To cultivate a poisonous environment to serve their whims, the Right relied on weaponized abuse and a hatchet man who reinforced Americans' worst impulses
Fantastic piece. Reading about the craving for an abusive and/or authoritarian father figure reminded me of a recent interview with Riane Eisler, when she talked about how scary it is for people whose childhood household was authoritarian to consider a world that lacks that kind of dictatorial hierarchy in public life.
The toxicity of the anger is something else, though. I've often wished someone would do a study on blood pressure of regular Fox viewers or Limbaugh listeners. Like measuring blood pressure for a week at regular intervals but especially during and immediately after they watch one of those shows designed to heighten anger and outrage; and then a second stage where they stop consuming the vitriol for a week or month. What might change in their physical health?
"Limbaugh built an army of “Dittoheads” who fawned over his opinions and called in to hear their father figure agree with them and, like any abused child desperate for love, wait hungrily for even a shred of affection." Wow. "Life on the road for someone like me means getting in your own head and sometimes letting the voices of men like Rush Limbaugh, of past abusers, grab the microphone of the mind and get back to the hard work of constructing those walls." These images are so powerful. deeply sad and true. Gosh, I'm so glad you're doing this.
My father was Rush Limbaugh. One of the last things he called me was a moron. I never spoke to him after that. Frankly, I'm glad both of them are dead.
Fantastic piece. Reading about the craving for an abusive and/or authoritarian father figure reminded me of a recent interview with Riane Eisler, when she talked about how scary it is for people whose childhood household was authoritarian to consider a world that lacks that kind of dictatorial hierarchy in public life.
The toxicity of the anger is something else, though. I've often wished someone would do a study on blood pressure of regular Fox viewers or Limbaugh listeners. Like measuring blood pressure for a week at regular intervals but especially during and immediately after they watch one of those shows designed to heighten anger and outrage; and then a second stage where they stop consuming the vitriol for a week or month. What might change in their physical health?
What a phenomenal idea on the study of blood pressure of these RW viewers/listeners. It would make the intangible, tangible.
"Limbaugh built an army of “Dittoheads” who fawned over his opinions and called in to hear their father figure agree with them and, like any abused child desperate for love, wait hungrily for even a shred of affection." Wow. "Life on the road for someone like me means getting in your own head and sometimes letting the voices of men like Rush Limbaugh, of past abusers, grab the microphone of the mind and get back to the hard work of constructing those walls." These images are so powerful. deeply sad and true. Gosh, I'm so glad you're doing this.
My father was Rush Limbaugh. One of the last things he called me was a moron. I never spoke to him after that. Frankly, I'm glad both of them are dead.
Solid truth, masterfully spoken. I think i remember that guy at the bar from "The People are Going to Rise . . .". Thanks so much for all you do.