Cultivating a better citizen does not begin in government. In my view, it begins with the restoration of the family — with conversations at the dinner table, with respect for the wisdom of elders, with parents modeling critical thinking rather than outsourcing it.
It means restoring God — or at least a transcendent moral reference point — into society’s consciousness, so that conscience is anchored in something deeper than trend or tribe.
And it means building an economic system that allows families to function as families again: time together, shared responsibility, stability over perpetual hustle.
None of this is easy. Cultural repair rarely is. But if we want better citizens, we must start where citizens are first formed.
Robert, Best analysis of these three works I have seen, especially in the aggregate. Both thought provoking and depressing, sadly. I fear we are in for more -- one can see trends most every day. Wish the solution set were something more facile. I hope Desmet's "get a few people to 'just say no'" is in the cards because that is the only one that one might have a chance at organizing. Thanks for doing this -- getting philosophical is sometimes good for both writer and reader. R
Another point of view about this topic can be found in the book _Political Ponerology_ by Andrew M. Lobaczewski. When the communists took over Poland, Lobaczewski was part of a group of academics who launched an underground study to build up psychological profiles of all the members of totalitarian parties they could get data on (both communist and Nazi). In contrast to Arendt's thesis, they observed that the people at the heart of these parties were sociopaths, and had selected other people with other specific personality disorders to fulfill particular roles.
While it is true that just about everybody can be unwittingly caught up in mass evil, according to this work that is what empowers unusually exploitative people when they get sufficiently organized. There is a small fraction of the population with abnormal personalities that, when attaining positions of power and authority and working together with each other, can draw the rest of society into a profoundly evil system that leads to totalitarianism.
The lesson Lobaczewski draws from this is that the identification and vetting of such destructive personalities needs to be institutionalized to prevent them from attaining positions where they can reshape their social context to suit their own ambitions.
There is also a "Political Ponerology" substack channel run by Harrison Koehli. Koehli wrote a piece ( https://infrakshun.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/ponerology-101-psychopathy-at-nuremburg.pdf ) summarizing a work that contradicted the "22 Cells" assessment. This was done by Nuremberg prison psychologist Gustav M. Gilbert, who wrote about his own observations in his 1950 book _The Psychology of Dictatorship_.
Dr Malones summation that the three theories of mass human behavior allowing human predation are not incompatible is I think solid. Each can describe facets that join to make for serious promulgation of evil. Add Lobaczewski to that mix because I believe there can be such people that are manipulative (cunning) enough, in a position to or have the resources to attract both true believers, fellow travelers but also weak ethically challenged individuals -- and that is a lot of people.
Such individuals or band of same or clever devotees can rise to a level in locals as a force that achieve hegemony that snowballs perhaps quickly in the right circumstances, because it is easier to go along than resist or their is a self-serving attraction or tribal benefit.
I suppose something in the culture can make such phenomenon more or less likely but I am not aware of one that is immune, well I take that back, a Christian culture could be but just has not been achieved heretofore.
Random thoughts - triggered by Dr. Malone's greatly appreciated insightful posts and so many of the comments posted herein:
If there is no heaven or hell, do your damndest. Regrets - a construct not for serious "leaders". That they "mean well' really means that they have such an overpowering ego (however ignorant and devoid of ethics) that you think you are doing good for mankind . . . the greater good . . . you gotta break some eggs to make an omelet . . .
Neither fellow travelers nor movers and shakers of these movements, cults (initially), whatever, have authentic victims cards to play. There is no personal excuse for their degeneracy. We all have darkness in our hearts but can choose not to act on it and even submerge it, overcome it because also written across our hearts is a path of light.
People have a duty to a rightly formed conscience and all of us to the admonition First Do No Harm.
Marxists /Socialists, Nazis are ruthless about the absurdity of the perfectibility of man. What a farce. Another reason I like Dr Malone's humorous meme presentations.
My brother was a student and writer about the cultural transmission of biomedical ethics and the rhetoric of social movements. He believed this human epoch will be recorded in terms of biology. How we respond to the 'issues" of abortion, euthanasia, infanticide . . . Decades ago he disabused me of the notion that evil could be identified simply by a military uniform or cloaks the perps wore, perhaps a swarthy appearance as in a Hollywood film. The progenitor evil is likely to emanate from people in white coats (only meant as a proxy for any of the "intellectual" influencers).
It was not Goebbels but someone said the intelligentsia was just as easy to propagandize. Most are actually just as susceptible to emotion even if different ones. They crave working theories and whether or not the theory is weak on ethics, is of no consequence because they are as well.
