Bingo Alisa. You sound like my abnormal psychology professor who was notoriously spot on with the why, how, and the where for. Thanks for the review and correlations.
Go along with the psyche evaluation but your diagnosis misses the clinical evidence.
I go for Gestalt therapy as well, with a side of Behaviorism. When you step back to regard the whole , you see a massive shift in human behavior SINGULAR TO THE USA. Nowhere else has this degree of psychosis attained such supremacy. Argue as you will, I haven’t seen it.
From inception, 2004, thru the Obama years, Facebook had become a revolution—and also the biggest dispensary of mis/dis-info, without a sole journalistic constraint. And also the haunt of trolls and bots to warp its influence over culture.
When did this all reach a peak?—when the mainstream media began quote from FB and worse: Twitter. It was as if anything that went viral was deemed worthy of prime time. Americans have the poorest impulse control on the planet, and when they learned they could be famous for being fantastical…Katy bar the door.
That’s how we could end up with a reality TV star president and daily briefing from…Qanon. Then, during the pandemic, psyops from St Petersburg aside, it went sideways. If it was bubbling over before—with crackpots all over FB spewing nonsense, but entertaining—during lockdown, everything online and in phone was amped up exponentially. (I, myself, who’d eschewed FB til then, dipped toe and was spending 6-8hrs per on it after 6 months. And I’ve got terrific sales resistance.)
An entire population of phone app abusers, REWARDED FOR ENGAGEMENT and RESPONDING TO NEGATIVE STIMULI, gleefully accepted the endorphins and programming.
Yes, a cult—absolutely. But also, very much, the first generation to be remade by an algorithm.
I think cptsd is also the reason so many Americans who are in the cult get angry when they see other people being given any sort of help or safety net or even a whisper of a chance at a level playing field. I think it triggers their rage from childhood all the things they were denied.
And likely they were also constantly told that this is tough love, for your own good, to toughen you up etc. So they have the same idea about help making poor people soft, lazy etc. it even seems like conservatives who struggle economically blame themselves to some degree ( when they aren't blaming immigrants, women, Woke Elites etc.)
I think you're right. They are so convinced that they are getting screwed cuz other people are getting help. It triggers this misplaced resentment arising from repressed rage, which they pile upon people they perceive as weaker. The oppressed becomes the oppressor!
Maybe instead of making up shit, you could try to understand people first, then only later denounce them as subhuman for not wanting to give the government more billions of our dollars.
Where did I denounce them as subhuman? Observations are based on angry MAGA family friends and neighbors, as I'm trying to understand their rage. Plus I've had many years of work in communities that had been abandoned due to corporate priorities, World markets, government policies etc. People find it too easy to pick on some minority rather than study real causes for their economic plight.
If you're concerned about people being dehumanized, talk a look at how immigrants, non- white people, women, LGBT people, disabled people & the list goes on are talked about. Yes some insults are thrown towards Trump devotees, but is anyone trying to round them up to be imprisoned or violently attacked, etc? Tax breaks will go to the rich, and we'll be paying for whatever the latest whim of a project that Trump, Elon, RFK et al come up with.
I advise you to learn Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) because it explains that "your tax dollars" don't pay for anything at the Federal level. This is a myth that is used by politicians to get the people angry at the way the government is spending and blame other people.
You can find it on YouTube on The Rogue Scholar, Macro'n Cheese, or MMT Mondays. Stephanie Kelton also has several great videos on YouTube about it.
Absolutely! One example: People who lost their minds when President Biden forgave student loans. The idea that some might suffer less financially enraged certain people (cough, Ben Shapiro) who’d paid theirs off.
Thank you Alisa for answering the question that I’ve been asking myself for so long now.
And thank you Leslie for helping me understand why people were so angry about the student loan forgiveness. I thought my daughter and I were extremely fortunate to have the funds to pay for the public college she attended. Why would we begrudge others an opportunity to have their loans forgiven? I was more angry that the courts kept stopping the student loan forgiveness. But, I’m always angry with the courts recently- especially the current Supreme Court, the most worthless of all courts in history (even worse than Judge Roy Bean’s).
So you you think that we .. as the American taxpayers .. that we should pay off the student loan debts? So you think that it’s okay to pay for a guy or gal who ran up hundreds of thousands of dollars in student loan debt .. and some of them ran up one million dollars in student loan debt … gee a million dollars could be their retirement savings…. and now then can’t pay if off and neither can the parents who co-signed for their child’s student loans which I find absolutely ridiculous… and you think that it’s okay for student loan debt to be forgiven???? Not all of those student loan debts were forgiven.. folks are still paying off their silly student loan debts … and they wonder why they can’t buy a house… I’ll tell you why it’s because of Debt.. and no one in their right mind needs to go to a fancy college or university.. a state school is just fine … and they need to work on campus …like my husband did.. and here’s a novel concept.. these young adults and their parents they need to take responsibility for themselves and their children… because their children should work in the summertime and save for college.. even if they mow a neighbors grass starting at the age of 14.. this is what we did.. and we bused tables and washed dishes and made beds at my family restaurant and motel and we saved the money that we made…. and my husband was taught to do the same thing… .. in fact he had a chicken business at the young age of 12 on his family’s farm…and he started saving money for college.
You All Definitely Need a Big Dose of Dave Ramsey’s podcast and listen to the students who call him up and tell him how much they have in student loan debt .. and Dave tells them who’s debt will be forgiven .. and whose student loan debts are Not Forgiven … because it was just all smoke and mirrors with Biden.. And then I blame Obama for telling everyone that they needed a college education.. degree… and he lied because Not every little Johnny or Susie needs a college degree.. most of them need to learn a trade that will pay them hundreds of thousands of dollars… trades schools are in right now because of AI .. AI will soon take over the kids jobs who thought they were smart to get a college degree…
Bill Gates has been warning the masses that in about 10 years there will be no jobs due to AI.. just look at China and their dark factories that employ no one .. no human being… they run on robotics… and robots.
