We now live in a state of “malignant normality.” Lies, assertions, accusations, misinformation, and disinformation flow freely and routinely from the White House and from Fox News. They then get amplified by elected Republicans and through social media to a gullible public.
The coronavirus pandemic is highlighting the danger of this situation. A few days ago our ignorant, blowhard President mused aloud on television about injecting disinfectants into the human body. In less than a day calls to poison control spiked around the country. Years of being trained to believe nonsense has now lead people to literally drink poison on the word of their beloved leader.
I see the disinfectant, where it knocks it out in a minute. One minute. And is there a way we can do something like that, by injection inside or almost a cleaning? Because it gets in the lungs and it does a tremendous number on the lungs. So it would be interesting to check that.
Donald J. Trump, April 23, 2020
“Freedom” vs. life
Trump fans around the country are holding protest rallies to “open up” the country because they believe that smart, scientifically sound, medical advice somehow violates their constitutional right to behave carelessly and spread potential death.
Despite the fact that the majority of Americans support stay-at-home orders and are concerned about the danger of lifting restrictions too soon, conservative groups are now using the crisis as an opportunity to rally their base. They are actually politicizing a public health crisis. This is both cruel and outrageous.
The people who join these protests may actually be hurting. They may have lost their jobs or own small businesses that have had to close. But accusing their governors of deliberately damaging the economy is unwarranted. The governors, especially since Presidential leadership is missing, are trying to balance the needs of their states’ economies while facing the higher priority of public health.
It does no good, and could make the pandemic much worse, to complain about the scientific facts. Viruses do not respond to political pressure. Besides, aren’t these protesters the same people who have bunkers and food storage? They should just take their guns and go home.
Distorted and inverted
Malignant normality is the condition wherein people have “accommodated themselves to distorted processes and inverted purposes.” The Trump regime is replete with these distortions and inversions.
The Senate’s refusal to even consider Bills passed and sent over from the House is a distorted process. The Majority Leader announcing the result of the Impeachment Trial before it has even started is a distorted process. Allowing news briefings on a worldwide pandemic to turn into campaign events is a distorted process. Announcing policy by tweet is a distorted process.
Government is inverted when emergency pandemic relief funds go to large, wealthy corporations instead of to the people and small businesses that actually need the help. Government is inverted when it focuses on serving the ego of one narcissist rather than on serving the people as a whole.
Things are truly upside down when a Trump supporter holds up a sign that says, “My body, My choice.”
Resistance is mandatory
We should absolutely refuse to “accommodate” Trumpist/Republican distortions in our democratic processes or inversions of the purposes of government. The right of everyone to vote must be protected. Foreign interference in our elections must be blocked. The social safety net must be restored and strengthened. Health care must become a universal right. Climate change must be taken seriously and strong mitigation steps must be taken immediately.
The only hope to stop our country’s slide into chaos, is to put a Democrat into the White House and take the Senate away from Republican control (while keeping Democratic control of the House). That victory will not be enough, because Fox News will still be churning out its propaganda and Republicans will still control many of the states, but it is the minimum initial requirement necessary to slow the decay.
After a major Democratic victory in 2020, the real work to restore our democracy, rebuild our society, and save our planet must begin.
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
Romans 16:17-18
For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
Sources: James Hamblin, “Why It’s Important Not to Drink Bleach,” The Atlantic, April 24, 2020.
Aris Folley, “Calls to poison control centers spike after Trump disinfectant comment,” The Hill, April 26, 2020.
Matthew Brown, “The widespread protests to reopen the economy, explained,” Deseret News, April 21, 2020.
Marik von Rennenkampff, “Coronavirus lockdown protests expose a far deeper sickness,” The Hill, April 27, 2020.
Robert J. Lifton, The Climate Swerve: Reflections on Mind, Hope, and Survival, New Press, 2017. p. 67-70. (quoted in A Lot of People are Saying, p.62)
Russell Muirhead and Nancy L.Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying: The New Conspiricism and the Assault on Democracy, Princeton University Press, 2019.
Thomas E. Mann and Norman J. Ornstein, “Let’s just say it: The Republicans are the problem.” The Washington Post, April 27, 2012.
“…disinformation flow freely and routinely from the White House and from Fox News. They then get amplified by elected Republicans and through social media to a gullible public.”
And our Church = owned Deseret News passes this hogwash through without any negative comment about Trump. Explain.
I’ve often wondered why the DN will not call things out or why the Church sends so many mixed messages. The only conclusion I can come up with is if they did, so many would be offended and possibly quit and I guess there are more of them then of us.