Catherine, you are absolutely right to be frustrated. The silence—whether it’s denial, privilege, or sheer exhaustion—is maddening. Some people do see it and look away because acknowledging it would mean admitting they were wrong, that their comfortable world is crumbling. Others truly don’t see it because they’ve been conditioned to believe that “it can’t happen here.” But history tells us otherwise.
Keep speaking up. Keep dragging politics into the conversation. Because this isn’t just politics—this is democracy on the line, and silence is complicity.
Call them out for their stupidity, ignorance, intellectual dishonesty, cowardice, passive sociopathy, and contribution to the downfall of human civilization.
If only it were so easy. My wife attempted to have a conversation with her Trump- supporting mother earlier this week. Nothing other than a conversation. Her mom said "We can't talk about these things. I feel like you're attacking me. I haven't had faith in the government for years, I put my faith in a higher power."
Well, ok, I guess. Victimhood so strong, you'll feel attacked when your daughter asks you a question.
I didn't say it's easy ... it takes courage to tell mom that she's a stupid ignorant dishonest asshole who voted to destroy the U.S. If she claims that "a higher power" wants Trump to be President then she's lying to your face. Imagine that you were living in Nazi Germany and mom said that she supports Hitler because he's doing God's work. Would you say "Oh, mom"? I think people still fail to grasp the gravity of the situation. Again, we are facing the downfall of human civilization.
Sure. But, what's the point? Activate Victim Complex?
She's been successfully immunized against facts and criticism. Being mean to her wouldn't do anything. Saying those things wouldn't do anything. If they did, things would be easy.
I disagree. I call out these people everywhere I can, and it emboldens others to do so as well. There's a reason they refuse to converse--they are cowards and they know they're being dishonest. If no one ever pushes back at them then they will continue supporting the cons with their votes and donations.
I’m in the same boat. When I was about 8 or 9 years old, I asked my dad (Army Aircorps veteran) ‘what about all the ex-Nazis?’ He replied ‘what do you mean ‘ex’?
I went from childhood to adolescence in the blink of an eye. I understood what he meant. Yes, I was pretty young when I heard that. Just imagine being that age, separated from loved ones and hauled to a camp. I’ll always be that one friend who can’t shut up about politics. It is now becoming apparent this political reality is life or death. Hell, it is life and death already.
Your dad’s response was brutally insightful—there’s no such thing as an “ex” when ideology runs that deep. It’s a stark realization, especially at a young age, but one that clearly shaped your awareness early on. And you’re right—this isn’t just politics anymore; it’s survival. Keep speaking out.
Too many of my elderly friends must maintain their sanity by not knowing what terrible things are happening even as I write this. It’s sad but I won’t force them to know by alerting them, as when the social security checks don’t arrive in March, they will find out soon enough. But as an elder myself and someone who tries mightily to remain aware of what’s happening, I cannot blame most of them as they are more afraid of feeling anxiety about the future than of knowing the terrible facts as they happen.
The most damaging response to this disaster we stepped into is, “I don’t like politics.” Well, it’s not “politics”; it’s your life and the life of future generations (if we are lucky to have them). We just gave our lives away. The choice is to ACTIVELY take it back or suffer in the hole we dug for ourselves. The second most dangerous line is, “I didn’t vote for him.” Congratulations - that is not enough. If you’re not ACTIVELY doing something to keep this democracy in place, then I hope you realize your vote is not enough and in many places may not have counted.
Exactly. Saying “I don’t like politics” is like saying “I don’t like oxygen.” This isn’t some abstract debate—it’s our future, our rights, our very ability to live freely. And you’re right: simply not voting for him isn’t enough. Apathy is surrender. The people dismantling democracy are not passive—they are relentless. If we don’t match that urgency, we lose.
Fantastic piece - thanks for all the work on this. Insightful, informative, depressing and terrifying in equal measure. If only the people who need to read this and understand it would - or could.
Thank you—I appreciate that. If this resonates, please share it on Substack and social media. The people who need to read it the most may never seek it out, but the more we amplify the truth, the harder it is to ignore.
Once again,Mersault, your letter has struck every nerve in my body. It’s a chilling assessment of what’s in store if we sit idly by and merely handwring. And yet what can one do?