Now go ask Alexa to play a Dave Ramsey podcast about student loans.. and you can also watch people do their Debt Free Screams.. I’m Debt Free.. and never take out student loans because the future of America isn’t going to be so bright…
Read the book Behind the Green Mask by Rosa Korie.. and listen to her interviews and speeches about the future of America.. especially the talk she gave in Denmark.. and share them with friends and family… and check out America 2050 Mega Regions and note the gray areas where no one will be living…. Folks will be living in 15 minute SMART Cities.. like Asheville and Myrtle Beach…. And C40.org cities.. like LA will be a C40.org city = No Cars.. No meat .. No dairy.. you’ll be eating lab grown meat and dairy… dietary restrictions… travel restrictions and clothing restrictions .. purchases …. And look at rural Georgia and all of their Data Centers that are being built…
And at least right now in Florida they are building a ARGI-Hood community and all of the houses will have gardens and Not lawns.. and there will be a farm there and the school will teach the children how to grow vegetables and herbs and be self sufficient and not be in debt…
All schools should be like the Gift Hill School in the USVI and all colleges should be like Warren Wilson College outside of Asheville NC .. my hometown.. WWC is a 1,000 acre farm where every student works every aspect of the farm and the students even designed and built an energy efficient dorm…and they even offer scholarships and a work program.. and they teach life skills .. how to be self sufficient and other curriculum…
It’s sad that young people were conned into believing Obama .. when he said that everyone needed a college education.. I ask where we’re the parents during all of this nonsense and why would you want your children to take on such heavy debt…
And now the future doesn’t look bright and Klaus has been reminding the masses that you will own nothing and be happy eating ze bugz and LA will be a car free city…
You all need to update your mindsets.. this is all part of Agenda 21.. Agenda 2030… The Great Reset and America 2050 Mega Regions.. Data Centers.. Digital currency and digital ID .. it will be like living in East Germany..
And add to your reading list Total Money Makerover by Dave Ramsey and buy his book to give to family and friends.. and stop with the student loan nonsense… I don’t want to pay for someone who hasn’t any common sense or critical thinking skills .. I don’t want to pay for your college or university or your silly student loan debt… I paid my way through culinary/ hotel motel management school.. and I grew up in the motel and restaurant that my grandmother built and she worked hard and saved her money and she didn’t need a loan or student debt.. there was no student loans way back when.. she was born in 1893.
Mental Note: Ya got to think differently now people.. student loans are not the way of the future..
Buy a plot of land with water.. since water will soon be a precious commodity… buy the land near a farming community and build yourself a handmade house.. think Noah Bradley.. and be your own utility company and grow your food and learn how to barter and trade… and be debt free. Be like the Amish.. like yesterday and read Joel Salatein Lunatic Farmer blog to understand the future of food.. we grow all of our food using the Verti-Gro.com method it’s a drip irrigation system that uses 85% less water.. and we use to grow 10 acres of food on one acre of land using this method and we sold our vegetables and herbs at farmers markets and we barter and traded for other goods and a Ford F-150 truck with low mileage. Good luck 👍
No … I’m am right on about what I wrote.. I’m telling you the truth and you just don’t care to listen to the Truth.. Facts..
you need to listen to Dave Ramsey and his thought about stupid student loans.. and Debt .. I’m sorry that you are so clueless and closed minded… but No One Owes You Anything ..and We the Taxpayers …we are not responsible for your stupidity of taking out loans for a useless college degree … especially for a degree in Basket Weaving or useless Gender Studies and DEI studies..
go ahead and keep saying that folks who think like I do.. go ahead and call us names because at least we have common sense and critical thinking skills and we know what is going to happen. And we would never go into debt for a useless college degree…
Dave says it best : and maybe you should open your mind to a new way of thinking…
Here’s Dave Ramsey’s answer:
Debt is Dumb CASH is King and the Paid Off mortgage takes the place of the new BMW as the new status symbol.. a paid off mortgage… a 15 year mortgage…
instead of buying a new BMW .. and eating out and ordering a $20.00 dollar burrito under a 4 month payment plan that turns out that your $20.00 dollar burrito costs you $70.00 and just think what you could save of buy (groceries) with the $70.00 dollars..believe me the elites are laughing all the way to the bank because of your lack of knowledge about money and your stupidity .. because you don’t know how to cook and you’re too lazy to learn to cook.
You definitely need to say Hey Alexa play Dave Ramsey’s podcast and listen to him and the other young people who work for him talk about Stupid Student Loan Debt … and how they paid their student loans off … and now they are Debt Free … and how they saved for a house … but not without paying off the student loan debt first.. and they give up materialistic things to save money for the down payment on a house…
good luck because no one owes your generation anything…
Here’s a novel concept.. I was taught if you give a man a fish 🐠 he eats for a day and if you teach a man to fish 🐠 he Eats for a Lifetime…Be Debt Free and stop wasting your time and money listening to con men like Obama and Biden and the 🐀 politicians.
LOL. So many assumptions you made about me. Firstly. I never took out student loans. My family paid for my state college education semester by semester. We are not wealthy. I went to college in the early 2000's. Secondly, I became a teacher. Definitely not worthless. Except for using public infrastructure I have never "taken" money from the taxpayers. I have never been on welfare, food stamps, or unemployment. As for my cooking skills, I have them in spades and since I live in CA I would never spend $20 for a burrito. Good ol' Albertos makes them for me for $8.50. I don't own an Alexa so I can't ask her about your Lord and Savior Dave Ramsey. I don't know if you can tell what generation I am from. It is definitely not Z. I have owned four homes and turned a $10,000 down payment on our first one into a $1.2 million sale on the last one. But I guess I don't know anything, well except for how to properly punctuate and the rules of capitalization in writing. Good ol' college education got me that at least!
If you learned Modern Monetary Theory (MMT), you would know why.
You can find it on The Rogue Scholar, Real Progressives, Macro'n Cheese, or MMT Mondays on YouTube. Stephanie Kelton also has several great videos on YouTube about it.
