Authoritarianism Revisited
I think we are reaching a nadir in the American consciousness. There are so many indicators both large and small. The surprising populist movement lead by Barack Obama is an obvious one. The changing language and focal points of the Right-Wing are another. Almost no one is left in the media nor in politics who defends Bush. Most are running FROM Bush (returns 454 results).
I long wondered how long it would take for people who voted for Bush to admit it and apologize. We began first seeing them in ‘05.
But I never expected to hear self-confessed, life-long Republicans saying, “I will never vote for another Republican as long as I live” (see C-Span’s Washington Journal on almost any day). You can also find such comments all over the web these days.
An exact Google search on “I will never vote republican again” returns over 2000 results. Try a few variations and you’ll find hundreds of thousands!
I’ve decided to begin to build a links list of source material and references (see homepage sidebar) to serve this kairos moment, to help educate us all on this kind of mental illness, this stifling fear of change, this tribal conformity — which lurks in the nicest people — called Authoritarianism. OneUtah authors were among the first to write about it in this genre.
One of the references I found is from Wikipedia and, I think, should ring true for many Americans and many Utahns in the news and not in the news these days.
Research has discovered a wide range of Right-Wing Authoritarianism (RWA) scale relationships over the years, which can be organized into four general categories. (The Authoritarian Specter)
1: Faulty reasoning — RWAs are more likely to:
- Make many incorrect inferences from evidence.
- Hold contradictory ideas that result from a cognitive attribute known as compartmentalized thinking.
- Uncritically accept that many problems are ‘our most serious problem.’
- Uncritically accept insufficient evidence that supports their beliefs.
- Uncritically trust people who tell them what they want to hear.
- Use many double standards in their thinking and judgments.
2: Hostility Toward Outgroups — RWAs are more likely to:
- Weaken constitutional guarantees of liberty such as a Bill of Rights.
- Severely punish ‘common’ criminals in a role-playing situation.
- Admit they obtain personal pleasure from punishing such people.
- Be prejudiced and hostile against racial, ethnic, nationalistic, sexual, and linguistic minorities.
- Volunteer to help the government persecute almost anyone.
- Be mean-spirited toward those who have made mistakes and suffered.
3: Profound Character Attributes — RWAs are more likely to:
- Be dogmatic.
- Be zealots.
- Be hypocrites.
- Be absolutists
- Be bullies when they have power over others.
- Help cause and inflame intergroup conflict.
- Seek dominance over others by being competitive and destructive in situations requiring cooperation.
4: Blindness To One’s Own Failings And To The Failings Of Authority Figures Whom They Respect— RWAs are more likely to:
- Believe they have no personal failings.
- Avoid learning about their personal failings.
- Be highly self-righteous.
- Use religion to erase guilt over their acts and to maintain their self-righteousness.
February 23rd, 2008 at 5:59 pm
I stand for conservatism not for the Republican party. When the Party is wrong I will oppose them just as vigorously as I oppose Democrats.
February 23rd, 2008 at 6:06 pm
Like I said, “changing language and focal points of the Right-Wing”.
Can you say HYPOCRISY!
February 23rd, 2008 at 7:16 pm
At least you can spell it Cliff, if you can’t recognize it.
I woulds argue there isn’t much change, and it wouldn’t take but an “event” like 911 to bring America exactly where it is, has been, and may well be again.
It is true the people want change, we’ll see what they get. brezinski, goolsbee, and promises to bomb Iran and Pakistan, I see obama as a pig in a poke. The general public doesn’t know what he is made of,(who does?).
It is the political version of American Idol, and we all know that’s rigged. We maybe not all of us, I figure the swooners don’t know. obamas’ not a populist, he’s a liberal democrat.
Do you think, as hard as it is to accept, that he will be as effectively “good” as a President, as effectively “bad” as bush has been? Say what we want about bush, but there has never been a president able to do as he damn well pleases with no resistance as this guy. Truly something for the record books.
obama will be effectively stymied at every turn, if he even wins. It has only just begun, and the reflective stage of the process is at hand, and is as long, as obama is short.
