Who’s probably playing at one of the inaugural balls, alas.

Look into my eyes, what do you see? | The cult of personality

Via Mike Goldfarb.

This stuff is just creeping me out. Why? I’m not worried about the Republic (though if socialized medicine gets passed, we’re Europe’s glide path to oblivion), but the psychology is familiar and creepy. It’s the urge to abandon the self to the charismatic leader. It goes way back to our being hunter-gatherers looking for the guy who can best take down a mammoth. But it needs to be suppressed if we’re to be free citizens. Otherwise, even the best, most civilized people can slide into YES, WE CAN…be docile subjects.

BELIEVE, OBEY, FIGHT

YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES



My leader! We can only do one thing: We thank the leader! We say thank you, which is total love and unconditional loyalty! My leader! Wherever the path leads, we will follow! Hail, my leader! —Arthur Seyss-Inquart, Vienna, 15 March 1938

Grab the effing reins, people.