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this post was submitted on 27 Jul 2024
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I imagine there are a lot of conservatives that aren't actually so concerned about racism / sexism / LGBT issues as about financial ones. They fear that empowering the "leftists" will lead to them losing all the luxuries they enjoy, a flame Conservative pundits are all too happy to fan. Particularly when they believe they have a chance to become one of those rich people the leftists are actually targeting, they're worried about "lazy" people (obviously not working hard enough) coming for their hard-earned wealth. So even if they might disagree with the GOP's stance on the social issues, they're concerned about the "collateral damage" the progressives might do their own lives, and since that affects them much more tangibly than reports of social issues, they're naturally biased to worry about their own wellbeing first.
Religion obviously plays a role in enabling that mindset by justifying supremacy (I'm a better person, so I deserve better) and inequality (God gives us each what we deserve), giving an explanation for things we don't understand (God's plan) and a goal (be a pious Christian and go to heaven), relieving of guilt (just ask God to forgive you and that's that) and a fear of death (I'll go to heaven anyway). It also provides a mechanism for Power to steer people (The preacher I trust tells me it's God's will) and direct their anger and attention away from the people exploiting them (Those damn are the devil's agents and working against the good and pious people like myself).
Better access to education, teaching critical thinking and scepticism, helping people realise the lies they're fed - and particularly the fact that none of us are immune to deception and propaganda, no matter how smart - could help both these problems.