I had an interesting time over the weekend meeting up with a couple of friends and going for a long hike, one of them was extremely concerned about the potential nazi affiliations/sympathies of the new American president, and was explaining how he believed that things were going to go downhill fast and that we would soon have a fully fascist regime.
For some reason I couldn’t fully explicate I don’t share his concerns.
However, I could also see that the discussion wasn’t settled for me, as I kept on chewing it. It eventually became clear that though I didn’t agree with his prediction, his fears about it were contagious, which made it clear that there was some ‘hook’ in me. After thinking about the issue via different avenues for a few days, I recalled that Richard had an article about peasant mentality which I had read only once and which I thought would touch on relevant aspects, so I decided to read it again.
The most salient point I have taken from it so far (I’m about halfway through the entire article as of writing this post) is that we have already been screwed by various elites throughout history, going back to agrarian society and throughout time various systems of laws have served only to entrench said screwing. Meanwhile, the psychic influence of peasant mentality resulted in an entire class of people who were effectively defending their captors leading to a state of denial and confusion among the general population.
So that immediately settled a large aspect of the question for me: we are already being screwed, with the difference mainly being one of degree rather than of whether it is happening or not. Further, our ability to do much about it as an individual is severely limited, especially as one’s effectiveness at pushing back directly correlates with the danger one is putting oneself in. Furthermore any successes ultimate prove pyrrhic in the face of the deep instinctive forces which drive the fascist/authoritarianist power dynamics.
Richard’s solution is simple: despite the factual disfranchisement, once one is free of the feeling of disfranchisement, a ‘remarkable freedom’ eventuates - with no need to rebel.
I found this understanding to be more than satisfactory to satisfy myself re: the present political situation in my country. It doesn’t release me from knowing what will happen next, but it doesn’t matter - I can’t prepare for all ends anyway.
It makes one thing clear though, which is that my friend was attempting to recruit me to see things his way, to ‘join his cause.’ Upon reflection, this appears to be related to anger about past misdeeds done by various political bad actors, and a passionate desire to prevent future tragedy. However, his imagination only reaches as far as political action, which as I mentioned above would be ultimately (and indeed likely immediately) pyrrhic. This is a very understandable stance, but not one that I have to be swept into.
At the same time, I appreciate that this does not involve sweeping such misdeeds and tragedies under the rug - they have been and continue to be abominations.
Finally, this approach is proving an extremely useful lens to see my personal primary bugbear through - the feeling of feeling disfranchised of a desirable mate.
It is no secret that economic and social status tend to be significant factors in mate selection, and the revelation that I have been blaming myself for both (a la peasant mentality) and not recognizing that the system is set up to enrich only a small proportion of the population and that by definition the bulk must be seen as ‘undesirable,’ with an extremely limited and statistically unlikely capacity to change that condition (at least as regards that top 10%, top 5%, or top 1%), meanwhile blaming that 90%/95%/99% for their condition.
It is now clear that I have been living fully in such a headspace, repeatedly railing against such a situation, wallowing in doubt and self-pity, and getting nowhere with such an approach. The solution is simple: recognize the facts and history of the situation, while no longer believing in the solidity or correctness of its underpinnings.
Further, it only reflects the peasant mentality of any potential mates if they turn me down on grounds that my status or wealth aren’t up to snuff. If they believe that they deserve ‘more’ and that anything ‘less’ is a disappointment, that’s their business. They are ultimately in the same historical and sociological moment that I am.
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As always I welcome any critiques or observations! This topic has long been a weighty one for me and as such there are likely to be things I got wrong in my passion. At this moment I feel quite light about the whole situation though - a most delightful turn of events.