MaGA...Running Blind

In the world of political extremes, the unwavering support for Donald Trump among his MaGA (the "a" lowered in a half mast nod to the damages done to the country by that group, until they stop), followers can often appear perplexing, especially in the face of mounting controversies, legal challenges, and widespread criticism. For many, the commitment to Trump transcends rational political reasoning and ventures into the territory of emotional investment and identity. 

Elon at the end of his government destruction? Trump told his cabinet he's leaving soon.

Also, Trump recently discovered the word, "groceries" the other day, an old word, a beautiiful word", he said. No one uses the word for like, "grocery store"? This man is the dumbest SOB I've ever in the White House, or in business, or in the United States, or on planet Earth. Truly.

I can only see one reason Donald Trump became POTUS: blind paradimetrics. Ignorance, unrequited pain, disingenuous frustration, and misplaced vengeance— Truly, such fine qualities for the Republican Party to explore & exemplify. #convictedFelonTrumpGOP

There is some good news. "Map Shows Pres. Donald Trump's Approval Rating in Each State 2 Months Into Term" - Trump's approval rating has turned negative for the 1st time since his ridiculous return to the WH.

Also after $20 some Million spent in the Wisconsin judicial race, Elon lost, the Trump MaGA GOP lost and America and democracy won, big time. 1 big "W" for democracy, 1 big "L" for the kakistocracy led by Trump, the big dumb is diminishing, just not soon enough. Musk said it would decide Western Civilization, then immeidately turned away when he lost saying he'd expected to lose (sounds like Trump there). 

And Trump hates losers. Elon lost. 'Nuff Said!

Brief aside...I asked ChatGPT, who I like to call, "Chuck", in a call back to the TV show "Supernatural" (see, "God"): "Could it be said that the world is starting to look at the USA under Donald Trump (America's 1st convinced felon POTUS, #47, as the little bitch country of the world? Or something on that order?"

Its response:

"That’s definitely a blunt way of putting it, but you’re not alone in wondering how the world is perceiving the U.S. under a potential second Trump term. Many foreign policy analysts have speculated that Trump's "America First" approach, his transactional view of alliances, and his history of cozying up to authoritarian leaders could weaken the country’s global standing.""

If he follows through on threats to abandon NATO, cut off traditional allies, and push isolationist policies, the U.S. could be seen as unreliable, weaker in influence, and more beholden to stronger global powers like China and Russia. Some might argue that this would make the U.S. a "pushover" or a diminished force on the world stage, which could resemble what you’re describing."

Of course, Trump supporters would argue the opposite—that his leadership would make America "tougher" by refusing to play by old diplomatic norms. But globally, leaders who rely on strong alliances may see the U.S. as more of a wildcard or even a liability." I did read that the EU is beginning to realize that America is now becoming an "adversary". Purposely. 

Let's face it, more and more of America no longer cares what the Trump Kakistocratic Party is thinking, as the clowns they elected tear down America, democracy, our economy, and push all of that into the world at large. WILL Trump crash the world economy? 

He doesn't know, he just wants to find out.

Anyway...

I could exercise my psychology degree long and hard on the Trump authoritarian political personality cult known as MaGA. They seem to be one giant Milgram study. The Milgram experiment (1961) was a psychological study by Stanley Milgram at Yale University, designed to test obedience to authority. I had to learn about it, among many others, before getting my degree in 1984.

Participants were instructed to administer increasingly severe electric shocks to a "learner" (an actor) whenever they answered incorrectly. Despite hearing the learner’s cries of pain (which were faked), most participants continued delivering shocks when urged by an authority figure. The study revealed how ordinary people could commit harmful acts under authoritative pressure, shedding light on obedience in extreme situations, including historical atrocities.

Like in the Milgram experiment, many MaGA supporters follow Trump's directives despite ethical concerns, driven by authority, social pressure, and emotional investment. Just as participants in the study ignored their own moral discomfort to obey commands, MaGA followers often dismiss facts, legal issues, and harm to others, prioritizing loyalty over critical thinking. This highlights how strong leadership, combined with fear and group identity, can override personal judgment and ethical boundaries.

