Obedience to authority is one of the hallmarks of the Trump cult. Dozens of recent studies have shown how the “conservative” mind is different from normal human brains. People with fascistic views are ruled (fittingly enough) by the ‘reptilian’ part of the brain – the most primitive and un-evolved region of the brain stem.

Because obedience is the highest virtue to this drone-like Nazi race and transgression – to them – is the greatest sin. Obedience to anything: obedience to God is a big one, obviously; obedience to one’s church, Temple or Mosque – don’t forget all those Evangelicals who still proclaim that Trump is “Gods chosen One.” And then of course there is obedience to the state – military service – and most importantly, obedience to the President of the United States. Unless he’s a Democrat. Or Black. Or a woman.

Then God says it’s okay to disobey and disrespect them.

Obedience to authority is the greatest good, in their minds. But the ‘greatest good’ was never about love, compassion for others or fair treatment – or even about living up to one’s own professed values. That’s the general concept behind George Lakoff’s Strict Father theory.

The basic idea is that authority is justified by morality – the “strict father” version – and that in a well-ordered world there should be – and traditionally has been – a moral hierarchy in which those who have traditionally dominated should always dominate.

In other words, authoritarianism is really the only kind of ordered society these people can relate to. They couldn’t think for themselves if you paid them. They literally cannot function unless given detailed instructions. But it’s not all their fault: they are taught from childhood to just shut up and sit down and do what they’re told and believe what they’re told.

They must never question anything; never challenge their elders. Critical thinking is Verboten, especially for women. They are told above all to obey their parents, priests, Rabbis, Imams, teachers, troop leaders, drill-instructors, commanders…etc.. They are programmed to believe that everyone has their place in society, and they must accept their fate with a big fake plastered smile on their little white faces. “Let that Priest bugger you, Bobby; let the teachers racially profile you in class; don’t tell anyone what daddy does to you at night – or you will be punished…”

I’m not convinced that women Trumpers are going to turn against the GOP any time soon. It’s because of their deeply-embedded programming, begun at a very early age. Too many children were abused, traumatized and brought up to keep their mouths shut about it. But as my wife constantly reminds me, many women also have authoritarian personalities, too…

Yet no amount of reasoning or logic can change these people’s minds. It’s a cult now. Women Trumpers will gladly support a policy that denies health care to 30 million of their fellow Americans, knowing full well that it will bring about enormous suffering and cause millions of real-live human beings to die. They will gladly support policies which deny rights to other women…not just abortion, but access to birth control is on the table now!

Trumpers will support crimes against other women and children and families – without batting an eye.

Even the forced separation of infants from mothers fleeing domestic violence is okay with these monsters. All of this while claiming the moral high-ground. They try to justify these indefensible acts by saying shit like, “Well, if they had simply obeyed THE LAW, none of this would have happened…”

It simply boggles the mind.

These human drones are taught that there is a Biblical reason for everything – and thus the claims that “president” Trump was ordained by God. The reptilian brain’s world view is dominated by enemies. This is mostly a result of feeling inferior and insignificant compared to them. In this regard, they desire political leaders who will remove these enemies from society…or at the very least, keep them in “their place.”

It’s not very hard to imagine America being attracted to authoritarian – or even fascist – rule. Unfortunately, our social institutions, and what passes for culture anymore in this godforsaken country – seem to have eroded most of the normal hallmarks of maturity. Things like patience, empathy, solidarity, humility and commitment to something greater than oneself seems like a galaxy far, far away.

Looking at the Trump cult’s authoritarian views and their apparent disdain for civility, human rights – and frankly, for democracy in general – it doesn’t seem that this is going to end well. They’re so outraged they are simply oblivious to the consequences of their vile acts and they are more than willing to hurt themselves and their own families in order to stick it to the WOKE crowd.

Trump’s supporters and enablers are the enemies of democracy. They would destroy what we have rather than accept that “their” country doesn’t belong to them anymore. If his cult isn’t reined in soon, the end result is gonna be some form of authoritarian, highly exclusionary theocratic dictatorship.

The cornerstone of this new world order is exclusion. Trump and his Nazi allies are trying to create a white, Christian patriarchy for their followers. He’s building a wall – literally – around that community while excluding all those that don’t fit in…which is pretty much everyone else.

The authoritarian personality has a world view populated by enemies. They have a deep-rooted fear of these perceived enemies and they feel the need to maintain control over them. This is a result of feeling inferior and insignificant to these perceived enemies. In this regard they want political leaders who will remove all of their enemies from society…or at the very least, keep them in their “place.”

The right-wing extremists turn to violence: violence against minorities; non-Christians; Blacks; Jews; abortion providers; Federal authorities, etc., in what they believe is a fight to save THEIR COUNTRY. And then the “president” and his cult blame “left-wing, socialist radicals” for inciting violence when police attack the counter-protesters and charge them with assaulting the arresting officer. The potential for more violence is escalating every day. 

These MAGA morons are causing America to sink into an abyss of chaos, authoritarianism and unbelievable idiocy…which makes sense, since authoritarians are not generally known for open-mindedness, subtlety or intelligence.

The problem is that authoritarians don’t care what the rules are, as long as there ARE rules [which only THEY can break..!], and as long as maximum force can be used to force everyone else to obey them.

[Edited repost from 2018]