"Mr. Political Science Major" says: Leftism is authoritarian by nature, and political correctness...

[bbernardini]

...has Marxist origins. Enjoy!

"You can rationalize political correctness all you like. It's not sensitivity. It amounts to suppressing legitimate debate and dissent, which is anti-democratic. It's origins are Marxist, and it is un-American.

Censorship is censorship. The left holds the reins of power and is in the position to use its power to crush dissent. The right isn't. Leftism is authoritarian by nature."

[xchrom]

1. so who is this ignoramus putting out this bullshit?

never heard of him.

[bbernardini]

4. You wouldn't have heard of him. That's just my nickname for him.

See this thread for more background:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=5843826

[rockymountaindem]

2. The fact that these types are always so bent out of shape by PC just shows their immaturity

PC does not "suppress legitimate debate" anymore than the social preference to avoid using vulgarities in certain situations does. Knowing that calling someone a "retard" will provoke disapproval is no different from knowing that walking up to the register at McDonalds and saying "I'd like a fucking big mac" will have the same effect. Some peoples' constant hang-up with "political correctness" just goes to show they enjoy being disrespectful, condescending and offensive just for fun.

[Confusious]

5. I do that all the time

>Knowing that calling someone a "retard" will provoke disapproval is no different from knowing that walking up to the register at McDonalds and saying >"I'd like a fucking big mac"

Nobody except stick-up-the-butt PC people get upset.

>disrespectful, condescending and offensive just for fun

Yea, 'cause its funny. Really left and really right seem to have lost the part of the brain for FUNNY

Of course, I'm not going to call a disabled person a "retard", but I'll call a friend who I know has no problems a "retard"

[Wickerman]

6. So, you have no problem with demeaning the developmentally disabled

by proxy when you call your friends "retard".

Nice,

All I need to know about you.

[muriel_volestrangler]

11. For the record, do not use that word for anyone on DU, however much of a political enemy they are

or however stupidly they've behaved. Yes, we have that "stick-up-the-butt" too. Using that term denigrates the disabled people if you apply it to others, as well.

[DURHAM D]

3. Yep - I agree with the political correctness point.

I always saw - Don't be politically correct. Just BE CORRECT.

[Dramarama]

7. But...

Why did the right get angry about Obama's special Olympic comment?
Sotomayers comment?
Letterman's comment?
Not that I agree with them

[zeemike]

9. I know it was a rhetorical question but I am tempted to say

That you do know that the right wing is capable of doublethink don't you?
They can hold two contradictory ideas in the mind at one time. PC is bad now and good tomorrow if the situation warrants it.

[Johonny]

8. authoritarianism can be approached from the left or right

I find political correctness is slightly misleading. Political correctness sometimes helps mask horrible racists like Lou Dobbs.

[bbernardini]

10. Kick for the morning folks to enjoy!

[baldguy]

12. Authoritarianism didn't begin with Marx.

It has nothing to do with Marx. The Marxist ideal is a democracy in which every citizen makes decisions in the interest of the collective. It fails to take into account the natural tendency for one person or small group of people to dominate. Mr. Political Science Major understand this. He should also know that the Marxist just because someone calls themself a Marxist doesn't mean they actually are a Marxist.

[Kitty Herder]

13. The thing they don't get about political correctness is that the government doesn't force

anyone to be politically correct. There are no laws enforcing it. So it is not censorship.

You can be as politically incorrect as you want to be. Just don't expect anyone to like you. And yes, your boss can fire you for being rude and offending people. "Politically correct" is just another way of saying "polite."

[Echo In Light]

14. Rightward people are highly projective

Hence if what they perceive to be the political party they personally identify with is often, and justifiably, criticized as being authoritarian in nature (slavish, unquestioning obedience to leaders, rules, traditions, etc) then it's very likely that such a person will rely on childish conjecture in attempting to refute the claim:

"Nu-Auh! YOUR party is the authoritarian one!"

That's basically all they've got. Or, in practical terms, examine the context of how the predominant forms of authoritarianism manifested from the 20th century onward.

When one examines the views, thought processes, which "traditions" are embraced, and why, and which types of mass media consumed by those who are leftward vs rightward, one finds many more rational free thinkers on the left - as is often seen here @DU - and a far greater sense of pride among rightists who harbor this twisted sense of 'honor and loyalty' via adhering to a strict code of conduct that is often morally inflated (the flag, the bible, protecting the children) yet lacking any real action to back up its rhetoric/validity.

"Political Correctness" may have a groupthink prototype, but I've found that it's mostly older people within the Professional Class ("moderates") who find it necessary to abide that degree of euphemistic obfuscation. Hasn't anything to do with the Left...depending, I suppose, on how you choose to define Left.

[NoSheep]

15. Ding!