Final Posting

I wish I could be as optimistic as you. But let's accept your premise that the majority of Trumpers drank the Kool-aid because of fear rather than their inherent assholery. Fear of what, then? That black and brown people would have a voice in American society? That we would actually do something about climate change? That we would have universal health care? That we might create a society where billionaires and huge corporations don't run everything?

In other words, if fear of change makes you cheer for and vote for a piece of utter filth such as Trump, that means you're dumb AND an asshole. It's like setting fire to the restaurant because your soup is cold. It's like shooting yourself because you have a sore throat. 

And FWIW--your friend was wrong. Trump isn't all that good at creating fear--or at saying anything coherently for that matter. He rambles, blathers, uses crude, ridiculous hyperbole, and lies as a default setting. Even a third grader could tell that he's pitching bullshit. So if these people let Trump work them into a tizzy--well, there's something badly wired in their brains. Maybe, as you say, not strictly evil. Just irrational, stupid, and with the judgment of a tree stump.

I'm still worried. These people vote, after all.

I hear you, Kevin. And I'm completely open to the possibility that my reasoning is nothing more than a desperate effort to avoid complete despair. But a couple things:

1) I didn't say (nor do I believe) that "the majority" of Trumpers are just scared people. I wouldn't hazard a guess as to proportions.   

2) The fear he creates from his batshit-crazy comments may not be that effective on their own, but when they're repeated ad nauseum throughout the right wing echo chamber, I believe they have a significant effect.

3) Some people who have done well in this life have been convinced (not just by Trump, but by most politicians) that they've earned all their success, and they're afraid of losing it. Many of them don't (yet) recognize that at least part of their good fortune came at the expense of Black and brown people, immigrants, and others who weren't born on third base. Is this purposefully ignorant/selfish? Maybe. But I firmly believe there are a number of them that can - with our effort - come around. 

I live in Trump country. I'm a white, older, middle-class Catholic man who lives in Indiana. Most of my friends are Republicans. At least a couple have changed their minds about Trump after many nights sitting around the firepit drinking beer. Not saying it was solely my compelling, articulate arguments that turned them. (Where is my sarcasm emoji?) But I also believe that without somebody actually listening to their fears and talking to them like adults, nothing would have changed. 

 I don't believe we can change any minds by just writing them all off as stupid or evil (though some of them undoubtedly are). It's gonna take more work than that. And if the last election taught us anything, it's that there are too many of them to just dismiss and ignore. 

(Soapbox dismounted.)

Thanks for your kind words Matt.