A book, by Bob Altemeyer, May interest some of you guys. Here is the page I found this, by recommendation.
The Authoritarians
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Altemeyer's - The
Authoritarians
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Click here to order a printed, bound copy of this book from Lulu.com for $9.77 plus shipping. Whole Book (PDF version 1.35Mb) INTRODUCTION (Best
to read this first) |
OK, what’s this book about? It’s about what’s happened to the American government lately. It’s about the disastrous decisions that government has made. It’s about the corruption that rotted the Congress. It’s about how traditional conservatism has nearly been destroyed by authoritarianism. It’s about how the “Religious Right” teamed up with amoral authoritarian leaders to push its un-democratic agenda onto the country. It’s about the United States standing at the crossroads as the next federal election approaches. “Well,” you might be thinking, “I don’t believe any of this is true.” Or maybe you’re thinking, “What else is new? I’ve believed this for years.” Why should a conservative, moderate, or liberal bother with this book? Why should any Republican, Independent, or Democrat click the “Introduction” link on this page?
Because if you do, you’ll
begin an easy-ride journey through some relevant scientific
studies I have done on authoritarian personalities--one that
will take you a heck of a lot less time than the decades it
took me. Those studies have a direct bearing on all the topics
mentioned above. So if you think the first paragraph is a lot
of hokum, or full of half-truths, I invite you to look at the
research. |
Don’t think for a minute this doesn’t concern you personally. Let me ask you, as we’re passing the time here, how many ordinary people do you think an evil authority would have to order to kill you before he found someone who would, unjustly, out of sheer obedience, just because the authority said to? What sort of person is most likely to follow such an order? What kind of official is most likely to give that order, if it suited his purposes? Look at what experiments tell us, as I did.
If, on the other hand, you’re way ahead of me, and believe the extreme right-wing elements in America are poised to take it over, permanently, I think you can still get a lot from this book. The studies explain so much about these people. Yes, the research shows they are very aggressive, but why are they so hostile? Yes, experiments show they are almost totally uninfluenced by reasoning and evidence, but why are they so dogmatic? Yes, studies show the Religious Right has more than its fair share of hypocrites, from top to bottom; but why are they two-faced, and how come one face never notices the other? Yes, their leaders can give the flimsiest of excuses and even outright lies about things they’ve done wrong, but why do the rank-and-file believe them? What happens when authoritarian followers find the authoritarian leaders they crave and start marching together?
I think you’ll find this book “explains a lot.” Many scattered impressions about the enemies of freedom and equality become solidified by science and coherently connected here.
You think I’m
pulling your leg? Push the button.
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9 comments on The Authoritarians: Conservative's Hijacking.
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"And this is just the beginning. Over the years I have found that authoritarian
followers blissfully tolerated many illegal and unjust government actions that occurred
in the United States and Canada, such as:
- a police burglary of a newspaper office to get confidential information.
- drug raids carried out without search warrants because judges wouldn’t
give them.
- denial of right to assemble to peacefully protest government actions.
- “dirty tricks” played by a governing party on the opposition during an
election.
- immigration office discrimination against radical speakers.
- placing agents provocateurs in organizations to create dissension and bad
press relations.
- burning down the meeting place of a radical organization.
- unauthorized mail openings.
Authoritarian followers seem to have a “Daddy and mommy know best”
attitude toward the government. They do not see laws as social standards that apply
to all. Instead, they appear to think that authorities are above the law, and can decide
which laws apply to them and which do not--just as parents can when one is young.
But in a democracy no one is supposed to be above the law. Still, authoritarians quite
easily put that aside. They also believe that only criminals and terrorists would object
to having their phones tapped, their mail opened, and their lives put under
surveillance. They have bought their tickets and are standing in line waiting for 1984,
The Real Thing. There might as well not be a Fourth Amendment to the Constitution.
And when the Military Commissions Act of 2006 is used to deny people the right of
habeas corpus--one of the oldest rights in western law--it is unlikely that right-wing
authoritarians will object to the loss of this constitutional guarantee either."----
Thanks for the rec. [SMILE]