Spot on. May I propose a hypothesis? Much of this red state behavior, ALEC manipulation is due to Alcoholism/addiction, the 'alcoholic personality'. I work with people in recovery and I see this greed, avarice, pure self-centeredness time and time again in newcomers. I was just like the ALEC people you describe when I was drinking (be…
Spot on. May I propose a hypothesis? Much of this red state behavior, ALEC manipulation is due to Alcoholism/addiction, the 'alcoholic personality'. I work with people in recovery and I see this greed, avarice, pure self-centeredness time and time again in newcomers. I was just like the ALEC people you describe when I was drinking (been sober for 11+ years, now and I work an active 12-Step program). Sadly, if they remain addicted to certain behaviors, thought processes, their political views remain very MAGA. Many are literally addicted to and brain-washed by Fox News. They shoot guns; firing a semi-automatic weapon is addictive - it produces a brain chemistry rush quite similar to sex. I can't tell you how many people I know who get drunk and shoot guns! In 2019, the NIH reported 25.8 percent of Americans admitted to binge drinking - that's 85,000,000 people - who admitted it! We know that alcoholism and drug addiction exploded during the pandemic. Years ago, I remember boozy Chamber of Commerce 'train rides to Washington' from NJ on which we all got the politicians we were courting hammered and convinced them to support our agendas.... the beat goes on.
Alcohol is a depressant and kills brain cells. When combined with "gun sex" these consequences alone may explain the numbness and dumbness of many in the R Party. However, the failure to embrace and expand a Liberal Arts educational experience to all Americans at an affordable price, including paying teachers and professors with salaries commensurate with their educational attainment and societal contribution has also negatively impacted the idea of a skeptical and informed citizenry. Along with undermining unions and living wage jobs these reactionary "remedies" also began in earnest with Reagan:
Well the newly ultra MAGA owner of Twitter just tweeted that progressive professors are the root of all evil. The war on “woke” learning (also called social studies/ liberal arts) is real. It’s a very different world when teachers helping students to expand their world view are considered the enemy. In many totalitarian regimes, professors are some of the first to be rounded up. Moreover, who gets to define progressive? It’s definitely a scary time for education. Like with the medical world & journalism, there are powerful forces who are dead set on erasing a liberal or progressive point of view.
Exactly. And now “radical” Black, Queer, feminist studies are the new root of all evil. Why? because they piss off conservative white people when they see their kids eyes & hearts open to the struggles of oppressed groups & start to understand that solidarity is actually a useful value. Conservatives do not want to grow & they do not want to be held to account, in any way, for the continued oppression of marginalized groups.
Alcohol reduces inhibition, so a wide range of impulsive and unwise behaviors occur. Also, there are "mean drunks," period. I get an inkling that the particular brand of alcoholic you are commonly encountering may be associated with a certain geographic milieu? Out here in California we're more likely to be extra sweet, make that $1,000 donation to FSTV for Thom, wander the beach by moonlight and the barflies may be real friends. They know how to forgive each other for being stupid now and then, struggling to forgive themselves. "Avarice and pure self-centeredness" wouldn't make my list at all. My narcissist abusers were always stone sober.
I got sober at a rehab and meetings in Southern California; I did not meet any active alcoholics who were beach wanderers and mellow. In fact, just the opposite. I did meet an old surfer dude who had many years of sobriety who always shared, 'Don't let anyone block the sunlight of the Spirit, man.' I thought he was a nut (I was from 'Jersey and thought I was so smart). Then, I realized... he was right!
Spot on. May I propose a hypothesis? Much of this red state behavior, ALEC manipulation is due to Alcoholism/addiction, the 'alcoholic personality'. I work with people in recovery and I see this greed, avarice, pure self-centeredness time and time again in newcomers. I was just like the ALEC people you describe when I was drinking (been sober for 11+ years, now and I work an active 12-Step program). Sadly, if they remain addicted to certain behaviors, thought processes, their political views remain very MAGA. Many are literally addicted to and brain-washed by Fox News. They shoot guns; firing a semi-automatic weapon is addictive - it produces a brain chemistry rush quite similar to sex. I can't tell you how many people I know who get drunk and shoot guns! In 2019, the NIH reported 25.8 percent of Americans admitted to binge drinking - that's 85,000,000 people - who admitted it! We know that alcoholism and drug addiction exploded during the pandemic. Years ago, I remember boozy Chamber of Commerce 'train rides to Washington' from NJ on which we all got the politicians we were courting hammered and convinced them to support our agendas.... the beat goes on.
Alcohol is a depressant and kills brain cells. When combined with "gun sex" these consequences alone may explain the numbness and dumbness of many in the R Party. However, the failure to embrace and expand a Liberal Arts educational experience to all Americans at an affordable price, including paying teachers and professors with salaries commensurate with their educational attainment and societal contribution has also negatively impacted the idea of a skeptical and informed citizenry. Along with undermining unions and living wage jobs these reactionary "remedies" also began in earnest with Reagan:
https://theintercept.com/2022/08/25/student-loans-debt-reagan/
https://www.npr.org/transcripts/788002965
Well the newly ultra MAGA owner of Twitter just tweeted that progressive professors are the root of all evil. The war on “woke” learning (also called social studies/ liberal arts) is real. It’s a very different world when teachers helping students to expand their world view are considered the enemy. In many totalitarian regimes, professors are some of the first to be rounded up. Moreover, who gets to define progressive? It’s definitely a scary time for education. Like with the medical world & journalism, there are powerful forces who are dead set on erasing a liberal or progressive point of view.
God forbid a citizen might be suspect about a single Trump lie, let alone 30k of them.
Not to be forgotten, the "eternal" stereotype of higher education being associated with conniving, devious, dangerous Jews.
Exactly. And now “radical” Black, Queer, feminist studies are the new root of all evil. Why? because they piss off conservative white people when they see their kids eyes & hearts open to the struggles of oppressed groups & start to understand that solidarity is actually a useful value. Conservatives do not want to grow & they do not want to be held to account, in any way, for the continued oppression of marginalized groups.
there may be only One race
but to 'conservatives'
the Human Race
ain't it.
.
let us Hope
the Progenies of
Regressives and Repressives
REBEL and remove those Shackles
of Dominionism Patriarchy and Racism
keeping humanity from reaching its Zenith
.
which
Hopefully
is NOT Warfare.
no two ways about it
good Elites gotta be
Fascist elites then
they get a Pass.
Good point. Trump doesn’t drink. He’s just nuts.
It’s called narcissism
Alcohol reduces inhibition, so a wide range of impulsive and unwise behaviors occur. Also, there are "mean drunks," period. I get an inkling that the particular brand of alcoholic you are commonly encountering may be associated with a certain geographic milieu? Out here in California we're more likely to be extra sweet, make that $1,000 donation to FSTV for Thom, wander the beach by moonlight and the barflies may be real friends. They know how to forgive each other for being stupid now and then, struggling to forgive themselves. "Avarice and pure self-centeredness" wouldn't make my list at all. My narcissist abusers were always stone sober.
I got sober at a rehab and meetings in Southern California; I did not meet any active alcoholics who were beach wanderers and mellow. In fact, just the opposite. I did meet an old surfer dude who had many years of sobriety who always shared, 'Don't let anyone block the sunlight of the Spirit, man.' I thought he was a nut (I was from 'Jersey and thought I was so smart). Then, I realized... he was right!
p.s. Re: donation to FSTV: sometimes you can get disinhibited so as to do something GOOD!
I am replying to myself - incorrect statistic. The NIH survey was done amongst adults but still, the number is high.