There's always been a split between urban (Federalists) and rural (Anti-Federalists) in the US. Constitutional Federalism is the preferred answer over secession and disunion.
A couple of points made by Chris Hedges in his Substack today, Fascists in Our Midst. The thrust of Chris Hedges' article is that the Dobbs decision heralds the rise of Christian fascism. The article in and of itself is mind-boggling, but two points stood out to me:
"Fascists achieve power by creating parallel institutions – schools, universities, media platforms and paramilitary forces – and seizing the organs of internal security and the judiciary. They deform the law, including electoral law, to serve their ends. They are rarely in the majority."
"Blow by blow autocratic power is being solidified by this monstrous Christian fascism which is bankrolled by the most retrograde forces of corporate capitalism. It looks set to take control of the U.S. Congress in the midterm elections. If Trump, or a Trump-like clone, is elected in 2024, what is left of our democracy will likely be extinguished."
I used to think Chris was a smart guy - he mentions studying at Harvard several times in the article - but it's troubling that he apparently did not read or understand the Dobbs decision nor does he appear to understand the concept of federalism. Second, watching how the technocratic feudalists (the "left", essentially) have consolidated power in basically all institutions of American society - the media, finance, the military, medicine, law, entertainment - I struggle to understand the universe that people like Chris Hedges occupy. Hasn't the left spent a decade doing this with the blessing of GOP RINOs since Barry's second term?
Watching people who just months ago were screaming about the need to inject everyone with an experimental vaccine even if it costs people their jobs and livelihood now screaming about bodily autonomy is stunning. Chris Hedges appears to be yet another example of the failure of the "intellectual" class.
Jun 26, 2022·edited Jun 26, 2022Liked by SimulationCommander
Having taught political science for a living, the term "christian fascism" got me interested enough to look up his page. Hoo boy. "Fascists achieve power by creating parallel institutions..." ehm, that is no definition of fascism, or any -ism. That's a thing in its own right that any movement no matter its beliefs can use as a method.
He continously confuses methods with principles, as if they were one and the same, which completely undermines and washes away any point he might actually have. Fascism may certainly be combined with christianity as we saw in Spain under Franco, or in some South/Latin american examples. However, christianity in itself is not fascist if defined as the teachings of Jesus, disconnected from churches, cults, sects or whatever label seems fitting.
(NB: I am not christian, never was, never will be, but I do not like to see people manhandle ideas the way mr Hedges does. One can't just change the meaning of words to suit purpose, that's both dishonest and dishonourable.)
Also, semantic taxonomy re: what decision of a court or a political body is most at home in what -ism, is most often an exercise in futility at best, and malevolent discord at worst: instead of debating the actual reality of a matter (say f.e. homelessness) a meta-debate about whether tax-funded shelters are socialist or not will ensue, to the benefit of no-one. And the homeless stay homeless.
Only if the one(s) making the decision states something like "As adherents to literal and fundamental whataboutism, we hereby decide to ban the use of all adjectives from the curriculum henceforth" can the decision be said to be due to the -ism (or creed) in case.
Apologies for butting in, but it's an almost Pavlovian response for me, seeing as I've spent almost half my life studying and teaching (and hopefully getting it right...) this nebulous stuff called ideas.
Jun 26, 2022·edited Jun 26, 2022Liked by SimulationCommander
Thank you for "butting in", as you have described it. I appreciate your sober dissection of Hedges' article from your professional perspective.
As a lawyer, I've read the Dobbs decision and I agree with it. It's not what Hedges and his ilk have made it out to be.
That said, like Russia's "special military operation" in Ukraine and the U.S.-led response to it, I'm bothered by the decision's timing. First, there was the "leak" for which no one appears to have been found responsible. Now, there's the release of the opinion itself.
I'll admit that my tinfoil hat is tightly secured but I'm troubled by the new layer of absurdity that Dobbs has added to the already deeply distorted political discourse.
