Notalone: Do I live in a country where so many are also under some weird mind control, or do their personal problems or ideals outweigh all else,or are people so distanced from others that they just don't care about their well-being ?
Pretty much. There are so many middle and lower class Republicans - talking to them reminds me of talking to witnesses. They have been promised a piece of the pie and they want it now.
It strikes me as totally cultlike the way their leader can do no wrong (and when he does it's because it's "smart" to get ahead by cheating. It's still cheating even if it's just this side of the law. Avoiding your fair share of taxes, not paying your employees and contractors, manipulating your creditors.
The racism and misogyny is really mind boggling. Boys will be boys. Those doggone blacks shouldn't complain - they are a lot better off than they used to be. No joke - I hear this crap.
Notalone, you may want to read up on the history of Fox news. My relatives have been soaking up that stuff for years. They believe that our problems in this country are caused by all the "welfare queens". That if they obediently accommodate the rich the money will "trickle down" to them (instead of flood over to offshore banks.)
It has been getting harder to make a living since the early 80s and people do become more selfish out of desperation. Survival instinct. Some cling to what was this country's mantra,that anyone can get ahead with hard work.
And most religions promote god's will being kind of like "manifest destiny". That those in power were put there by god. Works well for obedience to authority.
This election has got me more long winded than usual.
Mrs. Flipper