[MD] Empirical and Historical

[Arlo Bensinger]

[Platt]
On your level it's obvious you favor communism and socialism for 
intellectual control of society, blithely ignoring the defect in 
intellectualism

[Arlo]
On my level, I value the dominance of intellect over society, rather 
than the "slow drift" back to the dominance of society over 
intellect, as you champion. I do not "ignore" the defect, it needs to 
be corrected. The "conservative" solution of retreating to the days 
of Victorianism, howerver, is not the answer.

[Platt]
Not to mention the defect in lumping conservatism with fascism. What 
an ignoramus!

[Arlo]
Well you lump communism and socialism together. So, whatever fits, 
eh? I mean, both fascism and conservatism are programs for the 
dominance of society over intellect. Both were (are) aggressively 
anti-intellectual. Both were (are) aggressively nationalistic.

"Communism and socialism, programs for intellectual control over 
society, were confronted by the reactionary forces of fascism, a 
program for the social control of intellect." (Pirsig)

"Phaedrus thought that no other historical or political analysis 
explains the enormity of these forces as clearly as does the 
Metaphysics of Quality. The gigantic power of socialism and fascism, 
which have overwhelmed this century, is explained by a conflict of 
levels of evolution." (Pirsig)

"In the United States the economic and social upheaval was not so 
great as in Europe, but Franklin Roosevelt and the New Deal, 
nevertheless, became the center of a lesser storm between social and 
intellectual forces." (Pirsig)

Who was that "lesser storm" contrasting? "Liberals" and 
"conservatives". An upheaval "not so great" as the one between 
socialism and fascism, but a difference only of degree, according to Pirsig.

[Platt]
Stupid remark. Pirsig understands that free market capitalism is 
superior to your intellectual communist and socialist programs for 
control of society.

[Arlo]
I'm sorry. Pirsig has vocally supported both Ant and DMB, the very 
people who claim "don't get this". Has Pirsig ever commented on your 
grasp of the MOQ? Has he ever shown any indication to support your 
"anti-intellectual" agenda? Hmm... given his comments to DMB in the 
video, I'd say the person who wrote the MOQ knows who here best 
understands it. And since he says outright that DMB is the voice that 
pulls those who stray back to what he, Pirsig, means, I'd say your 
charge is idiotic and baseless.