It’s daunting when today’s ubiquitous right wing news apparatus that daily disseminates his propaganda remains largely unchallenged by legacy media. That he has a majority of the electorate, the Republican party, the billionaire class, the tech bros, the poor, disaffected white vote, and even some people of color in his back pocket—not to mention a cowardly Democratic Party—make him a formidable force to reckon with. Given that, please routinely include your save democracy blueprint featured at the end of some of your letters. At least it provides a path forward for the resistance and a psychological boost to your more despondent subscribers like myself.
I am endlessly amazed and always impressed with your extraordinary, incisive, deeply trenchant essays. I am also amazed (dismayed) at the relatively few followers and subscribers you have. At least a million people should be reading your clarion calls of sanity.
Thank you—I truly appreciate that. The more people who see these essays, the better, so if you and everyone here can spread the word on Substack and your other social media, it makes a huge difference. This fight needs all the voices it can get.
Mersault, this list is essential. Each book lays out what is happening and how it happens, without distraction. There is no looking away, no pretending this is new or unpredictable. The patterns are there, written in history and repeated in the present.
Hoffer shows how people trade responsibility for certainty. Mayer documents how small, ordinary choices build the foundation for collapse. Arendt exposes how systems of harm rely on those who follow orders without question. Goldhagen makes clear that participation is not passive. Snyder and Diamond map out the consequences—not theoretical, not distant, but real and unfolding now.
Expanding this list could only sharpen the clarity it already brings. There is more to read, more to see, and no excuse not to.
And maybe this as well: Buchenwald Ostracism and Violence 1937 to 1945
From the Preface:
In view of those phenomena, the aim must be to preserve the sense of shock and dismay that ensues when we realize how rapidly the upheaval and the establishment of National Socialist authority took place, and how little resistance was encountered in the process, and apply that shock and dismay to the benefit of civilization: "Again it's astounding how easily everything collapses",' noted the Romance languages scholar and philologist Victor Klemperer in his diary on 10 March 1933.
The writer Robert Musil also summed up the events of those weeks and months: «Freedom of the press, of expression of any kind, freedom of conscience, personal dignity, freedom of spirit etc., all the liberal fundamental rights have now been set aside without one single person feeling utterly out-raged, indeed by and large without people being strongly affected at all.»2
These are two examples of a state of shock that, in response to the easy surrender of power to Hitler and the Nazis, was an exception in the Germany of the period in question.
Yet they can serve to sensitize us to the fragility of our own time - a time in which populist nationalism, racist ideologies of in-equality, cultural illiberalism and anti-democratic thought have by no means been overcome.
This is exactly it—history has laid out the blueprint, and yet too many still refuse to see the patterns repeating in real time. The clarity these books provide is essential, and expanding the list only strengthens the case. I’ll take a look at Buchenwald Ostracism and Violence 1937 to 1945—the passages you shared are chillingly relevant. The fragility of democracy is not theoretical, and neither is the danger we face now.
Thank You Mersault for replying. The book is the guide to the permanent exhibition at the Buchenwald Memorial, which I visited just last week. I filmed an English-language raw personal walkthrough on location, and I plan to share it here once I’ve finished editing and producing it.
What’s happening now isn’t just a democracy in decline—you live in a democracy in name only. Now is the time to call this regime what it is: a totalitarian dictatorship.
No not oligarchy, that's just means to the end. I know many believe EM holds even more power than DT, that is not true. He holds power only as long as he stays in DT’s favor. Narcissists are known for discarding those who fall out of line and doing everything to destroy them. And DT does not tolerate anyone next to him, only below him. He is the king. He is the law.
The danger the American people face is immense, especially for those targeted—Queer and trans people, women seeking abortions, immigrants (not just undocumented ones), all non-white people, disabled people, veterans, elderly people, and anyone outside the Christian nationalist mold. With the reinstatement of the death penalty and its deliberately vague framing, the regime has laid the groundwork for something chillingly familiar. The history that so many assume is in the past is being reassembled, piece by piece, in plain sight.
My sincere question is this…how can I use this to hopefully make my maga family members understand? We are to the point where we don’t even talk to each other anymore. How can I make my husband understand when he will refuse to read and he is a college graduate? I’m afraid I don’t have the right words because they haven’t worked up to this point.
