Mladen Dolar concisely formulates Hannah Arendt's reflections on authority. Symbolic authority essentially functions as a postponed threat, a suspended force or violence. It works as authority only for as long as it does not need to directly deploy force. The moment it does, authority loses its authority.
In relation to authority, authoritarianism starts at the opposite end. It begins as an already lost authority. It usually starts with force and the realization of threats and tries to make its way back to the impossible point of the coincidence of symbolic authority with the real. In authoritarianism, authority is over-realized. Authoritarianism is all about realization. We do things and efficiently, not just talk about them. Yet at the same time, this realization is desperately trying to reach the point of symbolic efficiency. That is the efficiency of talk itself, which remains inaccessible to it. This inaccessibility is the driving force of the surplus, realization, and efficiency. The flood of executive orders we are witnessing these days is not merely a strategy to overwhelm the opposition. It is also a need that drives this particular authoritarian order which operates through a peculiar combination of paranoia and perversion. Or should we say that in the position of symbolic power, paranoia becomes a form of perversion.
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Ignorance feeding ignorance feeding ignorance feeding ignorance feeding ignorance feeding ignorance feeding ignorance ad infinitum.
^^Proof of the inevitable death of symbolic authority in all its' forms^^
...so much for "wisdoms" hope.
Bullshit. Authority is Arising in the USA. Authoritarian fascism. Brought to America by the Orange Dunce, MAGA sycophants, Project 2025, and the oligarchs of greed.
lol! Authority is what existed BEFORE Trump arrived (it's what was established as the post-wwii open society consensus). Its' why the entire world is moving away from the Dollar. Everyone's had it with American bullying and sanctions. Everyone's had it with NED, NDI, and IRI regime change operations enacted through USAID. It's done with the American Empire and emperors like Obama and Biden deciding who can govern in the world.
You've abused your "authority" for far too long. American Cultural Capitalism is d.e.a.d. Woke is d.e.a.d.
Welcome to the muti-polar NWO.
It's why the neocons and Neoliberal Uniparty are itching to start WWIII and reset the order with "Russia"
...but, but, but... "Trump" is a fascist! We know who the real fascists are.
Stupid is as stupid does.
And so... the game is tiring.
There has always been a power structure. It's never been that someone or some entity (a legal body) wasn't in charge. But America and her revolutionary concept of self rule (democracy - rule by majority) was the best and most ethical form of rule ever devised. So until 2025, even with problems that existed, we were freer than we are right now today.
DJT, Project 2025, X'tian Nationalists, the Heritage Foundation, the scotus, and more now have the intention and unfortunately the power to morph America into their dream government. Authoritarian Fascism, where business and oligarchs control the economy under the boot of a sympathetic government and the general population gets whatever scraps the dictator decides is their due.
Rule by the whims if a personality and the one party rule that supports the authoritarian dictator.
And THAT... is quite likely America's future.
I am glad I am soon to be 74. Won't have to live under the boot of tyranny for very long. I feel sorry for my children and grandchildren though. There lives are likely going to be very hard.
their
So yes, WE know who the real fascists are.
Dialing Germany, confirmation received. Echoes of an era.
...which explains why the government had been weaponized AGAINST Trump before he even started his 1st term... "He's Putin's Puppet". The "Resistance" at Brookings and Lawfare.
But, hey, I guess the Hugo Bass suits look good, right? Even if they're only a PC veneer this time around. "Power to the People! Black Lives Matter!"
I guess that the Ethics of Kitsch can change! Forms at least...
You really think that Trump ISN'T a reactionary? Where were all these plans ahead of his 1st term?
Not true. Don't bother to run the tRump narrative by me again. It was a lie when tRump pushed it and it remains a lie today. What I witneses with my eyes and my ears for 4 years and on J6 2021 was observable and auditory fact and reality. I do not accept delusional BS as fact. So, you do you. I'll do me. And we shall forever disagree on this issue.
Then you will forever remain an idiot.
Your projections is accurate.
Minus: Its' why the entire world is moving away from the Dollar. Everyone's had it with American bullying and sanctions. Everyone's had it with NED, NDI, and IRI regime change operations enacted through USAID. It's done with the American Empire and emperors like Obama and Biden deciding who can govern in the world.
aka maga should really be mang (make America not great).
Or mrga aka make russia great again. That is what putin's puppet is trying to accomplish.
Minus: ...which explains why the government had been weaponized AGAINST Trump before he even started his 1st term... "He's Putin's Puppet".
