Some thoughts on saving our democracy from an authoritarian threat........

[Moonbeam]

In an Atlantic opinion piece Hillary Clinton discusses the topic of the weaponization of loneliness by authoritarian political forces:

The Weaponization of Loneliness

To defend America against those who would exploit our social disconnection, we need to rebuild our communities.

www.theatlantic.com

She refers to the following piece:

https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2023/01/loneliness-solitude-pandemic-habit/672631/ by Arthur Brooks:

Arthur C. Brooks - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

In the following link Rachel Madow interviews Secretary Clinton on the night of the Georga indictment of D. Trump in which Madow explains to Clinton that she gets how loneliness is both a health problem and a political one as well, how atomized disconnected populations are primed for extremism and vulnerable to the call of strong man leadership and authoritarianism but is unsure whether answering the problem is the responsibility of politicians or up to the culture. Clinton responds that she thinks it can be met by both as well as economically by working together because there is too much to lose. She points to the positives achieved so far by Biden and how liberals favor such things as free lunches for kids in school while Republicans work to repeal child labor laws and how the right lives in a real news vacuum, etc. Here is at least a part of the interview:

Hillary Clinton Gets the Last Laugh at Donald Trump After Years of 'Lock Her Up' Chants

Rachel Maddow couldn’t have planned her Hillary Clinton interview any better as the former Secretary of State just happened to be booked on the night Donald Trump was indicted for the fourth time this year. Clinton, who had a contentious battle for president against Donald Trump in 2016...

www.yahoo.com

In my opinion Clinton does a very good job of diagnosis of the symptoms we face and how they can be met by serious effort, that ultimately the system is working and may well self correct when Trump is swept off the stage. I hope any on the right who chance to get this far in reading will spend some time considering the points of view presented in the above links.

As many of you know I have a thing about knowing what the real enemy is. Why are some of us so suseptible to fear manipulation, why do we want a daddy figure to take care of us. For me the issue includes a far deeper and more profound factor that accounts for the pull of authoritarianism, a cause rooted in psychic trauma, the need to identify with some external, culturally, that is to say parentally established ego identification we were forced to make on pain of unbarable threat. We becaume pliable sheep to varing degrees in order to survive porportionally to the degree of threat to which we were exposed as children.

The reason that no real solution to the problem of authritarianism is widely known is because we were all exposed to that form of pain to varying degrees and it was psychically impossible to remain conscious of it. The only escape was to surreder our real selves and become what was expected of us, to become various forms of sheep. To rebel or to accept, those were our options, but to remember, never.

Without such knowledge there is only the treatment of symptoms, never a cure to the root.

The greater the desparation and the greater the realization that we are the enemy itself, the greater the pressure to awaken. Good luck.

 

[nickqt]

Human societies can function given many different forms of leadership. Authoritarianism is often the easiest because there is an authority figure who makes the decisions, and good or bad those decisions get carried out. Step out of line and you get taken out. Brutal, but can be very effective, mostly in very negative ways.

Representative democracy, which exists here and in much of the "western" world, is much messier because instead of 1 leader, there are thousands or more. Politicians can be local, city, county, state, federal, etc. This allows for two contiguous local areas to adopt vastly different rules and regulations. Add to that, those laws can be enforced or ignored depending on the police forces in those areas.

Modern Conservatives and Republicans are about gaining enough power to never have to give it up again. They're currently working towards this, and they will accept, promote and deify anyone who can deliver on that project. If it's Trump, so be it. If it's a DeSantis or Cotton or Hawley, that'll work too. If and when the Republicans are successful in their goal, it'll probably be with a "minority" at the top of the ticket, who can then be replaced at the earliest possible time.

What Modern Conservatives and Republicans are "good" at is fighting. And by that, I mean making their base very scared about the same criminals they support, by applying those fear labels to Liberals and Democrats. See: Every Accusation is a Confession, BothSidesDoIt™, etc. And one of the ways they make it work is by seeing what Liberals and Democrats value, attacking Liberals and Democrats on those values when expressed, and at the end of the day, using those same values as a defense when Modern Conservatives and Republicans are doing deplorable things as is their nature.

I don't feel like delineating this when you can watch an entertaining relatively short Youtube video. Or don't, doesn't affect me.

