The Origins of Totalitarianism

Mass [totalitarian] propaganda discovered that its audience was ready at all times to believe the worst, no matter how absurd, and did not particularly object to being deceived because it held every statement to be a lie anyhow.

Totalitarian mass leaders based their propaganda on the correct psychological assumption that...one could make people believe the most fantastic statements one day, and...if the next day they were given irrefutable proof of their falsehood, they would take refuge in cynicism.

Instead of deserting the leaders who had lied to them, they would protest that they had known all along that the statement was a lie and would admire the leaders for their superior tactical cleverness.

— Hanna Arendt. The Origins of Totalitarianism. 1967.

I assume it is not necessary for me to list all the bald-faced, egregious lies spouted off by a certain Dear Leader over many years...?

@Soothfast said
[quote]Mass [totalitarian] propaganda discovered that its audience was ready at all times to believe the worst, no matter how absurd, and did not particularly object to being deceived because it held every statement to be a lie anyhow.

Totalitarian mass leaders based their propaganda on the correct psychological assumption that...one could make people believe the most fa ...[text shortened]... to list all the bald-faced, egregious lies spouted off by a certain Dear Leader over many years...?

The psychology of cults is amazing.

@shavixmir said
The psychology of cults is amazing.

It is. I cannot count how many times Trump said something outrageous, irresponsible, and incendiary, and obviously a lie, and the rubes licked it up like Astroglide off their cousin's ass, singing the praises of Dear Leader's unsurpassed "genius." Just look at AverageJoe, for example.

@Soothfast said
It is. I cannot count how many times Trump said something outrageous, irresponsible, and incendiary, and obviously a lie, and the rubes licked it up like Astroglide off their cousin's ass, singing the praises of Dear Leader's unsurpassed "genius." Just look at AverageJoe, for example.

It’s not even the falling for the lie that’s really intriguing. It’s defending the lie when it’s been disproven, even to the extent of moronity, which is.

It has to have something to do with the same triggers which allow people to believe in Gods or that sitting in a draft will give you the flu.

@Soothfast said
[quote]Mass [totalitarian] propaganda discovered that its audience was ready at all times to believe the worst, no matter how absurd, and did not particularly object to being deceived because it held every statement to be a lie anyhow.

Totalitarian mass leaders based their propaganda on the correct psychological assumption that...one could make people believe the most fa ...[text shortened]... to list all the bald-faced, egregious lies spouted off by a certain Dear Leader over many years...?

Our UK leader, the Reverend Starmer is recognised here as a pathological liar and a totalitarian.

He also talks like he has a severe nasal problem, a charisma bypass and he sports a circa 1955 haircut. But we don’t mind those quirks.