And WHY shouldn't facts be weaponized? You are weaponizing lies.
donald trump very clearly working on behalf of Putin to destroy America. As Les said, he has seen it with his own eyes. Your name calling and attempted gaslighting doesn't change the facts at all.
But facts don't matter to you. What matters is that enough people were successfully fooled to put the Orange Turd back in the White House.
Well said Dervish. But the folks with cotton in their ears, blinders over their eyes, and delusions in their mind will neither see nor hear the truth of your commentary.
As the cosplayers present were in evidence.
Nope. Your veil of Gyges has failed and been lifted. The DNC is polling in the toilet. The joke is now on you.
...because there is none.
... because you CHOOSE to deny reality in favor of your ego's desires.
No, its' because I entertain no white guilt-pride jouissance.
The veil of Gyges has descended and is smothering the people with disinformation. It clouds their moron brains and convinces them the lies you like are truths. Why you love it so much and insist it is "free speech" to spread lies nonstop. The cloak of Gyges protects and elevated donald trump. Without it he could never have been "elected" president in the first place.
Aw, poor baby's censorship machine got broken.... too bad! :(
You entertain it constantly. Via many blog posts and comments. It brings you great joy to lie about the imaginary "guilt pride" existing.
Yes, I do enjoy psychoanalyzing fools...
Perhaps that is because you are one?
Most definitely.
I'm also a psychohistorian.
Is that so?
Indeed. I studied under one of the best. :)
MP eh? Military conditioning in the art of destruction of property and human life as well.
I'm sure he was an interesting and knowledgeable person. And I can only imagine the trauma he suffered growing up in Nazi occupied France. Which certainly shaped his world views.
I simply believe life has abundant positive potential when lived with compassion and empathy for all sentient beings. Rather than the reality that we have experienced. Constant conflict, destruction, death. Rinse and repeat ad infinitum. Such as the genocide in Gaza, supported by the US government. Including tRump.
It's good to be nearing 75. Soon I won't be subjected to the idiocy of the rightwing MAGA zealots OR neo-cons.
...and I the imbeciles of the New Left.
Well, looks like we'll both be happy.
BTW, I wonder if Bobby Kennedy would even be embraced by today's left or if Teddy Roosevelt would be embraced by today's MAGAts.
What you wrote reads to me like agreement with what I wrote. You simply gloat that the facts I presented are true. Proving that you hate when your lies are pushed back on. "Social media companies might flag right wing lies! OH NO! It would be bad for us if the population was not deluged with rightwing lies!"
JC,
It would help us understand your bigotry and resentments more if you could show us on the doll where "wokism" hurt you.
Is it worse that being fired without cause from a job of public service?
Is it worse than having food stamps and Medicaid denied for the poor and children?
Share with us your suffering, so we may be converted.
Teddy was a mistake. It should have been La Folette. THAT was the Progressive "wrong turn".
...or alternate facts that don't fit a Democrat's Paranoiac narrative of half-truths.
I prefer social benefits going to citizens, not illegal line-jumpers. I prefer to criticize bad habits and cultural defects, not "affirm" them. I am bigoted in favour of general truths, and resentful of bigots, of both the hard and soft. And I am never a victim, but always the Captain of my own soul.
And I don't want to accumulate zeros for power. I want to break up such accumulations.
Suffering is a good thing. That which does not kill me makes me stronger.
I make zeros like yourself, stronger. You're welcome.
So as you can tell, white or post-colonial guilt-pride formations as collections of zeros to lament their suffering just aren't me "thing". The minorities themselves are proud of surviving it, as they should be. But to revel in another's suffering... is just bad taste IMO.
"But to revel in another's suffering... is just bad taste IMO."
It's called cruelty.
You know, like the glee you feel at brown people locked in filthy swamp cages and deported to concentration camps where they are beaten without due process.
Yes, you sociopaths never feel guilt or show compassion and empathy. Well, unless maybe it's for the oppressed billionaires who don't like paying taxes.
Then it's "Oh, the humanity!"
There is no understanding MAGA bigotry.
Victims, victims EVERYWHERE! But hey, if you empathize with their suffering, you're automatically a good person. Thank god you don't have to get you hands dirty and do anything yourself, you can just throw it on the government's "To Do" list! like a "good" Democrat
I mean... what are those billionaire's taxes for, anyway?
...or "progressive" hypocrisy.
Naw, MAGA has hypocrisy down pat. It's their bible.
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