In March 2018, China’s state-controlled internet, amid rumors that North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un was secretly visiting China, rendered the term “fatty” unsearchable. In China, “Fatty the Third” is a derogatory nickname for Kim, who inherited his position from his father and grandfather.
This occurred shortly after Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China, arranged to abolish presidential term limits. Like Kim, Xi was to the manor born, as a “princeling”—a term used for the privileged children of earlier generations of Communist Party members. Similarly, in Communist Cuba, the Castro dynasty has survived Fidel.
Dynastic politics seems to be on the rise in quite different political systems. In postcommunist Russia, President Vladimir Putin is the grandson of Lenin’s and Stalin’s cook—a sensitive position in the court of the “Red Tsars.” In the United States, before Donald Trump’s entry into the race and surprise victory, many observers expected the presidential campaign of 2016 to pit Hillary Clinton, the wife of a recent president, against Jeb Bush, the direct relation of two recent presidents.
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Thanks. This is very similar to how I look at politics, similar to Sam Francis.
ReplyDeleteTo mention one thing: In the past I had argued for the need for "monasteries". The author refers to something similar here:
"To be successful, national, working-class grassroots movements must not only have institutions immune from dependence on the charity of managerial-class elites. They must also have permanent officials, not just volunteers."
However, I had a different idea for how this would be done. I'd envisioned independent institutions which were self sufficient, with mission statements. So, they could do whatever they wanted but still be tied to the local community. Eg. a "monastery" that managed a forest for income or managed (actively) a farm, either enabling the managers to support some special purpose. For example, a farm could support Abbeville, which you're so fond of.
I'd also like to see the preservation of communities, and limits on the size of institutions/businesses, so that Americans are more than mass man.
But the analysis fits so closely with how I tend to argue, and I have 21K posts on one of my accounts since 2015, when Trump entered, that I wonder if the author didn't read one of them - which is exciting, if I had some impact.
For example, notice how he talks of the need for a balance of power. Machiavelli! Though I mean I just got Machiavelli from Francis. So, I of course just repeat things I've read from others.
a "monastery" that managed a forest for income or managed (actively) a farm, either enabling the managers to support some special purpose. For example, a farm could support Abbeville, which you're so fond of.
DeleteInteresting.
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that I wonder if the author didn't read one of them - which is exciting, if I had some impact.
Absolutely and thanks.