You know how I feel about mccain, so as for change, it will be minimal. The only difference will be the face on it.
February 23rd, 2008 at 9:54 pm
I’m am just listening to Karel on KGO San Francisco and a caller just referred to obama as the American Idol candidate..”Sanjaya”.
Karel the gay guy believes that obama can’t win because he’s black, and goes further in stating that he believes hillary suffers from the vagaries of institutional sexism, from the public at large, and the mainstream media.
Sanjaya was entertaining, and came close, but didn’t win.
You think obama is surprised at his own success in this campaign?
Are you aware of the numbers of white males of republican stripe that have registered democrat to specifically vote against hillary in the primaries? They won’t be there in the general.The set up is for the weaker candidate, obama.
The reps always have a game to win. Rove at work.
February 24th, 2008 at 4:02 am
Can we STOP calling Karl Rove a genius yet? The “architect” is an evil fool and I hope people will watch 60 Minutes tomorrow to see the extent of his ruthlessness. There is a former Governor that has actually been made into a political prisoner in America by Rove and others working with him, just because he happened to win an election. Too bad the Oscars are going to prevent a lot of people from seeing this show.
February 24th, 2008 at 8:00 am
People whose character require, or are fearful of authority, will always bow to the ruthless. There are many of us. Roves’ architecural ‘genius’ and Bushes ‘huevos’ (and support by the syndicate) really had these ‘little guys’ held in awe. Generally, we would like nothing more than to be done with our racism, hawkishness and other shortcomings, and install to the leadership some real genius, but the greed, meanness and power hunger will muddy that decision every time.
Whether Obama = Sanjaya, or Hillary = Republican lite PMS, I can say this with relative certainty, McCain would bring the very self-same, presently-and-happily well-established syndicate, including all of the characters we’ve come to hate, right on into the next 8 years, and the results would be disasterous. There, have some fear from the “left’. And good day.
February 24th, 2008 at 9:08 am
Pop,
You ask, “Are you aware of the numbers of white males of republican stripe that have registered democrat to specifically vote against hillary in the primaries?”
You are already hard to “read.” This question is suspiciously rhetorical.
Are YOU aware of the numbers…?
The idea (specifically vote against hillary in the primaries) is certainly creative, but it is not orthodox Rovian. Such a strategy would require an unparalleled grassroots effort to get very many Republicans to exert themselves for something that is not directly self-serving.
Rovian tactics specifically avoid dependence on broad grassroots efforts, rather they rely on paid operatives (phone jamming, caging, and hacking votes electronically) and tribal constituencies (ones subject to authoritarianism like evangelists and rednecks)
No Pops, the party switching thing is myth. We’ve not SEEN any evidence either.
Have you?
February 24th, 2008 at 9:38 am
Whether or not you believe white male republicans are doing this or not, white democratic males are doing it in droves. They don’t want hillary.
Who said rove is a genius? He is just a tactician, with a penchant for winning.
Rove does what you say, however there are many that adopt his ethos and organize at the “grassroots” to muck with democrat party operations. I know moles right now working in the party in WA. The reps for whatever they are, play to win, however undemocratic. When asked, I tell people I support obama, so as to skew any data. I do support him, as he is the most beatable.
Not that I want mccain, but mccain is known and will be resisted, obama is the same animal, backed by people just as scummy as mccain, but that is hidden, he is the stealth candidate. He will cause more damage. Many people tell pollsters what they think they wish to hear, which is why polls, apart from their self fulfilling nature, are often inaccurate.
The reference to party switching was made on KGO by a caller, who claimed to have been organized to do so. The reps want the obama/mccain match up. Sanjaya won’t win when the microscope comes to bear. KGO has the largest #’s of listeners of any radio station in the Western US, and is very anti republican, at the same time less of a glad handing group. They know this thing hasn’t even begun.
Cav, all true, and he is soooo much reliable to the elite, that is why he will be president. There are bombs ahead for obama, that will turn people, for that the rove is on the job.
