It’s Not About Socialism; It’s About Total Destruction (But There’s Hope)

 

In the past few days, I’ve been thinking a lot about the Socialists, Marxists and Communists in our country; they are, after all, the loudest voices attacking the origins and foundations of our Republic. On further reflection, I’m beginning to wonder if the majority of people who appear to support these “revolutionaries” genuinely care about their purported plans for transformation. In fact, I’m quite sure they have no idea how these ideologies will be implemented or the effects they will have on their lives. So, what are all those people who are supporting these radical changes to our country actually unintentionally supporting?

Total and complete destruction of the United States. And they are not yet consciously aware that their actions (or lack thereof) will take them in this direction. Let me explain.

First, how have we reached this point? I think there are a multitude of reasons, and I hope you will expand on my list.

Absence of faith—what is there to believe in? Where can we ground our lives, our hopes for our families and the future? How does one find meaning if we cannot relate to a faith practice? What’s the point of existence?

Absence of purpose—there are no guiding principles for living our lives. Are we just here to be happy and stress-free, with a minimal amount of effort? Can’t we have expectations of what life should be providing us? What does it mean to have a purpose, and how do we even figure it out? What guarantees will we have for success and satisfaction if we extend ourselves? Why should we bother taking the risks, especially when they might result in failure?

Absence of meaningful relationships—In our individualistic society, how do we connect with other people? How can we develop friendships that will be rewarding? What if we grew up in families that didn’t provide the balance of challenges, encouragement, and values? What if we grew up in abusive families?

These are three key elements (but not the only ones) that have left people feeling stranded, alone and empty in their lives. Yet they see all kinds of “other people” who seem to be contented and successful. Why must they live on the outside, isolated from the stream of life?

*     *     *     *

In order to make sure that these rootless people join them, the Socialists and Marxists have been working hard at bribing our citizens with more and more benefits, including cash, for doing nothing. They hope these bribes with pacify them through their angst and bring them on board for their totalitarian agenda.

Those enticements will not be enough in my opinion. At some point, the crushing pain of their anguish will breakthrough. And those people who accepted the enticements will begin to realize that money and the material benefits are not enough. That hating other people is destructive and debilitating. When that anguish reveals itself, it will be ugly. The disillusionment that comes from realizing that they are not on the path to happiness and rewarding lives will overwhelm them. And they will become angry enough to destroy everything—every material thing, every relationship, every entity, because they will have become nihilists.

*     *     *     *

This dystopic future is not guaranteed, not by a long shot: there are good reasons to have hope. The road to turning around our future will be discouraging, difficult, and slow. But many activities are being pursued that will, slowly but surely, change the future.

We see hope in parents fighting for their children to attend schools in person and to banish critical race theory curriculum.

We see hope in at least a half dozen national organizations supporting parents who want to fight critical race theory.

We see hope in the citizens running for elected office of school boards and city councils.

We see hope in the increase in home-schooling and charter schools that provide a sound and positive curriculum to our children.

We see hope in the Biden administration regularly backtracking on decisions they’ve made in the face of protests and criticisms; their façade of “moderation” is starting to disintegrate.

We see hope in citizens forming local organizations to fight back.

We see hope in Republican states (seven to date) that have made proposals to ban Critical Race Theory in their schools.

Just today there were three articles showing the pushback that is occurring at a corporate and international level: Europe is very unhappy with Biden’s corporate tax proposals; Consumers’ Research is calling out corporations that are taking “woke” positions by running an ad campaign criticizing them; and at least 21 states, from mid-June to mid-July, are going to stop the additional $300 in pandemic benefits; this is good news for small businesses.

But we all need to do our part. Rather than lecturing those who are lost souls, we continue to demonstrate through our actions the love of country. We talk about our personal experiences in benefiting from all this nation has to provide. We make Independence Day not only a celebration but a sacred holiday. We put out our flags on national holidays.

We can’t wait for someone else to rescue us. We only have ourselves. We need to speak up at every opportunity. We have to push back.

Let’s keep fighting the good fight.

Published in Culture
This post was promoted to the Main Feed by a Ricochet Editor at the recommendation of Ricochet members. Like this post? Want to comment? Join Ricochet’s community of conservatives and be part of the conversation. Join Ricochet for Free.

There are 23 comments.

Become a member to join the conversation. Or sign in if you're already a member.
  1. DonG (2+2=5. Say it!) Coolidge
    DonG (2+2=5. Say it!)
    @DonG

    Susan Quinn: Total and complete destruction of the United States.