This phenomenon can be understood through psychological concepts like the running blind effect, where individuals continue on a path of belief despite overwhelming evidence suggesting they might be wrong. Fear-based messaging, blame-shifting, and a deep-seated attachment to a divisive narrative fuel this dynamic, creating an environment where supporters double down rather than reassess their positions. 

In this context, the fervent loyalty to Trump may not just be about policies or political ideologies but about the need to preserve a worldview that, for them, is defined by a constant battle against perceived threats.

Running blind is primarily an idiom rather than a formally recognized psychological theory. It describes acting without sufficient knowledge, foresight, or awareness of consequences. While it overlaps with concepts in psychology—such as escalation of commitment, confirmation bias, and motivated reasoning—there is no specific "Running Blind Effect" formally defined in academic literature.

As for MaGA and motivated reasoning? It could absolutely be said that many within the MAGA movement have failed on the Four Ways to Avoid the Pitfalls of Motivated Moral Reasoning. 

Let’s break it down:

1. The "Front Page" Test – Many MaGA supporters seem unconcerned about how their actions or beliefs would appear in an objective public setting. Instead, they often exist in media bubbles where their beliefs are reinforced rather than challenged. The movement’s leaders, including their convicted felon Trump, thrive on secrecy, misinformation, and alternative narratives that sidestep accountability.

2. Don’t Go It Alone – Rather than surrounding themselves with dissenting voices, MaGA supporters often reject mainstream sources of information and listen exclusively to right-wing media that echoes their views. The culture of Trumpism discourages critical self-reflection and punishes those who question its dogma (e.g., the backlash against former allies who criticize Trump).

3. Avoid Ambiguity – The MaGA movement thrives on ambiguity, using vague terms like "deep state," "election fraud," or "America First" without clear, fact-based definitions. These ambiguous narratives allow followers to justify actions that might otherwise be seen as unethical or extreme.

4. Stay Humble – Trumpism is built on a rejection of humility. The movement, much like Trump himself, tends to dismiss criticism outright, often attacking those who disagree rather than engaging in self-reflection. The idea of "never admitting defeat" or "owning the libs" has replaced intellectual humility with a defensive, combative stance.

By failing in these four areas, the MaGA movement has created an environment where motivated reasoning runs unchecked, reinforcing tribalism and making it difficult for supporters to critically assess their beliefs.

Overall? A troubling testament to blind loyalty over critical thought, where emotion eclipses reason and tribalism replaces integrity. Their problem isn't so much the failure, but the striking out at others for their own failings, ascribing those failings repeatedly to others. And in the political arena, they harm others and weaken the very country they claim to love.

There are various ways to view this: For Decades, a Behavioral Blind Spot Has Plagued Political Development

And, A massive experiment on choice blindness in political decisions: Confidence, confabulation, and unconscious detection of self-deception

The running blind effect could definitely be a factor in how hardcore MaGA supporters process and respond to information. The term generally refers to situations where individuals continue down a chosen path despite mounting evidence that it may not be in their best interest, often due to emotional investment, identity reinforcement, or cognitive biases.

For MaGA supporters who are deeply entrenched in their beliefs:

• Fear-Based Messaging: Many consume media that constantly reinforces a narrative of impending doom, socialist takeover, or moral decay. This repeated exposure triggers a heightened emotional response, leading to what’s known as motivated reasoning—they seek out and accept information that supports their fears while rejecting anything that contradicts them.

• Blame as a Coping Mechanism: Assigning blame (to liberals, immigrants, deep state actors, etc.) helps maintain a black-and-white worldview, avoiding cognitive dissonance. If things are bad, it’s easier to believe that someone else (Democrats, RINOs, "woke" corporations) is sabotaging America rather than reconsidering their own stance.