You make some great points. Much of the literature about sociopaths stresses that they often hide their lack of a moral compass behind a facade of normality and charm. To them, ideologies, culture, organizational roles, personal relationships, credentials, etc. are just tools they can use to bend others to their will and move further up social hierarchies. Once they get in a position to make and/or enforce rules and set expectations for a group, things can go horribly wrong for everyone in the group in spite of whatever values the group is overtly supposed to be pursuing.
This writing can be a major contribution to understanding conditions we all face, worthy of wide distribution - at least for those Able to read and take it in. A lead quote to take away is the “curious, quite authentic inability to think”. A puzzler we’ve all faced in people we once felt close to.
Once I tried to help a homeless couple who were struggling to get ahead: they found jobs but couldn't get shelter due to their criminal background. In trying to help them I came to the realization that half the world's population is of below average intelligence by the very definition of the term "average". As someone slightly above average intelligence struggling to survive this very complex world I have a better understanding of Rush Limbaugh's "low information voters". Not only do we have above average intelligence ostriches we have half the population struggling just to exist.
A format in which this information might achieve wider understanding would be a highly condensed synopsis of each contributors view on each major point as outline “bullet points” to simplfy quick comparison. With commentary following separately.
Beyond my editorial capability but as a lifelong user of “Outlook” I can “sense” that it might be useful.
Your essays today offer a deep dive in theories. A question that impacts my reactions is whether at this point we need to consider both macro and a micro points of focus.
One might note we have an effort to establish a totalitarian one world order still in process. The elite, some would identify as the Rothchilds, the Rockefellers, the Bilderbergers and like are promoting their rule to be administered through the UN, the WEF and with the CFR. At least according to one source, Trump clearly understands their game plan and is doing well countering it. Nonetheless, I remain concerned that he needs an understanding and support from we, our citizenry. Our majority need to agree we want to follow the process our Declaration and Constitution have set out.
Then, definitely the question of cultivating a better citizen and a better society. The poisons, intellectual and physical, that our nation has been consuming leave us in, imo, a very compromised state today. The fact our communications continue to be censored confounds needed sharing amongst the general public. The fact seems to be that our public school systems are clearly contaminating students thinking in ways that end up in students accepting and promoting totalitation answers is daunting. We seem to be years behind recognizing and curing the many pathologies.
I think we could cultivate better citizens and a better society. It will take aware, moral activists. Do we have enough of them?
Thanks so much for your analysis,
reflections and diligence in sharing them! May it mobilize many and generate our needed involvement.
Solzhenitsyn wrote, “Gradually it was disclosed to me that the line separating good and evil passes not through states, not between classes, nor between political parties either – but right through every human heart – and through all human hearts.”
Simply put (by Jesus): sin. Sometimes it manifests itself in particularly intense ways, on a personal, national or international level. In Matthew 1:21, the name Jesus is explicitly tied to his purpose: "...you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." Jesus: the only hope for the world.
Nice review of three thinkers whose ideas continue to be relevant. In addition to speaking out, redistributing power so that it is less centralized appears to be a necessary antidote. This is well described in this article I highly comment to all interested in the subject: https://www.alilybit.com/p/a-field-guide-to-the-abuse-of-the
Now we're talking! And yet the individual healing and identification of misunderstood application of thought and emotion requires inner awareness and commitment. At the base of all of this tendency towards hurtful and sometimes irreversible damage is a thorough examination of the workings of the ego. If this was easily scoped, we would be in paradise instead of illness at every turn . It is up to each and every one of us to tackle the subtle and not so subtle personality flaws. There is no one else to do the deep looking and everything is to be gained.
If only All people would begin this process. No perfection needed, just a look inside on a fairly regular basis. A chance to step back, to say, "maybe I don't know Everything", "maybe I'm looking for answers in the wrong places", 'maybe I'm mistaken". "maybe I should listen more".
Christianity is the hope for the future. The "Enlightenment" credited man instead of the Creator, and we have steadily drifted further from God since. The void has been filled with Evil, although few understand how it affects humans. Although the Bible is clear on this issue, few read the entire book and instead cherry-pick verses to support flawed ideas. The spirit of God (Holy Spirit) is the best resistance to totalitarian compliance. With the Holy Spirit, man can discern good from evil, right from wrong and examine his conscience in a truthful way. The Spirit also provides divine gifts, such as understanding, which enables one to know how to fight Evil according to God's will. Humanity is at the climax of a spiritual war to determine our future, and it can only be won with the grace of God.
