John Dean was Nixon’s White House counsel during the Watergate scandal. A bedrock old-school conservative himself, he was a big fan of Barry Goldwater’s 1960 book Conscience of a Conservative, so much so that he entitled his own regretful 2006 book Conservatives without Conscience.
In it, he describes the findings of psychologists about “authoritarian personalities”. They think (or rather feel), as did Machiavelli, that what any polity needs is a strong, decisive leader who will make all the decisions for everybody, sparing them the onerous task of having to think for themselves.
Estimates are that about ⅓ of the American populace fits this description, longing for a powerful, dominating father figure to steer the national “family”. Of those, about 99% are sheep desperately seeking a border collie to lead them, and the other 1% are narcissistic psychopaths convinced that it’s their own (sometimes divinely ordained) destiny to do so.
Sadly, progressivism has not been seen for decades as a means of motivating the populace to achieve their best — as the wealthy offer support to the right, to keep the populace weak and divided and unaware of the growing inequity.
Right-wing populism and populism in general, but the problem today is generally right-wing populism, is a psychological and social, emotional response to intellectual matters.
Our democracy isn’t the only one in peril from right wing extremism. France and the UK are also having a tough time right now. Rob is showing this threat quite clearly.
The right-wing politicians cheat: gerrymandering for decades. Dilute the vote. The vast majority of Americans want a centrist government, not a right-wing Neo Nazi version.
Trump is the new Hitler and trump will destroy America just like Hitler did to Germany. And just like German citizens after Germany was destroyed every one of them will claim that they never supported or believed in him, and it was the ’’others’’ who did.
I have hope that authoritarianism will be a lost cause in the US. We have no history of kings/emperors/czars. We started with a president who chose to peacefully transfer power from himself to the next elected president.
conservatives opposed our independence in 1774. conservatives quit the U.S. in 1860. conservatives invaded, made war and killed U.S. soldiers from 1861 to 1865. A conservative killed Lincoln. Every Republican/conservative president since 1929 has had a depression or recession, some had two. The only president to resign his office in disgrace of being a crook was a conservative. The only violent transition of power came in 2021 supported by conservatives and led by the fascist insurrectionist tRump. conservatives still defend and support him and his insurrection.conservatives are the enemy of the United States of America, and have been since 1774.
Fern 18 days ago
Oh no, people voting!
Told you demonrats are fascists.
Flashaaway 18 days ago
Guess what happens when you let fascists run the place, they turn into dictators very quickly. Ask anyone who has lives through either.
Cerabooge 18 days ago
Why is populism conflated with “right-wing”?
FreyjaRN Premium Member 18 days ago
Too right. Time to wear chain mail.
Richard S Russell Premium Member 18 days ago
John Dean was Nixon’s White House counsel during the Watergate scandal. A bedrock old-school conservative himself, he was a big fan of Barry Goldwater’s 1960 book Conscience of a Conservative, so much so that he entitled his own regretful 2006 book Conservatives without Conscience.
In it, he describes the findings of psychologists about “authoritarian personalities”. They think (or rather feel), as did Machiavelli, that what any polity needs is a strong, decisive leader who will make all the decisions for everybody, sparing them the onerous task of having to think for themselves.
Estimates are that about ⅓ of the American populace fits this description, longing for a powerful, dominating father figure to steer the national “family”. Of those, about 99% are sheep desperately seeking a border collie to lead them, and the other 1% are narcissistic psychopaths convinced that it’s their own (sometimes divinely ordained) destiny to do so.
GOGOPOWERANGERS 18 days ago
Right wingiam isnt 1 shark
It a whole swarm of sharks
Godfreydaniel 18 days ago
Not populism, demagoguery. In other words, con artistry.
robcarroll1213 18 days ago
“We’re gonna need a bigger vote.”
~Roy (Actually, every Democrat this November) Scheider
superposition 18 days ago
Sadly, progressivism has not been seen for decades as a means of motivating the populace to achieve their best — as the wealthy offer support to the right, to keep the populace weak and divided and unaware of the growing inequity.
Direwolf 18 days ago
Republicons DO love blood in the water.
WestNYC Premium Member 18 days ago
Populism’s enduring appeal is for the losers in history, both left and right.
tpcox928 18 days ago
Spot on, Mr. Russell.
GiantShetlandPony 18 days ago
People easily frightened will vote against their interests time, after time.
aristoclesplato9 18 days ago
Populism is just another way of saying “the people” usually in opposition to the elite. That’s why the Dems are spooked so much.
Heaven forbid representatives of the people start calling the shots.
rossevrymn 18 days ago
Right-wing populism and populism in general, but the problem today is generally right-wing populism, is a psychological and social, emotional response to intellectual matters.
thelordthygod666 18 days ago
Signs of Fascism (Umberto Eco)
Appeal to middle class frightened by economic rising from lower groups
Appeal to fear of those not white and Christian
Embracing conspiracy plots
Saying the enemy is too strong and too weak depending on the point
Claiming others are weak
Creating own media by saying mainstream media is lying
Rejecting both science and the educated
Violent action must be taken
Does this sound like any group you know?
monya_43 18 days ago
Our democracy isn’t the only one in peril from right wing extremism. France and the UK are also having a tough time right now. Rob is showing this threat quite clearly.
akachman Premium Member 18 days ago
The right-wing politicians cheat: gerrymandering for decades. Dilute the vote. The vast majority of Americans want a centrist government, not a right-wing Neo Nazi version.
Chazz 18 days ago
Rupert, Australia, England and US. Propaganda channel that broadcasts like state TV.
piper_gilbert 18 days ago
History repeating itself. This isn’t new.
think it through 18 days ago
Trump is the new Hitler and trump will destroy America just like Hitler did to Germany. And just like German citizens after Germany was destroyed every one of them will claim that they never supported or believed in him, and it was the ’’others’’ who did.
librarylady59 18 days ago
I have hope that authoritarianism will be a lost cause in the US. We have no history of kings/emperors/czars. We started with a president who chose to peacefully transfer power from himself to the next elected president.
ncorgbl 18 days ago
conservatives opposed our independence in 1774. conservatives quit the U.S. in 1860. conservatives invaded, made war and killed U.S. soldiers from 1861 to 1865. A conservative killed Lincoln. Every Republican/conservative president since 1929 has had a depression or recession, some had two. The only president to resign his office in disgrace of being a crook was a conservative. The only violent transition of power came in 2021 supported by conservatives and led by the fascist insurrectionist tRump. conservatives still defend and support him and his insurrection. conservatives are the enemy of the United States of America, and have been since 1774.
jvscanlan Premium Member 18 days ago
These political theories are NOT popular.