I gotta say...the court stopped the student loan forgiveness program pretty quickly n left a lot of people w well fill out all this paperwork until we win in the courts. Now that the payments are back in play ...that leftany of us in legal limbo.
And ten to 15 or just a recalculation because they seem to take the payments for the interest instead of paying down the actual loan which drags your loan out forever.......that would at least make the system fair. Cause frankly my loans are bigger then 15 thousand. It would have been a nice break though.
Honestly, the interest should be straight up abolished, no questions asked. Next, bring back all of our kidnapped, trafficked humans and take the $25,000 per person we’re paying to another country for housing them in concentration camps and use it to pay off these student loans.
Tried to forgive 10-20k but courts prevented it. The only ones who got forgiveness fit the legislatively prescribed categories: those who were screwed by fake colleges, or disabled or who had fulfilled the 10 years of community service work. True DeVoss had tried to prevent such from going through on technicalities and Biden got these people through the gates. Maybe some who had been paying 20-30 years already; not sure what happened with that group. But he did allow more people to get out of default more easily and thus save on interest fees etc.
Holy crap, I think the MAGA are extraterrestrials who get very angry that any Earth resources are wasted on human beings. The MAGA’s emotional maturity is about that of a ten year old human boy. Their brains are most similar to Earth’s reptiles. They feel greatest affinity with Earth’s alligators. BTW, they may have arranged for University of Florida to win the collegiate men’s basketball tourney.
Do you know how to diagnose complex PTSD? Do you know the different between relational trauma, PTSD, developmental trauma? Or do you like the idea that Trump supporters have PTSD because it supports your narrative or what you want to believe. Btw: I'm not a Trump supporter. 😉
This is one of the best and most underrated clarifying articles on this subject that I’ve read. I think you are spot on. As an adult survivor who HAS done the work, I saw him coming 10 miles away. But most of us trauma survivors aren’t necessarily that far along in their healing, and I only have to listen to the ex-husband in my head scream about “psychobabble bullshit” to understand how vulnerable they are to the authoritarian playbook trump is using
Thanks for lowercasing his name. I don’t understand why so few people do.. I’m also not that far along in my healing journey but the fact that I’m on it means the world to me! Even though I may sound strange saying this, God bless all of us trying to and working to heal!
Laurie, I do not agree with you. I'm a person who has lived with diagnosed complex PTSD for decades. Please consider the following. This article makes sweeping claims and generalizations. Please note: I am not a Trump supporter. However, I abhor misinformation being spread for the purposes of elevating a voice that while seemingly making an original argument, really isn't being all that original. People like to support arguments that play into their prejudices. But, that, in and of itself does not constitute fair reasoning. Sometimes, we need to ask ourselves why we would be so quick to applaud an argument like this one.
Dear Substack contributor/author:
I find the article's premise problematic, particularly regarding its portrayal of the relatively uneducated angle and the authoritarian stance. George Lakoff, a professor at UC Berkeley, tackled this subject years ago. Research indicates that working-class parents tend to prefer authoritarian parenting rather than conservative ideologies, but this is hardly a groundbreaking observation.
Your generational claims lack a foundation in a solid clinical understanding of complex PTSD. Instead, you've generalized about this condition to craft a sensational narrative, which is a common practice among Substack writers. This piece lacks the rigorous fact-checking that a credible journalist at a major news outlet would provide. As far as I can tell, no experts from the mental health community are weighing in on this issue.
It would be enlightening to hear Bessel van der Kolk's perspective. Having been trained and certified by his organization, I can envision his likely response:
"Trump supporters are an interesting group of folks. I have no doubt many have faced challenges in childhood. But we must be cautious. Not every experience of adversity qualifies as trauma, and not everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD. This is an ongoing discussion among my colleagues. The distinction between attachment trauma and developmental trauma is critical. Many mistakenly confuse complex PTSD with these other forms. It’s an ongoing problem in the field and the general public." (He'd probably laugh and shake his head at that point.)
If engaged in further discussion, van der Kolk would likely reference Ruth Lanius's work or pertinent neuroscience research. He would likely express frustration about society’s obsessive fixation on trauma, highlighting how the term itself can provoke strong reactions.
Moreover, van der Kolk would address the harsh realities of complex PTSD: many individuals diagnosed with this disorder struggle to maintain employment, contend with suicidal thoughts, and often end up in psychiatric care. The statistics are sobering—one in ten individuals with this condition takes their own life. Overcoming or making progress with complex PTSD typically requires years of intense psychotherapy—often over twenty years and costs surpassing $200,000 in my case. I still grapple with chronic PTSD, a reality that does not reflect the experience of most Trump supporters.
I suffered levels of abuse and neglect that most Trump supporters would not be able to comprehend. What you are describing does not constitute complex PTSD. As someone who endures this condition, I take issue with my experiences being trivialized through comparisons to Trump supporters. Childhood developmental trauma is fundamentally different from complex PTSD. I seriously doubt that most Trump supporters have been diagnosed with dissociative disorders or endured extreme conditions such as being confined or subjected to daily physical abuse. The notion that all or even most Trump supporters have faced such trauma is unfounded.
This is why your portrayal is insensitive, harmful and hurtful.
If you truly want to take a scientific approach, consider administering ACES screenings to Trump supporters. That could provide interesting insights. While they might show a higher incidence of adverse childhood experiences, that doesn’t equate to a definitive diagnosis of complex PTSD.
Your broad associations are misleading. Complex PTSD is a severe mental health disorder that can only be diagnosed by qualified professionals.
It’s your choice to express judgments, but I implore you to refrain from spreading falsehoods or making sweeping generalizations about my mental health for political gain or to attract subscribers.
If you wish, I can reach out to licensed psychotherapists, including close colleagues of Bessel van der Kolk, to obtain their expert opinions. I’m willing to send you their responses.
I agree we should be more careful with the armchair psychology. Pathologizing Trump & his supporters is a cop-out. The best of this essay is the analysis of family dysfunction & it's overall influence on U.S. culture & politics.
