It's absolutely true that they're in a cult, BUT

[senseandsensibility]

WHY are they in a cult? That's the more interesting question. Part of the answer, of course, is corporate media propaganda. That's been called out many times on this site.

But there's another answer as well. They WANT to be in a cult. They want their beliefs to be confirmed, they want easy answers to complex questions, they even want things to be "funny", or their definition of funny. Yes, they think Cheato is funny. Cruelty and lying are funny to them.

They don't understand the importance of elections, democracy, or how they benefit from a stable law enforcing government. So they're willing to risk everything for a little "fun", a sense of belonging, and feeling like a winner.

[Ocelot II]

1. Why does anyone join a cult? The cult meets some psychological need,

typically having to do with wanting to belong to a strong group or movement in which they are special somehow. Religious cults offer their spiritual benefits only to the true believers, far beyond what ordinary church membership offers - you are specially blessed; you and your co-members have the secret key to salvation that can't be obtained anywhere else. The cult of Trump is different from religious/spiritual cults in the sense that it doesn't physically isolate its members, but it does offer them a sense of solidarity against evil anti-American forces like diversity, feminism, immigration, tolerance of gender/sexuality differences, etc. The Trump cult motivates its members by creating fear of these forces, making up all manner of lies and conspiracies about how "America" will be destroyed if "his" (white) people don't band together and elect TFG their Fearless Leader.

[senseandsensibility]

2. I agree with everything you said

but I also think that there is this feeling of "fun" that they seem to be feeling as well. It's hard to us to recognize because to most of us (well, me anyway) a Cheato rally seems like hell on earth. But they think it's fun. And part of the reason they think it is fun is because they don't understand the seriousness and danger of what he is saying. They don't understand what a stable government does for them, so they think it's all talk and it's funny.

[Ocelot II]

4. It's part of the collective experience. They meet up with like-minded people,

share and thereby reinforce their beliefs - seeing many other (white) people with their red hats and hateful signs and bumper stickers; they get to feel good about what they're doing and it's all a big lark. It's probably an endorphin rush like Taylor Swift's fans get at her concerts, only mean and dumb.

[usonian]

3. The "four horsemen" created it.

There are four factors that have been building since the early days of John Birch and so forth.

• “Preachers” who lost power and influence in the 60’s with their opposition to sex, drugs and rock’n roll (and Jews and Blacks, of course) and who sought secular power instead (and lots of money, naturally)

• Oligarchs always opposed to any form of regulation, taxes, and pissed as hell that the needy, (and Jews and Blacks) get money that is theirs by divine right.

• Politicians, with a hand out to the highest bidder, now seemingly blackmailed. Bill Barr? Are you talking? Got rubles?

• Racism and antisemitism, the force behind nearly all dictators.

As the coalition built, helped by antisocial media, the temperature and critical mass arose to create a cult, fueled mostly by the racism and antisemitism.

This seems to follow the fascist playbook, with strong similarities to the Hitler movement, but this time, fueled by arguably, Russian money. It’s the way a third-rate power works, by creating fifth columns and dividing countries rather than attacking, which it is incapable of doing. (Want an example? Why are the GOP so violently opposed to money for the Ukraine and why was Dopey the Stenchmeister so intent on destroying NATO?)

Well, that’s that for your scrutiny.