You Can’t Have Equality If Others Want to Feel Special

Those on the political extreme right, right-wing authoritarians (RWA), have a world view that includes extreme individualism and an authoritarian hierarchy that puts men above all other living forms. This world view means inequality of individuals is OK.

Another element that grows out of this world view is that inequality gives them reason to feel special – better than others.

RWAs believe individuals are in complete control of their success and success only requires “hard work” by the individual. Those who are not successful just didn’t apply themselves and deserve their individually driven circumstance. In other words, RWAs have no understanding of indirect influences on the success of an individual like when, where, and into which family you were born.

RWAs believe those who are successful know better than those who are less successful, and the more successful they are, the more superior they feel.

These beliefs in individualism and superiority contribute to feeling they are special. These beliefs also lead to feelings of resentment and persecution when the ideas that make them special are challenged.

Evolution destroys the speciality of being created by God.

Treating a gun like just another piece of property like a car that needs to be licensed destroys the speciality of being able to punish someone less ‘successful’ than you.

Gay marriage lessens the speciality of creating another human.

Increasing citizenship dues on the wealthy destroys the specialty of actual or imagined future extreme wealth.

The underling idea that destroys RWA feelings of specialty is equality: more equality between all living things; equal control over hazardous property items; equality of all loving couples getting married; more equal distribution of income by re-imposing higher citizenship dues on those can’t recognize their individual success is due to many factors, including public infrastructure, not just talent and hard work.

Common thread-What is special for and about me is not for those not like me. RWA see themselves as special – more equal – and resent ideas that destroy their speciality – like equality.

… “Again, equality threatens the pride of those who deem themselves “special” and “unique,” and insufficiently “respected” for it.

… we’re seeing pushback from people who think themselves, whether justifiably or not, to be unique and special and even heroic, for which they congratulate themselves and expect to be congratulated, being told instead from the outside that they’re neither unique nor special nor heroic, which they resent.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/02/16/1278019/-A-Common-Thread-Among-Young-Earth-Creationists-Gun-Enthusiasts-Marriage-Exclusivists-and-the-1