Watch out for political cults

Jeff Streetman

The truth can be hard to find these days, as lies and deceit flood our social media pages, run rampant on the internet, show up on billboards, and flow freely from the mouths of self-righteous mythomaniacs. A leading cause of such deception in our society is cult culture.

Infamous cults have long piqued public fascination, from the Manson Family to Heaven’s Gates. While those dramatic stories are beyond disturbing, it is important to realize that cults are more common than we realize, and they are seriously dangerous to the health of modern civilization.

Characteristics of a cult are consistent across history. Every cult has a self-proclaimed leader or small group of leaders, people who claim to be saviors of humanity, to be bearers of infinite wisdom, or even claim to actual gods. Cult chiefs tend to hold extreme views, so deviant that they cannot fit in mainstream society.

Heads of cults seek to control many aspects of their followers’ lives by feeding them limited and false information, by limiting their access to the outside world or to differing perspectives, and by regulating their speech and actions. Those who may dissent from a cult leader are subject to intense defamation, expulsion, and excommunication. While many cults are religious, the types of cults vary; there are cults of personality, terrorist cults, and of course, political cults — and combinations of all the above! 

Spotting a political cultist is simple. Is a group leader overly charismatic? Does the figurehead claim to have some sort of ordained authority over a topic, like claiming to be a border security expert just because they camped out with a militia on the border? Do they compare themselves to holy figures? 

Do they tell repeated lies and entrench themselves in a lie when faced with the truth, like by saying a legislator voted against banning gender modification surgery for children, even though the legislator voted for a bill written to ban such practices? Do they cry “attack on our rights” whenever a bill does not fall perfectly in line with their views? Do they demand their followers fall 100% in line with their own views, then slander anyone who does not pass their purity test? 

Do they fear transparency? Do they create a monopoly of news “sources” or “scorecards” so that their followers are never able to find the real truth? If the answer is yes to these questions, then they might be a political cultist.

In Texas, we are blessed to live in the freest state, the most conservative state, and the most economically strong state in our Union. During the 87th Texas Legislative Session, lawmakers conducted the single most conservative session in state history; that conservative movement continued this year in the 88th Texas Legislative Session. 

Yet political cults of deception and disruption continue to plant seeds of distrust, convincing constituents that their conservative elected officials are “RINOs” and “liberals.” Cultists spew never ending lies. Cultists claim their representatives pass a “bad bill” even when a bill works for the public good of all citizens. They accuse officials of being “drunk” based on 40 seconds of questionable footage. Cultists turn a blind eye to the gross misconduct of an elected official because he is ultra conservative, “fiscally responsible” or because he fell in line with their narrow doctrine.

James Madison warned, “The instability, injustice, and confusion introduced into the public councils, have, in truth, been the mortal diseases under which popular governments have everywhere perished; as they continue to be the favorite and fruitful topics from which the adversaries to liberty derive their most specious declamations.”

The health of our Republic depends on our acceptance of the truth and our rejection of lies. When engaged in civics, be responsible by conducting solid research. Check your legislators’ actual voting records on the state’s website: capital.texas.gov. Read the Journal Proceedings from the House and Senate. Watch the Legislature online; each session is live streamed on the House and Senate websites.

Read the real text of a bill, not some political pundit’s opinion of a bill. Familiarize yourself with the Texas Constitution and the Texas Codes. Do not let political cultists be your source of knowledge. Do not be led astray by zealots hungry for power. When a lie is hung on your front door or lands in your mailbox, when someone spouts misinformation, or when a cult tries to persuade you without using real substance, discard the nonsense and stand up for the truth.

Jeff Streetman and his wife and two daughters have lived in the City of Aledo for more than 13 years. Jeff is an active community member and is on the board of the local Lions Club, AISD growth committees and Band booster club. Jeff and his family love this town and the Bearcats!