I had the same reaction but overall it's pressed me to re-examine American history and Democracy in a new light and from multiple sources and perspectives.
What progressive ideas since our founding increased liberty? What progressive ideas decreased liberty? If I think progressivism has gone wrong, can I point to moments or thought leaders who took us that way? Is this new progressive wave actually "new" or just history playing itself for another loop?
I don't agree with the answers I've read from the alt-right for all of these questions, but damned if I don't agree with the asking of these questions and their historical perspective.
One could argue that Lincoln and the Civil War started the trend towards tyranny,
but I'd say most of our downfall was indeed a new progressivism inspired by deconstructionist philosophy (and of course Marxism) from Europe in the late 1800s/early 1900s. It's something Americans in the land of opportunity would never need but imported anyway - along with millions of poor immigrants that were easily swayed by its promises.
The old strain of "progressivism", classical liberalism, is fine in small doses. Best left as academic or philosophical thought experiments that entertain curiosity and allow men to look beyond traditional culture for answers when needed. Not as something to completely replace the lessons from our forefathers, but as something to complement them. "When in the course of human events..."
Also what do you mean by "alt-right"? Just curious as I've only seen vague definitions of the term used by leftists as insults. (after it was briefly used by the Tea Party movement, then coopted by white nationalists)
To be honest, I was calling myself alt-right in '16 because I thought the word just made sense to describe an american right-winger outside the GOP/Cathedral. I've given up on that, but it still makes sense to me. Specifically though, I'm talking about Moldbug and his ideas.
I'll start looking for stuff on Lincoln, what I do know of him is mostly propaganda.
I don't think Lincoln had bad or progressive intentions but his actions set the precedent for big government and the sovereignty of Washington DC over the states. With a federation of independent states and strong militias, progressivism still would have infected the big states with large immigrant populations, while other states would've rejected those ideas and had the courage to say no to federal interference. The federal reserve would have been rejected or tossed already. (as it had been before) We probably would not have gotten involved in either world war. (though a different world war might have played out eventually)
I had the same reaction but overall it's pressed me to re-examine American history and Democracy in a new light and from multiple sources and perspectives.
What progressive ideas since our founding increased liberty? What progressive ideas decreased liberty? If I think progressivism has gone wrong, can I point to moments or thought leaders who took us that way? Is this new progressive wave actually "new" or just history playing itself for another loop?
I don't agree with the answers I've read from the alt-right for all of these questions, but damned if I don't agree with the asking of these questions and their historical perspective.
One could argue that Lincoln and the Civil War started the trend towards tyranny, but I'd say most of our downfall was indeed a new progressivism inspired by deconstructionist philosophy (and of course Marxism) from Europe in the late 1800s/early 1900s. It's something Americans in the land of opportunity would never need but imported anyway - along with millions of poor immigrants that were easily swayed by its promises.
The old strain of "progressivism", classical liberalism, is fine in small doses. Best left as academic or philosophical thought experiments that entertain curiosity and allow men to look beyond traditional culture for answers when needed. Not as something to completely replace the lessons from our forefathers, but as something to complement them. "When in the course of human events..."
Also what do you mean by "alt-right"? Just curious as I've only seen vague definitions of the term used by leftists as insults. (after it was briefly used by the Tea Party movement, then coopted by white nationalists)
To be honest, I was calling myself alt-right in '16 because I thought the word just made sense to describe an american right-winger outside the GOP/Cathedral. I've given up on that, but it still makes sense to me. Specifically though, I'm talking about Moldbug and his ideas.
I'll start looking for stuff on Lincoln, what I do know of him is mostly propaganda.
I don't think Lincoln had bad or progressive intentions but his actions set the precedent for big government and the sovereignty of Washington DC over the states. With a federation of independent states and strong militias, progressivism still would have infected the big states with large immigrant populations, while other states would've rejected those ideas and had the courage to say no to federal interference. The federal reserve would have been rejected or tossed already. (as it had been before) We probably would not have gotten involved in either world war. (though a different world war might have played out eventually)