Totally agree. Since we were created man and woman that partnership (which is now under threat) is divine; since the fall tribal loyalty was required for survival. In order for us to survive this world it's best to choose the tribe Jesus leads!
There is a book called The War Against Humanity by Anonymous Patriot which explains the cause of our inverted world to those struggling to understand. The book compares our current time with the last three thousand years of history through a Biblical lens, enabling one to see how mankind will triumph over the dark, fallen spiritual powers currently subjugating us. This spiritual war will be won with the gifts and teachings of Lord Jesus Christ, not by the "right" politician.
My conclusion: Stock up on canned food, get a generator or solar & buy a shotgun. These people will not allow Trump to leave on an upbeat note, and we've seen they regard us an cannon fodder.
Here's a good read for people to understand the characteristics of humanity that are the structure as well as tools of those who generated COVID and the response, as well as numerous other human atrocities.
Conscience-free opportunists are the true leaders of these atrocities, and 'true believers' 'captured by ideology' are middle managers at various levels.
Removing free speech gets it done and locked down.
Isolating people is the strongest tool for rolling in the tyranny.
The unique feature of WWII era Germany is that people have been able to study the methodology and publish on it.
Excellent synopsis of three important thinkers. The term 'conscience' appears more than once, and in my view is a fundamental key. What is the state of our individual conscience? Is the conscience something we are born with or something that develops? Both. We are born with a conscience but it can be seared to the point of ineffectiveness. Or, it can be nurtured and developed into an integral part of our being; of primary importance. How does one's conscience develop if one does not believe in the existence of God? I don't know, but am guessing that it's not good. For me, wrestling with Scripture is a conscience builder, remembering, that in matters of doctrine, when my finger is pointed at others, there are three pointing back at me.
Thank you so much for doing this Robert! I’ve read Arendt and Desmet but not Kelly. I agree with everyone’s comments too. It’s all true and I lean towards the importance of extended family and community. I am so blessed to have ancestors who were handloom weavers in New Monkland which is now part of Glasgow, Scotland. The extended families all worked together every day except Sundays. They would take turns to take a break and the person on break would read allowed. Sometimes it was the Bible but often classical literature. It was an essential part of their culture to read and think and discuss. Then came the steam loom. It never ceases to amaze me how “schooling” has deprived so many of authentic education; the nurturing of critical thinking skills and the importance of listening to diverse opinions and being okay with disagreement.
On the other hand I do seem to be noticing an increase in the number of sociopaths and narcissists who are incapable of empathy. Perhaps it’s a function of prolonged stress, abuse and isolation but it does make me wonder if it’s the accumulation of toxins in the brain accumulating across the generations.
Many thanks again for this post and to all those who responded. Some great thoughts to take away.
The big problem we face now is the deliberate development and use pf hi-tech to control people: e.g., digital currencies, digital IDs. facial recognition coupled with pervasive use of cameras; 15-minute cities, online censorship tools and laws; etc., for the most part developed in the West by regimes which support the aims of global elites but are cleverly fronted by socialist leaders who at least temporarily share the principal goal of global forces to submerge democratic nation-states. We could have totalitarian regimes without sociopathic leaders and without gulags unless the people of western democracies value their freedoms sufficiently to realize when their freedoms are being removed under false pretexts.
What we are moving toward in the West is a distorted mirror image of China where the means of production and distribution are operated in a mixed economy ultimately completely controlled by the CCP; whereas in the West the global forces also aim for complete control in a mixed economy via direct ownership and via control of national governments.
Right now there is only one major force in the world standing against a tide of totalitarianism and that is the MAGA/MAHA movement headed by Trump, Vance & Kennedy which has stood up for free speech and individual rights around the world, something that years ago I never thought I would say as someone on the Left side of politics.
I read and gave away at least two hardcover copies of Desmet’s excellent analysis after watching his interview with Tucker Carson. Probably not surprising that it ruffled a few feathers worldwide.
Best in depth study imho of how any society can be duped and high intelligence might even make you easier to deceive!! Edit: Thanks for the analysis Dr Malone. A friend suggested I read Hannahs book awhile ago. Haven’t got around to it yet. 😊
Cultivating a better citizen does not begin in government. In my view, it begins with the restoration of the family — with conversations at the dinner table, with respect for the wisdom of elders, with parents modeling critical thinking rather than outsourcing it.
