There is little to be done with those preying on others to gather personal wealth, but, the solution to this dynamic is the same for both, teach to remove ignorance.
It is amazing to me that once unruly students become ENGAGED in the lesson being taught when personal attention is provided to bring them up to speed.
When I teach and notice behavioral problems or silent distraction I always offer personal help during class and at the end of teaching a daily lesson, I offer time at the end of the day for any student who cares to review any subject. Guess what? I never leave on time for home because students always show up after they too finish classes.
The point is children and/or young people have “ego defenses.” Those ego defenses are difficult to get past because they receive approval from peers with similar knowledge deficits. I do believe knowledge deficits are at the basis of many a bully and their cohorts.
I have yet to witness a student engaged in study and doing well, spend time as a bully so much as completing an in class assignment or homework. When students with poor behavior are proved an opportunity to ask questions one on one during or after class their bad behavior improves and often is eliminated. I believe that same method of engagement extends to adults.
People long for power in their lives that will not betray their trust. Americans engaged in politics for the first time in their lives regardless of their age will attach themselves to foolish and often adverse information for the purpose of peer acceptance. It is a form of brainwashing on a societal level. It isn’t political because it is based in disinformation, lies, half-truths and a demonization of truth tellers.
ie: Don, Jr. and probably Ivanka will engage any peripheral belief system, including white supremacy/nationalists. The most stark example is that of the “Tiger King.” I think that is the name of the wayward and supposed animal loving people that created a movie about their caging of what should be wild animals. Jr. didn’t care about the truth. He took the “fascination” of those following and enthusiastic about the movie as his purpose when he achieves power to right a supposed wrong, hence voters.
It isn’t okay anymore for politics to estrange American voters from the truth and benevolence that is the foundation of this democracy. All Americans must be told an understanding of truth and why truth is considered the best basis for power.
I sincerely believe when politics goes off the rails to allow adversity a legitimate place in society it in turn destroys democracy. Democracy lives and grows within truth. Not truthiness, but, unforgiving truth.
Truth does not abandon democracy, it solidifies it. Truth is a vapor and not brick and mortar. It can easily be toyed with when ethics is scoffed at as a sissy behavior. Ethics is not law, but, ask any student I have taught if it is important and they will say, “My principal and parents cannot punish me for telling it.”
Truth is a foundation that becomes stronger as it grows among a society. It is not a toy, it is freedom. In the case of Trump supporters, the unwitting become knowledgeable and those seeking wealth at the expense of democracy can no longer deliver votes for the lack of followers.
