Third Saturday Seminar 2015-2016
Return of the Elders, Unleash your Wisdom
Session 06
“Authoritarianism”
A new metric for our Interesting Times
A Discussion with Curt Gibby
Saturday, 12 March 2016 (Second Saturday due to Spring Break)
9:30AM til 12:00 NOON
Room B-102, Lone Star College – Montgomery
3200 College Park Drive – Conroe, TX – 77384 – 936.273.7000
During a recent conversation with Steve Gorman, our ALL Program Manager, he made me aware that “authoritarianism” is now entering the common political dialog as a way understand and measure the astounding response that Donald Trump is receiving from voters during the current Presidential Primary Primaries. This is in spite of his gross disregard for not only the rules of political correctness, but civility, propriety, and credibility as well. He seems to have achieved resonance not only with voters but with the mainstream broadcast and digital media who have delighted in provoking his outbursts but by now must be wondering if it has been wise to feed this monster with publicity.
The phenomenon has been under study by academics since the rise of Fascism and the Naziism
My personal “take” on the chaos has been: Although the media want us to believe the American people are divided by the empty rhetoric that the media has injected into the debates. I venture that when it comes to the important things like Health, Security, Education, Opportunity, Fair Taxation across the economy and an uncorrupt government at least 80 percent of “We the People” will agree. However as we discuss “Authoritarianism” we may find that it is in fact “Trumping” the common interests of the majority of Americans.
Is Donald Trump the only candidate that may benefit from “Authoritarianism”? Think about it.
“We may now have a de facto three-party system: the Democrats, the GOP establishment, and the GOP authoritarians.” Amanda Taub
We will work from three sources, all available on the Internet.
The first link is relatively short and gives you the first, four line, “reliable filter” useful to measure “Authoritarianism” in voters.
The second link by Amanda Taub is a more encompassing discussion, (It would print out to 64 pages which I don’t recommend) She discusses the history of the research and the work of other investigators. I recommend skimming the text and digging in where it seems interesting to you. It seems to repeat ideas several times.
The Third by George Lakoff (Courtesy of Gene Bruce) is a more conventional analysis of why Trump is staying on top.
The One Weird Trait That Predicts Whether You’re a Trump Supporter
And it’s not gender, age, income, race or religion.
By Matthew MacWilliams
January 17, 2016
“If I asked you what most defines Donald Trump supporters, what would you say? They’re white? They’re poor? They’re uneducated? You’d be wrong.”
The rise of American authoritarianism
by Amanda Taub on March 1, 2016
A niche group of political scientists may have uncovered what’s driving Donald Trump’s ascent. What they found has implications that go well beyond 2016.
Why Trump?” by George Lakoff, Friday, March 11, 2016
Donald Trump is winning Republican presidential primaries at such a great rate that he seems likely to become the next Republican presidential nominee and perhaps the next president. Democrats have little understanding of why he is winning — and winning handily, and even many Republicans don’t see him as a Republican and are trying to stop him, but don’t know how. There are various theories: People are angry and he speaks to their anger. People don’t think much of Congress and want a non-politician. Both may be true. But why? What are the details? And Why Trump?
As usual (Our world is still in “interesting times”). We will start the session with Current Events (Distractions)
Presidential Primaries (www.realclearpolitics.com)
Republican Delegate Count
Republican Popular Vote Count
Democratic Delegate Count
Democratic Popular Vote Count
Truce in Syria
The Syrian government and the opposition have agreed on a cease-fire in Syria, which has resulted in a significant drop in violence. The fighting hasn’t completely stopped since there are reports of some airstrikes that violate the agreement.
Russia warns North Korea over threats of nuclear strike
One of Pyongyang’s few remaining allies says country is in danger of creating legal grounds for international military intervention. NK News reports
Chad O’Carroll for NK News, part of the North Korea network
Tuesday 8 March 2016 09.34 EST
Russia has warned North Korea that threats to deliver “preventive nuclear strikes” could create a legal basis for the use of military force against the country, suggesting that even Pyongyang’s few remaining friends are growing concerned about its increasingly confrontational stance.
As Trump rolls again, opposition has one week to stop him
By Dan Balz March 8 at 11:12 PM
The Republican presidential campaign has entered what could be the most critical week of the primary season, with the party elites almost out of time to deny the GOP nomination to New York billionaire Donald Trump short of a potentially bloody fight at the national convention in July.
Voters For Trump Ad – SNL – Satire Video 1:25 min
The General election will be Tuesday, November 8 2016 Will you be ready?
Third Saturday Seminars – Spring 2016
6 Sessions
To refer to an ancient Chinese saying, “our world is in interesting times” and individual citizens are assaulted with a blinding array of propaganda from every conceivable source. The Third Saturday Seminar is about demystification of what is going on around us. Time will also be spent on current events. Meets 1/16, 2/20, 3/12, 4/16 (2nd Sat), 5/21 and 6/18. Meets on Montgomery Campus in B102.
15216 S 1/16-6/18 9:30 a.m.-Noon B102 Gibby
LSC-Montgomery
3200 College Park Drive, Conroe, TX 77384
ALL- Montgomery Links:
Academy for Lifelong Learning: LSC-Montgomery
http://www.lonestar.edu/all-montgomery.htm
Steven Gorman
Program Manager, Academy for Lifelong Learning,
LSC-Montgomery 936.273.7259
steven.gorman@lonestar.edu
Registration
How do I register for a class? You can fill out a registration form and submit it to ALL:
· In person: LSC-Montgomery (3200 College Park Dr., Conroe, TX 77384), Continuing Education/ALL Office Building E (Room 205)
· Phone: 936.273.7446 ,Fax: 936.273.7262
Reminder for ALL members:
Please let ALL know if you change your address, phone number, or email. Call 936.273.7446 or email: MCALL@LoneStar.edu.
“Some part of our being knows this (the universe) is where we came from. We long to return. And we can. Because the cosmos is also within us; We’re made of star-stuff. We are a way for the cosmos to know itself.” Carl Sagan
Curt Gibby, Director,