The lies ignore overwhelming evidence of Boelter’s actual politics: his roommate David Carlson told reporters Boelter voted for Trump and “was a strong supporter”. Other longtime friends told local media Boelter was right-leaning. While Minnesota voters don’t list party affiliation, he was registered as a Republican in Oklahoma in 2004.
Boelter’s own recorded sermons expose his extremist views. Preaching in Congo in 2023, he is recorded as saying: “The churches are so messed up, they don’t know abortion is wrong.” He ranted against LGBTQ people as “confused,” claiming “the enemy has gotten so far into their mind and their soul”. His alleged hit list included abortion providers and pro-choice advocates.
“A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.”
– Mark Twain
I’m not sure how to fight this constant assembly line of misinformation coming from hate groups like the current party in power, but we need something g more effective than the truth. Than words. The truth needs to be out there loudly and rapidly, but more needs to be done.
I hate to be the guy in the meeting saying something’s wrong without providing any kind of solution, but that’s where I’m at. It’s easy to say that news shouldn’t be for-profit, that creating and disseminating patently false information for the purpose of intentionally misleading the public should be punished as something like slander or something, or that the “news” complex in the US needs to be dismantled…but those are long, long term goals. And likely not realistic to expect in my lifetime.
It’s how authoritarians spread the fear and hate they need to survive, though. We have to cut this misinformation flow out somehow.
I dunno. Just venting. Frustrated. Sick of the lies thay prop up this dessicated zombie of a failed capitalist state. Sick of the inaction for any opposing factions in the government.
That’s all. Carry on with what you were doing.
There are things you can do.
- Call it out when you see it and then walk away. The trolls are very good at soft language to try and get you hooked into the conversation. I’m pretty good at spotting it and still get roped in occasionally.
- Downvote titles that have “Trump said…” most of the time. He’s just using the firehose.
- Downvote titles that have “Trump’s bill…” or “Trump’s DOJ…” (FDA, VA, etc.) type posts Most of these are Republicans doing this, not trump. Having his name in the headline makes it seem like it’s inevitable, when the Republicans can fire him at any time they want. They can also not let his shit through.
- Don’t let people constantly go after the democrat(s) when the Republicans are literally burning the world down, grifting and stealing while killing people and being racist af.
- Support your neighbors and community. If all of us protect the people in our bubbles, there’s going to be a lot of overlapping of protection.
These are all very excellent points, thank you!
The fight needs to be bigger, though. Individual action is important and does cause a snowball effect with enough momentum, but we’re fighting multiple full-on _industries _ that manufacture and/or spread vast amounts of misinformation. And that’s just in the US.
That’s the daunting part, and a big part of what I was lamenting.
There’s a vast amount fighting, moreso than I’ve seen in my lifetime. That should cheer you up. Republicans were at these protests too, that alone is something.
