This is how it happens
Picture it: Germany, 1932. Hitler gives a rousing speech about nationalism, rebuilding the crushed economy, putting people back to work, and, oh, it's the Jews' fault that things are in such a state. While running for office, Hitler privately told nervous parliament members that his rants about Jews were just to get the crowd riled up. He reassured them that he wasn't the mass-murdering bigot that he turned out to be. He lost the election, but was appointed as chancellor in 1933.
Now, I know what you're thinking... well, pretty sure, anyway. You're thinking this is going to be another half-assed comparison to Donald Trump, right? And if you voted for the guy, you'll think I'm brainwashed (and possibly stop reading here). And if you didn't vote for the guy, you'll start getting that uncomfortable feeling of dread by holding the images of these two men in your mind at the same time. Well, rest assured, Trumpite, I'm not saying your man is the equivalent of Hitler -- few world leaders have come close to his level of evil. No, Trump is no Hitler. But if you don't see the parallels between his campaign and that of a hopeful Austrian in 1932, then you're not looking closely enough.
How many times through our lives have we learned about WWII Germany and said, "How could that happen? How could a population be whipped into a xenophobic frenzy so easily?" Wonder no more. I don't. What I witnessed was a man rising to power on the crest of just about every negative emotion you can name, and now he's the leader of the United States of America. He's impulsive, hateful, arrogant, and narcissistic. This is a dangerous combination, even without the armed forces and nuclear arsenal at his disposal.
I'm not being alarmist, and believe it or not, I'm not brainwashed. I started noticing this parallel before it was mentioned in the media. The Germans of 1932 were living in a horrible depression after getting devastated in WWI. They needed money. They needed jobs. And most of all, they needed a scapegoat. They needed something to burn in effigy. They had to find someone other than themselves to blame; it's just human nature.
Trump appealed mostly to the under-educated and the under-paid. You don't have to ask yourself why; it's clear. People tend to be under-educated for one of two reasons: no money or no interest. It's the latter that is the most dangerous. Education of every kind is about one thing: details. The more educated one becomes, the more detailed the knowledge becomes -- the more granular. So, the majority of Trump's base is people who don't like to be bothered by details; it's too much work -- and frankly, too confusing. Simple answers are always the best, because you can grab that mental handle and carry around in a single box. It's learning details that increases the load and makes decisions even more demanding. Hitler had the same appeal, as do all autocrats who vie for votes. They appeal emotionally.
I won't address Trump's opponent very much, because the case against her was quite weak, made loud by blind anger and the joy of joining the loudest dogs on the block. She was not a strong candidate, but she was much less likely to set the world on fire.
The Trump supporters, like so many zealots through history, have a dark romance with apocalyptic thoughts. Since the rise of the Tea Party, it's become vogue to burn it all down and start over again (or as Trump put it, "Drain the swamp"). Here again, we're faced with the tactics of a dictator: Throw over the old regime and insert our own golden-hearted minions. The problem is, of course, that this typically turns out more corrupt than what it replaced. Trump's disdain for the media is another common dictatorial tactic. Crashing the airplane to have an excuse to build a new one might sound like a reasonable idea, until another moment of thought reminds us that all the passengers will die in the process. Then it's suddenly a terrible idea.
Will Trump's presidency end with a World War, as Hitler's did? No, probably not. At least, I hope not. It will likely end with tons of scandal that will continue to unwind long after he is gone. He could be impeached before the end of his first term, if any integrity remains in Congress.
Another thing to notice: For many years, I've heard pseudo-mystics and terribly religious people point to the psychopaths who surrounded Hitler's command as some kind of otherworldly intervention -- as if the Devil himself had constructed the Third Reich. Take very close notice Trump's inner circle. It taught me another important historical lesson: Those people aren't mystical insertions into our reality; they're always there, just on the edges, like vermin, waiting to get in. They glom onto like-minded people and travel in dangerous little packs. Sometimes, when emboldened, these packs grow.
Trump has emboldened those in the packs. That can't be denied. The KKK endorsed him and he still got elected. That is huge. That is something that should have caused every potential voter to catch their breath and rethink this guy. Originally, the KKK was formed as a reaction to immigrants -- so expect to hear more from them in the mainstream. And if any Trumpite has made it all the way to the end of this screed, congratulations. There is hope you will eventually understand what you have done. I sincerely hope the lesson won't be harsh one for us all.
