Among the many–many–frustrating elements of today’s political discourse is the media’s insistence on characterizing MAGA and the Trump administration as “conservative.” That consistent misuse of language is right up there with the persistent sanewashing of what any sentient American recognizes as insanity coming from he whom a friend recently called “that malignant moron.”
There are multiple ways in which today’s GOP is dramatically inconsistent with genuine conservatism. At the very least, people with a conservative philosophy are notable for wishing to conserve elements of society that have value. Indeed, one of the historic differences between conservatives and liberals has been the reluctance of conservatives to endorse social and institutional changes when the status quo has rather clearly outlived its usefulness.
Conservatives have also been believers in free trade–a belief endorsed by the Republican Party of the past.
True conservatives are thus appalled by the Trump/Musk radical destruction of America’s constitutional and legal framework–and by the incredible and destructive economic ignorance displayed by Trump’s fixation on tariffs.
One of the historical icons of genuine conservatism was Frederich Hayek; back when I was a Republican (and Republicans were largely conservatives, not ignorant racists), Hayek’s Road to Serfdom was required reading for conservative intellectuals, so I was interested to read a recent Bulwark column by Charlie Sykes, in which he noted that Hayek had addressed the reasons for the periodic emergence of Trump-like figures.
Sykes quoted Roger Kimball, for a 2016 essay titled “How Hayek Predicted Trump With His ‘Why the Worst Get on Top’.” (Sykes notes that Kimball has subsequently joined those who fawn over “Dear Leader.”)
The Austrian-born economist and classical liberal, who played such a central role in the emergence of American free market conservatism, had a keen understanding of the temptations of authoritarianism. That’s what makes his warnings seem so prescient. “’Emergencies’ have always been the pretext on which the safeguards of individual liberty have been eroded,” he wrote. Hayek’s chapter on “Why the Worst Get on Top” in his classic work, The Road to Serfdom, diagnosed the populist impulse that would lead to the demand for ceding power to a “man of action.” This is “the position which precedes the suppression of democratic institutions and the creation of a totalitarian regime.” At some point in a political or economic crisis, there “is the general demand for quick and determined government action that is the dominating element in the situation, dissatisfaction with the slow and cumbersome course of democratic procedure which makes action for action’s sake the goal. It is then the man or the party who seems strong and resolute enough ‘to get things done’ who exercises the greatest appeal….”
Hayek described several preconditions for the rise of a demagogic dictator, including a dumbed down populace, a gullible electorate, and scapegoats on which that demagogue can focus public enmity and anger.
Hayek thought that the more educated a society was, the more diverse members’ tastes and values would become, and the less likely they would be to agree on a particular hierarchy of values. He observed that the desire to create a high degree of uniformity and similarity of outlook in society requires descending “to the regions of lower moral and intellectual standards where the more primitive and ‘common’ instincts and tastes prevail.”
But in a modern society, potential dictators might be able to rely on there being enough of “those whose uncomplicated and primitive instincts,” to support his efforts. As a result, Hayek said, he “will have to increase their numbers by converting more to the same simple creed.” Here is where propaganda comes into play. The “man of action,” Hayek wrote, “will be able to obtain the support of all the docile and gullible, who have no strong convictions of their own but are prepared to accept a ready-made system of values if it is only drummed into their ears sufficiently loudly and frequently.”
Hayek predicted MAGA in his description of the third and most important element of demagoguery: the need to identify an enemy. It is easier, he noted, “for people to agree on a negative programme, on the hatred of an enemy, on the envy of those better off, than on any positive task. The contrast between the “we” and the “they”, the common fight against those outside the group, seems to be an essential ingredient in any creed which will solidly knit together a group for common action.” If you want the “unreserved allegiance of huge masses” you must give them something to hate.
There are some things our “malignant moron” knows instinctively…
There are a number of labels we might apply to Trump’s supporters. “Conservative” isn’t one of them.
Thank you. Finally, someone is calling out the falseness of MAGA’s conservatism.
“The Declaration of the Rights of Man was adopted by the National Assembly of France on August 26, 1789, in response to the abuses of the French monarchy and the call for a more democratic and representative government. The document was modeled on the American Declaration of Independence and the Virginia Declaration of Rights, both of which had been established during the American Revolution.
The Declaration of the Rights of Man asserted that all human beings are equal before the law, and that the government must protect the natural and inalienable rights of citizens.”
“If you want the “unreserved allegiance of huge masses” you must give them something to hate.”
