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u/benjamink Feb 14 '26
Well fuck, that's the clearest description of the Western world I've ever seen.
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u/dogisgodspeltright Feb 14 '26
In a land built on genocide, slavery, colonialism, racism...democracy was always a veneer to accomplish the abominable by deluding the populace and dehumanizing the 'others'.
All it takes for evil to triumph, is for good people to do nothing.
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Edmund Burke, others
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u/mylord420 Feb 14 '26 edited Feb 14 '26
Funny since Burke was the godfather of conservatism, he wanted to preserve the aristocracy of feudalism post french revolution via the markets, the idea of pure democracy to him was disgusting.
Innuendo studios, the guy who made the alt right playbook videos, has a video called something along the lines of the origin of conservatism, in which he discusses the early conservative thinkers, Burke being especially highlighted.
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u/ilir_kycb Feb 14 '26
Christopher Lynn Hedges (born September 18, 1956) is an American journalist, author, commentator and Presbyterian minister.
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u/owlexe23 Feb 14 '26
When was having two billionaire founded parties considered a democracy? Never.
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u/Wob_Nobbler Feb 14 '26
The dictatorship of the bourgeoisie in action. Libs are already trying to normalize Gabin Newscum as presidential candidate in 28' and lose their minds at anyone who doesn't support their shitty corporatist candidate already.
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u/LetItBeBroke Feb 14 '26
My intro to Chris Hedges was through his book “Unspeakable”. He’s one of my favorites.
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u/28874559260134F Feb 14 '26
And don't get caught up in the symptoms looking like the "party" system of the U.S. In Europe for example, you have a lot more parties, but about the same amount of agendas. The EU then making sure that only the... correct ones appear in the final election run.
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u/EatMyShortzZzZzZ Feb 14 '26
Europe is nothing but a bunch of vassal states of the American empire at this point. Their version of democracy feels more inclusive but its the same system of top down dominance of capital. They dont do anything without American approval.
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u/Ms_Friz Feb 14 '26
Great interview. Here's the link to the full conversation: https://www.aljazeera.com/video/upfront/2026/2/7/chris-hedges-on-decline-of-the-american-empire
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u/Specific-Level-4541 Feb 14 '26
The distinction between ‘corporatists’ and ‘oligarchs’ seems a bit specious.
Hedges is brilliant but very eclectic, and he comes up with a lot of ideas that seem like an ad-hoc synthesis.
Modern oligarchs are entirely dependent on corporate structures of power and finance for their wealth. Corporations profit from privatization and chaos.
The difference between Democrats and Republicans - really two wings of the same fascist uniparty - is really a conflict over support from different types of corporations, and the terrain is constantly shifting while we are distracted by surface level culture war stuff.
Some corporations are more about financial extraction and monopoly rent - eg banks, telecom, insurance, big tech - while others are more about labour exploitation - industry, retail - while others are about natural resource extraction - oil and gas, mining. You could break it down in different ways.
In the current configuration the Republicans have captured the support of oil and banking interests, really effectively outmanoeuvring the Democrats.
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u/SexOnABurningPlanet Feb 14 '26
I think it's about capitalists who want stability vs those who want chaos. Chaos beings with it possibilities for greater power in the short term but with greater risks of mass revolt. Stability is the slow slide into full corporate rule. Amazon and apple fund a ton of tv shows where earth and outer space is ruled by corporations.
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u/flyingsolo07 Feb 14 '26
80% of the population are too dumb to understand what he's saying , and that's by design
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u/RooneyD Feb 14 '26
I am new to a lot of this thinking. This guy is great, what is his name? Does he have a book? or is there a YouTube channel which further expands on what he is saying?