Political Power != Cultural Power

 “Now that Trump won people have to like and agree with me and not tell me I suck anymore.”

‘These folks are going to be permanently resentful because they’re seeking political power as a substitute for cultural power, and it’s never going to give them what they actually want.’

Listen, if you can stomach it, to a random MAGA grievance rant & ask yourself “how much of what they’re most upset about is something public policy can realistically address?”

‘Elon Musk has all the money in the world and can’t buy one minute of cool.’

I’ve said it before, will doubtless say it again: These folks are going to be permanently resentful because they’re seeking political power as a substitute for cultural power, and it’s never going to give them what they actually want.

Julian Sanchez (@normative.bsky.social) 2024-11-15T04:53:32.853Z

conservatism has long been surrounded by an enormous shimmering halo of pseudo-philosophy

Frank Wilhoit: ‘Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition …There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect.”’

What I have taken advantage of is what so many, many, many, many other people have taken advantage of, which is today the total disintermediation of the public discourse. There is no longer any gatekeeping whatsoever.

https://slate.com/business/2022/06/wilhoits-law-conservatives-frank-wilhoit.html

How Journalism gets punished by Authoritarians

The president tweeted false statements about Amazon and his threats to raise its postal shipping rates. Amazon’s market value briefly plunged $60 billion.

Through his actions, Defendant Trump has intentionally conveyed to all writers and journalists that if he objects to their coverage, they may be subject to retaliation by the federal government.

Most of the power of authoritarianism is freely given. In times like these, individuals think ahead about what a more repressive government will want, and then offer themselves without being asked. A citizen who adapts in this way is teaching power what it can do.

https://www.cjr.org/analysis/anticipatory-obedience-bassin-potter-scheppele-orban-trump-hungary-media-punish.php