Liberals and Democrats have erred in a few key ways over the past 90 years, probably because of their success over the past 90 years. That is, the Democratic Party mostly controlled the Federal Government from 1933 to 1983, with a few Republican Presidents sprinkled in. Liberals and Democrats got so comfortable/complacent wielding Federal power that they stopped focusing on local, city and state politics in a lot of places where they shouldn't have. Republicans filled those spots, and can run most governments because they built infrastructure outside of the Federal government, and also rule at least 50% of the Federal government half the time.

As someone who sees societal collapse in process now, I don't suspect things will get much better than they are at any given time in the present. That said, we can mitigate as much damage that Modern Conservatives and Republicans are attempting to do by laying out the values we stand for, and beating Republicans over the head with whatever conjuring scare words they're using this week. It's not going to be easy and it sure as shit isn't destiny.

One way of using Republican conjuring scare words against them is by going back to their "States' Rights" issue that they pretended to care about when they were shut out of power from 1933-1983. And the 1 to 2 people still actually reading this probably know what link is coming right...

Democrats Should Weaponize Federalism

If Democrats truly believe in the power of their policies, they should be ready to weaponize federalism.

www.politicalorphans.com

 

[theeedude]

If urban liberals start taking advantage of the right wing SCOTUS' interpretation of 2nd amendment, it's over for the right's authoritarian dreams. Even Reagan knew that, which is why he was pro gun control as soon as Black Panthers started open carrying.

 

[Fenixgoon]

One way of using Republican conjuring scare words against them is by going back to their "States' Rights" issue that they pretended to care about when they were shut out of power from 1933-1983. And the 1 to 2 people still actually reading this probably know what link is coming right...

Democrats Should Weaponize Federalism

If Democrats truly believe in the power of their policies, they should be ready to weaponize federalism.

www.politicalorphans.com

Honestly you should make it your signature if you haven't already!

 

[Moonbeam]

If urban liberals start taking advantage of the right wing SCOTUS' interpretation of 2nd amendment, it's over for the right's authoritarian dreams. Even Reagan knew that, which is why he was pro gun control as soon as Black Panthers started open carrying.

I put this into practice and have been roundly condemned. Fascism in the abstract, in my opinion, is different than fascism ringing my door bell.

 

[Moonbeam]

Human societies can function given many different forms of leadership. Authoritarianism is often the easiest because there is an authority figure who makes the decisions, and good or bad those decisions get ca

I have been talking for years now about a liberal brain defect. Liberals can think critically and the greatest insult they can hurl is that conservatives are stupid by comparison. But the fact is that conservatives aren't so much stupid as they are dangerous and because they can't face reality due to ego issues. Fear of being called stupid, fear of being called evil are motivations that drive behaviors that others not affected will see as insane. Western culture is a mishmash of Judaeo-Christian attitudes, the interplay and difficulties created by the will for revenge and the value of forgiveness. Islam is much better suited to deal with that in my opinion. I believe that in Islam there is a recognition that the sense of justice is innate and this, in turn, means that what some call the wrath of God is real. It is inevitable, in my opinion, again, that when all roads to justice are blocked the result is adamant determination, a certainty beyond faith or doubt.

Unfortunately, the delusional also claim certainty and what is what can't be defined. The best way never to have to distinguish is to have a society that plays by ever evolving consensual agreement between members of a society. This is what authoritarians seek to destroy via divisiveness.

 

[[DHT]Osiris]

I have been talking for years now about a liberal brain defect. Liberals can think critically and the greatest insult they can hurl is that conservatives are stupid by comparison. But the fact is that conservatives aren't so much stupid as they are dangerous and because they can't face reality due to ego issues. Fear of being called stupid, fear of being called evil are motivations that drive behaviors that others not affected will see as insane. Western culture is a mishmash of Judaeo-Christian attitudes, the interplay and difficulties created by the will for revenge and the value of forgiveness. Islam is much better suited to deal with that in my opinion. I believe that in Islam there is a recognition that the sense of justice is innate and this, in turn, means that what some call the wrath of God is real. It is inevitable, in my opinion, again, that when all roads to justice are blocked the result is adamant determination, a certainty beyond faith or doubt.

Unfortunately, the delusional also claim certainty and what is what can't be defined. The best way never to have to distinguish is to have a society that plays by ever evolving consensual agreement between members of a society. This is what authoritarians seek to destroy via divisiveness.