Thanks for adding your reply. It's very clarifying and puts important fine points on the argument. I agree that across the board in the US, there is some level of trauma, perhaps greater in some socio-economic strata than others. However, it is widespread, not confined to any one particular class or group. Certainly C-PTSD is not a commonplace thing. It's helpful to then turn one's thoughts to childhood developmental trauma. Thank you.
I agree that "a failure in mental health" is an easy solution for many things in today's America, like saying of murderers that "we need to improve mental health care." In fact, studies have shown that adults with mental illness are much more likely to be the victims of violence than the perpetrators.
I also have C-PTSD and I am far from being a trump supporter or a member of any cult.
You may be right in what you say. I can understand your not wanting to trivialize PTSD. There is also another way to look at this issue.
I have also studied Wilhelm Reich and Erich Fromm, and I think their psychological analyses have much to lend to this discussion. Perhaps calling these character disorders PTSD is going too far, but I'm sure there are similarities in the inception of these psychological syndromes. The roles of anger, sadness, and fear can all be investigated, to see how an understanding of them can contribute to a solution of this worldwide problem.
Personally, I think love and empathy are a good part of the answer, especially learning to listen to others without judgement.
I wish you well in your continuing journey of healing and wholeness. I am on a similar journey, in my own way.
I’m sorry to say “Trump supporter” what was your “true intent” for stating those two words so many times? I read it as your “safety blanket” maybe you’re thinking the guy’s Great, and you didn’t like having to “feel”!
A really thoughtful analysis. And hilarious per usual. All the points here resonate a lot, and describe the short time I lived in Texas during the pandemic.
My only question is - why now? I was always under the impression that the nation as a whole was becoming more secular over time. But I did not grow up around religious people at all.
Intergenerational trauma? Speaking purely hypothetically, even if someone's parents were not religious as adults but were raised with that kind of high control religion and abusive parenting, they might carry the rage and abuse over to their interactions with their own kids, even if they don't go to church.
can and does. That “spare the rod” stuff was a cultural mainstay.
I remember the fear … and the welts too well. That “parenting” was the norm for Boomers and earlier generations. I do hope we’re gotten wiser and kinder.
You nailed it , but I heard the propaganda repeated at my church last Sunday about how great it was for Trump to ban transgender athletes. That was what a 65 yr old white man was thinking while I was eating chocolate pie at a church lunch. How can you convince people who live in small towns where transgender doesn't exist that it's Not their problem ?!!
Boys are stronger and faster than girls. Generally speaking, a boy (regardless of how he "identifies") who is allowed to compete in a girls' event will win, by a large margin. That's grossly unfair, without even getting into the issue of letting him use the girls' changing room.
I agree. Males are born testosterone bound and females born estrogen bound . Males can't compete fairly with females and it's OK to ban it . But , the Fact that the Texas legislature is Ate up with the gay fear mongering instead of helping Texans is Sickening !!! Less than 1% of Texans are open Lgbtq and 30 % are raising children . They are not a problem but Republicans and the hypocrisy is killing us .
Bingo. I believe this captures many of the people who voted for Trump. The lasting effects of childhood trauma explain many behaviours/choices that people make including voting for a lunatic like Trump. While I vehemently oppose Maga beliefs and behaviour, I do try to bring understanding and compassion towards them. That being said, this is why evangelical Christianity needs to be eradicated. It is simply abusive!
Beautifully put, Alisa… As one who grew up in tight group-think and struggled my whole life to get out and stay out, I would agree that the human brain is a fragile thing. I gravitated to the toxic male archetype for so long I eventually concluded that it was beyond my ability to fix. And, I realized that the rest of me is just fine. Around 30 years ago, I chose la vida sola. “Es mejor estar sola que mal acompañando.” It has made me strong, appreciate freedom, and when dealing with people, NEVER lose sight of the exists. What I see now is a country descended into the black hole as I look on.
You are spot on here! I recently read this: 'children are the original political prisoners'. That's the world we were all raised in. I know I don't need to point out that the U.S. is certainly not alone here, but I think you're so right that it's impossible to really understand Trump's appeal without understanding the authoritarian family culture so many were indoctrinated into.
This is very well put. I love this article. It explains a lot about the Evangelical side of my family and my step-brother's obsession with controlling his children. Granted he has teenagers and my kids are in preschool and I'm sure I'll be going crazy when mine are teens, but I don't think I'm going to try to control them like he does.
I never understood why people couldn't see the con man. But I wasn't raised in an authoritarian religious house hold. I have other childhood trauma (alcoholic father, poverty and being made an adult early). I also spent a lot of time in therapy working on my depression and self worth. I can see him for what he is: a con artist, a manipulative man, a weak man, a man only looking out for himself.
But having friends and family that were raised in authoritarian and religious households I can see what you are talking about.
Bingo Alisa. You sound like my abnormal psychology professor who was notoriously spot on with the why, how, and the where for. Thanks for the review and correlations.
THIS WAS POSTED PREMATURELY
Go along with the psyche evaluation but your diagnosis misses the clinical evidence.
I go for Gestalt therapy as well, with a side of Behaviorism. When you step back to regard the whole , you see a massive shift in human behavior SINGULAR TO THE USA. Nowhere else has this degree of psychosis attained such supremacy. Argue as you will, I haven’t seen it.
From inception, 2004, thru the Obama years, Facebook had become a revolution—and also the biggest dispensary of mis/dis-info, without a sole journalistic constraint. And also the haunt of trolls and bots to warp its influence over culture.
When did this all reach a peak?—when the mainstream media began quote from FB and worse: Twitter. It was as if anything that went viral was deemed worthy of prime time. Americans have the poorest impulse control on the planet, and when they learned they could be famous for being fantastical…Katy bar the door.
That’s how we could end up with a reality TV star president and daily briefing from…Qanon. Then, during the pandemic, psyops from St Petersburg aside, it went sideways. If it was bubbling over before—with crackpots all over FB spewing nonsense, but entertaining—during lockdown, everything online and in phone was amped up exponentially. (I, myself, who’d eschewed FB til then, dipped toe and was spending 6-8hrs per on it after 6 months. And I’ve got terrific sales resistance.)
