The Paranoid Style in American Politics. Terror, Terror, Terrorists are Coming

[L. Coyote]

Add to the Paranoid Senators Club, Larry Craig of Idaho.

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The Paranoid Style in American Politics
BY Scott Horton - Aug. 16, 2007
http://www.harpers.org/archive/2007/08/hbc-90000908


..... examples:

In an interview with the Anchorage Daily News, the senior Republican in the U.S. Senate, Ted Stevens, says “This paper has done nothing but try to assassinate me.”

..............

Hofstadter is very clear that the “paranoid style” is something with deep roots in American culture. Something almost universal, in fact. In Hofstadter’s view this “paranoid style” was not necessarily right-wing ........

Hofstadter gives a long historical survey, and details the phenomenon from the early days of the Republic. Suspicions directed at newly arrived waves of immigrants, at nationalities and religions. The hysteria over Jesuits, for instance. Hofstadter writes, “Anti-Catholicism has always been the pornography of the Puritan.” And then waves of anxiety about conspiratorial secret societies, such as the Free Masons. He ends with a fascinating short history of the John Birch Society, one of the most compelling clips from the entire work.

The article has three key elements: a definition of the “paranoid style,” a discussion of the process of construction of the powerful and mysterious enemy, and finally a process of psychological projection in which the enemy’s own horrendous conduct is emulated as a supposed way of surmounting it.

......

[aquart]

1. ARGHHH! So what if they are????

They gave it their best shot and succeeded beyond their wildest dreams. How do they top 9/11? If they can't top it, they're better off doing nothing. Just muttering seems to frighten the life out of us anyway.

But this is America, where you're only as good as your LAST picture, last album. Al qaeda is Brittany Spears. Impressive once, but now? Lip synching.

[L. Coyote]

2. The analysis is particularly useful to understanding American Politics and

understanding this analysis is a lot like the "history repeating itself" axiom. Those who do not understand it are doomed. As such, understanding this is important. It may not be enjoyable to deal with having been deluded, conned, and manipulated, but it is necessary to clear the political air.

[Adsos Letter]

3. Have you read Bailyn's "Ideological Origins of the American Revolution"?

gives some great insights that follow along with "Paranoid Style" regarding pre-Revolutionary thinking/perceptions...

[L. Coyote]

4. Does it mention the King's prohibition on invading Ohio?

The revolutionary war threw off legal restraints, hence allowing conquest of Native lands and the initial American expansionism.