It'd probably be easier to genetically engineer or attract from the depths of space a greater threat to humanity to bring us together despite our differences, than to convert a western population to an Islamic religion, style of thinking, or way of life.

 

[Moonbeam]

Democrats Should Weaponize Federalism

If Democrats truly believe in the power of their policies, they should be ready to weaponize federalism.

www.politicalorphans.com

Very interesting read. Published 2020 and likely formulated earlier. It doesn't seem to be catching on. It is one thing to know what liberals do wrong and what they should do instead. It is much harder, in my opinion, to get them to change. The article makes clear that liberals don't want to be bad guys. The why of that isn't addressed. As you know for me it all goes back to the fact we do not want to face the fact that we hate ourselves. We do not want to be what we hate and liberals hate Republicans but sure harbor desires to be like them. I think the answer is a third way, shining light into darkness.

Do we really need to fuck conservative supporters. Wouldn't it be better to work to design effective means to show them they are already deeply fucked and by themselves?

 

[Moonbeam]

It'd probably be easier to genetically engineer or attract from the depths of space a greater threat to humanity to bring us together despite our differences, than to convert a western population to an Islamic religion, style of thinking, or way of life.

Conversion wasn't my intent. I wanted to express the idea that dualistic options are a form of mental prison. There are third ways that integrate opposites as the result of psychological experiences of internal integration.

 

[Jaskalas]

The article asks the correct question, and I feel touches upon some of the correct answers.

The question that preoccupied me and many others over much of the past eight years is how our democracy became so susceptible to a would-be strongman and demagogue. The question that keeps me up at night now—with increasing urgency as 2024 approaches—is whether we have done enough to rebuild our defenses or whether our democracy is still highly vulnerable to attack and subversion.

Seven to six years ago, Democrats blindly answered in unison that all the Republican voters switching for Trump were racists. And that was that. The end all answer to all questions. Blind and stupid.

Now, I cannot view much of the article as it is pay walled. But Clinton cites a study, or report, from a doctor on profound loneliness. This is the correct approach. It touches upon the underlying psychological problems that Americans then express through vile acts and evil intent. Bias towards others is the end result of a journey that is the human condition. Society may install safeguards for our protection, but only if we first recognize and respond to the issues at hand. Only if we wish to heal a broken people suffering a broken system of predatory capitalism.

There are more facets to this than Clinton could ever dream of, but I finally see a hint of compassion and empathy. Unfortunately it may be too little too late, as I am not sure one can proceed amidst a dog eat dog world and a broken Democracy where winning elections still, almost always, fails to produce positive changes. We are a ship without a rudder being tossed around in a storm. Even if we were to describe how we got here, making it back to port and making the necessary changes feels rather impossible at this point.

Ultimately, one cannot just speak to MAGA. Not in today's frenzied state. And unless we could demonstrate a profound love and care for the average worker by making meaningful changes to benefit their everyday lives.... something our Democracy just cannot deliver.... too few folks are going to feel seen. Too few would feel this "community" she speaks of. But if we ever had a chance at seeing a future, it would be by pursuing this path. To understand, to help our fellow man. To balm their wounded pride.

What has occurred since the Reagan Revolution gutted wages, has hollowed out our sense of belonging in America. As the pot begins to boil, we panic and lash out in rage and in hatred. Confused as to how we got here. Trump gave them some simple ideas to redirect this energy, this angst. Thus far we have failed to bring anything to the table that can match it and convince people that WE are the ones looking out for them. If Hearts and Minds cannot win back America, then we shall lose our country and our people. Our loved ones cannot be safe so long as Americans believe MAGA is the path for them.

 

[cytg111]

Whatever the problem is the answer is more guns.
Seriously though, guard ship against a fascist takeover is what the 2nd is for is it not? Now if it is all you 2nd wielding nutters who is driving the fascism, you’re shit out of luck. The question then becomes why do these fools move against their own interest? Well they dumb, one, lack of education and two they’ve been bombarded with “alternative” facts for decades, exactly to prime them for this moment.
Seems to me you have to take back education, eradicate the Fox of the worlds, bring back grass roots true journalism and put citizens united back on the table.
So start with fixing SCOTUS. Its just such a long shot at this point, Biden is driving negative voter turnout almost as much as Trump, might as well give up, light one up, pour a drink and watch it burn.

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