An entire population of phone app abusers, REWARDED FOR ENGAGEMENT and RESPONDING TO NEGATIVE STIMULI, gleefully accepted the endorphins and programming.
Yes, a cult—absolutely. But also, very much, the first generation to be remade by an algorithm.
These things are not mutually exclusive. I'd argue ignorance and racism are also forms of abuse and violence.
Easy answer, our federal government is bought by billionaires.
Yes, but what has to happen for that to become tolerable to an entire society?
Have hope. It's not the entirety. That's why we're here.💗
Holy crap, yes.
I think cptsd is also the reason so many Americans who are in the cult get angry when they see other people being given any sort of help or safety net or even a whisper of a chance at a level playing field. I think it triggers their rage from childhood all the things they were denied.
Great point! I totally agree.
And likely they were also constantly told that this is tough love, for your own good, to toughen you up etc. So they have the same idea about help making poor people soft, lazy etc. it even seems like conservatives who struggle economically blame themselves to some degree ( when they aren't blaming immigrants, women, Woke Elites etc.)
I think you're right. They are so convinced that they are getting screwed cuz other people are getting help. It triggers this misplaced resentment arising from repressed rage, which they pile upon people they perceive as weaker. The oppressed becomes the oppressor!
Maybe instead of making up shit, you could try to understand people first, then only later denounce them as subhuman for not wanting to give the government more billions of our dollars.
Where did I denounce them as subhuman? Observations are based on angry MAGA family friends and neighbors, as I'm trying to understand their rage. Plus I've had many years of work in communities that had been abandoned due to corporate priorities, World markets, government policies etc. People find it too easy to pick on some minority rather than study real causes for their economic plight.
If you're concerned about people being dehumanized, talk a look at how immigrants, non- white people, women, LGBT people, disabled people & the list goes on are talked about. Yes some insults are thrown towards Trump devotees, but is anyone trying to round them up to be imprisoned or violently attacked, etc? Tax breaks will go to the rich, and we'll be paying for whatever the latest whim of a project that Trump, Elon, RFK et al come up with.
I advise you to learn Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) because it explains that "your tax dollars" don't pay for anything at the Federal level. This is a myth that is used by politicians to get the people angry at the way the government is spending and blame other people.
You can find it on YouTube on The Rogue Scholar, Macro'n Cheese, or MMT Mondays. Stephanie Kelton also has several great videos on YouTube about it.
Triggered much?
Absolutely! One example: People who lost their minds when President Biden forgave student loans. The idea that some might suffer less financially enraged certain people (cough, Ben Shapiro) who’d paid theirs off.
Thank you Alisa for answering the question that I’ve been asking myself for so long now.
And thank you Leslie for helping me understand why people were so angry about the student loan forgiveness. I thought my daughter and I were extremely fortunate to have the funds to pay for the public college she attended. Why would we begrudge others an opportunity to have their loans forgiven? I was more angry that the courts kept stopping the student loan forgiveness. But, I’m always angry with the courts recently- especially the current Supreme Court, the most worthless of all courts in history (even worse than Judge Roy Bean’s).
Your daughter is fortunate indeed to have you.
🙏🏻. I’m fortunate to have her too☺️
So you you think that we .. as the American taxpayers .. that we should pay off the student loan debts? So you think that it’s okay to pay for a guy or gal who ran up hundreds of thousands of dollars in student loan debt .. and some of them ran up one million dollars in student loan debt … gee a million dollars could be their retirement savings…. and now then can’t pay if off and neither can the parents who co-signed for their child’s student loans which I find absolutely ridiculous… and you think that it’s okay for student loan debt to be forgiven???? Not all of those student loan debts were forgiven.. folks are still paying off their silly student loan debts … and they wonder why they can’t buy a house… I’ll tell you why it’s because of Debt.. and no one in their right mind needs to go to a fancy college or university.. a state school is just fine … and they need to work on campus …like my husband did.. and here’s a novel concept.. these young adults and their parents they need to take responsibility for themselves and their children… because their children should work in the summertime and save for college.. even if they mow a neighbors grass starting at the age of 14.. this is what we did.. and we bused tables and washed dishes and made beds at my family restaurant and motel and we saved the money that we made…. and my husband was taught to do the same thing… .. in fact he had a chicken business at the young age of 12 on his family’s farm…and he started saving money for college.
You All Definitely Need a Big Dose of Dave Ramsey’s podcast and listen to the students who call him up and tell him how much they have in student loan debt .. and Dave tells them who’s debt will be forgiven .. and whose student loan debts are Not Forgiven … because it was just all smoke and mirrors with Biden.. And then I blame Obama for telling everyone that they needed a college education.. degree… and he lied because Not every little Johnny or Susie needs a college degree.. most of them need to learn a trade that will pay them hundreds of thousands of dollars… trades schools are in right now because of AI .. AI will soon take over the kids jobs who thought they were smart to get a college degree…
Bill Gates has been warning the masses that in about 10 years there will be no jobs due to AI.. just look at China and their dark factories that employ no one .. no human being… they run on robotics… and robots.
