It’s very common to hear terms like right, left, liberal, conservative ,Democrat, Republican etc. However, what do these terms really mean today? I would wager that depending upon whom you talk with , the definitions would vary . For example, let’s examine Ross Douthat’s December 12, 2021 article in the New York Times titled “ What the New Right Understands.”This disquisition critiques that article.
In his article Ross stated that the newer young right in contemporary America was psychologically defined more by alienation than patriotic comfort. However, neither alienation nor the younger right was defined. Certainly, research did not support his beliefs. We are only left with his opinion.
Couple centuries ago ,Karl Marx wrote about alienation. Marx believed that when power controls production, the working majority becomes exploited. Exploitation results in alienation. Alienation interferes with man’s sense of power, control and impedes his ability for truth,intellectual and loving development. This also results in man’s inability for meaningful interpersonal relationships. The existentialists added to the concept of alienation.They stated that the afterlife belief disappeared; man is irrational; man’s technological achievements have not solved the problem of man’s existence; man becomes lost, and inauthentic .In other words paraphrasing Albert Maslow . man fails to become self-actualized.
More recently the concept of alienation has been researched employing Julian B. Rotter’s locus of control theory.Alienated individuals have been found to be more suggestible, easily manipulated, dependent and not having a sense of power and control. Que Sera Sera “Whatever will be will be “ comes to mind. Research regarding emotional health reported that alienated individuals were fearful ,anxious, depressed , acted out their conflicts and were impaired morally and cognitively. Also, they were unable to modify or control inappropriate behaviors.
Ross stated that these alienated individuals' biggest concern was about China. Of course if alienated, they are also limited intellectually with the loss of too many neurons. Their thinking is flawed and limited. Today’s major issues relate to not only dysfunctional Congress;authoritarianism and the belief that a limited supply of melanin pigment entitles them to control,rule and exploit the majority because of their illusion of superiority.
Be damned of providing economic assistance to the majority; be damned of improving infrastructure; be damned of dealing with greenhouse emissions and climate; be damned as it’s a sin to promote voting rights for the majority because they’re a threat to your wealth; and be damned for income inequality. The motto is keep the power.
Matthew Stewart’s “The 9.9 Percent The New Aristocracy That is Entrenching Inequality and Warping Our Culture addresses unfairness .Matthew pointed out that the problem is not the richest 1% of Americans that’s the problem, but the 0.1% that includes a band of billionaires whose net worth rose by a staggering 1.8 trillion since the start of the pandemic. in essence, it’s concentrated at the top. He stated that while some neighborhoods gathered in food lines others fled to second homes and ordered gourmet meals online to be delivered to their doors by “essential workers.”
Stewart stated that the wealthiest 1% of Americans aggregate wealth is four times greater than that of everyone else. Also, they believed in the “merit myth.” This is a belief that the affluent own all of their successes, not to the color of their skin or the advantages they’ve inherited but to their talent and intelligence. Forget about segregated and upscale neighborhoods and using money and influence to get children into the elite colleges. Also, they are convinced that these individuals are deserving compared to the lazy undeserving poor. Further, the lives of the wealthy few have increasingly little resemblance to those of the working class people . Stewart stated that it's important to go beyond the reductive stereotypes to explain how professionals think about and justify their wealth and privilege. It's important to eliminate deep economic disparities in America and how inequality is validated and sustained.
Back to Ross. He identified the right’s younger generation's failure to marry, raise families and their difficulty with religion. The limited right has educational difficulties as the cost of college has become out of reach. Not only are they unable to marry, many cannot live independently because of lack of affordability. One doesn’t want to get married and live in the family basement or with his buddies in a rented apartment. Who wants to marry that alienated guy?
As far as religion, just think of the supernatural, primitive, superstitious and irrational beliefs. Why would Christ die for mankind’s sins? First of all, killing another goes against God’s( the imaginary in the sky} commandments. How many use the rationalization that Christ died for irrational behavior and that one can buy as many guns as possible to kill? Being born again is what? The first time around was a failure and there are no do overs. Going to church to sing and hear contemporary music is about social entertainment. What about the values of man’s failures of man treating man and suggestions for change? Going to church, with consensus, for not being vaccinated, teaches what?
Ross stated that the United States problems were the result of a Scandinavian style welfare state and the destruction of white male Christian heteronormativity for woke progressivism. Ross didn’t go into the last five years or so and the problems created by authoritarian Trump. Trump's authoritarianism , immorality. disrespect for the rule of law, racism and discrimination, and pacifying the super rich with tax cuts contributed to alienation for his loyal base-young and old.The hell with the Republic.
Ross also did not address the Covid-19 health issue. This is the third year of this terrible disease. Trump and his base has made things worse for the health of our country even though recently he stated people should be vaccinated. Healthwise, what a mess. Yes, physically sick individuals are more likely to become ill especially when unvaccinated. Our hospitals and healthcare system has become more vulnerable with burn out, diseased providers and limited facilities within the hospital.This current health crisis points to stupidity among the unvaccinated. Forrest Gump quoted his mother “Stupid is as stupid does.”
In summary, if these individuals were alienated, they would have porous and limited executive functioning. This means that their ability to think, reason, objectify, ability for abstract thinking,proficiency to research and learn the truth would be severely impaired. Yes, they would be able to hear information that China was bad and be able to scapegoat. Were these individuals angry, frustrated and limited? This is their nightmare: limited educational attainment; if employed, poor working conditions , paucity of skills, low income and a doom and gloom future. Their nightmare also includes dark melanin pigment skinned individuals that are professors, physicians, lawyers, scientists, sport star legends, TV ,radio, movie stars, celebrities, judges etc.’s. Even a black president and currently a black vice president and don’t forget that a female black woman is going to be nominated for the Supreme Court is part of that nightmare. Yes, they are frustrated and only have the means to act out physically and passive aggressively . This is called the” American Nightmare.”They are the American Nightmare.
No comments:
Post a Comment