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(Thread) The Spirit of Liberty
Walker asks
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⤵️" title="Arrow pointing rightwards then curving downwards" aria-label="Emoji: Arrow pointing rightwards then curving downwards">
Spoiler: A surprising number of people prefer a “strongman” to rule-of-law democracy.
Let& #39;s start with a definition of democracy.
I like Lincoln& #39;s: “A majority held in restraint by constitutional checks and balances. . ." https://twitter.com/SunLoveGuy/status/1259595370386067456">https://twitter.com/SunLoveGu...
Walker asks
Spoiler: A surprising number of people prefer a “strongman” to rule-of-law democracy.
Let& #39;s start with a definition of democracy.
I like Lincoln& #39;s: “A majority held in restraint by constitutional checks and balances. . ." https://twitter.com/SunLoveGuy/status/1259595370386067456">https://twitter.com/SunLoveGu...
1/ For a more complete definition of “liberal democracy,” how about https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⤵️" title="Arrow pointing rightwards then curving downwards" aria-label="Emoji: Arrow pointing rightwards then curving downwards">
The drafters of the Constitution liked the idea of liberal democracy—but they limited “we the people” to white (mostly landowning) men.
The drafters of the Constitution liked the idea of liberal democracy—but they limited “we the people” to white (mostly landowning) men.
The drafters of the Constitution liked the idea of liberal democracy—but they limited “we the people” to white (mostly landowning) men." title="1/ For a more complete definition of “liberal democracy,” how about https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⤵️" title="Arrow pointing rightwards then curving downwards" aria-label="Emoji: Arrow pointing rightwards then curving downwards">The drafters of the Constitution liked the idea of liberal democracy—but they limited “we the people” to white (mostly landowning) men." class="img-responsive" style="max-width:100%;"/>
2/ We’ve basically been fighting over who should be included in “we the people” ever since.
Most people on Twitter are familiar with what political psychologists call the authoritarian disposition—the theory that some people are inclined toward authoritarianism.
Most people on Twitter are familiar with what political psychologists call the authoritarian disposition—the theory that some people are inclined toward authoritarianism.
3/ For more on authoritarianism, see: https://twitter.com/Teri_Kanefield/status/1185222549174513667
But">https://twitter.com/Teri_Kane... the answer: “People who prefer authoritarianism have an authoritarian disposition,” is sort of circular, right?
Maybe we should come at the question from a different angle.
But">https://twitter.com/Teri_Kane... the answer: “People who prefer authoritarianism have an authoritarian disposition,” is sort of circular, right?
Maybe we should come at the question from a different angle.
4/ How about, some people reject democracy because they:
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔹" title="Small blue diamond" aria-label="Emoji: Small blue diamond">Reject diversity,
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔹" title="Small blue diamond" aria-label="Emoji: Small blue diamond">Don’t like boring politics,
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔹" title="Small blue diamond" aria-label="Emoji: Small blue diamond">Demand rapid change,
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔹" title="Small blue diamond" aria-label="Emoji: Small blue diamond">Reject compromise, and
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔹" title="Small blue diamond" aria-label="Emoji: Small blue diamond">Are completely sure they’re right.
(There is overlap, and I’m probably forgetting something.)
(There is overlap, and I’m probably forgetting something.)
5/ “Reject diversity” is included in the classic definition of right wing authoritarianism.
See http://www.academia.edu/34651963/The_Right-Wing_Authoritarianism_Scale
Right">https://www.academia.edu/34651963/... wing authoritarians “defer to established authorities,” and “show aggression toward out-groups when authorities sanction that aggression.”
See http://www.academia.edu/34651963/The_Right-Wing_Authoritarianism_Scale
Right">https://www.academia.edu/34651963/... wing authoritarians “defer to established authorities,” and “show aggression toward out-groups when authorities sanction that aggression.”
6/ In other words, right wing authoritarians don’t like “out-groups” and can be cruel toward them.
The cruelty springs from the dislike.
Here is Tucker Carlson explaining that diversity is NOT a strength: https://www.cnsnews.com/blog/michael-morris/tucker-carlson-ben-shapiro-it-never-true-diversity-your-strength">https://www.cnsnews.com/blog/mich...
The cruelty springs from the dislike.
Here is Tucker Carlson explaining that diversity is NOT a strength: https://www.cnsnews.com/blog/michael-morris/tucker-carlson-ben-shapiro-it-never-true-diversity-your-strength">https://www.cnsnews.com/blog/mich...
7/ Here& #39;s Katie Hopkins, pictured with Ann Coulter, praising Russia as being “untouched by the myth of multiculturalism and deranged diversity“
https://www.rt.com/uk/429777-katie-hopkins-russia-multiculturalism/
The">https://www.rt.com/uk/429777... problem for them is that democracy tends to expand and become more inclusive.
That& #39;s when they reject it.
https://www.rt.com/uk/429777-katie-hopkins-russia-multiculturalism/
The">https://www.rt.com/uk/429777... problem for them is that democracy tends to expand and become more inclusive.
That& #39;s when they reject it.
8/ Next:https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔹" title="Small blue diamond" aria-label="Emoji: Small blue diamond">Some people don’t like boring politics.
Some Trump supporters like Trump because he’s entertaining.
When democracy works well, it’s boring.
