Deplorables

Their willingness to jeopardize everything in exchange for settling a score of some perceived injustice against them. (because everything is about them)

It’s obvious that for most Trump voters he‘s a reflection of themselves. His narcissism, his entitlement, his resentment, his intransigence, and the juvenile way in which he conveys all of that. These human traits which are typically reviled, for a Trump voter are his assets because in him they see themselves and they get a kick out of imposing themselves on the rest of the world, regardless of the consequences to themselves or anyone else. In other words, it’s not just that they have no compunction pulling the lever for a supremely unqualified and undeserving con man, it’s the fact that this is precisely WHY they pulled the lever in the first place. History and future be damned. Like some pre-pubescent way at getting back at everyone else who dares to try to make the world a better place.

That. The satisfaction they obviously get out of burning it all to the ground. The glee with which they’re perfectly willing to set a match to something that millions of people died building and protecting. The ease with which they’re willing to betray their fellow citizens without a shred of self-reflection and then turn around and question the patriotism of others. That’s what gets to me.

My 2-year old behaves this way sometimes. The only difference is I expect he will grow out of it one day and develop some emotional maturity, something which I have no hope for when it comes to an adult-in-size-only wearing a MAGA hat.

These sentiments of mine extend to the juror in Manafort’s trial who graced our news feeds last week. I don’t care that she wanted to convict on all 18 counts. Fairly and reasonably delivering justice is the bare minimum of what’s expected out of a jury. You don’t get a participation trophy for simply showing up and doing what you’re supposed to do. As Chris Rock might say, “What do you want, a cookie?!”

This is also why I have no patience for people like Arlie Russell Hochschild, J.D. Vance and Emily Calandrelli who always try to sell us on this nonsense that we should be more compassionate and understanding towards these intolerant people. Why? Because they’ve had it hard.