I think it's just not how people feel and this illusion is one of the ways the Nazi party was so effective. You have bot's, paid-pundits, and controlled social spaces just like the propagandist's and silencing of the dissenters before. Look at any poll, local action, or how people around you actually feel. I live in deep red country and everyone who was so pro-maga before kinda are just silent at this point on the actions of the administration but can still focus in on the "them" like they're told. Only takes a few questions to break it down though with reality.

The breaking up of communities is one of the most effective tactics they have, it should be a focus of progressive factions to double down on keeping open communication between neighbors.

[–] Ulrich@feddit.org 6 points 5 days ago (1 children)

how people around you actually feel

There are lots and lots of people around me who feel this way. That's what makes it so difficult and so hopeless to fight back. We're not just fighting authorities, we're fighting our families and friends, everyone of of them so dug in that they will hate and insult you if you so much as try to have a conversation about it.

[–] Cataphract@lemmy.ml 3 points 5 days ago

I think I understand your situation, a lot of the times I feel the same way. I think it's more realistic to focus on those close to us versus trying to solve the countries problems by ourselves. Everything I read or hear is just a study in what are good arguments to bring up and positions that make sense while reaching across the aisle. I consume conservative media and engage in online debates with conservatives for this very reason. It's all just a preamble to understand and try to reach someone on a topic.

There are definitely times and places where it's not welcomed (like in group settings), but if you continue educating yourself and understanding what fallacy they've indoctrinated within themselves, you can find those good times to engage. For example a recent immigration conversation I had with a relative, didn't go so well. Afterwords I reflected and found a good response asking them, "If masked armed people showed up to your neighbors house and started dragging people out, would you intervene or sit there watching?" It put them into the perspective of actually being there during a raid of someone they knew and benefited from, also allowed them to feel the fear and hopelessness when authoritarians come crashing into your reality. It's not much but it's a start and you just gotta go from there one step at a time.