Remember, we want interesting stories that fit into the narratives weโre telling ourselves. Every person (me, you, everyone) will try to construct a story that fits into things we already believe. If reality doesnโt fit, our minds will fight to find ways to feel more comfortable.
The โAmerica just got tossed into the abyssโ narrative seems to assign very little agency to actual Americans who really do get to decide whether the abyss looks more inviting than the non-abyss.
Certainly there is a pro-abyss contingent, just look for anyone trying to use the assassination attempt of Donald Trump to further turn the temperature up. The abyss is good for some people. There are also people who can be drawn into the pro-abyss faction by fear and frustration.
But I think the abyss is both undesirable and pretty avoidable. Also, pitching the abyss as inevitable feels like a pro-abyss talking point.
This has been my New York Times Op Ed for the day and โabyssโ no longer sounds like a real word to me. Abysss. Abyyysssssโฆ
One of the byproducts of the MAGA movement is the dumbing down of what is and what is not a crime. When you scream "Lock Her Up" instead of "file charges" - you don't even understand process. When you claim an election that was litigated 60 times was stolen, you don't understand evidence. It's simply a party of emotion - mostly anger - and it's fueled by dopamine rushes.