If she makes it, I’ll vote for hillary, as she will be tough, and can fight all day with a knife in her back, her being sold out for obama, will be the dems undoing. We’ll see in Texas. My opinion is whoever is tougher on illegal immigration, will win the day. Hillary will be tougher, which is one reason the elites sold her down the river.
February 24th, 2008 at 9:45 am
Did anyone SEE bush being re-elected?
One thing, if mccain wins the election, will you perhaps consider my opinion that the game is rigged, and activists simply put the frosting on the cake and make the show look real for the benefit of the masses? Will you pick up Hegel and read him?
It’s just like American Idol, same people, same formula.
February 24th, 2008 at 10:05 am
Your fear of Obama getting elected is palatable, and I feel for you. Having been a Republican all your life (yes, I know you) it must really suck to WANT to vote for a democrat and a black one at that, and have to make up reasons like, “I tell people I support obama, so as to skew any data. I do support him, as he is the most beatable. ”
Either your panties are showing or you are not paying attention. EVERY recent poll shows Obama winning by a TON against McCain whereas Hillary is within the margin of error.
Thats why the Super Delegates are switching over (over a dozen on Friday alone).
BTW: “…working in the party…” is not “grassroots”. For example, The state parties never show up at the anti-war rallies. THATS grass roots. political parties have never been successful doing “call to action” tactics.
I got news for ya, Obama is going to win and win big. Democrats will also sweep both houses. I suggest taking a fresh look at the Republican bias in you family tradition. Your Dad wasn’t as wrong when he became a Republican as he is now.
But you know your Dad, he’ll never change.
February 24th, 2008 at 10:28 am
I voted for Kerry fool, this is about reality Cliff.
Here is silly billy kristol telling hillary how to beat obama. I guess there are more people to be scared than are contained within the cult following.
You apparently don’t know who pop goes the list is. His pop is a republican?, shit, his Pop’s not even a citizen.
…and we get on our knees and pray…we don’t get fooled again!
Be wary what you wish for, obama will have no ability to resist his handlers, and they are a scary crew.
Stick with the polls, they will serve you well.
Who cares what the crowds do? They all showed up and stopped the war so well now didn’t they?
February 24th, 2008 at 10:30 am
I never voted for Dubya, but I used to be a Republican and now I’m totally committed to never voting Republican again under any circumstances. The great failure of the GOP is the way almost all of them backed Bush 100 percent no matter how wrong he was and no matter how much damage he did– and they are still backing him. BTW the Democrats who backed Bush deserve their own special hell.
February 24th, 2008 at 10:46 am
No matter who wins, the policies won’t change much. This country is in the grip of some very powerful forces that are not going to allow their meal ticket to get punched. The best we the people can hope for at this point is gridlock, and then states assuming control of their own destinies.
A single man can’t effect change. My proof of this is bush, if the man is the idiot everyone claims he is, then it must have been the forces behind him that caused the last 8 years to come to fruition. Think those people are going anywhere?
I can see the first day of an obama presidency, he will be visited by the same crew cheney met with in secret, and be told the drill, and how he is to play it. It could be worse than bush, as the imbecile made it obvious, obama will have the advantage of being able to smoothly form sentences.
February 24th, 2008 at 11:35 am
How DOES a newly elected president tell the global-corporte briefers to fuck off when they arrive to bring him up to speed? Claim to be ‘A hireling, a Representative…Let’s take this to my boss…the citizenry!
February 24th, 2008 at 11:36 am
Oh Pop,
Your fatalism is the same self-fulfilling prophecy that got us hear in the first place. It’s tired and predictable. Maybe you should just sit this one out and let the real men and women of this country work for real change.
You’ve never been active in politics or you community before, why start now?
Just give us a shout out from time to time from your couch.
February 24th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
As cynical as you are Cliff, and what you know of how the game works, are you in any way confident that obama won’t get his marching orders? We all watched him prostrate himself before aipac and corporate(multinational) america before he even headed out on his journey. War and duckets, a heavy body with extreme inertia…what will the US economy be without war? Someday answer…any of the questions I ask.
