Lately, my Mastodon feed has been giving me posts with a certain theme. It’s the same message every time, but with different graphics and text. The basic format shows two sides of the illegal immigrants in the USA: taking our jobs and going on welfare.
I did a little research and found this theme has been called the Schrödinger’s Cat Immigrant Meme.
Schrödinger’s cat was either alive or dead, or both alive and dead at the same time. I kind of grok this philosophy, but moreso not. I suspect other people are in the same boat as me when it pops up in popular culture.
Somehow, the above meme was associated with Schrödinger’s work in quantum mechanics. Basically, it says, “How can those ‘evil’ immigrants take our jobs and get welfare benefits at the same time?”
My version of the truth is that both are possible. Some immigrants do take jobs away from Americans (more likely jobs that Americans don’t want to do for the wages offered). And other immigrants find ways to go on social assistance (especially when children are affected). And I suspect some immigrants play both sides.
So, philosophically speaking, the Schrödinger’s allusion to this real-life issue seems to be accurate. We cannot be sure whether a particular illegal immigrant falls into the categories of working, welfaring, or both.
But when this meme is posted on the Internet, it takes on a different meaning. Rather, the meme quickly conveys the paradox of two common talking points the MAGA movement often brings up. When the two points are put side-by-side, it’s too easy to conclude that MAGA must be stupid to believe both outcomes at the same time. The whole Schrödinger’s cat philosophy goes out the window.
A Medium political writer gave us this article a month (which you might not be able to view if you are not a Medium member). It is a well-written compilation of more paradoxes coming from MAGA. But what is the real purpose of this article?
Before I offer some motivations for this kind of writing, let me first say that I’m not trying to single out this political Medium writer. Many other political writers are writing similar articles — with similar motivations.
Here is my list of suspected motivations:
1. These articles show the MAGA crowd is not that intelligent. It feels good to prove how WE are so much smarter than THEY.
2. Writing these articles is cathartic and therapeutic. They give US the illusion that WE are doing something to change this crazy world, in which most of US seemingly have so little influence.
3. Maybe WE believe these articles will entice traditional non-voters to vote for OUR side.
4. Maybe WE believe that WE can bend the will of those overly ambitious people who want to govern US.
5. Maybe WE believe these articles will entice other people to a higher level of political action. Some will write and post similar articles. Some will donate money to the Democratic Party. Some will actually canvass for the Democratic Party, which is the best way for average people who don’t like Republicans to effect the election in a non-Republican way.
6. Maybe these articles will be read by someone in the MAGA crowd. Maybe a few of THEM will realize the error of their ways and abandon (or reduce their involvement) in this political movement.
The order of this list is no accident. I believe #1 is the dominant reason for writing and posting anti-Trump, anti-Republican, anti-MAGA articles on Medium and other internet forums. For Reason #6, the writer may believe in the power of his/her writing. But we know this outcome is very unlikely.
Once again, I am not making friends on Medium. I’m a bottom writer for not jumping on the anti-Trump, anti-Republican, anti-MAGA bandwagon.
But Dave, MAGA is so stupid. Right?
MAGA is not a monolithic group. It is a political coalition of various conservative demographics: nationalist Christians, white supremacists, rural folk, anti-science types, anti-government types, businesspeople (large and small), kleptocrats, Republican hacks, gun enthusiasts, self-reliant citizens, American dream believers, conservatives who just don’t like Democrats, and maybe a few other groups. While the vocal part of MAGA is vocal, I believe many MAGA people are scared of where their country is going — and want to try something different.
In the summer of 2016, the “stupid people” saw something the “smart people” missed seeing. The stupid people saw a man who could politically unite them. They threw all their political weight behind this man — not just in voting, but in political organizing — and they got the result they were looking for. They almost got it again in 2020. They might get in 2024 — and the man seems more certain of where he wants to take the country the next time he is in charge.
MAGA people may not have heard about the Orwell Ratio. But they know that history tends to favor a small minority of citizens — at the expense of a big majority. The post-WW2 American middle class was an aberration of humanity’s natural social structure. A realignment has been forthcoming.
As the haves and have-nots have been readjusting themselves in the past two decades, the American aristocracy has been strengthening.
Of the 74M people who voted for Mr. Trump in 2020, it is doubtful that anymore than 1M belong to this aristocracy. In other words, the other 73M have either experienced a loss in societal opportunities or envision such a loss in their future.
But their leader is such a fool, right?
Some MAGA people have a strong domination instinct: they want to control people not in their tribe. This is a natural human tendency. The MAGA supporters are overlooking the flaws of their leader to give them that feeling of domination.
Some MAGA people don’t want to be on the bottom rung of the changing American hierarchy. This is a natural human tendency. The MAGA supporters are overlooking the flaws of their leader to put someone else at the bottom.
Some MAGA people want preferential treatment if they find themselves in a criminal or civil court. This is a natural human tendency. The MAGA supporters are overlooking the flaws of their leader for delivering a legal system more suitable for them.
Conclusion
So, after reading this article, how would you rate the intelligence of the MAGA people?
If the goal is to prepare a better future for themselves, methinks that MAGA people have played their political cards quite well.
Published on Medium 2024
I am Banned from the MAGA Camp
