(Thread) The GOP, the Hierarchy, and Conspiracy Theories
This ⤵️ is a good question.
Yes, conspiracy theories are directly connected to a hierarchy mindset.
(Be sure to take notes: This material will be on the government theory portion of the Twitter Bar Exam.)
This ⤵️ is a good question.
Yes, conspiracy theories are directly connected to a hierarchy mindset.
(Be sure to take notes: This material will be on the government theory portion of the Twitter Bar Exam.)
1/ The question is from my thread on “hierarchy v fairness,” here, if you missed it ⤵️
Short answer: Embracing the hierarchy mindset requires rejecting factuality and entering a world of myth.
Short answer: Embracing the hierarchy mindset requires rejecting factuality and entering a world of myth.
2/ This answer will also explain why Bill Barr and pals reject rule of law and think a person's guilt or innocence should depend on the extent of that person's loyalty to Trump.
3/ This answer will also explain why the GOP thinks Americans should be willing to risk death if the leader tells them they should.
See this Fox guy telling people to be good Americans and expose themselves to Covid-19 👇
(I attached a transcription)
See this Fox guy telling people to be good Americans and expose themselves to Covid-19 👇
(I attached a transcription)
4/ The answer starts with Max Weber’s three sources of authority for government:
🔹Traditional (monarchy)
🔹Personal charisma (this is Weber’s term. Today we might say demagogue or cult leader)
🔹Legal / rational (democracy).
archive.org/details/weber_…
Excerpt from Weber:
🔹Traditional (monarchy)
🔹Personal charisma (this is Weber’s term. Today we might say demagogue or cult leader)
🔹Legal / rational (democracy).
archive.org/details/weber_…
Excerpt from Weber:
5/ The U.S. is in the midsts of a struggle for power between #2 (leadership cult) and #3 (rule of law)
The modern GOP rejects rule of law and embraces the second source of authority, what Weber calls "personal devotion."
Once we understand that, everything else makes sense.
The modern GOP rejects rule of law and embraces the second source of authority, what Weber calls "personal devotion."
Once we understand that, everything else makes sense.
6/ The GOP embrace of "personal devotion" explains Trump saying things like “I alone can fix it,” and that he follows his “gut”
newsweek.com/donald-trump-g…
"Personal devotion" is hierarchical: The leader is at the top. Everyone else is below.
newsweek.com/donald-trump-g…
"Personal devotion" is hierarchical: The leader is at the top. Everyone else is below.
7/ Bill Barr and the Trump-FOX-GOP want Trump's word to be both Law and Truth.
The only way you can get people to accept a person's word as both Law and Truth is to obliterate factuality and science.
The only way you can get people to accept a person's word as both Law and Truth is to obliterate factuality and science.
8/ Democracy, on the other hand, requires truth and factuality. (Rule of law requires truth.)
Leadership cults (like fascism) can only exist by clearing away factuality so that the leader’s word becomes both “truth” and “law.”
So each seeks to destroy the other.
Leadership cults (like fascism) can only exist by clearing away factuality so that the leader’s word becomes both “truth” and “law.”
So each seeks to destroy the other.
9/ Fascism is a leadership cult. Fascism is also hierarchical
Ivan Ilyin was a Russian philosopher who explains fascism.
Info from ⤵️
Ilyin despised democracy, which he thought was unstable, with the middle and lower classes constantly striving for advancement.
Ivan Ilyin was a Russian philosopher who explains fascism.
Info from ⤵️
Ilyin despised democracy, which he thought was unstable, with the middle and lower classes constantly striving for advancement.
10/ The nation, for him, was like a body, and the citizens the cells. Each remained in its place. The foot shouldn't try to become the head.
The rulers at the top should rule, everyone else must remain in their place.
Hence, hierarchy.
The rulers at the top should rule, everyone else must remain in their place.
Hence, hierarchy.
11/ A fascist leader doesn’t govern in the usual sense (devising policy to better the lives of the citizens).
Instead, he identifies enemies and “neutralizing” them.
This also creates hierarchy (our team is better).
Instead, he identifies enemies and “neutralizing” them.
This also creates hierarchy (our team is better).
12/ Conspiracy theories generally attribute an occurrence to a powerful malevolent group working secretly to do evil to innocent people.
Conspiracy theories thus come in handy to fascist-cult leaders who want blame "enemies."
Like blaming China 👇
washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/…
Conspiracy theories thus come in handy to fascist-cult leaders who want blame "enemies."
Like blaming China 👇
washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/…
13/ Adam Schiff did a great job explaining this during his closing arguments of the Senate impeachment trial.
Listen to the entire thing.
He lays out how the Democrats stand for rule of law, while the modern GOP rejects rule of law for rule of one man.
Listen to the entire thing.
He lays out how the Democrats stand for rule of law, while the modern GOP rejects rule of law for rule of one man.
14/ Trump made clear from the beginning that he intends to be and rule as a cult leader.
In the 2016 election he embraced conspiracy theories, said he knew more than the generals, and approved of Alex Jones.
Trump rejects facts and science, and the GOP is right there with him.
In the 2016 election he embraced conspiracy theories, said he knew more than the generals, and approved of Alex Jones.
Trump rejects facts and science, and the GOP is right there with him.
15/ Bottom line: People who embrace rule of law and rationality will never accept a cult leader.
Conspiracy theories and cult leadership / hierarchy go hand in hand.
The question is what to do when approximately 40% of the citizens prefer a leadership cult to rule of law.
Conspiracy theories and cult leadership / hierarchy go hand in hand.
The question is what to do when approximately 40% of the citizens prefer a leadership cult to rule of law.
16/ You may be wondering why I have ready answers to questions like these.
(I mean, other than the fact that I’m a library nerd. Me=🤓)
It’s because I am currently under contract with Macmillan to write a book on disinformation.
(I mean, other than the fact that I’m a library nerd. Me=🤓)
It’s because I am currently under contract with Macmillan to write a book on disinformation.
17/ My research on disinformation is taking me into the heart of fascism, conspiracy theories, and leadership cults.
My book will be part of this series👇
This means that a nerd like me gets to write a book that might be described as “cool.”
My book will be part of this series👇
This means that a nerd like me gets to write a book that might be described as “cool.”
18/ Here's a trailer about the series. I've also never had a book with a trailer. (me = 😎)
It also means I'm thinking a lot about these issues right now, including how we solve the problem of 40% of the population lining up behind a cult leader.
It also means I'm thinking a lot about these issues right now, including how we solve the problem of 40% of the population lining up behind a cult leader.
I finally put this thread up on my blog. It's here: terikanefield-blog.com/hierarchy-and-…
