I think politicians believe that protestors are paid to voice someone's opinion because they are paid to voice someone's opinion.

[hamishb@mstdn.ca]

Journalists have a certain sympathy for that, too. There is a market-based standard of 'normality' to be maintained.

@larsmb

[mjj@mstdn.dk]

@larsmb They often seem genuinely puzzled that people would be working on improvements to society just to work on society. There has to be another motive...

[benroyce@mastodon.social]

@larsmb

conspiracy theory in general is about people who don't understand morality. they are immoral or amoral chuds

where morally normal people react badly, widely, to an aspect of bigotry, they don't understand where that is coming from. "must be some sort of coordinated effort?"

this observation only applies to the average dimwit bigot

on top of that effect, there is knowing manipulation of such fools for agendas, by those you indicate: politicians who know how to work over bigoted losers

[theriac@plasmatrap.com]

@larsmb@mastodon.online
in the UK:

RE: https://plasmatrap.com/notes/am1ykmzerb

[crazyeddie@mastodon.social]

@larsmb I really only ever see that claim come out of the mouths of the politicians that actually do pay protestors, agitators, and testimonialists (whatever you call the person you pay to testify for you before congress).

So I just see it as a spotlight -- which is what a projector looks like when you're standing in front of it.

[dr_bad@mastodon.social]

@larsmb Because they themselves can’t relate to any motivation that doesn’t involve money.

[larsmb@mastodon.online]

I should clarify: *some* politicians. I know actually great ones who genuinely try exist, and I love them. You know whom I mean for both types.

But that'd have made the post less punchy.

[lockspringer@chaos.social]

@larsmb For anyone who wants me to reply, 'That's bullshit! Not everyone is being paid. There's something called the free exchange of opinions in the marketplace of ideas', that'll be €20.

[gooba42@mastodon.social]

@larsmb They can't imagine other people having genuinely different motivations or opinions. Modern politics is all about this team of donors paying for politicians to oppose the other team of donors.

[numodular@c.im]

@larsmb OTOH, the 99% aren't getting much back from the abusive 1%, so how much "paid"?..

#DemocraticSocialism #Revolution

[hakeemg@mastodon.social]

@bhaugland @larsmb

Obama cut the uninsured rate for black Americans by a third and raised taxes on the rich to do it. He also expanded Medicaid to million of the nation's poorest people. Of course he wasn't alone in doing this Pelosi led the House Democrats and Harry Reid led the Senate Democrats.

[darwinwoodka@mastodon.social]

@mjj @larsmb

It would be nice if we had a society

[wideeyedcurious@mstdn.social]

@larsmb They can’t comprehend that anyone would do it for free.

[kitkat_blue@mastodon.social]

@larsmb

It's fking *PROJECTION*! Hell-fkn-LO!

Is that concept really so difficult for people to comprehend? It must be, because the republicans don't do much else *but* projection yet...? That jumbo jet just flies unnoticed over soooo many heads.

"Jumbo jet?! What jumbo jet??! I'm sooo confused....projection? Huh? Like with a movie or...?"

I despair.

[nike_leonhard@literatur.social]

@larsmb
Sadly this sounds absolutely sound and sensible.

[wakejagr@hachyderm.io]

@martinvermeer @levampyre @larsmb

Ooh. I like that.

[cassandra@ottawa.place]

@larsmb That makes sense. They can't conceive of someone having an opinion that *isn't* subject to purchase.

[raganwald@social.bau-ha.us]

@larsmb SImilar take:

Politicians believe that protestors are protesting on behalf of someone else.

They're right about that, but wrong about whom. We protest for each other and for generations to come, rather than for some corporation that hires think tanks and lobbyists.

See also: "Special interest groups." Damn right we're a special interest group. We take a special interest in the destiny of our fellow citizens.