Kicking down and kissing up: Signs of a classic authoritarian

[merrily]

3. I can't define authoritarianism, but I know it when I see it.

Something like what the SCOTUS once said about porn, only authoritarianism is probably less productive than porn.

In fact a classic authoritarian is obsequious and servile to those perceived to be of a higher social status while at the same time being extremely harsh and strict with anyone they judge to be their social inferior.

I agree, with two qualifications. I don't know if authoritarians are servile based on perceived social status or based on who they think that help the authoritarian achieve their goals. For example, a politician may outrank the minister of a relatively small church in social status, but, if the politician thinks the minister can help him or her get elected or reelected, watch the authoritarian politician kiss up.

Then, of course, there was Poppy Bush blaming April Glasbie for allegedly giving Hussein the go signal on invading Kuwait.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_Glaspie


You can't make up stuff like that. The most powerful man in the world, the Commander in Chief of the US military forces and the chief executive of the executive branch in which Glasbie was a relatively low level employee.

And Dimson blaming Tenet (or was it Curveball) for the invasion of Iraq when Dimson said during a 2004 Presidential debate that he regretted having trusted people he should not have trusted. This, from the man who claimed to be able to see Putin's soul.

ETA: I forgot to add the second qualification: at some point, the authoritarian is at the top of his or her particular food chain and there is no one perceived higher to kiss up, but there are tons of people perceived lower to pass the buck down to. Unless you're Harry Truman.