1/ The root of the evil Germany inflicted in WWII was not racism, which was an evil result of an evil cause.

The cause was the massive confidence in the rightness of a privileged class (Deutschland ueber alles) to absolute rule.

This problem is thriving and growing scarily.

2/ This was also the great evil of communist regimes: the enlightened socialist revolutionaries were utterly convinced of their mandate to rule with an iron grip. They felt justified to remove all impediments.

Notice, ideology as traditionally understood is largely irrelevant.

3/ Today, some of our elites are persuading themselves, in their corrupt institutions, that they possess an unassailable, absolute right to rule, that they may require anything in the name of “safety,” and—increasingly—that anyone who stands in their way is evil and eliminable.

4/ This is the true threat to liberty. Not “the other side”; the radicals are just tools. The threat—the people who might impose iron rule—are already-powerful people who will punish all dissent because they’re convinced they have an absolute right to rule in an “emergency.”

https://twitter.com/lsanger/status/1276919198631985152

Voting Isn’t Enough to Combat the Woke Left

excerpt:

President Obama said the use of chemical weapons in Syria was a “red line.” But when Syria used chemical weapons, the promised consequences never materialized. Once you agree that “enough is enough,” or once you can name a point at which it would be, you run smack into another question—one that is reminiscent of schoolyard taunts: “Well? What are you going to do about it?”

Despite the agreement in my group chat that “enough is already enough,” no one could name any response they were willing to take, except for voting. Some of them probably won’t even do that. Only two people on the chat will certainly be voting for Trump. The others that vote will vote for Biden, vote third party, or will write in a candidate.

But obviously, voting in November is no real response at all. If “enough” is truly enough, then simply resolving to take the trouble to cast a vote in November seems wholly inadequate to countering the excesses of the Left. Donald Trump can’t stop this. Only the citizens who have had “enough” can do it. Voting isn’t enough.

My friend from Texas was right to ask me: “Adam, have you reached your [breaking] point? What are your public actions?” Well, of course, I vote. My writing—essays like the one you’re reading—are one way that I try to combat the zealots. As a teacher, I don’t adopt any “antiracist pedagogies.” But I do teach the tradition of Western thought, and I stress that taking this tradition seriously will equip my students with the most effective means of fighting racism. I speak out on campus—when I feel that doing so might be effective. I give some money to organizations that I believe might effectively counter the Left’s assault on America. I could probably do more though. And you probably can, too.

When you’ve answered Lindsey’s question (if you can answer it—and if you can’t, you’re with the mob on the road to Utopia, come hell or high water—probably the former) ask yourself the next question: “Well? What am I going to do about it?” A friend on my chat (referring to my comments) cautioned the others, saying to be wary of people suggesting you must do X, Y, or Z. I’m not asking anyone to do X, Y, or Z.

If you have had “enough,” I’m asking that you do something. Ask yourself: given my own gifts and my own limitations, how can I contribute? For all of us, this will require some sacrifice. This means you also have to consider what, specifically, you are willing and able to sacrifice. But if you’re unwilling to sacrifice anything—if you’re unwilling to respond in any way other than casting a ballot—then it doesn’t matter what you say: you haven’t had enough.

https://amgreatness.com/2020/06/27/voting-isnt-enough-to-combat-the-woke-left/