• brain_in_a_box@lemmy.ml
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    11 months ago

    Could Americans, just for once, take responsibility for their own shitty politicians and politics, rather than blaming it on foreigners? This “foreign agent” bullshit is basically the same kind of conspiracy theory scape goating that Republicans do with Qanon, and it’s just as fascist as anything Trump is saying.

    • macabrett[they/them]@lemmy.ml
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      11 months ago

      I agree with you and I’d like to point out we’ve done studies and found that “Russiagate” in 2016 was a big nothingburger. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/01/09/russian-trolls-twitter-had-little-influence-2016-voters/

      Democrats don’t want to hear it, though, because it’s a very convenient excuse for their own failings. Just like them blaming Bernie Bros, despite Bernie supporters voting for Clinton in larger numbers than Clinton supporters voted for Obama 8 years prior.

      They simply don’t want to take responsibility for their own actions (and inaction).

    • Anti-Face Weapon@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      There are a lot of reasons to be suspicious about trump when it comes to colluding with foreign powers, and there is even some evidence. I agree that people often take it too far, into the conspiracy theory territory. But I don’t think it’s quite comparable with QAnon, either in feasibility, or in scope, or in the problematic effects that it may have.

      Also, the American system is, at best, only semi-democratic. The politicians are the ones who determine who is in power, much more than the people who actually vote. Are the citizens really responsible for what politicians we have? Am I responsible, as a man who votes conscientiously, who has campaigned during important elections, and yet does not have any real influence in who gets elected? Is the average person, who is just barely getting by, really expected to change the system by themselves?

      We need systemic change, but we have no class consciousness, and we are not likely to get there. These facts are manipulated by the people in power.

    • Donebrach@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      I don’t know what country you live in but that sure is a lot of words that don’t really mean anything.

      Can you please elaborate on what the “foreign agent bullshit” you’re talking about is?

      And can you please also explain how said bullshit is akin to how republicans are blaming Qanaon? (And also please explain what republicans are “blaming” Qanon for, as it’s my understanding that most republicans are followers of Qanon, not critics.)

      If you are a bot account I am sorry for putting you through the wringer as it’s my first day.

      • brain_in_a_box@lemmy.ml
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        11 months ago

        that sure is a lot of words that don’t really mean anything.

        What was the rest of your comment in reference to then?

    • BringMeTheDiscoKing@lemmy.ca
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      11 months ago

      Hey yeah, I should stop picking on that Putin guy! 😁

      I said Trump was Putin’s pet. He’s a foreign agent only by happenstance and perhaps through manipulation.

      • brain_in_a_box@lemmy.ml
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        11 months ago

        To people who feel deprived of a clear social identity, Ur-Fascism says that their only privilege is the most common one, to be born in the same country. This is the origin of nationalism. Besides, the only ones who can provide an identity to the nation are its enemies. Thus at the root of the Ur-Fascist psychology there is the obsession with a plot, possibly an international one. The followers must feel besieged. The easiest way to solve the plot is the appeal to xenophobia. But the plot must also come from the inside: Jews are usually the best target because they have the advantage of being at the same time inside and outside.

        • Umberto Eco, Ur-Fascism
          • brain_in_a_box@lemmy.ml
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            11 months ago

            Nazi’s blame all their problems on a grand Jewish conspiracy, BlueMAGA blame it on a grand Russian one. Ultimately they’re both fascists.

            • BringMeTheDiscoKing@lemmy.ca
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              11 months ago

              Why do you think a conspiracy is necessary for Trump to be Putin’s pet?

              You seem to be convinced that I’m some kind of conspiracy theorist but I already told you I think Trump is a “Russian agent” through happenstance.

          • brain_in_a_box@lemmy.ml
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            11 months ago

            My favourite genre of post: present a strawman in the form of a question, then scoff at how ridiculous the strawman question is.

            • Tinidril@midwest.social
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              11 months ago

              How is it a straw man? It’s a clear implication of your words. Explain how else your position could be interpreted.

              • brain_in_a_box@lemmy.ml
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                11 months ago

                It’s a clear implication of your words

                “You didn’t say it, but I have decided it’s what you meant” Totally not a strawman

                Explain how else your position could be interpreted.

                Try actually reading what I said, rather than trying to concoct some absurd, bad faith ‘interpretation.’

                • Tinidril@midwest.social
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                  11 months ago

                  I did. Twice now. Given the context, there is no other interpretation. Go ahead and downvote this too. It won’t make you right, but I bet it makes you feel like you won something.