More than a hundred years ago, an Indiana legislator introduced a bill, the purpose of which was to establish a formula for squaring the circle by legislative fiat. The bill came close to passing, but ultimately failed. But the idea that you can establish a fact by a consensus of the ignorant apparently lives on.
Trump was on television and was asked about his baseless claim that 3 million votes (each of which were cast for Clinton) were illegally cast in the election. It’s obviously true because:
The ABC host later asked, “Do you think that talking about millions of illegal votes is dangerous to this country without presenting the evidence?”
“Not at all because many people feel the same way that I do,” Trump replied.
This is hardly the first time Trump has used this sort of reasoning. In his case, it has a remarkable circularity. He tells a lie. His followers of little brain believe him. It is therefore a fact, which he can repeat based on the authority of the people he duped in the first place.
The press, at least some of it, is pushing back against the lies. It is to be hoped they will continue to do so, but my money is on the bulk of them acceding to the new normal in relatively short order. I truly recommend that everyone re-read 1984. It took a little longer maybe, but Orwell’s world is here.
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