Now go ask Alexa to play a Dave Ramsey podcast about student loans.. and you can also watch people do their Debt Free Screams.. I’m Debt Free.. and never take out student loans because the future of America isn’t going to be so bright…
Read the book Behind the Green Mask by Rosa Korie.. and listen to her interviews and speeches about the future of America.. especially the talk she gave in Denmark.. and share them with friends and family… and check out America 2050 Mega Regions and note the gray areas where no one will be living…. Folks will be living in 15 minute SMART Cities.. like Asheville and Myrtle Beach…. And C40.org cities.. like LA will be a C40.org city = No Cars.. No meat .. No dairy.. you’ll be eating lab grown meat and dairy… dietary restrictions… travel restrictions and clothing restrictions .. purchases …. And look at rural Georgia and all of their Data Centers that are being built…
And at least right now in Florida they are building a ARGI-Hood community and all of the houses will have gardens and Not lawns.. and there will be a farm there and the school will teach the children how to grow vegetables and herbs and be self sufficient and not be in debt…
All schools should be like the Gift Hill School in the USVI and all colleges should be like Warren Wilson College outside of Asheville NC .. my hometown.. WWC is a 1,000 acre farm where every student works every aspect of the farm and the students even designed and built an energy efficient dorm…and they even offer scholarships and a work program.. and they teach life skills .. how to be self sufficient and other curriculum…
It’s sad that young people were conned into believing Obama .. when he said that everyone needed a college education.. I ask where we’re the parents during all of this nonsense and why would you want your children to take on such heavy debt…
And now the future doesn’t look bright and Klaus has been reminding the masses that you will own nothing and be happy eating ze bugz and LA will be a car free city…
You all need to update your mindsets.. this is all part of Agenda 21.. Agenda 2030… The Great Reset and America 2050 Mega Regions.. Data Centers.. Digital currency and digital ID .. it will be like living in East Germany..
And add to your reading list Total Money Makerover by Dave Ramsey and buy his book to give to family and friends.. and stop with the student loan nonsense… I don’t want to pay for someone who hasn’t any common sense or critical thinking skills .. I don’t want to pay for your college or university or your silly student loan debt… I paid my way through culinary/ hotel motel management school.. and I grew up in the motel and restaurant that my grandmother built and she worked hard and saved her money and she didn’t need a loan or student debt.. there was no student loans way back when.. she was born in 1893.
Mental Note: Ya got to think differently now people.. student loans are not the way of the future..
Buy a plot of land with water.. since water will soon be a precious commodity… buy the land near a farming community and build yourself a handmade house.. think Noah Bradley.. and be your own utility company and grow your food and learn how to barter and trade… and be debt free. Be like the Amish.. like yesterday and read Joel Salatein Lunatic Farmer blog to understand the future of food.. we grow all of our food using the Verti-Gro.com method it’s a drip irrigation system that uses 85% less water.. and we use to grow 10 acres of food on one acre of land using this method and we sold our vegetables and herbs at farmers markets and we barter and traded for other goods and a Ford F-150 truck with low mileage. Good luck 👍
TL:DR; ok, boomer.
I hope you get help for your c-ptsd soon.
Oh my word. You are a walking example of what this article is about. Congrats to you. I hope Daddy makes everything better.
No … I’m am right on about what I wrote.. I’m telling you the truth and you just don’t care to listen to the Truth.. Facts..
you need to listen to Dave Ramsey and his thought about stupid student loans.. and Debt .. I’m sorry that you are so clueless and closed minded… but No One Owes You Anything ..and We the Taxpayers …we are not responsible for your stupidity of taking out loans for a useless college degree … especially for a degree in Basket Weaving or useless Gender Studies and DEI studies..
go ahead and keep saying that folks who think like I do.. go ahead and call us names because at least we have common sense and critical thinking skills and we know what is going to happen. And we would never go into debt for a useless college degree…
Dave says it best : and maybe you should open your mind to a new way of thinking…
Here’s Dave Ramsey’s answer:
Debt is Dumb CASH is King and the Paid Off mortgage takes the place of the new BMW as the new status symbol.. a paid off mortgage… a 15 year mortgage…
instead of buying a new BMW .. and eating out and ordering a $20.00 dollar burrito under a 4 month payment plan that turns out that your $20.00 dollar burrito costs you $70.00 and just think what you could save of buy (groceries) with the $70.00 dollars..believe me the elites are laughing all the way to the bank because of your lack of knowledge about money and your stupidity .. because you don’t know how to cook and you’re too lazy to learn to cook.
You definitely need to say Hey Alexa play Dave Ramsey’s podcast and listen to him and the other young people who work for him talk about Stupid Student Loan Debt … and how they paid their student loans off … and now they are Debt Free … and how they saved for a house … but not without paying off the student loan debt first.. and they give up materialistic things to save money for the down payment on a house…
good luck because no one owes your generation anything…
Here’s a novel concept.. I was taught if you give a man a fish 🐠 he eats for a day and if you teach a man to fish 🐠 he Eats for a Lifetime…Be Debt Free and stop wasting your time and money listening to con men like Obama and Biden and the 🐀 politicians.
I’m sorry you are so upset, but I believe that this argument may now be moot
LOL. So many assumptions you made about me. Firstly. I never took out student loans. My family paid for my state college education semester by semester. We are not wealthy. I went to college in the early 2000's. Secondly, I became a teacher. Definitely not worthless. Except for using public infrastructure I have never "taken" money from the taxpayers. I have never been on welfare, food stamps, or unemployment. As for my cooking skills, I have them in spades and since I live in CA I would never spend $20 for a burrito. Good ol' Albertos makes them for me for $8.50. I don't own an Alexa so I can't ask her about your Lord and Savior Dave Ramsey. I don't know if you can tell what generation I am from. It is definitely not Z. I have owned four homes and turned a $10,000 down payment on our first one into a $1.2 million sale on the last one. But I guess I don't know anything, well except for how to properly punctuate and the rules of capitalization in writing. Good ol' college education got me that at least!
TAXES DON'T FUND SPENDING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
If you learned Modern Monetary Theory (MMT), you would know why.
You can find it on The Rogue Scholar, Real Progressives, Macro'n Cheese, or MMT Mondays on YouTube. Stephanie Kelton also has several great videos on YouTube about it.
I gotta say...the court stopped the student loan forgiveness program pretty quickly n left a lot of people w well fill out all this paperwork until we win in the courts. Now that the payments are back in play ...that leftany of us in legal limbo.
And ten to 15 or just a recalculation because they seem to take the payments for the interest instead of paying down the actual loan which drags your loan out forever.......that would at least make the system fair. Cause frankly my loans are bigger then 15 thousand. It would have been a nice break though.
