I have observed that many individuals in my social circle tend to adopt a binary view of the world, which is reflected in their political stance. The majority of people I know between the ages of 20 and 30 identify themselves as left-wing, socialist, or even communist.
During conversations with these individuals, I have been labeled a fascist on multiple occasions simply for expressing (with reasoning) positions that diverge from their black-and-white thinking.
The truth is, I identify as a libertarian who occasionally flirts with anarcho-capitalism.
However, conveying this to these individuals proves extremely challenging.
Partly because they are somewhat politically and economically illiterate and partly because, in their eyes, if you're not with them, you're against them.
Therefore, if you don't subscribe to left-wing ideology, you must be the embodiment of Hitler.
The amusing aspect is that these individuals often share many viewpoints with me, yet they are too proud and stubborn to, at the expense of not conceding to my perspective, immerse themselves in cognitive dissonance and clash against their own convictions.
I find it genuinely challenging to convey to them that one does not necessarily have to align strictly with either the right or the left.
It is possible to recognize the strengths and weaknesses of both ideologies while simultaneously not subscribing to either.
I also consistently attempt to clarify that, based on available data, in the modern world, right and left are merely labels strategically employed to divide.
Ultimately, at the end of the day, it is always debt that reigns.
In your experience, how have you managed to convey your positions adequately to individuals accustomed to one-dimensional and low-resolution thinking?
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Just a thought. A lot of the people you're describing self identify as leftists or communists, but from my experience if you dig a little deeper they're more accurately anarcho syndicalists. Maybe try to find common ground through anarchy ideas. Maybe try a crony capitalism argument, and explain how that is real fascism. You probably can find common ground in the too big to fail banks discussion. For me, subtlety is key. Bashing them over the head with private roads and ending the welfare state gets you nowhere.
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This would have been helpful talking to my former liberal self.
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In the late 1980s I got into punk music and decided that I was an Anarchist. I read Chomsky, Emma Goldman, Kropotkin and many others. I came across Communists, Neo-nazis, Zionists, Democrats and Republicans.
To me, now, it's either central planning or the free market. The study of the word Government will lead you to Kubernetics and Mind Control. I'm definitely an anarchist. Oddly enough I served in the Virginia Army National Guard for 5 years in the 1990s.
My personality is not subtle. I have friends in and out of government. I have found that I don't politically get along with anyone. For me I had to make my life a spiritual one. It's either arguing or not arguing. Ultimately the people in the government are no good. They are unproductive and they are self serving by extracting the wealth of people who are productive.
Most governments are full of dark Occultists. This is a fact. I'd like to think that it's speculation but the evidence in signs, symbols, psychological operations and false flags is very clear. It's mind control.
Discussing this with others is tricky especially if you've done the homework and they have not. I find that clear definitions of terminology is a good start. If the other person does not have a clear understanding of the language then the discussion will be dogma based. Please remember, too, that many people are traumatized from the media they absorb.
This is where learning systems that regardless of the user demand skill and are where your energy is best centered. These systems are how we navigate through this world. Government is the few feeding on the many. It may always exist in one form or another. You may decide to participate or not. Ultimately you are in charge and not anyone else. If you drive on the wrong side of the street you pay the consequences if the street is busy.
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To communicate with them, first you need to read what they read:
And can you blame them, given that there are people like Peter Quinones who explicitly acknowledge passing through libertarian-to-fascist pipeline?
Oh and also there's shit like this from supposed libertarians:
Six: Crush the “Anti-Fascist” Mob. The trans-valuation of all values throughout the West: the invention of ever more “victim groups,” the spread of “affirmative action” programs and the relentless promotion of “political correctness,” has led to the rise of an “anti-fascist” mob. Tacitly supported and indirectly funded by the ruling elites, this self-described mob of “social justice warriors” has taken upon itself the task of escalating the fight against “white privilege” through deliberate acts of terror directed against anyone and anything deemed “racist,” “right-wing,” “fascist,” “reactionary,” “incorrigible” or “unreconstructed.” Such “enemies of progress” are physically assaulted by the “anti-fascist” mob, their cars are burnt down, their properties vandalized, and their employers threatened to dismiss them and ruin their careers – all the while the police are ordered by the powers that be to “stand down” and not to investigate the crimes committed or prosecute and punish the criminals. In view of this outrage, public anger must be aroused and there must be clamoring, far and wide, for the police to be unleashed and this mob be beaten into submission.
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I've become increasingly cynical on this topic and now generally feel that political discussions with partisans is almost entirely pointless. There's a ton of psychological baggage holding them to their views and it greatly outweighs any amount of reasoning you could do.
I think because libertarians care so much about the ideas and the philosophy it can be hard to grasp that basically no one else cares about that stuff. Discovering an inconsistency would probably keep us up at night, but most everyone else forgets about it immediately.
All that said, I always give people a chance and if they're open to dissenting views we can have a nice conversation.
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A useful tool is to ask whether a political view is assuming a context of a zero-sum game or a positive-sum game. The former is likely to align with Malthusian views and redistribution of wealth within a largely fixed size economic pie.
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It has been an ongoing challenge for sure, and inspired me to spend more time creating content catered toward these people; I'm in the same boat as you, coming from the Pacific Northwest, so the vast majority of my friends and family are hardcore left-wing.
I discussed this conundrum at length with Stephan Livera on my podcast recently. If you get some time, give it a look! I think there are some great nuggets in there that can help you find that perfect "Libertarian-pill" for the people you care about.
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What you describe here, very precisely, is the perfect fit for the ONLY approach, to ridicule them.
There's no reasoning with NPCs.
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Here is a nice video that explains the difference between Fascism and Communism. Just remember that Germany, under Hitler, was the National Socialist (Fascism).
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