About the 1/3 of Americans who aren't paying attention

[Cyrano]

It seems to have become accepted that 1/3 of Americans love hatred and favor fascism, 1/3 of Americans hate the haters and favor democracy, and 1/3 have their minds elsewhere.

It seems there's no "cure" for that 1/3 of haters. And those 1/3 of us who oppose them can't seem to find a way to defeat them.

But then there's that 1/3 who are busy doing or thinking about something else. Can they be reached? Can they be made to see the danger to the country, their freedoms and their very lives? I really don't know. Nor do I blame them. After all, some are intentionally ignoring things they believe they can't control, some are involved with their own lives and don't even know that a threat exists, some are unable to handle more than is already on their plates, and some just don't care one way or the other.

As much as I wish we could get most of that other 1/3 involved, I really don't believe it can happen. Human nature is what it is and, short of personal calamity, most of them can't or won't pay attention to the world that exists beyond their personal lives.

So here's today's reality. The 1/3 of us who believe in freedom are in a virtual "war" with that 1/3 who believe in, or have been taken in by, those who believe in fascism. And at this moment, it seems that we're pretty far behind in this undeclared "war." Yet, it's one that we can't afford to lose. We've seen what happens when fascists are in control. And no sane person wants to exist in that kind of hell.

And if that hell comes about, that 1/3 of "others" will be clueless as to what happened. I suppose all we can do is pity them.

[Victor_c3]

1. I would say that the 1/3 that are unreachable are only unreachable for a period of time

For about 10 years I would have been considered unreachable. Dealing with young kids, a career, and a failing marriage all took priority over pausing even for a moment to consider the big picture in politics.

Similarly, the nazis were able to run death camps during the WWII because most Germans were busy worrying about what was going on with their loved ones fighting in the war.

[Irish_Dem]

2. Studies by US military right after WWII show the German people knew about the death camps.

The US Army Branch of Psychological Warfare did extensive interviewing of the German people immediately after end of WWII.

The German people clearly knew about the existence and function of the camps.

The people who lived near the camps had first hand information about what was happening. The crematoriums put out smoke with flakes of human skin, which covered the nearby towns and people walking around.

Also, burying the bodies had been an issue as the towns ran out of space to dispose of the bodes. The local Germans certainly would have been aware of how land was being used in their area.

Interestingly, the German people blamed Hitler, the Nazis, the SS. The research concluded that even knowing about the murder of millions of Jews in horrific conditions did not persuade the unpolitical to become political and intervene.

That said, I do think that exposure to facts can change some minds.

Prior to Churchill taking office, the Brits were leaning towards appeasement. But with Churchill's superb leadership, he educated them about what a Hitler victory would mean. Public opinion did change.

[Irish_Dem]

3. A good strategy might be to first work with the pro-democracy group

Last edited Mon Feb 14, 2022, 07:36 PM - Edit history (1)

and help them become more vocal and active. Develop a concrete plan to preserve our democracy.

That plan might include working with the indifferent/not politically oriented group.

Working with the pro Trump/Hilter/Putin crowd is probably not going to be productive.

Sometimes it is a tincture of time kind of thing. Things have to get quite bad for people to pay attention.


Edit to add: There will be some people in the pro-democracy group who still do not understand the real danger we face. Perhaps education will help them.

And/or Perhaps seeing Putin's behavior in Ukraine will open their eyes to his cruel, sociopathic, Machiavellian desire for power at any cost.

[Brainfodder]

4. Fools News and such have to change first?

[Xoan]

5. I hate to say it, but ...

the idiocrats are "winning".