Things is messed up. Them [immigrants, people of color, religious minorities] is takin’ my [job, housing, government benefits] using MY tax dollars. And the Democrats want to make it easier for [“those people”] to vote so they can increase their own benefits at MY expense.
Now those socialists want the power to stick a needle into my arm without my permission and threaten to take away my job if I object!
I’m mad as hell, and I ain’t gonna’ take it any more!
Addiction to anger
Anger/resentment is addictive. It is actually the most common of all addictions. Everyone is vulnerable to it.
Brain imaging studies show that harboring a grievance (a perceived wrong or injustice, real or imagined) activates the same neural reward circuitry as narcotics.
James Kimmel, Jr.
Anger often combines with other addictions. Those with substance abuse disorders often also have repressed anger. Also, after treatment, those with high levels of anger are more likely to relapse.
Anger/resentment actually feels good in a perverse sort of way. It provides an emotional release and it allows a person to be selfish. Thinking only about oneself can be childishly comforting.
Political manipulation
Because of its emotional power, anger/resentment is a very strong motivator of behavior. Demagogic politicians like to use this power to manipulate and control people. It is much easier to inflame passions and cause outrage than it is to present logical and compelling policy ideas.
Because people are lazy, taking the low road builds stronger political loyalties than does civil discussion and rational debate. Rational, fact-based policy discussion has no place on Fox News or at a Trump rally. The focus is to stir up strong emotions.
The politics of grievance is the deliberate inflaming of grievances, and the stoking of vindictiveness, for the sole, cynical, purpose of generating donations and motivating voters.
Of course, promoting lies, creating distrust, and stirring up violence do not lend themselves to effective, open, democratic government. But demagogues are not interested in good government. They are only interested in raw power and the financial gain it can bring them.
These demagogues are literally “rabble-rousers.” They work constantly to stir up the “rabble.” Anger, resentment, and grievance short circuit the logical, rational brain. They make people responsive to satisfying lies and prone to reactionary violence. They become putty in the hands of the demagogue.
Grievance can easily lead to a desire for revenge and retaliation. Those who feel they have been wronged often seek retribution. This, of course, results in vigilante actions and mob violence – which we have already seen too much of.
Republican complicity
Unfortunately, the American Republican Party has bought completely into this form of politics. They still support the former president’s Big Lie about the 2020 election, they tried to prevent Congress from investigating the events of January 6th, and they are trying to block President Biden’s popular agenda with lies, false labels, and scare tactics.
Yet there are still many good-hearted, naïve, Latter-day Saints who listen to Fox News and vote for these evil, manipulative, liars.
Too many Latter-day Saints have allowed themselves to become caught up in Satan’s trap of resentment, anger, and grievance. Continuing to follow this path into despair, or into violence, will lead a person to destruction. If more people don’t turn away from this path soon, it will also lead to the the destruction of America.
More people need to become savvy about how, why, and for whose benefit they are being made to feel aggrieved and must decide to stop dealing in the drug of their own destruction.
James Kimmel, Jr.
Sources
Howard Beale (movie character), “I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it any more!” Network (1976 film), Wikiquote.
James Kimmel, Jr. “Opinion/ What the Science of Addiction Tells Us About Trump,” Politico, December 12, 2020.
hughwill, “Trump, Followers – ADDICTED to Resentment,” The Daily KOS, December 13, 2020.
Steven Webster, “Angry Americans: How political rage helps campaigns but hurts democracy,” The Conversation, September 10, 2020.
“Anger and Addiction,” Fort Behavorial Health, April 8, 2020.
Stephen Stosny, PhD., “The Most Common Addiction: Anger/Resentment,” Psychology Today, January 24, 2020.
Another well thought out and written news article.
Sadly it is easier for a person to hang on to anger than accept the truth.
The damage Donald Trump has not only done to the Republican party but the nation as well I fear will have repercussions for decades.
I see this anger every day in public on of coarse being spewed out by political pundits, not real journalist the public willingly feeds on.
I viewed conference with renewed intensity this time. I still see so no evidence the Church is willing to confront Trump fascism. We are in for a rough ride the next 3 years.
“Yet there are still many good-hearted, naïve, Latter-day Saints who still listen to Fox News and vote for these evil, manipulative, liars.”
And why is this? Because the Church doesn’t understand the Trump threat. And also because the Church really likes Trump’s ideology. So, Brian, they don’t like us!