Honestly, the interest should be straight up abolished, no questions asked. Next, bring back all of our kidnapped, trafficked humans and take the $25,000 per person we’re paying to another country for housing them in concentration camps and use it to pay off these student loans.
Tried to forgive 10-20k but courts prevented it. The only ones who got forgiveness fit the legislatively prescribed categories: those who were screwed by fake colleges, or disabled or who had fulfilled the 10 years of community service work. True DeVoss had tried to prevent such from going through on technicalities and Biden got these people through the gates. Maybe some who had been paying 20-30 years already; not sure what happened with that group. But he did allow more people to get out of default more easily and thus save on interest fees etc.
Holy crap, I think the MAGA are extraterrestrials who get very angry that any Earth resources are wasted on human beings. The MAGA’s emotional maturity is about that of a ten year old human boy. Their brains are most similar to Earth’s reptiles. They feel greatest affinity with Earth’s alligators. BTW, they may have arranged for University of Florida to win the collegiate men’s basketball tourney.
That's what trauma and fear do to the human brain...
No. It’s not what happens to the human brain. But, thanks for generalizing about my experiences with trauma.
But their all good with corporations getting a shit ton of welfare on the tax payers dime
They're for the Grammer kings n queens
Yes, good point.
I think you have zero conception of human nature and are just trying to earn the acceptance of your fellow sheep.
Do you know how to diagnose complex PTSD? Do you know the different between relational trauma, PTSD, developmental trauma? Or do you like the idea that Trump supporters have PTSD because it supports your narrative or what you want to believe. Btw: I'm not a Trump supporter. 😉
Dying of Whiteness really gives a good explanation of this phenomenon. Racism really is the root of American ills.
This is one of the best and most underrated clarifying articles on this subject that I’ve read. I think you are spot on. As an adult survivor who HAS done the work, I saw him coming 10 miles away. But most of us trauma survivors aren’t necessarily that far along in their healing, and I only have to listen to the ex-husband in my head scream about “psychobabble bullshit” to understand how vulnerable they are to the authoritarian playbook trump is using
Me, too, Laurie. I recognized him immediately.
Thanks for lowercasing his name. I don’t understand why so few people do.. I’m also not that far along in my healing journey but the fact that I’m on it means the world to me! Even though I may sound strange saying this, God bless all of us trying to and working to heal!
Absolutely agree. Healing is hard work but every step is worth it.
I saw him coming even before the escalator ride.
Laurie, I do not agree with you. I'm a person who has lived with diagnosed complex PTSD for decades. Please consider the following. This article makes sweeping claims and generalizations. Please note: I am not a Trump supporter. However, I abhor misinformation being spread for the purposes of elevating a voice that while seemingly making an original argument, really isn't being all that original. People like to support arguments that play into their prejudices. But, that, in and of itself does not constitute fair reasoning. Sometimes, we need to ask ourselves why we would be so quick to applaud an argument like this one.
Dear Substack contributor/author:
I find the article's premise problematic, particularly regarding its portrayal of the relatively uneducated angle and the authoritarian stance. George Lakoff, a professor at UC Berkeley, tackled this subject years ago. Research indicates that working-class parents tend to prefer authoritarian parenting rather than conservative ideologies, but this is hardly a groundbreaking observation.
Your generational claims lack a foundation in a solid clinical understanding of complex PTSD. Instead, you've generalized about this condition to craft a sensational narrative, which is a common practice among Substack writers. This piece lacks the rigorous fact-checking that a credible journalist at a major news outlet would provide. As far as I can tell, no experts from the mental health community are weighing in on this issue.
It would be enlightening to hear Bessel van der Kolk's perspective. Having been trained and certified by his organization, I can envision his likely response:
"Trump supporters are an interesting group of folks. I have no doubt many have faced challenges in childhood. But we must be cautious. Not every experience of adversity qualifies as trauma, and not everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD. This is an ongoing discussion among my colleagues. The distinction between attachment trauma and developmental trauma is critical. Many mistakenly confuse complex PTSD with these other forms. It’s an ongoing problem in the field and the general public." (He'd probably laugh and shake his head at that point.)
If engaged in further discussion, van der Kolk would likely reference Ruth Lanius's work or pertinent neuroscience research. He would likely express frustration about society’s obsessive fixation on trauma, highlighting how the term itself can provoke strong reactions.
Moreover, van der Kolk would address the harsh realities of complex PTSD: many individuals diagnosed with this disorder struggle to maintain employment, contend with suicidal thoughts, and often end up in psychiatric care. The statistics are sobering—one in ten individuals with this condition takes their own life. Overcoming or making progress with complex PTSD typically requires years of intense psychotherapy—often over twenty years and costs surpassing $200,000 in my case. I still grapple with chronic PTSD, a reality that does not reflect the experience of most Trump supporters.
I suffered levels of abuse and neglect that most Trump supporters would not be able to comprehend. What you are describing does not constitute complex PTSD. As someone who endures this condition, I take issue with my experiences being trivialized through comparisons to Trump supporters. Childhood developmental trauma is fundamentally different from complex PTSD. I seriously doubt that most Trump supporters have been diagnosed with dissociative disorders or endured extreme conditions such as being confined or subjected to daily physical abuse. The notion that all or even most Trump supporters have faced such trauma is unfounded.
This is why your portrayal is insensitive, harmful and hurtful.
If you truly want to take a scientific approach, consider administering ACES screenings to Trump supporters. That could provide interesting insights. While they might show a higher incidence of adverse childhood experiences, that doesn’t equate to a definitive diagnosis of complex PTSD.
Your broad associations are misleading. Complex PTSD is a severe mental health disorder that can only be diagnosed by qualified professionals.
It’s your choice to express judgments, but I implore you to refrain from spreading falsehoods or making sweeping generalizations about my mental health for political gain or to attract subscribers.
If you wish, I can reach out to licensed psychotherapists, including close colleagues of Bessel van der Kolk, to obtain their expert opinions. I’m willing to send you their responses.
