this post was submitted on 24 Jul 2023
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Showerthoughts
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The definition of right wing politics is being pro-hierarchy. Or believing hierarchy and inequality to be normal. This fits well with authoritarianism.
The left, by definition, wants to end inequality, or make things as equatible as possible. This is the antithesis to authoritarianism.
So, no. I'm not aware of this and don't believe it. If someone told me they're both left and authoritarian I would tell them sticking feathers up your ass does not make you a chicken.
Would you consider Mao and Stalin to be left, or right? Would you agree, regardless, that they are authoritarian?
They're authoritarian. Left and Right get conflated with communism/capitalism but all four exist separately from each other.
Leftism is about equity of power and the right is about protecting power structures that exist even if unbalanced (the status quo).
Capitalism and communism are economic systems, not political positions.
You need to enforce equity though, it’s not something that humans do naturally.
Through that enforcement of equity you are choosing authoritarianism.
There is no equity equilibrium to reach unless it’s from the threat of violence, to keep everyone down to the lowest rung. While hiding all the inequity that the ones at the top enjoy, or making excuses for it.
Sort of how bill gates believe he should be able to fly in private jets because what he is doing is more important than what you would need to fly for is. So you’ll accept it.
https://www.cnn.com/videos/business/2023/02/08/bill-gates-private-jet-bbc-contd-orig-na-fj.cnn-business
The libertarian left is anti-authoritarian. But unless you are going to exclude all marxist-leninist from the left, regardless of their advocacy for equality and opposition to the capitalist system, left authoritarianism obviously exists. I think perhaps you are engaged in a no true Scotsman fallacy?
The libertarian right is also anti authoritarian
Eh, only because their ideological blinders block their understanding that what they are advocating ends up in corporate feudalism. Their hierarchy is property based.
I mean, it only makes sense.
If I want to stand where you’re standing, there is going to be some way to settle who gets to stand there
Sure, and when a small set of people basically own all the property, that is very similar to a feudal society. It ain’t anti-authoritarian.
Which is what communism is
The libertarian right is also anti authoritarian