Political Theatre category archive
A Pillow of the Community 0
Mike Lindell wants you to sign on the dodgy line.
A Tune for the Times 0
Warning: Of questionable taste.
The Call of the Cult 0
At Psychology Today Blogs, Darcia F. Narvaez explores the psychology of cults and how they maintain control over their adherents.
(She uses what I consider an absurd term, “totalist,” in the piece, in order to differentiate from the term “totalitarian”; I think she does so in order to include non-governmental entities. But it’s still absurd.)
Here’s a bit:
Mind control occurs thorough an alternation of fear and love within the isolating environment. Followers are threatened by the leader at the same time they are promised love. They are entrapped within the group, glued in anxious dependency to the group, in a constant state of fear arousal but seeking proximity to the group in a failed attempt for comfort.
I commend the rest to your attention.
Gulling the Gullible 0
At the Des Moines Register, Roger Patocka argues that too many of our polity are allowing themselves to be led into a fantasy world by fabulists:
“The ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the convinced Communist, but people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction (i.e., the reality of experience) and the distinction between true and false (i.e., the standards of thought) no longer exist.”
I commend the entire piece to your attention.
(Broken link fixed.)
The Research 0
Warning: Short ad at the end.
Remembe, “social” media isn’t.
The Galt and the Lamers 0
A self-proclaimed “ex-objectivist” tries to differentiate between Randian “objectivism” and “libertarianism.” Sam suggests that that’s a distinction without a difference.
Vaccine Nation 0
In related news, the Arizona Republic’s E. J. Montini marvels at the pretzel logic of those who would perpetuate pandemics.
Use-By Date Expired 0
At Notes from the Ironbound, Werner Herzog’s Bear makes a compelling case that the United States Senate is an anachronism, and a dangerous counterproductive one at that. He compares it to France’s Estates-General on the eve of the French Revolution. An excerpt:
Going back to when I learned about this in high school I had always laughed at the crown trying to gain legitimacy in a changing, modernizing society through such an institution. I have stopped laughing, because I have come to realize that the US Senate as an institution is hardly less farcical.
Follow the link for his reasoning.
Decoding De Code 0
Driftglass looks behind the facade. A snippet:
1. America should be ruled by a cadre of morally superior white men.
2. Wealth is proxy for moral superiority.
3. Any means of insuring that America is permanently ruled by a cadre of wealthy men is permitted.
Foxy Shady 0
A snippet:
Imagine getting told you’re not credible enough to be on Fox and Friends.
Words of One Syllable 0
General Milley explains the concept of responsibility to a person incapable of grasping it.
Via Francis Langum at C&L, who has commentary.
Reality Bites 0
Self-described conservative Cameron Smith, writing at AL.com, argues that it’s time for Republicans to return to the real world. A nugget:
Facebook Frolics 0
Brier Dudley grasps at a straw.