at once could dumben just about anyone.