When I go online at conservative blogsites to comment on articles, I frequently pan article writers and comment makers with similar thoughts to yours in my mind. I spend years teaching adolescents in high school in central city schools and dragging the best out of them--above the averages the counselors tell me despite themselves--at a price. My story is one of developing, teaching and evaluating underachieving students at secondary school and college levels and sending inordinate numbers to suitable colleges--above the averages. So I'm familiar with pre-adult behavior to the max.
On the blogs I find many writers unable to find the spell-checker facility; they often don't have the facts from simple googling; and the grammar/ punctuation is clearly junior high level. It's not just that I was a colleague of the former reknown Grammar Professor Richard Mitchell at Rowen College (NJ). I've been hired to write and edit technical articles for a lifetime of experience. My stuff has gone out to university, international and local educators without reproof and with kudos. So I know adolescent writing intimately.
Now there's a tactic of writers to aim at their reading audiences, so maybe misspellings and poor grammar serve a purpose on the far right. I don't think it's intentional. Estimates put American reading levels at the 7th and 8th grades. But published writings should have the facts, show logical development of subjects and make valid conclusions. They typically don't.
I also remember from early teen and pre-teen years the many intrigues of boys and girls trying to act mature and grown. The plotting of girls to 'capture' a favored boy on the playground. Arranging transport to the local school sock hop for social mingling beyond one's neighborhood. The scheming to be elected class president. The affinity groups formed on the run or fast walk during class passing free time. The forming of gender pairs of best friends and acceptable companions. Peer groups are paramount.
So to Nic's point, the current status of right and far right political groups, the behavior of their prominent figures and spokespersons, the intrigues and conspiracies formulated and spread, the search for personal freedom and independence of conventional norms, the in-your-face rebellion, the disdain and ignoring of common wisdom and accepted facts, all reflect a below average intellect, poor social and political understanding, disdain for American lore and history, and other oh-so-obvious immaturity signs.
But their leadership is not the same. There we have articulate, educated practitioners of politics and rebellion, religion and social media, lying and misdirecting and worse. A few charlatans claiming the mantles of freedom, religiosity, social well-being, self-righteousness, cruel victimhood, valid storytelling, with access to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, We Chat, etc. social media take advantage--and they are of the Hitler, Stalin, Kim, MBS, Matumbo, Amin, Tojo, Pol Pot ilk. They lead their low education, immature, isolated, asocial followers farther astray.
So what do the masses want? 'Freedom' judging by the buzzword of one Southern governor addressing his rodeo audience. 'Small government' judging by the absence of Republican votes for nearly all legislation expanding services demanded by vast majorities of polled Americans. 'Entertainment' looking at mass broadcast and targeted media on the right and seeing the popular figures there, like Hannity, Carlson, Ingraham, Trump who stir those millions of citizens. 'Affirmation' judging by responders to this opinion/fact writer who deplore the lack of 'up votes' received in thousands of valid and reliable postings to their beloved blog sites--named Freedom Headlines, Independent Minute, Christian Life Daily, Political Outcast, United Voice, Liberty Alliance, Redline Headlines, and dozens more.
But the most dangerous characteristic on the far right is a sense they are 'patriots'. They think democracy is expendable for stability, security, and those other 'isms' they think are good for their desired personalities.
If you know transactional analysis, viewing the world as either adult, parent or childlike behavior, you'll see much parent and childlike behavior on the far right, no adult behavior shown or wanted. That smacks of authoritarian behavior whether from grown or immature citizens. The blog titles are Patriot Update, Lead Patriot, Red Right Patriot, The Patriot Journal, and many more. They want to dictate to others their own beliefs, feelings and mores in actual political upheaval. Moves are underway now for a Constitutional Convention, countering federal laws in the States in voting and healthcare, posse comitatus local lawmaking, and overthrowing our federal and state government ala Boston Tea Party, Civil War insurrection and election of media star Trump.
2020 voting with record 71 million voting for Biden shows the majority of Americans want to continue our democratic federal republic. But mid-terms will tell the tale of democracy versus authoritarian United States. Today the Democrats have slim majorities in congress and a president. Next year a better margin for the Dems must emerge--against historic tradition, political wisdom, and real anarchy among Republicans--of we'll be sending a signal that we don't care what form of government rules us overall from the Capitol, or in the Statehouses/legislatures which have slowly led us away from the rule of law, obedience to legal precedent, adherence to facts, usage of valid and reliable media, and free and fair elections. I, for one, do not want a flawed, ignorant, partisan leader or legislator operating on a whim to govern my life. I want an internationalist, greater good for greater number, inclusive participation, democrat with attention to civil rights and responsibilities in charge at any level.
Great explainer, Bill. Your time in the arena , your experience and observations provide more detail than I could. You have, as the kids today like to say, brought the receipts.