    Destruction is the means, not the ends.   It is revival or bust!  Speak up and stand up!

    • #1
  2. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    DonG (2+2=5. Say it!) (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn: Total and complete destruction of the United States.

    Destruction is the means, not the ends. It is revival or bust! Speak up and stand up!

    I’m with you, @dong! We’ve got to stop complaining and fight!

    • #2
  3. Rodin Member
    Rodin
    @Rodin

    As Jordan Peterson says: Tell the truth and accept the consequences. Usually the consequences of going along with a lie are worse than telling the truth. 

    • #3
  4. David Foster Member
    David Foster
    @DavidFoster

    I think the ‘woke’ movement is closer to Fascism, including Fascism in its Nazi form, than to Marxism, although it draws on that ideology as well.  Consider the absolute obsession with race/ethnicity…the willingness to leave businesses nominally independent as long as they support and obey the commands of the political rulers…and the weird forms of mysticism that are so common among the ‘woke’.

    In his first book, ‘The End of Economic Man’ (published in 1939), Peter Drucker identified Fascism as a basically nihilistic movement, spawned in part out of the belief the Marxism (along with everything else) had failed.

     

    • #4
  5. Flicker Coolidge
    Flicker
    @Flicker

    Susan Quinn: bribing our citizens with more and more benefits, including cash, for doing nothing. They hope these bribes with pacify them through their angst

    I’ve commented this on another post, but it seems appropriate here as well.  My wife just told me that a coworker’s twenty-something daughter, mother of two, is getting a divorce because her husband has told her that after his final year of military obligation is up, he’s moving the family in with his parents and will play video games. He says she can work if she wants.

    Video games.  What do you want to bet he’s expecting to go on government supplied supplemental income?

    • #5
  6. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    David Foster (View Comment):

    I think the ‘woke’ movement is closer to Fascism, including Fascism in its Nazi form, than to Marxism, although it draws on that ideology as well. Consider the absolute obsession with race/ethnicity…the willingness to leave businesses nominally independent as long as they support and obey the commands of the political rulers…and the weird forms of mysticism that are so common among the ‘woke’.

    In his first book, ‘The End of Economic Man’ (published in 1939), Peter Drucker identified Fascism as a basically nihilistic movement, spawned in part out of the belief the Marxism (along with everything else) had failed.

     

    That makes sense, describing their actions as Fascist. Of course, likening their work to Nazis would be frowned on.

    • #6
  7. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Flicker (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn: bribing our citizens with more and more benefits, including cash, for doing nothing. They hope these bribes with pacify them through their angst

    I’ve commented this on another post, but it seems appropriate here as well. My wife just told me that a coworker’s twenty-something daughter, mother of two, is getting a divorce because her husband has told her that after his final year of military obligation is up, he’s moving the family in with his parents and will play video games. He says she can work if she wants.

    Video games. What do you want to bet he’s expecting to go on government supplied supplemental income?

    Good grief. Unbelievable.

    • #7
  8. Flicker Coolidge
    Flicker
    @Flicker

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Flicker (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn: bribing our citizens with more and more benefits, including cash, for doing nothing. They hope these bribes with pacify them through their angst

    I’ve commented this on another post, but it seems appropriate here as well. My wife just told me that a coworker’s twenty-something daughter, mother of two, is getting a divorce because her husband has told her that after his final year of military obligation is up, he’s moving the family in with his parents and will play video games. He says she can work if she wants.

    Video games. What do you want to bet he’s expecting to go on government supplied supplemental income?

    Good grief. Unbelievable.

    It does bring home what we’ve been discussing here for months.

    • #8
  9. David Foster Member
    David Foster
    @DavidFoster

    On the theme of ‘Wokeness’ and Nihilism, see the following quote from an Italian blogger, who unfortunately stopped blogging:

    Cupio dissolvi…These words have been going through my mind for quite a long time now. It’s Latin. They mean “I (deeply) wish to be annihilated/to annihilate myself”, the passive form signifying that the action can be carried out both by an external agent or by the subject himself…Cupio dissolvi… Through all the screaming and the shouting and the wailing and the waving of the rainbow cloth by those who invoke peace but want appeasement, I hear these terrible words ringing in my ears. These people have had this precious gift, this civilization, and they have got bored with it. They take all the advantages it offers them for granted, and despise the ideals that have powered it. They wish for annihilation, the next new thing, as if it was a wonderful party. Won’t it be great, dancing on the ruins?

