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It’s unAmerican

They’re never outraged until it affects them. No empathy, no sense of community.

Can't see the 'fun' in it. It is a selfish and destructive belief system - creates a hellish, negative world.

Reptilian vs primate

Robert Altmeyer wrote a fascinating book about why right-wingers are the way they are. See theauthoritarians.org

Spot on!

Satisfying on a primal level

The "America First" agenda makes for a bunch of assholes only looking out for themselves---until it happens to THEM. Then their eyes suddenly open. #MAGA

I believe there are enough studies to show that if you’re a Republican you’re more likely to be sociopathic than is a Democrat. More chicken before the egg questions. 🙂

I suggest that the "something in many conservatives' psyche that values selfishness over altruism, tribalism over internationalism, fear over empathy and belief over rational thinking" is malignant narcissism. All of those traits point to an exaggerated sense of self-importance.

Pathology that is ultimately Fatal to the integrity of a body politic...

Familiarize yourself with the writings of George Lakoff, if you are not already, and will learn that stated truth with an expanded perspective.

Selfishness is their number one instinct. When they say, apropos of nothing "God help anyone who comes after my kids!" it comes from a place of fear, isolation and a desire to be adversarial.

🟧 Page 17 of the Intro in this George Frankl book speculates: "whether there is a conflict between the relatively recently acquired prefrontal areas of the brain and the ancient structure of the midbrain, representing a kind of biological dysfunction of the species". Me: Might this explain MAGA? 🤔

Selfishness would be a HUGE improvement. But it doesn't describe most conservatives at all. Suicidal bigotry & hatred is far more accurate. Most white women in the US are Republicans, habitually voting almost exclusively for stupid white men to police their own vaginas. That's not selfish.

I know a Trumpist, and it blows my mind because she has a very nice life: nice house, acres of land, exotic pets, etc. A lot of these Trumpists think that all you have to do is work hard and you'll be successful. Nope. Part of life IS effort and taking risks, but part of it is also luck.

Well-said.

Philosophically speaking, altruism is only a concept. Agents can only act (if choice isn’t also an illusion) in their own perceived best interests, correct or otherwise. However, it is in our own selfish interest to treat everyone we meet with dignity and respect.

Where’s the lie? 🙄

“I have always found it quaint and rather touching that there is a movement [Libertarians] in the US that thinks Americans are not yet selfish enough.” - Christopher Hitchens

Many unhealed people within the narcissistic spectrum (and other disorders lacking empathy) seem attracted to conservatism AS WELL AS anxious individuals with unmet dependency issues (i.e., learned helplessness). The first group are its leaders; the second, its sheeple. All have repressed rage.

Yup. Tinier... Never mind.

Studies have found that MAGA people have an amygdala problem causing them to be fearful. Might be relevant to some their other distasteful traits. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...

!!!!!!

There’s not a single Individual in Trump’s entire Administration who has shown kindness or compassion to Immigrants (or to Democrats)! I’m not exaggerating. MAGA are incredibly hostile towards anyone with views any different from their own. That tells you they’re extremely ignorant. ☮️💙💔🤷‍♀️

I THINK I might have read a few articles where there is a genetic component. I am not positive, hence all the disclaimers .

I love this! It's perfectly worded!

This ^ is just about perfect. I would have worded a little differently, but same observation and same implications. Tribalism will be the end of humanity.