- Joined
- Jul 8, 2020
I probably interpret left/right distinctions through Haidt's moral foundations theory more often than I should, but it does seem to explain a lot. Conservatives, unlike liberals, consider authority to be a source of moral authority; it's intrinsically good to obey authority. This also predicts propensity for violence. In a functioning society, there is a social contract in which the people cede the right to commit violence to the government, and the government agrees to use violence only in a lawful manner. Conservatives might not be happy with the government, they might want to disengage with it entirely, but they acknowledge the moral force inherent in authority and usually fulfill their part in this social contract. Liberals don't particularly care about authority, it's a useful tool but not a moral force in itself, so this contract is lightly thrown aside.
This moral attachment to authority is why right-wing extremists imagine the government isn't really the legitimate government, it's ZOG or admiralty courts or reptilians, and they usually self-isolate innawoods to avoid engaging with that authority. Direct action is limited to lone wolves and small groups. The left has a much lower barrier to anti-authority violence. It's much easier to recruit leftists to engage in violence against the government. T
Not true.hat's why we have hundreds, if not thousands, of left-wing terrorists active in 2020, while recent right-wing terrorism is limited to, I think, a soi-disant Proud Boy maybe punching someone.
The right (as of now) is big on questionin authority. The left demands to be obeyed without question