From The Propaganda Professor:
This kind of magical thinking is the very backbone of conservatism, which promotes tragically failed policies, practices and beliefs on the arrogant assumption that they’re going to pay off in spades somehow soon just because conservatives want them to, and dang it they deserve to have their way, always. Conservatism, in essence, is the unwavering conviction that what has never worked in the past will somehow go on working in the future. Pampering the rich will somehow induce them to share their wealth. Waging aggressive warfare will somehow lead to lasting peace. Killing killers will stop other killers from killing. Allowing corporations to indulge unfettered in rapacious behavior will cause them to act responsibly. Ignoring racism will cause it to magically disappear. Banning abortion will end it this time, even though that’s always failed miserably and horribly in the past. Pumping more guns into the population will somehow stop people from using them so much. No need to worry about our trashing of the environment, because any day now, Jesus will arrive on the scene to end it all. And any day now, we heard for four years, the White House Occupant is going to make an abrupt “pivot” and suddenly start behaving like an adult for the first time in his life. Any day. Just trust us.
This attitude brings to mind the “cargo cults” of certain Pacific islanders, and especially on the island of Tanna, built around a mythical (or quasi-mythical) figure known as John Frum. This cult, which apparently originated in the 1930s, is based upon the legend that the island was once visited by a westerner (perhaps an American serviceman) who brought the natives lots of goodies. (The name John Frum may have originated as “John from America”, which then became “John Frum from American”, and then just John Frum.) And now the people live in the hope and fervent certainty that someday he will return and transform their little enclave into a paradise. They have special festivals and ceremonies to honor him, with priests dressed in military-style uniforms and devotees marching in formation with bamboo “rifles”, and with pictures of anchors or the letters “USA” painted on their chests. Does this remind you of other cults and fanatical religious sects?
At the bottom of the food chain, adherents of these cults believe with all their minds and hearts and souls in the doctrines they’re being fed.