These people have in their mind they are #TheResistance, so they simply can't admit to themselves that they own all the important shit. When you're backed by government, media, major corporations, etc - you're not fighting the man, you ARE the man.
John "Johnny Rotten" Lydon, love him or hate him (I'll admit that I grew up on the Sex Pistols and PIL) made a comment that today's anti-establishment punks are the political and social conservatives. #TheResistance, as you described them, just happen to be "The Establishment".
Keith turned into a nasty old woman when realized he was no longer relevant. I'm old enough to remember his brilliant sports commentary. Now? Just a nasty old woman in a NYC high-rise.
I don't 'get' him? He seems to argue that the US Supreme Court (be glad you have it and that it has teeth) forces some states to have weapons, and that those states should use these weapons against the court precisely for that reason?
I met this asshat about twenty years ago in a NYC Bar…he knew the fellow I was with. Absolutely the most exhausting insufferable bore , or is that boor? His comments do not surprise, he’s a raging narcissist.
Of course it is an insurrection. He and many others think they can change the Constitution to suit their desires same as Congress screwed all Americans in 1873..They sold us all out to the Rothchilds, Bank of London and the Vatican.. D.C. Inc is not American. It is a foreign parcel of land which had no jurisdiction over the U.S.
I was just yelled at on Common Sense for using the Rothchilds as an example of globalist plutocrats because that makes me an antisemite. So, be warned!
To be fair, since he tweeted that he's become eminently more reasonable and moderate, writing, "Samuel Alito, Amy Coney Barrett, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, John Roberts, and Clarence Thomas are domestic terrorists and should be approached and prosecuted as such."
There's always been a split between urban (Federalists) and rural (Anti-Federalists) in the US. Constitutional Federalism is the preferred answer over secession and disunion.
A couple of points made by Chris Hedges in his Substack today, Fascists in Our Midst. The thrust of Chris Hedges' article is that the Dobbs decision heralds the rise of Christian fascism. The article in and of itself is mind-boggling, but two points stood out to me:
"Fascists achieve power by creating parallel institutions – schools, universities, media platforms and paramilitary forces – and seizing the organs of internal security and the judiciary. They deform the law, including electoral law, to serve their ends. They are rarely in the majority."
"Blow by blow autocratic power is being solidified by this monstrous Christian fascism which is bankrolled by the most retrograde forces of corporate capitalism. It looks set to take control of the U.S. Congress in the midterm elections. If Trump, or a Trump-like clone, is elected in 2024, what is left of our democracy will likely be extinguished."
I used to think Chris was a smart guy - he mentions studying at Harvard several times in the article - but it's troubling that he apparently did not read or understand the Dobbs decision nor does he appear to understand the concept of federalism. Second, watching how the technocratic feudalists (the "left", essentially) have consolidated power in basically all institutions of American society - the media, finance, the military, medicine, law, entertainment - I struggle to understand the universe that people like Chris Hedges occupy. Hasn't the left spent a decade doing this with the blessing of GOP RINOs since Barry's second term?
Watching people who just months ago were screaming about the need to inject everyone with an experimental vaccine even if it costs people their jobs and livelihood now screaming about bodily autonomy is stunning. Chris Hedges appears to be yet another example of the failure of the "intellectual" class.
Having taught political science for a living, the term "christian fascism" got me interested enough to look up his page. Hoo boy. "Fascists achieve power by creating parallel institutions..." ehm, that is no definition of fascism, or any -ism. That's a thing in its own right that any movement no matter its beliefs can use as a method.
He continously confuses methods with principles, as if they were one and the same, which completely undermines and washes away any point he might actually have. Fascism may certainly be combined with christianity as we saw in Spain under Franco, or in some South/Latin american examples. However, christianity in itself is not fascist if defined as the teachings of Jesus, disconnected from churches, cults, sects or whatever label seems fitting.
(NB: I am not christian, never was, never will be, but I do not like to see people manhandle ideas the way mr Hedges does. One can't just change the meaning of words to suit purpose, that's both dishonest and dishonourable.)
