Donald Trump and Brexit: Misguided Rebellion

By Marcus Freestone

The election of Donald Trump and Britain's vote to leave the European Union both followed two of the most negative, divisive campaigns in living memory. Moreover they are both symptomatic of a wider problem: nobody trusts experts anymore and truth itself is now seen as a conspiracy to keep the people down. We explore the psychology behind these disturbing new ways of thinking.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Marcus Freestone
• Release date: Nov 21, 2016
• ISBN: 9781370288083

Marcus Freestone

My main work is the T14 series of thrillers about a futuristic, high tech counter terrorism agency headed by a man with a computer implant in his brain. The first book "The Memory Man" is permanently free in e-book. I also have a series of novellas on the subject of mental health and psychology. My most popular book is "Positive Thinking And The Meaning Of Life" which has had 200,000 downloads. It deals with psychology, philosophy, depression, anxiety, mental health in general and the human condition.I have also released more than 50 albums, ranging from metal and rock to jazz and ambient/electronica. And last but not first I also produce the "Positive Thinking And The Meaning Of Life" podcast and "The Midnight Insomnia Podcast", a comedy show with ambient music and abstract visual images.

Book preview

DONALD TRUMP AND BREXIT:

MISGUIDED REBELLION

by

MARCUS FREESTONE

ALL MATERIAL © COPYRIGHT MARCUS FREESTONE 2016

ISBN 9781370288083

Smashwords Edition, License Notes:

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

ALSO AVAILABLE BY MARCUS FREESTONE FROM SMASHWORDS:

NON FICTION

Positive Thinking and The Meaning of Life

Tell Depression To #@%! Off

The Psychology of Happiness: Unravelling Self Help Nonsense by Understanding Your Brain

101 Ways To Happiness

FICTION

THE T14 SERIES

The Memory Man

Random Target

Just Murder

Two Serial Killers, A Wedding And A Funeral

Never Kidnap A Serial Killer

The Least Resistance

Ethelbert's Sunday Morning (Short Stories)

What To Do If Trapped In A Lift With A Dentist (Poetry)

INTRODUCTION

DONALD TRUMP AND BREXIT

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF CONSPIRACY THEORIES

CONCLUSION: THE NEW CLIMATE OF MISTRUST

INTRODUCTION

This is not a book about the politics of Donald Trump or Brexit and Europe. Neither is it a book about the plethora of conspiracy theories that have exploded in recent decades. Rather it uses these issues as examples to illustrate a new and worrying phenomena I have noticed in recent years which has come to a head with these two political decisions of 2016. It now seems that many, many millions of people around the world have lost all sense of truth and reality, and are almost revelling in believing things that are patently false, as if truth itself is now a conspiracy against 'the people'. This anti-intellectualism is worrying and highly dangerous. I aim to unravel this new trend and demonstrate why it is so dangerous during this book.

Michael Gove, the UK's former Education Secretary and supporter of Vote Leave declared in early June 2016, three weeks before the referendum vote, People in this country have had enough of experts. Despite the fact that he himself is a privately educated, highly privileged member of the establishment who claims to know what it best for everyone and is involved in passing laws to which the rest of us are subjected, this idiotic statement seemed to catch the public mood and may well have been instrumental in swinging the vote in favour of leaving the EU when all evidence and the majority of expert opinion clearly showed that this would be a disaster. He was himself a disaster as Education Secretary and derided by teachers and unions alike. What was he doing in that job if he thinks expertise is worthless? Obviously children would be better off fending for themselves than being taught nasty facts and information by evil people who know what they are talking about. It is as if truth is now a communist conspiracy that seeks to brainwash people's minds. We now live in a world where two competing ideologies are fighting it out: Knowledge Is Power versus Ignorance Is Bliss. Sadly,