Category Archives: Authoritarianism

Authoritarianism describes a form of government characterized by strict obedience to the authority of the state, which often maintains and enforces social control through the use of oppressive measures. The term may also be used to describe the personality or management style of an individual or organization which seeks to dominate those within its sphere of influence and has little regard for building consensus.

Use of this category typically indicates other categories, like National Security, also apply.

Tracking the Growth of American Authoritarianism

Deficit and Debt are Shrinking, and Revenue is Increasing Deficit fear-mongering is seriously overblown.
Stop the fear-mongering - Academic justification was invalidated

 

Media Gives Free Reign to Gut Feel While The Nation’s Needs Are Ignored

Posted on June 6, 2013 by Andy Hailey

Right-wing authoritarians (RWA) – those blocking progress in both houses of our Congress and conniving with ALEC to write oppressive state laws – are not only all about ‘me-my-mine,’ they are also ‘rugged individualists’ with no need for others who … Continue reading →

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Teapublicans Are Punishing America for Electing a Black Man President

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Andy Hailey

As we all know, our right-wing minority controlled Congress and many right-wing state leaders have opposed every effort of President Obama. The election of a gaggle of Tea Party members to Congress in 2010 reinforced this opposition and Mitch McConnell … Continue reading →

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Moral Values of the Left and Right – History Shows Which Works for All Americans

Posted on February 27, 2013 by Andy Hailey

Throughout this blog, postings have provided details about the strict father and nurturant parent worldviews. Charts in some of those postings show how the dominance of one or the other of these two worldviews affects our economy. Not only did … Continue reading →

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The Danger of American Fascism – Then and Now

Posted on January 26, 2013 by Andy Hailey

Back in August 2006, I wrote a post called, “Can There Really Be Fascist People In A Democracy?”. I think we are much closer to knowing our answer now and President Obama’s progressive inauguration speech provided a glimpse of the beginning of the end of this corporate threat to America. Continue reading →

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Our Two Major Political Parties – The Illusion and Realities of Their Essences

Posted on January 1, 2013 by Andy Hailey

Over the years, some have said that there is little difference between our two major political parties. This is certainly a favorite characterization made by third-party members like Libertarians, who actually represent the extremes of both major parties. However, if … Continue reading →

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Disaster Relief Is Immoral and Requires Privatization – Who Believes This and Why?

Posted on November 5, 2012 by Andy Hailey

Here is a portion of the transcript from the June 13, 2011, Republican presidential primary debate where Romney is asked about transferring disaster relief to the states – a conservative, anti-federal government idea. KING: What else, Governor Romney? You’ve been … Continue reading →

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Why Are Some Americans More Concerned About Consuming Than Preserving Their Democracy?

Posted on October 16, 2012 by Andy Hailey

The excerpts below are from a recent article by Henry Giroux, titled “Why Don’t Americans Care About Democracy at Home?” The basic answer is “economic Darwinism,” which “promotes a politics of cruelty,” “undermines all forms of solidarity capable of challenging … Continue reading →

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More Research Invalidates Extreme Right-wing Principle – Solely “Self-made”

Posted on September 26, 2012 by Andy Hailey

The extreme right-wing, strict father, authoritarian family model, which is represented in many ways by the Romney/Ryan twosome, includes the principle of the self-made individual – each person is totally responsible for their success. This is what George Lakoff calls … Continue reading →

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2012 Election – – Are We Going to Return to a National Legalized Gozzle-up Ponzi Scheme?

Posted on September 21, 2012 by Andy Hailey

(The following is a reposting of an entry from August of 2010 with minor updates.) This posting was inspired by an article at Rational Revolution. It takes another look at the disproportionate shift in income to the mega and ultra … Continue reading →

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Moral Principles – What Conservatives Know and Progressives Take for Granted

Posted on September 4, 2012 by Andy Hailey

Recent political ads lie about President Obama and his suggestions to the states on the national welfare program. As stated in a recent Truthout article, the producers of these ads are targeting “white working class voters” who harbor “deep resentment … Continue reading →

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Destroying America’s Soul – The Devil’s Budget

Posted on August 28, 2012 by Andy Hailey

In his latest article, George Lakoff discusses how The Devils Budget proposed by the opponents to President Obama will eventually destroy the soul of our democracy by defunding all of its Public infrastructure: public protection, public empowerment, public education, public … Continue reading →

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Authoritarian Plan for a Koch Brothers’ America – Update to The Powell Plan

Posted on August 11, 2012 by Andy Hailey

Just over a year ago, I posted about The Powell Memo. It has been referred to by others like Henry Giroux and Richard Wolff. This memo, by Lewis F. Powell and dated August 23, 1971, was a plan Powell developed … Continue reading →

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The Aurora, Colorado, Shootings – Fear Based Gun Ownership Fulfills an Authoritarian Need to Severely Punish Those Not Like Them

Posted on August 3, 2012 by Andy Hailey

Those most likely to become authoritarians (social dominators or followers) are raised from a young age in a strict-father environment where violent punishment is used aggressively. And, according to James Dobson, the sooner it is applied, the better. Dread of … Continue reading →

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Our Empathy and Education Deficits – Nurtured by Right-wing Authoritarians, But Beatable

Posted on June 25, 2012 by Andy Hailey

The two deficits, their causes, and solutions summarized below from writings by former Senator Barack Obama and Professor Henry Giroux, author of many books including Zombie Politics and Casino Capitalism, are much more critical to America’s future than the deficit … Continue reading →

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Authoritarian War on Women – Who’s Going to Stop American Authoritarianism?

Posted on May 11, 2012 by Andy Hailey

The American Warfare State Is Bringing an End to American Democracy … In my post, Authoritarian Control Requires War, a War Mentality, Enemies, and a Vivid Imagination, I listed the various, mostly real, and a few imaginary wars started by … Continue reading →

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The Four Fundamentalisms of America’s Authoritarian State – Threats to Our Democracy

Posted on March 21, 2012 by Andy Hailey

The excerpts below are from a recent article by Henry Giroux, author of Zombie Politics and Culture in the Age of Casino Capitalism, who discusses the major fundamentalisms of our growing authoritarian state. But first, my two cents: There is … Continue reading →

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The 2012 Authoritarian Strategy and How Democrats Could Lose The Presidency

Posted on March 14, 2012 by Andy Hailey

George Lakoff, professor of linguistics at UC Berkeley, has published an article called The Santorum Strategy. Here are some excerpts if you don’t have time for the whole article: …The Republican presidential campaign is about a lot more than the … Continue reading →

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Authoritarian Control Requires War, a War Mentality, Enemies, and a Vivid Imagination

Posted on January 4, 2012 by Andy Hailey

WAR … WAR … WAR … WAR I guess the authoritarian wars began in 1971 when President Nixon launched the war on drugs to combat the heroine addictions of our Vietnam veterans. This 40 year war has not been won … Continue reading →

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“Double High” Authoritarian Gingrich – Reducing Checks and Balances to Support the ONE%

Posted on December 17, 2011 by Andy Hailey

A Newt 2012 Position Paper – Compiled from previous writings of and paid for by Newt Gingrich: Looks like what Newt is proposing is to reduce the power and protections of the judicial branch of our government in favor of … Continue reading →

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America’s Growing Authoritarian Police State Revealed by Response to OWS

Posted on November 29, 2011 by Andy Hailey

In three previous articles, I have discussed the growing American police state. This police state is supported by an authoritarian worldview and is promoted by the “bad barrel” structure of today’s police departments. In a recent article by former Police … Continue reading →

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