I completely agree with this conclusion. What leaves me in a state of constant confusion is why these primitive instincts feel so damn good to some people! How is this?
In kindergarten, we learned that hatred, greed, deceit, defensiveness, denial, and blame were bad things, to feel bad about. We were taught to transcend these and other base instincts for our own sake and the sake of others. I think most of us grew up feeling good about NOT exhibiting these ugly traits.
Trump and Trumpism reject these lessons and instead glorify these primitive instincts as American, patriotic, and correct. There is no embarrassment, there is no shame, but there is plenty of hatred of the other. And somehow, this approach feels good to a lot of people. If it didn't feel good, would they continue?
Is this what gets taught in kindergarten now? God helps us all.