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Keith Wheelock's avatar

Lin I suggest passing the KoolAid to those of the 74 million American voters who haven’t realized that Trump is Jim Jones reincarnate (Guyana redux)They could even contribute to Trump’s legal fund before ‘passing.’

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JDinTX's avatar

They are gullible as well as stupid. And Lord, can it get worse if you’re not on the power/money continuum

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lin•'s avatar

The folks at Jonestown actually had guns to their heads. Today's Republicans could make better decisions. How do we get to that?

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Keith Wheelock's avatar

Lin From what I have read and seen, a few of Jim Jones' followers were coerced to sip KoolAid by his bully boys, but the great majority drank it dutifully like lemmings jumping over a cliff. Recently I read a poll in which 71% of Republicans still believe in the BIG LIE. That's a lot of lemmings on the Trumptanic, while the orchestra plays Nearer to God.

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Christy's avatar

Deprogramming, as Jeri has shared with us repeatedly, is difficult. Prevention of further spread of the propaganda would be essential, but social media makes that just as difficult.

From expert Dr. Bandy Lee: “Lee compared disabusing someone of the falsehoods in a Big Lie to treating regular delusions. One rule: Don't put them on the defensive.

"Confronting them, or presenting facts or evidence, never works," Lee told Salon. "You have to fix the underlying emotional vulnerability that led people to believing it in the first place. For populations, it is usually the pain of not having a place in the world, which socioeconomic inequality exacerbates. Deprivation of health care, education, an ability to make a living, and other avenues for dignity can make a population psychologically vulnerable to those who look to exploit them." https://www.salon.com/2022/02/03/the-psychological-reason-that-so-many-fall-for-the-big-lie/

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lin•'s avatar

Yes. In political training, I was taught arguing only pushes people to dig in deeper to their opinions. By arguing you actually get them to reinforce what you disagree with. Instead try to get them to articulate any one point you might be in agreement on and give them prompts and opportunity to expand on that point.

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Christy's avatar

We learn motivational interviewing in health. It’s similar. Challenging.

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Pat Cole's avatar

The populace that I live within has not and will not change except as generations come and go. They are good folk with a mind set that doesn’t care to have you alter their thinking.

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