I will be 70 years old in May and I can’t find the words to make them understand this. I feel like even if I can only make one family member understand this, then I have helped far more than just one.
Nancy, I won’t sugarcoat it—sometimes, it isn’t worth it. Sometimes, the cost to your peace, your well-being, and your sense of self is too high. You’ve spent a lifetime building relationships with your family, and it’s devastating to feel that slipping away over something that should be so clear, so obvious. But MAGA isn’t just a political movement—it’s a cult-like belief system, one that thrives on emotional manipulation, fear, and identity politics. And breaking through that? It’s exhausting.
If you’ve tried everything—reason, love, patience, logic—and all you’ve gotten in return is hostility, rejection, or worse, then maybe the best thing you can do is step back and protect yourself. You don’t have to fix them. You don’t have to save them. At some point, it’s on them to wake up. And if that day never comes, it won’t be because you didn’t try hard enough.
You deserve peace. You deserve joy. If they ever find their way back, you’ll be there. But in the meantime, you don’t have to keep setting yourself on fire to keep them warm.
Difficult to do. My 94yo mother has been a life-long, single-issue Republican voter her entire adult life who watches hours of Fox TV every day. My brother is a dyed-in-the-wool Libertarian (his first vote for president was cast for Ross Perot) and he’s an inveterate Fox-watcher and Facebook consumer. I gave up trying to get through to them years ago.
I can’t give up my family responsibilities, Linda. Mom’s valiantly trying to stay self-sufficient, but she’s not going to be able to sustain it for much longer and my brother and I will need to step in.
Unfortunately the rest of us who did not vote for him can also be said to be complicit when we do not stand up and do everything we can to protest (including demonstrate and bpycott) these actions. No one else will “save” us from the mire we are in. Writing about it certainly will not save us. The politicians certainly will not.
My main takeaway from the election was that approximately 90 million Americans did NOT vote - for reasons that where never made clear to me. So if there is this huge mass of a placid uncaring or uninformed populace or whatever, what will it take to swing the momentum against MAGA. Unfortunately what usually happens in authoritarian regimes is that only some sort of collapse (like a defeat in war) awakens people to the fact they have been fed a pack of lies and manipulated into believing the party (I have always thought 1984 and Brave New World were predicting the future) is the right way forward.
I think the first shot has been fired in this brave new newspeak world - the belief in tariffs.
So is an economic depression needed to cleanse the soul so to speak?
This is a brilliant piece. "Bloodlands" is an incredible work by Dr. Snyder. I recommended it to all the MAGAts I had to work the elections with last year; I don't think they can read but it was worth a try.
I would also suggest "In the Garden of Beasts" by Erik Larsen about the US Ambassador and his family in 1933 Germany; how the daughter was "charmed" by the Nazis in their stylish uniforms and polished mannerisms and how the State Dept was so anti-Semitic they purposefully slow-walked or mostly denied visas for Jews.
Absolutely—there’s no excuse for ignorance when history has laid it all out so clearly. Bloodlands is essential, and In the Garden of Beasts is a chilling reminder of how easily people can be seduced by fascism in real time. Too many still refuse to see where this is heading.
Here is an excerpt from Hannah Arendt’s book Eichmann in Jerusalem, discussing what she refers to as “The banality of evil”:
Is this a textbook case of bad faith, of lying self-deception combined with outrageous stupidity? Or is it simply the case of the eternally unrepentant criminal (Dostoevski once mentions in his diaries that in Siberia, among scores of murderers, rapists, and burglars, he never met a single man who would admit that he had done wrong) who cannot afford to face reality because his crime has become part and parcel of it? Yet Eichmann's case is different from that of the ordinary criminal, who can shield himself effectively against the reality of a non-criminal world only within the narrow limits of his gang. Eichmann needed only to recall the past in order to feel assured that he was not lying and that he was not deceiving himself, for he and the world he lived in had once been in perfect harmony. And that German society of eighty million people had been shielded against reality and factuality by exactly the same means, the same self-deception, lies, and stupidity that had now become ingrained in Eichmann's mentality. These lies changed from year to year, and they frequently contradicted each other; moreover, they were not necessarily the same for the various branches of the. Party hierarchy or the people at large. But the practice of self deception had become so common, almost a moral prerequisite for survival, that even now, eighteen years after the collapse of the Nazi regime, when most of the specific content of its lies has been forgotten, it is sometimes difficult not to believe that mendacity has become an integral part of the German national character. During the war, the lie most effective with the whole of the German people was the slogan of "the battle of destiny for the German people" [der Schicksalskampf des deutschen Volkes], coined either by Hitler or by Goebbels, which made self-deception easier on three counts: it suggested, first, that the war was no war; second, that it was started by destiny and not by Germany; and, third, that it was a matter of life and death for the Germans, who must annihilate their enemies or be annihilated.