It means restoring God — or at least a transcendent moral reference point — into society’s consciousness, so that conscience is anchored in something deeper than trend or tribe.
And it means building an economic system that allows families to function as families again: time together, shared responsibility, stability over perpetual hustle.
None of this is easy. Cultural repair rarely is. But if we want better citizens, we must start where citizens are first formed.
Robert, Best analysis of these three works I have seen, especially in the aggregate. Both thought provoking and depressing, sadly. I fear we are in for more -- one can see trends most every day. Wish the solution set were something more facile. I hope Desmet's "get a few people to 'just say no'" is in the cards because that is the only one that one might have a chance at organizing. Thanks for doing this -- getting philosophical is sometimes good for both writer and reader. R
Another point of view about this topic can be found in the book _Political Ponerology_ by Andrew M. Lobaczewski. When the communists took over Poland, Lobaczewski was part of a group of academics who launched an underground study to build up psychological profiles of all the members of totalitarian parties they could get data on (both communist and Nazi). In contrast to Arendt's thesis, they observed that the people at the heart of these parties were sociopaths, and had selected other people with other specific personality disorders to fulfill particular roles.
While it is true that just about everybody can be unwittingly caught up in mass evil, according to this work that is what empowers unusually exploitative people when they get sufficiently organized. There is a small fraction of the population with abnormal personalities that, when attaining positions of power and authority and working together with each other, can draw the rest of society into a profoundly evil system that leads to totalitarianism.
The lesson Lobaczewski draws from this is that the identification and vetting of such destructive personalities needs to be institutionalized to prevent them from attaining positions where they can reshape their social context to suit their own ambitions.
Yes, familiar, have the book
There is also a "Political Ponerology" substack channel run by Harrison Koehli. Koehli wrote a piece ( https://infrakshun.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/ponerology-101-psychopathy-at-nuremburg.pdf ) summarizing a work that contradicted the "22 Cells" assessment. This was done by Nuremberg prison psychologist Gustav M. Gilbert, who wrote about his own observations in his 1950 book _The Psychology of Dictatorship_.
Dr Malones summation that the three theories of mass human behavior allowing human predation are not incompatible is I think solid. Each can describe facets that join to make for serious promulgation of evil. Add Lobaczewski to that mix because I believe there can be such people that are manipulative (cunning) enough, in a position to or have the resources to attract both true believers, fellow travelers but also weak ethically challenged individuals -- and that is a lot of people.
Such individuals or band of same or clever devotees can rise to a level in locals as a force that achieve hegemony that snowballs perhaps quickly in the right circumstances, because it is easier to go along than resist or their is a self-serving attraction or tribal benefit.
I suppose something in the culture can make such phenomenon more or less likely but I am not aware of one that is immune, well I take that back, a Christian culture could be but just has not been achieved heretofore.
Random thoughts - triggered by Dr. Malone's greatly appreciated insightful posts and so many of the comments posted herein:
If there is no heaven or hell, do your damndest. Regrets - a construct not for serious "leaders". That they "mean well' really means that they have such an overpowering ego (however ignorant and devoid of ethics) that you think you are doing good for mankind . . . the greater good . . . you gotta break some eggs to make an omelet . . .
Neither fellow travelers nor movers and shakers of these movements, cults (initially), whatever, have authentic victims cards to play. There is no personal excuse for their degeneracy. We all have darkness in our hearts but can choose not to act on it and even submerge it, overcome it because also written across our hearts is a path of light.
People have a duty to a rightly formed conscience and all of us to the admonition First Do No Harm.
Marxists /Socialists, Nazis are ruthless about the absurdity of the perfectibility of man. What a farce. Another reason I like Dr Malone's humorous meme presentations.
My brother was a student and writer about the cultural transmission of biomedical ethics and the rhetoric of social movements. He believed this human epoch will be recorded in terms of biology. How we respond to the 'issues" of abortion, euthanasia, infanticide . . . Decades ago he disabused me of the notion that evil could be identified simply by a military uniform or cloaks the perps wore, perhaps a swarthy appearance as in a Hollywood film. The progenitor evil is likely to emanate from people in white coats (only meant as a proxy for any of the "intellectual" influencers).
It was not Goebbels but someone said the intelligentsia was just as easy to propagandize. Most are actually just as susceptible to emotion even if different ones. They crave working theories and whether or not the theory is weak on ethics, is of no consequence because they are as well.
