tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16201378.post9014207614742298302..comments2023-12-28T18:17:11.191-05:00Comments on Gruntled Center: Authoritarianism: Some ClarificationsGruntledhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377809238377382438noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16201378.post-83726645224844525472010-02-27T09:05:55.539-05:002010-02-27T09:05:55.539-05:00I think it is wrong-headed and morally offensive t...I think it is wrong-headed and morally offensive to "psychologize" political and ideological differences. It is, at best, patronizing. But, the use of pejorative descriptions like "authoritarian" betrays Hetherington and Weiler's own motives and embedded prejudices. <br /><br />To hold that opposing political views are tantamount to a psychological disorder is itself a hallmark of the authoritarian worldview.<br /><br /> awhazlettawhazlettnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16201378.post-7607780061576296192010-02-27T08:55:17.825-05:002010-02-27T08:55:17.825-05:00Rebecca I hope those knuckle dragging authoritaria...Rebecca I hope those knuckle dragging authoritarians don't attack me either. You know how they are!Sallynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16201378.post-61066350814582160892010-02-27T08:24:54.930-05:002010-02-27T08:24:54.930-05:00Hetherington and Weiler consider the left vs. righ...Hetherington and Weiler consider the left vs. right authoritarian question, which has been researched for some decades, and reach this conclusion.Gruntledhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14377809238377382438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16201378.post-51980605968193431202010-02-27T08:01:54.997-05:002010-02-27T08:01:54.997-05:00"In the United States today, though, right au..."In the United States today, though, right authoritarians vastly outnumber left authoritarians, and are much more consequential politically."<br /><br />Really! Any unbiased polling or other evidence to support this statement?Percy G.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16201378.post-32929261806378093522010-02-26T21:04:03.326-05:002010-02-26T21:04:03.326-05:00That is a good one, Rebecca. I think much of what...That is a good one, Rebecca. I think much of what the creative class comes up with does not threaten to disrupt the social order (especially new technologies). Therefore, I don't think authoritarians would have antipathy to the creative class in general.<br /><br />On the other hand, the creative class is likely to be strongly at the nonauthoritarian pole, because they welcome change and innovation in general.Gruntledhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14377809238377382438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16201378.post-602337554424836072010-02-26T20:56:12.635-05:002010-02-26T20:56:12.635-05:00Your posts on authoritarianism have been thought-p...Your posts on authoritarianism have been thought-provoking, though obviously misunderstood at times. <br /><br />Something lurking at the back of this...does the authoritarian fear of disrupted social order translate into a fear of the creative class? In other words, if ingenuity, newness, and change spawn from the creative class, does that incite suspicion or fear in the authoritarian? If so, do you think maybe that fear is a sort of latent self-consciousness or even a deep-seated feeling of inadequacy and exclusion? <br /><br />Before I get attacked for posting this, no, I am NOT implying that authoritarian's aren't "creative"...I'm referring to Richard Florida's theory of post-industrial class structure.Rebeccahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08401939214993567704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16201378.post-9396654297368873252010-02-26T12:55:11.713-05:002010-02-26T12:55:11.713-05:00Could you please post anything that Hetherington a...Could you please post anything that Hetherington and Weiler suggest as ways to exorcise the fear that is the fuel for these authoritarian social impulses? How does a society recover from polarization?Clay Allardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10126271084869305069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16201378.post-61347740830865299002010-02-26T09:48:15.415-05:002010-02-26T09:48:15.415-05:00Gruntled,
This was a very helpful explanation of ...Gruntled,<br /><br />This was a very helpful explanation of terms. You sociologists often have differnt meanings for terms than their popular use.<br /><br />Isn't the "polling" that anonymous #3 experinced called "push polling." It is not done to get information from the person being "polled" but to leave an impression in their mind about the person/topic. It is clealry partisan and is not to be confused with reputable polls like gallup.ceemacnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16201378.post-39255306469007808332010-02-26T09:36:21.722-05:002010-02-26T09:36:21.722-05:00To Perry:
There are left authoritarians, such as ...To Perry:<br /><br />There are left authoritarians, such as the ones you mention, as well as right authoritarians. Historically, there have been some powerful, brutal, and tyrannical left authoritarians, including the French Revolutionaries and all Communist regimes.<br /><br />In the United States today, though, right authoritarians vastly outnumber left authoritarians, and are much more consequential politically. That could change.<br /><br />To the third Anonymous: Of course polls can be biased. Do you have reason to believe that the polls cited by Hetherington and Weiler are, in fact, biased? Indeed, if you ask someone "What office does Dennis Hastert hold?" how, exactly, could you bias that question?Gruntledhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14377809238377382438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16201378.post-64683796773296091392010-02-26T08:59:35.523-05:002010-02-26T08:59:35.523-05:00A pollster called my house two nights ago. He aske...A pollster called my house two nights ago. He asked if I approved of the fact that Governor Perry raised our taxes in the last few years. I don't know if he did or didn't raise taxes but I was asked to answer yes or no to that question.<br /><br />By the third question I knew I was being polled by Perry's opposition.<br />Polls are full of leading questions.<br /><br />It is O.K. to be partisan but it is duplicitous and not smart when it's obvious to deny it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16201378.post-65519963883135513392010-02-26T07:53:21.134-05:002010-02-26T07:53:21.134-05:00I wonder where Greenpeace, PETA, the Earth Liberat...I wonder where Greenpeace, PETA, the Earth Liberation Front and anti globalist greenies fit on your authoritarian spectrum? They use violence to reach their goals. They make the Tea Party look like Girl Scouts.<br /><br />I notice you seldom if ever mention these left of center tyrants. Maybe you haven't heard of them. Sometimes what you don't write about says more about what you approve of than what you do write about.<br /><br />A true centrist would treat the far left and far right with equal disdain. I don't see that here.Percy G.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16201378.post-24070560013809761332010-02-25T23:27:34.938-05:002010-02-25T23:27:34.938-05:00Do you have some examples?Do you have some examples?Gruntledhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14377809238377382438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16201378.post-46943216839453097402010-02-25T18:42:28.207-05:002010-02-25T18:42:28.207-05:00I think they might spin the questions too. In fact...I think they might spin the questions too. In fact, I think it's a little naive to think they wouldn't.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16201378.post-62481643967989036282010-02-25T10:01:57.748-05:002010-02-25T10:01:57.748-05:00The NES is a well-established, widely used survey....The NES is a well-established, widely used survey. Hetherington and Weiler are pros, using a professional survey firm. They go out of their way to be even-handed in presenting the data. I have not looked at the mechanics of the survey, any more than I do the Gallup poll. I accept these as professional surveys that are valid within the normal range used by poll takers. <br /><br />I also think that the Heritage Foundation would commission a professional poll. They might spin the results, but I would accept their data unless I had a very good reason not to.Gruntledhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14377809238377382438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16201378.post-14550518310267382972010-02-25T09:54:20.916-05:002010-02-25T09:54:20.916-05:00Is it fair to ask if the surveys you mention are v...Is it fair to ask if the surveys you mention are valid? I bet The Heritage Foundation could easily come up with a survey that agrees with their biases.<br /><br /> You are very intellegent.Your weakness is that you don't see or won't admit your biases. It is probably the former rather than the latter.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com