Eichmann's astounding willingness, in Argentina as well as in, Jerusalem, to admit his crimes was due less to his own criminal capacity for self-deception than to the aura of systematic mendacity that had constituted the general, and generally accepted, atmosphere of the Third Reich. "Of course" he had played a role in the extermination of the Jews; of course if he "had not transported them, they would not have been delivered to the butcher." "What," he asked, "is there to 'admit'?"
I was born in Berlin, right after the end of WW2. I have lived in the U.S. for over 45 years and have witnessed the gradual political downward spiral. I have seen the incredible oblivion of Americans toward the increasing acceptance of government overreach and incompetency. I have warned people whenever I had a chance, but people just considered me paranoid. My son still does, saying that "nothing will change, it's just another blip on the map of life". I think that the farther away we get from the holocaust, the less people understand what it was like and what is to come.
Your perspective is deeply valuable, and I appreciate you sharing your experiences. Having lived through the aftermath of one of history’s darkest chapters and witnessing decades of political shifts firsthand, your insights carry a weight that too many dismiss. You are absolutely right—historical memory fades, and with it, the urgency to guard against the same patterns of authoritarian creep and societal complacency.
It must be frustrating to see people, even those close to you, wave off your warnings as paranoia. But your vigilance matters. Speaking out matters. Even if not everyone listens, those who do may carry that awareness forward. The echoes of history are always there, and it takes voices like yours to remind people that "it can’t happen here" is one of the most dangerous delusions of all.
You are not alone in this fight. There are many who see what’s happening, who recognize the signs, and who refuse to let history repeat itself unchecked. Keep speaking, keep warning—because the only way things truly don’t change is if people stop trying to make a difference.
Are you aware that Musk has taken over the US Treasury payment system? The mainstream media certainly have not said anything about it! However, per Robert Hubbell's Substack post today (02/02/25), "When I last wrote, Musk was attempting to seize control of the Treasury payment system. Late Friday, he succeeded in doing so. Treasury Secretary Bessent handed control over to Musk and privateers from Silicon Valley" (please read Hubbell's full post at https://roberthubbell.substack.com/p/the-coup-rolls-on-but-we-will-prevail?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=email-restack-comment&r=1mwmcv&triedRedirect=true). This means that at any time of his choosing, Musk can stop the Social Secuity, Medicare, Income Tax refunds, and countless other payments to Americans. Letting Musk have control of the Treasury's payment is clearly illegal, and Secretary Bessent needs to be impeached. Please contact your representatives (Ph: 202-224-3121) and demand that Congress take at least one step in protecting millions of Americans' livelihood. Congress certainly has not done anything to remediate the censoring of vital public health information, which by the way, all tax-paying Americans have already paid for.
Even now, as all of this unfolds, I am known as the “one who always has to bring up politics” among my friends of 30 years.
How is everyone not talking about this constantly?!
Do they not SEE what is happening?
Or, do they have such an entitled (now false) sense of safety having grown up in America, where we never believed this could happen?
Catherine, you are absolutely right to be frustrated. The silence—whether it’s denial, privilege, or sheer exhaustion—is maddening. Some people do see it and look away because acknowledging it would mean admitting they were wrong, that their comfortable world is crumbling. Others truly don’t see it because they’ve been conditioned to believe that “it can’t happen here.” But history tells us otherwise.
Keep speaking up. Keep dragging politics into the conversation. Because this isn’t just politics—this is democracy on the line, and silence is complicity.
Call them out for their stupidity, ignorance, intellectual dishonesty, cowardice, passive sociopathy, and contribution to the downfall of human civilization.