A lot of people dozed off in school when the teacher talked about “civics” and “three branches of government.”https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😴" title="Sleeping face" aria-label="Emoji: Sleeping face">
Some Trump supporters like Trump because he’s entertaining.
When democracy works well, it’s boring.
A lot of people dozed off in school when the teacher talked about “civics” and “three branches of government.”
9/ Following all those procedures will not keep you on the edge of your seat. News programs will find it harder to be entertaining and captivate audiences.
MPBA (Make Politics Boring Again).
News shouldn& #39;t be entertainment.
This brings us to
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔹" title="Small blue diamond" aria-label="Emoji: Small blue diamond">People who demand rapid change.
MPBA (Make Politics Boring Again).
News shouldn& #39;t be entertainment.
This brings us to
10/ In the words of Ziblatt and Levitsky, democracy is slow, grinding work.
If you don’t believe it, run for local office and try to get something done.
Checks and balances, and separation of powers naturally slows things down.
If you don’t believe it, run for local office and try to get something done.
Checks and balances, and separation of powers naturally slows things down.
11/ The only way to make rapid change is to eliminate checks and balances and consolidate power. This creates a situation that allows a strongman to step in.
One appeal of the strongman is he can blast through the slow-moving process and get things done fast.
One appeal of the strongman is he can blast through the slow-moving process and get things done fast.
12/ Next we have:
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔹" title="Small blue diamond" aria-label="Emoji: Small blue diamond">Reject compromise
Democracy requires compromise. Purists who won’t compromise are not democratic (even if the result they want is more democracy).
In the early 1990s, Newt Gingrich urged Republicans to reject compromise. https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2018/11/newt-gingrich-says-youre-welcome/570832/">https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/...
Democracy requires compromise. Purists who won’t compromise are not democratic (even if the result they want is more democracy).
In the early 1990s, Newt Gingrich urged Republicans to reject compromise. https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2018/11/newt-gingrich-says-youre-welcome/570832/">https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/...
13/ Many scholars (including Ziblatt and Levitsky) point to that as a time the Republican Party took a sharp turn toward authoritarianism.
“My way or the high way” is not democracy. It’s autocracy.
“This is the way it has to be” are the kinds of words spoken by a strongman.
“My way or the high way” is not democracy. It’s autocracy.
“This is the way it has to be” are the kinds of words spoken by a strongman.
14/ During the primaries, a frustrated Sanders supporter told me that the Democratic Party should bypass the vote and nominate Sanders because (1) he is the better candidate, and (2) not doing so sends a message to young people that they and their votes don& #39;t matter.
15/ I tried to explain why this would be undemocratic.
This brings me to Learned Hand’s quotation: "The Spirit of Liberty is the spirit which is not too sure that it is right"https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👇" title="Down pointing backhand index" aria-label="Emoji: Down pointing backhand index">
(That really was his name)
For the full context, see: http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=3&psid=1199">https://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_text...
This brings me to Learned Hand’s quotation: "The Spirit of Liberty is the spirit which is not too sure that it is right"
(That really was his name)
For the full context, see: http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=3&psid=1199">https://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_text...
(That really was his name)For the full context, see: https://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_text..." title="15/ I tried to explain why this would be undemocratic.This brings me to Learned Hand’s quotation: "The Spirit of Liberty is the spirit which is not too sure that it is right"https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👇" title="Down pointing backhand index" aria-label="Emoji: Down pointing backhand index">(That really was his name)For the full context, see: https://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_text..." class="img-responsive" style="max-width:100%;"/>
16/ “I am right. I am the authority. Listen to me, and only me,” isn& #39;t democratic.
It took me a long time to understand why the spirit of liberty is the spirit that is not too sure it is right.
(I first saw the quotation when researching my biography of RGB, who quoted it.)
It took me a long time to understand why the spirit of liberty is the spirit that is not too sure it is right.
(I first saw the quotation when researching my biography of RGB, who quoted it.)
17/ When we& #39;re not too sure we& #39;re right, we listen, and compromise, and are more inclined to bring people together.
To be clear: I’m not advocating compromising with the KKK.
I’m advocating coalition building, creating as big a tent as possible, and respecting procedures.
To be clear: I’m not advocating compromising with the KKK.
I’m advocating coalition building, creating as big a tent as possible, and respecting procedures.
18/ When we& #39;re not too sure we& #39;re right (and we don’t insist on purity) we are better able to pull together a large enough majority to bring about positive changes and resist autocracy.
Big tents get messy.
Big tents get messy.
I did mean Ruth Bader Ginsburg !! https://twitter.com/thoreau_devotee/status/1265014731754156033">https://twitter.com/thoreau_d...
Love it. https://twitter.com/Mcdonald5Meg/status/1265036392167440387">https://twitter.com/Mcdonald5...
This thread is a blog post, here: https://terikanefield-blog.com/the-spirit-of-liberty/">https://terikanefield-blog.com/the-spiri...
Then sometimes people who want a strongman just come right about and say we don& #39;t want a nice guy, we want a strong man.
https://twitter.com/thehill/status/1265312478440890370…
h/t">https://twitter.com/thehill/s... @QuitTheCrazy
https://twitter.com/thehill/status/1265312478440890370…
h/t">https://twitter.com/thehill/s... @QuitTheCrazy