The Indifferent Masses?

James M. Ridgway, Jr.
2 min readJun 11, 2022

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It has been said that history is played out by the best and worst of society above the heads of the indifferent masses. You see, my friends, within our core being we humans are at heart what may be termed localists. We focus either exclusively or mostly upon those things, events, relatives and friends that most directly effect our lives — it’s a small-minded, practical world in which we swim. In other words the vast majority of us are what might be said to be near sighted, especially the unworldly and least educated of us, although an ego driven search for personal advantage and fearful intimidation can lead even the most sophisticated among us to act in petty ways.

Indeed, we care mostly about family and friends and what is the price gas and food far above the goings on of geopolitical and national issues. We do what is expected of us, what fulfills our basic ego-emotional needs as nature has directed, and lastly we usually do as we are told — conventionality — with of course faux fits of angry rebellion to sooth our bruised egos.

Now about the January 6th Congressional investidation televised on June 9th. There are approximately 270 million Americans over the age of eighteen. It was announced that of that number only 20 million, or some 7.4 % of the nation’s potential adult voters, bothered to watch (though it was broadcast on every major TV network except Fox “News”) the investigation of the most serious attack on our nation’s democracy since the bloody Civil War of 1861-1865.

Yes, folks, the indifferent masses did what they always do when it comes to great issues: nothing until it’s too late. They did not wtach. And because they have no foundational curiosity when it comes to history, politics and the psychology behind human nature, they lack the sort of broad perspective it makes them easy pickings for political charlatans that cleverly fashion their appeal to the localist mindset of the normally indifferent masses.

And now, in the evermore technically sophisticated world, dangerous propaganda algorithms have been designed by the unscrupulous — flooding the internet — that fire up the normally indifferent masses in ways that defy all truth and logic more than ever. Such true believers that were once literally indifferent can quickly be turned into a violent mob. So naturally when it comes to Trump’s millions of MAGA minions they would not be willing viewers to something that runs against what their emotional survival has become attached. Indeed, the indifferent masses are indifferent until they have become radicalized fanatics that have no interest in viewing an uncovering of critical facts that they do not wish to know.

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James M. Ridgway, Jr.

Jim Ridgway, Jr. military writer — author of the American Civil War classic, “Apprentice Killers: The War of Lincoln and Davis.” Christmas gift, yes!