[MD] "just right-wing politics"

[Arlo J. Bensinger]

Hi DMB,

First, thank you. Platt had successfully baited me into moving from the real
issue (the villainous, conservative assault on the Academy as, what Pirsig
called "just right-wing politics") into something like "Arlo is a Marxist".
There, the "usual suspects" (distortion, distration and the Wurlitzer) can be
used to hammer home the Party Line, in the hopes that the original meaning will
be either be lost or ignored.

Pirsig was, as he talks about in the ZMM, the target of such right-wing villainy
during his professorship in Montana. Labeled a "subversive" by right-wing
zealots who, as you point out, in all times and all places "tend to promote and
tolerate open hostility to higher education, and academia. It is not uncommon
for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free
expression in the arts is openly attacked, and governments often refuse to fund
the arts."

There are troubles in the Academy, to be sure, and this last point is the
biggest (the dismissal, and I might add outright hostility, towards "the arts",
the humanities as "frivolous" and "valueless", since its rewards are very
difficult to tie to economic, capitalist profit.) I see everyday semester
people graduating with no exposure (or so minimal as to have no impact) to
philosophy, literature, poetry, language, history and the other great
disciplines which together forge that which, although it may not make us
financially wealthier, enrich our lives more than "job skills" alone. The right
has waged, and have won on many fronts, a war to turn the Academy into a
"business", and in doing so have made students into "customers" and "knowledge"
into a profit-value commodity. But, this is a rant for another day...

In your other post, you cite Eco who correctly reminds us that "fascism" is more
than the horrific actions of certain governments. And in your post here you
remind us that "eternal vigilance is the price of freedom". The right-wing
neocon movement has waged war against the "leftist media" and know the Heritage
Foundation has moved its resources to fund propagandic stories to fuel the war
against "leftist professors". The neocons, so quick to associate anyone
"liberal" with Pol Pot and Chairman Mao, will of course cry foul at any
association between "conservative" and the trends of fascism you present. Of
course, we are not there yet. There are things on this list that are not "us",
but enough things that are that should give any thoughtful person pause.

The rampant nationalism, and the redefinition of "patriot" to mean simply "blind
supporter of the regime", was the first act of the present administration. The
fear campaign has been in motion every since. The "urgent crises" I spoke of a
few weeks ago, is simply part and parcel of party rhetoric designed to spread
fear, distract people and present the idiotic dichotomy of either being a
"patriot" (by supporting Bush) or "traitor" (by not). By the way, where is
"illegal immigration"? Why, I though the destruction of our society was
imminent. Now? Why, turns out it wasn't the "illegal immigrants", it was
"leftist professors" who will bring down the almight U.S. of A. Who do you
think it will be next week? Maybe that would be a good game, guess the
right-wing villain of the upcoming week.

Anyways, here's Arlo score. (1 point for yes, 0 for no)

1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism- 1 (although for how intense this is, I'd
give it a two points)

2. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights- .5 (half point on this because
we have a schism, we argue to keep comatose, brain-dead patients on life
support, but think the Army should torture away. As Khaled points out, I think
its a "brown skinned" thing. But to my knowledge we have not had summary
executions. But we do have some abortive procedures that are pretty bad. So,
half-point.)

3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause- 1 (I'd give this
one an extra point too for the treadmill of enemies that are laid out for us
each week)

4. Supremacy of the Military- 0 (a tricky one, but I'll give us a pass on this.
as for spending, it's high, but i don't think its outright disproportionate
(although i have problems with defense contracts), and I think that we don't
glamorize soldiers, but we do- and should- respect them)

5. Rampant Sexism- .5 (still no female vp or pres, we'll see how the winds blow
with the christian conservative base of the neocons. also, women in power tend
to have to be masculine-dominant. we don't value the feminine energies as we
should)

6. Controlled Mass Media- 0 (for now, the neocons found that its easier to
villify and discredit the "mass media" than control it, instead they control
their own "media". plus, the internet has laid serious challenge to the
power-base of media (which is corporations.... where is MSH when I need him)

7. Obsession with National Security- 1. (have we had one day since 9/11 where we
have not been told to fear something?)

8. Religion and Government are Intertwined- 1. (on the rise, and being
normalized. extra points for reminding everyone that those who speak so loudly
for "judeo-christian morals" are very much diametrically opposed to the real
core tenets of that faith).

9. Corporate Power is Protected- 1 (this is about the strongest one, and so I
recite the clarification... "The industrial and business aristocracy of a
fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power,
creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power
elite." That's us alright.)


10. Labor Power is Suppressed- .5 (not yet, but the neocon rhetoric is pushing
it. we'll see if people remember what it was like before "labor power")

11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts- 1 (the whole point for this thread
was the ongoing villainous assault of the Academy and "subversive professors"
like Pirsig).

12. Obsession with Crime and Punishment- 0 (giving this one a zero because I
don't think the police (as a branch) abuse their power.)

13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption- 1 (hello Bush White House!)

14. Fraudulent Elections- .25 (even though I think there were legitimate
concerns of electoral misconduct, I think our elections are fairly
representative of the will of the people. i give this a quater point because of
the inclusion of "smear tactics" that has typified the campaigns of BOTH
parties. But, Americans like theatre, not dry political philosophy.)

So, Arlo's final score is... 8.75.

Arlo