• Commitment Escalation: The running blind effect plays out in their unwavering commitment to Trump. Even when faced with legal issues, policy failures, or contradictions, many will double down instead of re-evaluating. This is partly because admitting they were wrong would threaten their identity and sense of belonging.

So, yes, the running blind effect could explain why some MaGA supporters persist in supporting Trump despite growing legal, ethical, and political red flags—because reversing course would feel like an existential loss rather than just a change of opinion.

​The "running blind effect" isn't a widely recognized term in political psychology. However, it could refer to phenomena such as the escalation of commitment or choice blindness, both of which have significant implications in political contexts.​Negotiations Ninja

Escalation of Commitment: This concept describes the tendency of individuals or groups to continue investing in a decision despite evidence of its negative outcomes. In politics, this can manifest as unwavering support for a policy or leader even when faced with mounting failures or controversies. For instance, a study titled "The escalation of commitment in political decision-making groups" explores how political groups might persist with failing initiatives due to prior investments. ​Wiley Online Library+1Wiley Online Library+1

Choice Blindness: This refers to the phenomenon where individuals fail to notice discrepancies between their intentions and subsequent choices, leading them to accept outcomes they might not have originally endorsed. In political decision-making, choice blindness can result in voters supporting candidates or policies without fully recognizing their implications. A relevant study titled "A massive experiment on choice blindness in political decisions" examines this effect in the context of political choices. ​WikipediaPMC

Understanding these psychological tendencies is crucial for fostering more informed and reflective political engagement.​

To neutralize the running blind effect and break free from the cycle of fear and blind loyalty, it’s crucial to encourage open dialogue and empathy. Creating spaces where individuals can engage with different perspectives without feeling attacked or ridiculed is key. 

Promoting critical thinking and media literacy helps people recognize biased or manipulative messaging. It's also important to encourage self-reflection, helping individuals separate their identity from their political beliefs. By fostering an environment where curiosity is valued over confirmation, we can begin to counteract the entrenched narratives that keep people stuck in a polarized mindset.

Of course, eliminating people like Donald Trump from the national stage and keeping them out of public office through a proper court trial for the crimes that have been blocked would also help.

Compiled with aid of ChatGPT

IS Fake News the Problem? Not Really.

It occurs to me, who cries all the time about the MSM and Fake News? It's from the right, right? I don't seem to have that problem, fewer progressives seem to have that problem.
What's up?

Education? Ted Cruz went to Harvard. but a college education doesn't make you smart or aware or educated. I've met those types. Also, you can pick up an agenda, filters, limited considerations, closed minds. Sounds pretty conservative oriented.

What got me thinking about this just was, just, thinking about it. Wondering, how can conservatives have such a tough time getting accurate news from the MSM? Why does so much to them seem fake?

Well, they've been told to think that way. They have a news network hammering them about it. A POTUS who hammers them about it. Their culture buys into it. And they seek it out and call it out.

Problem that occurred to me was this. When I used to study international Sate covert activities, espionage, and how that world works, they don't have such a difficult time of it.

Honestly, if I was able to research spies and their lies and find the truth, you can't watch MSM and garner reality from it? REALLY? Look, our intelligence community does this on a daily basis almost without thinking. JUST think about how they must view all this whining about fake news. Not to mention the hard-working journalists who acutely do a good job, work so very hard to do so and then you simply lump them into, Fake News? That's just....embarrassing.

Why do conservatives? Or progressives who do for that matter.

DON'T watch a single news source dummy! Main Stream Media are Fake in your opinion, so you only watch Fox News? What? WHO does that? No, not watch Fox News, but finds something distasteful so locks themselves in an intellectual closest and ignores the rest of reality! Sure you should check the MSM for validity. Yes, they are wrong at times. Yes, they may even tell lies. Fox News doesn't?