    See my related post, What are the fundamental axioms of ‘Progressivism’?

    • #9
  10. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    David Foster (View Comment):

    On the theme of ‘Wokeness’ and Nihilism, see the following quote from an Italian blogger, who unfortunately stopped blogging:

    Cupio dissolvi…These words have been going through my mind for quite a long time now. It’s Latin. They mean “I (deeply) wish to be annihilated/to annihilate myself”, the passive form signifying that the action can be carried out both by an external agent or by the subject himself…Cupio dissolvi… Through all the screaming and the shouting and the wailing and the waving of the rainbow cloth by those who invoke peace but want appeasement, I hear these terrible words ringing in my ears. These people have had this precious gift, this civilization, and they have got bored with it. They take all the advantages it offers them for granted, and despise the ideals that have powered it. They wish for annihilation, the next new thing, as if it was a wonderful party. Won’t it be great, dancing on the ruins?

    See my related post, What are the fundamental axioms of ‘Progressivism’?

    Oh my gosh, David! That is precisely what we are watching unfold! Thank you for sharing these thoughts–although they are chilling.

    • #10
  11. Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… Member
    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio…
    @ArizonaPatriot

    Thanks for the post, Susan.  I wish that I saw as much hope as you do.  I do agree that there are some favorable signs, but at the moment, it feels a bit like Custer at Little Big Horn.

    I’d like to hear some further thoughts about your three key elements — faith, meaning, and meaningful relationships.  You link the third element to an excess of individualism, and I agree about that.  What is the solution?  How do we have a community, without a common culture, common faith, and common standards of behavior?

    Also, do you think that faith and meaning are really separate elements?  This is a difficult one.  Some people do seem to find meaning outside of faith, although maybe that just means that they have a faith in something that we don’t usually categorize as “faith.”  But I find it difficult to find common ground with someone who does not have faith, and it’s not easy even with people of a different faith.  Many people seem to have a faith centered in the proposition that everyone ought to do whatever he wants.  Lots of pluribus, not much unum.

    I have no viable solution to this.  It does seem to undermine the proposition that the “diverse and pluralistic society” that people have been praising for decades — including many conservatives — can actually work.  And I’m not talking about things as irrelevant as the color of one’s skin.  I’m talking about core beliefs and values.

    Have you read or listened to anything by Douglas Murray?  His latest book, The Madness of Crowds, offers some good insight on these issues, though I find some major gaps in his thinking.

    • #11
  12. Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… Member
    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio…
    @ArizonaPatriot

    David Foster (View Comment):

    On the theme of ‘Wokeness’ and Nihilism, see the following quote from an Italian blogger, who unfortunately stopped blogging:

    Cupio dissolvi…These words have been going through my mind for quite a long time now. It’s Latin. They mean “I (deeply) wish to be annihilated/to annihilate myself”, the passive form signifying that the action can be carried out both by an external agent or by the subject himself…Cupio dissolvi… Through all the screaming and the shouting and the wailing and the waving of the rainbow cloth by those who invoke peace but want appeasement, I hear these terrible words ringing in my ears. These people have had this precious gift, this civilization, and they have got bored with it. They take all the advantages it offers them for granted, and despise the ideals that have powered it. They wish for annihilation, the next new thing, as if it was a wonderful party. Won’t it be great, dancing on the ruins?

    See my related post, What are the fundamental axioms of ‘Progressivism’?

    I have a couple of thoughts about this.  I do agree that Wokeness is a bad thing.

    First, I’m not sure if nihilism is the correct explanation for Wokeness.  I don’t seem them wanting to annihilate themselves.  I see them wanting to behave irresponsibly and immorally, to suffer the natural consequences of such actions, to evade their own responsibility for their condition, to blame others, and to steal from those others to replace the house that they have burned down (metaphorically speaking).

    Second, I’d appreciate your further thoughts about two specific sentences in the quote:

    These people have had this precious gift, this civilization, and they have got bored with it. They take all the advantages it offers them for granted, and despise the ideals that have powered it.

    What are the ideals that have powered this precious gift, in your view?

