America was settled by people seeking to escape the economic domination of European landed aristocracies, here was a place and time where everyone had a chance, even if very few actually made it. The new world offered much, but it didn’t always deliver, and it is always easier to blame the obstruction of others for one’s own shortcomings. Both Communism and Capitalism bases its political (as opposed to its academic) appeal on that fact. To reach the masses, you have to tailor your message to their history, their concerns and their experience. Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations is a tough read, Nixon’s Southern Strategy worked much better.

To get the truck drivers and office clerks of America to storm the Capitol you can’t give them theory and philosophy. You have to offer them material that makes sense to them.

For many years I myself have considered the decline in conservative intellectualism to the dumbing down effects of FuxNews and the rest of the rightwing media. Certainly Trump got sucked into that mass mental delusion. But this is something more than what I thought. These are clear signs of dementia, not just forgetfulness. A diseased brain to go along with the already narcissitic, egomanical, megalomaniac mental illness.

I know the signs now, especially upon reflection of the early stages, often overlooked. That blank look on his face as he tries to find the right word. The word salad. His gait. He’s way past the inflection point now.

One thing I learned was that as it progresses, the patient’s mind goes backwards in time, eventually going back to childhood levels of cognition. It is difficult to witness. Afternoons and evenings are the worst time of day for symptoms. The written word starts to become elusive. Typically, only towards the end, do they realize their mind is slipping. Anger is common. A desire to escape, run away.

His family and handlers see more than we do, trust me.

A follow up article on Salon:

https://www.salon.com/2024/03/01/like-someone-pulled-the-metaphorical-plug-dr-john-gartner-on-accelerating-dementia/

At first I thought he was deliberately dumbing himself down to appeal to his base, but now I think its just the opposite: he finally sank to the level where his base found him appealing.

Look at some of his old appearances on Youtube.