4 ms·

Or, put more succinctly, Wilhoit’s Law (which is framed as about “conservatism” rather than “fascism”, but the latter can be viewed as, within the context of th

Or, put more succinctly, Wilhoit’s Law (which is framed as about “conservatism” rather than “fascism”, but the latter can be viewed as, within the context of the description, a complex of ideas which includes the former as its central element): Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition, to wit: There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect.

ASalazarMX 1y ago
[flagged]
- dragonwriter 1y ago
  That conservatism (including fascism) foundationally rests on something that involves explicitly unequal standards does not mean that every hypocrite is a conservative, correct. (p implies q) does not imply (q iimplies p). Also, though, a lot of groups with some degree of leftist rhetoric are substantially right-wing hierarchy-promoting groups (even promoting fascist-style leader-centric structures) that are simply trying to replace one heirarchy with another rather than eliminate hierarchy, a tradition of deceptive rhetorical positioning which has included fascists as far back as the early days of the National Socialist German Workers Party.
  - seitanist 1y ago
    _Democratic_ People's Republic of Korea
FireBeyond 1y ago
There's a similar quote that also fits: > If conservatives become convinced that they can not win democratically, they will not abandon conservatism. The will reject democracy.
- throw0101c 1y ago
  > If conservatives become convinced that they can not win democratically, they will not abandon conservatism. The will reject democracy. This is from David Frum, a conservative himself: > Maybe you do not care much about the future of the Republican Party. You should. Conservatives will always be with us. If conservatives become convinced that they can not win democratically, they will not abandon conservatism. The will reject democracy. * https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/9077312-maybe-you-do-not-care-much-about-the-future-of https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/9077312-maybe-you-do-not-ca...
- JuniperMesos 1y ago
  Another alternative, that any poltical side can use, is to attempt to change the composition of the electorate that votes in the democracy.
  - stirfish 1y ago
    With, like, education and nutrition programs?
    - AnimalMuppet 1y ago
      No, like, with voter restrictions.
throw0101c 1y ago
> Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition, to wit: There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect. While pithy, public intellectual/academic conservatives like David Frum and Tom Nichols would disagree, and say the rule of law should apply equally to everyone. Frum (IIRC, though it may have been Applebaum) wrote articles years ago that the direction of the GOP was going was similar to that of Hungary: using public office to enrich family and friends and not prosecute the same when they broke the law. There have been numerous conservatives aghast at what the GOP was becoming / has now become, and were ringing the alarm for years. * https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2018/04/hungary-elections-orban/557294/ https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2018/04/hu...
- JohnFen 1y ago
  This. There's exactly nothing conservative about MAGA. Quite the opposite, it's overtly and proudly radical and extremist, and views actual conservative values with as much contempt as it views actual liberal values.
  - throw0101c 1y ago
    > There's exactly nothing conservative about MAGA. Just look at the recent brouhaha about Ontario's televsion ad using Reagan's words against tariffs and the reaction it caused.

ASalazarMX 1y ago

[flagged]

dragonwriter 1y ago
That conservatism (including fascism) foundationally rests on something that involves explicitly unequal standards does not mean that every hypocrite is a conservative, correct. (p implies q) does not imply (q iimplies p). Also, though, a lot of groups with some degree of leftist rhetoric are substantially right-wing hierarchy-promoting groups (even promoting fascist-style leader-centric structures) that are simply trying to replace one heirarchy with another rather than eliminate hierarchy, a tradition of deceptive rhetorical positioning which has included fascists as far back as the early days of the National Socialist German Workers Party.
- seitanist 1y ago
  _Democratic_ People's Republic of Korea

FireBeyond 1y ago

There's a similar quote that also fits: > If conservatives become convinced that they can not win democratically, they will not abandon conservatism. The will reject democracy.

throw0101c 1y ago
> If conservatives become convinced that they can not win democratically, they will not abandon conservatism. The will reject democracy. This is from David Frum, a conservative himself: > Maybe you do not care much about the future of the Republican Party. You should. Conservatives will always be with us. If conservatives become convinced that they can not win democratically, they will not abandon conservatism. The will reject democracy. * https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/9077312-maybe-you-do-not-care-much-about-the-future-of https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/9077312-maybe-you-do-not-ca...
JuniperMesos 1y ago
Another alternative, that any poltical side can use, is to attempt to change the composition of the electorate that votes in the democracy.
- stirfish 1y ago
  With, like, education and nutrition programs?
  - AnimalMuppet 1y ago
    No, like, with voter restrictions.

throw0101c 1y ago

> Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition, to wit: There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect. While pithy, public intellectual/academic conservatives like David Frum and Tom Nichols would disagree, and say the rule of law should apply equally to everyone. Frum (IIRC, though it may have been Applebaum) wrote articles years ago that the direction of the GOP was going was similar to that of Hungary: using public office to enrich family and friends and not prosecute the same when they broke the law. There have been numerous conservatives aghast at what the GOP was becoming / has now become, and were ringing the alarm for years. * https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2018/04/hungary-elections-orban/557294/ https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2018/04/hu...

JohnFen 1y ago
This. There's exactly nothing conservative about MAGA. Quite the opposite, it's overtly and proudly radical and extremist, and views actual conservative values with as much contempt as it views actual liberal values.
- throw0101c 1y ago
  > There's exactly nothing conservative about MAGA. Just look at the recent brouhaha about Ontario's televsion ad using Reagan's words against tariffs and the reaction it caused.