Our society is based on equality. Whether you are rich, poor, male, female, black or white: everyone has a vote.
But this promise of ideal equality is in ever-stark contrast to the socio-economic inequality that people actually see and feel.
It undermines the democratic promise and threatens our form of society with moral and ideological bankruptcy.
The rapid march of right-wing populist movements in Europe and North America is a bad sign in this regard.
Finally, a vote for a populist is a rejection of the current political-economic system, which no longer has an answer to essential problems that affect or experience people.
The emergence of new populist-nationalist parties around the world has several causes, one of which is the economy.
Growing inequality and economic insecurity foster an atmosphere in which people lose faith in politics and in their fellow human beings.
It makes us susceptible to all kinds of enemy images. Compare the election manifestos of the major right-wing populist movements
in Europe and the United States, and you'll find mostly wild accusations against migrants, the European Union, alleged left-wing elites and Muslims and Jews.
In short, populists point to scapegoats. But there is hardly anything in their party programs
that indicates a thoughtful analysis and vision to face the real socio-economic problems that undermine our society.
The previous party program of the Dutch right-wing populist party, the PVV, consisted of one A4.
Right-wing populists have also gained a firm foothold in my own country, the Netherlands.
Mr. Wilders and Mr. Baudet form a power block to be reckoned with, currently good for 25 seats (17% of the votes).
And just like their foreign examples, they attribute the problems of the Dutch middle class to a monster alliance of migrants,
European treaties, alleged left-wing elites, scientists, journalists and anyone else who criticizes their thinking.
As in the United States and the United Kingdom, the populists here are particularly successful in keeping the debate away from their economic agendas.
They would much rather talk about cultural issues, and about who would have wronged us.
This tactic is catching on. The latter percentage of right-wing voters is important.
Historians and social scientists have long been concerned with the question: How many people are needed for a revolution?
Science magazine published a study by Professor Damon Centola of the University of Pennsylvania in 2018.
Centola showed that a 25 percent minority group is able to overturn a debate, hijack a discourse, and even take over a system,
but this study refutes the notion that it requires 50% plus one.
Is that what Trump has hoped for with his attack on the Capitol. Did his staff know about Centola's findings?
The question is how close our society is to the point where rash populists can do irreparable damage to our democracy.
Perhaps the best example is the past four years in the US under Trump, who was not afraid to openly tinker with the pillars of our democracy, such as a free press and trustworthy elections.
The corona crisis has made visible more than once why it is so important for right-wing populist presidents such as Trump or Bolsonaro in Brazil
to destroy the credibility of the pillars under democracy, such as the press and science, one by one.
They don't have, nor had a valid story to solve the real problems people are struggling with.
Does this describe the contours of our future and that of our children and grandchildren, or am I too gloomy? We will see that in the last lecture of this project on Tuesday.
Thank you for your attention again.....
The Discussion
[13:20] herman Bergson: And let me add something of how the right wing media operate...
[13:20] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): lie and convince
[13:20] herman Bergson: While all news channels report about the Relief Bill of Biden and what it means for citizens
[13:21] CB Axel: This morning I listened to a podcast I've mentioned here before, The Hidden Brain. The host interviewed Damon Centola.
[13:21] CB Axel: It was fascinating.
[13:21] CB Axel: https://hiddenbrain.org/podcast/the-snowball-effect/
[13:21] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): oh someone else mentioned him today
[13:21] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): somewhere
[13:21] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): okk
[13:21] herman Bergson: is Fox News making a huge fuzz about a toy, Mr. Potato Head, Looney Tunes, children's book author Dr. Suess......just divert the attention from the social-economic and pandemic situation
[13:22] CB Axel: Yes. Herman did. just now! LOL
[13:22] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): oh
[13:22] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!
[13:22] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...
[13:22] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): i wil check it out
[13:22] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): eee ok
[13:22] CB Axel: Right. I made that point on Facebook today, Herman.
[13:22] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): that is true Herman
[13:22] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well
[13:22] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): i check in to see what they are talking about
[13:22] CB Axel: If you can't listen to the show, try using a VPN to log in from a US server.
[13:22] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): uggg
[13:22] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ok
[13:23] herman Bergson: This situation a just clear proof of how the right wing operates...
[13:23] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yep
[13:23] Dien (djdien.bailey) is offline.
