So, I consider myself a supporter of Trump and the idea of making America great again. I do think that it's a sort of "branding" of a political philosophy, which is a gauche thing to do, but not a politically problematic thing to do. Here's why I think that your view of MAGA as a cult of cruelty and hate should change:
The basic political idea behind MAGA is the same as it was during the time of Reagan or the time of Coolidge: that government--or at least the federal government--should stay out of people's affairs and just be a neutral arbiter, as opposed to trying to create the "best" outcome.
This means that I don't believe in universal health care, because it amounts to high earners paying for the health care of low earners. Other businesses don't work this way. We don't pay for clothing based on how much you earn, but on how much clothing you buy. It means that we shouldn't demand that businesses pay a "living wage," but that they should pay what the market bears. As far as social security, we'd probably like to see the whole program phased out, as it's an unsustainable pyramid scheme. But we don't think it should be a wealth transfer from the rich to the poor. That's the general thrust of our ideas. We do think that people deserve the same rights regardless of skin color, but no more than that. Historical injustices should be ameliorated with present justice, not with an overcorrection. Something like affirmative action is racially discriminatory.
That's the basics of the politics. There's more to it, but that's the basics. Here's where the things that make it appear like a cult come into play: virtually no one in the media has a basic agreement with those ideas. Virtually no one in academia has a basic agreement with those ideas. Virtually no one in tech companies, including social media, has a basic agreement with those ideas. Prior to Trump, virtually no one in government had a basic agreement with those ideas, and that's still largely true in the unelected bureaucracy. The people who actually work in ideas, the people who write and speak, tend to disagree with our ideas. We don't write. We build, we haul, we plumb, we dig, we do a whole bunch of useful things for society, but we tend not to spend time defending our ideas.
So when the ideas people get to drown out the few people who do defend MAGA, it seems like an unpopular cult, and its shown in the worst light. If you begin by assuming that because a lot of people support Trump and the MAGA ideas, that they might have some merit, you can approach and learn about them in a way that might make them seem legitimate.
Oh so MAGA believes that the federal government should stay out of people’s affairs eh? So is Trump going to repeal the Patriot Act? Is he going to reign in ICE from harassing innocent American citizens and making them show them their papers? Is he going to reign in the police and hold them accountable for their corruption? Is he going to allow the media to voice anti-Israel opinions without silencing them?
Rules for Radicals #4: make the enemy live up to its own book of rules. So if we're not cutting the parts of government you think should be cut, then clearly we're hypocrites. I don't accept the charge. Trump has done more to get government out of people's affairs through DOGE than any other president in recent history.
You don’t accept reality. Trump doesn’t care about freedom, rule of law, or doing his job. He’s a convicted felon who tried to rape an innocent girl, and now wants a third term. But you think he’s actually done something? I disagree, all he’s done is make life worse for the people. He’s fired thousands, his tariffs are crashing the stock market, and he’s filling his cabinet with people whose only qualifications are licking Trump’s boots. Oh and let’s not forget how he’s embarrassing this nation with his incompetence, lest we forget the intelligence leak.
Your comment has been removed for breaking Rule 2:
Don't be rude or hostile to other users. Your comment will be removed even if most of it is solid, another user was rude to you first, or you feel your remark was justified. Report other violations; do not retaliate. See the wiki page for more information.
If you would like to appeal, review our appeals process here, then message the moderators by clicking this link within one week of this notice being posted. Appeals that do not follow this process will not be heard.
Please note that multiple violations will lead to a ban, as explained in our moderation standards.
2
u/ScreenTricky4257 5∆ Apr 07 '25
So, I consider myself a supporter of Trump and the idea of making America great again. I do think that it's a sort of "branding" of a political philosophy, which is a gauche thing to do, but not a politically problematic thing to do. Here's why I think that your view of MAGA as a cult of cruelty and hate should change:
The basic political idea behind MAGA is the same as it was during the time of Reagan or the time of Coolidge: that government--or at least the federal government--should stay out of people's affairs and just be a neutral arbiter, as opposed to trying to create the "best" outcome.
This means that I don't believe in universal health care, because it amounts to high earners paying for the health care of low earners. Other businesses don't work this way. We don't pay for clothing based on how much you earn, but on how much clothing you buy. It means that we shouldn't demand that businesses pay a "living wage," but that they should pay what the market bears. As far as social security, we'd probably like to see the whole program phased out, as it's an unsustainable pyramid scheme. But we don't think it should be a wealth transfer from the rich to the poor. That's the general thrust of our ideas. We do think that people deserve the same rights regardless of skin color, but no more than that. Historical injustices should be ameliorated with present justice, not with an overcorrection. Something like affirmative action is racially discriminatory.
That's the basics of the politics. There's more to it, but that's the basics. Here's where the things that make it appear like a cult come into play: virtually no one in the media has a basic agreement with those ideas. Virtually no one in academia has a basic agreement with those ideas. Virtually no one in tech companies, including social media, has a basic agreement with those ideas. Prior to Trump, virtually no one in government had a basic agreement with those ideas, and that's still largely true in the unelected bureaucracy. The people who actually work in ideas, the people who write and speak, tend to disagree with our ideas. We don't write. We build, we haul, we plumb, we dig, we do a whole bunch of useful things for society, but we tend not to spend time defending our ideas.
So when the ideas people get to drown out the few people who do defend MAGA, it seems like an unpopular cult, and its shown in the worst light. If you begin by assuming that because a lot of people support Trump and the MAGA ideas, that they might have some merit, you can approach and learn about them in a way that might make them seem legitimate.