(Thread) The Spirit of Liberty
Walker asks⤵️
Spoiler: A surprising number of people prefer a “strongman” to rule-of-law democracy.
Let's start with a definition of democracy.
I like Lincoln's: “A majority held in restraint by constitutional checks and balances. . ."
Walker asks⤵️
Spoiler: A surprising number of people prefer a “strongman” to rule-of-law democracy.
Let's start with a definition of democracy.
I like Lincoln's: “A majority held in restraint by constitutional checks and balances. . ."
1/ For a more complete definition of “liberal democracy,” how about ⤵️
The drafters of the Constitution liked the idea of liberal democracy—but they limited “we the people” to white (mostly landowning) men.
The drafters of the Constitution liked the idea of liberal democracy—but they limited “we the people” to white (mostly landowning) men.
2/ We’ve basically been fighting over who should be included in “we the people” ever since.
Most people on Twitter are familiar with what political psychologists call the authoritarian disposition—the theory that some people are inclined toward authoritarianism.
Most people on Twitter are familiar with what political psychologists call the authoritarian disposition—the theory that some people are inclined toward authoritarianism.
3/ For more on authoritarianism, see:
But the answer: “People who prefer authoritarianism have an authoritarian disposition,” is sort of circular, right?
Maybe we should come at the question from a different angle.
But the answer: “People who prefer authoritarianism have an authoritarian disposition,” is sort of circular, right?
Maybe we should come at the question from a different angle.
4/ How about, some people reject democracy because they:
🔹Reject diversity,
🔹Don’t like boring politics,
🔹Demand rapid change,
🔹Reject compromise, and
🔹Are completely sure they’re right.
(There is overlap, and I’m probably forgetting something.)
🔹Reject diversity,
🔹Don’t like boring politics,
🔹Demand rapid change,
🔹Reject compromise, and
🔹Are completely sure they’re right.
(There is overlap, and I’m probably forgetting something.)
5/ “Reject diversity” is included in the classic definition of right wing authoritarianism.
See academia.edu/34651963/The_R…
Right wing authoritarians “defer to established authorities,” and “show aggression toward out-groups when authorities sanction that aggression.”
See academia.edu/34651963/The_R…
Right wing authoritarians “defer to established authorities,” and “show aggression toward out-groups when authorities sanction that aggression.”
6/ In other words, right wing authoritarians don’t like “out-groups” and can be cruel toward them.
The cruelty springs from the dislike.
Here is Tucker Carlson explaining that diversity is NOT a strength:
cnsnews.com/blog/michael-m…
The cruelty springs from the dislike.
Here is Tucker Carlson explaining that diversity is NOT a strength:
cnsnews.com/blog/michael-m…
7/ Here's Katie Hopkins, pictured with Ann Coulter, praising Russia as being “untouched by the myth of multiculturalism and deranged diversity“
rt.com/uk/429777-kati…
The problem for them is that democracy tends to expand and become more inclusive.
That's when they reject it.
rt.com/uk/429777-kati…
The problem for them is that democracy tends to expand and become more inclusive.
That's when they reject it.
8/ Next:🔹Some people don’t like boring politics.
Some Trump supporters like Trump because he’s entertaining.
When democracy works well, it’s boring.
A lot of people dozed off in school when the teacher talked about “civics” and “three branches of government.” 😴
Some Trump supporters like Trump because he’s entertaining.
When democracy works well, it’s boring.
A lot of people dozed off in school when the teacher talked about “civics” and “three branches of government.” 😴
9/ Following all those procedures will not keep you on the edge of your seat. News programs will find it harder to be entertaining and captivate audiences.
MPBA (Make Politics Boring Again).
News shouldn't be entertainment.
This brings us to
🔹People who demand rapid change.
MPBA (Make Politics Boring Again).
News shouldn't be entertainment.
This brings us to
🔹People who demand rapid change.
10/ In the words of Ziblatt and Levitsky, democracy is slow, grinding work.
If you don’t believe it, run for local office and try to get something done.
Checks and balances, and separation of powers naturally slows things down.
If you don’t believe it, run for local office and try to get something done.
Checks and balances, and separation of powers naturally slows things down.
11/ The only way to make rapid change is to eliminate checks and balances and consolidate power. This creates a situation that allows a strongman to step in.
One appeal of the strongman is he can blast through the slow-moving process and get things done fast.
One appeal of the strongman is he can blast through the slow-moving process and get things done fast.
12/ Next we have:
🔹Reject compromise
Democracy requires compromise. Purists who won’t compromise are not democratic (even if the result they want is more democracy).