Trump and MAGA found the above solution to winning the presidency; making him and his administration “more equal”, thereby placing themselves above the law and ending democracy and representative government with their push for Trump’s kinghood. Their increased wealth via insider trading using his tariff war games will maintain their support. He has been “true to his word” of installing dictatorship by deporting immigrants and his future plans to add American citizens to the deportation lists. firing thousands of government workers to end the functioning government, closing their workplaces and forcing contacts to be limited to Musk’s privately owned X has begun. His “enemy lists” can easily be filled as he has instilled hatred between family members, friends, neighbors and is set to end education to prevent future generations from knowing the history of democracy, Rule of Law, the Constitution and the Rights of Man which was once our nation’s foundation.
The sitting Executive and Judicial branches are not doing their jobs or maintaining their responsibilities and Trump’s immunity has become the Rule of Law of the land keeping them mute and idle.
I miss America and being an American to be proud of.
I am reasonably sure Charles Koch’s preferred economic theory comes from Hayek and Austrian economics, but Trump isn’t from any school of thought. As he mentioned the other day, “I will be guided by my instincts going forward.”
Oh brother, are we in trouble!
I read Naomi Klein’s latest essay in The Guardian last night. It’s a must-read if you want to know what is going on behind the scenes of those taking advantage of the MAGA movement. She ties together all the points of this combined movement, from preppers to Tech States to the Rapture proponents.
I’ve never listened to Steve Bannon’s radio show, which he calls the mouthpiece of the MAGA movement, but for those who do, they get a steady diet of “end of times” and “the coming catastrophe.” This was prevalent several years back with the preppers and bunker builders. There was such a run on ammo (fear) that you couldn’t find any 9mm shells in North Carolina. The rich were building bunkers under their driveways and in their garage. The uber-wealthy bought land in Hawaii (Zuckerberg) and New Zealand (Thiel).
Sorg could add a few lines about the Rapturists because they are part of this movement. The Christian Nationalists see the end of times as well, and of course, they will be taken to Heaven first.
As I mentioned to Pete, Trump endorsed the Tech States proposed by Musk, Thiel, Vance, and Andreessen when he approved his ten “Freedom Cities” to be built on federal park land.
I didn’t see it until Klein’s article, but the common theme is the “end of times” or “collapse of civilization,” and they are happily wanting to accelerate the decline (accelerationists). Boy, have they found the perfect captain to drive that ship!!
Here’s a link to Naomi’s article:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2025/apr/13/end-times-fascism-far-right-trump-musk
JoAnn. Correct, but you left out the Legislative branch. It is not doing its job, either. It hasn’t been doing its job due to Republican stonewalling and refusal to negotiate in good faith, not to mention the fact that they have completely ignored their oath of office, lied to prop up Trump and unleashed this monstrosity on us.
50501 is planning another event on Saturday. Not hearing much about it.
The flame that burns twice as bright will last half as long. Sudden erratic power faces eventual atrophy. Even an interim premier who plays chess steps over the foolish play at checkers by the blunder of our own transitional bully. Don’t blink. Stay tuned.
Todd,
Those who believe in the rapture, or claim they believe, feel that it can demolish the planet because scripture tells them the earth will be destroyed. So, they can take what they want, anyway they want to, and still be on the right side of everything. Because once the Earth becomes uninhabitable, they’ll be magically whooshed into the heavens. Unfortunately for those rapturists, the Bible IE scripture does not say that. It does not endorse rapture. Rapture was a man-made dogma, of course some people believe the entire scripture is man-made, but it truly is inspired writing. The churches are the ones who have manipulated religion and scripture in a conflagration of lies and deceit. All this has been done to control the population, those who are ignorant enough to put their lives in the hands of carpet bagging shysters, are too lazy too think for themselves, so they let The shysters think for them. I do believe that many of these wealthy individuals believe in the rapture so they figure they’ll be saved in the end. I would venture to say they have a rude awakening.
Example
The Mission for the Coming Days in Korea confidently predicted that on October 28, 1992, the “rapture” would occur, whisking faithful church members to heaven. The Korea Times reported that thousands of people who embraced this prophecy left jobs and family and sold off their belongings. Reportedly, one pregnant believer had an abortion out of fear that the fetus would weigh her down during her ascent heavenward. The day came and went without incident, except that a few disappointed churchgoers beat up their preachers, demanding to know why the rapture had not come. However, the church founder was already in prison. He had been arrested for embezzling church funds. The Korea Times notes: “Some of his investments included bonds maturing next May, months after his predicted doomsday.
See? Ignorance and stupidity!
The Scriptures foretold that in our day, “wicked men and impostors “would” advance from bad to worse, misleading and being misled.” (2 Timothy 3:1, 13)
As a kid, watching the sky’s dark into the west, the smell of the air would change, and violent storms would surge across the plains. The scriptures used as very occurrence. We know that something bad is coming, our conscience and discernment has to be well-trained.
