The Earths fatal turns towards authoritarianism is alarming.

[mikkel_the_dane]

Through most of history, monarchies were the original form of totalitarian state. The individual had no power and little chance for upward mobility beyond their class at birth. The Constitution of the USA was a major breakthrough for the ideal of Democracy. It outlined a strategy for how humans could self govern and get beyond monarchies as well as provide upward mobility based on talents and hard work instead of birth right.

For one, the Constitution required smaller government. Big Brother was closer to the totalitarian state than was Little Brother. The Founding Father saw this and also made provisions to spread out power, through the three branches of government, which could offer each other checks and balances.

The Constitution is still a good litmus test to help us figure out who is pushing for a Totalitarian state, versus who is in favor of a Democratic State. Those who wish to weaken the Constitution, in favor of more government control, do so to make it easier for some form of monarchy to return.

For example, one of the pillars of a free society is free speech. Those who wish to limit free speech, knowingly or unknowingly, shift things back toward how a totalitarian state works. In such a state, all information is controlled, so the people can be fooled by a subset. A Ministry of Disinformation that is led by those who once condoned disinformation, is a tell.

One can tell the totalitarian tree by the types of fruit it bares. The Constitution is a good way to size up fruit ,that might look exotic and new, so we can tell the difference, before it takes root.

Get the USA out of here. You are not the only version of democracy. Your cultural imperialism is showing.

 

[Guitar's Cry]

Oh I agree
Regardless of which side of the political aisle it comes from, authoritarianism is awful.

Though as an aside, all my life I’ve heard from Americans just what a hellish dictatorship I live under as an Aussie.
All I could ever think of in response was just how authoritarian US politicians were.

But yeah I agree

You folks get sausages on bread for voting day and all we get is a crummy sticker that says that you voted.

 

[exchemist]

Democracy faces perfect storm as the world becomes more authoritarian | International IDEA

The Global State of Democracy report is not a wakeup call, it's an alarm bell.

This quote is attributed to Jutta Urpilainen, European Commissioner for International Partnerships

I think Jutta is right.

So are we heading into a global authoritarian future?

There are many ominous signs, certainly. Here's one example from today's paper. Trump shares CPAC Hungary platform with notorious racist and antisemite

 

[Guitar's Cry]

Through most of history, monarchies were the original form of totalitarian state. The individual had no power and little chance for upward mobility beyond their class at birth. The Constitution of the USA was a major breakthrough for the ideal of Democracy. It outlined a strategy for how humans could self govern and get beyond monarchies. It also made provisions for the freedoms needed for upward mobility, based on talents and hard work, instead of just birth right.

For one, the Constitution required smaller government. Big Brother was closer to the totalitarian state than was Little Brother. The Founding Fathers saw this and made provisions to spread out power, through the three branches of government, to offer further checks and balances.

The Constitution is still a good litmus test to help us figure out who is pushing for a Totalitarian state, versus who is in favor of a Democratic State. Those who wish to weaken the Constitution, in favor of more government control, do so to make it easier for some form of monarchy to return.

For example, one of the pillars of a free society is free speech. Those who wish to limit free speech, knowingly or unknowingly, shift things back toward how a totalitarian state works. In such a state, all information is controlled, so the people can be fooled by a subset of all useful information. A Ministry of Disinformation, that is led by those who once condoned disinformation, is a tell.

One can tell the totalitarian tree by the types of fruit it bares. The Constitution is a good way to size up fruit, that might look exotic and new, so we can tell the difference, before it takes root.

Originally, we had the Articles of Confederation which had a much smaller Federal government. But when George Washington needed food to feed his army and the states refused, he had get it by gunpoint from farmers.

This was one of the reasons we expanded the Federal government under the Constitution.

No government or constitution should be enshrined as sacred. Needs change. The Founding Fathers realized this.

Upholding the Constitution as sacred and a test against totalitarianism is authoritarian in and of itself.

 

[Hermit Philosopher]

Yeah, in some cases I rather be a form of limited slave than a free dead human.

I question the “limited” bit to any form of slavery. I am 100% against being enslaved.


Humbly
Hermit

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

I question the “limited” bit to any form of slavery. I am 100% against being enslaved.


Humbly
Hermit

How much have you studied slavery?

 

[Hermit Philosopher]

Hypothetically, I'd suggest there are times when authoritarianism could be justified. Survival of the species, for example

Dear Guitar’s Cry,

Assuming you are not amongst the authoritarian team in power; what exactly is it that seems so important to you about the survival of our species that you’d hypothetically be willing to enslave yourself for it…?


Humbly
Hermit

How much have you studied slavery?

I’d say the average amount for a white, middle-aged, educated person with one MSc and one MA + lots of random Uni-courses (previous addict to academic environment) under their belt, among which, off the top of my head, of relevance to your question to me would be social ethnology, intellectual history and social psychology.

Why…? What aspect of slavery are you promoting?

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

I have been shouting this from the tree tops for a while now, although my focus has been on the erosion of democracy in the US (and it is eroding, even the article cited in the OP acknowledges that).

One example of that, which I've given before, is Mitch McConnell's refusal to do his Constitutional duty to "advise and consent" to the appointment of Merrick Garland to SCOTUS. To refuse to do your Constitutional duty, in order to achieve a personal end -- and to succeed in doing so with the support of only one political party -- is the very definition of an erosion of democracy.

 

[Guitar's Cry]

Dear Guitar’s Cry,

Assuming you are not amongst the authoritarian team in power; what exactly is it that seems so important to you about the survival of our species that you’d hypothetically be willing to enslave yourself for it…?


