The apologists

Listening to Trump supporters arguing in his favor has been very enlightening to me. Yes, there are those incredibly low information voters that are extreme but it is not they who are the most fascinating. I am more interested in the apologists who turn themselves into pretzels by cherry picking what they like while ignoring his massive criminality, corruption and repugnant character. 

I have decided that their support strikes at the heart of their own unstated frustrations which then are somehow assuaged by someone who says and does the things they wouldn't dare to in polite company. He gives their deep seated prejudices a voice which wouldn't otherwise exist. 

This is how cults work as well in that people identify with a leader who they can place trust in especially when their lives are in disarray. Jim Jones couldn't have made people drink the Kool-aid without this fundamental human character flaw. 

When the history books write their chapter on Trumpism it will be a morality tale on how technological progress only exacerbated our ability to fall prey to carnival barkers and how it is in the end an incurable condition. 

The human need to find solace in a symbol plus belonging to a group which can even override our empathy and ability to think critically.