Tag Archives: Individual or Systemic Causation

Tracking the Growth of American Authoritarianism

“Can There Really Be Fascist People In A Democracy?”
Libertarians are stealthily taking over America.

Since the 1971 Powell Memo, America has moved closer and closer to Fascism.

 

Excessive Corporate Intrusion Is a Major Factor in Maximizing Inequality

When FDR and LBJ passed laws which maximized equality by providing protections such as Social Security, the right to unionize, and medicare, corporations only saw added costs for doing business. While America helped rebuild the world after WWII, these costs … Continue reading

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We Are All Born Equal — Just Not With Equal Opportunity

Progressives claiming that right-wing authoritarians are irrational is like right-wing authoritarians claiming minorities are mentally inferior to whites. They both ignore basic biology. The human brain works the exact same away in every human without physical brain damage. This is … Continue reading

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

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

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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Moral Principles – What Conservatives Know and Progressives Take for Granted

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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Why Scott Walker Won and a Book for Future Progressive Victories

In a recent article by George Lakoff, the author explains how Republicans won the message war and confirmed Scott Walker as the governor of Wisconsin. “Where progressives argued policy — the right to collective bargaining and the importance of public … Continue reading

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The “Bad Barrel” for All U.S. Presidents – Some Try to Resist, Authoritarians Enhance It

What changed many of the promises of candidate Obama into either inaction or the adverse actions of President Obama? Here’s how I put it to the President recently. RE: The Obamas by Jodi Kantor Mr. President, While listening to an … Continue reading

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

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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What’s It Take to Win in 2012? More About ‘We’

It will take winning back the swing/independent/biconceptual/dual voters. They were influenced by the empathetic progressive messages in 2008 and by the fearful conservatives-without-conscience messages in 2010. For 2012, the progressive message should be, “The Country We Believe In.” It should … Continue reading

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Violence Against Americans by Americans – Individual Action Is Only Part of the Story

Individual actions result from the influences of many factors. This is referred to as “systemic causation.” Some factors are genetic but many are external: parents, spouses, siblings, other relatives, friends, scout leaders, religious leaders, teachers, bosses, books, movies, radio, TV, … Continue reading

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Progressive Facts Are Lost on CWCs, But Biconceptuals Can Understand

Communicating a progressive worldview requires telling a story and countering the “Nobel Lies,” or beliefs, from the CWCs (conservatives without conscience) with facts. For progressives to win back the “biconceptuals,” who are typically referred to as “independents” and recently supported … Continue reading

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Pro Life Discontinuity – At Birth Life/Health Is Subjugated to Profit

Conservatives without conscience (CWC) want life protected at all costs while it exists in the womb. Once you are born, however, CWCs believe “you’re on your own.” Your life after birth and your health are totally up to you – … Continue reading

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Causation – Paying Taxes Contributes to Everyone’s Success

… paying taxes supports America’s infrastructure and improves the chances of success for all citizens. However, cutting taxes, as the CWCs suggest, especially for the mega rich, only increases the chances of success of the mega rich. Continue reading

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Inside the Beltway – A Bad Barrel Produces Bad Apples

Mr. President, There was an exclusive news report on MSNBC tonight. The main point was that instead of reemphasizing what you have said in public about letting the Justice Department decide about prosecuting wrong doings of the previous administration, you … Continue reading

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Mr. President: Put Action to Your Words – Pardon Sgt. Frederick

RE: Recently Released Bush II Torture Memos Mr. President, I agree with not prosecuting the lower level CIA employees for their part in implementing bad policies produced by Bush II and company. These torture policies built a bad barrel that … Continue reading

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Release of the Four Torture Memos by President Obama

Mr. President, I agree with not prosecuting the lower level CIA employees for their part in bad policies produced by Bush II and company. These torture policies built a bad barrel that took these good people and made them do … Continue reading

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President Obama – Continuing the Clean Up After the Bush Administration?

Mr. President, Thank you for authorizing the release of the CIA torture guidelines from the previous administration.   This is another step toward undoing the wrongs of the past. I also agree that the hands-on implementers of those guidelines are … Continue reading

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Corruption in Our Capitol – Bad Apples or Bad Barrel That Turns Good People Bad

In a 2004 interview on CNN, Dr. Phil Zimbardo was commenting on situations like Abu Ghraib in Iraq and My Lai in Vietnam when he said, “what you have is powerful situational forces that get the majority to do things … Continue reading

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Blindly Obedient to Authority, Non-responsive Bystander or Hero – What Will You Become in a “Bad Barrel”?

Given a set of conditions, or abnormal situation, how might each of us respond? Research indicates that most of us can be manipulated to commit acts we would not normally do. For example, in the the Milgram obedience studies, sixty-seven … Continue reading

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Beyond Nine-Eleven – Enabling My Evolving Hopes

I started writing this in late 2001 and have not revisited if for quite some time. I’m posting it with some 2007 updates and have added guidelines on how to enable these hopes. May our leaders use all sources of … Continue reading

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