Well-summarized, Connor. As a lifelong independent, it's breathtaking to me how quickly the Democratic Party became the party of intolerance, of elites, of normalizing and justifying criminal behavior, of censorship. The pending election results may trigger a reckoning in the party. Even if the Democrats prevail in November, they increasingly rely on totalitarian means to maintain power. The rest of the world is already beginning to adjust to what increasingly looks to be the end of Pax Americana.
We are hoping and praying in the rest of the world that Americans are not stupid enough to elect the airhead Harris as President. We have a moron in charge in Australia but I hope and pray we vote him out next year.
To put it simply after such a marvellous essay explaining the what this clown show means by democracy- if we in anyway deviate from the ‘benevolent ‘ regime we are threatening ‘democracy’. The left want an ordered, ‘fortified ‘ result that plunges us into mire of intolerance and poverty for our own good, because we are too stupid to think for ourselves and understand this benevolence.
Despite the 25 or so years I've spent studying the left I still balk at the idea that they actually believe what they say they believe (as opposed to cynically supporting a position to accrue an advantage of some kind). Somehow, this insightful article has FINALLY got the message through my thick skull. They do believe it.
Subtly argued. However I doubt that subtle argument, for all its beauty, will play much of a role in this election. And, should Trump be elected, is the threat of assassination likely to recede very much? In particular, I wonder if the period between election and inauguration might get pretty dicey.
"we celebrate our elections openly, honestly, in the daylight. I see how everybody votes for the Benefactor and everybody sees how I vote for the Benefactor. And how else could it be, since everybody and I add up to the one We?"
Wow! Just replace"benefactor" with "dear leader" and it could well describe North Korea. This is where these "democratists" want to take us to...
Trump’s proclivity for violence was evident when he urged his followers to march on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, knowing they were carrying deadly weapons.
He has urged supporters to beat up hecklers; mocked the near-fatal attack on the husband of the Democratic House speaker; suggested that a general he deemed disloyal be executed; threatened to shoot looters and undocumented migrants; warned of “potential death & destruction” if indicted in his New York criminal case; made the ludicrous claim that “Babies are being executed after birth”; and predicted a “bloodbath” if he’s not elected in November.
Trump has never taken responsibility for the consequences of his hatefulness.
James Hawley copied the above from another source and fully agrees, contrary to the sentiment of Ayan Hirsi Ali
This may be a simple statement but to me President of US is Commander and Chief….we have branches of government that provide checks and balances regardless of who is President on all other matters. No wars during Trump term; world on fire during Biden term…..Harris term? Oh boy!
Lots to mull over here. I think Connor is essentially correct, but my question is whether the mental-ideological capture on the progressive side is as total as he describes. Because I don’t believe it’s in our American cultural DNA (even at this late date) to go all the way down the Rousseau, civilization-is-evil path to the end. We are more pragmatic, less naturally ideological than that. We love William James more than John Rawls. I also think the problem is more the Trump epiphenomenon (the very crudeness of our postmodern performative culture coughed him up) than the progressive Left at the moment, although I will probably vote for Trump (I’m an independent) and I truly can’t stand the infantilism of the intersectional pyramid and the obsession with gender, race, and fake oppression. It’s not pretty however you look at it.
Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and look, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye! quote by Jesus
This is some of the characteristics of fascism manifested in the Democrats actions?
1. Suppression of Dissent: Intolerance of political opposition, leading to censorship and repression of individual freedoms.
2. Collectivism: The belief in the primacy of the state or nation over individual rights.
3. Using manipulation and intimidation to eliminate rivals and dissent. Thank you Ayaan for exposing the hypocrisy of the Democrats not walking the talk of Democracy.
This is an appalling article to run under the thoughtful banner of Ayaan Hirsi Ali.
While the Democrats are a sad lot and Harris probably a terrible candidate, that does not mean that Turmp is a hero. Trump does not argue anything in principle except that the principle conforms to at least one of two conditions: 1) he heard it recently from someone who flatters him or 2) it is manifestly and immediately to his advantage.
That Democrats are insidiously undermining democracy or the American way of life does NOT mean that Trump is a saviour.
Americans have a choice in November of an apparent continuation of gradual cultural disintegration vs the possibility of an immediate abrogation of representative government by a simple minded, self-absorbed narcissist.
Connor Tomlinson is a symptom of that cultural disease.
Well-summarized, Connor. As a lifelong independent, it's breathtaking to me how quickly the Democratic Party became the party of intolerance, of elites, of normalizing and justifying criminal behavior, of censorship. The pending election results may trigger a reckoning in the party. Even if the Democrats prevail in November, they increasingly rely on totalitarian means to maintain power. The rest of the world is already beginning to adjust to what increasingly looks to be the end of Pax Americana.