Humbly
Hermit

Empathetic understanding.

For what individual freedoms would you be willing to doom an entire species for?

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

...
I’d say the average amount for a white, middle-aged, educated person with one MSc and one MA + lots of random Uni-courses (previous addict to academic environment) under their belt, among which, off the top of my head, of relevance to your question to me would be social ethnology, intellectual history and social psychology.

Why…? What aspect of slavery are you promoting?

Well, a fun version is how apparently some Slavic tribes practiced it. If you are captured in a war, you became a slave, but if you made it through that, you became a free Slavic man. Sometimes slaves are not just the worst versions. They are more than that, they are in effect a combination of citizen with fewer rights and more duties than a full citizen.

Now do I want to live like that? No, but had I to choose between some of these versions or be some versions of a free man and e.g. die the next day of starvation, I rather be a slave.

 

[stvdv]

Democracy faces perfect storm as the world becomes more authoritarian | International IDEA

The Global State of Democracy report is not a wakeup call, it's an alarm bell.

This quote is attributed to Jutta Urpilainen, European Commissioner for International Partnerships

I think Jutta is right.

So are we heading into a global authoritarian future?

I have been saying this since Corona started, and dare claim that Corona has been misused for this also

 

[stvdv]

I think Jutta is right

I think (and hope ) "you know Jutta is right"

It's high time to stop being too polite. As long as we keep "thinking" nothing will ever change. When we dare say "I know" then we are ready to change things

No coincidence those in control made so many laws and rules, that we are not allowed to speak freely anymore.

The more the elite can restrict Freedom of Speech, now even with severe repercussions, the easier they can push their obvious agenda, as none dare to go against them, having been brainwashed for many years. Covid has been a blessing for the elite go push their agendas

 

[Hermit Philosopher]

Now do I want to live like that? No, but had I to choose between some of these versions or be some versions of a free man and e.g. die the next day of starvation, I rather be a slave.

My random guess is that you feel the way you do because you were brought up in a society that teaches that security is more important than personal choice.

I feel the opposite because I was brought up being taught the opposite. I’ll always rather be vulnerable (hungry at times even) but free, than chained to security.

None of us are likely to change our minds on the subject; how one is socialised is very deep rooted.

Still, I would say that it is thanks to our freedoms that we are able to speak of this matter at all - and that is enough in my view.


Humbly
Hermit

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

My random guess is that you feel the way you do because you were brought up in a society that teaches that security is more important than personal choice.

I feel the opposite because I was brought up being taught the opposite. I’ll always rather be vulnerable (hungry at times even) but free, than chained to security.

None of us are likely to change our minds on the subject; how one is socialised is very deep rooted.

Still, I would say that it is thanks to our freedoms that we are able to speak of this matter at all - and that is enough in my view.


Humbly
Hermit

Have you ever studied luck and morality? I was so unlucky to not be able to make it on my own as a human, yet lucky to live in a society, where you are forced through taxes to carry my kind. Whether that is objectively fair or unfair, I have never been able to figure out.

 

[Hermit Philosopher]

Have you ever studied luck and morality? I was so unlucky to not be able to make it on my own as a human, yet lucky to live in a society, where you are forced through taxes to carry my kind. Whether that is objectively fair or unfair, I have never been able to figure out.

No, I am sure that I have never studied anything called “luck and morality”. Is that a ‘studiable’ thing…?

However, I wouldn’t say that taxes are what is problematic about a potential authoritarian, totalitarian global state!

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

No, I am sure that I have never studied anything called “luck and morality”. Is that a ‘studiable’ thing…?

...

Yes. Just google the first bold.

 

[Sand Dancer]

Democracy faces perfect storm as the world becomes more authoritarian | International IDEA

The Global State of Democracy report is not a wakeup call, it's an alarm bell.

This quote is attributed to Jutta Urpilainen, European Commissioner for International Partnerships

I think Jutta is right.

So are we heading into a global authoritarian future?

Most people are centrist, but more and more political leaders are not. This is definitely alarming.

 

[sun rise]

I'd rather be an alive free man.

With freedom comes responsibility which too many won't accept.

 

[Guitar's Cry]

My random guess is that you feel the way you do because you were brought up in a society that teaches that security is more important than personal choice.

I feel the opposite because I was brought up being taught the opposite. I’ll always rather be vulnerable (hungry at times even) but free, than chained to security.

None of us are likely to change our minds on the subject; how one is socialised is very deep rooted.

Still, I would say that it is thanks to our freedoms that we are able to speak of this matter at all - and that is enough in my view.


Humbly
Hermit

You're a social psychologist, right? I assume you've studied the complex interplay between the individual and the community in the human species that is largely successful due to its social evolution?

I think the ability of humans to empathize and work within a community to fulfill our needs for social connectedness and security and our instinctual desires for selfish needs always requires compromises on freedom. I think of Carl Jung's concept of the Self evolving between the selfish needs of the Id and the demands of the Superego.

 

[sun rise]

Wave after wave of disruptive changes are hitting the Earth and people are "wearing" the "mark of the beast" in order to try to cling to that which is being swept away.

Covid, bird flu, monkeypox, hepatitis hitting children, Russia's war with Ukraine, Hindu bigotry growing in India, Israel/Iran, inflation, goods shortages, mass murder in the US, racist bigotry--- I could go on with a bit more thought.

"something is happening but you don't know what it is, do you Mr. Jones"