Now, I know what you're thinking... well, pretty sure, anyway. You're thinking this is going to be another half-assed comparison to Donald Trump, right? And if you voted for the guy, you'll think I'm brainwashed (and possibly stop reading here). And if you didn't vote for the guy, you'll start getting that uncomfortable feeling of dread by holding the images of these two men in your mind at the same time. Well, rest assured, Trumpite, I'm not saying your man is the equivalent of Hitler -- few world leaders have come close to his level of evil. No, Trump is no Hitler. But if you don't see the parallels between his campaign and that of a hopeful Austrian in 1932, then you're not looking closely enough.
How many times through our lives have we learned about WWII Germany and said, "How could that happen? How could a population be whipped into a xenophobic frenzy so easily?" Wonder no more. I don't. What I witnessed was a man rising to power on the crest of just about every negative emotion you can name, and now he's the leader of the United States of America. He's impulsive, hateful, arrogant, and narcissistic. This is a dangerous combination, even without the armed forces and nuclear arsenal at his disposal.
I'm not being alarmist, and believe it or not, I'm not brainwashed. I started noticing this parallel before it was mentioned in the media. The Germans of 1932 were living in a horrible depression after getting devastated in WWI. They needed money. They needed jobs. And most of all, they needed a scapegoat. They needed something to burn in effigy. They had to find someone other than themselves to blame; it's just human nature.
Trump appealed mostly to the under-educated and the under-paid. You don't have to ask yourself why; it's clear. People tend to be under-educated for one of two reasons: no money or no interest. It's the latter that is the most dangerous. Education of every kind is about one thing: details. The more educated one becomes, the more detailed the knowledge becomes -- the more granular. So, the majority of Trump's base is people who don't like to be bothered by details; it's too much work -- and frankly, too confusing. Simple answers are always the best, because you can grab that mental handle and carry around in a single box. It's learning details that increases the load and makes decisions even more demanding. Hitler had the same appeal, as do all autocrats who vie for votes. They appeal emotionally.
I won't address Trump's opponent very much, because the case against her was quite weak, made loud by blind anger and the joy of joining the loudest dogs on the block. She was not a strong candidate, but she was much less likely to set the world on fire.
The Trump supporters, like so many zealots through history, have a dark romance with apocalyptic thoughts. Since the rise of the Tea Party, it's become vogue to burn it all down and start over again (or as Trump put it, "Drain the swamp"). Here again, we're faced with the tactics of a dictator: Throw over the old regime and insert our own golden-hearted minions. The problem is, of course, that this typically turns out more corrupt than what it replaced. Trump's disdain for the media is another common dictatorial tactic. Crashing the airplane to have an excuse to build a new one might sound like a reasonable idea, until another moment of thought reminds us that all the passengers will die in the process. Then it's suddenly a terrible idea.
Will Trump's presidency end with a World War, as Hitler's did? No, probably not. At least, I hope not. It will likely end with tons of scandal that will continue to unwind long after he is gone. He could be impeached before the end of his first term, if any integrity remains in Congress.
Another thing to notice: For many years, I've heard pseudo-mystics and terribly religious people point to the psychopaths who surrounded Hitler's command as some kind of otherworldly intervention -- as if the Devil himself had constructed the Third Reich. Take very close notice Trump's inner circle. It taught me another important historical lesson: Those people aren't mystical insertions into our reality; they're always there, just on the edges, like vermin, waiting to get in. They glom onto like-minded people and travel in dangerous little packs. Sometimes, when emboldened, these packs grow.
Trump has emboldened those in the packs. That can't be denied. The KKK endorsed him and he still got elected. That is huge. That is something that should have caused every potential voter to catch their breath and rethink this guy. Originally, the KKK was formed as a reaction to immigrants -- so expect to hear more from them in the mainstream. And if any Trumpite has made it all the way to the end of this screed, congratulations. There is hope you will eventually understand what you have done. I sincerely hope the lesson won't be harsh one for us all.
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