8-23-24
For years, many Republicans have seen themselves as rugged individualists, like they’re pioneers journeying into the great unknown beholden to no one. But something that has become quite obvious the last few years is that when compared to Democrats, Republicans are much more likely to blindly follow someone, even when it’s clear that individual does not deserve such a loyalty. Don’t believe me? Then consider the following.
First, let’s take a look at Democrats in the realm of how they see and go along with political leaders. Consider the case of Al Franken, the comedian who became a Democratic Senator for the state of Minnesota. He was elected to the position and then reelected a second time. But when allegations came to light of potential misconduct with regards to several women (which included hugging that may have become inappropriate and a tasteless photo), Democrats turned on him and called on him to resign, which he ended up doing. Want another example? Here you go. Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, another Democrat. During the early days of the COVID pandemic, millions of Americans around the country tuned in to his press conferences seeking guidance and leadership. As a result, he became quite popular and visible on a national level. But after allegations of sexual misconduct from multiple women came to light, his popularity plummeted. Many Democrats, including powerful leaders such as President Joe Biden, called on him to resign, which he ended up doing.
Now take a look at Donald Trump. He’s clearly a seriously narcissistic individual who lies to the point where many consider it pathological. He’s shown himself to have authoritarian tendencies and has cheated on his wife multiple times, even sinking to the point of paying off several women to try to keep their silence. At least 18 women have alleged inappropriate behavior towards them, including sexual harassment, groping, and so on. It’s also well known that he’s had very questionable business practices and now is a convicted felon. Yet despite all this, millions of Republicans still blindly follow him. It doesn’t seem to matter how outrageous and blatantly false his lies are, MAGA Republicans will follow him no matter what. They act as if he does no wrong. It’s almost like he’s their Messiah or something. So let’s be frank, when you consider the evidence, I think it’s safe to say that if a Democratic leader did even a third of the things Trump has done, Democrats would have turned on that person in a heartbeat. That individual’s political future would be in ruins.
It’s extremely dangerous when millions of people choose to blindly follow a political leader to the point of disregarding any and all evidence of that individual’s wrongdoing. This is how democracies turn into authoritarian governments and even full-blown dictatorships. Political leaders are not deities and should not be treated as such. It’s important in democracies for people to open their minds and get information from a variety of independent sources. They should look at political leaders honestly and fairly while purposely avoiding the temptation of becoming a blind follower. Blindly following a politician is extremely dangerous and ultimately, undermines democracy.
Views and Observations 