This is why I can't take people seriously when they complain that liberals just need to reach out to conservatives.
We're living in the late stages of a 30 year assault on the very concept of truth which has created an entire conservative media and economy to shelter and radicalize the right in this and other western nations. It is a purposeful propaganda operation and the idea that it could be countered if liberals were less "smug" and "reached out" is nonsense.
These people have essentially figured out how to use money to hack political psychology and turn the country against itself. But, no, John Oliver and Steven Colbert are definitely the reason conservatives are so alienated...
How do you even begin to counter this shit? We're so late to recognizing the reach and efficacy of this campaign that it seems like we've already lost. So now we're just going to have propaganda pumped directly into every media market in the country in the guise of traditionally non-partisan local news.
Fuck.
There's an awful lot going on is the problem. You simply can't hope to bridge a gap without reaching out. But you are right, what we're dealing with is the effects of brainwashing that latches onto the same mental hooks as faith and fandom and peddled through all available primary avenues of communication.
It's not a question of whether liberals should be reaching out to conservatives, should be trying to not come across as smug elites, it's a question of even finding rational conservatives anymore in a sea of people whose entire mental faculties are locked into approaching politics like a cross between Pro Wrestling and American Football.
I think there is a true difference, but this is the fundamental challenge in all areas of life when dealing with groups of people who have a combined impact as a unit but who may range from violent extremists to open minded moderates, and the sad fact is that as long as moderates continue to align themselves with the extremists, they are willfully imparting them legitimacy through their inaction.