Please. But you take the time, make the effort to see if it's true, or if your people are wrong. THAT'S what an educated person does. But they don't just cry FAKE NEWS unless they have a marked agenda. And that's what we have here with an entire political party following it. The left rebels against it, the right is offended and the Russians join in and voila! Polarized society and a breaking down of America.

Great job guys!

It appears to me to be a limitation on their parts. I like Rachel Maddow. She will set you up with a history of an issue, then tell you the issue, and you can see what's up and the surrounding issues. Yes, she can go a tad liberal at times. But I can see that clearly when she does it and she usually makes it clear. If you're paying attention.

Times like that, I note it and move on. But she's not fake news. Now, much of Fox News is fake. But conservatives don't see them as fake news. Why? Well, their culture, their president, and their belief system (cognitive dissonance).

The problem is that people don't pay attention, don't take the time to think, don't survey news, NEVER listen to one source. ALWAYS vet your info, it's not even that hard. SEE/HEAR when your sources go off track.

In researching covert ops that aren't available to the public, many of them are. By getting disparate sources, you can even when one source lies, uncover the truth.

It's not THAT hard, but it takes getting used to it. TO be sure it's easier and cathartic to yell, Fake News, move on, listen to YOUR pundits, and claim... KNOWLEDGE!

Uh-huh. Right pal.

My point? FAKE NEWS isn't the issue. People who scream fake news are. The facts are there. You just have to be able to recognize them, without cognitive dissonance, without buying into lies, especially when they so well and pleasantly fit YOUR agenda. Or when your leaders or pundits are telling you what to believe.

TRUST BUT VERIFY. There is NO need to be paranoid. But you have to put some effort into your assimilation of the facts and know facts from opinions, and lies.

And? When you find YOUR team is lying most of the time?

Stop being a Republican. Stop having a conservative mind. Those are generally speaking, closed off forms of thought, by definition, and by design.. Add in religion, it's like fuel to the fire. Conservatism is a form of government to limit things, not expand. To retard, not grow. By it's nature it is about austerity and isolationism, not wealth (for all, stop being so limited) and openness.

“In the social and civil context as well, I appeal not to create walls, but to build bridges," Pope Francis.

It's far more conducive to acquiring wealth and power, also. But in good ways, by being inclusive, where the strength is. 

Pope Francis also said: "In every religion there is always an integralist group that does not want to move ahead and lives from bitter memories, past conflicts, and seeks even more war and sows fear." @americamag

Same goes for political parties. And the one most closely resembling what he refers to here is the Republican party with their confused evangelical Christians. 

Open your mind. Learn. Expend effort. Survey information and news. Never use ONE news source. Talk or listen to your opponents. Pay attention to your pundits and heroes and question when they go off track.

Perhaps the current forms of progressiveness aren't perfect either. But they are in part a reaction to conservatism, which has led the way in many cases in pushing agendas out of fear and a dislike for change, a love of status quos. Which, status quos, require change even to maintain. So much of that is counter intuitive, which is frustrating to the conservative mind.

Overall, we just have to pay attention. And if we can't. Well, then Republican party is waiting with open arms, and you can go on whining disingenuously about Fake News with all your new friends.

Fake News is not the problem. We are. 

11 11, #23, The Porus Mind, Magic, Beliefs in Unreality

One of the truly awesome marvels in life is that things out of the ordinary do happen. Way more than you think. Especially if your life is or appears to you, dark and ominous. Just open your eyes, marvels are everywhere. They happen all the time. To think they don't is to be delusional. Not the other way around.

And that, is a problem.

Patterns, occurrences, events, the porous mind, examples of the underlying formula in the universe that appear different from what you normally see day in and day out. Strange things happen all the time. Good and bad. Recognize them. Enjoy them as you can. Just do not run off like they have some vastly intense and significant meaning to you personally. They probably don't much of the time.

Don't just go off thinking there is some conspiracy, when all there is has to do with regular and random occurrences. In a vast network of processes and systems such as our life and the universe are, the fact that many of these things happen simply appear in a way, unique. When they actually happen less than one should expect.

