Brian Klaas: Joe Biden and the Inversion of Reality

[Nevilledog]

https://www.forkingpaths.co/p/joe-biden-and-the-inversion-of-reality

I: Ignorance is not bliss

One of the problems with democracy is that people vote even if they are incredibly apathetic, ignorant, misinformed, or stupid. This isn’t an argument against democracy. Winston Churchill was right when he said that “democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.” But it is a problem with democracy nonetheless.

A recent poll, for example, showed that only 56 percent of voters said that Donald Trump was to blame for the loss of the constitutional right to abortion in the United States, whereas 17 percent blamed Joe Biden. A further 13 percent didn’t know.

There is an incredibly clear-cut answer to this question.

Before Trump’s presidency, Roe v. Wade was established precedent. Then, Trump appointed three justices who all wanted to overturn Roe v. Wade. Subsequently, they did so. Biden had nothing to do with it. Trump had everything to do with it. Trump even claims credit for it. And still, 30 percent of voters either blame Biden, or don’t know who to blame.

Many of them will vote.

Unfortunately the delusions extend beyond abortion rights, to the economy—one of the most decisive factors in any election. Those delusions cut against Joe Biden—and could decide a close election. And we need to understand where they come from.

*snip*

[Johnny2X2X]

1. Not sure we have an independent press anymore

Corporations own the press and influence it. And Trump has plants all over the media who answer to him, and not just in the conservative media.

Democrats are the only ones left who seem to think that we should have a free and independent media.

[erronis]

3. Thank dog for some independents. The Guardian, ProPublica, Al Jazeera, even the Beeb

I know that each of these have some limitations but they are providing willing US viewers/readers some good alternatives.

I'll always appreciate suggestions for other sources.

[TygrBright]

4. Exactly. Even the hand-wringing media navel-gazers are shy about owning up to who owns them. n/t

[maxsolomon]

2. Maddening.

A nation of flibberdigibbets voting based on delusions.

I wonder how much of it is actually at the feet of the MSM - most people don't consume any news sources beyond local TV, if that, and it barely has economic facts in it. Mostly weather, sports, and mayhem.

[erronis]

5. What I get from Klaas's excellent post is that the upper class/wealthy don't care.

Why should they care about appealing to the prole voters? They know that they will own the people who count the votes (I think this is a reference to Stalin.)

The disconnect between the filthy rich who are controlling the media and perhaps both parties, and the regular people who are supposed to vote and feel like they have a say in the outcome, is incredible.

And, if the disaffected don't get their way, then the next cycle can be purposefully ramped up for more anti-democracy efforts.