    • #12
  13. James Lileks Contributor
    James Lileks
    @jameslileks

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):

     

    First, I’m not sure if nihilism is the correct explanation for Wokeness. I don’t seem them wanting to annihilate themselves. I see them wanting to behave irresponsibly and immorally, to suffer the natural consequences of such actions, to evade their own responsibility for their condition, to blame others, and to steal from those others to replace the house that they have burned down (metaphorically speaking).

    I don’t think they want to suffer anything. Destruction of the old order means liberation, which will quickly usher in Utopia. Everything will precede as before – there will always be hot water and good coffee and buses and jobs – but it will be equitable, because the dark hand of history, with all its filthy fingers of -isms, will be pried loose from the throat of the People. 

    Second, I’d appreciate your further thoughts about two specific sentences in the quote:

    These people have had this precious gift, this civilization, and they have got bored with it. They take all the advantages it offers them for granted, and despise the ideals that have powered it.

    What are the ideals that have powered this precious gift, in your view?

    Well, in the case of the Europeans, I’d say it’s the ideals of the Enlightenment, of rational humanism, a set of ideas that would apply to everyone in the brotherhood of man. I do not think it survived contact with the enemy.

    In the 20th century it took on a transnational aspect, and since nationalism had taken it on the chin twice, the smart people agreed that national cultures deserved to be subsumed in transnational identities. So you had generations growing up saturated in their local culture, but informed that it was something they should rise above. They should belong to these grand wide winds blowing through the world.  In the end, disconnection. Alienation and contempt, played out in ancient streets that mocked the modern man with their accomplishments. 

    • #13
  14. David Foster Member
    David Foster
    @DavidFoster

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):
    First, I’m not sure if nihilism is the correct explanation for Wokeness.  I don’t seem them wanting to annihilate themselves.  I see them wanting to behave irresponsibly and immorally, to suffer the natural consequences of such actions, to evade their own responsibility for their condition, to blame others, and to steal from those others to replace the house that they have burned down (metaphorically speaking).

    There are multiple categories of Wokesters.  Some of them are just doing what they think they need to do to avoid personal risk, or to turn the situation to their profit, in status terms or directly financially.  Both of these motivations can be found among academics and, increasingly, among business executives.

    But I think there are indeed many who are pretty far gone down the Nihilist road.  These are people who are unhappy with their lives…not always, or even typically, in material terms, but rather in terms of a sense of meaning and hope.  These are the people who want to Tear It All Down.

    And it’s true, as James Lileks observed above, that many of them implicitly believe that everything will precede as before – ‘there will always be hot water and good coffee and buses and jobs’ (well, not so sure about the ‘jobs’ part)…they can’t or don’t think forward far enough to think seriously about what things would really be like with It All Torn Down, they just want to escape from their mental misery.

    There are also those who just revel in the joy of destruction. These sorts were common among both Communists and Nazis in Weimar Germany.  One man that traveler Paddy Fermor met in Germany in 1933 had been a Communist who enjoyed beating up Nazis; he had now switched to the Nazi side and his only concern was that so many others were doing the same that there they were running out of Communists to beat up.

     

     

    • #14
  15. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):
    Thanks for the post, Susan.  I wish that I saw as much hope as you do.  I do agree that there are some favorable signs, but at the moment, it feels a bit like Custer at Little Big Horn.

    I’d like to hear some further thoughts about your three key elements — faith, meaning, and meaningful relationships. You link the third element to an excess of individualism, and I agree about that. What is the solution? How do we have a community, without a common culture, common faith, and common standards of behavior?

    Also, do you think that faith and meaning are really separate elements? This is a difficult one. Some people do seem to find meaning outside of faith, although maybe that just means that they have a faith in something that we don’t usually categorize as “faith.” But I find it difficult to find common ground with someone who does not have faith, and it’s not easy even with people of a different faith. Many people seem to have a faith centered in the proposition that everyone ought to do whatever he wants. Lots of pluribus, not much unum.

    I have no viable solution to this. It does seem to undermine the proposition that the “diverse and pluralistic society” that people have been praising for decades — including many conservatives — can actually work. And I’m not talking about things as irrelevant as the color of one’s skin. I’m talking about core beliefs and values.

    Have you read or listened to anything by Douglas Murray? His latest book, The Madness of Crowds, offers some good insight on these issues, though I find some major gaps in his thinking.

    Thanks for your response, Jerry and your questions. My responses follow:

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):
    Thanks for the post, Susan.  I wish that I saw as much hope as you do.  I do agree that there are some favorable signs, but at the moment, it feels a bit like Custer at Little Big Horn.