I am pretty active Cliff, have done quite a bit of promoting of some very successful state immigration reform, that is working, no matter what happens, it will remain. You should know that most people don’t get away without an earful.
Been nothing but right since the last time we talked. Talk to me AFTER the election, and AFTER 100 days. Then we’ll review. No matter what you think about people power, if any of that were true, we would have seen some action from the opposition in the last 2 years. We got bupkiss, Why should I think some newbie won’t get sucked up?
Bottom line, you can’t polish a turd, and you can’t pick it up from the clean end. Once the People face the truth, something real can get done. It is the hope and unrealistic processing of the reality that has brought us here. Can’t apply the truth if you can’t see it.
I don’t own a couch.
Bush was elected by the “citizenry”, I almost forgot the name of the guy who ran against him the first time. Oh yeah, that guy.
Don’t count hillary out, she will pander to Texas, it is all she needs to put obama away. She will do it with immigration, she will agree at least in principle with the People. She won’t give them drivers licenses, already said so, so this will sink obama. That small, and that simple.
February 24th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
The 2000 call (god, it seems like an eternity ago) was the work of the republican appointed supreme court majority. That’s my story and I’m sticking with it. Certainly some of the duped and cowed voters led to that becoming a possibility, but there’ll always be those.
Aside from that, Glenn, I concur. Except for picking up a turd…I believe there are tools for such activity.
February 24th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
O’Conner was the deciding vote, despite her regrets afterward. She was a moderate conservative Reagan appointment. This is our system. bush made a point of appointing youngsters to the bench…roberts 4ever. We can only hope for Divine intervention at this point.
O’Conner died with her shame. Complete with regret. Nobody did anything to stop it. I’m supposed to look forward to having a democrat in the White House? For what, window dressing?
The rest is history, and I haven’t seen any real changes. What we have seen is clinton signing nafta, gatt, the debacle in Yugoslavia, which is about to become unburied like a shallow graved murder victim.
Then the limp wristed response to President gone Wild by democrats…yeah I am so ready for change, I need to do some laundry.
As for picking up turds, I figure that what the domestics out sourcies are for. As for me, I shit, I clean…
February 25th, 2008 at 12:53 am
After each Republican admin there’s been enough housecleaning for an invasion of those who would do the work real Uh-mercans won’t. In fact the messes have been god-awful in the past (see Carter and Clintons’ task list after all the crap Nixon / Ford and Reagan / Boosh 1), and will be even worse this time. The republican minority will predictably and with well practiced skill and enthusiasm, get in the way, keeping us from developing an intelligent democracy, even though a very fat majority would have just that. They will do every thing they can think of to smear, divert, mock, swift-boat and downplay any and all efforts to rectify what is really ailing the country. Namely The republicans! That is the game as the GOP and neocons play it. They want thier way - all of the time. They want all of the money. They will settle for nothing less. You’ve been watching, and I’m not saying the dems are perfect. Hardly, but I digress. Then after making every effort to sabotage dem attempts to give us a bit of what we want and need, Repubs approach the next election as if all the problems have been the cause of the very ‘liberal’ they had just been gleefully sticking it to. It’s insane.
I set off ‘Liberal’ because, coming down off a republican war binge takes a special kind of presidency. Not only do they need to hide thier claws re the shit they’ve inherited, but they need to address it. That takes time, and unless you’re really REALLY charismatic you have to massaage this sort of change of course. You then begin to appear ‘republican lite’ and someone like Nader says he can see no difference! Wow are we stuck.
Long story short. The pubs need to shut up and sit down. The Dems need to work smarter while reminding everyone just how this shit came to be and not let the perps off the hook like the Clinton group did. Lastly, we all need to call both of them to the carpet when they misbehave.
February 25th, 2008 at 10:06 am
Halfway down para 1..’.The real problem’…er…I meant…Islamoweavel! Thankyou for your understanding and patience.