You make some great points. Much of the literature about sociopaths stresses that they often hide their lack of a moral compass behind a facade of normality and charm. To them, ideologies, culture, organizational roles, personal relationships, credentials, etc. are just tools they can use to bend others to their will and move further up social hierarchies. Once they get in a position to make and/or enforce rules and set expectations for a group, things can go horribly wrong for everyone in the group in spite of whatever values the group is overtly supposed to be pursuing.
Very thoughtful.
I agree this work is important, and I follow that Substack.
This writing can be a major contribution to understanding conditions we all face, worthy of wide distribution - at least for those Able to read and take it in. A lead quote to take away is the “curious, quite authentic inability to think”. A puzzler we’ve all faced in people we once felt close to.
Once I tried to help a homeless couple who were struggling to get ahead: they found jobs but couldn't get shelter due to their criminal background. In trying to help them I came to the realization that half the world's population is of below average intelligence by the very definition of the term "average". As someone slightly above average intelligence struggling to survive this very complex world I have a better understanding of Rush Limbaugh's "low information voters". Not only do we have above average intelligence ostriches we have half the population struggling just to exist.
I was thinking of the hopelessly MSM brainwashed but you have a point too.
I should have said “Power Point” 😳
A format in which this information might achieve wider understanding would be a highly condensed synopsis of each contributors view on each major point as outline “bullet points” to simplfy quick comparison. With commentary following separately.
Beyond my editorial capability but as a lifelong user of “Outlook” I can “sense” that it might be useful.
Your essays today offer a deep dive in theories. A question that impacts my reactions is whether at this point we need to consider both macro and a micro points of focus.
One might note we have an effort to establish a totalitarian one world order still in process. The elite, some would identify as the Rothchilds, the Rockefellers, the Bilderbergers and like are promoting their rule to be administered through the UN, the WEF and with the CFR. At least according to one source, Trump clearly understands their game plan and is doing well countering it. Nonetheless, I remain concerned that he needs an understanding and support from we, our citizenry. Our majority need to agree we want to follow the process our Declaration and Constitution have set out.
Then, definitely the question of cultivating a better citizen and a better society. The poisons, intellectual and physical, that our nation has been consuming leave us in, imo, a very compromised state today. The fact our communications continue to be censored confounds needed sharing amongst the general public. The fact seems to be that our public school systems are clearly contaminating students thinking in ways that end up in students accepting and promoting totalitation answers is daunting. We seem to be years behind recognizing and curing the many pathologies.
I think we could cultivate better citizens and a better society. It will take aware, moral activists. Do we have enough of them?
Thanks so much for your analysis,
reflections and diligence in sharing them! May it mobilize many and generate our needed involvement.
Solzhenitsyn wrote, “Gradually it was disclosed to me that the line separating good and evil passes not through states, not between classes, nor between political parties either – but right through every human heart – and through all human hearts.”
Simply put (by Jesus): sin. Sometimes it manifests itself in particularly intense ways, on a personal, national or international level. In Matthew 1:21, the name Jesus is explicitly tied to his purpose: "...you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." Jesus: the only hope for the world.
Indeed! Solzhenitsyn nailed it, as he did at Harvard in 1978:
https://www.solzhenitsyncenter.org/a-world-split-apart
Nice review of three thinkers whose ideas continue to be relevant. In addition to speaking out, redistributing power so that it is less centralized appears to be a necessary antidote. This is well described in this article I highly comment to all interested in the subject: https://www.alilybit.com/p/a-field-guide-to-the-abuse-of-the
Now we're talking! And yet the individual healing and identification of misunderstood application of thought and emotion requires inner awareness and commitment. At the base of all of this tendency towards hurtful and sometimes irreversible damage is a thorough examination of the workings of the ego. If this was easily scoped, we would be in paradise instead of illness at every turn . It is up to each and every one of us to tackle the subtle and not so subtle personality flaws. There is no one else to do the deep looking and everything is to be gained.
Yes, D D.
If only All people would begin this process. No perfection needed, just a look inside on a fairly regular basis. A chance to step back, to say, "maybe I don't know Everything", "maybe I'm looking for answers in the wrong places", 'maybe I'm mistaken". "maybe I should listen more".
Christianity is the hope for the future. The "Enlightenment" credited man instead of the Creator, and we have steadily drifted further from God since. The void has been filled with Evil, although few understand how it affects humans. Although the Bible is clear on this issue, few read the entire book and instead cherry-pick verses to support flawed ideas. The spirit of God (Holy Spirit) is the best resistance to totalitarian compliance. With the Holy Spirit, man can discern good from evil, right from wrong and examine his conscience in a truthful way. The Spirit also provides divine gifts, such as understanding, which enables one to know how to fight Evil according to God's will. Humanity is at the climax of a spiritual war to determine our future, and it can only be won with the grace of God.
