cross-posted from: https://linux.community/post/3587385
I don’t mean only the US but in much of the world: in many European countries the populist far right is unseating Christian-Democratic parties (conservative parties), like in Hungary, Slovakia or Czechia. In others like Germany or France the far right is at the gates of power, in the UK, Reform UK is running high in the polls. In Turkey autocratic Erdogan is copying the Putin playbook to systematically dismantle the social-democratic opposition. In Japan, a neo Thatcherite that doesn’t hide she honors Japanese war criminals is about to become the new PM.
Something common I see in all these parties is strong disaffection with the current state of their countries and a longing to an idealized past they promise to bring back, to make countries great again…
Except that societies have changed beyond recognition in the last 40 years, emerging China, India, Mexico and a myriad of south east Asian countries can produce cheaper than us in the developed countries, so called first world democracies are now much older and indebted than 40 years ago (no wonder societies have shifted so hard to the right), buying a house is now waaaay more expensive than 40 years ago, you cannot earn a livable wage just assembling toasters like 40 years ago, you just cannot roll automation and digitization back, no matter how much you complain…
The past cannot come back, neither will it come back just because some people want it to. It’s completely futile, but people are not rational about this, they’re completely emotional and tribal.
It’s like a huge, collective effort in denial: denying that we in the developed world are older, not the first ones in the world anymore, that other countries we always considered inferior to us are even surpassing us technologically while we complain and hope for a savior that brings us 40 years back when we, the white guys, ruled all over.
I don’t see it happening: being angry and voting the far right may make some people feel good, it may make them feel they’re somehow taking their country back, but it’s not going to stop China, India and other countries from developing, investing in new technologies and even creating trade alliances that bypass the US or the EU.
My question: was there a moment in history where societies were so shifted to the right like today? How long did it last?
Before fascism, religions were the fascists. As far to the right as possible, they dictated terms based on the whim of fictional gods. No logic, or reason, they just believed that they had a ‘divine right’ to rule over everyone else. If you didn’t acknowledge that right, they killed you, tortured you, enslaved you, etc… Oh, and you had to be their religion, or you’re a heretic. And if they change religion, you’re expected to as well.
Oh, they knew about democracy, republics, and representitive politics. They actively fought against that. After all, gods don’t vote, and there’s only one fictional god, and he rules with supreme fictional power.
It was generally called “The Dark Ages” (of humanity). It’s dark because of religion, and the feudal system it demanded. It lasted for hundreds of years.
Stay away from religion. Get away from religions. They harm individuals and society constantly, everywhere they are.
If you don’t believe me, that’s the reason that nazis are called ‘christofacists’. It’s the religion part. It’s the christianity part of nazi fascism.