    You may be more realistic than I am. I don’t think I’m a Pollyanna, but I have to hold on to hope!

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):
    I’d like to hear some further thoughts about your three key elements — faith, meaning, and meaningful relationships.  You link the third element to an excess of individualism, and I agree about that.  What is the solution?  How do we have a community, without a common culture, common faith, and common standards of behavior?

    I’m not sure of how to elaborate, but I’ll try. I think we generally agree on the importance of faith–our belief in G-d helps us find meaning and purpose–and you are correct: the three elements are intertwined and require each other to have an impact on our lives. I don’t have  answers for the lack of community; I think we can all try to reach out to others to come together. You go to bible study; I have formed a little group that meets once a month to discuss Judaism, and have two Torah study partners. My sense is that, at least starting out, people would benefit coming together in small groups, where they can get to know each other and develop a level of intimacy and trust. Religious groups in particular could provide the values and standards of behavior.

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):
    Have you read or listened to anything by Douglas Murray?  His latest book, The Madness of Crowds, offers some good insight on these issues, though I find some major gaps in his thinking.

    Yes, I read his book, and like you, appreciated many of his ideas but didn’t agree with all of them. It was difficult overall to try not to fall into despair. But I continue to power on.

    • #15
  16. Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… Member
    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio…
    @ArizonaPatriot

    David Foster (View Comment):

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):
    First, I’m not sure if nihilism is the correct explanation for Wokeness. I don’t seem them wanting to annihilate themselves. I see them wanting to behave irresponsibly and immorally, to suffer the natural consequences of such actions, to evade their own responsibility for their condition, to blame others, and to steal from those others to replace the house that they have burned down (metaphorically speaking).

    There are multiple categories of Wokesters. Some of them are just doing what they think they need to do to avoid personal risk, or to turn the situation to their profit, in status terms or directly financially. Both of these motivations can be found among academics and, increasingly, among business executives.

    But I think there are indeed many who are pretty far gone down the Nihilist road. These are people who are unhappy with their lives…not always, or even typically, in material terms, but rather in terms of a sense of meaning and hope. These are the people who want to Tear It All Down.

    And it’s true, as James Lileks observed above, that many of them implicitly believe that everything will precede as before – ‘there will always be hot water and good coffee and buses and jobs’ (well, not so sure about the ‘jobs’ part)…they can’t or don’t think forward far enough to think seriously about what things would really be like with It All Torn Down, they just want to escape from their mental misery.

    There are also those who just revel in the joy of destruction. These sorts were common among both Communists and Nazis in Weimar Germany. One man that traveler Paddy Fermor met in Germany in 1933 had been a Communist who enjoyed beating up Nazis; he had now switched to the Nazi side and his only concern was that so many others were doing the same that there they were running out of Communists to beat up.

    I agree.  It’s more complicated than just nihilism.  I think that there is some nihilism.

    Even among the people who say that they want to Tear It All Down, I think that there are different motivations.  As you point out, some of them may simply be lashing out in frustration, reveling in the joy of destruction.  Some of them may be unhappy with their place in the hierarchy, and believe that if they tear it down and shake things up, they may end up in a better position.  This is more rational, though probably wrong.  Some of them may be making a threat to Tear It All Down, and tear down some of it, they will be appeased and will get what they want, or at least some of what they want.

    • #16
  17. Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… Member
    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio…
    @ArizonaPatriot

    James Lileks (View Comment):

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):

    . . .

    Second, I’d appreciate your further thoughts about two specific sentences in the quote:

    These people have had this precious gift, this civilization, and they have got bored with it. They take all the advantages it offers them for granted, and despise the ideals that have powered it.

    What are the ideals that have powered this precious gift, in your view?

    Well, in the case of the Europeans, I’d say it’s the ideals of the Enlightenment, of rational humanism, a set of ideas that would apply to everyone in the brotherhood of man. I do not think it survived contact with the enemy.

    In the 20th century it took on a transnational aspect, and since nationalism had taken it on the chin twice, the smart people agreed that national cultures deserved to be subsumed in transnational identities. So you had generations growing up saturated in their local culture, but informed that it was something they should rise above. They should belong to these grand wide winds blowing through the world. In the end, disconnection. Alienation and contempt, played out in ancient streets that mocked the modern man with their accomplishments.