[13:23] herman Bergson: Where is the Rep alternative for the dem's Relief Bill....where is the debate
[13:24] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): wil attack the biden program till it is proven to have succeeded
[13:24] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): they just want to turn us into hateful xenophobes, that is their goal
[13:24] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): like Hitler did
[13:24] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): more or less
[13:24] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): oh well .. half of what they voted for last December
[13:24] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): they as u said have no real party program
[13:24] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): nothing about solving the real problem
[13:24] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): just spreading hate
[13:24] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): but of course object to money going to failed democratic cities
[13:24] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): or states
[13:25] CB Axel: There's one Republican senator who got one provision added to the covid relief bill and is now bragging about how great the bill is.
[13:25] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ys
[13:25] CB Axel: He voted against it!
[13:25] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yep
[13:25] herman Bergson: idiots :-)
[13:25] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): sigh
[13:25] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): eeeh ok
[13:25] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): sounds weird for sure
[13:25] herman Bergson: The party program of the Reps seems to consist of only one sentence.....
[13:26] herman Bergson: Vote against everything the Democrats propose
[13:26] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): Arbeit mach frei?
[13:26] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): i they were taken piece by piece lots would have been left out
[13:26] CB Axel: They did that when Obama was president.
[13:26] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yep
[13:26] CB Axel: I guess it's nice to know that it wasn't just because Obama is Black. :)
[13:26] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): so all they have as goal is to take down democrats, and then?
[13:26] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ha
[13:27] herman Bergson: Maybe CB :-)
[13:27] CB Axel: It wasn't racist. It was just evil. :)
[13:27] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): and get the house and senate back
[13:27] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): in 22
[13:27] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): its no good politics for sure
[13:27] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): that they drive
[13:27] Lente (lentelies.anatine) is offline.
[13:27] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): dangerous politics
[13:27] CB Axel: It's great politics, Bejiita. It just isn't statesmanship.
[13:27] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): those righters
[13:28] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): i am happy to see tht the head of the fed reserve is for it
[13:28] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): all
[13:28] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): economically
[13:28] CB Axel nods
[13:28] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but isnt politics about just that managing the state and society?
[13:28] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): and other groups
[13:28] herman Bergson: But if they happen to get the house and senate back.....what then???
[13:28] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but i guess they just want power
[13:28] herman Bergson: They have no program....
[13:28] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): all will change
[13:28] CB Axel: It should be, Bejiita.
[13:28] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): as usual
[13:28] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): nothing will pass
[13:28] herman Bergson: What they had was trump......an international disaster
[13:29] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): we clearly saw that with trump he only wanted to ggain himself and used the entire us population for it
[13:29] CB Axel: They will pass bills enabling the rich to get richer and the poor to die.
[13:29] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): lots have moved their party to independent
[13:29] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): true cb
[13:29] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): :(
[13:29] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): since Jan 5
[13:29] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): awful
[13:29] CB Axel: They will pass bills restricting voting (they're already doing that in Republican states).
[13:29] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): 6
[13:29] herman Bergson: That would lead to a huge reduction of the American population
[13:29] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ope the borders!!!!
[13:30] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): we lost 550000+
[13:30] herman Bergson: to begin with.....
[13:30] herman Bergson: more than 220 voting suppression bills in 43 states already!
[13:30] CB Axel: Plagues are supposed to wipe out large swaths of the population.
[13:30] CB Axel: Especially the poor.
[13:31] herman Bergson: Well...that's ok...those are the losers anyway....we want only winners
[13:31] herman Bergson: So much for American exceptionalism.....
[13:32] CB Axel: The black plague, as I have heard, killed off so many of the working poor that those who survived had better lives afterward.
[13:32] herman Bergson: It has come to an end....
[13:32] CB Axel: The rich discovered that those working poor were needed to grow their crops, build their homes, make their clothes, etc.
[13:32] herman Bergson: I guess some politicians see that as a positive thing, CB
[13:33] Anuska (anuska.loon) is offline.
[13:33] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): sigh
[13:33] herman Bergson: But this is also the big difference with Europe
[13:34] CB Axel: Maybe those who survive Covid will find themselves respected more.
[13:34] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): I am still concerned about the presence of those populists all over the world
[13:34] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): wil it turn?
[13:34] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): I hope so
[13:34] CB Axel: Maybe we can gather all the populists together and give them their own country.
[13:34] herman Bergson: if there will be a turn, it will come from Europe
[13:34] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): out in space
[13:34] CB Axel: We can call it White-istan.
