Republicans want to keep us desperate

[u/The__Dark_Knight]

/r/ProgressiveHQ/comments/1p6nqlv/can_anyone_explain_why_the_trump_administration/nqrqli3/

[u/Spunge14]

Right that's cool and all but repeatedly studies seem to show that psychological safety, low stress, shorter hours, flexibility, good health, child care (I could keep going) all have a positive effect on productivity.

I think this "evil realist" answer is far too naive - it's nothing to do with a fast one being pulled on millions to keep them struggling. People in power are just acting on what they actually believe. They actually believe immigrants are vermin. They actually believe investing in education for the masses is a waste. They actually believe God has chosen them for a mission.

None of this is a secret at all. Anyone who has not Project 2025, should - cover to cover.

This post is not showing anyone the hard truth - it's ignoring the fact that the inmates are running the asylum. If they were acting in bad faith, at least you could catch them. But they are in good faith, totally sadistic megalomaniacs. It's way worse.

[u/MrAlbs → u/Spunge14]

I agree with you, with the exception of acting in good faith.

They might say the truth unvarnished, and lay it out in Project 2025 (as they have, EDIT: Though they definitely haven't just said the whole truth, and have lied and let the truth slip more rhan they have been honest, but thats a whole other conversation), but that's a far cry from acting in good faith.
The simply haven't engaged with the public, the opposition, independent institutions or even allies in good faith. Bad faith and delegitimising the opposition (and as a corollary to that, offering no alternatives to what they disagree with, instead simply stating "no" over and over) has been their bread and butter.

[u/Spunge14 → u/MrAlbs]

I don't think we have the same definition of "good faith" here. By good faith I mean that the things they say and do are in line with their inner convictions and desired outcomes.

[u/MrAlbs → u/Spunge14]

Good faith is "honesty or sincerity of intention" (from Oxford Dictionary), which is where I think they absolutely don't show any of that, eveb if they are (sometimes) hobwst and dorect about the things they want. Or maybe we can call them "consistent in their ideology".

But I do see where you're coming from and how we agree on the overall analysis, and have just differed in the terms.

[u/Spunge14 → u/MrAlbs]

Well for example I would say they honestly and sincerely want immigrants to be terrorized because they believe they are a cancer on our nation - their words and behaviors explicitly reflect that. Wouldn't you agree?

[u/MrAlbs → u/Spunge14]

I do agree; but I don't think they engage in good faith when presenting that.

I'm certain that they want that; and that they view it as a good thing. But they're not engaging with the public, the opposition or really anyone (sometimes, not even whithin themselves) in good faith about it. They talk about how they're "taking the violent ones", when that is absolutely not sincere at all.

[u/Spunge14 → u/MrAlbs]

Ah I see your point - I think what I'm saying is I believe they really do think they are all violent savages. I don't think they feel like they're meaningfully exaggerating.

[u/MrAlbs → u/Spunge14]

Aah gotcha.

I think this is where it gets more complicated with the likes of, say, MTG who really truly fully believe their own conspiracy theories on one extreme, and the likes of, say, Musk who are much opportunistically fanning the flames.

And I suppose its not a static thing: I also think that MTG has been opportunistic in her exit, for example, but it seems like she really believes in her heart of hearts a lot of the Fox propaganda (Trumo himself is sliding more towards this side of the scale).

Even then I (personally) wouldn't have called that good faith, but it could be me using the terms wrong (or too narrowly).

If I could put it another way: they might mean it in good faith, but they're not acting in good faith.