Cool Blogpost: The Fascism of Knowing Things

[daveon]

Thanks to supergee for this excellent article on "The Fascism of Knowing Things"

My belief that we are not always equipped to make the best decisions is apparently the alibi that has always been used by people like me who wish to oppress “the common man”.;

While being exasperated about another post I'd read about privilege and elitist oppression I mentioned elsewhere that it felt like I was watching Rik Mayall in The Young Ones screaming "Fascist" at anybody he disagreed with as if that would stop any onward discussion.

I've had arguments with libertarians in the past where I've been accused of being elitist by expressing a sentiment that actually it's really really hard for anybody to be an informed, rational, individual in the modern world, especially when it comes to making healthcare decisions, or picking a doctor or planning for financial safety.  I include myself in that group of those struggling to make good decisions btw.

I also wonder if many of the people who talk about the power and smarts of the individual have spent much time with the individuals they cohabit with.

On the subject of The Young Ones, there's an excellent quote here from Alexi Sayle which somewhat explains all of this.

Comments

[a-cubed.livejournal.com]

Intrusion (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intrusion_%28novel%29) by Ken MacLeod is an interesting take on this. He posits a continuation of the authoritarian market socialism of Nu Labour through to a paternalist state.

[andrewducker]

Yeah, I feel the same way.

I'm happy enough to listen to other people's feelings, and treat them as such, but when people enter the "My feelings mean the world is this way" stage I back away slowly.