It is my conviction that Americans' sense of entitlement and that superiority myth that you mentioned, Walter, makes them susceptible to the grievance politics that the right has used so well.
Those types want everything good, they want quality and easy availability, they want it cheap and they don't wanna pay taxes. WTF? And if they are unable to access these, they are ripe for the blame game. "It must be those lazy people of color," never mind that more recipients of government subsidy are white, and "it must be those damn immigrants taking 'Murican jobs," which we know is a fallacy. "It must be those fucking libtards, or the woke, or the trans" or whomever they are guided to blame. So they vote conservative, while the conservatives gleefully fleece them with regressive tax policies, tariffs, relentless cutting of social spending that these idiots benefit from without realizing it, and reverse Robin Hood our populace, taking from the middle and lower classes while giving tax breaks to the very top. This is the biggest political bamboozle in American history. And it goes on relentlessly.
Reagan explicitly vilified government, saying that it is the problem, not the solution, in order to promote his universal love of deregulation, of course to the benefit of the rich and the corporations. He succeeded in planting the anti-government attitude that has made right wing grievance-mongering work so well in general, even among those who receive much government assistance. Cognitive dissonance doesn't even describe what this is. This is being absolutely and completely manipulated.
"The supremacy mindset is the idea that some groups of people are inherently superior to others, and therefore deserve all the benefits a society has to offer."
In that sense, though, it's not just an American thing. In Canada, we just had an election where one of the parties was led by a delusional madman who tried to copy Trump's philosophy to get where he wanted to be. (Fortunately, his party lost, and he even lost his own Parliamentary seat, so it's clear, with the exception of certain mostly rural pocket universes, that Canada doesn't fall for that kind of extremist right-wing jive).
The main link tying them all together is the belief that people of Anglo-Saxon descent should be “running the joint”. It’s adaptable to many circumstances; judging by the governments of Hungary, Italy and the Netherlands it adapted well to local circumstances, but in Canada the shoe only fits occasionally at the provincial and local level.
I believe we may want to consider the scientific community or the engineering community as possible examples where the imposter syndrome is minimized.
The commitment to integrity and adherence to the scientific method and engineering principles in everything scientists and engineers do everyday does eliminate much of the hierarchy. It is the basic tenet in science and engineering to always move knowledge forward. Bullying and the supremacy of dogma never wins. Even the scientists and engineers held in the highest esteem are questioned routinely and welcome that questioning.
Just saying, it might be worth a look. Happy to talk about it if you would like.
That's true! If you don't know what you're talking about in the science community, you will be exposed. That's a good model to follow in the rest of our society.
Yep, that is a fact, my friend. I am still waiting for the day when scientists are routinely interviewed on news programs and other media about their thoughts on our society, culture and the state of world affairs. And NOT to occasionally come on to speak about climate change or the last rocket launch.
Think about it, can you name one time a scientist was on a panel that routinely contains politicians, religious leaders, business executives, or self-serving talking heads? No? Then “Houston, we have a problem,”
Thank you for writing and sharing this! I need to read it and then probably read it again in a few weeks. I’ve come so far developing my first book and then mysteriously stalled out—I think I’m afraid to finish.
That happens to me all the time, it's from overthinking. Just write the chapters even if they don't feel "right." Producing something that isn't right helps you get a better perspective on what is right. Also, the stuff you discard might be stuff you can use somewhere else later. It's all good!
Thanks, Walter! I’m grading final essays today and tomorrow and then getting back to that book. Just write the chapters—an ingenious mantra I need to stick with.
It is my conviction that Americans' sense of entitlement and that superiority myth that you mentioned, Walter, makes them susceptible to the grievance politics that the right has used so well.
Those types want everything good, they want quality and easy availability, they want it cheap and they don't wanna pay taxes. WTF? And if they are unable to access these, they are ripe for the blame game. "It must be those lazy people of color," never mind that more recipients of government subsidy are white, and "it must be those damn immigrants taking 'Murican jobs," which we know is a fallacy. "It must be those fucking libtards, or the woke, or the trans" or whomever they are guided to blame. So they vote conservative, while the conservatives gleefully fleece them with regressive tax policies, tariffs, relentless cutting of social spending that these idiots benefit from without realizing it, and reverse Robin Hood our populace, taking from the middle and lower classes while giving tax breaks to the very top. This is the biggest political bamboozle in American history. And it goes on relentlessly.
I think that's a very insightful perspective. We have to call it out more!
Reagan explicitly vilified government, saying that it is the problem, not the solution, in order to promote his universal love of deregulation, of course to the benefit of the rich and the corporations. He succeeded in planting the anti-government attitude that has made right wing grievance-mongering work so well in general, even among those who receive much government assistance. Cognitive dissonance doesn't even describe what this is. This is being absolutely and completely manipulated.
"The supremacy mindset is the idea that some groups of people are inherently superior to others, and therefore deserve all the benefits a society has to offer."
In that sense, though, it's not just an American thing. In Canada, we just had an election where one of the parties was led by a delusional madman who tried to copy Trump's philosophy to get where he wanted to be. (Fortunately, his party lost, and he even lost his own Parliamentary seat, so it's clear, with the exception of certain mostly rural pocket universes, that Canada doesn't fall for that kind of extremist right-wing jive).
Unfortunately, it's a mindset that has infected the world. Part of the problem is that there's no organized response to end it.
The main link tying them all together is the belief that people of Anglo-Saxon descent should be “running the joint”. It’s adaptable to many circumstances; judging by the governments of Hungary, Italy and the Netherlands it adapted well to local circumstances, but in Canada the shoe only fits occasionally at the provincial and local level.
Good writing and sharing Walter.
Thank you Paul!
AGREE
I believe we may want to consider the scientific community or the engineering community as possible examples where the imposter syndrome is minimized.
The commitment to integrity and adherence to the scientific method and engineering principles in everything scientists and engineers do everyday does eliminate much of the hierarchy. It is the basic tenet in science and engineering to always move knowledge forward. Bullying and the supremacy of dogma never wins. Even the scientists and engineers held in the highest esteem are questioned routinely and welcome that questioning.
Just saying, it might be worth a look. Happy to talk about it if you would like.
That's true! If you don't know what you're talking about in the science community, you will be exposed. That's a good model to follow in the rest of our society.
Yep, that is a fact, my friend. I am still waiting for the day when scientists are routinely interviewed on news programs and other media about their thoughts on our society, culture and the state of world affairs. And NOT to occasionally come on to speak about climate change or the last rocket launch.
Think about it, can you name one time a scientist was on a panel that routinely contains politicians, religious leaders, business executives, or self-serving talking heads? No? Then “Houston, we have a problem,”
Fantastic piece! Thank you!
Very sad to have today all these things and we can not just be NICE to everyone and help people rise up and succeed in life instead of all the hate.
Thank you for writing and sharing this! I need to read it and then probably read it again in a few weeks. I’ve come so far developing my first book and then mysteriously stalled out—I think I’m afraid to finish.
That happens to me all the time, it's from overthinking. Just write the chapters even if they don't feel "right." Producing something that isn't right helps you get a better perspective on what is right. Also, the stuff you discard might be stuff you can use somewhere else later. It's all good!
Thanks, Walter! I’m grading final essays today and tomorrow and then getting back to that book. Just write the chapters—an ingenious mantra I need to stick with.