Mary B. Several of my friends will be attending in Indianapolis. It is from noon to 4pm in front of the State House.
The Ruling Triumvirate, MTV, of the formerly united States of Mid-North-America are all dysfunctional people and con men at heart. “Conservative” is a disguise for that, but part of an effective con is diversion of attention. Most people know all of this, but some people who see themselves as privileged go along with it, hoping to profit monetarily or socially by association.
The best word in our language to describe the Big Three is authoritarian, because that is what they experienced growing up. As demonstrated by their behavior, they are authoritarians.
Another word for authoritarian is a control freak.
To enhance this conservative disguise, they are now resorting to the con, that any attack on conservatism in the US is an attack on government, and therefore, they are entitled to put it down by whatever means they choose.
I don’t associate Harvard University with the one-finger salute, but I have to say I admire their recent one.
Sharon Miller; MEA Culpa again, and a major one! I seriously misspoke stating Executive instead of the true culprits in the Legislative branch who are the primary offenders whose job is to prevent such leadership as we have in the current Executive branch. I admit the chaotic system is having serious effects on me physically, emotionally and mentally. Getting through my days mentally intact becomes more difficult and peaceful sleep at night to rejuvenate for facing the next day is impossible some nights. It is difficult to identify my enemies today from those who were my support system in my recent past. I admit that my comments on this blog are venting in an attempt to clear my mind so I don’t misuse Executive for Legislative, et al…or continue applying deodorant before getting into the shower.
Trump’s instincts, on the level of a tardigrade, are focused only on himself, period.
Anyone who may have doubted it before now knows why the right wing has wanted to do away with the Dep’t of Education.
We are spending way too much time describing the situation. It’s now time to decide what to do. Do we just need to stop Orange Jesus? That won’t give us more than eight years at best before “People just want change!”
We are in a long term situation which requires long term planning and the flexibility to change what isn’t working. That’s not how government works, I know that, but it is time to do something differently. Distribute more authority to staff. If they want to change little things. Require that changes be monitored for effectiveness. If they are effective, adopt them and reward the department that made it possible.
From a political point of view, the Dems need their own version of Project 2025. Outline the steps to a strong democracy and talk about how to do it. Make it readable, don’t be preachy. Don’t be stiff. Don’t be polysyllabic. Take the polls that tell us that 85% of Americans like this or that. Tell them you want it, too.
Bottom line, racism, pure and simple.
Todd, I don’t often agree with you, but this is one time I absolutely do. The Klein article–blunt and terrifying–combines several of my concerns, putting them into a proper holistic context that I hadn’t before. It’s an important read.
Personally, I think Klein missed discussing one aspect–which is pretty amazing, given the length of the article–and that is the psychopathy consistent across these people. They have no empathy for the planet and its other inhabitants. We are all bits and bobs to be exploited along the way. My reason for noting this is that a lot of those people can’t be fixed/educated/coerced into thinking more reasonably. They fundamentally lack that capability.
The have so much power. It’s utterly terrifying.
Reflecting, pontificating, protesting…how about ACTION!. Continuing my trail onto the November 2025 elections…
First step, learn what local elections are being held where you live. You can find them here: https://ballotpedia.org/United_States_municipal_elections,_2025.
Next – drill down to your state, for example: https://ballotpedia.org/Indiana_local_election_coverage,_2025.
Then, use your search engine to look at the 2023 results for your county and/or city. That should give you an idea of what races/offices were “competitive”.
DECISION TIME: Run yourself? Find someone to run?
Regarding running…most local elections are non-partisan. This is great news as those who are not GOP or DEM are the largest “party” in most places. This is a perfect setting for running on issues, not party stuff.
Then, onto local issues that are under some control by local officials in the offices up for grabs in November…next time.
To both Johns:
I detected Naomi’s awareness of her lack of empathy when she addressed Thiel and Musk, their almost rooting for the destruction of the planet, and especially Thiel’s belief that Greta Thunberg is the anti-Christ. I’ve listened to Greta’s demands for action to the Davos crowd (and Bono apologizing for her directness), and she has more than enough empathy to spread around. The more I learn about Thiel, the better I understand JD Vance.
And Peggy, Naomi spends a lot of time discussing the solution or building resistance to what is happening in Washington. We can’t wish it away, and we have to be prepared for not being able to vote it away either in 2026 or 2028. Right now, the Democratic Party is lost in the wilderness. I don’t see them as an effective solution.
Bring a friend or two when you return to a protest the second time. See if you can double or triple the number of your crowd at organized protests/marches.
Thanks, lots of good thoughts.