When I go online at conservative blogsites to comment on articles, I frequently pan article writers and comment makers with similar thoughts to yours in my mind. I spend years teaching adolescents in high school in central city schools and dragging the best out of them--above the averages the counselors tell me despite themselves--at a price. My story is one of developing, teaching and evaluating underachieving students at secondary school and college levels and sending inordinate numbers to suitable colleges--above the averages. So I'm familiar with pre-adult behavior to the max.
On the blogs I find many writers unable to find the spell-checker facility; they often don't have the facts from simple googling; and the grammar/ punctuation is clearly junior high level. It's not just that I was a colleague of the former reknown Grammar Professor Richard Mitchell at Rowen College (NJ). I've been hired to write and edit technical articles for a lifetime of experience. My stuff has gone out to university, international and local educators without reproof and with kudos. So I know adolescent writing intimately.
Now there's a tactic of writers to aim at their reading audiences, so maybe misspellings and poor grammar serve a purpose on the far right. I don't think it's intentional. Estimates put American reading levels at the 7th and 8th grades. But published writings should have the facts, show logical development of subjects and make valid conclusions. They typically don't.
I also remember from early teen and pre-teen years the many intrigues of boys and girls trying to act mature and grown. The plotting of girls to 'capture' a favored boy on the playground. Arranging transport to the local school sock hop for social mingling beyond one's neighborhood. The scheming to be elected class president. The affinity groups formed on the run or fast walk during class passing free time. The forming of gender pairs of best friends and acceptable companions. Peer groups are paramount.
So to Nic's point, the current status of right and far right political groups, the behavior of their prominent figures and spokespersons, the intrigues and conspiracies formulated and spread, the search for personal freedom and independence of conventional norms, the in-your-face rebellion, the disdain and ignoring of common wisdom and accepted facts, all reflect a below average intellect, poor social and political understanding, disdain for American lore and history, and other oh-so-obvious immaturity signs.
But their leadership is not the same. There we have articulate, educated practitioners of politics and rebellion, religion and social media, lying and misdirecting and worse. A few charlatans claiming the mantles of freedom, religiosity, social well-being, self-righteousness, cruel victimhood, valid storytelling, with access to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, We Chat, etc. social media take advantage--and they are of the Hitler, Stalin, Kim, MBS, Matumbo, Amin, Tojo, Pol Pot ilk. They lead their low education, immature, isolated, asocial followers farther astray.
So what do the masses want? 'Freedom' judging by the buzzword of one Southern governor addressing his rodeo audience. 'Small government' judging by the absence of Republican votes for nearly all legislation expanding services demanded by vast majorities of polled Americans. 'Entertainment' looking at mass broadcast and targeted media on the right and seeing the popular figures there, like Hannity, Carlson, Ingraham, Trump who stir those millions of citizens. 'Affirmation' judging by responders to this opinion/fact writer who deplore the lack of 'up votes' received in thousands of valid and reliable postings to their beloved blog sites--named Freedom Headlines, Independent Minute, Christian Life Daily, Political Outcast, United Voice, Liberty Alliance, Redline Headlines, and dozens more.
But the most dangerous characteristic on the far right is a sense they are 'patriots'. They think democracy is expendable for stability, security, and those other 'isms' they think are good for their desired personalities.
If you know transactional analysis, viewing the world as either adult, parent or childlike behavior, you'll see much parent and childlike behavior on the far right, no adult behavior shown or wanted. That smacks of authoritarian behavior whether from grown or immature citizens. The blog titles are Patriot Update, Lead Patriot, Red Right Patriot, The Patriot Journal, and many more. They want to dictate to others their own beliefs, feelings and mores in actual political upheaval. Moves are underway now for a Constitutional Convention, countering federal laws in the States in voting and healthcare, posse comitatus local lawmaking, and overthrowing our federal and state government ala Boston Tea Party, Civil War insurrection and election of media star Trump.
2020 voting with record 71 million voting for Biden shows the majority of Americans want to continue our democratic federal republic. But mid-terms will tell the tale of democracy versus authoritarian United States. Today the Democrats have slim majorities in congress and a president. Next year a better margin for the Dems must emerge--against historic tradition, political wisdom, and real anarchy among Republicans--of we'll be sending a signal that we don't care what form of government rules us overall from the Capitol, or in the Statehouses/legislatures which have slowly led us away from the rule of law, obedience to legal precedent, adherence to facts, usage of valid and reliable media, and free and fair elections. I, for one, do not want a flawed, ignorant, partisan leader or legislator operating on a whim to govern my life. I want an internationalist, greater good for greater number, inclusive participation, democrat with attention to civil rights and responsibilities in charge at any level.
Great explainer, Bill. Your time in the arena , your experience and observations provide more detail than I could. You have, as the kids today like to say, brought the receipts.