    Yeah, that’s what I expected, and this is where we disagree.  I do agree that rational humanism did not survive contact with the enemy, but I think that this is because it is fundamentally flawed.  It is built on a foundation of sand.  Reason is necessary but not sufficient.  If you want to construct a rational system, you need a fundamental axiom, or a set of fundamental axioms, and if you have more than one, you need a decision rule, or a set of decision rules.  Reason will not tell you which axiom(s) to pick or which decision rule(s) to adopt.

    I think that this point was made by both David Hume and Edmund Burke.  It seems to me that the rational humanist folks look to thinkers like Locke and Smith, without noticing that both Locke and Smith were building on a Christian foundation, and were sometimes quite explicit about doing so.  

    I really don’t like the term “Enlightenment.”  It’s hard to think of a more propagandistic term, and I notice that the Leftists do the same thing, calling themselves “liberal” or “progressive.”  I think that the enshrinement of Reason is a big part of the problem.

    So I end up being frustrated by the rational humanists.  I think that they often reach the correct conclusions, but they don’t seem to acknowledge that they had no reasoned basis for the axiom(s) and decision rule(s) on which they rely.  The Post-Modern types can just tear them apart, by continuing to ask “why?”

     

    • #17
  18. Flicker Coolidge
    Flicker
    @Flicker

    When I think of nihilism I always think about this line from Father Brown:

    “When that Indian spoke to us,” went on Brown in a conversational undertone, “I had a sort of vision, a vision of him and all his universe. Yet he only said the same thing three times. When first he said ‘I want nothing,’ it meant only that he was impenetrable, that Asia does not give itself away. Then he said again, ‘I want nothing,’ and I knew that he meant that he was sufficient to himself, like a cosmos that needed no God, neither admitted any sins. And when he said the third time, ‘I want nothing,’ he said it with blazing eyes. And I knew that he meant literally what he said; that Nothing was his desire and his home; that he was weary for Nothing as for wine; that annihilation, the mere destruction of everything or anything—”

    • #18
  19. Flicker Coolidge
    Flicker
    @Flicker

    Of course, like a man planning his own historical legacy, he doesn’t know how it will eventually turn out, but in his present state his egotism enjoys the forethought of his future triumph, as if having a certainty that he will be there to enjoy it.  The Adversary knows that he can’t win, he’ll never rule absolutely, but in his psychopathic state he enjoys the thought of dancing in the nothingness remaining of that which he has fully destroyed.

    This may be the underlying spirit of the ennui of this age.

    • #19
  20. RushBabe49 Thatcher
    RushBabe49
    @RushBabe49

    I think that those who are attempting to tear down all the foundations of American civilization, firmly believe that all the dystopian consequences will simply not apply to them.  They operate under the notion that they are the Chosen, the Leaders, to whom all of Society must bow down.  They will be the ones to lead Society into its bright, anti-racist, equitable, prosperous future.  It has worked for them in the past, hasn’t it?  That’s why AOC and her Squad can simply ignore the filth in their own districts, while pursuing the Utopian future.  They will always have their cushy jobs, full benefits, nice homes in gated communities, full security at public expense, and cocktail parties with the rest of their elite friends.  Nothing they do will ever apply to Them.

    • #20
  21. OmegaPaladin Moderator
    OmegaPaladin
    @OmegaPaladin

    I think we need to embrace the idea of God as an anchor to absolute principle of natural law and rights.

    Someone who is LDS or a Jew is going to have a much different of view God that I do, and we can differ considerably on what is right or good.  I’m always stunned by the interpretations iWe comes up with.

    Regardless, we have an agreement that there is a set of natural rights that everyone has and natural law that everyone must follow.  For example, murder and theft are wrong and evil.

    If people who do not believe in God have a replacement, they can join in, but it seems at least you need a deistic understanding to avoid everything being up for grabs.

    • #21
  22. David Foster Member
    David Foster
    @DavidFoster

    I don’t agree at all that our problem is an excess of individualism.  People who join ‘Woke’ movements aren’t seeking more individualism, they want to conform, to enforce conformity on others, and to feel superior to those outside their circle of conformity…as with Kundera’s concept of Circle Dancing.

    Individualism and Anomie are not the same thing.

    • #22
  23. Rodin Member
    Rodin
    @Rodin

    RushBabe49 (View Comment):

    Nothing they do will ever apply to Them.

    I guess when you are post-modernist and history is useless then they know nothing of Marat and Robespierre.

    • #23
Become a member to join the conversation. Or sign in if you're already a member.