If only it were so easy. My wife attempted to have a conversation with her Trump- supporting mother earlier this week. Nothing other than a conversation. Her mom said "We can't talk about these things. I feel like you're attacking me. I haven't had faith in the government for years, I put my faith in a higher power."
Well, ok, I guess. Victimhood so strong, you'll feel attacked when your daughter asks you a question.
I didn't say it's easy ... it takes courage to tell mom that she's a stupid ignorant dishonest asshole who voted to destroy the U.S. If she claims that "a higher power" wants Trump to be President then she's lying to your face. Imagine that you were living in Nazi Germany and mom said that she supports Hitler because he's doing God's work. Would you say "Oh, mom"? I think people still fail to grasp the gravity of the situation. Again, we are facing the downfall of human civilization.
Sure. But, what's the point? Activate Victim Complex?
She's been successfully immunized against facts and criticism. Being mean to her wouldn't do anything. Saying those things wouldn't do anything. If they did, things would be easy.
I disagree. I call out these people everywhere I can, and it emboldens others to do so as well. There's a reason they refuse to converse--they are cowards and they know they're being dishonest. If no one ever pushes back at them then they will continue supporting the cons with their votes and donations.
How could anyone with a wisp of conscience NOT see what was happening?
I’m in the same boat. When I was about 8 or 9 years old, I asked my dad (Army Aircorps veteran) ‘what about all the ex-Nazis?’ He replied ‘what do you mean ‘ex’?
I went from childhood to adolescence in the blink of an eye. I understood what he meant. Yes, I was pretty young when I heard that. Just imagine being that age, separated from loved ones and hauled to a camp. I’ll always be that one friend who can’t shut up about politics. It is now becoming apparent this political reality is life or death. Hell, it is life and death already.
Your dad’s response was brutally insightful—there’s no such thing as an “ex” when ideology runs that deep. It’s a stark realization, especially at a young age, but one that clearly shaped your awareness early on. And you’re right—this isn’t just politics anymore; it’s survival. Keep speaking out.
And thank you for being a paid subscriber!
Thank you for your work.
Right there with you. I've exhausted everyone, but I cannot stop. I will not stop.
Too many of my elderly friends must maintain their sanity by not knowing what terrible things are happening even as I write this. It’s sad but I won’t force them to know by alerting them, as when the social security checks don’t arrive in March, they will find out soon enough. But as an elder myself and someone who tries mightily to remain aware of what’s happening, I cannot blame most of them as they are more afraid of feeling anxiety about the future than of knowing the terrible facts as they happen.
The most damaging response to this disaster we stepped into is, “I don’t like politics.” Well, it’s not “politics”; it’s your life and the life of future generations (if we are lucky to have them). We just gave our lives away. The choice is to ACTIVELY take it back or suffer in the hole we dug for ourselves. The second most dangerous line is, “I didn’t vote for him.” Congratulations - that is not enough. If you’re not ACTIVELY doing something to keep this democracy in place, then I hope you realize your vote is not enough and in many places may not have counted.
Do something before it’s truly too late.
Exactly. Saying “I don’t like politics” is like saying “I don’t like oxygen.” This isn’t some abstract debate—it’s our future, our rights, our very ability to live freely. And you’re right: simply not voting for him isn’t enough. Apathy is surrender. The people dismantling democracy are not passive—they are relentless. If we don’t match that urgency, we lose.
It is politics, but the media has completely distorted the meaning of that word.
"the total complex of relations between people living in society"
Fantastic piece - thanks for all the work on this. Insightful, informative, depressing and terrifying in equal measure. If only the people who need to read this and understand it would - or could.
Thank you—I appreciate that. If this resonates, please share it on Substack and social media. The people who need to read it the most may never seek it out, but the more we amplify the truth, the harder it is to ignore.
Once again,Mersault, your letter has struck every nerve in my body. It’s a chilling assessment of what’s in store if we sit idly by and merely handwring. And yet what can one do?
