Economy,  Governace,  Governance,  political science

Part 6—A Riddle Wrapped in a Mystery Wrapped Inside an Enigma

Abstract: What is at the core of political and social engineering groups? What are their true motivations and goals?

“Russia is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.” Winston Churchill

Churchill’s quote about Russia is spot on for this analysis for two reasons. First, Marxism may have remained a curious utopian idea without the Russian Revolution. Second, the current situation in the US resembles this layered mystery. Why are people and organizations pursuing the paths they are on? What are their real objectives? As shown in the figure, what is at their core? A serpent ready to strike? A puppet master pulling the strings? Or the key to success and prosperity? This part of the series will look at potential motivations and then a later series will assess these motivations.

The table below summarizes key political/economic systems that could be the motivation for the observed behavior. The bullet points in the descriptions are from Wikidiff.com. I understand these are not academic descriptions, but for the quick thumbnail below, they are fine. The follow-on series will provide a more rigorous assessment.

Table 1 Political/Economic Systems

System Description
Capitalism
  • (politics, uncountable) a socio-economic system based on private property rights, including the private ownership of resources or capital, with economic decisions made largely through the operation of a market unregulated by the state.
  • (economics, uncountable) a socio-economic system based on the abstraction of resources into the form of privately owned capital, with economic decisions made largely through the operation of a market unregulated by the state.
  • (countable) a specific variation or implementation of either such socio-economic system.
Marxism
  • The socialist philosophy and political program founded by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels;
  • The socialist ideology of the followers of Karl Marx; a radical, revolutionary political philosophy that aims to capture state power, introduce a dictatorship of the proletariat, and then progress to communism.
Socialism
  • (Marxism) The intermediate phase of social development between capitalism and full communism in Marxist theory in which the state has control of the means of production.
  • Any of several later political philosophies such as libertarian socialism, democratic socialism and social democracy which do not envisage the need for full state ownership of the means of production nor transition to full communism, and which are typically are based on principles of community decision making, social equality and the avoidance of economic and social exclusion, with economic policy should giving first preference to community goals over individual ones.
  • *1978, The Cultural Contradictions of Capitalism, Basic Books, page xii:

For me, socialism is not statism, or the collective ownership of the means of production. It is a judgment on the priorities of economic policy.. the community takes precedence over the individual in legitimate economic policy. The first lien on the resources of a society therefore should be to establish that “social minimum” which would allow individuals to lead a life of self-respect, to be members of the community.

Communism
  • Any political philosophy or ideology advocating holding the production of resources collectively.
  • Any political social system that implements a communist political philosophy.
  • The international socialist society where classes and the state no longer exist.
Fascism
  • (historical) A political regime, having totalitarian aspirations, ideologically based on a relationship between business and the centralized government, business-and-government control of the marketplace, repression of criticism or opposition, a leader cult and exalting the state and/or religion above individual rights. Originally only applied (usually capitalized) to (Benito Mussolini)’s Italy.
  • By vague analogy, any system of strong autocracy or oligarchy usually to the extent of bending and breaking the law, race-baiting and violence against largely unarmed populations.
Corporatism
  • Political/economic system in which power is exercised through large organizations (businesses, trade unions, their associated lobbying efforts, etc.) working in concert or conflict with each other; usually with the goal of influencing or subsuming the direction of the state and generally only to benefit their own socioeconomic agendas at the expense of the will of the people, and to the detriment of the common good.
  • The influence of large business corporations in politics.

Now, let’s look at some key actors on the stage.

Actor Discussion
Congress Two Constitutional amendments in 1914 changed Congress. The 16th Amendment allowed Congress to spend money any way it sees fit. Prior to that, there were significant constraints on how Congress could spend. The Income Tax then gave Congress the revenues to spend. The 17th Amendment changed how the senatorial selection process. Prior to the amendment, states appointed senators, and they represented the state. The senate was a body for the states. The 17th amendment made senators popularly elected and changed the senate. These two amendments re-shape the balance of federalism and concentrated power in the hands of Congress. This power is in the hands of people whose only qualification is age, residency, and breathing. One congressional representative questioned whether moving forces from Okinawa to Guam would cause the island to tip over. Not all people in congress are quite like this, but the key attribute now is to stay elected and gain seniority and power.
Black Lives Matter (BLM) BLM has an ostensibly powerful initiative—raise awareness of the deaths of young Black men and reduce the risks the Black community perceives. However, at its core, it is a Marxist organization that seeks political power and control. Its leaders have admitted their Marxist ideology, but it gets lost in the loud voices of those who genuinely believe BLM has noble motives, those who seek to confuse and obfuscate their motives, and those who are using BLM for their own ends. They are clever in their selection of the name Black Lives Matter. Many in Congress and the private sector publicly avow BLM and support it.
Socialist Wing of the Democratic Party The socialists in the Democratic Party are at least honest about being socialists. However, they paint themselves more like the Scandinavian countries than actual socialists. As the Scandinavians will tell you, they are not socialists. They are capitalists, but in a corporatist mold with prescribed social safety networks. The Scandinavians are right. And the Democratic socialists want you to think that is what they want—a Scandinavian model. But is that what they truly want?
Republican Party In some ways, the Republican Party is worse than the Socialist Wing of the Democratic Party. At least the socialists are open about their policies. The Republican Party espouses conservative policy, but never seems to act on it. Do that have a deeper goal? Is there a serpent lurking in the center of the spiral of memes they cast? What are their objectives?
Corporations There are many corporations mandating Critical Race Theory (CRT) and supporting BLM. The question is, why? Do they see this as the right, socially just thing to do, or is there a deeper motive? Do they see these policies as beneficial to stockholders and other stakeholders, or are they a steppingstone to something else? I doubt they lost their profit motive, so how do they see expanding business and profits with CRT? Does the center of their candy hold a key to prosperity?

The US is a nominal capitalist system, so the motivation for change among the mainstream culture is not high. However, the left and BLM and its allies dislike it. Capitalism takes work and is competitive. But still it is well entrenched and socialism may be hard pressed to overturn it. But what if the goal is a hybrid corporatist/fascist model. The left uses the term ANTIFA to direct attention away from any fascist motives. But what do their actions communicate? What do the corporations really want? Is there a puppet master behind these organizations pulling the strings? Sounds like a conspiracy theory…

Part 1: Political Movements—Maskirovka and Words Hide Meanings

Part 2—What is in a Name?

Part 3—Controlling the Narrative and Cultural Hegemony

Part4—Mining for Controlling Labels

Part 5—Does Culture Matter?

Part 6—A Riddle Wrapped in a Mystery Wrapped inside an Enigma

 

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