It can be counter intuitive.

What may seem to happen all the time... to you, actually happens all the time everywhere, unseen. Yet, once you notice it it may seem to happen (even if only to you) all the time. When really, it does not. No I'm not crazy, the universe merely appears to be if you do not understand what is going on.

Once you notice them, they are everywhere. Like my last car I bought. Never noticed those before. Now I see they are everywhere. They are everywhere, and yet in reality, they aren't that big of a group compared to the  whole of all cars, or all vehicles, or all moving (even air and water and space) vehicles.

Numerology, phrenology, the occult, all fun stuff. Just, keep it in perspective. For your own good. But to be honest, mostly for ours.

"Robert Anton Wilson cites William S. Burroughs as the first person to believe in the "23 enigma."[1] Wilson, in an article in Fortean Times, related the following anecdote:

"I first heard of the 23 enigma from William S Burroughs, author of Naked Lunch, Nova Express, etc. According to Burroughs, he had known a certain Captain Clark, around 1960 in Tangier, who once bragged that he had been sailing 23 years without an accident. That very day, Clark’s ship had an accident that killed him and everybody else aboard. Furthermore, while Burroughs was thinking about this crude example of the irony of the gods that evening, a bulletin on the radio announced the crash of an airliner in Florida, USA. The pilot was another Captain Clark and the flight was Flight 23."[2] - Wikipedia

On the other hand, several millennia ago, had you pulled out your Bic type lighter and flicked it at another person, aside from the possibility you could be killed on the spot. You'd be thought to have some kind of magical, or god like power. You'd be seen as a witch, a subject of Satan, or a demon.

When we all know it's just a conglomeration of plastic, flint, steel and gas put together in such a way to allow the spark of a flame to sustain itself.

To think there aren't such other things on that order in our current environment is simply not rational or reasonable. Though I would argue, science has made us very aware of these types of things and we may now have the ability, at very least, not to be so easily fooled or amazed.

Special effects in films, computer graphics, magicians and stage shows have added to that awareness. As well as conmen (criminal CONfidence abusers) through dissemination of police and media awareness efforts, the complaints of friends and perhaps but hopefully not, personal experience.

And therein, as with any good conspiracy theory, lay the rub. The ability to divine, to differentiate between fact and fiction, becomes for many, easily blurred. Some therefore may find themselves trapped in a belief they should never have entertained. And yet, there they are. Stuck, entranced, captured. And that opens them up for further abuse and misuse.

Conmen depend on that element of human nature. They depends on people's decency, or greed, or even our pattern recognition skills. Conspiracy theorists depend on this, too. Some may well be heartfelt and inadvertent in their actions, not even realizing themselves what they are doing. To themselves, to others, to their country at large when they have a platform to speak from.

Too many however, especially nowadays have discovered, as it has become obvious, that one can live an extravagant life if only one can dispense with ethics and morality. Something which too many today have done and they are prevalent on TV, radio, in print and online. Even our White House.

We see it from sites like InfoWars, from Rush Limbaugh, from other alternate fact (lies) people. It broaches over into more mainstream media like the problematic and too often disingenuous, Fox News. On a lower plane there is Breitbart and the Drudge Report (someone asked if it wasn't really the grudge report, but I digress).

Arguing over the clarity or alacrity, the veracity or truth of these sorry elements is not the point.

People abuse us merely because of how we work and react as human beings. We have been hacked and it is up to us, not just the government, police, or others, but us to educate ourselves and remain vigilant. For our own protection and for the protection of all others. Especially those who can so easily fall prey to these kinds of people and dynamics. Easily preyed upon and abused. And that can affect us all.

Still, aside from the negative aspects of humanity and the dynamics of hustling, it is still easy to find oneself immersed in strange, unuseful, unproductive, or even damaging beliefs. Partly because we observe, we notice things, and they stick with us.

