I have these same feelings in my more cynical moments, sure. But I think the truth is more nuanced than that. Sure the power players in government are those selected by a system that rewards a self-serving nature and a weak moral core, same as it ever was. But to say “people (writ large) are okay with sex trafficking” is to say a large proportion of our population is irredeemable, which I truly don’t believe is the case. Those people are hurting and confused as to why, just as we would be in the same context.

A mass of confused, angry people who feel powerless is a dangerous thing. You see the world slowly collapsing around you, and you are ignorant of the systemic forces that have eroded your quality of life for someone else’s gain, so you grasp for answers. Then someone who presents to you as an authority (by your cultural definition and role models) comes along and gives you a nice, neat answer like “It’s THOSE people’s fault. But don’t worry, I’m getting rid of them for you, the good folk. All I need is your vote, your donations and your vocal support.” It must be like a light shining at the end of a dark tunnel. You will run towards it for dear life. You will lock arms with your friends and neighbors, who are repeating the slogans like a self-soothing mantra and it makes you feel empowered and embraced instead of helpless and alone.

Then, someone else, an outsider who you don’t respect, comes along and says “WHAT? You idiot, why would you take the word of that con man? You’ve been duped and he’s taking you for all you’re worth, you fool! Also, he’s a MONSTER who preys on children. Here’s the receipts.”

Your first instinct is not to abandon your community and run back into the cold darkness of uncertainty. It’s to go “Nice try, outsider! You’re working for THEM ain’t ya? We good folk won’t be fooled so easily.” Your mind will happily follow whatever tortured logic and denial allows you to preserve your sense of identity and safety.

What we need is cult de-programming en masse, not vilification of half our population. We need counter-narratives that will create a vision of shared prosperity and mutual respect, or else this all goes to a really ugly place, and it’s going to take generations to dig ourselves out of the wreckage.