Liberal Values Part of the Problem

A big part of the problem in the USA seems to be that US liberals believe their views on morality are absolute and universal. There are parallels in the UK as well, though they are generally less clear because of class, history, and other local factors.

Liberals seem to think, "we love diversity, so everyone must love diversity (eventually)". We just need to enforce diversity and they will see how great it is and fall into line. But people are not falling into line, are they? Instead they are abandoning democracy and following dictators.

At least 1/3 of any population does not love diversity and never will. They crave sameness (conformity) and oneness (group authority).

And this is not a moral or philosophical stance. It's not a reasoned position. They haven't thought about it and in all likelihood they cannot think clearly about it. It's a cognitive limit. Authoritarians lack the cognitive capacity to cope with diversity. They find diversity confusing, frustrating, overwhelming, etc. And no amount of talking about it, or rubbing their noses in it, will change this about them.

The authoritarian personality is something you are born with. While certain things can mitigate this personality type—e.g. urban setting, education—this is not something authoritarians can be expected to change.

This means that liberal arguments in favour of diversity apply. If you are born that way, if it is genetic, then you cannot be expected to change. Yes?

This is a powerful argument for acceptance, but it should be applied evenly. If someone cannot substantially change their personality, then (according to liberals themselves) we have an obligation to embrace those people as they are.

This also means that political correctness applies. Insulting and mocking people who lack a capacity we value is not politically correct. Yes? Maybe MAGA are stupid. How does pointing this out help? Have you ever responded positively to be labelled "stupid"? Has anyone?

If we accept this argument, and I do, then we should also apply it to people with the authoritarian personality. Because this is the right thing to do, by our values. And if that is not enough motivation, then consider that the alternative is that they feel an existential threat and start promoting authoritarian parties and leaders. And this allows them to impose their values on us without compromise.

So while the idea that we make peace with authoritarians is likely to a be very unpopular opinion, I cannot see any way to avoid fascism if we don't listen to them and find a compromise.

And after all, not all of the authoritarians' complaints are wackadoodle. Things are genuinely shitty for working people under neoliberalism. And billionaires are a cancer on our societies. So why not address these complaints?

Standards of living have been declining for 50 years. So why not address this problem?

Communities have been disrupted and in places gutted by unnecessary economic changes such as exporting jobs to the third world. So why not address this problem?

Politicians seem not only to lack vision, but also to lack a moral compass that prioritizes people. This is what happens when the business community take control of the apparatus of state. So why not address this problem?

No, the Authoritarians are not the most articulate people. Yes, sometimes their ideas seem silly, naive, etc. Yes, they sometimes express themselves in ways we find offensive. And yes, sometimes it does seem awfully personal and it makes me angry. So what? Demonising them doesn't help. And arguing doesn't change anything.

The only thing that will help is that their needs are met to the extent that they do not believe it is necessary abandon democracy to get what they need.

Politics is the art of compromise. And, folks, we have to compromise or we're going to lose it all.