[13:34] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): haha yes
[13:35] herman Bergson: Not a bad idea CB
[13:35] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): they would eat each other
[13:35] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): i guess
[13:35] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): no taxes
[13:35] CB Axel: That's why I keep hoping Texas secedes.
[13:35] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ll
[13:35] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): it wont
[13:36] herman Bergson: That would be something CB
[13:36] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): maybe Mexico wil take it back
[13:36] CB Axel: I doubt they want it.
[13:36] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): I love parts of Texas tho
[13:36] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): except the people Gemma?
[13:36] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): some
[13:36] herman Bergson: The dessert parts I suppose :-)
[13:36] CB Axel: I have a few friends in Texas. I'd miss them.
[13:36] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): some aare not republicans
[13:37] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): i loe down along the border
[13:37] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): love it
[13:37] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): and san antonio
[13:37] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): and the shore line of the gulf
[13:37] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): all wonderful
[13:38] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): have ridden on the border itself
[13:38] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): in a boat
[13:38] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ok
[13:38] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:38] CB Axel: Don't get too attached to the gulf coast. It'll be underwater permanently soon.
[13:38] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): sas places where the people walk across and leave wet clothes
[13:38] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): saw that
[13:38] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!
[13:38] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...
[13:38] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): deep in the national parks
[13:39] herman Bergson: Well.......
[13:39] CB Axel: We need a plague that only kills rich people. :)
[13:39] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ohoh
[13:39] herman Bergson: NExt Tuesday I hope to come up with a more positive outlook....
[13:39] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): *:-.,_,.-:*'``'*Yayyyyyyy!!!!*:-.,_,.-:*'``'*
[13:39] CB Axel: :)
[13:39] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): wil try very hard to make it
[13:39] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hehe
[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ok im off to my lab
[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): MUAHAHAH
[13:40] herman Bergson: And I want to start a totally different new project...away from these politics....
[13:40] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): this morning i taught someone how to play golf .. an sl kid
[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aaa ok
[13:40] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): landed at the course by mistake
[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:40] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): he asked me how to play
[13:40] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!
[13:40] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...
[13:40] bergfrau Apfelbaum: yey!! Gemma@ Golf
[13:40] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): so
[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): nice
[13:41] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): at least Evert was not there blowing around?
[13:41] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): was fun to review all the steps
[13:41] CB Axel: Good luck, Herman. I'll make a bet with you that whatever subject you start with we'll manage to turn it into politics. LOL
[13:41] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): Evert is here now, shaking the trees outside and dumping a ton of snow
[13:41] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): shhhh cb dont warn him
[13:41] herman Bergson laughs
[13:41] bergfrau Apfelbaum: what will the new project be??
[13:41] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:41] herman Bergson: We'll see CB :-)
[13:41] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): lool
[13:42] Guestboook van tipjar stand: CB Axel donated L$100. Thank you very much, it is much appreciated!
[13:42] herman Bergson: I have to think it over this weekend, Bergie....
[13:42] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): remember to check the sl time if you are going to the opera
[13:42] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): we jump
[13:42] herman Bergson: I have a plan, but I have to do some research
[13:42] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): 1 hour ahead
[13:42] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): and so does sl
[13:42] bergfrau Apfelbaum: ok:-)
[13:42] CB Axel: You have an election in the Netherlands on Saturday, don't you?
[13:43] herman Bergson: Is there a time change Gemma?
[13:43] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): if you miss there will be other performances
[13:43] CB Axel: I'll be interested in hearing how that turns out.
[13:43] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yes!!!!!!!
[13:43] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): Sunday am
[13:43] herman Bergson: After this weekend, CB
[13:43] herman Bergson: Ah...US two weeks earlier than us here in Europe?
[13:43] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): right a mess!!!!!!!!!
[13:44] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): chaos in sl
[13:44] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): yep!
[13:44] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): 2 weeks
[13:44] herman Bergson: Well....we have survived it all these years....:-)
[13:44] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): we have so
[13:44] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): i guess well make it now also
[13:44] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): i recall times
[13:44] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!
[13:44] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...
[13:44] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ok
[13:44] herman Bergson: True, Gemma :-))
[13:45] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): see you Sunday maybe
[13:45] herman Bergson: Ok...Class dismissed....
[13:45] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ♥ Thank Youuuuuuuuuu!! ♥
No comments:
Post a Comment