It’s daunting when today’s ubiquitous right wing news apparatus that daily disseminates his propaganda remains largely unchallenged by legacy media. That he has a majority of the electorate, the Republican party, the billionaire class, the tech bros, the poor, disaffected white vote, and even some people of color in his back pocket—not to mention a cowardly Democratic Party—make him a formidable force to reckon with. Given that, please routinely include your save democracy blueprint featured at the end of some of your letters. At least it provides a path forward for the resistance and a psychological boost to your more despondent subscribers like myself.
To that end I remain,
An avid reader
Michele, I hear you. The right-wing machine is relentless, and too many institutions are failing to push back. But that’s why resistance matters—because they want us to feel hopeless. I’ll keep including the Protect Democracy Action—we need action, not just outrage. I’ve linked it in today’s article, and you can also find it here: "𝙒𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙆𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝘽𝙖𝙗𝙮 𝙏𝙧𝙪𝙢𝙥?" https://open.substack.com/pub/patricemersault/p/would-you-kill-baby-trump?r=4d7sow&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
Stay strong, stay loud, stay in the fight.
I am endlessly amazed and always impressed with your extraordinary, incisive, deeply trenchant essays. I am also amazed (dismayed) at the relatively few followers and subscribers you have. At least a million people should be reading your clarion calls of sanity.
Thank you—I truly appreciate that. The more people who see these essays, the better, so if you and everyone here can spread the word on Substack and your other social media, it makes a huge difference. This fight needs all the voices it can get.
Mersault, this list is essential. Each book lays out what is happening and how it happens, without distraction. There is no looking away, no pretending this is new or unpredictable. The patterns are there, written in history and repeated in the present.
Hoffer shows how people trade responsibility for certainty. Mayer documents how small, ordinary choices build the foundation for collapse. Arendt exposes how systems of harm rely on those who follow orders without question. Goldhagen makes clear that participation is not passive. Snyder and Diamond map out the consequences—not theoretical, not distant, but real and unfolding now.
Expanding this list could only sharpen the clarity it already brings. There is more to read, more to see, and no excuse not to.
And maybe this as well: Buchenwald Ostracism and Violence 1937 to 1945
From the Preface:
In view of those phenomena, the aim must be to preserve the sense of shock and dismay that ensues when we realize how rapidly the upheaval and the establishment of National Socialist authority took place, and how little resistance was encountered in the process, and apply that shock and dismay to the benefit of civilization: "Again it's astounding how easily everything collapses",' noted the Romance languages scholar and philologist Victor Klemperer in his diary on 10 March 1933.
The writer Robert Musil also summed up the events of those weeks and months: «Freedom of the press, of expression of any kind, freedom of conscience, personal dignity, freedom of spirit etc., all the liberal fundamental rights have now been set aside without one single person feeling utterly out-raged, indeed by and large without people being strongly affected at all.»2
These are two examples of a state of shock that, in response to the easy surrender of power to Hitler and the Nazis, was an exception in the Germany of the period in question.
Yet they can serve to sensitize us to the fragility of our own time - a time in which populist nationalism, racist ideologies of in-equality, cultural illiberalism and anti-democratic thought have by no means been overcome.
This is exactly it—history has laid out the blueprint, and yet too many still refuse to see the patterns repeating in real time. The clarity these books provide is essential, and expanding the list only strengthens the case. I’ll take a look at Buchenwald Ostracism and Violence 1937 to 1945—the passages you shared are chillingly relevant. The fragility of democracy is not theoretical, and neither is the danger we face now.
Thank You Mersault for replying. The book is the guide to the permanent exhibition at the Buchenwald Memorial, which I visited just last week. I filmed an English-language raw personal walkthrough on location, and I plan to share it here once I’ve finished editing and producing it.
What’s happening now isn’t just a democracy in decline—you live in a democracy in name only. Now is the time to call this regime what it is: a totalitarian dictatorship.
No not oligarchy, that's just means to the end. I know many believe EM holds even more power than DT, that is not true. He holds power only as long as he stays in DT’s favor. Narcissists are known for discarding those who fall out of line and doing everything to destroy them. And DT does not tolerate anyone next to him, only below him. He is the king. He is the law.
The danger the American people face is immense, especially for those targeted—Queer and trans people, women seeking abortions, immigrants (not just undocumented ones), all non-white people, disabled people, veterans, elderly people, and anyone outside the Christian nationalist mold. With the reinstatement of the death penalty and its deliberately vague framing, the regime has laid the groundwork for something chillingly familiar. The history that so many assume is in the past is being reassembled, piece by piece, in plain sight.
