Isn't this strategy (assuming it is strategy and not just inherently chaotic corruption and incompetence in office - could be all of it I suppose?) eerily reminiscent of how abusive relationships are described in psychological literature on the topic?
First the abuser grinds down and hurts the victim, who normalises the abuse by rationalising and internalising the rationalisations to such a degree they become autonomous responses, rather than ighting back or escaping.
Then the abuser eases off and plays nice and gets the abused party to virtually or even literally thank them for easing off (often framed as "helping them bettering themselves", inquisitorial confessor-style), further making the victim complicit and therefore also guilt-ridden to such a degree they can no longer do anything than try to pre-empt abuse by attmpting to stay one step ahead of the abuser's triggers.
Does this sound right to you?
Also: I never thought I'd live to see the day when my nation, Sweden, was more free than California. Given our 20th century history, good and bad, that should make californians stop, think and retreat from the brink.
I saw your Stack mentioned in/on the Gutter; not disappointed by it in the slightest.
Isn't this strategy (assuming it is strategy and not just inherently chaotic corruption and incompetence in office - could be all of it I suppose?) eerily reminiscent of how abusive relationships are described in psychological literature on the topic?
First the abuser grinds down and hurts the victim, who normalises the abuse by rationalising and internalising the rationalisations to such a degree they become autonomous responses, rather than ighting back or escaping.
Then the abuser eases off and plays nice and gets the abused party to virtually or even literally thank them for easing off (often framed as "helping them bettering themselves", inquisitorial confessor-style), further making the victim complicit and therefore also guilt-ridden to such a degree they can no longer do anything than try to pre-empt abuse by attmpting to stay one step ahead of the abuser's triggers.
Does this sound right to you?
Also: I never thought I'd live to see the day when my nation, Sweden, was more free than California. Given our 20th century history, good and bad, that should make californians stop, think and retreat from the brink.
I saw your Stack mentioned in/on the Gutter; not disappointed by it in the slightest.