A thread was created, by a neo-con, asking what forum members defined a 'neo-conservative' as. It appears as though he deleted the thread after several responses, one of which was mine. I'm restarting the thread and reiterating my view:
To me a neo-conservative believes in one or more of the following principles:
- Consolidating, growing and perpetuating the current monopoly that they have on money, political power and military supremacy. Making sure that no other can compete with them on any level, by both legitimate and underhand means. Using their position of power to suppress others attempting to get ahead so that their position of dominance remains unthreatened.
- Imposing their values and systems on others across the globe (much like traditional fascists), whether they like it or not, through globalisation and the institutes that facilitate globalisation as well as down the barrel of a gun. Suppressing all forms of government different from their own as, if successful, said forms of government could present themselves as an alternative to the neo-con 'one true way'. Neo-cons go as far as to undermine democracy and use underhand and often clandestine financial, trade-related and military actions to force regime change where the democratic choice of a particular people doesn't fit their 'lapdog' needs.
- Exploitation of the material and human resources of countries through global financial institutions and other organisations that they themselves created, support and control (such as the IMF, World Bank, WTO, etc.). They then abandon said human resources, etc. when they are no longer 'economically viable' and do not seek to help countries in achieving sustainably healthy economies (as this poses a threat to their global dominance). Essentially capitalism at its cruellest. The bottom line is the dollar.
- Using the military, not as a deterrent or as a self-defence force, but as a tool for expanding, by force or threat of force, their power and influence across international boundaries. This tool can be used to free up material and mineral resources and to provide bases in strategic locations globally.
- Acting unilaterally on the global stage, agitating towards rewriting/destroying global commitments to various principles of conduct so that they can attempt to achieve their goals without let or hindrance.
- Happily employing double standards in pursuit of their various causes. Using 1984-style 'Double Speak' to paper over these double standards. Examples of double standards: touting democracy as the way forward whilst actively trying to destabilise the democratically elected governments of Venezuela and Palestine and overlooking the fact that Saudi Arabia is a barbaric dictatorship.
They often also believe in (although these alone are not defining characteristics):
1) Utilising Goebbels-style subversion of public opinion through the media with subtle and subliminal propaganda that influences the largely mindless TV-watching voting masses of large nations. Think 1984 [George Orwell] 'Double Speak': introducing generalised concepts & phrases, such as the term 'islamo-fascist', to demonise individuals and groups of people they wish to be deemed the current 'enemy' of the people, in the case of the example given: muslims. Creating associations in peoples minds that make their views more 'black and white' rather than grey and discerning. Human minds are surprisingly controllable en mass; propaganda and mass media is a dangerous weapon.
2) Privatisation of most/all public services, flat rate taxes, and the abolition/near abolition of all kinds of social welfare benefits such as medical care, etc. The aim of all this is to consolidate and expand the monopoly on power the 'neo-cons' currently possess by keeping the rich rich and the poor poor. The poor will be kept poor as their 'helping hands' are removed and the rich will get richer as they expand their monopolies across the newly freed up private services and the end of 'tax the rich' policies. They basically seek to perpetuate an inegalitarian society, with a growing gulf between the haves and have-nots, by removing all regulation of money-making activities and government intervention in their lives, to the detriment of society in general.
To me a neo-conservative believes in one or more of the following principles:
- Consolidating, growing and perpetuating the current monopoly that they have on money, political power and military supremacy. Making sure that no other can compete with them on any level, by both legitimate and underhand means. Using their position of power to suppress others attempting to get ahead so that their position of dominance remains unthreatened.
- Imposing their values and systems on others across the globe (much like traditional fascists), whether they like it or not, through globalisation and the institutes that facilitate globalisation as well as down the barrel of a gun. Suppressing all forms of government different from their own as, if successful, said forms of government could present themselves as an alternative to the neo-con 'one true way'. Neo-cons go as far as to undermine democracy and use underhand and often clandestine financial, trade-related and military actions to force regime change where the democratic choice of a particular people doesn't fit their 'lapdog' needs.
- Exploitation of the material and human resources of countries through global financial institutions and other organisations that they themselves created, support and control (such as the IMF, World Bank, WTO, etc.). They then abandon said human resources, etc. when they are no longer 'economically viable' and do not seek to help countries in achieving sustainably healthy economies (as this poses a threat to their global dominance). Essentially capitalism at its cruellest. The bottom line is the dollar.
- Using the military, not as a deterrent or as a self-defence force, but as a tool for expanding, by force or threat of force, their power and influence across international boundaries. This tool can be used to free up material and mineral resources and to provide bases in strategic locations globally.
- Acting unilaterally on the global stage, agitating towards rewriting/destroying global commitments to various principles of conduct so that they can attempt to achieve their goals without let or hindrance.
- Happily employing double standards in pursuit of their various causes. Using 1984-style 'Double Speak' to paper over these double standards. Examples of double standards: touting democracy as the way forward whilst actively trying to destabilise the democratically elected governments of Venezuela and Palestine and overlooking the fact that Saudi Arabia is a barbaric dictatorship.
They often also believe in (although these alone are not defining characteristics):
1) Utilising Goebbels-style subversion of public opinion through the media with subtle and subliminal propaganda that influences the largely mindless TV-watching voting masses of large nations. Think 1984 [George Orwell] 'Double Speak': introducing generalised concepts & phrases, such as the term 'islamo-fascist', to demonise individuals and groups of people they wish to be deemed the current 'enemy' of the people, in the case of the example given: muslims. Creating associations in peoples minds that make their views more 'black and white' rather than grey and discerning. Human minds are surprisingly controllable en mass; propaganda and mass media is a dangerous weapon.
2) Privatisation of most/all public services, flat rate taxes, and the abolition/near abolition of all kinds of social welfare benefits such as medical care, etc. The aim of all this is to consolidate and expand the monopoly on power the 'neo-cons' currently possess by keeping the rich rich and the poor poor. The poor will be kept poor as their 'helping hands' are removed and the rich will get richer as they expand their monopolies across the newly freed up private services and the end of 'tax the rich' policies. They basically seek to perpetuate an inegalitarian society, with a growing gulf between the haves and have-nots, by removing all regulation of money-making activities and government intervention in their lives, to the detriment of society in general.
Last edited by CameronPoe (2006-09-18 16:40:01)