Republicans claim to fear left-wing authoritarianism -- but there's no such thing

[CousinIT]

NOTE: This entire article is worth a read. It clearly explains how we got here and how (and why) Republicans use the Fascist propaganda technique called 'The Big Lie' (which they've been using for decades) and which is now on steroids due to social media, to hoodwink lazy, uneducated voters into voting against their own and America's best interests.

https://www.salon.com/2021/08/14/republicans-claim-to-fear-left-wing-authoritarianism--but-theres-no-such-thing/

The meaning today of the "Big Lie" almost always refers to the false claim by Donald Trump and his right-wing cronies that the 2020 presidential election was somehow stolen by the left and Joe Biden, with the help of foreign agents.

. . .

This is hardly the first Big Lie from the right. Not even close. The right has been promulgating Big Lies for decades.

In fact, lying is the only way the right wing can win elections. After all, its policies are profoundly unpopular with ordinary people because the right-wing favors the 1% rich over the 99% working and middle classes.

How in the world could 1% of the population ever win elections over the 99%? Simple. The 1% bamboozles the 99%. To win elections, the right must conceal its true intentions from the voters and instead engage in manipulative tactics, like lying and fearmongering.

The lies are not just little lies.They are whoppers. They are the complete opposite of the truth. They are 180 degrees from the truth. They are the polar opposite of the truth, like from the North Pole all the way to the South Pole. Hence the term Big Lie.

. . .

One of the egregious lies that has taken root throughout society, and remains persistent today, is the false notion that dictatorships and fascism are associated with the left.

Once again, this is the exact opposite of the truth. Dictatorships and fascism are right-wing, not left-wing. . . .

[forgotmylogin]

1. (A loud crash as Left Wing Authoritarians burst into a dwelling in Kentucky)

LEADER: ALL RIGHT. All of you Magats line up! Doesn't need to be by gender or status, just form a general line..."
"We got lots of plans for you! First we're going to make sure your standard of healthcare matches everyone so you have equal access if you get sick! DON'T SMIRK! Then we're going to make sure all your roads are good and infrastructure works for you! Don't worry, the money will be coming from those billionaires up the road as you already pay your fair share of taxes based on your income."
"And you ladies...and those identifying as female or even non-binary...DO WE HAVE PLANS FOR YOU! You're going to have equal access to jobs, healthcare, family planning, and social services that men get, NO QUESTIONS ASKED."
"Oh, we've got a runner! One of them is making a break for it! No, Karen, we're not going to shoot at them, we've got a group of psychological counselors outside who will form a 'Love-Chain" to stop them from running and then they will help them through their anxiety and stress."
"You didn't expect all this, well NOBODY EXPECTS THE LIBERAL AUTHORITARIAN TAKEOVER! ...well...yeah, Fox News probably warned you, but we've got Hannity on his way to a re-education facility. No, it's very nice, it's a night class two days a week and they get gym and cafeteria privileges and there are sing-a-longs...paid for by his health insurance."
"Now, are all of you registered to vote? You still get to vote. What do you mean you didn't register at the DMV? Too long of a line? Lisa, please bring me the voter registration forms!"

...

[niyad]

4. Exactly.

[KS Toronado]

2. reQublicOns have been painting Liberals & Socialism as Fascist for years

As my dear old dad used to say "It takes one to know one", they do have projection down to an art form.
And it's time as a party we start addressing all their lies and misinformation, before it gets worse.

[niyad]

3. . . .

[underpants]

5. Good read. Three more paragraphs

So why have so many dictators claimed to lead left-wing, socialist governments? For a very good reason. Think about the situation from the perspective of a right-wing, wannabe tyrant who desires to seize control of a government. What campaign message should the wannabe tyrant communicate to the population?

Should the tyrant tell the population: "I am a devious person. I want to be a dictator who controls everything myself. I want to suppress all the working people, corrupt the government and steal loads of money by abusing my power"? Of course not. Tyrants who desire to become dictators cannot possibly tell the truth. In order to seize power and remain in control, tyrants must lie to the people, misrepresenting themselves as someone they are not.

Clearly, tyrants should pretend to be someone who can offer what the people desire. Many tyrants falsely proclaim to be Marxists, socialists and left-wingers because the ideas of the left are broadly popular among the oppressed classes in many countries around the world. And for good reason: Left-wing policies would indeed improve the quality of life in most societies.

[Wounded Bear]

6. Decent read. Gets a little repetitive at the end, but fairly accurate in its history...nt

[stopdiggin]

7. Well - an interesting headline at least .. -(nt)-

[JHB]

8. I'm going to conditionally balk. The artilce doesn't distinguish between the top guys...

...and what motivated the people who supported them.

Historically, there were indeed left-wing authoritarians: people who had faith in "The Revolution" and would "do what was needed" to make it successful.

They always relied on a Marxist- or -ish "way things ought to be".

But those people don't exist anymore in numbers with a hell's chance in high water of doing diddly squat. And none of them are Bernie and "The Squad".

So the condition is that authoritarian leftists are a thing -- historically, but not in real life right now.

Our most "leftist" legislators envision something closer to historical norms, like the Eisenhower administration, than to gulags and "re-education".

[myccrider]

9. Agree!

I was getting ready to post similar thoughts when I saw your post.