Have you ever wished that you had not been right about something?
Approximately 10 years ago, I started saying that the republican party was showing signs of a cult. Little did I know, that Donald Trump was coming down the tracks. And being the character that he is, he saw the opportunity and gladly stepped into the role. He knew he had a cult following right from the start.
So, here I am again, only this time, I can say without a doubt, the Republican party is now a full-fledged cult. Our country no longer has a functioning two-party political system. Instead, we now have one political party and one cult. This is not just what I personally perceive and believe. It is because the characteristics of the "followers" of Donald J. Trump mimic those of a cult. He is not a political participant, he is a cult leader. Read along and see if you don't agree.
1) leader seeks absolute authoritarianism without accountability
2) Zero tolerance for criticism or questions
3) Lack of meaningful financial disclosure regarding budget
4) Unreasonable fears about the outside world that often involve evil conspiracies and persecutions
5) A belief that former followers are always wrong for leaving and there is never a legitimate reason for anyone else to leave
6) believes that their leader and that they themselves are being persecuted
7) A belief that the leader is right at all times
8) A belief that the leader is the exclusive means of knowing “truth” or giving validation
As someone who was born years after WWII, I could never understand how Hitler came to power in a country like Germany in the 1930s. However, since Trump was elected in 2016, I can now see how that happened.
Trump portrays himself as a "savior." But what he really is, is a want-to-be authoritarian. Authoritarians have the following behaviors:
1) rejection of democratic rules
2) denial of legitimacy of political opponent
3) tolerance/encouragement of violence
4) attacks media and civil liberties of opposition
My father served in WWII, was a member of the greatest generation, and fought against Hitler. He and his generation would never have been fooled by the likes of Trump. Dad's generation gave their very lives to defend democracy around the world. Theirs was a generation who would have recognized Trump for what he is and imprisoned him long ago.
Having practiced law for 60 years, Dad was an excellent judge of character. He considered Trump a crook and the courts have recently proven that. Even as I write this, Trump sits in a New York courtroom about to face trial for a felony.
And now, Trump is getting in bed with Christian nationalists to not only eliminate the separation of church and state but to put "religious" leaders in charge of our government, with the help of judicial judges who he appointed. This is a treacherous time for our precious democracy.
This November, Americans will go to the polls to vote for their next president and there will only be one person on the ballot .... Joseph R. Biden. The other one will be running for authoritarian .... Donald J. Trump.
We all know cults never end well. And people who manage to leave cults become evangelists against them. Given all of the ways to get information nowadays, there is no excuse for any American to be misled...... unless they choose to be.
Camille Wright lives in Brandon.
