Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 30, 2025

Is liberal democracy still viable in our complex world

I pass on the background reading for this Sunday's (8/3/25)Austin Rainbow Forum, which I host at my house on the first Sunday of every month at 2 p.m.  It was prepared by Daniel Owen with help from several LLMs.  

‭ Is Liberal Democracy Still Viable in Our Complex World?‬

‭ Three Perspectives‬

 

I.‬‭ Democracy‬‭ has‬‭ become‬‭ too‬‭ inefficient‬‭ for‬‭ the‬‭ modern‬‭ world‬‭ 

‭ II.‬‭ Democracy‬‭ was‬‭ never‬‭ that‬‭ great‬‭ 

‭ III.‬‭ Contemporary‬‭ factors‬‭ contributing‬‭ to‬‭ discontent‬‭ .

‭ 

AI summary‬

 

This document explores the viability of liberal democracy through three perspectives.‬

‭ The first perspective, influenced by Curtis Yarvin, argues that liberal democracy is‬

‭ inefficient for the modern world due to its disconnect between formal power mechanisms‬

‭ and the "Cathedral" (an informal layer of governance by entrenched bureaucracies, media,‬

‭ etc.). Yarvin proposes "neo-monarchism" or "formalism" as an alternative, emphasizing‬

‭ formalized power, a single executive authority (like a CEO), non-democratic legitimacy‬

‭ based on results,"exit over voice" for citizens, the abolition of the "Cathedral," and‬ "governance-as-a-service."

‭ 

The second perspective, drawing on Plato and modern psychology, suggests that‬

 democracy has always been a "polite dictatorship." It argues that democracy creates an‬

‭ illusion of choice and empowerment while concentrating real power in unaccountable‬

‭ actors. Psychological phenomena like conformity and choice overload lead citizens to‬

‭ desire simplification and empower demagogues, ultimately leading to a tyranny disguised‬

‭ as popular will.‬

‭ 

The third perspective examines contemporary factors contributing to discontent with liberal‬

‭ democracy, leading to the rise of right-wing populism. These factors include economic‬

‭ insecurities (globalization, inflation, perceived loss of status), cultural shifts (immigration,‬

‭ cultural backlash, tribalism), political disillusionment with elites, and technological‬

‭ influences (social media, post-truth politics).‬

 

I.‬‭ Democracy has become too inefficient for the‬

‭ modern world‬

 

Intro: Curtis Yarvin, a prominent far right blogger and provocateur, is an influential critic of liberal‬

‭ democracy. His ideas seem to carry a lot of weight in certain corners of the right wing‬

‭ manosphere. Yarvin’s writings are too lengthy for our purposes, so I asked ChatGPT to respond‬

‭ to our topic from his perspective.‬

 

Is Liberal Democracy Still Viable in Our Complex World?‬

‭ 

(Academic-style response from the perspective of Curtis Yarvin)‬

‭ 

From a systems analysis perspective, the viability of liberal democracy in the modern world is‬

‭ increasingly questionable. While the liberal democratic model succeeded in stabilizing‬

‭ post-Enlightenment political orders and catalyzing industrial and economic growth during the‬

‭ 19th and 20th centuries, it appears ill-equipped to manage the radically increased complexity,‬

‭ interconnectivity, and institutional sprawl of the 21st century.‬

 

‭ At the heart of the problem is the disconnect between the formal mechanisms of‬

‭ power—elections, legislatures, constitutions—and the actual structure of governance. Modern‬

‭ liberal democracies often present the‬‭ appearance‬‭ of‬‭ popular sovereignty, but the real engines of‬

‭ policy and power lie elsewhere: within entrenched bureaucracies, unelected administrative‬

‭ agencies, university-driven ideologies, media narratives, and global financial and technological‬

‭ networks. This‬‭ informal layer‬‭ of governance is what‬‭ I have called the Cathedral—a distributed,‬

‭ ideological structure that effectively sets the boundaries of permissible thought and policy,‬

‭ regardless of electoral outcomes.‬

 

‭ Liberal democracy, in this sense, functions more as a‬‭ legitimating ritual‬‭ than as a mechanism of‬

‭ control. The electorate does not exercise real power in any substantive way. Instead, they‬

‭ confer symbolic consent on decisions already shaped by technocratic, bureaucratic, and‬

‭ ideological forces. The democratic form masks an oligarchic or even theocratic reality—albeit‬

