Thursday, July 10, 2008
Individuatarianism
Mike has called me to task for classifying Harper as a libertarian. I think that is fair game. In fact, there doesn't seem to be a classification out there for Harper and the new "conservatism". Neo-con is not descriptive enough for me, so I have come up with a new word, Individuatarianism. Individuatarianism is the marriage of a libertarian world view and an authoritarian style of governing. Individuatarians reject collectivism in any form. Collectivism is bad and is to be avoided at all costs. When in power, Individuatarians do not use state mechanisms to achieve collective goals. Instead Individuatarians see the state and its mechanisms as expressions and tools of an individual will -- the will of the leader, be it George Bush or Stephen Harper. The state gains its validity only in so far as it is seen as an instrument of the Individuatarian leader's vision. Any action taken by state apparatus perceived contrary to the leader's will is seen as collectivist retrenchment and therefore illegitimate in the eyes of Individuatarians.
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"The state gains its validity only in so far as it is seen as an instrument of the Individuatarian leader's vision. Any action taken by state apparatus perceived contrary to the leader's will is seen as collectivist retrenchment and therefore illegitimate in the eyes of Individuatarians. "
ReplyDeleteThere ya go.
Corporatism seems to work pretty well to.
The Cons and the Bushies are as authoritarian as Stalin or Franco, they just try to be more subtle about it.
But it is a odd sort of authoritarianism, Mike. It is authoritarianism as anti-collectivism. Franco and Stalin mouthed the idea of nation or motherland, but Individuatarians reject these ideas as collectivist. The leader is seen as the ultimate expression of the triumph of the individual will over collectivism.
ReplyDeleteWhat's wrong with "dictatorship"? Seems to fit the bill.
ReplyDelete"Dictatorship" is too "jackbooty" to describe what we are living under.
ReplyDeleteUh... guys? Anytime the opposition wants an election, we've got one.
ReplyDeleteIt's a surprise this government lasted longer than six months. (It surprised them too, I think.)
Uh... guys? Anytime the opposition wants an election, we've got one.
ReplyDeleteThat's why "dictatorship" is a word too far.
But, that said, Mr. Harper does not have democratic instincts either. His idea of the rule of law is "I don't have to follow the law if I don't want to and if you don't like it, sue me. It's not my money anyway." Then if he loses he eggs the base on about the "elites" ganging up on conservatives. Wells has it right. He is definitely Nixon's boy.
ReplyDeleteHey now, Greg. I think I must claim credit for introducing you to the Stephen Harper is Richard Nixon meme, lo those years ago.
ReplyDeleteReally? I thought it was mine. That only goes to show, I only steal from the best. :) You should talk to Wells too. He is using it more than me.
ReplyDeleteIt was just after the 2006 election.
ReplyDeleteBut I see it all in him -- the smarts, the resentful streak, the party-building, the ability to inspire fierce loyalty, in spite of it all... and the cocooning.
I think Harper will win his majority, and destroy himself at some point (if he's not careful) with his own demons.
That said, progressives should beware -- the electoral majority Nixon built was an enduring one... (He rules us still -- see here.)
Selfishjerkenarianism - it has prevailed.
ReplyDelete