We are hoping and praying in the rest of the world that Americans are not stupid enough to elect the airhead Harris as President. We have a moron in charge in Australia but I hope and pray we vote him out next year.
Agree. I'm still blocked from "liking" your post for some reason.
Hopefully it will work now.
I don’t know what that is about.
It seems to work now!
We can then wonder if it is too late, when we live under the perpetual dictatorship of General Will.
To put it simply after such a marvellous essay explaining the what this clown show means by democracy- if we in anyway deviate from the ‘benevolent ‘ regime we are threatening ‘democracy’. The left want an ordered, ‘fortified ‘ result that plunges us into mire of intolerance and poverty for our own good, because we are too stupid to think for ourselves and understand this benevolence.
This is the best explanation of the unspoken assumptions behind today's progressive and liberal ideology that I have ever seen.
Despite the 25 or so years I've spent studying the left I still balk at the idea that they actually believe what they say they believe (as opposed to cynically supporting a position to accrue an advantage of some kind). Somehow, this insightful article has FINALLY got the message through my thick skull. They do believe it.
Subtly argued. However I doubt that subtle argument, for all its beauty, will play much of a role in this election. And, should Trump be elected, is the threat of assassination likely to recede very much? In particular, I wonder if the period between election and inauguration might get pretty dicey.
"we celebrate our elections openly, honestly, in the daylight. I see how everybody votes for the Benefactor and everybody sees how I vote for the Benefactor. And how else could it be, since everybody and I add up to the one We?"
Wow! Just replace"benefactor" with "dear leader" and it could well describe North Korea. This is where these "democratists" want to take us to...
Trump’s proclivity for violence was evident when he urged his followers to march on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, knowing they were carrying deadly weapons.
He has urged supporters to beat up hecklers; mocked the near-fatal attack on the husband of the Democratic House speaker; suggested that a general he deemed disloyal be executed; threatened to shoot looters and undocumented migrants; warned of “potential death & destruction” if indicted in his New York criminal case; made the ludicrous claim that “Babies are being executed after birth”; and predicted a “bloodbath” if he’s not elected in November.
Trump has never taken responsibility for the consequences of his hatefulness.
James Hawley copied the above from another source and fully agrees, contrary to the sentiment of Ayan Hirsi Ali
This may be a simple statement but to me President of US is Commander and Chief….we have branches of government that provide checks and balances regardless of who is President on all other matters. No wars during Trump term; world on fire during Biden term…..Harris term? Oh boy!
Lots to mull over here. I think Connor is essentially correct, but my question is whether the mental-ideological capture on the progressive side is as total as he describes. Because I don’t believe it’s in our American cultural DNA (even at this late date) to go all the way down the Rousseau, civilization-is-evil path to the end. We are more pragmatic, less naturally ideological than that. We love William James more than John Rawls. I also think the problem is more the Trump epiphenomenon (the very crudeness of our postmodern performative culture coughed him up) than the progressive Left at the moment, although I will probably vote for Trump (I’m an independent) and I truly can’t stand the infantilism of the intersectional pyramid and the obsession with gender, race, and fake oppression. It’s not pretty however you look at it.
The Democrats may need to remove the Log;
Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and look, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye! quote by Jesus
This is some of the characteristics of fascism manifested in the Democrats actions?
1. Suppression of Dissent: Intolerance of political opposition, leading to censorship and repression of individual freedoms.
2. Collectivism: The belief in the primacy of the state or nation over individual rights.
3. Using manipulation and intimidation to eliminate rivals and dissent. Thank you Ayaan for exposing the hypocrisy of the Democrats not walking the talk of Democracy.
This is an appalling article to run under the thoughtful banner of Ayaan Hirsi Ali.
While the Democrats are a sad lot and Harris probably a terrible candidate, that does not mean that Turmp is a hero. Trump does not argue anything in principle except that the principle conforms to at least one of two conditions: 1) he heard it recently from someone who flatters him or 2) it is manifestly and immediately to his advantage.
That Democrats are insidiously undermining democracy or the American way of life does NOT mean that Trump is a saviour.
Americans have a choice in November of an apparent continuation of gradual cultural disintegration vs the possibility of an immediate abrogation of representative government by a simple minded, self-absorbed narcissist.
Connor Tomlinson is a symptom of that cultural disease.
Could you quote to me the part of the essay where I say Trump is "a saviour"?