‭ one dressed in the language of progress and equality.‬

 

‭ In times of low complexity, such a system can endure. But in our current era—defined by crises‬

‭ of trust, fragmentation of epistemic authority, and the proliferation of information warfare—it‬

‭ becomes increasingly brittle. Liberal democracy no longer organizes society; it struggles to even‬

‭ describe it accurately.‬

 

What Should Replace Liberal Democracy?‬

 

Yarvin’s alternative is often described—sometimes dismissively—as “neo-monarchism” or‬

“formalism.” But at its core, it is an attempt to apply engineering logic and corporate‬

‭ management principles to political systems.‬

 

Key Features of Yarvin’s Alternative:‬

 

1.‬‭ Formalization of Power‬

 

Government should‬‭ acknowledge who actually holds‬‭ power‬‭ and assign formal‬

‭ responsibility accordingly. Today, many critical decisions are made by unelected‬

‭ bureaucracies, judges, or ideologically motivated experts, yet accountability is‬

‭ nonexistent. Yarvin’s formalism insists on‬‭ clear lines‬‭ of authority‬

—no shadow‬ governments, no euphemisms.‬

 

2.‬‭ Sovereign CEO or Monarch‬

‭ 

Rather than diffuse and competing power centers (executive, legislative, judiciary,‬

‭ media, etc.), Yarvin proposes a single executive authority—analogous to a CEO of a‬

‭ company or a monarch of a well-run city-state. This individual would be responsible for‬

‭ governance outcomes and empowered to act decisively, much like a corporate leader‬

‭ beholden to performance rather than popularity.‬

 

3.‬‭ Non-democratic Legitimacy‬

 

 Legitimacy, in this system, does not come from mass participation, but from order,‬

‭ prosperity, and competence. A government that maintains peace, enforces laws‬

‭ predictably, and improves living conditions earns the right to rule—not through votes, but‬

‭ through‬‭ results‬‭ .‬

‭ 

4.‬‭ Exit over Voice‬

‭ Rather than prioritizing political participation (i.e.,

“voice”), Yarvin emphasizes exit—the‬

‭ right of citizens to leave or switch allegiances. If governance becomes intolerable, the‬

‭ best recourse isn’t protest or reform—it’s opting out. Think: competitive jurisdictions,‬

‭ startup cities, or network states.‬

‭ 

5.‬‭ Abolition of the Cathedral‬

‭ Yarvin sees the decentralized ideological governance of academia, media, and NGOs‬

‭ as profoundly antidemocratic. In his system, this informal but dominant structure would‬

‭ be replaced by‬‭ explicit state authority‬

—or left to‬‭ evolve in separate, non-governing‬

‭ institutions without policy influence.‬

‭ 

6.‬‭ Governance-as-a-Service‬

‭ In some iterations of his thinking, Yarvin suggests that governments should be run more‬

‭ like corporations that provide services. Citizens become customers. If the “company”

‭ fails to deliver value (security, infrastructure, justice), people will take their business‬

‭ elsewhere. This approach mirrors the logic of charter cities or special administrative‬

‭ zones.‬

 

Yarvin does not romanticize monarchy in a traditionalist or nostalgic sense. His view is more‬

‭ cynical and practical: every government is a monarchy behind the scenes; liberal democracy‬

‭ merely‬‭ obscures‬‭ the sovereign, rather than eliminating‬‭ him. His solution is to stop pretending,‬

‭ 3‬‭ reveal the true architecture of power, and design political systems accordingly—with clarity,‬

‭ hierarchy, and accountability.‬

‭ 

II.‬‭ Democracy was never that great‬

‭ 

Intro: Critiques of democracy are nothing new. The following philosophy oriented video draws on‬

 the writings of Plato to make the case that modern democracy is just a polite form of tyranny.‬

‭ You can watch the 30-minute video, or read the slimmed down summary that follows the link.‬

‭ 

Video:‬‭ Why Modern Democracy Is Just a Polite Dictatorship‬

‭ 

Slimmed down summary‬

‭ 

What if the system we celebrate as humanity’s greatest political achievement is simply‬

‭ autocracy with better marketing?‬

‭ 

A moment that shattered illusions came in 2016, when millions of Americans watched the‬

‭ election results and something broke. People who had long trusted democratic processes‬

‭ suddenly questioned whether ordinary citizens could handle political power.‬

 

