the big lie needs the big grift
Sep. 13th, 2022 12:57 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
solarbirdOne of the reasons fascist cults in general and the big lie in particular are also always a big grift is because it's literally part of the control mechanism for the cult.
To be grifted is to be "in." To be part of the game.
That's why they don't mind.
And once they're in the cult, being of the grift - even as a victim - means criticism of/objection to the grift triggers you to defend it, pushing you further in, making you more of the sponsoring cult.
This is in much the same way that negative reactions to missionaries pushes the missionaries further into their religion. (See also Mormons out on mandatory missionary duty as a particularly familiar example.)
But it's not just the reaction against criticism of the grift, and not just a resistance to the idea they've been conned. It's literally being a part of it, in any role, that gives them a feeling of inclusion.
Which is one of the many reasons why MAGA is a cult, with Trump rallies as their a travelling evangelist show.
It's relevant and probably important that they've not managed to create any other evangelists, in no small part because Trump can't tolerate that.
That implies that at its core it's a single person cult, a literal cult of personality.
Fortunately.
This doesn't mean it'll vanish if he drops out, but it'll be pretty decimated. Who would replace him? DeSantis has the evil, but not the personality. Pillow guy wants to be it, but he's a clown. MTG wants to be it, and she's good as an accessory, but they won't worship a woman.
That's why the grift isn't simply opportunistic: it's a tool of control.
It's not just looting.
It's a necessity.
(ps: see also also, tithing. That's not charity, and I think everybody knows it.（¬‿¬） )
To be grifted is to be "in." To be part of the game.
That's why they don't mind.
And once they're in the cult, being of the grift - even as a victim - means criticism of/objection to the grift triggers you to defend it, pushing you further in, making you more of the sponsoring cult.
This is in much the same way that negative reactions to missionaries pushes the missionaries further into their religion. (See also Mormons out on mandatory missionary duty as a particularly familiar example.)
But it's not just the reaction against criticism of the grift, and not just a resistance to the idea they've been conned. It's literally being a part of it, in any role, that gives them a feeling of inclusion.
Which is one of the many reasons why MAGA is a cult, with Trump rallies as their a travelling evangelist show.
It's relevant and probably important that they've not managed to create any other evangelists, in no small part because Trump can't tolerate that.
That implies that at its core it's a single person cult, a literal cult of personality.
Fortunately.
This doesn't mean it'll vanish if he drops out, but it'll be pretty decimated. Who would replace him? DeSantis has the evil, but not the personality. Pillow guy wants to be it, but he's a clown. MTG wants to be it, and she's good as an accessory, but they won't worship a woman.
That's why the grift isn't simply opportunistic: it's a tool of control.
It's not just looting.
It's a necessity.
(ps: see also also, tithing. That's not charity, and I think everybody knows it.（¬‿¬） )