Also, semantic taxonomy re: what decision of a court or a political body is most at home in what -ism, is most often an exercise in futility at best, and malevolent discord at worst: instead of debating the actual reality of a matter (say f.e. homelessness) a meta-debate about whether tax-funded shelters are socialist or not will ensue, to the benefit of no-one. And the homeless stay homeless.
Only if the one(s) making the decision states something like "As adherents to literal and fundamental whataboutism, we hereby decide to ban the use of all adjectives from the curriculum henceforth" can the decision be said to be due to the -ism (or creed) in case.
Apologies for butting in, but it's an almost Pavlovian response for me, seeing as I've spent almost half my life studying and teaching (and hopefully getting it right...) this nebulous stuff called ideas.
Thank you for "butting in", as you have described it. I appreciate your sober dissection of Hedges' article from your professional perspective.
As a lawyer, I've read the Dobbs decision and I agree with it. It's not what Hedges and his ilk have made it out to be.
That said, like Russia's "special military operation" in Ukraine and the U.S.-led response to it, I'm bothered by the decision's timing. First, there was the "leak" for which no one appears to have been found responsible. Now, there's the release of the opinion itself.
I'll admit that my tinfoil hat is tightly secured but I'm troubled by the new layer of absurdity that Dobbs has added to the already deeply distorted political discourse.
These people have in their mind they are #TheResistance, so they simply can't admit to themselves that they own all the important shit. When you're backed by government, media, major corporations, etc - you're not fighting the man, you ARE the man.
John "Johnny Rotten" Lydon, love him or hate him (I'll admit that I grew up on the Sex Pistols and PIL) made a comment that today's anti-establishment punks are the political and social conservatives. #TheResistance, as you described them, just happen to be "The Establishment".
Keith turned into a nasty old woman when realized he was no longer relevant. I'm old enough to remember his brilliant sports commentary. Now? Just a nasty old woman in a NYC high-rise.
Olbermann is a ridiculous clown. I don't think anyone takes him seriously, even himself.
I don't 'get' him? He seems to argue that the US Supreme Court (be glad you have it and that it has teeth) forces some states to have weapons, and that those states should use these weapons against the court precisely for that reason?
Is he sniffing glue or something?
Trump turned out to be the most powerful catalytic substance in the known universe. Brought out everyone's true natures.
To a biblical degree, yes. I haven't seen our media act like they did during TDS since Reagan&Thatcher was in respective office.
I met this asshat about twenty years ago in a NYC Bar…he knew the fellow I was with. Absolutely the most exhausting insufferable bore , or is that boor? His comments do not surprise, he’s a raging narcissist.
In a sane world yes, it would be labeled 'insurrection'. In today's world, not so much.
I've read enough comments to realize that almost nobody is listening, except to those who agree with them.
Keith Olbermann is a has been relegated to complete obscurity, who cares what he impotently rage tweets out.
Also it hardly even makes much sense, dude probably needs to lay off the sauce if he can't even get a well formed tweet out at noon.
No, silly. This is "Resist". To tell the difference, check the jersey color.
Of course it is an insurrection. He and many others think they can change the Constitution to suit their desires same as Congress screwed all Americans in 1873..They sold us all out to the Rothchilds, Bank of London and the Vatican.. D.C. Inc is not American. It is a foreign parcel of land which had no jurisdiction over the U.S.
I was just yelled at on Common Sense for using the Rothchilds as an example of globalist plutocrats because that makes me an antisemite. So, be warned!
funny how it only works one way
lunatics don’t deserve even a modicum of oxygen
I really take offense with anyone saying the Democrat Party has no standards now.
In fact, they have double standards.
They "forced" guns on the state of New York, huh? Can't wait to see what he comes up with for today's ruling.
To be fair, since he tweeted that he's become eminently more reasonable and moderate, writing, "Samuel Alito, Amy Coney Barrett, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, John Roberts, and Clarence Thomas are domestic terrorists and should be approached and prosecuted as such."
John Roberts is pond scum
That sounds mildly insurrectiony.