Absolutely Nothing Can Be Done About It

This country is too far gone down the rabbit hole for masses of people who support Trump to change their mindset in any meaningful way.  The study mentioned in the post is disturbing, but it isn't surprising.

The author of the linked article is a bit young and a bit naive.  The fact is you can never "reach consensus" with these people. These people were raised with a mindset, typically racist and sexist, with often a large chunk of religious right upbringing, and they cannot be changed. EVER. Perhaps the worst thing that was ever done in the past thirty or so years was the Reagan administration's  repeal of the Fairness Doctrine. I was furious at the time it was done because I knew it would mean the rise of far right propaganda in seemingly mainstream media. Almost immediately we had nonstop propaganda. Rush Limbaugh's rise is directly attributed to the repeal of the Fairness Doctrine. Fox "News" was the first openly right-wing "news" network--and the first real propaganda major "news" outlet--in the United States and came into being about a decade after the Fairness Doctrine's repeal. The whole purpose of Fox was to appeal to its followers' base views and not to inform, let alone be fair to other points of view. It was and is a bastardization of what American media are supposed to be about. Fox owner Rupert Murdoch had media outlets in other countries such as Australia and the UK, which operate on a complete different mindset. Newspapers in those countries are open about their viewpoints, and it seeps into their general news reporting.

Stupid Is As Stupid Does

Anybody who voted for Trump should not be publicly admitting he or she did so. These people should hang their heads in embarrassment. The fact Trump is crazier by the day, and the fact our national government is headed by batshit crazy and sociopathic people like Trump, Pence, McConnell, and Ryan means these people who supported him are fucking stupid and brainwashed.

Yes, brainwashed. One of the worst things that ever happened was the Reagan administration repeal of the Fairness Doctrine. It led directly to the rise of Rush Limbaugh and hate radio and a few years later to Fox "News." Prior to that, radio and television stations had to operate under the "public interest" or risk losing their licenses. If they brought in somebody who discussed one aspect of an issue, they had to provide opportunity for other points of view. By repealing the Fairness Doctrine, 24/7 far right propaganda was possible, and eventually it seeped into regular news outfits. I was absolutely furious when Reagan repealed it because I KNEW this was going to give rise to outright propaganda.

And that is what has happened. Now it is fashionable to be a woman-hater, a racist, even an anti-semite, when in times of yore bigots were marginalized and regarded as the scum they were. Politicians like Nixon kept his racism private but used code for the beleaguered white dudes (the hardhats and the old Dixiecrats), plus manipulated the political apparatus as we know now (the Chennault Affair and Watergate) to get elected. But now thanks to thirty years of outright right-wing propaganda in order to fuel hatred and resentment toward others so that the real people in charge can pilfer the public treasury, bigotry can now be openly celebrated and bigots can be president while outright KKK types like Bannon can be involved in literally pushing the nuclear button.

It is fucking terrifying by the day, but this is what happens when you allow the media to peddle propaganda catering to people's base attitudes.

I don't believe these stupid fucks who voted for Trump are "fearful." They are bigots and seek validation for their vile beliefs.

Period.