I agree we should be more careful with the armchair psychology. Pathologizing Trump & his supporters is a cop-out. The best of this essay is the analysis of family dysfunction & it's overall influence on U.S. culture & politics.
Thanks for adding your reply. It's very clarifying and puts important fine points on the argument. I agree that across the board in the US, there is some level of trauma, perhaps greater in some socio-economic strata than others. However, it is widespread, not confined to any one particular class or group. Certainly C-PTSD is not a commonplace thing. It's helpful to then turn one's thoughts to childhood developmental trauma. Thank you.
I agree that "a failure in mental health" is an easy solution for many things in today's America, like saying of murderers that "we need to improve mental health care." In fact, studies have shown that adults with mental illness are much more likely to be the victims of violence than the perpetrators.
I also have C-PTSD and I am far from being a trump supporter or a member of any cult.
oh boy.
I think you missed the point of the article and made it about you.
100% Projection
Dear Anna,
You may be right in what you say. I can understand your not wanting to trivialize PTSD. There is also another way to look at this issue.
I have also studied Wilhelm Reich and Erich Fromm, and I think their psychological analyses have much to lend to this discussion. Perhaps calling these character disorders PTSD is going too far, but I'm sure there are similarities in the inception of these psychological syndromes. The roles of anger, sadness, and fear can all be investigated, to see how an understanding of them can contribute to a solution of this worldwide problem.
Personally, I think love and empathy are a good part of the answer, especially learning to listen to others without judgement.
I wish you well in your continuing journey of healing and wholeness. I am on a similar journey, in my own way.
David
I’m sorry to say “Trump supporter” what was your “true intent” for stating those two words so many times? I read it as your “safety blanket” maybe you’re thinking the guy’s Great, and you didn’t like having to “feel”!
tRump isn’t using a playbook. He comes by it naturally. I can imagine his Dad was an abuser.
I would almost guarantee it
A really thoughtful analysis. And hilarious per usual. All the points here resonate a lot, and describe the short time I lived in Texas during the pandemic.
My only question is - why now? I was always under the impression that the nation as a whole was becoming more secular over time. But I did not grow up around religious people at all.
Intergenerational trauma? Speaking purely hypothetically, even if someone's parents were not religious as adults but were raised with that kind of high control religion and abusive parenting, they might carry the rage and abuse over to their interactions with their own kids, even if they don't go to church.
So even a more secular society can still have those issues
can and does. That “spare the rod” stuff was a cultural mainstay.
I remember the fear … and the welts too well. That “parenting” was the norm for Boomers and earlier generations. I do hope we’re gotten wiser and kinder.
This is EXCELLENT!!!!!!!!! Spot on!
You nailed it , but I heard the propaganda repeated at my church last Sunday about how great it was for Trump to ban transgender athletes. That was what a 65 yr old white man was thinking while I was eating chocolate pie at a church lunch. How can you convince people who live in small towns where transgender doesn't exist that it's Not their problem ?!!
Time to leave that church.
Boys are stronger and faster than girls. Generally speaking, a boy (regardless of how he "identifies") who is allowed to compete in a girls' event will win, by a large margin. That's grossly unfair, without even getting into the issue of letting him use the girls' changing room.
Comments like Jaydan's are not welcome here. Bye, Jaydan. *blocked*
Wow! The nutcase has spoken. No free thinkers allowed here.
Calling out the bogeymanism is free-thinking. You reveal yourself.
Typical. Shut off if there is a disagreement.
Calling out the bogeymanism is free-thinking. You reveal yourself.
I agree. Males are born testosterone bound and females born estrogen bound . Males can't compete fairly with females and it's OK to ban it . But , the Fact that the Texas legislature is Ate up with the gay fear mongering instead of helping Texans is Sickening !!! Less than 1% of Texans are open Lgbtq and 30 % are raising children . They are not a problem but Republicans and the hypocrisy is killing us .
Bingo. I believe this captures many of the people who voted for Trump. The lasting effects of childhood trauma explain many behaviours/choices that people make including voting for a lunatic like Trump. While I vehemently oppose Maga beliefs and behaviour, I do try to bring understanding and compassion towards them. That being said, this is why evangelical Christianity needs to be eradicated. It is simply abusive!
This is brilliant. I really enjoy and appreciate your insights! #peaceandlove #resist
Beautifully put, Alisa… As one who grew up in tight group-think and struggled my whole life to get out and stay out, I would agree that the human brain is a fragile thing. I gravitated to the toxic male archetype for so long I eventually concluded that it was beyond my ability to fix. And, I realized that the rest of me is just fine. Around 30 years ago, I chose la vida sola. “Es mejor estar sola que mal acompañando.” It has made me strong, appreciate freedom, and when dealing with people, NEVER lose sight of the exists. What I see now is a country descended into the black hole as I look on.
I also live solo, too. No one is yelling at me. And no one can do that now
You are spot on here! I recently read this: 'children are the original political prisoners'. That's the world we were all raised in. I know I don't need to point out that the U.S. is certainly not alone here, but I think you're so right that it's impossible to really understand Trump's appeal without understanding the authoritarian family culture so many were indoctrinated into.
Check out books by Alice Miller, a German writer who definitively laid out how children are indoctrinated, and how violence is used to reinforce it.
This is very well put. I love this article. It explains a lot about the Evangelical side of my family and my step-brother's obsession with controlling his children. Granted he has teenagers and my kids are in preschool and I'm sure I'll be going crazy when mine are teens, but I don't think I'm going to try to control them like he does.
Marvelous writing! Damn fine take on everyone in my family but me. I flew over the Cukoo's Nest.
I never understood why people couldn't see the con man. But I wasn't raised in an authoritarian religious house hold. I have other childhood trauma (alcoholic father, poverty and being made an adult early). I also spent a lot of time in therapy working on my depression and self worth. I can see him for what he is: a con artist, a manipulative man, a weak man, a man only looking out for himself.
But having friends and family that were raised in authoritarian and religious households I can see what you are talking about.