When I was growing up in the 60s and 70s, my parents were, by far, the most liberal people I knew. They were (and still are) intellectuals. Above all the things they taught me, they taught me to think. To question. To examine the evidence. And then question and think some more. They are why I am a scientist today.
During the 70s they focused their careers on alternative "green" energy. We lived in solar houses that my Mom designed (and on one, contracted). We drove a diesel VW rabbit. They voted for McGovern and Carter. I have to admit to being a bit to the right of them. Among other things, at 18 years old I wanted to drive a V8 Camaro, not an underpowered Euro-box.
Imagine my shock and surprise during a recent visit when they went on and on with Fox speaking points about Obama. They hadn't bought into birtherism (thank goodness) and admitted that Romney was a very weak candidate. But they really think that Obama will complete his ruination of the country which he started four years ago. After all, he had a super majority for two years and there was the tea party revolt and look where we are now. I tried to reason with them about the fact that we were in economic free fall when he took office -- but reason doesn't seem to be as effective as it once was.
In the past I have jokingly used the line from a Bill Cosby routine: "These are not the people I grew up with." But that was always in reference to the significant mellowing of my dad in particular over the years. But now I am worried. These really aren't the people I grew up with -- the ones that taught me to be a scientist. The propaganda being promulgated by the right is having an effect. I would attribute it to something like the Force which "can have a strong influence on the weak-minded" -- except my parents are not weak minded.
On the other hand, I do think there is a certain amount of insecurity in their lives and the republicans seem to be all about stoking fear. Fear is not always rational -- it causes reactions from a more primitive part of our brains -- and I think by speaking to the fear, the republicans have been able to bypass even the formidable intellects of my parents.
My mother in law is a more tragic story. In the 70s she was also quite liberal. I don't think she would like that label now -- maybe not even then. A better word for he might be progressive. She literally took on city hall over a number of issues. She laid down in front of the malathion trucks that were dispersing poisonous fog up and down the streets of her home town. For a number of reasons -- all outside her control -- she is in a very insecure position. And, again, I think the deftness with which the republicans are able to capitalize on fear and insecurity has taken her hard to the right.
The republicans seem all about cultivating fear, exploiting it, and using their power to make the world seem (and in too many cases actually be) even more unsafe and scary.
I think to counteract the republican demagoguery we need to understand what it is they are actually exploiting. They aren't persuading their supporters with facts. They are using lies and fear and propaganda to manipulate a large portion of the population to vote republican -- and to vote against their own self interests. Of course, the 1% who vote republican are not voting against their own self interests -- it is in their interest for the rest of the population to be in constant fear. A fearful population is an obedient population.
Our challenge is that the 1% who are so effectively using fear as a mind control tool ar also in control of the mass media (and just about everything else).