My sincere question is this…how can I use this to hopefully make my maga family members understand? We are to the point where we don’t even talk to each other anymore. How can I make my husband understand when he will refuse to read and he is a college graduate? I’m afraid I don’t have the right words because they haven’t worked up to this point.
I will be 70 years old in May and I can’t find the words to make them understand this. I feel like even if I can only make one family member understand this, then I have helped far more than just one.
Nancy, I won’t sugarcoat it—sometimes, it isn’t worth it. Sometimes, the cost to your peace, your well-being, and your sense of self is too high. You’ve spent a lifetime building relationships with your family, and it’s devastating to feel that slipping away over something that should be so clear, so obvious. But MAGA isn’t just a political movement—it’s a cult-like belief system, one that thrives on emotional manipulation, fear, and identity politics. And breaking through that? It’s exhausting.
If you’ve tried everything—reason, love, patience, logic—and all you’ve gotten in return is hostility, rejection, or worse, then maybe the best thing you can do is step back and protect yourself. You don’t have to fix them. You don’t have to save them. At some point, it’s on them to wake up. And if that day never comes, it won’t be because you didn’t try hard enough.
You deserve peace. You deserve joy. If they ever find their way back, you’ll be there. But in the meantime, you don’t have to keep setting yourself on fire to keep them warm.
😭thank you…for everything. I truly needed to hear this.
Difficult to do. My 94yo mother has been a life-long, single-issue Republican voter her entire adult life who watches hours of Fox TV every day. My brother is a dyed-in-the-wool Libertarian (his first vote for president was cast for Ross Perot) and he’s an inveterate Fox-watcher and Facebook consumer. I gave up trying to get through to them years ago.
Giving up on them is really the only sane response to this form of insanity. Acceptance of this reality is your only path to peace.
I can’t give up my family responsibilities, Linda. Mom’s valiantly trying to stay self-sufficient, but she’s not going to be able to sustain it for much longer and my brother and I will need to step in.
Brutal answer: you cannot "make" them understand anything. They have to want to first.
Not worth wasting your breath or your time--sorry.
Unfortunately the rest of us who did not vote for him can also be said to be complicit when we do not stand up and do everything we can to protest (including demonstrate and bpycott) these actions. No one else will “save” us from the mire we are in. Writing about it certainly will not save us. The politicians certainly will not.
My main takeaway from the election was that approximately 90 million Americans did NOT vote - for reasons that where never made clear to me. So if there is this huge mass of a placid uncaring or uninformed populace or whatever, what will it take to swing the momentum against MAGA. Unfortunately what usually happens in authoritarian regimes is that only some sort of collapse (like a defeat in war) awakens people to the fact they have been fed a pack of lies and manipulated into believing the party (I have always thought 1984 and Brave New World were predicting the future) is the right way forward.
I think the first shot has been fired in this brave new newspeak world - the belief in tariffs.
So is an economic depression needed to cleanse the soul so to speak?
This is a brilliant piece. "Bloodlands" is an incredible work by Dr. Snyder. I recommended it to all the MAGAts I had to work the elections with last year; I don't think they can read but it was worth a try.
I would also suggest "In the Garden of Beasts" by Erik Larsen about the US Ambassador and his family in 1933 Germany; how the daughter was "charmed" by the Nazis in their stylish uniforms and polished mannerisms and how the State Dept was so anti-Semitic they purposefully slow-walked or mostly denied visas for Jews.
Absolutely—there’s no excuse for ignorance when history has laid it all out so clearly. Bloodlands is essential, and In the Garden of Beasts is a chilling reminder of how easily people can be seduced by fascism in real time. Too many still refuse to see where this is heading.
Brilliant list!
So well articulated. Thank you!
This is an outstanding post. Thank you.