In the early 1990s, Newt Gingrich urged Republicans to reject compromise. theatlantic.com/magazine/archi…
🔹Reject compromise
Democracy requires compromise. Purists who won’t compromise are not democratic (even if the result they want is more democracy).
In the early 1990s, Newt Gingrich urged Republicans to reject compromise. theatlantic.com/magazine/archi…
13/ Many scholars (including Ziblatt and Levitsky) point to that as a time the Republican Party took a sharp turn toward authoritarianism.
“My way or the high way” is not democracy. It’s autocracy.
“This is the way it has to be” are the kinds of words spoken by a strongman.
“My way or the high way” is not democracy. It’s autocracy.
“This is the way it has to be” are the kinds of words spoken by a strongman.
14/ During the primaries, a frustrated Sanders supporter told me that the Democratic Party should bypass the vote and nominate Sanders because (1) he is the better candidate, and (2) not doing so sends a message to young people that they and their votes don't matter.
15/ I tried to explain why this would be undemocratic.
This brings me to Learned Hand’s quotation: "The Spirit of Liberty is the spirit which is not too sure that it is right"👇
(That really was his name)
For the full context, see: digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.…
This brings me to Learned Hand’s quotation: "The Spirit of Liberty is the spirit which is not too sure that it is right"👇
(That really was his name)
For the full context, see: digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.…
16/ “I am right. I am the authority. Listen to me, and only me,” isn't democratic.
It took me a long time to understand why the spirit of liberty is the spirit that is not too sure it is right.
(I first saw the quotation when researching my biography of RGB, who quoted it.)
It took me a long time to understand why the spirit of liberty is the spirit that is not too sure it is right.
(I first saw the quotation when researching my biography of RGB, who quoted it.)
17/ When we're not too sure we're right, we listen, and compromise, and are more inclined to bring people together.
To be clear: I’m not advocating compromising with the KKK.
I’m advocating coalition building, creating as big a tent as possible, and respecting procedures.
To be clear: I’m not advocating compromising with the KKK.
I’m advocating coalition building, creating as big a tent as possible, and respecting procedures.
18/ When we're not too sure we're right (and we don’t insist on purity) we are better able to pull together a large enough majority to bring about positive changes and resist autocracy.
Big tents get messy.
Big tents get messy.
I did mean Ruth Bader Ginsburg !!
Love it.
This thread is a blog post, here: terikanefield-blog.com/the-spirit-of-…
Then sometimes people who want a strongman just come right about and say we don't want a nice guy, we want a strong man.
…
h/t @QuitTheCrazy
…
h/t @QuitTheCrazy
Being something of a nerd 🤓 I grabbed my dictionary 👇
Surely Graham didn't mean "great physical strength." I can't imagine Trump lifting weights.
So he meant #2, "A leader who rules by the exercise of threats, force or violence."
That's what Lindsay Graham and the GOP want.
Surely Graham didn't mean "great physical strength." I can't imagine Trump lifting weights.
So he meant #2, "A leader who rules by the exercise of threats, force or violence."
That's what Lindsay Graham and the GOP want.
This is true. (Laura made this comment on Tweet 5: "reject diversity" )
I stumbled on this opinion piece in The Christian Post arguing that diversity is obviously a weakness, not a strength. (Link in next tweet)
I stumbled on this opinion piece in The Christian Post arguing that diversity is obviously a weakness, not a strength. (Link in next tweet)
The "evidence" is silly. The chief monkey in Planet of the Apes said "apes together . . .strong." There you have it! Conclusive proof!
Other proof: In the first Book of the Bible, there is great homogeneity. Then God gives them diversity of language. . .
christianpost.com/news/diversity…
Other proof: In the first Book of the Bible, there is great homogeneity. Then God gives them diversity of language. . .
christianpost.com/news/diversity…
. . . and things fall apart at that point until God makes them able to understand each other.
I think the argument falls apart when the author praises Nazi Germany for its lack of diversity, and explains "our alliance" with Russia, but evidently others find this persuasive.
I think the argument falls apart when the author praises Nazi Germany for its lack of diversity, and explains "our alliance" with Russia, but evidently others find this persuasive.
The Christian Post is an evangelical magazine founded by Billy Graham.
I know very little about it. I just stumbled on this opinion piece. I do recall the magazine had an internal falling out over whether to defend Trump during the impeachment.
I know very little about it. I just stumbled on this opinion piece. I do recall the magazine had an internal falling out over whether to defend Trump during the impeachment.
