Authoritarian(ism)

[mick silver]

Authoritarian(ism)Political repression and the exclusion of potential challengers are two of the earmarks of authoritarianism. A highly concentrated and centralized power organization helps mobilize – even forces – people to achieve the goals of the State.
The rule over man instead of the rule of law is the main objective of an authoritarian government. Elections are usually rigged and political decisions are usually made by a select group behind closed doors. The main objective in most cases is the unregulated and informal exercise of political power by a leadership that is self-annointed/elected.
A military and a bureaucracy that operates above the rules maintain political stability. Allegiance to the regime is created through various forced socialization practices that must be followed or the consequences are severe. The authoritarian regime has indefinite political tenure so trying to get rid of a corrupt leader and his/her ruling party is a monumental task for ordinary citizens.
Authoritarianism can lead to totalitarianism (http://www.thedailybell.com/definitions/params/id/1924/), which is the extreme form of authoritarianism. Totalitarian followers are manipulated by a charismatic leader that practices a pseudo-democratic interdependence with followers through an ideology, which seems legitimate. Authoritarians view themselves as a person; totalitarians are viewed as an indispensable function that has the power to reshape as well as guide the populace through the universe.
The 21st century may be the century when global unity takes a giant step forward in terms of individual freedom, but in order to achieve that goal some of the political regimes in countries around the world must go through a democratic metamorphosis – of a local orientation – that weeds out despots and authoritarian rulers who line their pockets with incredible wealth and keep their societies in a state of fear. It is important, however, that such change happen without the intrusive arm of a hidden power elite (http://www.thedailybell.com/definitions/params/id/610/) pulling the manipulative levers of political and media control in order to stimulate a change that is nothing other than a glossy sounding movement devoid of any true purpose and one that feeds directly into the hands of those most intent on subjecting the nation to rape and pillage – albeit, in today'sInternet Reformation (http://www.thedailybell.com/definitions/params/id/2195/) era, one that's cloaked in a transparent veil of artificial democracy (http://www.thedailybell.com/definitions/params/id/1862/).
Hope lies, if nowhere else, in what we have taken to calling the Internet Reformation. Like the Reformation before it, sparked by the Gutenberg Press (http://www.thedailybell.com/definitions/params/id/764/), the Internet Reformation is changing the sociopolitical structure of the world. The Gutenberg Press was partially responsible for the Renaissance (http://www.thedailybell.com/definitions/params/id/3145/),Protestant Reformation (http://www.thedailybell.com/definitions/params/id/2434/), Glorious Revolution (http://www.thedailybell.com/definitions/params/id/2454/), US Revolution, French Revolution (http://www.thedailybell.com/definitions/params/id/1933/), etc. Not all of these events created nations and sociopolitical systems, but some did. In the 21st century, the Internet Reformation remains a bright hope when it comes to counteracting the depredations of authoritarianism and one of the most important efforts of the Foundation for the Advancement for Free-Market Thinking (http://www.thedailybell.com/definitions/params/id/596/)(FAFMT) and the Daily Bell is to do our absolute best, via education, to contribute to beheading the beast that is Leviathan (http://www.thedailybell.com/definitions/params/id/28179/).

[palani]

to contribute to beheading the beast that is Leviathan

By strange coincidence there is a book called LEVIATHAN and this is part of chapter XVI


Actor, Author
Authority
Of Persons Artificiall, some have their words and actions Owned
by those whom they represent. And then the Person is the Actor;
and he that owneth his words and actions, is the AUTHOR:
In which case the Actor acteth by Authority. For that which
in speaking of goods and possessions, is called an Owner,
and in latine Dominus, in Greeke Kurios; speaking of Actions,
is called Author. And as the Right of possession, is called
Dominion; so the Right of doing any Action, is called AUTHORITY.
So that by Authority, is alwayes understood a Right of doing any act:
and Done By Authority, done by Commission, or Licence from him
whose right it is.

Covenants By Authority, Bind The Author
From hence it followeth, that when the Actor maketh a Covenant
by Authority, he bindeth thereby the Author, no lesse than if
he had made it himselfe; and no lesse subjecteth him to all
the consequences of the same. And therfore all that hath been
said formerly, (Chap. 14) of the nature of Covenants between
man and man in their naturall capacity, is true also when they are
made by their Actors, Representers, or Procurators, that have authority
from them, so far-forth as is in their Commission, but no farther.

And therefore he that maketh a Covenant with the Actor, or Representer,
not knowing the Authority he hath, doth it at his own perill.
For no man is obliged by a Covenant, whereof he is not Author; nor
consequently by a Covenant made against, or beside the Authority he gave.

But Not The Actor
When the Actor doth any thing against the Law of Nature by command
of the Author, if he be obliged by former Covenant to obey him,
not he, but the Author breaketh the Law of Nature: for though the
Action be against the Law of Nature; yet it is not his: but contrarily;
to refuse to do it, is against the Law of Nature, that forbiddeth
breach of Covenant.

[Hatha Sunahara]

Authority is a 'means' by which one is absolved of personal responsibility for following orders. It is a two sided coin. The authority issuing orders does not have to deal with morality or even legality, and those receiving the orders and obeying them do not have to deal with those concerns either because they assume the issuer of the orders has done that, and is responsible and their job is merely to obey. The notion of responsibility is defined out of existence. So, despite whatever possible good that can come from authority, it is primarily the tool of the devil.

In the Nuremberg trials the claim that one was 'Just following orders.' was not sufficient to absolve them from making a judgment whether those orders were lawful or not. Bottom line is that everyone is responsible for what they do--even if ordered to do it by someone else.

Problem is that courage to disobey orders is scarcer than hen's teeth. Humans are spineless unless they have authority backing them up.



Hatha