Chaos, Shared Irrationality, Fear: Explaining Why Supporters Still Cling To Trump- Despite Failures

[nuxvomica]

12. I think it all boils down to fear of responsibility

The article describes the mechanisms at play but I think they all point to one gnawing problem: Trump lets his followers off the hook because they are still children emotionally yet with all the powers of adulthood. Man, what a place to be! I can make money, own things, drive vehicles but I don't have to be responsible for shit. That's what's behind the so-called "politics of personal responsibility" that has been the hallmark of American conservatism. All those people I'm supposed to worry about have to show "personal responsibility" because I don't want to take care of them.They just want to take my money and my stuff, and stop me from doing anything I want to do. These are overage children, people of stunted maturity who never accepted the call to become the hero of their own lives because that would demand caring about their neighbors, the poor, the infirm, the victims of injustice, the very planet they live on. Press them hard enough and they don't see the light, they just demonize those whom adult, mature, fully finished humans feel the instinctive need to protect.