Another thought-provoking essay about the perils of society level meaninglessness combined with scapegoats & power hungry authorities. When people lack real purpose, engagement in sustaining community and become bored with status quo, some can naturally stir up drama/conflict to make things interesting & purposeful. Is this not human nature?
Brings to mind a quote from Gustave Le Bon's, The Crowd: "Men are ruled by ideas, sentiments, and customs--matters which are of the essence of ourselves. Institutions and laws are the outward manifestation of our character, the expression of its needs. Being its outcome, institutions and laws cannot change this character."
This strikes me as **so clearly** what we are galloping toward here in the US these days. Very well written and thought out. US society is so clearly defined by what it sees as 'external entertainment', that if/when it disappears there will be an unbearable clamor for 'a solution', whatever it takes.
I’ve heard that the relentless propaganda message to Germans during WWI was: we are winning! Add the shock of defeat to this analysis and you can see why German youth went all in for the second war.
During the Nuremberg trials, Nazi war criminals (notably Eichmann) pretended that they were just cogs in a bureaucratic machine. But the truth is that Germany's civil service played a major role in the Nazi atrocities.
Excellent essay! It makes me think of something Malcolm Muggeridge wrote- “So the final conclusion would surely be that whereas other civilizations have been brought down by attacks of barbarians from without, ours had the unique distinction of training its own destroyers at its own educational institutions, and then providing them with facilities for propagating their destructive ideology far and wide, all at the public expense. Thus did Western Man decide to abolish himself, creating his own boredom out of his own affluence, his own vulnerability out of his own strength, his own impotence out of his own erotomania, himself blowing the trumpet that brought the walls of his own city tumbling down, and having convinced himself that he was too numerous, labored with pill and scalpel and syringe to make himself fewer. Until at last, having educated himself into imbecility, and polluted and drugged himself into stupefaction, he keeled over--a weary, battered old brontosaurus--and became extinct.” Not exactly what you wrote, but some of it touches on your ideas.
Illegal immigrants are filling the jobs of the purposeless cowards and they are certainly not any barrier to totalitarians. This soft totalitarianism can last for awhile.
Actually the "people" are not on the chessboard (masonic). They are not the pawns. Once this is understood then how the game can be deconstructed as to who the playing pieces represent and who is moving the pieces.
Henry Kissinger said Police are stupid pawns. Stupid means not having a mind of their own hence only move where they are pointed and there's no turning back. Like PAWN.
"Ordinary people" are considered to be cattle, farm animals, to the players of this game. The HUBRIS of the ordinary people keeps them from having an open mind.
What is the difference between a cow and a human? A mind, no?
**Explain to me why a human has ZERO interest in how their mind works? Because that idea is never EVER presented, in school, anywhere.
This article has "why" but nothing in detail about the mind. No article anywhere has details. "Mind Control", "Indoctrination", "Hypnosis", and other lazy labels are tossed about. You think that because you know your house has "power" you know how electricity works? You do NOT, unless you studied it, and worked with it.
Tyrants LOVE the lazy "normal" human who is so beyond ignorant of what I'm talking about. Why? Because a cow is a herd animal, easy to steer and slaughter.
"Make meaning out your enforced tedium for there is no alternative other than Totalitarianism." I don't remember writing that and I can't find that in my essay.
Another thought-provoking essay about the perils of society level meaninglessness combined with scapegoats & power hungry authorities. When people lack real purpose, engagement in sustaining community and become bored with status quo, some can naturally stir up drama/conflict to make things interesting & purposeful. Is this not human nature?
Thanks, Nathalie.
In Part 2, coming next week, we will use more of Haffner to see how the Nazis scapegoated the Jews. Sneak preview: Their playbook is being used again.
Thank you for this interesting read!
Brings to mind a quote from Gustave Le Bon's, The Crowd: "Men are ruled by ideas, sentiments, and customs--matters which are of the essence of ourselves. Institutions and laws are the outward manifestation of our character, the expression of its needs. Being its outcome, institutions and laws cannot change this character."
That’s a great addition to my essay. Thank you!
This strikes me as **so clearly** what we are galloping toward here in the US these days. Very well written and thought out. US society is so clearly defined by what it sees as 'external entertainment', that if/when it disappears there will be an unbearable clamor for 'a solution', whatever it takes.
I’ve heard that the relentless propaganda message to Germans during WWI was: we are winning! Add the shock of defeat to this analysis and you can see why German youth went all in for the second war.
Powerful and thought-provoking. Thank you for this. I'm so grateful for you.
Ann, Thank you. So grateful to be on team freedom with you!
During the Nuremberg trials, Nazi war criminals (notably Eichmann) pretended that they were just cogs in a bureaucratic machine. But the truth is that Germany's civil service played a major role in the Nazi atrocities.
Compliance is enabling.
Excellent essay! It makes me think of something Malcolm Muggeridge wrote- “So the final conclusion would surely be that whereas other civilizations have been brought down by attacks of barbarians from without, ours had the unique distinction of training its own destroyers at its own educational institutions, and then providing them with facilities for propagating their destructive ideology far and wide, all at the public expense. Thus did Western Man decide to abolish himself, creating his own boredom out of his own affluence, his own vulnerability out of his own strength, his own impotence out of his own erotomania, himself blowing the trumpet that brought the walls of his own city tumbling down, and having convinced himself that he was too numerous, labored with pill and scalpel and syringe to make himself fewer. Until at last, having educated himself into imbecility, and polluted and drugged himself into stupefaction, he keeled over--a weary, battered old brontosaurus--and became extinct.” Not exactly what you wrote, but some of it touches on your ideas.
Thank you. An excellent addition.
And thanks for your reply. Looking forward to part 2
Because the Totalitarians are serious and the alternative isn’t….
Example: In any election cycle…
Republicans Talk
Democrats KILL.
Vote serious…
Would there have been a "Hitler" without elections?
Illegal immigrants are filling the jobs of the purposeless cowards and they are certainly not any barrier to totalitarians. This soft totalitarianism can last for awhile.
Actually the "people" are not on the chessboard (masonic). They are not the pawns. Once this is understood then how the game can be deconstructed as to who the playing pieces represent and who is moving the pieces.
Henry Kissinger said Police are stupid pawns. Stupid means not having a mind of their own hence only move where they are pointed and there's no turning back. Like PAWN.
"Ordinary people" are considered to be cattle, farm animals, to the players of this game. The HUBRIS of the ordinary people keeps them from having an open mind.
What is the difference between a cow and a human? A mind, no?
**Explain to me why a human has ZERO interest in how their mind works? Because that idea is never EVER presented, in school, anywhere.
This article has "why" but nothing in detail about the mind. No article anywhere has details. "Mind Control", "Indoctrination", "Hypnosis", and other lazy labels are tossed about. You think that because you know your house has "power" you know how electricity works? You do NOT, unless you studied it, and worked with it.
Tyrants LOVE the lazy "normal" human who is so beyond ignorant of what I'm talking about. Why? Because a cow is a herd animal, easy to steer and slaughter.
Just like "ordinary people".
"Make meaning out your enforced tedium for there is no alternative other than Totalitarianism." I don't remember writing that and I can't find that in my essay.