Is this America's New Constitution?

[Toots]

http://tvnewslies.org/html/the_truth_about_george_w__bush.html

In essence, the Straussian philosophy and teachings are now known as Neo-Conservatism. Below are some of the more interesting and perhaps surprising or even disturbing aspects of Neo-Conservatism as taught by Strauss:

Nations cannot consider collective action and multilateralism unless it is 100 percent in line with their own selfish interests

Strong leadership is required

Military power is essential

Leadership ought not be encumbered by human rights discourse or a moral conscience but nonetheless must "appear" to advocate such ideas.

Rulers need not observe the laws they impose on the ruled.

A ruler can cheat and lie and do all sorts of things but should at all time maintain the outside appearance of adherence to human rights and caring for people.

Leaders can use religion as one of many tools to ensure the nation keeps on course as formulated.

Outside threats help ensure social cohesion under domestic leadership

Altruism, environmental protection, justice etc, are not the concern of governments and ruling elites. They have no part to play in the equation of power

Strauss questioned how, and to what extent, freedom and excellence can coexist.
Strauss was very pre-occupied with secrecy because he was convinced that the truth is too harsh for any society to bear; and that the truth-bearers are likely to be persecuted by society, especially a liberal society because liberal democracy is about as far as one can get from the truth as Strauss understood it.

Secular society is the worst possible thing, because it leads to individualism, liberalism, and relativism, precisely those traits that may promote dissent that in turn could dangerously weaken society's ability to cope with external threats

Nazism was a nihilistic reaction to the ungodly and liberal nature of the Weimar Republic.

Religion should impose moral law on the masses who would otherwise be out of control.

[PuraVidaDreamin]

1. It does seem like it.

We need our press back, fair elections, and the
lackadaisical public to wake up, very soon, because
we are well on the way.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. My husband was reading on an Islamic

message board that one of the fundamentalist Muslims, Said Qtb, agreed with Strauss and his agenda. Qtb was an Egyptian government worker who came to the West, was totally disillusioned by Western culture and liberalism, and who went back to Egypt to join the Muslim Brotherhood to help plot Nassar's assassination. The poster there went on about how similar the agendas of the neocons and the fundamentalists are...makes me wonder if they aren't really in cahoots with one another.

[Sejanus]

3. nothing new under the sun

i understand your emphasis on Strauss, but i think the tried-and-true 'The Prince' comes closest to describing this regime.

[Deja Q]

4. Individualism? I thought the repubs were for that; against communism?

Still, there is a somewhat valid point here about sticking together to defend each other against a common enemy.

The trouble is, all the news we get is so slanted or merely unexplained. Particularly offshoring, which seems to be more of a gigantic threat TO national security than anything else. So, yes, I don't understand.

You can't talk about protecting yourself from external threats when more and more of your core becomes external! So, what am I missing - and I'll readily admit I'm naive.