Failed Conservative Values: Dona Ridgeway on Authoritarianism

When I grew up, I went into the service, and I was very, very conservative.  And all of a sudden, I started learning.  I started becoming an adult.  I started questioning things.  I started looking out into the world. 

Slowly, I went toward the Democratic Party.  And I registered with the Democratic Party, and I thought it was a pretty good plan.  And two or three years ago, when the Democratic Leaders Council took over the running of the Democratic Party, I felt they had nothing more for me.  They were just like the Republican Party.  So I went independent.

Edwin:  How about the progressive movement?  What do you feel about them?

 Donna:  I watched it.  I walked across the United States with the Great Peace March for Global Nuclear Disarmament in 1986.  We were probably on the cutting edge of progressive at that time, although it was never called progressive.  We were called a bunch of weirdoes walking across the United States.

I’m kind of disappointed in the progressive movement right now.  They are very scattered.  There are still egos involved.  It’s very localized.  I call it the big fish and the little pond syndrome.

The ideas are wonderful, but there is no cohesiveness to it.  Herding cats is hard.  Consensus is hard.  Once they get past this ego-bound consensus-building kind of thing, maybe it will show light into the mainstream.

 Intolerance of ambiguity is the mark of an authoritarian personality.  Theodor W. Adorno 

Definition Authoritarian and Decidership

 - a form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator (not restricted by a constitution or laws or opposition etc.)
- A form of government distinguished by absolute power in the executive branch of a state and little legislative or judicial control over the executive branch; the power rests generally on coercive force, rather than on the popular assembly.
- favoring complete obedience or subjection to authority as opposed to individual freedom.
- exercising complete or almost complete control over the will of another or of others:
- a person who favors or acts according to authoritarian principles.

Authoritarianism at Wikipedia
Authoritarianism describes a form of social control characterized by strict obedience to the authority of a state or organization, often maintaining and enforcing control through the use of oppressive measure. Authoritarian regimes are generally considered to be highly hierarchical.

In an authoritarian form of government, citizens are subject to state authority in many aspects of their lives, including many matters that other political philosophies would see as erosion of civil liberties and freedom.............
 

Some Questions for Discussion:
   - Is authoritarianism a Failed Conservative Value?

   - What are your thoughts  and questions about authoritarianism?

   - Why does authoritarianism fail?

   - Do you have any stories or experiences with conservative authoritarianism?

   - What are examples of conservative authoritarianism?

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