General Discussion

Last edited Mon Apr 14, 2025, 02:27 PM - Edit history (1)

Diehards
Leaners
Easily Influenced by friends/family
Economy voters who took a chance, thinking a businessman would be better

The Leaners and the Easily Influenced are the only ones I think are beginning to rethink.

Will they all be lumped together and be forever hated and ostracized?

After World War I, Germany paid a very heavy price. The Treaty of Versailles forced them to cede a great deal of territory, their industrial region (the Rhineland) was occupied by Allied forces, their military was "permanently" reduced in numbers, and they had to pay high reparations to the Allied Powers. That is now understood to have led to hyperinflation and great economic hardship that caused the social unrest that allowed the Nazi Party to rise and take over. But after World War II, while there was occupation and forced handover of territory (particularly in the first several years), the Marshall Plan was also put in place in 1948 to help them rebuild their economic infrastructure since their country had largely been reduced to rubble. Ultimately that was a major factor in creating prosperity in America (since our manufacturers made and sold most of the goods for a long time) and in preventing the spiral of social unrest that set the stage for the rise of the far right.

It's smart to be cautious, but also wise to realize that not every Trump voter is the same, and that some actually are beginning to have genuine second thoughts. Do we help them journey towards out of the propaganda and into reality, or do we make ourselves so hateful that they'd rather cling to Trumpers because at least they will be accepted there?