The forces of authoritarianism are getting slicker and deeper, and that disturbs me
A friend shared a troubling website with me. I'm not 100% sure why I found the site so troubling, but one thing that stands out is its slick sophistication. There are two primary facets to this sophistication: the organization and the presentation. https://defeatthemandatesdc.com.
The presentation is, at very first glance, about what I would expect from a leftist or progressive group. It didn't take long for me to detect something was off, and an a quick reading of what they are after confirms it's neither leftist nor progressive. But that very first impression, which was followed by a sense of confusion as part of my subconscious detected the true message, was unique for me, I can usually detect political bias instantaneously. (This is a curse more than anything else, a symptom born from trauma, but that's another discussion.)
Regarding the organization, it seems focussed and professional. There's some real effort and intellegince both behind the design and messaging at least. If that is representative of a larger effort, that indicates significant funding and effective organization skills at play. I can't quite articulate what's differnt from previous and ongoing, similar efforts. There's something, fundamentally different here that projects real power, depth, and sophistication, and that is deeply disturbing. Efforts like whatever was behind Jan 6 seem chaotic and angry. This effort feels more collected, dispassionate, focussed, and expansive.
History doesn't repeat itself but it rhymes. After WW1, we had Spanish Flu, the Roaring 20s was a time of great economic inequality, then the Great Depression, followed by the rise of a lot of authoritarian governments across the globe, culminating in WW2.
Right now, Biden is predicting Russia will invade Ukraine. Authoritarian governments have been on the rise for the last half-decade. Economic inequality is reaching a fever pitch. Despite most of the working and middle class struggling, the official line is that the economy is good because the stock market is high. We're still dealing with COVID-19.
There's a lot to be concerned about. I personally expect an economic meltdown this decade as well as a war within the next fifteen or so years. The thing is, you or I are powerless to stop the train wreck. That's just how it goes. But you can prepare yourself for it. So if you're seeing the smoke, prepare yourself for the fire. There's no political will for unity and peace, only power and avarice. Construct your life in the best way you can to insulate yourself from the potential fallout.
This is good advice, but as someone who is into a lot of things that "preppers" are into - amateur radio, electronics, home agriculture, DIY furniture, archery, etc - it's become clear to me that this is only really an option for those not actually on the lists. If they're gonna round me up, they're gonna round me up, whether it's because I'm a Jew or a Leftist or trans, and neither my guns nor my neighbors' are going to stop them.
We have no option but to cut this thing off now, or suffer greatly for it.
I think if we've reached the point that the brute squad is knocking on your door to round you up, it's already too late. In my opinion, part of protecting yourself personally, is getting out before things get to that point. Easier said than done, I know. But if it's on your radar, it's at least a goal to work toward. Leaving a bad situation is something humans have done for as long as humans have existed.
Part of being able to get out, to me, is living a low and simple lifestyle with limited complexities. If you sense trouble on the horizon--even if that just means trouble in your specific city--the fewer responsibilities you have in life, the easier it is to pull up stakes and go. I'm not much of a prepper at all (and nor am I against it), but I do try to practice minimalist, simple, and frugal living. I just don't have many material possessions that I really care about. If I have to leave in a hurry for any reason, I can just grab my bag and go.
Yeah, I think this is really good advice. In addition, while the goldbuying folks are often a little over the top, owning some genuinely valuable jewelry (diamonds, gold chains which can be easily split up, and high-quality silver) is a time-honored once-and-future refugee tradition, because while the US dollar can go up and down, everyone everywhere likes gold.
Or leave
Indeed. It's expensive and difficult, though, and frankly the window is closing fast.
I'm stockpiling guns, ammo, and rare earth minerals. I hope to find the Loch-nar before the collapse, too.
I sense some glibness in your response, but I'm only trying to preach some personal resiliency and preparedness. It's all happened before and it can happen again. We don't live in a particularly special time period. War hasn't been eradicated and you're right to be worried about authoritarianism and the slickness of their message.
A long time ago I read a short story about a man who’s criminal semtence was exile. He was a wealthy man and allowed to provision himself however he wished, so he bought energy weapons of the highest grade with inexhaustible mini-fusion generators and an extremely capable all-terrain amphibious vehicle of similar indestructibility and infinite energy. Within a day of his exile he was relieved of them all by hooligans with bugs bunny wit.
I’m reasonably well trained in woodscraft and have a fair number of redneck skills. But at my most effective I could not last long truly on my own. Also, I have young’uns.
While collapse may be inevitable, i will endure it or die. I am not wealthy enough to emigrate nor resourceful enough to drift. I would prefer in any event to foment and participate in wholesome transformation and renewal.
Twice now you've talked about collapse in a way that insinuates you're envisioning full-on Mad Max-style societal destruction. But that's not what I've said at all. I think maybe when you view things from that lens, it absolves you of things you could do today for yourself. "If it happens, I'll just die." But that's really just black and white thinking, and I think what we're talking about in general is far more grey.
There's a good quote from Mark Fisher from his book Capitalist Realism that I'm reminded of here. "It is easier to imagine the end of the world than the end of capitalism." We've known this system for so long and we are so entrenched, if/when it comes to an end we can only imagine complete collapse of everything rather than, you know, some kind of sea change.