Totally agree. Since we were created man and woman that partnership (which is now under threat) is divine; since the fall tribal loyalty was required for survival. In order for us to survive this world it's best to choose the tribe Jesus leads!
There is a book called The War Against Humanity by Anonymous Patriot which explains the cause of our inverted world to those struggling to understand. The book compares our current time with the last three thousand years of history through a Biblical lens, enabling one to see how mankind will triumph over the dark, fallen spiritual powers currently subjugating us. This spiritual war will be won with the gifts and teachings of Lord Jesus Christ, not by the "right" politician.
My conclusion: Stock up on canned food, get a generator or solar & buy a shotgun. These people will not allow Trump to leave on an upbeat note, and we've seen they regard us an cannon fodder.
Here's a good read for people to understand the characteristics of humanity that are the structure as well as tools of those who generated COVID and the response, as well as numerous other human atrocities.
Conscience-free opportunists are the true leaders of these atrocities, and 'true believers' 'captured by ideology' are middle managers at various levels.
Removing free speech gets it done and locked down.
Isolating people is the strongest tool for rolling in the tyranny.
The unique feature of WWII era Germany is that people have been able to study the methodology and publish on it.
The evil is not at all unique.
Excellent synopsis of three important thinkers. The term 'conscience' appears more than once, and in my view is a fundamental key. What is the state of our individual conscience? Is the conscience something we are born with or something that develops? Both. We are born with a conscience but it can be seared to the point of ineffectiveness. Or, it can be nurtured and developed into an integral part of our being; of primary importance. How does one's conscience develop if one does not believe in the existence of God? I don't know, but am guessing that it's not good. For me, wrestling with Scripture is a conscience builder, remembering, that in matters of doctrine, when my finger is pointed at others, there are three pointing back at me.
Thank you so much for doing this Robert! I’ve read Arendt and Desmet but not Kelly. I agree with everyone’s comments too. It’s all true and I lean towards the importance of extended family and community. I am so blessed to have ancestors who were handloom weavers in New Monkland which is now part of Glasgow, Scotland. The extended families all worked together every day except Sundays. They would take turns to take a break and the person on break would read allowed. Sometimes it was the Bible but often classical literature. It was an essential part of their culture to read and think and discuss. Then came the steam loom. It never ceases to amaze me how “schooling” has deprived so many of authentic education; the nurturing of critical thinking skills and the importance of listening to diverse opinions and being okay with disagreement.
On the other hand I do seem to be noticing an increase in the number of sociopaths and narcissists who are incapable of empathy. Perhaps it’s a function of prolonged stress, abuse and isolation but it does make me wonder if it’s the accumulation of toxins in the brain accumulating across the generations.
Many thanks again for this post and to all those who responded. Some great thoughts to take away.
The big problem we face now is the deliberate development and use pf hi-tech to control people: e.g., digital currencies, digital IDs. facial recognition coupled with pervasive use of cameras; 15-minute cities, online censorship tools and laws; etc., for the most part developed in the West by regimes which support the aims of global elites but are cleverly fronted by socialist leaders who at least temporarily share the principal goal of global forces to submerge democratic nation-states. We could have totalitarian regimes without sociopathic leaders and without gulags unless the people of western democracies value their freedoms sufficiently to realize when their freedoms are being removed under false pretexts.
What we are moving toward in the West is a distorted mirror image of China where the means of production and distribution are operated in a mixed economy ultimately completely controlled by the CCP; whereas in the West the global forces also aim for complete control in a mixed economy via direct ownership and via control of national governments.
Right now there is only one major force in the world standing against a tide of totalitarianism and that is the MAGA/MAHA movement headed by Trump, Vance & Kennedy which has stood up for free speech and individual rights around the world, something that years ago I never thought I would say as someone on the Left side of politics.
We have a concurrent case study available to us now with the emergent totalitarian leftist mafia which has captured Virginia.
I read and gave away at least two hardcover copies of Desmet’s excellent analysis after watching his interview with Tucker Carson. Probably not surprising that it ruffled a few feathers worldwide.
Best in depth study imho of how any society can be duped and high intelligence might even make you easier to deceive!! Edit: Thanks for the analysis Dr Malone. A friend suggested I read Hannahs book awhile ago. Haven’t got around to it yet. 😊
Books, plural