General Discussion

Major Nikon

(36,925 posts)

44. Authoritarianism relies on blind adherence to the status quo

Wed Feb 17, 2016, 09:10 AM

Feb 2016

Humans by nature are fearful of change. Once a law or a rule gets passed and a power structure is established, it is nearly impossible to dismantle it even when it makes absolutely no logical sense. That's why demagoguery is such a powerful tool for authoritarians and the antithesis of progressivism.

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SCALIA: "Mere factual innocence is no reason not to carry out a death sentence properly reached." [View all] kpete Feb 2016 OP

Oh come off of it. He took Ruth Ginsberg to the opera jberryhill Feb 2016 #1

And what does it say about Ruthie... gregcrawford Feb 2016 #15

It says she likes a good opera jberryhill Feb 2016 #16

It says she liked him for his good facets. Hortensis Feb 2016 #22

Correct, as I said, it's not as if these decisions affected them jberryhill Feb 2016 #26

And it has never appeared to me... gregcrawford Feb 2016 #28

Couldn't Agree More RobinA Feb 2016 #31

That is NOT what I meant. Notorious RBG is a Hortensis Feb 2016 #29

Who said she's not a fine woman jberryhill Feb 2016 #30

Overlooking foibles and peccadilloes... gregcrawford Feb 2016 #33

I agree with everything you have written in this thread. nt laundry_queen Feb 2016 #40

Justices attempt to influence outcomes Hortensis Feb 2016 #42

He had a very strange concept of justice. nm rhett o rick Feb 2016 #2

"Mere" Iggo Feb 2016 #3

That is the part that got to me too Sanity Claws Feb 2016 #6

It is, if you're an authoritarian. malthaussen Feb 2016 #11

THIS! Authoritarians feel that maintaining a strong Hortensis Feb 2016 #23

In Guy Sajer's book, The Forgotten Soldier, is an unforgettable vignette: malthaussen Feb 2016 #25

Authoritarianism relies on blind adherence to the status quo Major Nikon Feb 2016 #44

The title of the OP is apparently not an actual quote, though widely reported as such. nt eppur_se_muova Feb 2016 #18

but, but, his family and RBG loved him so... mountain grammy Feb 2016 #4

Can we dance now without all the sad people telling us that we are SoLeftIAmRight Feb 2016 #5

Most of those are right wing types anyway SwankyXomb Feb 2016 #17

you noticed that too. KG Feb 2016 #21

I noticed it too laundry_queen Feb 2016 #41

But he was a jenus! Brilliant mind, just look at his solid logic for sending an innocent person Rex Feb 2016 #7

That's been on my mind the last few days. The fact that ANYONE would reduce innocence.... Liberal Veteran Feb 2016 #8

Hence lastone Feb 2016 #9

My two cents FiveGoodMen Feb 2016 #10

well said kpete Feb 2016 #19

and mere factual death is no reason to confer respect on a piece of shit. Solly Mack Feb 2016 #12

Everything you need to know about this person is in that one sentence Scalded Nun Feb 2016 #13

I can't understanding how some of the pundits following his death are avaistheone1 Feb 2016 #14

Fat Tony was brilliant ... GeorgeGist Feb 2016 #20

Brilliance is no guarantee of decency. white_wolf Feb 2016 #24

And for me, that is the key. Ilsa Feb 2016 #36

A philosophical question: malthaussen Feb 2016 #47

"I didn't agree with his OUTcomes. But he had intelligent reasoning behind them all." HughBeaumont Feb 2016 #27

Oh, but don't gravedance. Act_of_Reparation Feb 2016 #32

Reminds of the parental philosophy Karma13612 Feb 2016 #34

Um, wouldn't factual innocence imply that the death sentence had not been properly reached? KamaAina Feb 2016 #35

No. Why would it? (nt) Recursion Feb 2016 #38

Legally, not at all. malthaussen Feb 2016 #45

This is the kind of amoral legalistic nitpicking that makes people hate lawyers. Odin2005 Feb 2016 #37

That's one way of looking at it. malthaussen Feb 2016 #46

I'm against the death penalty but I pretty much see his point there Recursion Feb 2016 #39

Kick and rec for our republican visitors. Kingofalldems Feb 2016 #43