But this crisis of faith isn’t new. Over 2,400 years ago, Plato saw his mentor Socrates executed‬

‭ by a democratic mob and concluded: democracy doesn’t free people from tyranny—it makes‬

‭ tyranny feel like freedom.‬

 

Modern psychology has deepened our understanding of the problem.‬

‭ 

Solomon Asch’s 1950s conformity experiments showed that 75% of people will deny clear‬

‭ evidence from their own senses just to fit in. If we can’t trust ourselves to judge which line is‬

‭ longer, how can we trust millions of strangers to choose our leaders wisely?‬

 

 In 2006, Emory University researchers scanned the brains of partisan voters as they processed‬

‭ information about their preferred candidates. When faced with evidence of their candidate’s‬

‭ contradictions, reasoning centers stayed quiet—while emotion circuits lit up. The brain didn’t just‬

‭ ignore uncomfortable facts; it rewarded itself for doing so.‬

‭ 

Our brains seem wired to conform.‬

‭ 

Tyranny in Disguise‬

‭ 

To understand why modern democracy functions as a polite dictatorship, we must first‬

‭ acknowledge its appeal. Democracy promises something psychologically irresistible: the feeling‬

‭ that you matter, that your voice counts, that collective wisdom can solve complex problems.‬

‭ 4‬‭ Compared to overt tyranny—secret police, censorship, repression—democracy offers real‬

‭ improvements in dignity and liberty.‬

 

 But Plato understood the most effective control doesn’t feel like control at all. Democratic‬

‭ systems have perfected mass participation in our own subjugation, all while making us feel‬

‭ empowered.‬

‭ 

Traditional dictatorships breed resistance through obvious oppression. People know they’re‬

‭ being controlled and organize underground. Democracies, by contrast, channel dissent into‬

‭ sanctioned outlets—elections, protests, petitions—that provide psychological relief without‬

‭ threatening real power structures. This is the genius of what Steven Levitsky calls “competitive‬

‭ authoritarianism.

‭ You feel like you’re fighting the system when you vote against incumbents—but you’re‬

‭ legitimizing the framework that constrains your choices.‬

‭ 

The Illusion of Choice‬

 

 Your brain craves autonomy and rational decision-making. Democracy provides the illusion of‬

‭ both—while ensuring that all meaningful options serve the same interests. The house always‬

‭ wins. But you keep gambling, because each bet feels like your choice.‬

‭ 

Plato foresaw how democratic freedom destroys itself. In The Republic, he mapped the‬

‭ sequence:‬

 

 Democracy generates cognitive overload → which creates‬‭ demand for simplification →

‭ which empowers demagogues → which leads to tyranny disguised as popular will.‬

‭ 

Modern neuroscience offers insight. When overwhelmed by information, the prefrontal‬

‭ cortex—the seat of critical thinking—shuts down. The limbic system takes over, making‬

‭ decisions based on emotion and instinct. Psychologists call this choice overload. Too many‬

‭ options paralyze decision-making and create a hunger for confident authorities.‬

‭ 

Venezuela illustrates this. Hugo Chávez didn’t seize power by force; he won 56% of the vote in‬

‭ 1998 by promising relief from political complexity. Citizens weren’t choosing tyranny—they were‬

‭ choosing psychological comfort. By the time they realized what had happened, their emotional‬

‭ investment made admitting error nearly impossible.‬

‭ 

This pattern repeats globally. Voters choose leaders who promise to simplify their cognitive‬

‭ burden—to think and decide for them.‬

‭ 

Selects Against Governing Expertise‬

 

Democracy systematically rewards leaders who are good at winning elections, not governing‬

‭ effectively. These are completely different skill sets that often conflict directly.‬

‭ 5‬‭ The psychological traits that make someone appealing to voters—confidence, simplicity,‬

‭ emotional resonance—are often the opposite of what effective governance requires: humility,‬

‭ complexity, analytical thinking.‬

‭ 

The Cave Allegory‬

‭ 

Plato’s cave allegory is useful for understanding how information systems shape democratic‬

‭ consciousness. We’re chained to our devices, watching curated shadows designed to maximize‬

‭ engagement and minimize discomfort.‬

 

 Modern control is more sophisticated than Plato imagined: the shadows are personalized. Your‬

‭ social media feed and news are tailored to reinforce your beliefs, creating the illusion of‬

