Getting trapped in absurd delusions

In 1979, I saw a close, former work colleague on national TV. She was in Jonestown explaining how Jim Jones was chosen by God. Days later, on orders from the “prophet,” she killed herself. Authorities found 909 bodies.

In 1999, a student in my “Gang Prevention Program” showed me a Holocaust Denial website. “The Holocaust never happened,” he said. “All those pictures you showed me were fake.”

In 2019, a business friend told me that he had a Second Amendment Right to own nuclear weapons.

How do decent, intelligent people trap themselves into absurd delusions? Today, the question is: How did a majority of Republican voters trap themselves into absurd delusions? The causes are complex. I’ll suggest some historical explanations.

In 1964, Republican voters made a choice regarding the Civil Rights bill. They nominated Barry Goldwater for President … largely because he voted against the bill. Goldwater’s vote caused the South’s historic shift to the GOP.

In 1968, California Republican primary voters defeated their own incumbent GOP Senator Tom Kuchel because he voted for Civil Rights and Medicare bills.

In the 1990s, Newt Gingrich forced all Republican Congressmen to pay fines if they said the words “Democrat” or “liberal” and didn’t add emotional trigger words in front of them … including “sick,” “vicious,” “lying” and “corrupt”. Fox TV and Rush Limbaugh amplified Newt’s tactics.

Effective propaganda must also “demonize” the opponent. When Trump said, “Democrats don’t care if gang members are stabbing people” his cult followers believed it. That’s how absurd delusions take root.

— Dan Raner, Forest Ranch