(This post was intended for politics@lemmy.world, but as it seems they don’t allow text posts, I’m posting it here)

This post will likely not go over well with everyone and some people may not agree with the premise of the question. Mods please remove if not allowed.

I am curious if the MAGA-esque approach to politics is new for the US, or if there have been other examples of similar political movements which may be considered “cult-like”. To better define what I mean, here are some examples:

  • Large amounts of signs bearing a candidate’s name being shown by single individuals (e.g. big trucks covered in Trump signs everywhere)

  • Use of a candidate name over the US flag

  • Use of a kind of supporter uniform (e.g. the red MAGA hat)

  • The “alternative facts” of MAGA, where debate can be impossible because supporters believe anyone who is a detractor must be lying

  • In some cases, voter intimidation or coercion from staunch supporters

It seems to me that some of this is new but I’d love to hear other thoughts. I have heard and seen many relatively obvious parallels to German politics in the 20s-40s, but I’m specifically wondering if anything similar has ever been seen in the US before.

  • circuitfarmer@lemmy.sdf.orgOP
    101·
    6 days ago

    There have been demagogues before, with cultish followings, but they’ve not been anywhere near as popular as Trump.

    This is pretty much where I was coming from with the post. It seems like a new thing to have something so culty be so popular in the US.

    Thanks for these. Joseph Smith in particular is an interesting example. I didn’t know he attempted to run for President at one time. On the Mormon side, I find it quite interesting that his religion still exists despite him being outed as a charlatan. I guess that also says something about human nature.

    • dudinax@programming.dev
      6·
      6 days ago

      I find it quite interesting that his religion still exists despite him being outed as a charlatan.

      The resilience of obviously garbage beliefs among people who are manifestly not stupid is a mystery worth solving.