Joe has an interesting post regarding some points on the new totalitarianism that's always just on the horizon.

A friend sent me this link to a video (about 45 minutes long). The synopsis is:

Naomi Wolf on

It not only can happen here, it is happening here.
Mussolini created the blueprint (with inspiration from Lenin), Hitler elaborated on it, Stalin studied Hitler...
Here's how it works (notice how many Bush & Co. is using now.):
1. Invoke a terrifying internal and external enemy
2. Create a gulag
3. Develop a thug caste
4. Set up an internal surveillance system
5. Harass citizens' groups
6. Engage in arbitrary detention and release
7. Target key individuals
8. Control the press
9. Dissent equals treason
10. Suspend the rule of law

Wolf's conclusion? Impeachment of Bush and Cheney is not enough. Prosecuting (and jailing) them for crimes committed is the only rational solution.

My basic comment was that it was the left's insistence on utilizing the government's power to push their views that is enabling this type of thing to happen. Joe follows up with

I am of the opinion (but I might be easily persuaded) that the "right" is doing most of the enabling, laying the groundwork, etc. and the "left" will be those that actually exercise the authority in a tyrannical manner.

Oddly, I agree with him but I couldn't figure out how that could be. Then it hit me that my "grid" analogy was wrong and that political leanings can be better described by a triangle rather than "left vs. right"

Horizontally represents your belief in what is required to maintain social cohesion. Leftwards represents a tendency to socialism where the group is more important and is not necessarily bound by any sort of standard moral code, towards the right it's more geared to either a religious or historical precedent to decide on right or wrong.

Vertically, the bottom represents an authoritarian view (using the coercive power of the state or group) while the top is libertarian in nature where the individual makes his or her own decision.

The corners are easy to define.

The bottom left is total government control with the end goal being equality of outcomes for each and every person. The individual's needs are eschewed in favor of the group. Decisions are made that benefit the group insofar as ensuring that no person has more or less than any other. Sin is anything that betters one person over another while all other morals are fluid.

The bottom right is total government control with the end goal being proper behavior from all citizens. The group's needs are eschewed in favor of maintaining a rigid social structure. Decisions are made that benefit the state itself in its goal to continue to maintain social structure. Morals such as sexual orientation, religious convictions, patriotism to the state (vs. pride), and belief in authority are strictly maintained.

At the apex, you have for all intents and purposes, anarchy. Individuals may do anything they please even if it harms another individual. There is no state, there are no groups, each person is completely independent. There are no moral codes of any sort. Murder, rape, charity, compassion - it's up to you to do as you please.

In and of itself, it's difficult to obtain any of the corners for any period of time. Anarchy devolves almost instantaneously as people group together for protection. Fascism and Totalitarianism will cause resistance and remind people that they have the option to fight back, and they will. Corner Utopias can only exist in books.

The interesting thing that I missed is what happens as we move towards the top of the triangle. When you believe that the individual is king and should be allowed to make their own decisions, the difference between "left" & "right" become almost imperceptible. You can believe that it is more important to distribute your worldly possessions so that everyone has the same or you can believe that God rules the universe and that everyone should go to church 3 times a week, but if you do not require the state or group to force others to believe in what you believe in, it doesn't matter to those who don't share your views.

While pure corners are unobtainable, the problem lies where I've drawn my lines. The upper line is what I aim for. Very little state control, but there is some. I must give up some control to the state, otherwise there'd be very little freedom as the powerful rule the weak. I have no illusions that if everyone was left to their own devices that nobody would try to overpower others. That line is hard to keep in place. It takes work, vigilance, and many times requires you to allow other people the ability to do things you may find distasteful or dangerous. You have to work hand in hand with those you disagree with.

The lower line is where we're headed (and many countries are already there). It's easy for the line to get lower. As it does, the differences between right and left become a chasm. As the difference grows, so does the need to band into groups to wrest power from the other side. The best way to do so is to allow the state more and more power in order to overpower your enemy. Self selection requires adherence to your group in order to maintain power. It's a feedback cycle that is very, very dangerous.

The left wishes to redistribute wealth to force everyone to be equal and ensure you do not harm yourself be it drugs, fatty foods, or lack of exercise. The right wants to control what goes on in your bedroom and subservience to the state itself.

Neither are good for human beings. But like fast food, it's quick and easy even though in the long run it's terrible for you.

Both "sides" are causing the slide down the triangle. I'm up for protecting this country, but we're going a little overboard now. We cannot remove all the risks and the return on investment of our security is not worth the liberty we've lost. I blame the right for that. And the indoctrination into socialism that the left pounds so hard on only makes the belief in authority that much stronger from our children.

The fault lies with those who would use authoritarianism to further their goals, regardless of what those goals are.

How guilty are you?