Here is an excerpt from Hannah Arendt’s book Eichmann in Jerusalem, discussing what she refers to as “The banality of evil”:
Is this a textbook case of bad faith, of lying self-deception combined with outrageous stupidity? Or is it simply the case of the eternally unrepentant criminal (Dostoevski once mentions in his diaries that in Siberia, among scores of murderers, rapists, and burglars, he never met a single man who would admit that he had done wrong) who cannot afford to face reality because his crime has become part and parcel of it? Yet Eichmann's case is different from that of the ordinary criminal, who can shield himself effectively against the reality of a non-criminal world only within the narrow limits of his gang. Eichmann needed only to recall the past in order to feel assured that he was not lying and that he was not deceiving himself, for he and the world he lived in had once been in perfect harmony. And that German society of eighty million people had been shielded against reality and factuality by exactly the same means, the same self-deception, lies, and stupidity that had now become ingrained in Eichmann's mentality. These lies changed from year to year, and they frequently contradicted each other; moreover, they were not necessarily the same for the various branches of the. Party hierarchy or the people at large. But the practice of self deception had become so common, almost a moral prerequisite for survival, that even now, eighteen years after the collapse of the Nazi regime, when most of the specific content of its lies has been forgotten, it is sometimes difficult not to believe that mendacity has become an integral part of the German national character. During the war, the lie most effective with the whole of the German people was the slogan of "the battle of destiny for the German people" [der Schicksalskampf des deutschen Volkes], coined either by Hitler or by Goebbels, which made self-deception easier on three counts: it suggested, first, that the war was no war; second, that it was started by destiny and not by Germany; and, third, that it was a matter of life and death for the Germans, who must annihilate their enemies or be annihilated.
Eichmann's astounding willingness, in Argentina as well as in, Jerusalem, to admit his crimes was due less to his own criminal capacity for self-deception than to the aura of systematic mendacity that had constituted the general, and generally accepted, atmosphere of the Third Reich. "Of course" he had played a role in the extermination of the Jews; of course if he "had not transported them, they would not have been delivered to the butcher." "What," he asked, "is there to 'admit'?"
Download the PDF free here: https://archive.org/details/arendt-hannah-eichmann-in-jerusalem
Thank you for this post. I’m glad to say that my public library had all of these titles.
I was born in Berlin, right after the end of WW2. I have lived in the U.S. for over 45 years and have witnessed the gradual political downward spiral. I have seen the incredible oblivion of Americans toward the increasing acceptance of government overreach and incompetency. I have warned people whenever I had a chance, but people just considered me paranoid. My son still does, saying that "nothing will change, it's just another blip on the map of life". I think that the farther away we get from the holocaust, the less people understand what it was like and what is to come.
Your perspective is deeply valuable, and I appreciate you sharing your experiences. Having lived through the aftermath of one of history’s darkest chapters and witnessing decades of political shifts firsthand, your insights carry a weight that too many dismiss. You are absolutely right—historical memory fades, and with it, the urgency to guard against the same patterns of authoritarian creep and societal complacency.
It must be frustrating to see people, even those close to you, wave off your warnings as paranoia. But your vigilance matters. Speaking out matters. Even if not everyone listens, those who do may carry that awareness forward. The echoes of history are always there, and it takes voices like yours to remind people that "it can’t happen here" is one of the most dangerous delusions of all.
You are not alone in this fight. There are many who see what’s happening, who recognize the signs, and who refuse to let history repeat itself unchecked. Keep speaking, keep warning—because the only way things truly don’t change is if people stop trying to make a difference.
Are you aware that Musk has taken over the US Treasury payment system? The mainstream media certainly have not said anything about it! However, per Robert Hubbell's Substack post today (02/02/25), "When I last wrote, Musk was attempting to seize control of the Treasury payment system. Late Friday, he succeeded in doing so. Treasury Secretary Bessent handed control over to Musk and privateers from Silicon Valley" (please read Hubbell's full post at https://roberthubbell.substack.com/p/the-coup-rolls-on-but-we-will-prevail?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=email-restack-comment&r=1mwmcv&triedRedirect=true). This means that at any time of his choosing, Musk can stop the Social Secuity, Medicare, Income Tax refunds, and countless other payments to Americans. Letting Musk have control of the Treasury's payment is clearly illegal, and Secretary Bessent needs to be impeached. Please contact your representatives (Ph: 202-224-3121) and demand that Congress take at least one step in protecting millions of Americans' livelihood. Congress certainly has not done anything to remediate the censoring of vital public health information, which by the way, all tax-paying Americans have already paid for.