Our naturally obsessive compulsive and pattern recognitive nature takes over and our pattern recognition skills kick in filling in what isn't there. Our imagination goes into overdrive. Our cognitive dissonance and so many other phrases and dynamics, syndromes and conditions can and many times do engage. We need to be aware, to stay abreast of these things, to watch out for others.

Because for some things like these, we all really do need one another's help. Together, we can get to a better and more stable life. First, we have to stop seeing one another as the enemy. For we have met him, and he's not always us.

Spatial Disorientation and Cognitive Dissonance

There are things in life where we are convinced we are right about them. We divine the reasons for them as 100% correct in how we view them. And yet, we are completely wrong.

There are various theories about these things. But the one I'm referring to is an odd one. It happens to airplane pilots from time to time and pilots are taught to trust their instruments. It's called Spatial Disorientation.

I'm not really talking about Cognitive Dissonance: the mental stress or discomfort experienced by an individual who holds two or more contradictory beliefs, ideas, or values at the same time, or is confronted by new information that conflicts with existing beliefs, ideas, or values. - Wikipedia which also says:

"Individuals can adjust their attitudes or actions in various ways. Adjustments result in one of three relationships between two cognitions or between a cognition and a behavior.

Consonant relationship – Two cognitions/actions that are consistent with one another (e.g., not wanting to get intoxicated while out, then ordering water instead of alcohol)

Irrelevant relationship – Two cognitions/actions that are unrelated to one another (e.g., not wanting to get intoxicated while out, then tying your shoes)

Dissonant relationship – Two cognitions/actions that are inconsistent with one another (e.g., not wanting to get intoxicated while out, then consuming six tequila shots)."

There is also a consideration of the magnitude of the dissonance but I'm talking about having no idea about any dissonance but rather an outside force indicating one that simply makes no sense to us.

When you find that you seem to be diametrically opposed to what makes sense, when you see you are going against the stream, against the norm, against all others, which makes more sense? That you are an amazing genius, that you are a maverick, going against the stream of sheep all headed in the direction the herd is taking them? Or that you have somehow gotten waylaid, turned about and are even upside down as can happen to pilots in flight.

If you fly a plane through a cloud layer just right, it is impossible to tell you are upside down. The glass of water next to you is still apparently upside right in relation to the cockpit, your sense of inner ear balance tells you all is normal, your weight appears to be just as it should. And yet, your indicator on the control panel says, you are upside down. It's impossible, right?

However there can be reasons for all appearing normal and how you got there. Distractions and make you miss important clues and signs that you are flipping over. As you flip over (or as in life, around), you unconsciously compensate on the flight controls, pulling up in the cockpit and sideways and then upside down, maintaining correct g forces so that once you pay attention and see your horizon indicator is off, you adjust and now all is well.

Except that now you are 180 degrees from your normal. You are now, upside down. Or as in life, 180 degrees from your starting point and now facing backwards, or taking on a position that is directly opposed to the position you think you are taking. Night is day, right is wrong, good, is now bad.

All you can do it constantly check your position. Keep your ego in check. Pay attention to the controls and indicators you have available to you. Trust something, outside of yourself. Yes, you have sometimes to trust only yourself, but sometimes you have to trust others, or other things.

Trust that which is impervious to opinion (such as a flight control indicator). Correct your position from time to time. Be sure of your reasoning and be sure it is not ego in the way of your seeing clearly what is actually happening to you and therefore, possibly those around you because of your orientation.

How many Nazis after WWII in reflection, in hindsight, in viewing their previous actions in the light of the commentary of the entire world, finally saw the folly of their previous beliefs. But then it was too late and then even they knew they deserved what was about to come down on their heads, even though they would strive to escape it because in the end, they didn't want anything even remotely near to what they did to others, to happen to them. .

Be absolutely sure in life that you truly are facing forward, that you are upside right and not 180 degrees from the position you merely believe you are facing as you are pulling your plane upward directly into the ground below you.