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What I currently would like to understand is why, when Hitler offered the german electorate a choice to the effect of "those milquetoasts only offer you nice th

What I currently would like to understand is why, when Hitler offered the german electorate a choice to the effect of "those milquetoasts only offer you nice things, but the unity I offer you will involve risk and blood and salty tears" they voted for him. cf https://bookmarks.reviews/george-orwells-1940-review-of-mein-kampf/ https://bookmarks.reviews/george-orwells-1940-review-of-mein...

ZeroGravitas 4y ago
About a third voted for him, but he only got power because the old right wing thought they could use his voting base to get to 50% and control him as part of a coalition. Things went downhill from there.
- stuaxo 4y ago
  "Centrists"* fear of the left and overestimation of their influence on the right swung it. *Centrists, actually just seem to be people who are pro the status quo.
  - 082349872349872 4y ago
    Depends upon your country. In mine the centrists (we have enough parties that "the centre" even has a reasonably objective definition) are in favour of moderate progress. "What do we want? Gradual change!" "When do we want it? In due course!"
- 082349872349872 4y ago
  So what was the rationale held by the third? By reverse analogy with the present (consider Brexit), were they thinking of voting as brick-throwing? cf https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33970366 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33970366
- watwut 4y ago
  He had biggest share of votes in that election. That is actually a lot, expecting any party to have over 50% vote is unreasonable benchmark. He did broke the constitution when taking the final power. And the vote was under threat of violence. And the elections themselves were done in violent environment. It is not like him winning or taking power was clean, it was not at all. But, he did had a lot of support at that point.
subpixel 4y ago
Actually people desire to belong to a mission, join a quest, and to engage with comrades to reclaim glory that seems lost. This factors into their political views and actions. We can see this in the political arena today.
- 082349872349872 4y ago
  As just one counterexample: space exploration is a mission, a quest, and an engagement with comrades (and in a certain country even a reclamation of glory that seems lost), but although it offers plenty of mental struggle, it deliberately seeks to minimise danger and death. (in fact, "fast cheap and out of control" pretty much drive the latter two to zero)
- 082349872349872 4y ago
  counterexample 2: Now the trumpet summons us again--not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need--not as a call to battle, though embattled we are-- but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle, year in and year out, "rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation"--a struggle against the common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease and war itself. https://www.jfklibrary.org/archives/other-resources/john-f-kennedy-speeches/inaugural-address-19610120 https://www.jfklibrary.org/archives/other-resources/john-f-k...

ZeroGravitas 4y ago

About a third voted for him, but he only got power because the old right wing thought they could use his voting base to get to 50% and control him as part of a coalition. Things went downhill from there.

stuaxo 4y ago
"Centrists"* fear of the left and overestimation of their influence on the right swung it. *Centrists, actually just seem to be people who are pro the status quo.
- 082349872349872 4y ago
  Depends upon your country. In mine the centrists (we have enough parties that "the centre" even has a reasonably objective definition) are in favour of moderate progress. "What do we want? Gradual change!" "When do we want it? In due course!"
082349872349872 4y ago
So what was the rationale held by the third? By reverse analogy with the present (consider Brexit), were they thinking of voting as brick-throwing? cf https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33970366 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33970366
watwut 4y ago
He had biggest share of votes in that election. That is actually a lot, expecting any party to have over 50% vote is unreasonable benchmark. He did broke the constitution when taking the final power. And the vote was under threat of violence. And the elections themselves were done in violent environment. It is not like him winning or taking power was clean, it was not at all. But, he did had a lot of support at that point.

subpixel 4y ago

Actually people desire to belong to a mission, join a quest, and to engage with comrades to reclaim glory that seems lost. This factors into their political views and actions. We can see this in the political arena today.

082349872349872 4y ago
As just one counterexample: space exploration is a mission, a quest, and an engagement with comrades (and in a certain country even a reclamation of glory that seems lost), but although it offers plenty of mental struggle, it deliberately seeks to minimise danger and death. (in fact, "fast cheap and out of control" pretty much drive the latter two to zero)
082349872349872 4y ago
counterexample 2: Now the trumpet summons us again--not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need--not as a call to battle, though embattled we are-- but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle, year in and year out, "rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation"--a struggle against the common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease and war itself. https://www.jfklibrary.org/archives/other-resources/john-f-kennedy-speeches/inaugural-address-19610120 https://www.jfklibrary.org/archives/other-resources/john-f-k...