So when people like Alex Jones say “there are people in this world who want to take much of this away from us”, there is a strong disconnect between experienced reality and this statement. America has not known war within our borders since 1865 (Pearl Harbor being a minor and short exception). We have not arrested people for speaking unpopular opinions, by and large, even though many Communists (mostly real, some mislabeled) were affected for a short period of time in the 1950’s, after the Soviets occupied most of Eastern Europe and North Korea invaded South Korea.
I would submit, though, that when people ask “how is that even possible, that that could happen here?”, that they simply look at RECENT history. The Germans didn’t think Nazism could happen there. Guess what? It DID.
What you need to look at is the level of public dialogue. Are mature adults using serious language to debate issues of primary importance? Or has some sizeable section of the populace dropped off the radar, culturally and socially, such that they have created a separate and solipsistic world?
Do I need to say out loud that that is precisely what has happened in this country? Large number of Americans who be nice to one another, generous to one another, kind in any other context, become rabid maniacs the moment politics comes up. It’s not the Trump people. I infiltrate all sorts of Leftist events, knowing that if I am outed that is by and large the reaction I will get. I do it because I do very much possess the quality of Openness, which they claim to prize, but don’t.
Openness is not where you invite the Peruvian pipe players to your community picnic. That is trivial and obvious. It is where you invite the Southern Baptists or the NRA and give them a chance to speak their piece.
By and large, if it is easy, you are not doing any useful work at all.