Something else to consider about your original post and concerning this website you've linked. If there's real money and power behind it, no matter how much you worry, how much you go out and protest, or how much you pine for wholesome transformation, there's really nothing you can do about it. Thanks to unbridled capitalism, we have allowed it to happen by allowing money and power to consolidate into fewer and fewer hands. While there are inquiries happening into the January 6th insurrection that happened in Washington, DC, and while information is coming out that those in power actually knew and fostered it, if we see nobody beyond patsies held accountable, then we will know that nothing can be done about this continued slide into... whatever it is. Madness, authoritarianism, the potential collapse of the US or balkanization or who knows. If a wing of government can't stop a real assault by the opposing wing, what power do you or I have?
I guess all I'm trying to say with my comments is... when you see this madness happening all around you, what are you doing personally to insulate yourself from the potential fallout? I said that before, and what I mean is if you believe the science behind the climate crisis, for example, why do you still live in Florida? If you believe our economy is a farce that could come tumbling down at any moment, why are you financing a luxury car? If you believe that commercial meat is pumped full of harmful chemicals that are actually toxic to you, why do you still eat it? Put your own mask on before helping other people with their mask. You don't have to go live in a bunker with a cache of weaponry. But maybe in ten years coffee will cost ten times as much because it's a huge luxury in the future, though that doesn't matter to you because you gave it up in the present. The beans are just sprayed with awful chemicals and caffeine is simply a socially-accepted addiction anyway.
In the short story you retold, the wealthy man thought he could insulate himself with more. But maybe the answer is less.
Indeed I misunderstood your meaning, thank you for the clarification. I also generally support the less is more lifestyle, much to the chagrin of my ex wife and kids-keep the heat on 65, a lot of (small w) whole foods, commuting by bike and feet, old car.
I’m keeping my single origin coffee for as long as I can though, thank you very much.
But the collapse I am worried about is the one that leads to nazi germany, or handmaids tale, or religious feudalism. Environmental collapse would suck, too, but whether the environment goes kaput in 10 years because of climate (see my comment elsewhere on tildes about my experience at the Bill McKibbon lecture) or 5 million when the sun expands, that kind of thing is inevitable.
I’d like to think that, without completely sacrificing my existence to full time activism, a healthier political/economic solution is possible through reasonable discourse and effort between now and the apocalypse.
IDK if I'd read too much into it. There are many covid deniers out there. Why wouldn't there be, among them, some with the ability to organize, network, and make a competent website?
I mean, the far-right can be highly organized, just look at what happened to the Republican party. Political parties are, by necessity, extremely organized. That is neither new nor surprising.
I don't even think the website is that slick. The domain name makes their purpose clear, and on the ABOUT US, it reads
Just some run-of-the-mill covid-denier slogans...
I agree with your sentiment here, but at the risk of sounding pedantic, is authoritarianism the right word to use here? While many who prescribe to anti-mask and anti-mandate rhetoric may also prescribe to authoritarianism, I'm not sure if "authoritarian" is the right way to describe this particular group. Maybe right-wing extremist would be a better description?
Either way, I agree that the professionalism of this website is disturbing. Like you said, it probably means that there's a lot of money and people behind this. I just hope nothing escalates on the 22nd when they're set to march.
The reason I used that word is I think it is rally around a personality, primarily of Trump these days, that leads many people to channel all their anger into particular banners, in this case "personal medical choice."
The opposite of authoritarianism I guess is small-l liberalism?
I'm not sure that right-wing extremism and authoritarianism are distinct.
I guess I’m being a bit pedantic, but in the defined sense of the word (favoring absolute obedience to authority, as against individual freedom), I would go as far as to say this particular organization is preaching the opposite of authoritarianism (i.e. hyper-individual choice and freedom with zero authoritative oversight).
In context, however, you’re right - the people associated with these kinds of groups tend to subscribe to many authoritarian trains of thought, and it makes sense to associate them with that.
Populism may be the word you're looking for.
It seems odd that this post is tagged as "authoritarianism" when it's the opposite. Many anti-vaxers are resisting pressure from authorities because they don't trust them. Distrust of government and of authorities has deep roots in the US.
Anti-authoritarian resistance isn't always right. Sometimes the rebels adhere to a mistaken belief system.
Distrust of government authorities they don't like, you mean.
The people who are doing this protesting are mostly the same people who are somehow perfectly ok with the government telling women what they can and can't do with their own bodies, telling people who they can and cannot marry, telling people what bathrooms they're allowed to use, and what substances they're allowed to put into their own bodies. For some reason, in this one case where it would save hundreds of thousands of lives, it's not ok though.
Yes it's only some authorities. I have no interest in defending any of those things.
Some authorities that conservatives are stereotypically concerned about include schools, social workers, and the EPA. The police, not so much. Though there are concerns about the "deep state" and federal law enforcement in some places. It's a mix. It doesn't necessarily have to make sense.
If it were true that these protests were truly resistance to government over-reach, you might have a point. But administering guidelines for basic public health and safety is a proper function of any government. There is no rational basis for resisting vaccines, let alone masks. And it is entirely reasonable to limit access to the benefits of the agora for people who refuse to take any social responsibility. Additionally, noone is relieving them of their choice, anymore than government relieves potential motorists of their “choice” to drive when they fail basic safety tests.
More than that, however, it is patent that these people are acting obediently to the arbitrary direction of a small group of authority figures, because it’s easier than facing their fear.
Fears don't need to be reasonable and reasonable arguments against them don't make them go away. Apparently there are people who interpret vaccine mandates as part of a slippery slope leading to forced vaccinations and want to resist it?
Maybe it seems silly, particular with the Supreme Court's recent decisions. But elsewhere in this topic you are discussing fears of a political collapse, so it shouldn't be that hard to relate.
When an unreasonable interpretation is used to corral an unreasonable fear, that’s authoritarianism.