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>But the flare up of grassroots authoritarianism, specifically in the Republican party where it has gone mainstream Wow that took a turn to a hot take really f

>But the flare up of grassroots authoritarianism, specifically in the Republican party where it has gone mainstream Wow that took a turn to a hot take really fast. You don't find the rise of the green left, the authoritarian self-described socialists like "The Squad", etc to be the equivalent on the left? Or do you only view things through the lens of the party you like? Yes, the green energy, banning ICE, defunding police, anti-liberty left is just as bad as the deep right wing that wants to ban abortion and all the other things they do. There's no question and there is no ambiguity. Both want control of what you do in nearly every aspect of your life. Waking up involves realizing both of the extremes (left and right) would happily put you against the wall. Extremism begets extremism. Authoritarianism begets authoritarianism. The horseshoe theory of politics has reached its peak in the last 6 years and opinions like this are part of the reason why. It's always "Them". Never "Us". If only "They" could wake up they'd finally love "Our" version of big brother. How exhausting it must be to constantly find a way to simplify a vast group of people down into the absolute edge cases and judge them entirely on that edge case.

mindslight 4y ago
> self-described socialists like "The Squad" ... banning ICE, defunding police These are not positions of the mainstream Democratic party. The Democratic party is still basically constrained to its traditional function of channeling constituents frustration into boring status-quo corporate-first policies, much to the chagrin of people who do support the things you've listed. > green energy I don't know how you're saying green energy is authoritarian. If it's the economic meddling with subsidies, I'd say it's disingenuous to focus on that when fossil fuels, and overproduction in general, have been so heavily subsidized. I'd much rather the government did not print trillions of dollars and give it away as corporate welfare, but if it's going to, I'd rather it go to forward thinking technologies rather than just lining the pockets of existing industries. > It's always "Them". Never "Us". If only "They" could wake up they'd finally love "Our" version of big brother. I'm not an "our". I routinely get into arguments with Democratic friends advocating bureaucracy-centric corporate-first policies that their politicians have convinced them are genuine attempts at reform. I've read plenty of reactionary writing and think it has fantastic critiques about the Cathedral and the deep state. I think those structures are ultimately at odds with personal liberty and enlightenment. However this does not mean that I view every attempt to attack those structures as a good thing.

mindslight 4y ago

> self-described socialists like "The Squad" ... banning ICE, defunding police These are not positions of the mainstream Democratic party. The Democratic party is still basically constrained to its traditional function of channeling constituents frustration into boring status-quo corporate-first policies, much to the chagrin of people who do support the things you've listed. > green energy I don't know how you're saying green energy is authoritarian. If it's the economic meddling with subsidies, I'd say it's disingenuous to focus on that when fossil fuels, and overproduction in general, have been so heavily subsidized. I'd much rather the government did not print trillions of dollars and give it away as corporate welfare, but if it's going to, I'd rather it go to forward thinking technologies rather than just lining the pockets of existing industries. > It's always "Them". Never "Us". If only "They" could wake up they'd finally love "Our" version of big brother. I'm not an "our". I routinely get into arguments with Democratic friends advocating bureaucracy-centric corporate-first policies that their politicians have convinced them are genuine attempts at reform. I've read plenty of reactionary writing and think it has fantastic critiques about the Cathedral and the deep state. I think those structures are ultimately at odds with personal liberty and enlightenment. However this does not mean that I view every attempt to attack those structures as a good thing.