Ive posted this a few times before. Its an analysis of authoritarian trends in American politics compiled by an award-winning Professor of Psychology at Manitoba University, Bob Altemeyer. Hes done research for decades on authoritarianism and written extensively on it, and his work formed the backbone of John Deans Conservatives without Conscience, and The Authoritarians was prompted in response to Deans suggestion that Altemeyer produce a version of the book accessible to people who havent read very extensively about US political history. Conservatives without Conscience was originally going to be co-written with Barry Goldwater during the 80s, when the Religious Right rose to power. Altemeyer himself is conservative. Dean was counsel to Nixon from 70 to 73. Dean is currently despised by most of the American right because hes done things like make Lindsay Graham humiliate himself on live television by knowing more than him. (The clip of which is pretty hilarious - Graham gets so matter he cant even form words.) Hes a Goldwater Conservative, which places him sharply to the left of even most moderate Republicans despite the fact that Goldwater was, in his day, considered an extremist. Altemeyers intro, circa 2006 (hes since written commentary on the 08 Election and on the Tea Party movement as well): OK, what’s this book about? It’s about what’s happened to the American government lately. It’s about the disastrous decisions that government has made. It’s about the corruption that rotted the Congress. It’s about how traditional conservatism has nearly been destroyed by authoritarianism. It’s about how the “Religious Right” teamed up with amoral authoritarian leaders to push its un-democratic agenda onto the country. It’s about the United States standing at the crossroads as the next federal election approaches. “Well,” you might be thinking, “I don’t believe any of this is true.” Or maybe, you’re thinking, “What else is new? I’ve believed this for years.” Why should a conservative, moderate, or liberal bother with this book? Why should any Republican, Independent, or Democrat click the “Whole Book” link on this page? Because if you do, you’ll begin an easy-ride journey through some very relevant scientific studies I have done on authoritarian personalities--one that will take you a heck of a lot less time than the decades it took me. Those studies have a direct bearing on all the topics mentioned above. So if you think the first paragraph is a lot of hokum, or full of half-truths, I invite you to look at the research. For example, take the following statement: “Once our government leaders and the authorities condemn the dangerous elements in our society, it will be the duty of every patriotic citizen to help stomp out the rot that is poisoning our country from within.” Sounds like something Hitler would say, right? Want to guess how many politicians, how many lawmakers in the United States agreed with it? Want to guess what they had in common? Or how about a government program that persecutes political parties, or minorities, or journalists the authorities do not like, by putting them in jail, even torturing and killing them. Nobody would approve of that, right? Guess again. Don’t think for a minute this doesn’t concern you personally. Let me ask you, as we’re passing the time here, how many ordinary people do you think an evil authority would have to order to kill you before he found someone who would, unjustly, out of sheer obedience, just because the authority said to? What sort of person is most likely to follow such an order? What kind of official is most likely to give that order, if it suited his purposes? Look at what experiments tell us, as I did. If, on the other hand, you’re way ahead of me, and believe the extreme right-wing elements in America are poised to take it over, permanently, I think you can still get a lot from this book. The studies explain so much about these people. Yes, the research shows they are very aggressive, but why are they so hostile? Yes, experiments show they are almost totally uninfluenced by reasoning and evidence, but why are they so dogmatic? Yes, studies show the Religious Right has more than its fair share of hypocrites, from top to bottom; but why are they two-faced, and how come one face never notices the other? Yes, their leaders can give the flimsiest of excuses and even outright lies about things they’ve done wrong, but why do the rank and file believe them? What happens when authoritarian followers find the authoritarian leaders they crave and start marching together? I think you’ll find this book “explains a lot.” Many scattered impressions about the enemies of freedom and equality become solidified by science and coherently connected here. You think I’m pulling your leg? Click the link. Pete, you might get something out of it.
Posted on: Sun, 20 Oct 2013 21:24:35 +0000
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