3 Types of Con Supporters

To understand why Con politics thrives and how it can be countered, we should take a closer look at what type of supporters are behind it.

First and foremost, we have the Con leaders – people whose political career rests on tricking people into helping them secure power even though it would actually be detrimental to the unwitting helpers.  They have no compunction about cheating and lying, and are prone to falsely accuse honest politicians of cheating and lying.  They just want power to advance their self-centred ambitions – to enrich themselves, to celebrate their prejudices, and/or to intimidate anyone they like to designate as ‘enemies’ at home or abroad.  Anyone with the expertise and tenacity to expose their scam would be condemned by them as biased members of the ‘liberal establishment’.

 

Secondly, we have the Con enthusiasts – people who are highly susceptible to embracing the ‘values’ espoused by Con leaders: for example, the freedom to make money regardless of any harmful consequences for others; the importance of adhering to ‘traditional’ attitudes and practices no matter how oppressive they may be; and the adoration of the use of force irrespective of its efficacy or justification.  They don’t mind how their Con leaders abuse and exploit others so long as that leadership validates any abusive and exploitative behaviour they may indulge in themselves.

 

Thirdly, we have the Con fodder – people who do not actually share the core outlook of the Con leaders, but without adequate support or protection, are just too easily conned into believing Con spiel about how life would be made safer and more prosperous for all under leaders who routinely act against the advice of experts and the warnings of impartial observers. They want to live in a kinder and fairer society, but all too often fall prey to Con tricks which disparage sound political positions and present highly damaging policies as essential for the ‘good’ of the country (when in truth, the only beneficiaries are the Con leaders and their associates).

 

One strategy for countering the spread of Con politics is to enable potential Con fodder to see through the skulduggery of Con leaders.  There is, after all, a clear pattern to the tactics of charlatans who over and over again will push something they want against the wishes and judgement of everyone else, and they will self-righteously declare the vast majority of scientists, businesses, analysts, reporters, community organisations, health and security experts, and anyone else with the relevant experience as all wrong-headed or untrustworthy.  

Expose them repeatedly and thoroughly, call them out as liars whenever they embark on another round of deception, and in time, enough support will drain from them to render them less of a threat to our common wellbeing.