‭ informed choice.‬

‭ 

The Cambridge Analytica scandal exposed this. Using psychological profiles, political operatives‬

‭ targeted individuals with custom messages exploiting their vulnerabilities. This isn’t traditional‬

‭ propaganda—it’s personalized psychological warfare.‬

‭ 

The result? Unprecedented polarization and absolute certainty that you’re right. People‬

‭ consuming different information streams aren’t just disagreeing about policy—they’re living in‬

‭ different realities.‬

‭ 

Algorithms learn your preferences, political operatives craft messages for your demographic,‬

‭ and your information environment is customized to influence you. This is why fact-checking fails‬

‭ and debates feel futile. When confronted with contradictory information, people double‬

‭ down—what psychologists call the backfire effect.‬

‭ 

Concentrated Power‬

‭ 

Democratic systems appear to distribute power, but often concentrate it in less visible ways.‬

‭ Elected officials make visible decisions about minor issues, while crucial policy‬

‭ areas—monetary policy, regulations, international agreements—are handled by unelected‬

‭ bureaucrats and organizations insulated from democratic pressure.‬

‭ The European Union exemplifies this: the unelected European Commission initiates legislation,‬

‭ while the elected Parliament holds limited power. National leaders campaign on domestic issues‬

‭ but defer to supranational rules once in office.‬

‭ Important decisions are made by unaccountable actors, while visible politics consumes public‬

‭ energy with little impact on real policy. Citizens feel engaged in processes that are largely‬

‭ theatrical, while real power operates elsewhere.‬

‭ This arrangement serves several psychological functions:‬

‬‭ Provides the satisfaction of participation‬

‬‭ Ensures participation doesn’t threaten power structures‬

‬‭ Offers outlets for dissent‬

‬‭ Makes people feel responsible for outcomes they don’t control‬

 

 Toward Conscious Participation‬

 

So, how do we live authentically within systems we recognize as fundamentally manipulative?‬

‭ Plato’s answer wasn’t withdrawal, but clear-eyed engagement. In the Cave allegory, the‬

‭ philosopher who escapes has a duty to return and educate, even knowing most will reject‬

‭ uncomfortable truths.‬

 

 Participate as a conscious agent, not a passive subject. Appreciate democracy for what it is: a‬

‭ system for managing psychological needs while maintaining stability. Consciousness doesn’t‬

‭ solve democracy’s problems—but it changes your relationship to them.‬

 

 Understanding how you’re manipulated by confident leaders, emotional appeals, and tribal‬

‭ loyalty helps you resist. Recognizing that your opinions are shaped by psychological needs, not‬

‭ pure reason, fosters humility and curiosity. Knowing that institutions channel dissent into‬

‭ harmless rituals lets you focus your energy strategically.‬

 

 Most importantly, consciousness allows you to participate without being enslaved. Vote,‬

‭ advocate, engage—but maintain critical distance from the myths that make these activities feel‬

‭ more meaningful than they are.‬

‭ 

This isn’t cynicism or withdrawal. It’s intelligent engagement, with full awareness of the‬

‭ psychological forces at play.‬

‭ 

Plato believed political systems reflect the psychology of their citizens. If so, the democracy we‬

‭ get is the one we deserve—not because of our virtues, but because of our cognitive limitations‬

‭ and emotional needs. We want to feel informed without learning, autonomy without‬

‭ responsibility, simple answers to complex problems, and someone to blame when things go‬

‭ wrong. Democracy gives us all of that.‬

‭ 

But understanding this dynamic is the first step toward transcending it. When you stop expecting‬

‭ democracy to be something it’s not, you can engage more strategically and less emotionally.‬

‭ Recognize your vulnerabilities, and you build resistance to manipulation.‬

 

 Right now, the same psychological mechanisms that undermined democracy in Germany,‬

‭ Venezuela, and elsewhere are at work in your country:‬

‬‭ Personalized information warfare shapes your feed‬

‬‭ Choice overload overwhelms your cognition‬

‬‭ Demagogues offer relief from the burden of it all‬

‭ 

They gain power not because people are evil, but because people are exhausted by‬

‭ participation, by choices they feel unqualified to make, by the responsibilities of‬

‭ self-governance.‬

 

 The question is: will you participate consciously, aware of the manipulation, or sleepwalk‬

‭ through citizenship while real power operates beyond your awareness?‬

‭ This isn’t a choice between idealism and cynicism, but between consciousness and‬

