Trying to break through to a maga? Don't bother, just vote

[ColoradoHoosier]

“It is useless to attempt to reason a man out of a thing he was never reasoned into.” ― Jonathan Swift

Follow me, if you will, on this thought experiment. Admittedly it's at the far end of the spectrum, but the premise stands.
You are born to parents who believe, with close to 100% certainty, that the earth is flat.
It's talked about at the kitchen table, and at family get-togethers, and as they tuck you into bed.
From kindergarten on, you are homeschooled or attend private schools that teach, as a core principle, flat earth theology.
You go to summer camps that adhere to flat earth doctrines, and you and your fellow canoeists marvel at how obviously flat the lake is.
As you grow older, you associate only with 'flat earthers', only peruse 'flat earther' websites and blogs, read 'flat earther' books, and watch mostly 'flat earther' TV programs.
The question: Based on this background environment, what are the odds that when someone comes along, citing objective and empirical evidence of a spherical earth, that you will accept their argument?
It's going to be very, very slim, close to zero. You will still believe, with almost 100% certainty, that the earth is flat, and all these scientists and experts are wrong.
So here's the point of all this.
Millions of people, 40% of the Republican Party, have been sucked into the maga/fascist/theocratic movement in much the same way, or to a certain degree, as my hypothetical 'flat earther'. They exist in an ideological silo that is practically impenetrable to outside influence.
And, unlike the earthers, their crackpot notions have the potential to bring down the Republic.
So how do those of us who adhere to objective reality, and a patriotic duty, deal with that threat? What appeal can be made to these folks - many of them friends and family - to bring them back to the realm of reason?
The answer is none. No appeal will work. You're wasting your time if you try.
As implied in the Swift quote above, few are reasoned out of a cultish environment by an external force. Those doors are locked and bolted from the inside.
In fact, the more one tries to force that door open, the more convinced they are that their ideology is sound. It's a key component of the brainwashing conditioning: "Nefarious forces will try to fool you into abandoning the 'Truth' of our doctrines, so be on the alert!"
What about making sport of, or shaming them out of their stupor?
Nope. It might be fun, but it doesn't work either.
It's perceived as persecution. And persecution is the ultimate vindication of their beliefs, in their preconditioned victimhood minds.
So, what's the solution?
You vote, and convince others to vote. There are far more of us than there are of them.
You keep them sidelined, away from power.
Vote as if your life, and millions of other lives, depend upon it.
Because, in reality, that might just be the case.

[yardwork]

1. Excellent quote by Jonathan Swift. Good post!

[marble falls]

2. Bingo!!!!

[cachukis]

3. Well explained.

[MyMission]

4. I agree. And many of them are mentally ill

Seriously
The bulk of them have personality disorders (warped reasoning), a cult mentality (easily brainwashed), lower levels of education (lack critical thinking). I've observed this first hand. Greed is also a factor for many who admit tfg is "potentially dangerous" but they have assets, and do better financially with his tax structures.

I have 3 people I'm close with here in NC who are red voters, and we avoid talking about politics. They aren't magats (one is close), but they display the traits I mentioned above. They know I believe tfg is evil, wants to be a dictator, is controlled and influenced by big money and foreign interests, is too old to be effective, among other "faults". They know they won't convince me, and I know I won't convince them.

2 were ready to vote for Kennedy, and I was happy they wouldn't be voting for tfg. But when rfk endorsed tfg it made them consider voting for tfg again! There are a number of candidates on the ballot here in NC, and I will encourage them to pick someone other than tfg, since they can't bring themselves to vote for Kamala. They know I voted for her on the first day of early voting! The tfg supporter was complaining to me several months ago that his vote will be cancelled by his wife's vote, and actually suggested one vote per household! I laughed, said that was ridiculous and unfair!

They also know that I think they are being brainwashed by the stuff they get from magat sources. I reply to some texts from them with some version of "Where do you get this crap?!?" Or I send them something that counters what they sent. It's rare for them to send stuff to me, but there are times. Sometimes they get bombarded with propaganda and fake news and need to share it with me, rub it in my face. I give it back, or ignore it.

When the pet eating craze was circulating, one sent me a bunch of weird reports about people killing pigeons and eating them somewhere else, like Florida. She's a vegetarian and an animal lover. I replied where'd you get this crap? Her reply was Facebook posts and reports from people there. I said if they're killing and eating them it's no big deal, its for food at least not sacrificing them in weird rituals. At which point she talked about people stealing her chickens to perform rituals many years ago. I asserted if this is for food, what's the big deal. Lot's of isolated weird shit happens all the time, this is not a plot or a thing, and to stop spreading it around. I hear people are catching fish and eating them! Spread that around!

The tfg supporter doesn't send me stuff. It's the 2 on the fence who sometimes share the crazy crap that they're being influenced by. Maybe they send it to me so i can dispute it!
I think of them as misguided and not that bright, not college educated, friends with good hearts, and some mental health issues. One even admits he drank the coolaid! And they all admit to having documented mental health problems!

“It is useless to attempt to reason a man out of a thing he was never reasoned into.” ― Jonathan Swift