6 ms·

I would posit that authoritarian tendencies and mindsets are very tightly correlated with the right in the US.

ocdtrekkie 6y ago
In some ways, but not in others. For instance, many people on the left consider mandatory vaccination something they strongly support. Sure, the science supports the benefits to society, and most people opposed are misinformed or crazy, but it's still advocating for the government to mandate your body be injected with a synthetic substance against your will. The left is more than happy to mandate everyone participate in social programs to help disadvantaged members of society, the individual mandate of ObamaCare is authoritarian: It requires people who are unlikely to benefit to pay in to cover those who are unprofitable to provide health coverage to. I am definitely in support of universal healthcare, but it's also arguably an authoritarian choice to implement it. Democrats absolutely will be authoritarian when it believes removing individual freedoms will benefit society as a whole, placing overall wellness and equality as priorities. On the right, authoritarianism heavily shows with enforcing moral values. It isn't enough for someone on the right to oppose abortion, it needs to be taken away from everyone. (If you consider abortion to be murder, by the way, this position makes logical sense. You wouldn't say "I don't believe in killing people, but I won't take away your right to do it" because that's silly.) Bans on gay marriage or drug use have less to do with societal well-being and more with the religiously-set values of what is "right" and "good".
- krapp 6y ago
  To be fair, the left didn't want Obamacare, the left wanted European-style nationalized healthcare. Obamacare was more the result of sabotage by the Republicans and desperate compromises made by Obama for the sake of his legacy than actual leftist policy.
  - ocdtrekkie 6y ago
    True, but I don't think that invalidates my point: The left would've technically chosen a more authoritarian policy, where they charge everyone for healthcare (via taxes) non-optionally and with no provider choice. It's also likely true the outcome would've been a better system too.
- exogeny 6y ago
  Fair points. Thanks for the well-reasoned reply.

In some ways, but not in others. For instance, many people on the left consider mandatory vaccination something they strongly support. Sure, the science supports the benefits to society, and most people opposed are misinformed or crazy, but it's still advocating for the government to mandate your body be injected with a synthetic substance against your will. The left is more than happy to mandate everyone participate in social programs to help disadvantaged members of society, the individual mandate of ObamaCare is authoritarian: It requires people who are unlikely to benefit to pay in to cover those who are unprofitable to provide health coverage to. I am definitely in support of universal healthcare, but it's also arguably an authoritarian choice to implement it. Democrats absolutely will be authoritarian when it believes removing individual freedoms will benefit society as a whole, placing overall wellness and equality as priorities. On the right, authoritarianism heavily shows with enforcing moral values. It isn't enough for someone on the right to oppose abortion, it needs to be taken away from everyone. (If you consider abortion to be murder, by the way, this position makes logical sense. You wouldn't say "I don't believe in killing people, but I won't take away your right to do it" because that's silly.) Bans on gay marriage or drug use have less to do with societal well-being and more with the religiously-set values of what is "right" and "good".

krapp 6y ago
To be fair, the left didn't want Obamacare, the left wanted European-style nationalized healthcare. Obamacare was more the result of sabotage by the Republicans and desperate compromises made by Obama for the sake of his legacy than actual leftist policy.
- ocdtrekkie 6y ago
  True, but I don't think that invalidates my point: The left would've technically chosen a more authoritarian policy, where they charge everyone for healthcare (via taxes) non-optionally and with no provider choice. It's also likely true the outcome would've been a better system too.
exogeny 6y ago
Fair points. Thanks for the well-reasoned reply.