It’s not just a US thang.
America’s ‘Taliban 20’ Republicans have the same roots as our Brexit spartans {link to the Guardian}
It is a commonplace that today’s Conservative party has become an ungovernable rabble – a group of factional sects unfit to govern, with too many in the party and among its media supporters careless of effective government as a matter of principle. What else can be said of a party that has delivered three prime ministers and home secretaries, four chancellors and health secretaries and five education secretaries in one calendar year? What is less explored is the deeper ideological source of this phenomenon.
An important clue came last week with the spectacle of newly elected Republicans in the House of Representatives taking 15 votes over five days to elect candidate Kevin McCarthy as House speaker, the second most important role in the US constitution after the president. No speaker and the House cannot function – no swearing in of members, committee chairs or passing of laws. Business was frozen as McCarthy made an incredible series of concessions on House procedures and his power as speaker to the “Freedom Caucus” of ultra rightwingers to win their votes. He is now their cipher: US government is in the pocket of a minority faction who do not believe in the very principle of government.
I suggest reading the whole article.
I am not arguing for a rush to the centre, I am arguing against the ideologues first brigade that want to burn democracy down rather than admit they hate it.
These are those that lie and divide deliberately, and if reality gets in the way it's either “fake news” or a conspiracy of one form or another.
As a democratic socialist, I have met many an undemocratic socialist and have had heated arguments about forcing people to accept an ideology. I tend not to meet many right wing nuts out of personal choice, but will happily engage with conservatives, any interaction with wingnuts tends to be limited to a counter demonstration. [We have plenty of them over here as well].
I believe most of us want a functioning government and one free of corruption, healthy arguments based on reality as to the way forward are normal. Hence, we vote and do not question the result, we can even argue how elections are run and the unfairness inherent in the system.{H/T to Monty Python and the Holy Grail}
The trouble is, wingnuts brook no argument.
It all comes down to whether you are for democracy or against it.
Their main arguments spin around their personal gain versus collective benefit.
P.S Happy New Year Kossacks,