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ous, dogmatic, uncritical toward their chosen authority, hypocritical, inconsistent and contradictory, prone to panic easily, highly self-righteous, moralistic, strict disciplinarian, severely punitive, demands loyalty and returns it, little self-awareness, usually politically and economically conservative/Republican. [2]
Then there are the leaders. They are the social dominators - people (mostly males) who want to rule over others.
Again, I have prepared a listing of the traits revealed in the testing of these remarkably manipulative and cunning personalities, who are typically men: dominating, opposes equality, desirous of personal power, amoral, intimidating and bullying, faintly hedonistic, vengeful, pitiless, exploitive, manipulative, dishonest, cheats to win, highly prejudiced (racist, sexist, homophobic), mean-spirited, militant, nationalistic, tells others what they want to hear, takes advantage of "suckers," specializes in creating false images to sell self, may or may not be religious, usually politically and economically conservative/Republican. [3]
Dean then examines how people with these personality types have shaped the Republican Party and what that means. He concludes that the type of conservatism that dominates in the United States is Authoritarian Conservatism and having these people in power has bad ramifications for the United States and for the world.
In a new book, Broken Government: How Republican Rule Destroyed the Legislative, Executive and Judicial Branches, John Dean reviews how the Authoritarian Conservatives have severely damaged the government they took over and he shows how the bad governance that we have experienced under them is no fluke. As he says, when authoritarian leaders get in charge, they don't govern, they rule. As an example, he discussed the way Newt Gingrich ruled the Congress when he was in charge.
Osborne reported that Gingrich was dominating, opposed to equality, desirous of personal power, and amoral; that he can be a bully, hedonistic, exploitive, manipulative, a cheater, prejudiced toward women, and mean-spirited; that he uses religion for political purposes; and that he wants others to submit to his authority and is aggressive on behalf of authority.
When Gingrich took charge of the House in 1995 as Speaker, he imposed authoritarian rule unlike that of any Speaker before him. His bullying, demanding style provoked antagonism and incivility, and made demonizing one's opponents standard operating procedure. Gingrich eliminated the seniority rights of Republicans in the House, and he personally selected committee chairs who would be loyal to him - and who could help raise money, using their posts for the good of the GOP. Gingrich lorded over the House, telling members not to bring their families back to Washington, and even suggesting which books they should be reading. [4]
One important point Dean makes is the Authoritarian Conservatives are not stymied when their actions are viewed negatively by the public. Not only is this a price that must be paid, but it actually shows them that they are doing what they must do.
Many observers have suggested that the Bush/Cheney Administration may, in the eyes of history, be the worst ever. Yet this condemnation must seem beside the point to authoritarians, for these people simply do not care what others think of their performance. What is important, in their eyes, is simply that these leaders and their compliant followers are doing things the way they believe they must be done, and enforcing their will upon any who dare to dissent or disagree. [5]
Our founding fathers fought a revolution against a tyrant king. They would not be pleased to see their carefully designed Constitution with its crucial checks and balances being shredded to empower a party that not only tolerates tyranny, today they actively cheer its arrival. The goals of the Authoritarian Conservatives are antithetical to the goals of the vast American public and the expressed philosophy of the Constitution. What are you doing to guarantee they are soundly defeated as we work to create a world in which our children and grandchildren can live?
Footnotes:
[1] Understanding the Contemporary Republican Party: Authoritarians Have Taken Control, http://writ.news.findlaw.com/dean/20070905.html
[2] Why Authoritarians Now Control the Republican Party: The Rise of Authoritarian Conservatism, http://writ.news.findlaw.com/dean/20070921.html
[3] Ibid.
[4] The Impact of Authoritarian Conservatism On American Government, http://writ.news.findlaw.com/dean/20070925.html
[5] Ibid.
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