Friday, August 31, 2018

revolution in the economic shadows

"Nobel laureate James Buchanan is the intellectual
 linchpin of the Koch-funded attack on democratic
 institutions, argues Duke historian Nancy MacLean"


A friend passed along this article. I have no way of knowing how well-grounded it may be, but the portrait it paints leaves knicker-twisting liberal fears about the growth of oligarchy in America in the relatively-easy-going shadows. If even 50% of its assertions are true ... well, whoa, mama!
Duke historian Nancy MacLean contends that his philosophy is so stark that even young libertarian acolytes are only introduced to it after they have accepted the relatively sunny perspective of Ayn Rand. (Yes, you read that correctly). If Americans really knew what Buchanan thought and promoted, and how destructively his vision is manifesting under their noses, it would dawn on them how close the country is to a transformation most would not even want to imagine, much less accept.
"Feudalism" barely scratches the surface.
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1 comment:

  1. olcharlieAugust 31, 2018 at 9:44 AM

    In 2017, Duke University historian Nancy MacLean published Democracy in Chains: The Deep History of the Radical Right's Stealth Plan for America.[21] Her book claims that Buchanan saw a conflict between "economic freedom and political liberty", and that he sought (in his own words) "conspiratorial secrecy" in pursuit of what George Monbiot has described as "a hidden programme for suppressing democracy on behalf of the very rich".[22]

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_M._Buchanan#Democracy_in_Chains

    Dire indeed, but far from new. I forget which Ancient Greek philosopher said it, but he essentially claimed all forms of government were just the window dressing of an oligarchy. There's a study of the American oligarchy discussed here...

    https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-echochambers-27074746

    And more here...

    https://blog.politicsmeanspolitics.com/who-are-the-american-oligarchs-8d7b42938525

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