‭ unconsciousness.‬

‭ 

Question your assumptions. Seek uncomfortable truths.‬

‭ 

The unexamined democracy is not worth preserving.‬

‭ 

The unexamined citizen is not truly free.‬

 

 The most dangerous tyranny is the one that feels like freedom—and your brain is wired to love.‬

‭ 

III.‬‭ Contemporary factors contributing to discontent‬

‭ 

Intro: Despite its flaws, liberal democracy has worked reasonably well in the US and elsewhere‬

‭ for much of the past century. Back in 1947, Winston Churchill famously said,

“democracy is the‬ worst form of government except for all the others that have been tried from time to time." What‬

‭ accounts for the rising tide of discontent today? Here are some ideas from Perplexity AI.‬

‭ 

Factors Influencing the Rise of Right-Wing Populism‬

‭ Globally‬

‭ 

Right-wing populism has gained significant traction across many democracies in recent years.‬

‭ This trend is driven by a complex interplay of economic, cultural, political, and technological‬

‭ factors. Below are some of the most widely cited influences:‬

‭ 

Economic Factors‬

‭ Globalization and Economic Insecurity‬

‭ Globalization, automation, and the restructuring of labor markets have led to job losses,‬

‭ wage stagnation, and economic inequality. Many people feel left behind by these‬

‭ changes, fostering resentment toward political elites and institutions seen as responsible‬

‭ for or indifferent to their plight.‬

‭ Inflation and Cost of Living‬

‭ Recent spikes in inflation and living costs have heightened economic anxieties, leading‬

‭ segments of the population to seek scapegoats—often immigrants or‬

‭ minorities—targeted by right-wing populist rhetoric.‬

‭ 8‬‭

‭ Perceived Loss of Status‬

‭ Declining social status, particularly among working-class men without college degrees,‬

‭ has been linked to increased support for right-wing populist parties. This status anxiety is‬

‭ fueled by both economic and cultural changes.‬

‭ 

Cultural and Demographic Factors‬

‭ Immigration and National Identity‬

‭ Increased immigration and demographic shifts have sparked fears about cultural‬

‭ erosion and threats to national identity. Right-wing populists capitalize on these anxieties‬

‭ by advocating strict immigration controls and policies that emphasize traditional cultural‬

‭ norms.‬

‭ Cultural Backlash‬

‭ Rapid social changes—such as greater acceptance of progressive values on gender,‬

‭ sexuality, and race—have generated backlash among those who perceive these shifts‬

‭ as threatening to established ways of life.‬

‭ Tribalism and Atavistic Tendencies‬

‭ Deep-seated instincts such as fear of the "other,

" tribalism, and prejudice are often‬

‭ exploited by populist leaders to amplify hostility toward minorities and outsiders.‬

‭ 

Political and Institutional Factors‬

‭ Disillusionment with Elites and Institutions‬

‭ Many supporters of right-wing populism feel ignored or betrayed by mainstream political‬

‭ parties and institutions. This sense of alienation makes them more receptive to anti-elitist‬

‭ and anti-establishment messages.‬

‭ Weakening of Traditional Left-Wing Parties‬

‭ The decline of left-wing parties, especially after the collapse of communism in Eastern‬

‭ Europe, has created a political vacuum that right-wing populists have filled by appealing‬

‭ to nationalist and anti-globalist sentiments.‬

‭ Crisis of Democracy and Governance‬

‭ Perceptions of a crisis in democratic governance—due to corruption, inefficiency, or lack‬

‭ of responsiveness—have undermined trust in traditional political systems, paving the‬

‭ way for populist alternatives.‬

 

 Technological and Media Factors‬

‭ Social Media and Digital Communication‬

‭ The rise of social media enables populist leaders to bypass traditional media, spreading‬

‭ emotionally charged and simplified messages directly to the public. This environment‬

‭ also facilitates the spread of misinformation and conspiracy theories, deepening societal‬

‭ divisions.‬

‭ Post-Truth Politics‬

‭ The digital era has made it easier for populist movements to employ conspiracy‬

‭ theories, rumors, and falsehoods, contributing to the phenomenon of "post-truth" politics.‬

 

Wednesday, February 12, 2025

The Coup has already happened.

It's a Coup! 

Go to dogegov.com and click on articles in the drop down menu to learn about our new masters.