The Authoritarian

On this blog, I refer to the next POTUS as The Authoritarian.  My choice for using this term to name him is based on the research done by George Lakoff.  Lakoff’s theory maps moral world views by using the metaphor of Nation as Family.  Two types of families are mapped.

An idealized nurturant family is expressed in terms of progressive values: empathy, caring, support for each other, public resources for all.

An idealized strict father family is expressed in terms of power and authority, which rests with the head of the family (father), or the head of the nation–authoritarian values.

Lakoff makes it clear that the head of the strict father cannot be a loser, corrupt, and not a betrayer of trust. Father knows best.   But, here is what Layoff says characterizes the president-elect:

• Loser: To the American majority, he is a Loser, a minority president. It needs to be said and repeated.
• Betrayer of Trust: Above all, he is a Betrayer of Trust. He is acting like a dictator, and is even supporting Putin’s anti-American policies.
• Corrupt: He is betraying trust in a direct way, by refusing to put his business interests in a blind trust. By doing so, and by insisting on his children both running the business and getting classified information, he is using the presidency to make himself incredibly wealthy — just as Putin has.  This is Corruption of the highest and most blatant level. (@georgelakoff. “A Minority President: Why the Polls Failed, And What the Majority Can Do.” George Lakoff. 2016. Accessed November 24, 2016. https://georgelakoff.com/2016/11/22/a-minority-president-why-the-polls-failed-and-what-the-majority-can-do/.)

In Lakoff’s analysis, the President-elect is interested only in absolute authority, money, power, and celebrity.

These are not the characteristics of a president in a democratic society, but let’s face it, this is what we have.  As Lakoff points out, we have to create a powerful network of communication, and call out The Authoritarian, and make sure that he knows that he’s not only being watched, but that there are moral imperatives on the opposite end of his, and that they are rooted in the principles of democracy, which have had to be fought for by the great majority of people living in this country.  He and his administration present a Clear and Present danger.

As a result, I don’t want to use his name, but instead call him for what he is, an authoritarian.  In this case he will be called The Authoritarian.

Here are some of behaviors that are most associated with The Authoritarian:

• autocratic
• dictatorial
• imperious
• totalitarian
• tyrannical
• dogmatic
• harsh
• severe
• unyielding
• despotic
• oppressive

His attitude toward the press sends chills down my spine, and further undermines the free exchange of ideas. We should know what the president is up to. His ideas should be known and should be subject to criticism.  We should be able to question The Authoritarian.

The problem is the next POTUS doesn’t want anyone questioning what he thinks or does.  If you do, he’ll call you out, or worse.