🧵 As a former Republican consultant who left in 2015, I'm often asked why Trump and his minions are willingly destroying science, K12 education, universities, international organizations, public broadcasting, and social welfare institutions.
There are many reasons, but the main ones are psychological rather than ideological. They struggle with abstract thinking and are afraid of the world...
"Fear is the fuel that feeds the fires of hate.
Scratch the surface of hate, and you will often find fear hiding beneath.
...
Hate feels strong, while fear feels weak.
However, using hate to cover fear is not strength. It is weakness.
Those who are truly strong, admit their fears, face them, and find ways to overcome them, while those who are weak, hide behind their hate."
"I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past, I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain."
Dune
Due to personal, family, and cultural histories, some people are inherently terrified of most things.
The fear of the world usually manifests as fear and hatred of new things. They rarely admit to this fear (especially the men), but they show it in their actions of carrying a gun everywhere or thinking that if they don't cheat others first, they will be cheated.
