Think of it this way:
You have a conservative grandfather. Grandpa believes America and Americans are morally superior to everyone else. Grandpa believes that wealth and property are sacred. Grandpa believes that he should have absolute authority on his property. Grandpa is a business owner who thinks his employees should kiss the ground he walks on. Grandpa believes his family should listen to him without question or they are idiots. Grandpa tries to keep his family financially dependent on him so he can play the "You're ungrateful" card when they criticize him; or Grandpa cuts off his kids at 18 because he thinks they should pull themselves up by their bootstraps.
One day, Grandpa starts to lose the things in life that let him act the way he did. His health fails, so he cannot run his business on his own how he used to.
Loss of control.
His kids become more economically independent, so he can't threaten to cut them off if they cross him.
Loss of control.
His grandkids see how unhappy and unlikable he is, and stop listening to his criticisms of them and their parents.
Loss of control.
His kids have lives of their own, and they don't want to visit him because they know he feels entitled to total obedience and respect on his property.
Loss of control.
Grandpa starts to notice his control slipping, but he refuses to ask for help. Asking help, rather than demanding or forcing it, is a sign of weakness. He can't force obedience anymore, but he tries to demand it anyway. His friends get tired of being around him and find new friends. His family gets tired of him and avoids him whenever possible. His employees get tired of him and quit. Those who still spend time around him do so out of self-service or pity.
America is that grandfather. American conservatives are that grandfather. America is a geopolitical Sick Man who can't understand why its hegemony is not eternal. America can't stand a world where it is not top dog, and the only way it knows how to maintain that position is violence. "America first" carries the implicit threat of "Give us what we want or we will take it how we want." Unfortunately for these people, the world is not so unipolar as it was when we rose to power. America can't force people to respect it out of fear or necessity like it used to. America can't even force its own children to respect it. Kids (and me, when I was a kid) see these demands for unconditional loyalty/respect and it just seems pathetic and naive.
On top of aaaaaall that, Trump is also a foreign intelligence asset, and he is being directly or indirectly led to destroy America's prestige and power for the benefit of its rivals.
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Diagnoses: AS, Depression, General & Social Anxiety
I guess I just wasn't made for these times.
- Brian Wilson
Δυνατὰ δὲ οἱ προύχοντες πράσσουσι καὶ οἱ ἀσθενεῖς ξυγχωροῦσιν.
Those with power do what their power permits, and the weak can only acquiesce.
- Thucydides
Conservatism discourages thought, discussion, consensus, empathy, and hope.
07 Jan 2026, 1:14 am
